Gunalt's humble beginnings can be traced back to 1972 when Stephen & Patsy acquired
their first English Setter. Since 1982 there have been 62 British Weimaraner Show
Champions bred and/or owned, plus an English Setter and Hungarian Vizsal Show Champion
to bear the Gunalt affix, as well as Championship show winning Field Spaniels and
Golden Retrievers. Of the many Weimaraner title holders no fewer than 36 have been
owned/shown by other people, proving that Gunalt sell winners as well as breeding
winners for themselves. This is A RECORD being more than TWICE THE AMOUNT PRODUCED
BY ANY OTHER UK WEIMARANER KENNEL.
Their first Weimaraner and foundation of the Gunalt Kennel was a bitch bred by Fiona
Dow in Scotland, Vimana Viveca of Gunalt. Followed by Sh Ch Hansom Brandyman of
Gunalt, winner of 20 CC's and bred by Dick Finch. Viveca proved an exceptionally
sound bitch and produced two Show Champion offspring, the first homebred champion
Sh Ch Gunalt Anais Anais sired by Brandyman who won 29 CC's and 2 reserve groups
and also the dog Sh Ch Gunalt Gildoran sired by Sh Ch Kisdons Derring Do who won
6 CC's.
It was Brandyman and Anais Anais who at Darlington in 1983 won the first of many
doubles (Both dog and Bitch CC's) for the Gunalt Kennel. Anais Anais went on to
produce two champions by Ch Czolkins Platinum Cirrus, Sh Ch Gunalt Cacharel who
won 19 CC's one group and two reserve groups and also Sh Ch Gunalt Armani owned
by Mick & Jacqui Ward who did the double at Bath in 1987.
Another Star of the late eighties was Sh Ch Hansom Portman of Gunalt, winner of
27 CC's who became the First Weimaraner to Win BEST IN SHOW at an ALL BREEDS CHAMPIONSHIP
SHOW- thus another record.
The Next Important step in what was becoming a very successful Kennel was to mate
Anais Anais to Cacharel. It was not a decision made lightly and resulted in ten
puppies one of which was Gunalt Joy, whilst not shown much she proved to be an outstanding
producer becoming the Top Producing bitch in the history of the breed and Top Brood
Bitch ALL BREEDS in 1995 after being runner up the previous year.
Gunalt Joy's first litter by Carolyn Alston's all American bred Sh Ch Flimmoric
Fanclub produced two outstanding Weimaraners, Sh Ch/Ir Sh Ch Gunalt Harris Tweed
and Sh Ch Gunalt Obsession. Harris, owned by Karen Robinson is the current breed
record holder with 46 CC's and winner of several Championship Show Groups.
Obsession was the Top Puppy in the breed in 1990 and the first Weimaraner to qualify
for the pup of the year finals and also the Pedigree Champion Stakes Finals. In
total she won five groups and five reserve groups and went on to produce three Show
Champions, one of whom Sh Ch Gunalt Elements owned by Karen Robinson won the group
on the same day as his first CC.
In total Gunalt Joy produced EIGHT British title holders of which only one stayed
at home with Gunalt, illustrating Stephen & Patsy's willingness to let good stock
go to new enthusiasts.
In the last decade of the twentieth century the Gunalt name has becone Synonymous
with quality Weimaraners both in the UK and abroad.
In the first Crufts of the new millenium Sh Ch Gunalt Carter with Kaek, owned by
Julie George Ainscough and Marc Paterson Hesford took the dog CC, best of Breed
and went on to be placed runner up in the gundog group.
Sh Ch Gunalt Finn, another of Joy's progeny owned by Gary & Karen Scobell won the
inaugural Weimaraner Association Weimaraner of the year competition for 2000 and
2001 being crowned at almost ten years of age.