Robert Tawton
In March 1967 a chance meeting with Jack Thompson provided Robert with the opportunity to shoot quail over 7 of Jack’s dogs including the original imports, Monty and Eva and he was immediately “hooked”. A part time job was quickly found to fund the purchase of Dunfriu Morning Mist and she competed in her first Retrieving Trial in 1968.
Robert has held the positions of Committee Person and Secretary of the GSP Club of Victoria, Committee Person and Treasurer of the Victorian Gundog Club, Committee Person, Vice President and President of the ACT Gundog Society, ACT Representative on the National Retrieving and Field Trial (RAFT) Committee and Chairman of the National RAFT. He is also a Life Member of the ACT Gundog Society and a Member of the NRAFT Hall of Fame.
Robert has owned and trained seven Retrieving Trial Champions, three of which went on to gain the title of Grand Retrieving Trial Champion and it is believed that of the remainder two more would have qualified for this title had it be available at the time they were competing. At the present time Robert is the only handler to have won the National Championship with two difference breeds (2 times with a GSP and 1 time with Labrador) and also Runner Up in the National with two different breeds (1 x with a GSP and 1 x with a Labrador). Apart from the Northern Territory, Robert has competed in the remaining States and Territory and has enjoyed the good fortune to have won their State Championship. Gr. RT CH Kadnook King of Kanberra DM is also understood to be the first dog to have won every State Championship and he was also placed 2nd in a National Championship.
On the 15th of May 1971 Robert judged his first Novice Stake for the GSP Club of Victoria and since that time is understood to have averaged between 5 and 6 appointments per year. In 2002 Robert co-judged the National Championship with his son, Gareth, and is eagerly looking forward to the forthcoming 2018 Victorian Championship when he will again share with Gareth the opportunity to assess the best dogs in Australia. Robert has judged Championship Stakes in all States and Territories apart from the Northern Territory, which does not conduct this class of event. Nevertheless, Robert has judged lower level events in the Northern Territory.
It is without question that Robert and his wife, Pamela, have together enjoyed their involvement in the world of Retrieving Trials through the many friendships that have evolved coupled with the opportunity to see many wonderful dogs excellently perform the tasks for which they were bred.
In March 1967 a chance meeting with Jack Thompson provided Robert with the opportunity to shoot quail over 7 of Jack’s dogs including the original imports, Monty and Eva and he was immediately “hooked”. A part time job was quickly found to fund the purchase of Dunfriu Morning Mist and she competed in her first Retrieving Trial in 1968.
Robert has held the positions of Committee Person and Secretary of the GSP Club of Victoria, Committee Person and Treasurer of the Victorian Gundog Club, Committee Person, Vice President and President of the ACT Gundog Society, ACT Representative on the National Retrieving and Field Trial (RAFT) Committee and Chairman of the National RAFT. He is also a Life Member of the ACT Gundog Society and a Member of the NRAFT Hall of Fame.
Robert has owned and trained seven Retrieving Trial Champions, three of which went on to gain the title of Grand Retrieving Trial Champion and it is believed that of the remainder two more would have qualified for this title had it be available at the time they were competing. At the present time Robert is the only handler to have won the National Championship with two difference breeds (2 times with a GSP and 1 time with Labrador) and also Runner Up in the National with two different breeds (1 x with a GSP and 1 x with a Labrador). Apart from the Northern Territory, Robert has competed in the remaining States and Territory and has enjoyed the good fortune to have won their State Championship. Gr. RT CH Kadnook King of Kanberra DM is also understood to be the first dog to have won every State Championship and he was also placed 2nd in a National Championship.
On the 15th of May 1971 Robert judged his first Novice Stake for the GSP Club of Victoria and since that time is understood to have averaged between 5 and 6 appointments per year. In 2002 Robert co-judged the National Championship with his son, Gareth, and is eagerly looking forward to the forthcoming 2018 Victorian Championship when he will again share with Gareth the opportunity to assess the best dogs in Australia. Robert has judged Championship Stakes in all States and Territories apart from the Northern Territory, which does not conduct this class of event. Nevertheless, Robert has judged lower level events in the Northern Territory.
