Above group photo from GSCA National Specialty 9/08 that Brandywine Gordon Setter Club hosted in Gettysburg.



The Mid-Atlantic States have been a hotbed of Gordon Setter activity since the 1930’s. Pioneers in our breed lived in the area and many early G.S.C.A. events were held and run by local Gordon fanciers. Although no formal club was named, hardworking groups of G.S.C.A. members ran early specialty shows and field trials through the early 1980’s.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Specialty Show moved from site to site starting in Trenton, NJ until it finally landed with the Lehigh Valley Kennel Club in the 80’s and is held there today. The famed Allentown Field Trial, run by Sam Christine (Hacasak) was a “must attend” for trial participants up until the 1970’s. The trial continued for a few years after Sam’s death, but no Gordon Setter field trial has been held in eastern Pennsylvania for over 20 years.

In the 1980’s a few G.S.C.A. members struggled to run events. Local Gordon fanciers ran the September Specialty on their own for a number of years. The late Louis Layendecker chaired the Combined Specialty each February with assistance from various G.S.C.A. members from the tri-state area. Lou eventually passed the Combined onto Colleen O’Brien (Fair Isle) and she headed up a small committee until the G.S.C.A. Board asked Brandywine to officially take the reins of the popular winter specialty.

Lou Layendecker had also been instrumental in bringing the 2nd G.S.C.A. National to Philadelphia, PA in 1985 where it was held in conjunction with the A.K.C.’s Centennial Show at the old Convention Center.

In the field, Marianne Goodwin (Hacasak) kept the Allentown trial going moving it from the grounds north of Fogelsville, PA to Bernville, PA near Reading.

In the early 90’s a group of Gordon fanciers from the region gathered after judging at the September specialty to discuss the possibility of forming a local club. The following December the first meeting was held in Glenmoore, PA at the home of Louise & Alison Rosskamp (Alilou). The name Brandywine Gordon Setter Club was chosen and an interim President (Alison Rosskamp) and Secretary (Colleen O’Brien) were selected until a nominating committee could come up with a slate of officers. The club drafted a constitution, elections were held and the Brandywine Gordon Setter Club was on its way!

Since that time, the Brandywine Gordon Setter Club has been very active in the Mid-Atlantic Region. They draw their membership from eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware although they have members from Maryland, Virginia, Ohio & New York. The club has hosted the Mid-Atlantic Regional Specialty each September and took on the job of running the GSCA Specialty at the Garden Specialty Association, the weekend before Westminster Kennel Club. In addition, the club has held fun matches, field training days and mini-clinics in agility, obedience and rally. The club hosted two very successful National Specialties, the first in 1995 (Mechanicsburg, PA) and then again in 2001 (Allentown, PA). We are currently planning the 2008 National Specialty to be held in Gettysburg.  Brandywine member, Gwynne McDevitt (Doubledee) runs two trials a year in Petersburg, DE under the GSCA Mason-Dixon Regional banner.

To promote our breed we participate in the Lehigh Valley Kennel Club’s Canine Learning Experience, with members and their Gordon’s manning our booth on “Meet The Breed” day. We have been invited along with other breeds of Celtic origin to participate in the Celtic Fling at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in Manheim, PA.