Beltra is a small kennel established in 1988 by Norman and Marie Magill. Marie had been breeding and showing Rough Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs for over 25 years along with a Pomeranian. Norman had owned Pembroke Corgis for a similar amount of time but had only recently began to show dogs when he met Marie at Larne Show in 1986.

Marie’s love affair with Collies began as a young girl of six, after watching the Lassie films when her dad brought home a little eight weeks old ball of fluff. The sable and white Rough Collie was of course called Lassie. There followed many other quality Rough Collies from some of the best known kennels including Corydon, Angelfield, Jasand and of course Rubec. Marie had great fun showing them throughout Ireland and sometimes on the UK mainland. She also managed to fit in time to show her Shelties and her little Pom.

The Kennels first show dogs were a collie and a corgi. The famous Rough Collie Snow - Ch. Rubec Snow Symphony bred by Maud and Alan Mather out of Ch. Rubec Blue Peter and Ch. Sangreat Snow Sapphire of Rubec. Snow went on to become the UK’s top Rough Collie in 1989 winning 12 CC’s and 6RCC’s in under a year. We were very proud that Maud and Alan allowed us to own this beautiful bitch and she was very much a member of the family. Maud and Alan also helped to campaign Snow on the mainland as we could not have afforded to cross the channel every few weeks. However, Snow certainly got her sea legs as she was also campaigned in Ireland at the same time.

Chrissie also had a couple of litters and produced Buster - Beltra Bovver Boy (JW & 2 CC’s) and Jenna - Ir. Ch. Beltra Bardot (RCC) in her first mating to Ch. & Ir. Ch. Manto Red Earl. The kennel had a lot of success with these beautiful dogs throughout Ireland and the UK.

Family commitments have restricted our showing and breeding recently but our daughters Lauren and Ashley have also got the show-bug and have taken an active interest in showing and helping out at shows. Our third daughter Kelly, prefers to stay in the background and play with her two corgis at home.

We have recently brought in a baby Rough Collie Storm – Altnareagh Black Dress at Beltra bred by Robert and Iris Cummings – pictured below with Lauren wining Reserve Best Bitch as a puppy on Lauren’s 16th birthday and with Ashley after winning BOB at a local show.

As the Collies were too boisterous and the Corgis too heavy to lift onto the table for a young handler, we recently went for something smaller - a Smooth Coat Chihuahua Pheobe – Keenaughts Bareleg Bronagh at Beltra bred by Patsy and Wilma McDevitt. After some success with a headstrong puppy, Patsy and Wilma have also very kindly let Ashley have Lily - Ir. Ch. Amber Tiger Lily at Keenaughts, another s/c Chihuahua, to encourage her to show and maintain her interest in this very charismatic breed. Ashley and Lily became best mates very quickly she has been able to handle Lily very well in the ring and also appreciates Patsy and Wilma’s help and encouragement at the shows.

Marie has been judging Rough Collies and Corgis, along with many other breeds for well over 25 years. She has recently passed the Rough Collie Breed Council Final Assessment and is awaiting final approval to award CC’s. She has already awarded Green Stars in Pembroke Corgis.