2022 hALL OF FAME iNDUCTEES
"The Lights from our Past Illuminate our Future"
- Allan Gordeyko - Alberta
- Aubrey Toll - Ontario 1920 -2005
- Lloyd Langille - Nova Scotia 1932 -2017
- Frederick Wesley Dunn - Manitoba 1902 -1998
nOW LETS READ ALL ABOUT THEM
Allan with his wife of 59 years, Elouise, and granddaughters, Hattie & Clara.
Pictured with Willow Way Puzzle
ALLAN GORDEYKO - ALBERTA
Allan Gordeyko’s father always had a team of draft horses on their farm located at Ohaton, Alberta. That is how the interest in harnessing and driving horses was sparked at around the age of five. It was the chrome trim and good nature of the breed that first attracted Allan to the Clydesdale horse. After witnessing the Bryden Bros. hitch at the Vegreville Fair in 1965, Allan had the chance to talk with Bill Bryden who took the time to answer Allan’s questions about all things driving and the Clydesdale horse. The spark was ignited.Later on in 1965, along with his brother Dennis, they acquired their first two purebred Clydesdale mares. They exhibited these horses in 1968 at Calgary Stampede & Exhibition, where Allan has recently been recognized as the longest standing exhibitor in the Heavy Horse Division. Pre-pandemic, Allan hadn’t missed a Stampede in over 45 years.What started out as a hobby soon developed into an integral part of Allan’s farming operation. Due to son Wes’ interest in heavy horses at a young age, the business of raising, showing and breeding continued to expand.Through Allan’s numerous trips to the Royal Winter Fair from the early 70’s onward, he met the acquaintance of Mr. James Pickens of Kirkcudbright, Scotland. As a result of this relationship, over 30 head were exported from Scotland to Willow Way Farms from the late 1970’s into the early 90’s.From this stock came many of Willow Way’s great producing broodmares, whose influence is still prevalent in the Willow Way breeding program. The most impressive examples of this would be the full brothers, Willow Way Prestwick and Willow Way Swiper, the 2018 World Champion Gelding and the 2022 World Champion Stallion, respectively, along with the 2018 Supreme World Champion, Willow Way Puzzle, whose pedigrees all contain Torr’s Lady Antrim. Antrim was one of the first horses Allan imported with the assistance of Jim Pickens.Along with the aforementioned World Champions, Allan also exhibited the 2007 World Champion Six Horse Hitch in Madison, Wisconsin and bred the 2015 Reserve World Champion Gelding Willow Way Inferno.Allan has a strong belief in community in all aspects of his life. As part of his dedication to the breed, he is both a Life Member and Past President of the Alberta Clydesdale Association and Life Member, Past President and Director of 35+ years of the Clydesdale Horse Association of Canada.
Aubrey & Marie Toll on their 50th Wedding Anniversary
Aubrey toll - ontario 1920 -2005
Aubrey Toll was born into a farming family near Blyth, Ontario on March 19, 1920. He married Marie MacCrostie, a teacher, in 1944. They raised four children on the family farm: Cheryl, Vaughn, Kerry and Avon.Aubrey was a fourth generation Clydesdale breeder and showed his first horse, a foal, at the Blyth Fall Fair at the age of seven. By the mid-1950’s he was showing his own six-horse hitch at local shows. He and his father, Fred, took horses to the 1956 Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.He imported his first Scottish horses in 1961 and, from then until the early 70’s, he imported more than 60 Scottish horses. Among those many imports were the stallions Torrs Benefactor, Dunsyre Silver King, Doura Ambassador and Collessie Royal Gift.In 1960, Aubrey trucked horses to the Brandon Winter Fair for the first time. For several years, this was an annual trip resulting in successful outcomes. Beginning in 1961, he participated for four summers in the Western “A” Circuit at Brandon, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Regina, travelling with two trucks, a wagon and up to 14 horses. During the 1960’s, he was attending up to 50 fairseach year.In 1962 Aubrey sold his wheel team, a Scottish import and his mate to August A. Busch, company chairman of Anheuser-Busch Brewery. This exchange was the first of manyhorse deals between the two mean. Aubrey estimated that Mr. Busch purchases over 70 Clydes from him over the years.In 1986, he was contacted by Ted Nugent’s farm manager at Timberwood Farms in Michigan, informing that all of the Clydes at the farm were for sale. When the deal was completed, Aubrey had purchased 17 horses. The best horse was Maplewood Glen Rose, which he sold to David and Wilma Cleghorn. She became their favorite and best producing mare.Aubrey trucked his horses in a simple stock truck, always shod his own horses, taught many the art of tying tails and rolling manes, and drove his own hitches. He was meticulous about how his horses were prepared and presented for show. He was adamant that their feet and legs be washed with warm water. At the end of the day, he liked nothing better than sitting on the tack box in the horse barn while negotiating a deal with a fellow Clydesdale owner.Aubrey died on July 21, 2005, leaving a legacy of love, loyalty and knowledge of the Clydesdale breed, which he generously imparted to many, including the fifth and sixth generals of Clyde breeders among his descendants. He would be proud to know that his son and grandsons are continuing the family tradition of breeding and exhibiting his beloved Clydesdales. There have been many dedicated horsemen over the year who kept the horse business going when there wasn’t much reason to do so… Aubrey was one of them.
