Well known springer spaniel trainer Tim Healey died a couple of weeks ago, I have not seen anything about it in the shooting press.
He bred owned and trialed Farway Mac who won so many trials when other trainers saw he was entered they would withdraw, sadly Mac did not have any luck in the championship and could only manage 4th ?
I had known Tim for many years and had the pleasure of seeing Mac working in the field (not trial) when he was in his prime, it was this dog that gave me my lifelong love of Springers, I remember him hunting the side of a wood where a row of round straw bales had been stored for a number of years and had become overgrown with brambles, not only did Mac uproot the brambles he was shifting the bales as well ! When he came out at the end he looked like he had done 10 rounds with Casius Clay ! What a dog.
I worked dogs with Tim and my brother Kevin for a number of years and saw some staggering dogs that because he had become disalusioned with the trialing world he did not run, I do know though that any one of them would have been a champion as he did not keep dogs that would not be.
He had a reputation as a grumpy old git and he was, I had more than one argument with him but boy oh boy he could train a spaniel.
My brother kevin and I both keep his line "alive" and hopefully there will be a few champions yet to come from his dynasty.
He was taken back to Ireland.
Tim
Planet Gundog
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2009 04:35PM by webmaster.