2025 was a year of many highs and lows, the breed has continued to maintain a steady level, entries at Championship Shows with absentees averaged around 20, the exceptions being Crufts and The Club Show. Of course a new treasurer and the finances are recovering.
The working side of The Club continues to do well organising working tests and certificates. A team competed at the CLA Gamefair and several individuals have competed in AV working tests.
In the show ring Club secretary Tracy Boyles made up her dog SH CH Pixiesrock Mr Tumnus By Bleyos JW with 2 CCs and 5 Res CCs, this was made all the sweeter when he won a third CC at Blackpool under judge Patsy Hollins. My own Baymoss Tweed of Penrose gained her SGWC in January and then a third CC at Darlington under judge Mr Frank Whyte, becoming the latest Full Champion in the breed.
Of the 15 sets of CCs we are allocated more than 50% were judged by those awarding CCs for the first time in our breed. 11 of the 15 2025 judges are RKC members, including 1 from Sweden and 1 from Norway. We are very sorry to have lost 2 of our CC judges – Mrs Carol Coode who has retired and Mr Martin Rees who sadly passed away in December.
The CC winners in 2025 were: 9 CCs – SH CH Arnac Bay Hebe; 6 CCs – SH CH Arnac Bay Huron At Bergelle JW; 2 CCs – SH CH Pixiesrock Mr Tumnus By Bleyos JW, 2 CCs – Glaneils Count On Me; 1 CC each – Susqudilla Bergelle Big Apple JW (imp USA), Amore Of Ridsome (imp IT), GCH/CH Next Generations I’m Woodford (imp USA) – ATC CH, Battsrock Ashes To Ashes, SH CH Chesepi Waco, Riptide Gentlemen’s Relish, Muireatai Miracle Of Dreams, Glaneils Don’t Worry Be Happy, SH CH Arnac Bay Harvest, SH CH Next Generations Arnac Arctic Storm (imp USA), CH Baymoss Tweed At Penrose SGWC.
The Our Dogs Top Award – Top Dog SH CH, INT CH, Multi Arnac Bay Hebe WGC EW22 WW24; Top Stud Dog SH CH Arnac Weatherdeck Buoy (imp USA); Top Brood Bitch Arnac Bay Gamble; Top Puppy BB’s Chesapeake Breeding Dory For Arnac (imp CH); Top Breeder C Mayhew.
The CBRC have many perpetual trophies awarded at the AGM, the difference is the CBRC require owners etc to apply, giving account of their wins for the year. More information can be gained from The Club website.
Kirsty Watts with her Oakmarsh team travelled the length and breadth of the country competing in The Breeders Stakes at all the General and All Breed Shows. This is a huge commitment in travelling and entries. Again Kirsty and her team came near to the top and must be congratulated for her dedication. At Manchester this year the Oakmarsh team are off to a great start winning the Breeders Stakes.
Well done to another Oakmarsh dog already doing well this year – Blaber’s Oakmarsh Laural JW competing at Wiveliscombe Open Show winning 2nd in AVNSC Gundog, RB AVNSC, Best RBOB in Group, Best RBOB in Show, judge Bridget Bodle. Laral was also 1st in AV Open Stakes, judge Clare O’Donnell.
Kirsty has continued her success by competing at the ECGRC SWGC day, gaining the certificate with her German import bitch Oakleaf Manor Bay Of Oakmarsh JW, who had produced a litter of 11 just seven weeks previous.
I was pleased with my own puppy Penrose Water Pistol winning Best Gundog Puppy from the AVNSC Class at Chepstow & District Christmas Show. And at the first Pontypool Dog Match 2026 won Best Puppy and Best in Match.
Anyone who is a working gundog person would put a shoot day before a show. I am always disappointed to see from the 12th of August to the middle of February gundog days which are not held on a Sunday. I put an entry in for Manchester but knowing I would not be going. Mr Arne Foss, another judge awarding CCs for the first time, received an entry of 23 – 8d, 15b, 4a. BOB & DCC Mahon-Hunns, Hunns & Newton’s SH CH Arnac Bay Huron At Bergelle JW; RDCC & BP Mahon-Hunns & Middleton’s Susqudilla Yankee Shadow (imp USA); BCC & BV Middleton & Mayhew’s Sh Ch Int Ch Multi Arnac Bay Hebe WGC EW22 WW24; BSB Tarling-Roberts Tideflight Cassiopeia.
Manchester being the last show to qualify for Crufts before entries close made me think of a snippet I read in an old slimline copy of The Shooting Times & Country Magazine from December 30th 1950. I do wonder were there any Chesapeakes entered or had they all gone back to America. “ Crufts Show – The third post war Crufts Dog Show will take place at Olympia on Friday and Saturday, February 9th and 10th 1951, when the entry is expected to equal the record created by the 1950 show; when there were 5,720 dogs exhibited during the two days of the show. Entries close on Tuesday January the 9th (postmark), the schedules can be obtained from The Show Secretary, 84 Piccadilly, W1
Janet Morris
07739 592323
penrosechesapeakes@gmail.com