Coast the Hungarian vizsla becomes dual champion
The Hungarian vizsla, owned by Andrew and Christine McDonald from Maldon, Essex, is no stranger to success, having won the gamekeeper’s class for working HPR breeds at Crufts in March for the second year in succession.
Coast recently became a field trial champion after winning his second ‘first place’ in an open field trial stake, adding to his champion status through dog showing achieved after being awarded his third challenge certificate at the Scottish Kennel Club Championship show in May 2008.
Speaking following the Hungarian vizsla’s recent success, Kennel Club secretary Caroline Kisko said: “Gaining dual champion status is a fantastic achievement, we are very happy for Christine, Andrew, Coast and his breeder. The fact that Coast is the first Hungarian vizsla to achieve the title is impressive and we hope this paves the way for other dual purpose dogs to work towards achieving his status.
“Field trials enable gundogs to display the natural abilities that they were originally bred for. This is central to our Fit For Function: Fit For Life campaign, which aims to ensure that dogs are fit enough to perform the tasks that they were originally bred for, such as hunting and retrieving in this case. Coast is a great example of this and it is great to see him do so well both in the field and in the show ring.”
Christine McDonald said: “Coast is the first Hungarian vizsla we have owned and is the epitome of a multi-purpose dog. My husband Andrew first started to appreciate his talent as a working gundog as well as a show dog when, at four months old he was so willing to please.
“Because he responded well to training and demonstrated enough natural instinct, we decided to enter him for the Show Gundog Working Certificate, which he achieved, and we then decided to pursue competitive field trials. He took to trialling extremely well and obviously impressed the judges with his natural flair for scenting and retrieving, which culminated in his field trial champion title through his win at an open field trial for HPR breeds, held by the Italian Spinone Club of Great Britain.
“This win also qualified him to enter the upcoming Kennel Club HPR championship which we are very much looking forward to, and we have decided to retire Coast from competitive field trials after the championship.
“With or without his titles, he is a wonderful dog and he enriches our lives by just being a pleasure to live with.”
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