Lloyd langille - nova scotia 1932 -2017
Lloyd Langille was born in Tatamgouche, Nova Scotia and grew up on the family farm near Oliver, Nova Scotia. His love of draft horses started early in life. He drove them on the farm as a child and worked with them in the woods as a teenager. In his early years, Lloyd would bring in carloads of horses transported by rail from Western Canada to Hopewell, Nova Scotia to be broke, worked and moved on to fill other people’s needs – a testament to his talents as a horseman.He started showing horses in 1959, and he and his family continued to show horses for over 50 years. The family continue to be very active in the draft horse industry to this current day, both in breeding circles and in the show ring.Lloyd was a respected judge and performed the honors of judging at the highest levels in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, including two World Percheron Congresses, the Calgary Stampede, and the Royal Winter Fair – all while he himself enjoyed successes at the highest levels and the highest stages in thedraft horse world. He was one of the most gifted teamsters to pick up a set of lines.With his wonderful wife, Marlene, at his side, Lloyd achieved many accomplishments. One of the greatest contributions one can make in any field is the ability to pass that same passion on to other generations. He did that with his own children, and others as well. He was a strong advocate for encouraging youth, recognizing the importance of developing them for the future of the draft horse industry. Lloyd loved to help young drivers handle the big hitches and become better horsemen and horsewomen. He understood a horse’s mind and enjoyed getting new people involved and educated. An excellent example of this was the 2015 World Clydesdale Show in London, Ontario where both the Male Teamster, Donnie Langille, Lloyd’s son, and Female Teamster, Sara Hayes, learned firsthand from Lloyd and, in turn, rose to the top thanks to his teachings.Many horse owners would call or visit, asking Lloyd for advice that was always freely given if they were truly interested in learning. “His calm nature, quiet voice and gentle hands would get more out of a horse in five minutes than any rough handling ever could. He always said there was a time and a place for every correction and the horse would always let you know, you just had to watch.” (Sara Hayes)
FREDERICK WESLEY DUNN - MANITOBA 1902 - 1998
Frederick Dunn was born on March 16, 1902. He was the second son of Fred and Martha Dunn of Alexander, Manitoba.At the age of 20, he received a diploma from Manitoba Agriculture College in Winnipeg. After college, he farmed with his parents and became interested in raising and showing Clydesdale horses.In 1939, he married Maude Gamley and together they raised seven children.Fred first showed at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto in 1938. His western bred broodmare, Landmark Sensation, placed third. By 1953, Fred had started using the prefix Riverview for his Clydes. That year was one of Fred’s best at the Royal Winter Fair, winning the Foal Class, the Two Year Old Class, the Yeld Mare Class and the Produce Class. Fred also had the Grand Champion Stallion that year. Riverview Clydesdales went on to win many honors in the show world.Fred was a quiet spoken man who truly loved his Clydesdales. In his later years, he left the farm and moved to Alexander, Manitoba but still made the six mile journey to feed his beloved animals every day.Fred passed away on April 24, 1998. His Riverview prefix lives on in many pedigrees today. Riverview JewelPicture taken November 17, 1974 at Royal Winter Fair, Toronto