Handler Profile - Rhona Frew

Country: Scotland

My Dogs

Currently Rhona owns 6 Gordon Setters.

Achievements

"Probably my most memorable successes have been winning my first Challenge Certificate with my first homebred Gordon - Dunfionn Arran in 1983 and winning the Dog Challenge Certificate at Crufts 1997 with Liric Top of the Bill at Dunfionn - he was beaten for Best of Breed by the breed record holder!”

As if that’s not enough …

Rhona’s very first Gordon went on the win her title and become Sh Ch Rossend Glentochty at Dunfionn. She produced Sh Ch Dunfionn Arran and Sh Ch Dunfionn Barra of Rossend. Rhona brought in Glentochty's half brother who became Sh Ch Rossend Gaelic Drover of Dunfionn and was a top stud dog in the breed. Sh Ch Liric Top of the Bill at Dunfionn also gained his title.

Rhona is currently showing Dunfionn Inverkip who has two reserve C.C.'s and is her sixth generation and she has two of his daughters and hopefully a grandson ‘waiting in the wings’.

What has CSJ done for my dogs?

"All my dogs are doing really well on CSJ products, they are happy, content and look fantastic. My show dogs and youngsters are all on Command Performance, adults on CP21 and youngsters on CP 24. I have just weaned my current litter using CP 27 Puppy and they love it! My other dogs are on CSJ Herbie Nuts plus Rosie, the oldie, also has "Get Over!" which enables her to keep up with (and sometimes overtake) the others. They all love their CSJ Crispy Fish Skins and I find the CSJ Trainers invaluable - saves me having to make liver cake!”

Biography

3 generations of Dunfionns

Rhona’s affix is Dunfionn which means "fort on a hill" in Gaelic. She tries to give all her Gordons Scottish names as Gordon Setters are a Scottish breed.

The beginning .

Rhona has been involved in dogs since a young age as she spent all her free time at a local kennel.

Showing Cockers to start with she got her first dog at the age of 13 - an Irish Setter. Gordons were fairly rare in those days and it wasn't until she got married in 1979 that she was able to get her first Gordon.

Other ‘doggy’ involvements include …..

Judging Gordon Setters at Championship level since 1990
Judging and all gundogs at Open level since 1985
Working part-time as a Veterinary Assistant
Selling CSJ products in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire

Since the above was written in 2006 Rhona has some major successes during 2007, despite only getting to a few shows – here’s the rundown:

Congratulations to new Champion - Sh Ch Dunfionn Inverkip

He won his 2^nd Challenge Certificate and Reserve Best in Show at the Gordon Setter Club of Scotland in May.

He then quickly won his all important 3^rd CC and Best of Breed at Border Union in June.

Congratulations to new Champion - Sh Ch Macdui Sonnet (owned in partnership with Ghislaine McFarlane)

She came out of semi-retirement in November at the Gundog Breeds of Scotland Championship Show and won her 3^rd Challenge Certificate and Best of Breed at the age of eight!!

This achievement was exactly five years since winning her first CC at this show!

Not to be outdone ……..

Inverkip and Sonnet’s daughter - Dunfionn Amethyst was Reserve Best in Show at the Gordon Setter Club of Scotland Open Show in November (at the tender age of 27 months!).

Dunfionn Lomond, owned by Mr and Mrs Sterrick, has been first at each of the three Championship Shows attended and was Best Puppy in Breed at Gundog Breeds of Scotland.

2009 Update...

A hugely successful year again for the Dunfionn Gordons – what a super list of major wins – congratulations to Rhona, Mr and Mrs Craddock and Mrs Clark!

Rhona Frew’s Dunfionn Nethy:

Best of Breed at SWS Gundog Show at 7 months of age
Best Puppy in Breed at Bath Ch Show

Dunfionn Neave:

Best Puppy Bitch Scottish Breeds Ch Show
1st Junior Bitch S.K.C. (Aug) Ch Show
1st Junior Bitch and Reserve C.C. Midland Counties Ch Show
1st Junior Bitch Setter & Pointer Club Ch Show
1st Junior and 1st Yearling Bitch G.B.A.S. Ch Show
1st Junior and 1st Yearling Gordon Setter Club of Scotland Open Show

Dunfionn Amethyst:

1st Limit Bitch at Setter & Pointer Ch
1st Limit Bitch and Bitch C.C. at G.B.A.S. Ch Show

Dunfionn Nave - owned by Mr & Mrs Craddock:

Best Puppy Dog Border Union Ch Show
1st Junior Dog at G.B.A.S. Ch Show
1st Junior Dog Gordon Setter Club of Scotland Open Show

Dunfionn Onich of Clohass - owned by Mrs C Clark:

Seven Best Puppy in Breed at Championship Shows Making her Top Gordon Setter Puppy 2009

Rhona says, "All the above are fed on CSJ Command Performance.”

March 2013 update from Rhona

A super Crufts with 3 firsts, one fourth, Bitch Challenge Certificate and Best Veteran Bitch from 4 dogs!

Over the last 12 month period five different "Dunfionn" Gordons have won Challenge Certificates and we have bred two new Show Champions and the Best in Show winner at the British Gordon Setter Club Championship Show.

In addition our now 12 year old Show Champion Dunfionn Inverkip was the "Dog World/Royal Canin" Top Stud Dog in the Breed.

Rhona’s contact details are:-

Rhona Frew, 9 Loundon Avenue, Priestland, Darvel, Ayrshire, KA17 0NY

Tel: 01560 320126

Email: rhona@dunfionn.freeserve.co.uk