Our Show year started in February at the Midland English Setter Society Champ Show B under Howard Stbbungton. Brad made his debut at 14 months, coping very well with the new experiences and won his class. Connor thrilled us by winning Open, CC and Best In Show. 

Next up was the English Setter Society of Wales Champ and Open Show. At the Champ show Brad won Junior and Novice. Connor won Open and the Reserve Dog CC. Stella was second in Post Grad.  At the open show Stella won Limit, Best Bitch and ultimately Best In Show. Brad won Junior, Best Dog and Reserve Best In Show. His sister, Larrenie Paperheart for Laverstoke won Reserve Best Bitch for her owners. 

At the English Setter Association, Brad won Junior and Novice; Connor won Open and the Reserve Dog CC. Their wins, along with their sisters' placings, have helped their mum win the Brood Bitch Trophy for the most points at the champ show. 

At the Northern English Setter Society open show, Brad won Best In Show at the morning show, and Stella won her limit class. 

Bath Champ show, and only Brad shown, and he won Post Grad. 

Three Counties saw me be in the centre of the ring, judging a decent entry. Always an interesting day when judging. 

Up to Kelso for Border Union. Brad won Graduate, and Frank made an appearance, having only been shown once since last September when he won his second CC. Today he thrilled us by winning Open, his 3rd and crowning CC to become a show champion, and Best of Breed!

Border Union has been a lucky show for us in the last 4 years, we have won 3CCs, 2 BOB and a resCC! The photo below is a merging of two photos taken at Border Union of Mother and Son. Frank, on the left, was photographed this year, gaining his 3rd CC and BOB at 2.5 years, and his mother winning her 2nd CC and BOB at 3.5 years. I think it shows a real consistency of quality, type and conformation. 

In July, I judged at an open show up north, and the dogs had the month off as the show we had entered was cancelled due to the heat. 

On to the middle of August, we attended the Northern English Setter Society Champ Show; although it is the Northern Club, the show is held at Newark, so pretty local. Connor and his daughters Tara and Tilly went to the show. Tilly wasn't entered but went for the experience and to keep her sister company. They are from Isla's last litter in October '25, now 10 months old and this was their first show. Tara, despite having had very little training, was a little star in her class of quality puppies, which she won. Her behaviour in the ring did slip a little as the day went on, but for a first show I was thrilled with her, and she finished the day Reserve Best Puppy In Show. Their dad, Connor, had a very good day, winning an open dog class with 5 show champions present; he went on to take the Dog CC and Best In Show. The photo below was taken outside our home overlooking the fields after the show. 

Isla's pups by Connor have continued to develop well. Below is a photo of each of the bitch puppies at 6 weeks. They will be staying with us for the time being. The dog puppy left just after Christmas for his lovely home to live with his uncle (Connor's brother).

Setter and Pointer was the last show we exhibited at. Connor, for the second year, won the dog CC, his little sister, Molly, won Best Puppy In Breed at both the champ and open show for her owner Val Ishwerwood. A photo of the two of them:

At LKA, the final champ show of the year, Molly was again Best Puppy In Breed, her fourth such award. This equalled the most Best Puppy awards won by an English Setter in 2025, unfortunately, on the tie-break, she finished second in the Our Dogs top puppy competition. We are thrilled for Val on her success this year, and wish them every success in 2026. I couldn't show at LKA as I had the honour of judging an excellent entry of Otterhounds. 

Brad and Ellis have their hips X-rayed and scored under the BVA scheme. We are pleased with their scores of 6/5 for Brad and 4/4 for Ellis, they now join their brother, Connor, and Frank at stud. We also hope to show them in 2026 to!

Frank has continued to make his presence felt through the summer being either first or second in his Limit classes, along with gaining his first CC at Northern English Setter Society, his second resCC at Boston Champ show, and His second CC with Best of Breed at Darlington Champ show. 

Frank's first pups have been born, and we are excited to see them develop. 

At the beginning of October Connor's first pups were born, a boy and 2 girls; the mother is our Isla (Sh Ch Wandsfell Dream of Me). 

The end of May saw our show year start in earnest with five shows in the last 4 weeks.  Frank made his proper debut (he was shown once as a minor puppy), and in his first four shows has won three champ show limit classes, a res CC, and a breed club best in Show. Connor has one 1CC and Best of Breed and a resCC from the 2 shows he attended.

Connor on the left, Frank on the right at Windsor where Connor was Best of Breed and Frank won limit. 

October and November 24.

We only attended two shows, Midland Counties at the end of October and Setter and Pointer at the end of November. Connor won the Dog CC and Best of Breed at both shows, to bring our fabulous year to a close. In seven shows since leaving puppy he has amassed 5CCs 4 best of breeds and 1 resCC, and is only 21 months old. 

This year has been incredible with Priya and Connor, two new show Champions, winning 10 CCs, 6 Best of Breeds and 2 res CC this year. Some unforgettable moments; winning Best In Show at the MESS double champ show in February with Priya, the CC at Crufts, the day in Scotland winnning 3 of the 4 CCs available at Border Union and English Setter Society of Scotland. With Connor winning both dog CC, doing the double at the club show with his mum. 

Thank you to all the judges that have appreciated our dogs so much this year, to those that have supported us. We will now rest for the rest of the year and await Priya's final litter just before Chrstmas. 

No shows for us in July, and was nice to have a few weeks off. 

August 

3 champ shows in 3 days!

National Gundog at the start of the month saw Connor win Junior, and the debut of Freya, our curly coat, win Puppy and Best puppy bitch. 

United Retriever champ show, with freya second in puppy and first in novice. 

Bournemouth champ show Connor wins his last Junior class, and the ResCC. 

September

1st September at Birmingham City Champ show - Connor wins Limit,  the CC and Best of Breed to become SH CH Larrenie Heartstopper, at just 18.5 months - we believe the youngest male champion in breed history!

Photo from Border Union having won 3 of the 4CC's and BIS and RBIS at ESS of Scotland

April Saw Priya win open at the English Setter Association and her 6th CC at West Of England Kennel Society Champ show. 

No Shows for us in May, good to have a few weeks off after a busy first part of the year. On to June;

March means Crufts, and what a Crufts it was for us! Priya continued her winning ways; winning the open class, and then the Bitch CC!

Photos with the Judge, Mrs Maureen Collier, and with the Reserve Bitch CC winner

Our first show of the year, Midland English Setter Society 'Double Champ show' two shows in one day; and what a day it turned out to be! Priya won her class, then the CC, her third to become a UK Show Champion at the first show under judge Sandra Full, she was later Best In Show. The day only got better as at the second Show she also won her class, then the CC and Best In Show under Judge Fiona Tompsett - Two breed club Best In Shows, and her title in one day! 

pictured below with her co-owners having won her 3rd CC

A few days later, and 5 days early, Isla, Sh Ch Wandsfell Dream of Me, whelped her much awaited first litter -  10 puppies, 6 boys and 4 girls. So far, she is being an excellent mum and pups are doing well.