I
bought my first Cairn in 1987 and started to show later that year, Ch
Kivran Pride and Joy became our first champion. I
had previously shown Cavalier King Charles as a youngster so it was not
completely new to me but the Cairn certainly was. I don't know if
everybody else is the same about their first dog in a breed but
nothing compared to this Cairn in my mind. But gradually I started
looking at other dogs and comparing the differences and then the
questions started. I remember showing at a Club Show and being
placed third in Open Dog. The lady judge was from abroad and I asked
her politely when she had finished judging if she could tell me why
the dog was placed where he was as I was new to the breed. She pointed out the dog's good points and what she felt could be
improved on and what to look out for if I intended to breed. She
also told me to look at the presentation of the other dogs. I then
thought about getting a bitch and started looking at different
kennels. I went to Crufts with a certain dog in mind but after
watching numerous classes a certain kennel kept catching my eye. I
loved the shape and personalities that were coming from this kennel.
They were by a dog called Larchlea Here's Harvey, a dog I had heard
about but unfortunately I never saw him in his prime. I spoke to
Carol Templeton about acquiring a bitch and arranged to meet her at
the Northern Ireland Cairn Club show the following month.
This is where I
saw Ch Larchlea Take a Chance on me for the first time and it was love at first sight.
At the same show I also saw Ch Birselaw Boomerang another one who
caught my eye little did I know that day that these two kennels
would play a role in the formation of Cadagio and I will be forever
grateful to Carol for my foundation bitches. I spoke to Carol and said that I was willing to wait.
In 1990 I got Ch & Eng. Ch. Larchlea Second Chance who was
certainly worth the wait as she is the only Cairn in the South of
Ireland ever to gain both the English and Irish Championship Titles
and won the bitch CACIB at the first show awarding them.
Unfortunately she never produced any pups but her personality and
showmanship make her a pleasure to own. I then bought Ch.
Larchlea Take my Breath Away who also won CC Bitch and Best in Show
at the North of Ireland Cairn Terrier Club) but gave up her show
career to produce Ir. Ch Cadagio Jive Talking, Cadagio Think Twice of
Larchlea (4 RCC’s) and Int Ch and Ch Cadagio Talk of the Town
(Bailey) An Ch 2000, 2002 who is the first cairn in
Ireland or the UK to have gained and International title He was the
top winning Cairn in 2000. In 2001 he went to Kennel Zalazar in
Denmark and his offspring are in Ireland Denmark Germany Belgium
Prague America, Finland and Italy his Daughter Am Ch Thestrup More
Talk of The Town gained her title in 2003 becoming his third
Champion Daughter. He returned to Ireland in 2002 to become top
cairn again and subject to Irish Kennel Club confirmation he is top
cairn again in 2003 making him the only cairn to be top cairn
for three years He has numerous group placing and has also won a
group.
I bought Ir. Ch. Birselaw Thunderbird (2 CACIB’s) who was the first
Cairn ever to win a CACIB in Ireland and is the only Cairn ever to
qualify for the Irish Show Dog of the Year Finals which is no mean
achievement as this is based on Group Points won at Championship
Shows. I got Ir. Ch. Larchlea Unchained Melody of Cadagio
An Ch 97 & 98 who
also has won 2CC’s and 4 RCC’s and is the mother Ch
Cadagio Tia Maria who is Bailey's second Irish Champion she is
also the dam of Cadagio Singha Gold in Denmark. And
last but no means least is Ch. Larchlea the One for Me of
Cadagio An Ch 99 who gained her title as a Junior bitch and was
top cairn in 1999 she is the dam of Ch Cadagio Honky Tonk
Woman and
Cadagio
Pretty Woman who had a successful year in 2003 both in the show
ring and as a new mum. She is also the dam to Cadagio Mizz
Dizzi Lizzy in Denmark Cadagio Florida Pearl and Cadagio go Ballistic
in Australia and Cadagio High Society in Finland and
Cadagio Every Breath you Take in Italy. In 2001 we had the
Danish invasion with Zalazar Special Edition mother to Cadagio
Hocus Pocus in Finland and Ch Frigg's Josefa coming to
Ireland Josefa became the first Danish bitch to
gain and Irish Champion title she was bred to UK Ch Birselaw Billy
Furey in 2003 and produced Cadagio as Good as it Gets and
Cadagio Catch me if you Can who on their first Debut in
England won both Minor Puppy Classes at the Cairn Terrier
Association Championship show she is also the mother to Cadagio a
Star is Born in Finland.
You
can see all the dogs' pedigrees in this site.
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