My
interest in collies started when I was very young. I was born and
brought up in Inverness, and not having a television in the early
days, we read a lot of books. I was very taken by a book, which I
still have, called "Shadow the Sheepdog", by Enid Blyton.
A lovely story about a faithful collie dog, which had superb pen and
ink drawings. Well, that was it, I wanted to have a dog like that.
After
a lot of persuasion, it took a long time, in 1972 my father bought
me a rough collie puppy from a breeder in Aberdeen. She was bred by
Mr Roberts and was by Fellview Consort. I did show Kerry a little
at exemtion shows but did not take up showing until the early 90's.
Kerry |
By
the 1980's I had moved to Newmarket in Suffolk and worked with racehorses,
exercising many top racehorses trained by Sir Michael Stoute. My second
bitch was Tessa who was a lovely character, but not show quality,
and like Kerry she lived to the grand old age of 14. In 1984 I purchased
a better quality bitch from Angela Hodgson and started showing in
a small way. Unfortunately, Nellie did not like attending shows, so
I gave up on that idea for a while.
Tessa and Nellie |
In
1991 I then bought a blue merle bitch from Angela Hodgson, Treeview
Yesterday's Dream at Tameila. I started to show her and learned a
lot along the way. Then I decided to register an affix, and was really
disappointed when the KC chose Garbh, because it was my sixth choice!
However I've got used to it now, but I'm not sure other people have?
It is Gaelic for ROUGH.
Floss |
Floss
produced two litters, one to Tanryn Midnight Express at Lynaire, which
produced Garbh Gabrielle. This was the first dog that I had bred and
shown myself. She obtained our first Stud Book Number. Ellie is now
10 years old.
In
1999 Floss was then mated to Ch Brilyn Rum 'N Black and this mating
produced Garbh Megan Mhor. Megan had quite a successful show career
and we won 1st prize at Crufts in 2001 winning Post Graduate Bitch.
I was really delighted with our success. In 2003 Megan was mated to
Chrisarion Collier, which produced Garbh Jhaimie Mhor. Megan is now
8 years old.
Garbh Megan Mhor |
Garbh Jhaimie Mhor |
In
2001 I bought a lovely bitch from Sue and Brian Hawkins, Brilyn Sister
Sophie at Garbh. She had a successful puppy career, and now also has
her Stud Book Number. She produced a fine litter by Ch Emryks Boyzone,
and we kept two puppies, Garbh Sophie's Choice and Garbh Doughal Mhor.
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Brilyn
Sister Sophie at Garbh |
Garbh
Sophie's Choice |
Garbh
Doughal Mhor |
Our
dogs are not only show dogs, they are out and about doing different
things. I have done agility with a couple and the younger dogs go
fell and hill walking with us on holidays, some of the not so young
go too! Jhaimie is almost a working collie, because he goes out every
day in his truck round the farm. We do not have many litters, but
a great deal of thought goes into the ones we do have and hopefully
we can have a little success too,
Jhaimie Mhor on top of the Old Man of Coniston
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G Jhaimie Mhor, G Doughal Mhor,Sister
Sophie at G, Samhaven Rhian at Garbh - latest edition to the
family - on top of Hellvelyn Lake District at Striding Edge. |
Samhaven Rhian at Garbh
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Brilyn Sister Sophie at Garbh
and her son Garbh Doughal Mhor |
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Garbh
Jhaimie Mhor in his truck [left]
and
above - L to R
Samhaven Rhian at Garbh, Garbh Doughal Mhor, Brilyn Sister
Sophie at Garbh
and Garbh Jhaimie Mhor on Lingmoor Fell, Lake District.
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Going Downhill
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