My ownership of rough collies started in 1975, when I was 5 years old my parent’s bought a sable and white “Lassie” pup. I was ecstatic and could not wait to get home from school every day to see my puppy. His first year was interesting as he developed a passion for mum’s shoes and dad’s books but he made it through his first year and was the most loyal gentle dog anyone could wish for. He was a gentle giant. He was huge and had pricked ears but we though a beauty.

"SHEP "

After Shep we had vowed there would be no more dogs as it was too painful to lose him, we lasted 3 weeks when we saw a advert in the local paper for sable and white puppies, so off we trotted to just to have a look at a litter of puppies, needless to say we picked a dog pup for collection the next week. We started obedience training with “Shadow” and showing was suggested so we decided to enter the show ring. It was obvious he wasn’t show quality and he also became seriously ill and was put to sleep at 18months to prevent any further suffering. I also bought a tricolour dog along the way called Storm who was a law unto himself and was rehomed with friends of the family as it became clear that keeping dogs and bitches together was no fun for anyone. He lived peacefully to 14 years old.

As a 21st birthday present my mother bought me my first bitch “Connie” from Jean Brown. She was tricolour, and she was a “dream”, she was gorgeous and she knew it. She loved the showring, unusual for a rough collie, she had a wonderful shape and had the most gorgeous head.
Connie gained her Junior Warrant in 1991 when you could only accumulate points between 12 and 18 months, which was no mean feat with a rough collie, but she finished her 6 months with 35 points, she did everything in style.

Stronvar Silent Dreamer At Avonfair
“Connie”
25/02/1990 to 01/04/2005
Champion Stronvar Silent Warrior Westoak X Anastasia At Stronvar

Connie produced her first and my first puppies in May 1992 to Tashadon George Washington she was a reluctant mother, she hated every minute of being a mother she resented being confined to a whelping box, but mostly how dirty and messy puppies were, so I had to be a quick learner to keep 6 puppies alive day and night.
However we battled along and everything was worth while when we had little bundles of fur bouncing around the garden at 6 weeks.

We kept a sable and white bitch “Chelsea.” Who was fiercely independent probably due to her mother’s neglect. Chelsea was a great puppy who won many BP and BOB and was a joy to show and own Chelsea was also a wonderful mother when the time came. Chelsea produced a litter of 8 in October 1995 to Roanburn Royal Oak.
From this litter a dog puppy gained the life of luxury in Japan and is called Macdonald and we still have a dog puppy that lives with my brother.
We lost Chelsea in June this year just after her 14th birthday

Avonfair Armeria Dream
“Chelsea”
10/05/1992 to 13/06/2006

Also a long the way we purchased a sable and white bitch from Lynda James. “Ceilidh”
Ceilidh was the heartbreak of our kennel she was glamorous bitch but hated the showring but when she pulled her self together she was beautiful, beating Connie for BOB twice. Unfortunately Ceilidh never produced puppies despite being mated 5 times over the years to various dogs it was so frustrating, as she loved puppies and was so gentle and loving.

Jamesfair Hot Pepper At Avonfair
Ceilidh
10/11/1990 to 25/06/2003

Over the years work and other commitment took over my life and dog showing took a back seat, until 2005 when we lost Connie at 15 years I was devastated I still think of her everyday. Again vowed I was not having anymore but decided to go along to SKC champ show in May 2005 and for some reason decided I wanted to renter the ring.

We looked around for a sable bitch pup, tricolours are my favourite but I felt I was too raw for tricolour. In September we finally got “Cassidy” from Val Setchell and our journey began again and we have loved every minute and met some wonderful friends here and abroad and look forward to many more years of showing and breeding.