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History
Although I am a relative newcomer to Dog Shows, having made my first appearance in the ring – by accident, rather than by design – in the summer of 2005, my love affair with Rough Collies began over 25 years ago. When I was a child, we had a succession of Samoyeds [from the Icemist Kennel] as family pets – friendly smiling Sammies. When we bade farewell to our lovely Cza-Cza after a long illness, my father didn’t want another Sammie, and so the first Rough Collie, a 6 month old blue merle bitch [named Mandy after the song playing on the car radio when I took her home] came into my life. Mandy was no show dog, but what intelligence she had and what an extraordinary command of the English language she developed. I was heartbroken to lose her through a professional error at only 8 years old but, some months later, I was lucky enough to find another 6 months old blue merle puppy bitch, Zohra, as easy going as Mandy was intense, with the sweetest nature imaginable, who was my constant companion for 14 years. Then fate took a hand. My first show dog, a 2 year old blue, Domino [Jemara Striker at Jimjack – Lynaire Touch of Frost x Jemara Magic in the Making at Jimjack], joined me from the Jimjack kennel, because of friction between him and an older male. It was another 2 years before we made it into the show ring at the Cheshire County Show, the very first time I had ever seen a Rough Collie in the Show Ring. I only entered him because it was the cheapest way of getting into the show[!]. My friend had offered to take him into the ring but didn’t turn up – so in I went! That day Domino won 2 firsts and RBOB, and I was hooked! My thanks must go to Mrs Pauline Hutchinson, the judge on that day, not only for seeing past the handler but for her very helpful advice afterwards, which set me on the road to learning about showing. Unfortunately, Domino had a fall at his first indoor show, when a mat moved, which made him reluctant to show indoors, but he still qualified for Crufts first try at the Yorkshire Collie Club Championship Show that September. After having taken a back seat for a while, Domino came out as a veteran in 2008, and gained consistently high placings at the Championship Shows. In a rare appearance in non-veteran classes at Driffield Championship Show, he was awarded 2 first places and Reserve Best Dog, my first green and white card. Our thanks go to judge, Mrs Chantal Scott, for a wonderful, wonderful day – and it didn’t end there! Then came Crufts 2009. The ‘old lad’ gained a place in a strong Veteran Class and went on later to take a 2nd Prize, showing those ‘young whippersnappers’ a thing or two! Thanks to judge, Mr J Bispham, for truly a day to remember. The icing on the cake came at Northumberland and Durham Collie Club Championship Show 2009 when, thanks to judges Mrs C Waterhouse and Mr A Clarke, he was awarded Best Veteran Dog and then Best Veteran in Show. He was also BVIS at the Yorkshire Collie Club Open Show [May 2009], BVD at the Smooth Collie Club Open Show [May 2009] and SCC Champ Show [June 2009]. In autumn 2005, Gemma [Lanlin Just Fab at Stokedale – Lanlin Makemineadouble x Lanlin Summer Sunset], a 2 year old sable bitch, joined us from the Stokedale kennel after producing her 2nd litter. When her new outfit arrived, she went to her first Championship Show, The National Working and Pastoral Breeds of Wales, 2007, and qualified for Crufts first try. Gemma gained a 3rd place at Crufts in 2008 [thanks to judge, Mr J Wigglesworth] and her Kennel Club Stud Book Number [thanks to judge, Mr Burtenshaw]. She has done consistently well at Open Show level, gaining many BOBs and Group placings and, at nearly 6 years old, she gained a 2nd prize at Crufts 2009 [thanks to judge, Mrs A Hodgson]. What a day that was! Gemma was joined in early 2006 by my first puppy, a ball of silver blue fluff from the Stokedale kennel, Frosty [Stokedale Silver Frost over Barrenclough – aka Frosty the Foz], who first qualified for Crufts at 27 weeks at the Blackpool Championship Show and again the following year. Frosty does not often go to shows these days, preferring to stay home with his girls and practise dressage on the patio! He is a very sweet natured dog – ‘sweetheart’ runs all the way through him, like Blackpool Rock! – a real ‘people magnet’ with a smiley face - and what a coat he has! Later in 2006, our sable dog, Rio [Chantique Scrappy Doo for Barrenclough – Chantique Scooby Doo x Love in the Sun with Gerian] joined us at 12 months old. When his coat grew back, he quickly gained a clutch of BOBs at Open Shows, followed by 2 places at Crufts 2008 [thanks to judge, Mrs Val Geddes], his Kennel Club Stud Book Number at Leeds [thanks to judge, Mrs R Makepeace], a place at Crufts 2009 [thanks to Mr Bispham] and shortly afterwards his ShCM. Rio is a very loving dog, a real character – and has a definite penchant for the ladies! Our next recruit was a tri bitch, Rose [Coarhabeg Dewdrops on Roses over Barrenclough – Wicani What’s New Pussycat x Coarhabeg Lady of the Lake] a year later. Numbers increased yet again when twins, Marco and Maia, [Uffspring Utterly in my Soul over Barrenclough and Uffspring Unchained Melody over Barrenclough – Ch Lynmead Simply in my Soul x Carristina Femme Fatale del Uffspring JW] joined us in Autumn 2008, followed 3 months later by Dawn [Carristina Radiant Sunrise over Barrenclough – Ch Lynmead Simply in my Soul x Carristina Gracious Dawn at Colyheart]. All our dogs are family pets first and foremost, who enjoy nothing more than playing in the fields and chasing rabbits and squirrels in the shrubbery at the bottom of the garden, and all our adults have their Good Citizens’ Bronze Award. THE BOYS Jemara
Striker at Jimjack
Include: Chantique
Scrappy Doo for Barrenclough ShCM
Include:
[shown at 5 weeks, 6 months & 18 months]
Include: Uffspring
Utterly in my Soul over Barrenclough JW [Shown at 10 weeks, 4 months and 10 months]
Include: …….
and last – but not least – introducing baby Daniel In
his first week of showing, while 26 weeks old, Daniel achieved: ‘Daniel,
you’re a star!!!!’
THE GIRLS Lanlin
Just Fab at Stokedale
Include:
[Shown at 8 weeks and 16 months]
Include: Uffspring
Unchained Melody over Barrenclough JW [[Shown at 8 weeks, 6 months, 10 months and 14 months]]
Include: [Shown at 10 weeks, 7 months and 9 months]
Include: AND our much loved Dawnee-Dawn has gained her Junior Warrant at 10 months! .
and last – but not least – introducing baby Tia
and
baby Amber
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PUPPIES We
have no puppies available at present, following Rose’s false pregnancy
in 2008. CONTACT US Dr
Lynda Boyle Telephone
– 01663 750738 |
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