It is with sadness that I report the recent passing of Margaret Sierakowski of the Dalriach Affix. Margaret was first involved in Irish Red and White Setters in the late 1990’s and bred and showed her dogs until the mid 2010’s. in that time she bred numerous Irish Field Trial and Irish Show Champions owning herself Ir Sh Ch Dalrach Auchindoun, IrCh/ShCh Dalriach Bruar and Ir ShCh Dalriach in Excelsis. Also exhibiting in Great Britain Margaret was never fortunate to get the three CC’s to have a GB Show Champion. She was also the owner of Italian and Int Ft Ch Ir Sh Ch Pepperstown Polly and sent her to Italy to gain her awards there. She exported Dalriach stock to the USA, Canada and Europe and some of the imported stock from Europe today has Dalriach in their pedigrees.

In the latter years Margaret’s passion was working IRWS’s Dalriach Neige handled by Colin Organ won several Field Trial Awards and gained a first award in an Open Stake which qualified Neige to run in the Champion Stake in 2015 where she gained a Diploma of Merit.  We were fortunate to run along side Neige at a few Field Trials and Margaret was always very supportive of our girl.

With working in mind Margaret was involved in the 2nd Outcross Programme around 2013/14 using working Irish Setters to increase the gene pool.

Margaret was well read and had strong opinions and little time for those who did not see her point of view.  She formed a close friendship with John Kerr, of the Rushfield Affix and had lots of interesting tales to tell from John. We often called on her at Huntly when we went up to the Scottish Field Trials and always enjoyed a good chat and her delicious fruit cake. Our Condolences to Margaret’s family.

Mary Blackwell Sherratt

President IRWSCofGB