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Robyn Gaskin
John Wilke
John Gaskin ( deceased in 2006 )
Robyn and John Gaskin started their journey with Irish red setters in 1974 just after they married. Robyn wanted an Irish setter for all the wrong reasons (looks, glamour…) and John didn’t want one for all the usual reasons (stupid, untrainable…). That first dog ignited their passion for bird hunting with a pointing breed; he was a strong character who taught them more than they ever managed to teach him(!) but his great strengths and (great) weaknesses highlighted for Robyn and John the critical traits needed in a working setter, and shaped Kilsheelan’s future breeding policy.
The first Kilsheelan litter was born in 1981. In the 43 years since then, Kilsheelan has produced 26 litters in their mission to establish the breed as a credible working gundog in New Zealand. From 1982, Robyn and John travelled far and wide, both bird hunting and judging pointer & setter trials in many countries (Australia, Eire, UK, Finland and the USA), searching for the best genetics to suit NZ conditions. They imported working Irish setters from Eire, UK, Sweden and Australia and have sent more than 20 Kilsheelan-bred dogs abroad, to multiple countries. More than twenty Field Trial Champions have come through Kilsheelan hands since their first FTCh titled dog in 1981; either bred and/or handled, by John and Robyn.
John died unexpectedly in 2006 and since then the Kilsheelan legacy to the Irish setter breed has continued in Robyn’s hands. Robyn married John Wilke (from Colorado, USA) in 2023; he shares Robyn’s love of red dogs and contributes substantially to the Kilsheelan success, in the care and rearing of their Irish Setters.
Robyn is a keen bird hunter who has shot over her dogs for almost forty years, in addition to judging spaniel, retriever and pointer & setter field trials. She served as President of the New Zealand Gundog Trials Association (NZGTA) from 2000-2005 and received an NZKC Certificate of Appreciation for her services to gundog trialling in 2009. She is an Honorary Life Member of the NZGTA, the Pointer & Setter Club and Rotorua Gundog Club.
Kilsheelan Irish setters are the most winning dogs in NZ pointer and setter gundog trials in the last 30 years, with the kennel breeding and/or owning over 50% of the titled Field Champions, made up in trials on wild pheasant and quail. Kilsheelan-bred or -owned dogs have won 90% of P&S Championship pheasant trials in the last ten years. Robyn herself has titled ten Irish setters, including the only three Grand Field Champion pointing dogs in NZ, plus four Grand Field Trial Champion titles. Her dogs have won 13 NZ P&S Championships. In October 2016, the day after being presented with a Breeder of Merit Award by the NZKC, Robyn handled her three Irish setters to take 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings in the NZ P&S trial at the National Championships!
In 1976, a young, “novice” Robyn was told to get rid of her first Irish setter because “you will never make anything of the breed in the field”! Forty years later, Robyn is proud of Kilsheelan’s efforts in taking the Irish setter from a position of ridicule and scorn as a working gundog, to one with a reputation of success and respect as a bird hunting companion in NZ. It has been a journey enriched by the company of many great dogs and friends, from both within New Zealand and all over the world.
The first Kilsheelan litter was born in 1981. In the 43 years since then, Kilsheelan has produced 26 litters in their mission to establish the breed as a credible working gundog in New Zealand. From 1982, Robyn and John travelled far and wide, both bird hunting and judging pointer & setter trials in many countries (Australia, Eire, UK, Finland and the USA), searching for the best genetics to suit NZ conditions. They imported working Irish setters from Eire, UK, Sweden and Australia and have sent more than 20 Kilsheelan-bred dogs abroad, to multiple countries. More than twenty Field Trial Champions have come through Kilsheelan hands since their first FTCh titled dog in 1981; either bred and/or handled, by John and Robyn.
John died unexpectedly in 2006 and since then the Kilsheelan legacy to the Irish setter breed has continued in Robyn’s hands. Robyn married John Wilke (from Colorado, USA) in 2023; he shares Robyn’s love of red dogs and contributes substantially to the Kilsheelan success, in the care and rearing of their Irish Setters.
Robyn is a keen bird hunter who has shot over her dogs for almost forty years, in addition to judging spaniel, retriever and pointer & setter field trials. She served as President of the New Zealand Gundog Trials Association (NZGTA) from 2000-2005 and received an NZKC Certificate of Appreciation for her services to gundog trialling in 2009. She is an Honorary Life Member of the NZGTA, the Pointer & Setter Club and Rotorua Gundog Club.
Kilsheelan Irish setters are the most winning dogs in NZ pointer and setter gundog trials in the last 30 years, with the kennel breeding and/or owning over 50% of the titled Field Champions, made up in trials on wild pheasant and quail. Kilsheelan-bred or -owned dogs have won 90% of P&S Championship pheasant trials in the last ten years. Robyn herself has titled ten Irish setters, including the only three Grand Field Champion pointing dogs in NZ, plus four Grand Field Trial Champion titles. Her dogs have won 13 NZ P&S Championships. In October 2016, the day after being presented with a Breeder of Merit Award by the NZKC, Robyn handled her three Irish setters to take 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings in the NZ P&S trial at the National Championships!
In 1976, a young, “novice” Robyn was told to get rid of her first Irish setter because “you will never make anything of the breed in the field”! Forty years later, Robyn is proud of Kilsheelan’s efforts in taking the Irish setter from a position of ridicule and scorn as a working gundog, to one with a reputation of success and respect as a bird hunting companion in NZ. It has been a journey enriched by the company of many great dogs and friends, from both within New Zealand and all over the world.
