It was probably inevitable that I would get into the world of dog showing at some point as one of my childhood friends was the daughter of Patsy Hollings of the world famous Gunalt Weimaraners. I worked in Patsy’s kennels on weekends and it was there that I learnt a lot about construction, breeding and dogs in general. When I decided I would like to start showing Cockers, it was Patsy who recommended that I should contact her friend Moray Armstrong and so in 1991 after a visit to the Bitcon kennels, Bitcon Bo-Peep was purchased. Although not a big winner herself she was a very sound bitch, with lovely breeding. Bo-Peep became my foundation bitch and is behind all the Cassom Cocker Spaniels. Using stud dogs from kennels such as Manchela, Glowhill, Charbonnel & Terriles have all played their part in making my kennel successful, but my biggest influences have obviously come from the Bitcon and Lindridge kennels.
Bo-Peep was mated to SH.CH. Bitcon Troubador and she produced SH.CH. Cassom April Sky in her first litter and Cassom Summer Sky in a repeat mating. April Sky had a successful show career, but unfortunately struggled to produce puppies. Summer Sky when mated to SH.CH. Glowhill Rob Roy produced SH.CH. Cassom Lois Lane. Lois had a wonderful show career starting by winning the Cocker Spaniel Club’s Puppy of the Year award in 2000, the Cocker Spaniel Club’s Puppy Challenge in 2001, North Midland & Eastern Counties Cocker Club’s Cocker of the Year 2001 and the Challenge Certificate and Reserve Best in Show at the Cocker Club Championship show in 2001.
Lois was eventually mated to Bitcon Night Watchman and produced Cassom Penelope Pitstop, the next time Lois was mated to SH.CH. Manchela Blue Lagoon and produced SH.CH. Cassom Athene. Athene was one of the Cocker Club’s top puppies in 2005 and also won the Reserve Challenge Certificate at the Cocker Spaniel Club Championship show in 2006.
Penelope Pitstop was unshown but became a fantastic producer. When mated to SH.CH. Lindridge Ticket to Ride she produced SH.CH. Cassom Hey Jude. As well as being one of the Cocker Club’s top puppies in 2008, Jude had a successful show career including twice winning the Reserve Challenge Certificate at Crufts, the first time in 2010 and again in 2012. Penelope Pitstop was then mated to SH.CH. Lindridge Mooncatcher producing Cassom Rock Star. Rock Star was always very much in Jude’s shadow but still had a successful show career winning numerous breed club open show Best in Show awards and a Reserve Challenge Certificate along the way.
Hey Jude and Rock Star are now retired from the show ring, but are both behind my latest youngsters. Hey Jude is sire of Cassom Skyfall who was joint winner of the Cocker Club’s Puppy of the Year award 2013 and Rock Star is grandsire of SH.CH. Veratey Vincenzo at Cassom J.W.
Vincenzo was Best Puppy in Show at the Cocker Spaniel Club’s championship show 2014, he was also the top winning puppy in breed in both the Our Dogs and Cocker Spaniel Club competitions in 2014. He won his first Reserve Challenge Certificate at 10 months of age and became a Show Champion at 18 months old. He was Best in Show at The Cocker Spaniel Club championship show 2015. To date, aged just 21 months old, he has won 8 Challenge Certificates, 6 with Best of Breed and has recently had his first group win. All this currently makes him top winning Cocker Spaniel in the U.K.
I’ve also been lucky enough to export Cockers who have gained their titles in other counties, including CH. Cassom Overjoyed with Marveil (Italy), CH. Cassom Just N Time (Russia) and CH. Cassom Diamonds Are Forever (Singapore).
As well as showing Cockers, I had success showing English Setters and Hungarian Vizslas’ including the Hungarian Vizsla SH.CH. Hammerton Hold Court at Cassom.
My first time awarding Challenge certificates was at The Parti Coloured Cocker Spaniel Club championship show in 2007, since then I have awarded C.C.’s in the UK on 3 other occasions and I am booked to judge at 3 more shows in the UK, one being The Cocker Spaniel Club championship show in 2018. I have also judged in Sweden, Finland, Italy, France, Poland, Belgium and the Czech Republic.
I’m really looking forward to judging Cockers at the Cocker Spaniel Society of N.S.W. as I constantly hear good reports about the quality of the dogs in Australia from other judges who have had the honour to be invited to judge in your beautiful country.
See you all soon!
Sarah Amos-Jones.