Dogs have always played an integral part in the lives of the Marett family. Christine’s father, Graeme Pitman was the first Guide Dog owner in the Channel Islands when he obtained his Boxer, ‘Checo’ in 1956.
Five Guide Dogs would join the Pitman family over the next 40 years, together with two Pembroke Corgis.
It was in 1990 that the Marett family bought their first dog, a Cardigan Corgi from the Antoc kennel of Aileen Speding in Christchurch, Dorset. ‘Billy’ was taken to the Jersey Junior Handlers Association obedience classes by Adrian and Russell, then aged six and four.
Show training and agility was also added to agenda and two years later, a second Corgi, ‘Gus’ joined the family. Adrian and Russell also took part in the JJHA international team match, then a major event in the junior handling calendar in the British Isles.
A couple of years later when Diana Abbott became President of the JJHA, Adrian and Russell began handling her Gayteckels kennel of Wire-Haired Dachshunds. During this time, Di became interested in Cesky Terriers and the kennel owned the first of the breed in the Channel Islands in 1996, ‘Ripple’, from the Ridley kennel. The Maretts bought the first male ‘Flyte’ two years after and these two dogs produced ‘Minstrel’, a top winner all over the British Isles.
Over the next few years, three other Ceskys joined the show team, either with Di or the Maretts. With Di’s death in 2004, the Ceskys joined the Marett household and Di’s last Wire Dachshund, was campaigned to Top Dog all-breeds in the Channel Islands for two years running, Dog of the Year 2004 and a RCC at the Wire Dachshund Club.
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Christine & Russell Marett Adrian Marett
micmaret@jerseymail.co.uk adrian_marett@hotmail.com
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