| Dogs of importance... |
Wingfield Annie
Awahuri Rock
She was perhaps the most influential dog of them all, Grand FTCh Wingfield Annie, 4 x winner of the
North Island Championship and 3 x winner of the New Zealand Championship.
She had five litters; with Tuhimata Blue Boy (1972, 1973), Sharnberry Shooter (2 x 1975) and with
Wingfield Gunman (1977). In 1981 her three children Grand FTCh Wingfield Fabian, FTCh Wingfield
Intrigue and Wingfield Fleur were 1st, 2nd and 3rd at the New Zealand Championship.
The year after Intrigue won the same Championship, with a brilliant performance in wet and difficult
conditions. Several of Annie's children and grand-children have also made an important contribution to
the English setter breeding in New Zealand and Australia.
North Island Championship and 3 x winner of the New Zealand Championship.
She had five litters; with Tuhimata Blue Boy (1972, 1973), Sharnberry Shooter (2 x 1975) and with
Wingfield Gunman (1977). In 1981 her three children Grand FTCh Wingfield Fabian, FTCh Wingfield
Intrigue and Wingfield Fleur were 1st, 2nd and 3rd at the New Zealand Championship.
The year after Intrigue won the same Championship, with a brilliant performance in wet and difficult
conditions. Several of Annie's children and grand-children have also made an important contribution to
the English setter breeding in New Zealand and Australia.
| The two foundation dogs Awahuri Rock and First Lady, opening weekend of hunting season, mid 1960s. |
Rock's sire Windfield Ashley was imported in utero from the best English working blood at the time.
Rock's mother came from a New Zealand shooting kennel. Leon shot more birds over Rock than any
other dog, and he won the North Island Championship in 1965 and 1966. He had a great nose and
setting ability, but in Leon's description; "Rock was not a pretty dog to watch running. He did not
carry his head very high and his tail was dead. He just went from one objective to another at a fast
canter that he could keep up all day. Nevertheless, one day he showed me work of near perfection.
We entered the field with the wind blowing straight towards us from the East. The sun was just
about to set behind us. Rock had been hunting all day in his usual manner. Suddenly the genes or
ghosts of his famous ancestors manifested themselves. He started to run at speed, and with great
elan, with a high head and slashing tail. He laid down a perfect pattern. When he pointed, the low sun
illuminated him like a painting. In half an hour I had four pheasants with no error in speed, ranging,
production, shooting or retireving. That half hour was one of my all-time great experiences with bird
dogs."
Rock and First Lady "Belle" became the foundation of the Wingfield setters. Belle was power running
in beautiful, style, stamina and pattern. Rapport to dream of. The combination of these two produced
most importantly Grand FTCh Wingfield Annie.
Rock's mother came from a New Zealand shooting kennel. Leon shot more birds over Rock than any
other dog, and he won the North Island Championship in 1965 and 1966. He had a great nose and
setting ability, but in Leon's description; "Rock was not a pretty dog to watch running. He did not
carry his head very high and his tail was dead. He just went from one objective to another at a fast
canter that he could keep up all day. Nevertheless, one day he showed me work of near perfection.
We entered the field with the wind blowing straight towards us from the East. The sun was just
about to set behind us. Rock had been hunting all day in his usual manner. Suddenly the genes or
ghosts of his famous ancestors manifested themselves. He started to run at speed, and with great
elan, with a high head and slashing tail. He laid down a perfect pattern. When he pointed, the low sun
illuminated him like a painting. In half an hour I had four pheasants with no error in speed, ranging,
production, shooting or retireving. That half hour was one of my all-time great experiences with bird
dogs."
Rock and First Lady "Belle" became the foundation of the Wingfield setters. Belle was power running
in beautiful, style, stamina and pattern. Rapport to dream of. The combination of these two produced
most importantly Grand FTCh Wingfield Annie.
At the time when Annie was dominating New Zealand trials, Leon also had fast and hard running
trialers like Marnissa Mariner and Sharnberry Shooter. Though Annie didn't have the speed and range
they did, she compensated with a fantastic nose and an uncanny ability to find and work birds. Her
runs were methodical, matter of fact, and often near faultless. "She made it look easy."
Annie was the reward for a long and tireless search for the right breeding stock and the brood bitch
that really got the wheels turning for the kennel. Among her progeny were:
Grand FTCh Wingfield Fabian, Wingfield Fleur, Wingfield Favourite, Wingfield Honey, Wingfield
Hawk, FTCh Wingfield Intrigue, Wingfield Intrepid and Wingfield Idol Q.C.
trialers like Marnissa Mariner and Sharnberry Shooter. Though Annie didn't have the speed and range
they did, she compensated with a fantastic nose and an uncanny ability to find and work birds. Her
runs were methodical, matter of fact, and often near faultless. "She made it look easy."
Annie was the reward for a long and tireless search for the right breeding stock and the brood bitch
that really got the wheels turning for the kennel. Among her progeny were:
Grand FTCh Wingfield Fabian, Wingfield Fleur, Wingfield Favourite, Wingfield Honey, Wingfield
Hawk, FTCh Wingfield Intrigue, Wingfield Intrepid and Wingfield Idol Q.C.