REBECCA HEAN COOMBES

I was born into the Golden Retriever kennel of Arangold having represented the zone in obedience as a bump, attended a dogshow two days before being born (the judge was the late Ray Curry) and my first outing was to a field trial, to check I wasn't gun shy!

Since then I have handled dogs since I could walk. I was the youngest person to represent New Zealand at Crufts at age 14 and won the International Junior Handler title, the only NZer to do so. I have worked and trained with a number of the large show and field trial kennels in the UK and the continent.

I have completed my Masters in Veterinary Studies from Massey Uni. I have worked as Breeding Manager at Guide Dog Services. I have worked as a researcher for over a decade. My main interests revolve around behaviour and genetics, both of which I have studied extensively. My kennel name is Arangolds, this dates from the time when only two people were allowed to own a kennel name (but you could add an 's' and keep it in the family, and as such my late uncle, John Hean and myself had Arangolds), but is freely interchanged now with Arangold.

My family and I are loving being back in Christchurch. Even though we are now town based we enjoy my parent's land so close by.

What I count as some of my greatest achievements are being breeder of Best In Show winners under Golden Retriever specialist judges such as Mervyn Phillpot, Ruth Thompson, Mr Crosbie, Audrey Richardson, Heather Morrison and being 'allowed' to show my mother's precious Sean (GrCh Chaterhall Gaelic Gold) at the Rover Supreme (as it was then called) when I was just 10.

Now my two daughters are loving being in the ring, third generation Arangold/s