My first Gordon Setter was given to my family when we moved from Brooklyn, New York to the suburbs of Long Island back in the late 1950’s when I was about two years old.  Dundee was the classic Gordon Setter of unknown heritage.  He was an awesome family dog that lived well into his 17^th year.

In my junior year of high school, my mother dragged me to my first field trial that was hosted by the Paumanauk Gordon Setter Club at South Haven Park on Long Island, NY.   At that field trial, I was able to ride horses, watch hunting dogs and enjoy the out of doors.  As a youngster, I had never hunted birds and had never seen what bird dogs were bred to do.  I was smitten that first weekend and quickly developed a love for the purpose of bird dogs and the Gordon Setter field dog.  Not long after that weekend, a club member took me to a training field.  She introduced me to the world of training bird dogs.  Since that time, it has been my passion.

While living at home, my parents allowed me to own my first field dog in the spring of 1977.  One year after that, the dog that started the Shadowfax line was given to me by Dr. Joel and Barbara Morris.  The Morris’ originated the Belmor line which was one of the first true field lines developed in the 1960’s. 

Since my first field trial in the early 1970’s, I have run my dogs in field trials for over 36 years in many parts of the country.  In the early years, my gundogs were trained by a professional due to a lack of resources, experience and training grounds.  Over subsequent years, I have been working on my own training methods, utilizing many of the tried and true old techniques and many of the new techniques without using the electric collar.  Over the years, this hands on approach has enabled me to directly examine my dogs traits.  Through selective line breeding a better field Gordon Setter has been developed.

After what seemed like a lifetime of working and saving, I was finally able to purchase my own training grounds and moved to north Florida to Shadowfax Farm in December, 1995.  I have steadily improved the property and now have a fantastic facility on 121 acres.  The Shadowfax line is in its 6^th generation.  When a litter is desired, the best available breeding stock in the country is chosen to compliment and improve my existing dogs. 

Over the years, I have bred, competed and hunted with some of the legends of the breed. Due to the length of time spent around Gordon Setters and field trials, I have been able to see many of the great foundation dogs that most folks have only heard and read about. 

NFC/FC/AFC Shadowfax Casey Jones "Casey" won the first  American Field National Championship in 1992 in addition to being an AKC Field Champion and Amateur Field Champion. 

His half brother NFC/NAFC/FC/AFC Shadowfax Blade Runner “Buddy” in his career won a total of four National Championships with my good friend and co-owner Jimmy D’Amico finishing his gundog training and handling him to his titles.

Many of the offspring that Casey and Buddy produced have won countless field trials, National Championships, and Gordon Setter Club of America Gundog, Puppy and Derby Dogs of the Year awards.  You can see a list of awards on this website of dogs directly produced by the Shadowfax line that shows why this line is one of the top producers of field Gordon Setters in the country.   

Shadowfax Gordon Setters have been bred to be hunting companions and field trial competitors while maintaining the unique qualities of the wonderful Gordon Setter. 

SHADOWFAX KEG OF DYNAMIGHT 

"DYNA"

Pointing dog field trials are competitive events for bird dogs.  For the most part, this is the proving ground for finding and pointing birds.  This is done while on a designated course either on foot or horseback. 

The top dogs are placed and awarded ribbons based on their overall performance.  First place winners are awarded points toward their AKC Championships.  A total of ten points is required to obtain a Field Championship.

I was fortunate to start the field trial sport at an early age.  I am grateful to also have been able to grow and impact the Gordon Setter breed from what it was in the 1970's to what it has become today.

Many of the early Gordon field trial dogs were not able to compete with the other pointing breeds due to their style, range and overall ability.  Through selective breeding and much hard work, this has changed.  The Gordon Setter of today is competitive in all breed competition as  proven by placements in field trials.