‘Marli’, Devonshot Jamaica Beach of Oakmarsh (Lux Ch Devonshot Horse Ghost X Arnac Bay Volta at Devonshot), was our foundation bitch. Born on 21st October 2006, she was Our Dogs and CBRC Top Show Puppy 2007. She gained her single RCC as a Veteran, which gained her KC Stud Book Number, qualifying her for CRUFTS for life. She would have been Top Veteran in Breed 2014 had there been a competition for it.
At CRUFTS 2010 the judge, Breed Specialist Janet Morris (Penrose), gave Best of Breed to ‘Teague’ Devonshot Indian Goes Brave (Arnac Bay Wessex at Devonshot X Cavelero Frisky Business). She also remarked that if there was a prize for best coat then Marli would have won it! We subsequently mated Teague to Marli, thus he was our foundation sire. Teague went on to gain three CCs and become a Show Champion, with very limited showing.
Marli was a fantastic beating dog & pigeon / partridge dog, happy to retrieve whole fields of shot birds to the game bag! She sadly passed away at home on 13th October 2019 after a brief illness, one week shy of her 13th Birthday.
Teague was a great beating / picking up dog, working on shoots in Dorset, he was a remarkable game finder, used to sweep the heavy cover and water for any birds missed by the first retrievers. He sadly passed away in July 2019, just shy of his 13th Birthday.
They both passed their ability & attitude to work and their great temperaments on to their puppies, and we are striving to keep this along with Marlis’ fantastic harsh, dense water repelling coat.
Tia, (Ch) Oakmarsh Acorn VW SGWC, passed her Gundog Club levels 1 and 2 as a puppy and subsequently became my beating / rough shooting / all round dog, with such a positive attitude to her work, definitely my ‘right hand dog’. In the show ring she gained 2 CCs & 6 RCCs (one at 13 yrs old) and her Veteran Warrant. She passed her Show Gundog Working Certificate at 12 years old, and worked on the shoot until 13 1/2yrs old. She would have been a Full Champion under the new system (2023).
Tia was awarded Reserve Best Veteran in Show at the United Retriever Club (URC) Championship Show 2019, under judge Richard Morris. Having worked a full season beating on two shoots, at 13 yrs old, Tia was awarded Best Veteran in Show and Best Working in Show at the URC Open Show February 2024, under esteemed (Crufts Best in Show) judge, Carol Coode, just a few weeks before she passed away of kidney failure, at 13 1/2yrs.
Rana, Oakmarsh Assateague of Cheselbay, spent his first season dogging in and beating (2012/13), joining the picking up team for the 2013/14 season. With limited showing, Rana gained four RCCs, qualifying him for Crufts for life. He sadly passed away a day before his 12th birthday.
Marli has left her legacy, having 2 litters, her 1st (Oakmarsh “A” litter) having 5 puppies and her 2nd (“B” litter), to Westering Jubilation, sadly only having 1 live puppy, Yogi, Oakmarsh Beach Party. She has 5 grand litters; 2 from her daughter Tia, and 3 from her son, Rana, 3 great grand litters; from Fennel, Sh Ch Oakmarsh Chestnut VW, and 7 great great grand litters: 2 from Libby, Ch Oakmarsh Freedom SGWC, 3 from Tide, Oakmarsh Faithful of Tideflight, and 1 from Roo, Oakmarsh Glenora.
Into our 5th generation, the pups from Gunner, Penrose Marsh Gunner x Libby, Ch Oakmarsh Freedom SGWC (1/12/2023) have been making their mark in the show ring and working field. Vixen, Oakmarsh Little Acorn JW & Hemi, Oakmarsh Laurel JW, both gaining their Junior Warrants, along with multiple Gundog Group placings. Gunner, Oakmarsh Locksley was 1st in Junior at Crufts 2025, & Nutty, Oakmarsh Land of Promise at Roguehart, won the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Club Scurry 2025.
In the Crufts BASC Ring (2025), Hemi won the HUGE Any Variety Retriever Class, Nutty was 5th (VHC). Libby, Vixen & Nutty were awarded 4th Place and Best Dressed Team, competing as members of the Bergholt Hall shoot, where they all work.
The Oakmarsh Breeders Team are currently (October 2025) heading up the Gundogs, and overall 5th Place, in the Kennel Club Breeders Competition. See us in the “Big Ring” at Crufts 2026!
Contact us!
Email: oakmarshchesapeakes@gmail.com
Tel / What’s App: +44 7739 514624
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