Coast with the most

A young vizsla takes the show world by storm, achieving rare dual champion status with talent and good looks, says David Tomlinson

- David Tomlinson

TIME FLIES. IT hardly seems possible that it’s 13 years since I visited Christine McDonald at her home on the Essex coast to talk about dogs in general and Welsh springers in particular. Christine had been involved with these spaniels for nearly 30 years, both showing and working them. She had bred four full champions, which meant they were champions in the show ring and had achieved their show working gundog certificate, proving that they were steady to gunfire and capable of retrieving shot game.

However, after so many years with Welsh springers, Christine had decided to try another breed. She had acquired a very handsome Hungarian vizsla called Coast (Bitcon Gold Coast at Northey JW), by a Australian champion. I was impressed with him, writing in this column that I found him to be “one of the most photogenic dogs I’ve ever pointed a camera at”.

I wasn’t the only one to be impressed with Coast. When I met him he had already achieved his first CC (challenge certificate) in the show ring and not long after his second birthday he acquired two more, to make him a show champion.

However, as he had already gained his show working gundog certificate he automatically became a full champion, an impressive achievement for such a young dog.