Overdene Piganoussa

Owner : Overdene Golden Retrievers
Breed : Golden Retriever
Location : WITNEY, Oxfordshire
8th November 2003 - 9th September 2017
Colour : Golden
Health Tested

We are very sorry to announce that Aoife decided it was time to leave us on Saturday, 9 September 2017 - just short of her 14th birthday (which is young for our lines).

Aoife was one of only two bitch puppies in her mother Kyriaki's 3rd litter by Mesdames Williams & Gough's Wilgem Star Designer, and there was little to choose between her and her sister (Overdene Faradonissia), with whom we have now sadly lost touch.

As a puppy, Aoife was very different from most previous Overdenes. Unlike her mother and older sisters, she was the "finished article" from a show perspective at only 9 months, and she had inherited her late father's superb movement - but nothing could persuade Aoife that the show ring was a good place to be! Mostly ruining her chances with her delinquent behaviour (her handler got used to being embarrassed - fortunately!), she did nevertheless manage to be in the cards at most of her early shows, including a Best Puppy in Breed - a huge shock at the time!

Aoife's first couple of attempts at motherhood came to nothing, despite there being no reason for her not to have a litter. On paper, the 3rd attempt should have come to nothing too, but as the result of a 5-second "blink and you've missed it" (but nevertheless planned) liaison with Mrs A Fanning's Brensham Observer in April 2007, Aoife whelped 10 puppies in the space of 6 hours one June night, and proceeded to astound us all by her maternal abilities. The "tomboy" came good! We kept the only bitch with us at Overdene (just in case Aoife never gave us another bitch puppy!), and even if Aoife didn't sober up at the experience, her delightful daughter, Niamh (Overdene Niamh Chinn Óir) was the easiest of puppies to raise.

But sadly, hopes that motherhood would calm Aoife down were dashed when she returned to the show ring six months later - as naughty as ever, a real fidget, which no amount of lovely "straight and true" movement can make up for. C'est la vie!

Aoife did a wonderful job in raising her 2nd litter of 10, this time by Mrs H R Lindsey's Hindringham Hot Pursuit to Bramblyn (Lancer to his friends) which arrived safely on Wednesday, 29 July 2009 (see litter page for details - link below). We kept Grian (O Aoibhgréine) at Overdene and she now has her own page, too.

Aoife finally returned to the show ring again as a Veteran and qualified for Crufts 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, although she went to the show just once, in 2014. We were thrilled in August 2015 when in what was intended to be her last Veteran class at a General Championship Show, Aoife placed 1st, aged 11½ - her first 1st prize when she hadn't been the only one entered, and a lovely way to "retire". Aoife did, however, come out of retirement again in 2016 when her daughter Niamh was out of action recovering from a ruptured cruciate ligament, and she continued to do well - indeed, she had more placings and lovely judges' write-ups in that last year than in the whole of her previous show career put together. Her final show was at Eastern Counties Golden Retriever Club championship show in September 2016 when she placed 2nd in the Senior Veteran 10+ class - a lovely way to hang up her show lead for good!

"Norty Aoife", as she was known, did much for us over the years, and we are grateful that our direct line descends from her, and her lovely mother, the late Kyriaki (O Astipalaia). She was one of a kind, and we will miss her greatly.