EVENINGHILL

Our first golden retriever came into our lives in 1996. Her name was Pascha and we thought (and still do) that she was the most beautiful dog in the world. She made such an impact on us that we knew we had to increase our golden family. Our plans were to breed from her and to keep a puppy, however, that was not to be. Pascha was found to have hereditary cataracts so that meant that a litter was out of the question. When Pascha was two years old she was joined by Wispa (Highcourt Makebelieve of Eveninghill) whom she adored and then our story really began.

We bred our first litter in October 2000 and registered them with the affix Eveninghill in memory of my mother who died just before Pascha came to live with us. Evening Hill near Poole was one of my mother's favourite places, she spent many enjoyable evenings with my father sitting on a bench looking out over the water to Brownsea Island.

All our present dogs have qualified for Crufts.

My first "proper" showdog was Eveninghill Murphy's Law and from my first litter in 2000. Murphy was a very handsome boy and did very well in the show ring including winning SPECIAL JUNIOR DOG AT CRUFTS 2002 and 3rd GRADUATE DOG AT CRUFTS 2003. We were heartbroken when we had to give him sleep in October 2014 just 4 days before his 14th birthday.

Amba (Eveninghill Made to Measure) was Murphy's litter sister and was initially my favourite puppy in that first litter. I found it very hard to let her go even though the plan was to just keep the one. After many tears were shed my husband's parents, Ian and Kay, came to the rescue and offered to have her. She has the best of both worlds as she lives by the seaside in sunny Plymouth being spoilt rotten and spends her holidays with us. She had one litter to Pandreft Paddywack in 2004.

Millie (Pandreft Naughty But Nice by Eveninghill) is Murphy's daughter and was born in July 2003. At Hitchin & District CS Limited Show in May 04 she was awarded Best Puppy in Breed, Best of Breed, Best Puppy in Show and Best in Show - and only 10mths and 2 days! Just 10 days later she qualified for Crufts 2005 at Southern Counties Championship Show by gaining 3rd place in the Puppy Bitch class. She is certainly a credit to her breeder and of course her handsome father, Murphy. Due to lack of maturity and coat she did not attend many shows from 3 years of age but came back into the ring as a veteran qualifying for Crufts in 2011.

From Millies's second litter in 2008 I kept Boris (Eveninghill Mr Bojangles), He is such a good boy and has delighted us with his placid nature. He has been placed at Championship shows and has qualified for Crufts. However, more than anything he prefers to help out in the house, including turning the washing machine off and on and pressing the ignition on the gas cooker!

In June 2010 our family was joined by a puppy from the Stormerick Kennel. She is known as Phoebe (Stormerick Maggie May at Eveninghill) and we are very proud of her, apart from her beauty and brains she is sired by Sh Ch Stormerick Solomon JW ShCM (Boris' sire). Phoebe is very much a natural show girl and stands perfectly in the ring. Unfortunately as a small bitch, albeit within the breed standard, she is dwarfed in the ring by larger bitches so tends to look out of place. Disappointingly this has disadvantaged her in the higher classes, as a youngster she was frequently in the cards including qualifying for Crufts!

August 2013 we were very fortunate to able to bring in a very beautiful bitch puppy called Grace (Pandreft Grace Kelly for Eveninghill) from Pat & Fred Taylor. Grace has made us and her breeders very proud of her achievements in the show ring. At Crufts 2015 she was placed in all 3 classes entered, gaining a 5th, 3rd and *****1ST UNDERGRADUATE BITCH****. A day we will never forget.

Maisy (Eveninghill Moment to Shine) is Phoebe's daughter from her first litter to ShCh Messano Urban Myyth born in February 2014. As Maisy is just 7 months younger than Grace they have become best friends and are real partners in crime! Maisy has been able to attend the odd championship show (when I have been able to enlist assistance) and she has been shortlisted and placed at several.

Mrs Linda Harding
Central Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
England

Breeder of:

• Golden Retriever

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