HISTORY OF BARDANTOP

In 1988 Peter and I accquired two crossbred labradors,'Dandy' and 'Topper', to work on our home shoot.Peter and 'Dandy' did basic training with Worcester Gundogs,but as our family was still young I was unable to attend with 'Topper'.He proved to be an instinctive albeit unruly worker over the next twelve years!'Dandy' proved himself more biddable and was Peters constant companion.
  In 1991 we attended Crufts and fell for the rustic charms of the italian spinone and so early in 1992 we became the proud owners of'Barney'from Val Woodward(Connomar).'Barney' was followed by 'Molly' from Paula MacGregor(Armando)in 1993 and so the Bardantop Kennels came into being with our affix being granted by the KC in 1995.
  In 1995 'Molly' had her first litter X Nantiderri Faustus,from that litter 'Fraggle' was kept but was later rehomed as he had poor hips.It wasn't until 'Molly' was mated to Kevardhu Fyn in 1997 that we kept another spinone,our first white and orange,'Daisy Grub'.It was with 'Daisy' that I began serious field work competitively and trained with Trevor Rigby(Dorntanza)in Lincs.
  By now the trialling bug had bitten and it wasn't long until 'Jinty'(w/h vizsla)and 'Theo'(a 'Barney'son)joined the kennels.......they too trained with Trevor Rigby.
  In 2004 Bardantop had their first field trial awards with 'Theo'.Theo was handled by myself as Peter was nursing a broken ankle! In 2006 Peter handled him to a third and I gained a COM with 'Chester' a wirehaired vizsla who was a son of 'Jinty'.
  Barney,Dandy and Topper have long gone,but live on in our affix.............we also said 'goodbye' far too soon to Daisy and Jinty.Jinty lives on in her offspring,Chester,Berkeley and Lexi,who in turn have been joined by 'Zeta'(a Barney grand daughter),'Mango' from Rachel Thompson(Moricroft)and 'Bear' a black labrador from Kelly Stringfellow(Chandkellan).