I have always liked the breed and in 1978 was lucky enough to have my first Rough Collie, a tricolour dog, known as Snoopy, who was unregistered. But as I was not looking for a show dog that wasn't a problem. He turned out to be my very best friend, he went everywhere with me and I'll never have another like him.

In 1984 I bought my second Rough, a sable and white dog known as Duke Golden Delight at Markenfield [Zeb]. He was to be a companion for Snoopy.In 1991 I went to a local exemption show and entered Zeb in a few classes and to my delight he won and from that day on I had caught the showing bug. I showed Zeb at a few local Open Shows and he did very well, but as he was nearly 7 years old I decided to look for something a little younger to show. I was lucky enough to buy a tricolour bitch known as Trisever Blue at Markenfield[Mitzy]. She did well for me in the ring but sadly she was not a lover of the showing game.

In 1993 I mated Mitzy to Zeb and had one puppy, who I kept. He was Markenfield's Gold Sunrise. He won many Best Puppy and BOB's at Open shows and he did qualify for Crufts but once he turned 3 years old he decided that he would rather stay at home.Also in 1993 I bought a sable bitch, Steldave's Touch of Elegance at Markenfield [Abby]. Little did I know the that she was going to be the foundation of my present day kennel. She really loved showing and won no end of BOB's at Open shows and obtained her Stud Book Number at Champ. Show level.

In 1994 I decided to have a litter from Abby and I mated her to Mirlyndon Moonraker. She produced 5 puppies. From the litter I kept a tricolour bitch, Markenfield's Tri Dawn, Cleo. Like her mom Cleo took to the show ring like a duck to water. She won Best Puppy nearly every time out and as an adult won BOB at nearly every show. She also won 2 Reserve CC's, but the day I'll never forget was when she won the Bitch CC & BOB at Leeds Championship Show, under judge Peter Scarth.

In 1995 I decided to mate Abby again and this time took her to Int Ch Sogno Del Narciso with Pelido and in the November she produced 6 puppies. all sables. From the litter i kept 2 puppies a dog and bitch, known as Markenfield's Asti Spumanti [Blake] and Markenfield's Maid of Rome [Sophie]. They both did well in the ring. Both qualified for Crufts by the time they were 8 months old, but as time went on I decided to let Sophie go and just keep Blake. Little did I know what was to come.

Blake qualified for Crufts every year he was out, but it was in 1999 that the big shock came. When I took him to the West of England Collie Champ show under breed judge Hazel Hunt [Rifflesea] to my delight he won the Open Dog class, and that's when it hit me. He was in for the challenge to win the CC and to my shock Hazel awarded him the CC, along with Best of Breed and to top of the day he went on to beat the Smooth Collie for Best in Show. He gained his second CC at Collie Association and his 3rd at Southern Counties. Blake is not 11 years old and Cleo is not 12 years old. Both are still going strong and enjoying time at home.Well that's the story so far. I have added photos below of my dogs, from past, present and future.....