It is without question that Robert and his wife, Pamela, have together enjoyed their involvement in the world of Retrieving Trials through the many friendships that have evolved coupled with the opportunity to see many wonderful dogs excellently perform the tasks for which they were bred.
Gareth Tawton competed in his first trial at 12 years of age, competing with his father’s GSP in the ACT championship. A passion for hunting and trialling was ignited and some 35 years later he is still an active hunter, competitor, judge and now dabbles in breeding.
Gareth started his trialling career with GSP’s and still has a soft spot for the breed. The lure of the specialist became to much and Gareth moved to Labradors in the early 1990’s after seeing the drive produced by Kelvinhead Kadnook Clyde Imp UK (Monty). Monty was an outstanding producer imported from working lines in Scotland by Kadnook Kennels. Some success with Rt Ch Gaemist Robert and Nat and Gr Rt Ch Kadnook Pride ov Cork CM vindicated the decision to chase working lines with both dogs sired by Monty.
The chance to train and handle Adderslot Star Spangled Yank (USA) who was imported by Julie Crammond from some of the very best working lines in the USA again reminded Gareth of the wider world of working lines for Labradors. Chasing his chance to own a similar style of dog to Yank, Gareth along with wife Siobhan imported Rt Ch Watermarks Texan Midnight Runner (USA) and later Watermark N Farmers Little Darlin (USA). These bitches have become the foundation bitches of Gareth and Siobhan’s small working Kennel “Tirnanoge”.
Gareth has won more than 20 state championship and the 2009 National. He currently competes with Rt Ch Watermarks Texan Midnight Runner and Rt Ch Tirnanoge Halles Run both of which are multiple state championship winners. Nat and Gr Rt Ch Kadnook Pride ov Cork Cm is the only dog in Australian retrieving history to have won every state championship and the National.
On the judging front Gareth has been judging for over 25 years and has judged in every state and territory. This includes two National championships and all State championships except for Tasmania. He is very much looking forward to again adjudicating the Victorian State Championship in conjunction with his father.
“I would like to wish all the competitors the very best of luck and hope to produce a trial that allows for quality dog work not lucky dog work”
Gareth started his trialling career with GSP’s and still has a soft spot for the breed. The lure of the specialist became to much and Gareth moved to Labradors in the early 1990’s after seeing the drive produced by Kelvinhead Kadnook Clyde Imp UK (Monty). Monty was an outstanding producer imported from working lines in Scotland by Kadnook Kennels. Some success with Rt Ch Gaemist Robert and Nat and Gr Rt Ch Kadnook Pride ov Cork CM vindicated the decision to chase working lines with both dogs sired by Monty.
The chance to train and handle Adderslot Star Spangled Yank (USA) who was imported by Julie Crammond from some of the very best working lines in the USA again reminded Gareth of the wider world of working lines for Labradors. Chasing his chance to own a similar style of dog to Yank, Gareth along with wife Siobhan imported Rt Ch Watermarks Texan Midnight Runner (USA) and later Watermark N Farmers Little Darlin (USA). These bitches have become the foundation bitches of Gareth and Siobhan’s small working Kennel “Tirnanoge”.
Gareth has won more than 20 state championship and the 2009 National. He currently competes with Rt Ch Watermarks Texan Midnight Runner and Rt Ch Tirnanoge Halles Run both of which are multiple state championship winners. Nat and Gr Rt Ch Kadnook Pride ov Cork Cm is the only dog in Australian retrieving history to have won every state championship and the National.
On the judging front Gareth has been judging for over 25 years and has judged in every state and territory. This includes two National championships and all State championships except for Tasmania. He is very much looking forward to again adjudicating the Victorian State Championship in conjunction with his father.
“I would like to wish all the competitors the very best of luck and hope to produce a trial that allows for quality dog work not lucky dog work”
