We went to Sandylands to pick up a puppy but I wanted Jimmy. Do you remember that
Michael Boothroyd? Jimmy was not for sale, he was bought in to the kennels. He was by Sandylands Jayncourt Tally-Ho
x Wendover Black Agatha, born in 1974. Gwen's words, when we left her house were 'You cannot have Jimmy'!
Two days later when we sat there after a nice meal and before bedtime, Gwen looked at me and
said 'Gunilla, I have had Jimmy x-rayed and he has very good hips so you can have him'! That shows how nice a person
Gwen was, and Jimmy became an International, Swedish and Finnish Champion and also qualified in the field. Tragically,
Jimmy was killed by a car at only 6 years old but he had already proven himself to have been an excellent sire.
When we stayed with Gwen in 1984, we met a very nice 15 month old black called Sandylands Night
Flight (Ch Sandylands Newinn Columbus x Ch Sandylands Longley Come Rain). We could not go home without this lovely male.
He made-up easily and later on, with Gwen's permission, he made the trip to Denmark because the were in need of a good stud
dog at Dee-Fair. There, owned in partnership with us, he was campaigned to his Danish and German titles and also qualified
in the field to become an International Swedish, Danish and German Champion.
It was two years later that we received a letter from Gwen asking us if we wanted a one year
old yellow male with good hips. That was Sandylands April Madness, a lovely dog with the most sweet temperament.
'Maddi' was by Sh. Ch. Armargha Mad Hatter x Ch Sandylands Longley Come Rain. You can see him in his favourite position
in the Yellow Lab Club's Year Book. He was another one who proved to be an excellen sire. Unfortunately he had
to be put to sleep aged only 7 years old with a kidney problem.
Something worth nothing is that over the years, all of our Sandylands had 0-0 hips in Sweden
and they were all good workers which has been very important to us.
So Gwen, I will miss you badly. - I'll miss your letters - you were such a good writer, miss
our Champaign drinking and your good cooking. Leif loved your breakfasts! I also feel very privileged to have
known you for such a long time and seen all your famous old dogs, Tweed, Tango, Mark, Blaze, Come Rain and of course your
beloved Trinka. I also know how you liked to stay with us. You would enjoy a drink with us sitting, looking out
over the Baltic Sea. I will forever be grateful to you for letting us have sperm from Ch Sandylands Blaze and Ch Sandylands
Charlston in 1978. We would not have been where we are today without you and your Sandylands dogs.
So thanks Gwen, for having been such a lovely friend to us and I finish with your own words,
"Goodbye my dear. Take care.'
Gunilla
P.S. I would like to use Price Jessup's words "To own a Sandyalnds Labrador was an honour.
To have a relationship with Mrs. Broadley was a priveledge. To have her affection was a joy."