During conversation with the Hon Ronald Eden (son of the late Lady Auckland) I mentioned that a good photograph of Lady Auckland’s great Gordon Setter dog Field Trial Champion Joker of Cromlix had never readily been available and that very few people even knew what the dog looked like, although we all knew well enough of his field achievements together with those of his progeny.

Back by return came a glorious half plate of Joker in his prime.

After studying the picture I was moved to examine Joker’s antecedents more closely, together with the Cromlix Estate environment leading to his successes and to then explore and tabulate his descendants through to 2001, exactly forty years. 
The ongoing influence of this dog are nothing if not extraordinarily remarkable. 
So, the photograph became the basis for a treatise on Joker and his international descendants. 
I am fortunate that my Assarts & Gawcott dogs are all heavily based around Joker.
Of the circa 1150 listed (there are more!) descendants of Joker, there are no less than twenty-four Field Trial Champions, sixty odd Show Champions & Champions, five Australian, three Swiss, four USA, two Netherlands, one Russsian and two Canadian Champions and over a hundred dogs with Field Trial placings. 
The Hon Ronald Eden was kind enough to write a Foreword to the book which gives an outline of Lord and Lady Auckland and their moor at Cromlix where Trials were regularly held. 

Detail of early (‘30’s) Field Trial Cards are given, going on to explore pedigrees etc., of contemporary dogs at that time, Riggside, Boyndie, etc…….. there are comprehensive pedigrees of dogs before and post Joker with depiction of the many Field Trial Champions that have followed their forebear with distinction. It is thus possible to see how this dog’s influence repeatedly provided winning prospects.

The book is ringbound A4 Landscape and is obtainable from the author's wife Gill Truman 

Author: Bob Truman, Assarts & Gawcott Gordon Setters

Costs  £15 + postage 
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