The History of Smokey City Weimaraners
The following is an excerpt from an article printed in the November 2006 issue of the Weimaraner Magazine. It is a brief review of Tom Wilson’s history in Weimaraners and a few of his most accomplished dogs.
In his own words…
“ It began when I was a 19 year old Seaman Apprentice in the Navy, stationed at Quonset Point, RI. Late one Saturday night several of my barracks buddies were returning from a night on the town. They took me to meet Rex, a handsome male Weimaraner, and I was
totally overwhelmed by his beauty. I checked his collar and got the name and number
from his tag. It turned out he was owned by a Commander that lived on the base. We
talked regularly and became good friends. Apparently our mutual admiration of
Weimaraners superseded the large discrepancy in rank between us.
Several months later he called to tell me about a litter in Wakefield, RI. I ended up
moving out of the barracks and renting a house in Narrangansette so I could get a dog.
Every day started with a three mile run on the beach at 5:30. Baron loved to jump the
breakers and retrieve his dummy. Life was good, and I was forever hooked on
Weimaraners. It’s been that way ever since through two failed marriages and so far, 14
years of the third, Weimaraners have always been there.
I began going to obedience class with Baron, mostly to get him under control. He turned
out to be very talented, so we got his CD – with very high scores. The same was true of
his field talent. I began training him under an American field pointer trainer at his
shooting preserve in Peacedale, RI. For being a Pointer/Setter expert, he was impressed
with Baron’s ability and encouraged me to run him in trials. The dog was a natural and
always made me look good.
I joined the WCA in September of 1959, sponsored by Mrs. Overton W. Ogilivie of
Cotuit, MA. She was one of the charter members of the WCA. I volunteered to be co-
chair for the New England region, and haven’t seemed to get rid of that Field Trial
Chairman job almost 48 years later.
My rude awakening came when I decided to enter Baron in a Specialty show, convinced
that he and I could excel at anything. In a class of 8 open dogs, we came in dead last, and
I got a very serious lesson about the difference in “back yard” bred and “show quality”
dogs. I watched in awe as an exhibitor named Dorothy Remensnyder of Shadowmar fame
won WD, RWB and BOB with three beautiful dogs that looked nothing like Baron. Right
then, I made a commitment to do what ever it took to reach that level of competence as a
breeder. It was a pivotal moment in my life, and I drove home fully aware that the
wonderful dog laying on the seat beside me was not going to get me where I wanted to
go. I realized that I did not know the difference between my dog and the dogs who won
that day. I had to find someone to teach me that distinction and went on a mission to
define and understand what was correct and what was not.
My first smart move was to secure a show puppy from Virginia Alexander. I found out
quickly that the only way to get a really good one was to agree to a co-ownership. Little
did I know, the best part of the agreement was gaining a mentor who has helped me for
45 years and is available at any time, even today – ‘priceless’ as they say. Ginny was
extremely generous with her time and had patience with me beyond belief! I still consider
her my trusted mentor and friend. She had a litter born out of what became a very
important breeding and influenced many people’s breeding programs. It was sired by the
very famous multiple BIS Ch Val Knight Ranck and out of her beautiful German import
Bella v.d. Reiteralm. I was given the privilege of co-owning a bitch with Ginny. Her
name was Gretel (note the originality). It was obvious that I knew little about this breed
or naming them. Gretel finished with 3 – 5 point majors including 2 at Specialty shows.
One major was with Peggy Roush’s mom, Ann Keppler, and the other two were with
Jane Kemp Forsyth. Gretel had great field talent and produced excellent progeny to carry
the pedigree well into the future. Her pedigree and Ginny’s guidance started me on my
way.
I did not realize it would take the next 25 years to get desired results on a reliable basis
AND recognize it when it was present. It was a long, gradual learning curve in my case,
and it involved mild success with a whole lot of losing. Yes, I said a LOT of losing.
I did a good deal of field work and always bred with the ultimate goal in mind: to breed a
Weimaraner who could win both the National Field Championship and the National
Specialty. I came very close with Am/Can Ch Norman’s Smokey City Heat Wave. Allie
went with Peggy Roush and was #1 Weimaraner Pedigree award winner for two years.
She then went with Jim Basham and Dan Long for field training and they both agreed
that she was a National caliber field dog. Unfortunately, due to time spent growing up,
showing and training, she was already 5, and needed to be bred. In three litters, she
produced 14 Champions and was Top Producing dam in 1996. Another top producing bitch was Ch Smokey City Jedda Arokat. I got her back at 10
months. She finished in 5 shows and produced 17 champions. A very good reason to
always take your dogs back.
