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| Pictured Right: Our First Spinone ODIVANE PERSEPHONE OF BANNONBRIG ' Purdy' |
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The foundation dam of our kennel, PURDY, pictured with her daughter Bannonbrig Bella Gina. With this pair we travelled the length and breadth of the country to support breed classes at shows when Spinoni were still very much in their infancy. They also represented the breed at Game Fairs and Parades of Sporting Dogs around the country as well as participating in Gundog Training classes in a bid to have the breed recognised amongst the working fraternity.
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| L to R: Dr Antonio Storace (Italy) , Mike Spencer & Purdy |
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In the 1980's at the first breed assessment to be conducted in the UK by a Spinone expert, the late Dr Antonio Storace, the Bannonbrigs had a fantastic day. Our dogs were graded 'excellent' by Dr Storace and the Beazant Family's Bannonbrig Bellisima (pictured in the family shot below) was crowned Best Adult. Cleo had a very successful show career and won Best Bitch at Crufts in the first scheduled championship breed classes under Dr Ruth Tattersall (Westoy) who with Mary Moore (Odivane)reintroduced the Spinone to the UK.
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| 'Early Days' - a family snapshot |
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Pictured from left to right: Some of the first BANNONBRIG 'B' Litter BRUNO, BETTINA & BELLA GINA, MUM 'PURDY' & BELLISIMA. Purdy passed on her heart-melting typical Spinone expression & wonderful temperament to her offspring.....qualities which are still very much in evidence in our present-day dogs.
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| Show Champion BANNONBRIG BUICK - 'jAFFA' |
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And so to more recent years.... 'Jaffa' is directly descended from Purdy ~ she is his GREAT-GREAT-GREAT GRANDMOTHER! He has enjoyed many successes in the show ring and is now a Champion joining several others in our ownership. Jaffa is now enjoying his retirement at home with the rest of our gang.
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