We are pleased to confirm that Beattie is in whelp with a good-sized litter, so there should be a few puppies available to the right homes. They puppies are due on 11/08/2010 and should be ready for their new homes at the end of September/start of October.
This is a repeat mating of the successful combination that produced our Rumour and 'Baby' Faith (Messano Goes To Sunnyfields) in Hungary.

Paul completed his London To Paris 300 mile cycle ride on behalf of the Action Medical Research charity. The 700 riders have been pledged 1.1 million pounds for their efforts and I would personally like to thank everyone who generously sponsored me for this very enjoyable experience. I will be back in France next year for a stage or two of the Tour De France, as it is the Crufts of the cycling world!
To see a few photos from the ride, please click here.

The Golden Retriever Club Championship Show. Judge: Mrs V. Tregaskis (Steval). Messano Urban Myth JW, 1st Under-Graduate Dog. Rumour continued his winning ways at the UK senior breed club.

We are pleased to announce that Rumour and Tommy have both been awarded their Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze Award..

Berkshire Downs & Chilterns Golden Retriever Club Open Show. Judge: Mrs S. Binks (Suekelle). Messano Urban Myth JW, 1st Post Graduate Dog, Best Dog, Best Of Breed & BEST IN SHOW!
Messano Give Me Faith, Reserve Special Veteran Bitch.
A vey enjoyable day and the first big win for Rumour.

The Royal Norfolk Premier Open Show. Judge: Mrs J. Bearman. Messano Urban Myth JW, 1st Yearling Dog.
We also took Hessonite Fingers Crossed (Nancy) to the show. Nancy is a Tommy daughter and Julie handled her as her breeder/owner Julie Thomas was not available and she won a 1st in Puppy Bitch and Best Puppy In Breed. Unfortunately the Group judging was very late and we could not stay until the end for the Puppy group challenge.

We went away for a holiday in Croatia with a group of friends. We shared a wonderful villa in a beautiful setting and had a relaxing break away from 'doggie duties'
For a few holiday photos, please click here.

South West Essex Canine Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs J. Maddison (Jaymardy). Messano Urban Myth JW, 3rd Graduate.

The Suffolk Show. Judge Mrs J. Chalkley (Pondcroft). Messano Urban Myth JW, 1st Post Graduate Dog & Reserve Best Of Breed.
Judge: Mrs B. Baskett. Messano Urban Myth JW, 1st Cyril Locksmith Memorial Stakes.

This is the latest update for the fund-raising for my sponsored bicycle ride from London to Paris, now rapidly approaching in July. I have a training ride of 100 miles scheduled for 6th June around the Norfolk coastline and this should help me prepare both mentally and physically! Due to some extremely generous sponsorship from my friends and organisations, I have raised £1,182 to date.
Thanks to all who have contributed so far...there is still time left to sponsor me if you can spare a few pounds!

Thetford Canine Society Open Show. Judge: Mr C. Woodward (Wadeson). Messano Urban Myth JW, 3rd Graduate.

National CAC Show in Hodmezovasarhely, Hungary. Judge: Mr Attila Czegled HJCH HRJCH Messano Goes To Sunnyfields (Faith) CAC, BEST OF BREED & BEST OF GROUP III. Faith continues to win at high level in Hungary....we look forward to news of her next win!

For those of you who are also interested in our human baby, we have updated our grand-daughter Annabelle's web page with some photos that we took in the garden at the weekend. They can be seen by clicking here.

Birmingham National Championship Show. Judge: Mrs S. Brown (Ipcress) Dogs: Messano Urban Myth, VHC Undergraduate Dog. Mr M. Watkins (Tamarley) Bitches, Messano Phonafriend, 2nd Limit.
Large Munsterlander - Mrs B. Hargreaves (Ghyllbeck) Ashlowrick Satin Flower (Lucy), 1st Junior. This win gave Lucy her final points to be awarded her JUNIOR WARRANT, Julie's 2nd in a week!
Lucy is owned in partnership with Paul's Aunt Gill Patrick, Lucy is so far unbeaten in breed classes at shows, which for a puppy who has been shown for 6 months and won enough points for a JW is no mean feat! A photo of Lucy can be seen by clicking here.

