Gerald Devine’s ESD Stanedge Bracken emulated his brother FTCh Stanedge Brave by becoming a British FTCh when he won the first two stakes on the N I spring circuit.  Bracken won the Ulster Irish Red Setter Club’s Open Stake held on Murley Mt on Sunday 28th February and went to Cushleake, Co. Antrim on Sunday 7th March to claim the top spot in the Ulster Gundog League Trial again and secure his title.  He was also 2nd to his kennel mate IRSB Gortinreagh Clancy the following Saturday 13th March at the N I Pointer Club’s re-scheduled Open Stake.

Bracken was bred by Daryl Edwards in Yorkshire.  Daryl brought his Geoghegan-bred ESB Lefanta Hale of Stanedge to Donegal to use Gerald’s impressive Int FTCh Gardenfield Warrior and the resulting litter of 5 dogs have enjoyed some notable success.  Daryl won the English Derby Stake in 2006 with Stanedge B, the first English Setter in quite a few years to do so.  (Jean Brown subsequently won in 2007 with the another Irish sourced ESD the Eamon Keogh bred The Spitfire).  Daryl’s pup was unfortunately killed in a road accident shortly after his impressive win.  Gerald campaigned with another brother Stanedge Brave.  Brave secured his title by winning the NIPC Open Stake in Co Antrim in March 2008 and then winning the Northern Counties Setter and Pointer Association’s Open Stake in Amulree, Perthshire the following week.  Brave also won the Breed Stake of the English Setter Club on Eggleston Moor, Co Durham in July 2009.