Showsight February 2017

GAYLE WATKINS Rally, Golden Retriever

Gayle and her husband Andy have been breeding and competing with their Golden Retrievers under the Gaylan kennel name since 1979. From the start, Gayle’s focus was producing multi-purpose Goldens that loved doing all manner of activities. As a result, Gay- lan’s Goldens have succeeded in rally, conformation, hunt tests, field trials, obedience, agility, tracking, nose work, barn hunt and coursing, most often more than one of these sports. To date, Gaylan’s dogs have acquired more than 70 American and Canadian championships in these many sports. Many of Gaylan’s dogs also partner with their owners in work such as search and rescue, pet-assisted therapy, ser- vice and hunting. Gayle is most proud of the SAR dogs she has produced, including her own Can. Ch. Gaylan’s Winter Promise UD SH NA WCX, who was her teammate on a German search and rescue dog while living in Europe. Today, Gayle’s focus is on improv- ing canine health as a board member of the Baker Institute on Animal Health at Cornell, an active member of the Golden Retriever Club of America and through Avidog International. In response to her award, Gayle said, “I am so honored to accept this award from the AKC for the many Gay- lan’s dog and handler teams that have competed in rally, including Rosie Hig- don and Brass, Gaylan’s Earth, Wind and Fire UDX GN RAE7 SH WCX, who placed 3rd in Rally Advanced Excellent at the 2015 AKC Rally National Cham- pionships and will be returning again this year!” WAYNE & MARTY PARKER Hound Field Events, Beagles

Left: Gayle Watkins, Rally honoree with her 14½ year old Golden Retriever, “Una”, Can. Ch. Gaylan’s Hole in One, CD GN MH MX MXH NF WCX OD VCX CCA.

Right: Hound Field Events Father/Son Team Wayne and Marty Parker from Louisville, Kentucky.

Wayne Parker instilled in his son a love for being in the field with his Beagles, when Marty was only 6 years old. They have been partners in Brace Beagling field trials for over 50 years. In 1995 the pair was inducted into the Breeders Hall of Fame, having bred over 125 field champions. Wayne was inducted into the Brace Beagling Hall of Fame in 2009 and Mar- ty followed in his father’s footsteps in 2012. Together they won four National Championships in addition to five Puri- na Hound of the Year Awards. Marty reminisces, “Through our love and activities with our dogs, my father and I have been best friends for

my whole life. We have bought a cou- ple of dogs over the years, but winning with the ones we have bred and trained is so much more rewarding. It gives me goose bumps!” Preserving, protecting and improv- ing a breed represents the very essence of our American Kennel Club. These honorees have worked hard to do just that. Congratulations to these successful breeders on their many accomplishments. The new year has just begun. Let’s resolve to expand our horizons, by getting out to enjoy more of the wide variety of events our AKC Sports have to offer!

CONGRATS TO ALL THE HONOREES! 2016

58 • S how S ight M agazine , F ebruary 2017