Golden Retriever Club of Northumbria Championship Show. Judge: Mrs A. Woodcock (Stanroph). Messano Urban Myth JW, 1st Junior Dog, 3rd Yearling Dog, 3rd Undergraduate Dog, Reserve Graduate Dog.
The last few Junior Warrant points are like buses; you wait a while for 1 to come and then 7 come along at once!

Newark & Notts Agricultural Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs J. Miller (Feorlig). Messano Urban Myth JW, 1st Junior Dog, 1st Graduate Dog, 1st Post Graduate Dog, 1st Open Dog, Best Dog, and then for the 4th consecutive Open Show he was awarded Best Of Breed. The win in Junior was the final point needed to complete Rumour's claim for a Junior Warrant!
This award is very special to us, especially as Rumour was attacked and badly savaged as a seven-month old puppy. At the time we thought he may never have the confidence to go to another show, let alone show himself so well and win a Junior Warrant. It is testament to Rumour's character and will to please that he recovered from that trauma and fulfilled his early potential.
Thank you to all the Judges who helped Rumour to achieve this award and share our opinion that he is a special dog.

Satu Mare 2 x CACIB Shows, Romania.
1st day Judge: Andras Korózs (Hungary). Messano Goes To Sunnyfields (Baby Faith) awarded Excellent 1, CAC and RCACIB.
2nd day Judge: Christian Stavarache (Romania), awarded Excellent 1, CAC, CACIB and Best Of Breed.
Congratulations Judit and Sunny! (www.sunnyfields.hu).

Norfolk & Norwich Canine Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs L. Fisher (Palizolla). Messano Urban Myth, 1st Junior, 1st Graduate, 1st Limit, 1st Open and then for the 3rd consecutive weekend he was awarded Best Of Breed.
Under judge: Sally Leslie (Risedene) he was then placed 1st in the Gundog Group. Rumour now just needs ONE point for his Junior Warrant award, fingers crossed!!

Windsor Gundog Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs H. Male (Malenbrook). Messano Urban Myth, 2nd Junior Dog, 1st Graduate Dog, 1st Post-Graduate Dog, 2nd Open Dog.

East Anglian Gundog Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs C. Cooke (Nieghn). Messano Urban Myth, 1st Junior, 1st Yearling, 1st Graduate, 1st Limit, 1st Open, Best Of Breed. Short-listed in the Group.

Messano Goes To Sunnyfields (Baby Faith), is now a Hungarian Junior Champion, to add to her Croation Junior champion title. Well done Baby Faith and Judit!

Eastwood Canine Society Open Show. Judge: Mrs J. McDonald. Messano Urban Myth, 2nd Junior, 3rd Yearling.

Yorkshire Golden Retriever Club Championship Show, Dog Judge: Mrs G Hewitson (Seruilia). Messano Urban Myth, 2nd Junior, 3rd Undergraduate, 3rd Graduate.
Bitch Judge: Mrs C Gilbert (Okus), Messano Give Me Faith, 3rd Veteran. Messano Phonafriend, Reserve Limit.

Wickford, Basildon & District Canine Society Open Show, Ms S. Loach (Putjade). Messano Urban Myth, 1st Junior, 1st Yearling, 1st Graduate, 1st Post Graduate, 1st Open Dog, Best Of breed and Gundog Group 3.
A very successful day!

Eastern Counties Golden Retriever Club Open Show. Miss A. Aulton (Winnats). Messano Urban Myth, 2nd Junior, 2nd Yearling, 1st Undergraduate, 1st Graduate.
Messano Give Me Faith, Reserve Special Veteran Bitch.

Paul was 'official' club photographer at this show. Photos of all the 1st and 2nd prize winners and full results can be found by clicking here.

Today 'Harry' came back home to Messano. Harry is 15 weeks old and is from our V litter. He is a son of Tommy and Sally and has many similar features to his parents.

Harry is housetrained, vaccinated, microchipped, travels in the car well, gets on well with people and other dogs and is looking for a new permanent home.

Enquiries for Harry are welcomed; please contact us so that you can arrange to come and meet him. Obviously we will be looking for a special home for this puppy, as he needs to be in a forever home as soon as possible.

Contact us by clicking here, or phone 01986 894627.

South Western Golden Retriever Club Championship Show Championship Show. Judge: Mrs F. Brightley (Drumkilty). Messano Urban Myth, 3rd Junior, 2nd Yearling, 2nd Undergraduate.

