Bred by the late Audrey Nicholls and owned by Anne Gethin (Clarkson) Ch. Darelyn Rifleman won 37 CC’s and 35 BOB’s. He won 13 groups, four BIS at all-breed championship shows, was twice BIS at United Retriever Club and twice at the Curlycoated Retriever Club championship show.

“Manny” was by Sh. Ch. Darelyn Fabian ex Ch. Darelyn Natasha. He was BOB five times at Crufts from 1985-1989 and was pulled out in the last six in the group three times.

His success started when he won the group at WELKS under Catherine Sutton. He then went one better at Southern Counties and took his first BIS – this was the first time a Curly had achieved such heights. He went on to be top gundog in 1986 and 1987 and top sire 1986-1988.

He certainly made an impact on the breed and gave many of his attributes to his progeny in the UK and abroad. A few that come to mind are Sh. Ch. Hawthorn Ranger of Brenal, Sh. Ch. Gladrags Scrumptious, Sh. Ch. Darelyn Tarnya, Sh. Ch. Sutton Tied Boy and Sh. Ch. Tangulls Samphire of Herblyn – these are just a few in the UK. Abroad there was Ch. Darelyn Teasel, Ch. Darelyn Toffee Distinction, Ch. Cornish Marksman and many more.

Not only was Manny a superb showman, but he obtained his Working Certificate in 1986 and he was a great friend to Anne over the years. He was a total gent in and out of the ring and had a lovely temperament with humans and canine alike.

Sadly he was taken from us at a young age and this was a great loss to Anne and the breed, but his memory is still going on in the ring as he appears in many of the pedigrees of dogs shown today.

Bernice Lukes & Anne Gethin

First published in Dog World Retriever Showcase 13/04/2007