by Maureen Cooper » Wed 20 Jul 2005 5:43 pm
I was deeply saddened to receive the phone call today from Jack. Jill was a very special Labrador to Christine, Jack and myself. Her father was Ch Gunnislake Modish Gent and her mother Arundaland Kirsty(Allie)NRD. Allie was sired by Birchstone Deacon(UK) ex Wishhanger Wallis. The Birchstone gundogs were based on the well known UK Drakeshead,Palgrave and Glencoin lines.
New to Australia, Jack asked me for a yellow bitch for trialling and out of the three yellow ones in the litter I chose Jill for him. As a very young puppy she had an intense desire to retrieve and she and Jack immediately bonded. Jill's first big placing came in the 1997 Queensland State Championship with second placing and she backed it up by also coming second in the 1997 National in Queensland thus gaining her Championship. Jill was only 2 yrs 6 months at the time.
Her list of State Championship accomplishments after this are as follows :
Second placings in 1997 ACT State, 2001and 2002 NSW State Championships as well as winning the NSW State in 1998, 1999 WA State,2000 SA State,2000 NSW State,2000 Tasmanian State. This gave her a total of 84 points.
In Nationals Jill came second in 1997, 4th in 2002 ACT National and 3rd in the 2003 Tasmanian National.
She had 27 All Age wins for 162 points and by retirement her points total was 252 making her the highest scoring Labrador Retriever bitch to amass such a total in Australia as far as we are aware. She would have been most deserving of her Grand Champion title had it been available to her.
Jill never forgot me and I was always greeted with a true Labrador smile and wagging tail whenever I saw her and her last smile for me was only a few weeks ago. Her constantly wagging tail in the field and strong bond with Jack will be remembered by all who knew her.
My sincere sympathy to Jack and Christine on their loss, she will live on in our hearts forever.
Vale Rt Ch Coalsgarth Nina 25.2.95 to 20.7.05