Cruft's Championship Show. Judge: Mrs M. Woods (Amirene). Ritzilyn Rock On Tommy For Messano, 1st Post Graduate.
We were thrilled when Tommy was awarded the first in this class, his first show he had attended in 10 months.
Large Munsterlander - Ashlowrick Satin Flower (Lucy), 1st Special Puppy, 1st Special Junior, judged by Mrs H. Salmon.
Julie handled Lucy the Large Munsterlander puppy that is registered in partnership with Paul's aunt Gill Patrick and was awarded 2 firsts. This maintains her unbeaten record in breed classes so far in her show career. Lucy can be seen by clicking here.
Julie was called into the challenge with Lucy, which unfortunately clashed with Tommy's class in the Golden Retriever ring, so Tommy was handled by his breeder Lynne Hennessy. Tommy took it all in his stride and we thank Lynne firstly for helping us win this award and secondly Lynne and George for breeding such a special boy. Tommy can be seen at Crufts by clicking here
A very special day and one that we shall cherish forever.
Also, congratulations go to the owner of William from our 'W'' litter, Ola Szydłowska, for winning the Cruft's International Junior handling Competition representing Poland. Well done Ola!

Coventry and District Gundog Society. Judge: Mrs P. Wilson (Pearlbarn). Messano Urban Myth, 1st Junior, 1st Graduate, Best Opposite Sex.

Romford Canine Society Open Show. Judge: Anita Campion (Fenwood). Messano Urban Myth, 3rd Junior.
Our star of the day was 'Lucy' the Large Munsterlander that Julie owns in partnership with Paul's aunt Gill Patrick (Ashlowrick). Lucy won the Junior and Post Graduate class and then was awarded Best of Breed and Best Puppy, beating three Champions that were also entered at the show.
She then was placed second in the adult Gundog Group and thrilled us by winning the Gundog Puppy Group! Not bad for a puppy!

Judit Beke of Sunnyfields Golden Retrievers sent us some good news about 'Baby' Faith (Messano Goes To Sunnyfields). At The Zagreb International Show on 27/02/2009 Faith won the Junior class and this made her a Croation Junior Champion! Click here to see some photos of Faith at the show. Well done Faith, you have made us very proud with your success so far.

Kent County Canine Association Open Show. Judge: Mrs S. Main (Gwyngala). Messano Urban Myth, 1st Junior, 1st Post Graduate, Best Of Breed. This was a good day for Rumour, as the first Best of Breed is very special. Thanks to the judge for this award at just 15 months of age.

Iska, our last puppy left for her new home today. Life is now back to normal at Messano, but we do miss her!

Southern Golden Retriever Club Championship Show. Judge: Mrs E. Pope (Chilzer). Messano Urban Myth, 3rd Junior, 3rd Yearling, 1st Undergraduate. We were pleased that Rumour had a succesful return to the ring after a break of more than 2 months, and he qualified for Cruft's 2011 at his first show of the season

Update on my sponsorship; I have now been sponsored for a total of £852 to date. Thanks to all who have helped me get this far, I 'only' need another £350 to reach my target of £1,200!
I have stripped my road bike down for a rebuild, so that it is ready for the journey.

The last puppy from Sunny's 'W' litter now has a home arranged for him. He will be going to live with a family who had two puppies from our 'B' litter nearly 20 years ago.
We are pleased that he is going to such a good home.

Due to a bereavement in the puppy's new family, we unexpectedly have a dog puppy available in our 'W' litter. If you are interested in having a Messano puppy, please contact Julie as soon as possible.

A Happy New year to all our visitors. Welcome to the 10th year of the Messano Golden Retrievers website...how time flies!

Another year is over...it had the high points of enjoying success in the show ring with Rumour, Beattie & Faith and the low points when we lost the litter due to the Herpes virus in the summer, followed by the dog attack on Julie and Rumour. Luckily it did no long term damage to either and Rumour has grown into a handsome, fun-loving dog who should shortly become a father to his first litter due in January!

Paul needs to begin some serious training now (especialy after the Xmas excesses!) in order to meet the challenge of the London to Paris cycle ride in July....thanks to all of you who have sponsored him to date. The total stands at around £700 so far!

The two litters continue to grow... it was probably one of our busiest christmases ever, with two litters to care for, converting the garage into a grooming and feeding area and entertaining our grand-daughter Annabelle for her first Christmas was very tiring, but also enjoyable!