N14417/79, FDSB 1079658.
The American Dog- While always looking to the future of the English Setter breed and how to always try to improve upon it through breeding programmes, it is always important to remember the past and the success some of the imports have had to the Irish gene pool. One such dog which through the bloodlines of numerous Irish pedigree lines was that of the famous American dog known as "Equimark".
"Equimark" - described as "perhaps the greatest American import to Europe since WWII. He was imported as an adult dog by Norwegian kennel Sletthallen from the legendary Smith Setters in 1979. He was by the great US FTCh "Tomoka" (Grouse Ridge John - Susan's Lady Bird) ex Oscar's Bronze Monel (I'm Oscar - Coppersmith). "Equimark" was recognised as a hugely talented dog but the positioning of his tail when he set was not approved in US field trials. Norwegian trial rules are a bit more pragmatic in such regards and "Equimark" became a consistent performer both in the Norwegian mountains and lowland fields. However, it is as a stud dog he has had a lasting impact, having had approx 20 matings. Numerous of his children and grand-children did well in trials and have survived down through several generation of strong trialing and breeding stock."
The American to Norwegian import also made his bloodlines as far as Ireland, as "Equimark" was also the Grandfather of one of the most famous English Setters in this country from Johnny Geoghegan's fantastic "Storeskars G’Snorre" who went on to produce multiple lines of FTCh here in Ireland, through Johnny's own kennel prefix of his "Lefanta" lineage of English Setters.
"Equimark" was also grandfather to John Quirkes Danish import "Heegards V kody" (Sletthallens knock out & Heegaards Q Randi) from Jorgen Heegaard's kennel. Kody's father "Sletthallens Knock out" was a son of "Equimark". Kody is litter brother to the biggest winning English setter in Europe "Heegaards V Lill".
Kody may not have succeeded at trials but has been very important in breeding as he has produced many great dogs and field trial champions. "Ballyellen Cody", "Ballyellen Cira", "Ballyellen Cara" and "Ballyellen Moss" all from the same litter and all field trial champions along with Moss who was owned and handled by George Forbes winning the Irish championship in 2013. Another son of Kody also owned and handled by George Forbes to become a field trial champion is "Knocksmall Toru".
There probably isn't an English setter kennel in Ireland without Heegards V kody lineage.
We are also still lucky enough to have the Sletthallens kennel lineage coming through to Irish shores, in more recent times from successful breeding programmes from Jimmy Griffin and his "Glanlough" kennel prefix with the import of "Sletthallens Skadi".