During my learning period prior to these great dogs, I was hell bent on breeding that Dual
Champion capable of winning both Nationals. I took one of my top champion show
bitches to what many people believed was one of the best field champions this breed has -
every had – NFC AFC Algers May Day, SDX and the results were disasterous –
everybody was dysplastic.
I had four kids in college so I took several years off. To the rescue came Lou
Schnegelberger, who sold me a proven brood bitch named Windfalls Raindrop. Ginny
Alexander consented to breed her to Ch Ranah’s Raja v.d. Reiteralm. Through that
foundation breeding came the present Smokey City dogs who have excelled and taken
their place in the record books.
Another huge break happened with Joan Valdez decided to breed her beautiful Ch
Valmar’s Serenade v. Wustenwind CD to Smokey City EZ Does It. I had finished him
myself with 3-5 point majors at Specialty shows, including one at the National. Joan was
so great to work with and she chose the right dog for me. His name was Am/Can Ch
Valmar Smokey City Ultra Easy, JH. (shown at left) He was #1 Weimaraner for two
years and only missing in his first year of competition by 10 points. His breeding record
was incredible, producing champions in almost every litter. Easy was my first dog to go
with a handler, and he and Peggy Roush were inseparable in his three year career.
Here is a brief list of some of the great dogs coming from the Smokey City line:
Am/Can Ch Valmar Smokey City Ultra Easy, JH (BIS, 148 Ch progeny; Top
Producer ’90-’95)
AM/Can Ch Norman’s Smokey City Heat Wave, JH (2x National Specialty Winner,
Top Producing Dam 1996
AM/Can Ch Norman’s Smokey City Chill Factor (#1 Weimaraner)
Ch Smokey City K-Line Tradewins (BIS, National Specialty Winner)
Ch Smokycity D’Nunder Lazer Beam (3x BIS, National Specialty Winner)
Ch Smokey City El Nino (Sire 55 champions)
Ch Smokycity Riverboat Gambler (BIS, National winner, Sire of National winner)
Ch K-Line’s Smokycity N’Style (BIS)
AM/Can CH Smokeycity Hail Mary (National Specialty Winner, 6x BIS, #1
Weimaraner ’03-‘04)
Ch Smokycity Simpatico (National Specialty Winner from Open Bitch Class)
Ch Smokycity Devil May Care (4x BIS)
These great dogs have amassed a total of 18 Best in Shows and 10 National Specialty
wins in the US and Canada, 5 Westminster breed wins, 5 BOS and 9 AOM’s at the
Garden.
I am grateful to have served the Weimaraner fancy in the following capacities: President
6 years, National committee chair, Board member and other positions 20 years, WCA
member 47 years, Greater Pittsburgh charter member 45 years.
This retrospective could not be written without including the wonderful people who
helped me so much along the way. I hope I can remember them all… I will start with
handlers: Ann Kepler, Dorothy Remensnyder, Peggy Roush, Keith Pautz, Kelly
Photopoulos, Cindy Long, Jennifer Martin, Bob Double and Rusty Howard.
I have enjoyed working with Juniors, especially when I see how many have made it as
Professional Handlers: Jennifer (Miller) Howard, Shannon Leymann, Veronica
Valentine, Christina Carr and Dustin Brunning.
The most important list I have is the list of financial backers who have made it possible
for great dogs to reach their potential. Without the support and sponsorship of the
following people, this would have never been possible: Albert Greenfield, Ronna Katzin,
Monika Hood, Anne Cullen-Tormey, Bob Double & Jim Martin, Jan Logan, Kelly
Photopoulos, John & Jeannette White, Cindy & Bruce Cassidy, Cindy & Dan Long,
Steve Siegel, Jennifer & Curtis Martin
I particularly want to thank Kelly Photopoulos and Jennifer Martin for their outstanding
unselfish commitment to helping me show so many dogs when I became unable to do it
myself. Without this list of helpers and sponsors, most of these great dogs would have
faded into obscurity. Thanks to all of you from the bottom of my heart.
A very grateful Tom Wilson”
Please click on the links below to read other articles Tom has written
History of Smokey City - WCA Nov '06
Breeding Top Dogs - AKC Oct '02
