1980s

In 1980 a lovely liver and white bitch was bought from the “Daviam” kennel of Mr and Mrs Parkinson. This was Daviam Nicola, but tragically she developed a pyometra and died at an early age.

Undeterred, we then purchased a liver and white male from the Hilldon kennel owned by Mr and Mrs Pimblett, Hilldon Houdini a first prize winner at championship shows, was never the most enthusiastic at shows, but was to prove his value as a good stud dog (in this he was most enthusiastic).

In the early eighties we were kindly given the best present anyone could receive a beautiful liver bitch From Frank and Shirley S Sutcliffe (Eaglesfield), this was Eaglesfield Sorrel and she was to be the real start of the Calderside Pointers. Solly was sired by Stonebridgelees Sun ranger x Stonebridglees summer wine both owned by Frank and Shirley, and of course bred by Mr and Mrs M Leslie of the Stonebridgelees affix.

Solly produced four litters, two sired by Houdini, one sired by Pendleside Vicount of five acres/Davium breeding this produced several champ show winning offspring. But it was in her final litter that was to shape the present day Calderside pointers. In her final litter we used a total outcross as far as pedigrees were concerned, but in fact going back to the beginning of Grahams involvement in pointers, the sire was Jesterlys Moonlight Glow a black and white dog of Wyndsmoor and Crookrise breeding. This produced the first Calderside show champion, Calderside Cadet.