BISS CH Maronova's Autumn Melody (Melly)

(January 25, 1988 - January 30, 2002)

Irish Setter Club of Ontario, (1990)
Best in Specialty Show under Judge Lorne Mackie

CAN BISS CH Maronova's Autumn Melody (left)
and her brother
Maronova Kavanaugh Jiggs CD (right)
at their 11th birthday party.

Melly with her son Reb
(CH Hilloch's Rebel With A Cause)
in the summer of 2001


Melly, age 13



Melly was my first Irish Setter and the foundation for my line. She had the looks, a temperament beyond compare and a mother to all. It did not matter whether it was her own pups or pups from another Irish girl or even one of Brenda's Poms. She was willing to help clean or play with the pups well into her senior years. The other girls also recognized that "auntie" or "grandmother" was there to help and teach.

I purchased Melly from our then neighbour, Marianne Buck (Maronova) in the fall of 1988, but I had known her since her birth. It was Marianne's first litter and she had invited Brenda, myself and Sandy Taylor over to help with the whelping, although Brenda and Sandy did most of the work being experienced breeders. Melly was my pick of litter from day one and over a period of 8 months I managed to break Marianne down enough that she allowed me to purchase her.

My show experience started shortly there after at an Ottawa Valley All Setter Association (OVASA) match where Melly managed to win numerous ribbbons that day and I realized that it was not just my eye that thought she was a good dog. Early the next year Brenda showed Melly to her championship, and a Best in Specialty one year after that. Melly was not only our first champion Irish Setter but also the first champion for Maronova.