- a legend in the world of Bull Terrier -
In the Swedish Bull Terrier Clubs book, “Bullterriern i Vara hjartan”, Rith Hagglund of Panzarkrafts Bullterriers writes: “The last keydog within the breed must be Norwegian born Quest Giancana. His offspring has been prosperious and admired all over the world.
He has been close to invinceible in the show rings. In 1993 he became BIS at the Swedish BTC Open Show. In 1996, his son Ch. Sagacious Boffins Shaloderla became BIS, and year 2000 at the age of 8, he was awarded “Best Dog Head” and 3rd. Best Dog amongst 160 entries”.
As a puppy, Giancana was sold to a student, wanting a companion dog for his running trips in the woods. He called him “Kashmir”. Much good can be said about “Kashmir”, but a perfect partner for running long trips, was not his cup of tea. As most bullies he prefered his own speed and when to stop and where to go.
Espen was offered to buy him back, and luckily he accepted. He started a great showcareer and in Norway he became no 2 in the competition of the Best Terrier of the Year. He soon was mated to some bitches, and his offspring looked very promising.
The president of the American Bulkl Terrier Club, Vet. Carl Pew, (Silmaril), was looking for a new stud dog and borrowed Giancana for a year. He later went to George Scherzer (von der Alten Veste) in Germany for another year.
Upon returning to Norway, Grete W Pedersen and Paul Scott became coowners of Giancana, and he moved in at Kennel Formula where he lived as a familydog together with his daughter, Ch. Agathaquest and her brother Ch Rhinestone and a few boxers.
As a familydog he was fantastic, kind, well balanced and very friendly with everybody. He never quarreled with other dogs.
Paul Scott
When Giancana passed away Lambert wrote the following obituary in Dog World:
It is said that things come in threes and following on from my notes about the death of the two Stud Dogs Cwmdulais Flash Harry and Bullyview Rytham Dancer; news has reached me of the death of Quest Giancana. Although born in Norway in early 1992 and bred by Espen Thygesen, “Kashmir” was very much the product of English breeding being by Aricon Sly Eyes x Ghabar Treasure. He was a heavyweight dog taking took rather more after his dam’s line prompting US Fancier Bob Thomas to say to me on one occasion “The dog is so Ghabar in type he barks with a Yorkshire accent!” As a puppy he was sold as a pet, however after a while he realised that a bull terrier may not be the dog for him and he Espen bought him back. He started his show career with several BOB and BIS at the Swedish BT Clubs Open Show in 1993, However it was as a stud dog that he really made his name. He sired his first litters and produced 5 Champions. US breeder and Veterinary Surgeon Carl Pew (Silmaril) was looking for a good stud dog, and he borrowed Giancana for one year, whereupon he promptly produced 7 US Champions, Am. Ch. Babylon Darth Vader, Am. Ch. Chiltern Dollars and Sense ROM, Am. Ch. Jarrogue's Best Wishes, Am. Ch. Silmaril Secret Agent, Am.Ch. Silmaril Secret Desire, Am.Can.Ch. Seminole Princess, Am. Ch. Action Puttin On the Ritz.
When the time came for Giancana to return home, due to quarantine regulations in Norway he could not return directly but instead went to George Scherzer (von der Alten Veste) in Germany for another year, where he continued to be used at stud, returning to Norway in late 1996. After a few weeks he moved in as the house pet of Grete Pedersen and Paul Scott in co-ownership with Espen Thygesen.
There he enjoyed life to the full as a pet and an occasional show dog living together with two of his children, Int.Ch. Rhinestone and Norw.Swed. Ch. Agathaquest.
Giancana was a great producer, and leaves at least 55 Champions in many countries around the world, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark,Poland, Hungary, Austria, Check Rep. United States, Canada and even New Zealand.
Additionally, through his successful children his influence on the breed continues to extend throughout the world. Certainly in parts of the continent there relatively few Bull Terriers that do not go back to Giancana somewhere, and his influence on dogs throughout the world is immense. There is probably no stud dog of the modern era that has had a wider influence on the breed.
I had the privilege to judge him on 2 occasions and whilst an old dog, his quality still shone through and he remained competitive as a veteran until fairly shortly before his death. He certainly earns his place in Bull Terrier History.
Bill Lambert
"Kashmir" had sired many champion all over the world, here are some of them
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