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Ryanstock
The 1980’s
As we entered the 80’s Weimaraner showing was brimming with optimism, I call it the purple period for the breed
because we could now compete with any of the gundog breeds for groups and best in show awards at top levels.
There were some very successful kennels emerging during this decade making up numerous show champions.
Breed records were to be broken and competition was fierce, such was the quality of dogs at this time.
We at ‘Ryanstock’, began our breeding with just one puppy in our first litter, Ryanstock Ashkanazy.
He was out of a bitch from Joan Matuszewska called Monroes Ash Lady and she was the result of the mating
of our favourite bitch Sh.Ch.Monroes Aequo and that full champion previously mentioned Wotan of Ragstone.
Askanazy sired a Show Champion , Sh.Ch.Ryanstock Bramble JW, this was our second champion as we had just made up
Sh.Ch.Ryanstock Angnetha JW out of a bitch we had by ‘Ryan’ our foundation dog.
Registrations in the breed soared beyond 2000 per annum, the only breed club, Weimaraner Club of Great Britain
Was now unable to control the flow of puppies into a growing sales market.
With the help of the Kennel Club there was a ‘Code of Conduct’ applied to all members, later to be renamed Code of Ethics.
It did not matter what it was called because rather than be constrained in how many litters you could breed from a bitch
or how many litters you could have in a year several members gave up their membership and broke away.
Now they could do as they please without any penalties.
There was also a second breed association formed, The Weimaraner Association, this would supplement any
deficient areas not covered by the W.C.G.B. and also provide similar and complimentary events for Weimaraner owners.
The breed was developing for the better in terms of construction and still maintained much original type.
The puppies bred however soon reached a crisis point and breed rescue was becoming overwhelmed.
Then there was formed a wider coverage of helpers and co-ordinators to deal with the increase,
the two excellent people who had formed and managed rescue on their own still worked tirelessly within their limits.
Later there would be a further rescue unit established with charitable status and managed from Scotland.
The breed now firmly established in the UK. The 90’s was to be the last decade where the breed would hit
the heights and the second half of the decade would see a slow but gradual decline in it’s popularity
and a lingering loss of quality.
Come back for the 90’s ............ next time
