IKC Retriever of the Year - Tom Fox Meets Sean

Irish Kennel Club Retriever of the Year 2020

Sean Kearney owns, runs and breeds Labrador Retrievers for competition, shooting and family dogs. His passion for dogs is certainly evident and he attributes this to his late father, also called Sean, who firstly introduced him to fishing, coursing and ferrets at the tender age of 6 years. From that day onwards, Sean has always had a dog and, as they say, the rest is history.

His first dog was a lurcher (Rosie) who he took pups off alongside working his terriers and ferrets too. His passion for the outdoors got stronger and stronger, spending all spare time out with his hunting dogs and ferrets.

Sean got his first Labrador Retriever as a pup, Timpany Forest Fox ‘Broc’ as a shooting dog. One day, while enjoying working Broc he came across some men training their dogs for field trials and there and then he decided to extend his training discipline with Broc. Soon, Broc got him started winning, but as everyone knows, when you start training for trials the addition of more dogs is par for the course.

Sean had a real hunger for trials by now and got his own Kennel Club prefix as he wanted to try to breed some winners too. In due course this prefix became known worldwide. As I mentioned success came with FTW Timpany Forest Fox ‘Broc’, then FTW Shimnavale Firefly of Kelmarsky ‘Fly,’ OFTW Emmanygan Vienna Of Kelmarsky ‘Pip’, OFTW Kelmarsky Bugatti (home bred) FTW Astraglen Pearl Scout), FTCH Kelmarsky Crow ‘Crow,’ who became the Irish Kennel Club Retriever of the Year 2020, and OFTW Klemarsky Ash, known as ‘Ash.’

Sean would say that FTCH Kelmarsky Crow is a special dog. He has superb natural ability, drive, style, lovely temperament, strong and with superb game finding ability. Running Crow was a big challenge that Sean thrived on, but achieving FTCH status and also being awarded Irish Retriever of the Year 2020 was simply the icing in the cake for Sean.

All Sean’s dogs are trained for ability in work and field trials.

Sean also runs another young dog OFTW Kelmarskey Ash who has achieved 2nd & 4th Place in two, Two Day Open Stakes at the age of 18 Months and winning a 16 Dog open Stake at 21 months, some achievement indeed for Ash.

Sean loves the competition of tests, trials and accepts that the field is a great leveller of people as there is ‘nowhere to hide.’ “When you step out in competition with an old or new dog your expectations are high. It’s you and your dog, a team which brings new hope.” Sean loves training, competing and social life with his dogs is what keeps him going.

Sean also enjoys life with his son Kelvin his dogs, but there is another aspect - he also likes going to Mayo to fish for salmon which is another passion he got from his Dad.

Sean attributes his success to his Dad, Sean Snr who is no longer with us, and to the many friends he made on the trips throughout beautiful Ireland running his dog.

He is especially grateful to Brian Byrne, Drumbanagher Estate Shoot, for allowing him to train and pick up there. He is also appreciative of his fellow competitors, The Irish Kennel Club and especially all the Field Trial Clubs for their hard work in organising grounds for trials.

In conclusion, the pinnacle for the 2020 season for Sean Kearney was being selected as The Irish Kennel Club Retriever 2020.