Lucy is the current star of this kennel. Born in June 2004 she is a natural showgirl, full of charisma and glamour and over the years has attracted many admirers. At Lancashire & Cheshire Collie Club Open Show she was Best of Breed, Reserve Best in Show and Best Puppy in Show at the tender age of 7 months, under Lyn Salt and Peter Bailey. This was followed by many firsts as a puppy and the R.C.C. at Scottish Kennel Club under Wendy Smith. She ended her puppy career third in the British Collie Club Ladypark Competition.

After having a litter she has come back into the ring and over the past 18 months has been consistently well placed in all her classes. She won a further R.C.C. at Border Union in 2006 under Isobel Douglas and the kennels first CC last year at Richmond under Liz Robinson.

'This year she has added a further CC, with Best of Breed at Windsor under Michael Gaunt and RCCs at Welsh Kennel Club under Vic Salt and Richmond under Jo Bispham, culminating in her 3rd CC at Darlington under Rod Slater, giving us our first champion. A wonderful day to remember!'

It started on 4th November 1994 when I bought a 7-month-old sable bitch called Aberhill Cheeky Miss at Takhisis, Cheeky Miss to her friends, from Shirley and Glenda Toothill. My first ever show was 2 weeks later at Keighley Canine Society, where we between us didn't have a clue, but came home with a 1st, 2nd and 3rd. As time went by we started to work as a team. Cheeky Miss loves going to shows and became easily recognisable as a glamorous golden sable with a huge coat, whose sole aim in life was food! In 1995 she was RBIS at Northumberland and Durham Collie Open show, in 1996 she was RBIS at 2 All Breed Open Show, then 1997 she had gained 6 stud book entries, RBIS at Yorkshire Collie Club Open show, a RCC under Jack Bispham and a further RBIS All Breed Open show. As well as this she has won many BOB at open shows, and since turning 7 has had a successful veteran career. Sadly we lost Cheeky Miss in February to a stroke. She had been relatively active until the end and suffered her stroke whilst playing in the garden with Panda. As my first show dog she gave me so much joy and I will never be able to thank her enough - sleep well princess.

ABERHILL CHEEKY MISS AT TAKHISIS

In 1996 I bought a tri bitch from Shirley, Aberhill Lady Luck at Takhisis. She is the last of Shirley's well known "Personality" line and won well as a youngster, getting her Junior Warrant, and since has had many Stud Book placings. It is as a brood bitch that she has really made her mark here. In December 1998 I took her to her cousin, Duna Jones' blue dog, Ch Aberhill Bluwatch, and the following February she whelped a litter of 8. I had hoped for a blue bitch, but nature being nature she had 3 blue dogs, 1 tri dog and 4 tri bitches. One of the bitches, caught my eye from 2 weeks old, she became Takhisis Lady Eloise.

TAKHISIS LADY ELOISE

Ch Aberhill Bluwatch x Aberhill Lady Luck at Takhisis

A local exhibitor, Peter Hodgson, had come to look at each of my litters, just out of interest. This time he ended up buying a blue dog, who became Takhisis Top of the Glen. Glen is regularly shown locally, Peter doesn't drive so can't travel far. As a puppy he was unbeaten at Open shows, and won a Puppy Group, was twice Best Puppy in Show and twice Reserve Best Puppy in Show. As an adult his success has continued and has an open show Best in Show to his credit. He has qualified for Crufts 3 years running from open shows alone. Another tri bitch, Takhisis Lady Jane, went to live with Mel and Christine Blacknell of Sablepark collies and gained her Stud Book number in 2001 at Yorkshire Collie Ch show.

As a young puppy Eloise had a lovely career, the highlight being BPIS at Yorkshire Collie Ch show under Mrs D Clarke (Lynway). Her sister Jane came second to her in Minor Puppy bitch. After this, however, she has decided that showing is not really for her, although she did win her Stud book number this year by winning Open bitch at Belfast under Mr M Gaunt (Bigglesmere). Like her Mum before her she has been a lovely Mum and had 3 healthy litters. In her second litter in 2002 to Lynaire Solid Gold she produced my tri dog. Takhisis Back in Black JW [Baxter]

TAKHISIS BACK IN BLACK JW
[Lynaire Solid Gold x Takhisis Lady Eloise]

Baxter was born in March 2002 and has had a steady career, although he is his own worst enemy and not easy to show. However he won his Junior Warrant and has been rarely unplaced. In September 2006 he won the RCC at Yorkshire Collie Club under Lyn Westby. At the moment he's taking a back seat whilst I campaign Lucy and Panda.

In the same litter was a tri bitch called Takhisis Lady Eliza. She was overshadowed by her brother but won puppy bitch at Crufts under John Blake, a day to remember. As she got older it became apparent that she wanted that one to one attention I could not give her so she is now living a with lovely family life in Lancashire. Occasionally if the right home comes up for the right dog I will place them in a "pet" home, so that they can get all the love and attention they deserve. Another bitch who gave me so much was Erjon Esteemed Blue, who I bought from Duna Jones of Erjon Collies.

ERJON ESTEEMED BLUE
[Lynaire The Blacksmith x Erjon Ermine Blue]

Chrissie was a joy to own, full of character. Whilst she had a fair amount of success in the ring I will always be grateful to her for producing my Lady Licia and High Voltage. Both have inherited their mum's lust for life and charisma, and her fabulous shape and good looks. For months John and I felt we should find her a good pet home as she craved attention, but we knew it would break our hearts. However last Christmas she found a new home with a man in a wheelchair who travels the world with the military and she now never leaves his side. Last we heard she was in Iraq playing with the army dogs, and was due to go to the Falklands, Columbia and Germany!!

Over the years there have been others who have given so much to me and the kennel, who are now a big part of other people's lives, T. Cheeky Madam, T. Lady Penelope and Aberhill Personality Tupens at T. to name a few.

The Future...

At the moment I am only a very small kennel, mainly due to living in a built up area, so I only have one litter a year or so. We hope to move to a place better suited for dogs in the next couple of years. I am hoping for a litter early next year, which should be blue’s and tri’s, and in an ideal world would hope for a tri bitch so I can eventually breed another sable litter - the last one was in 2002! I aim to breed a puppy that will settle well into family life, as well as have the looks for the show ring if possible . There are plenty of children where we live, who are always happy to socialise puppies, and we have two cats for puppies to play with.

When selling a puppy I am looking for a permanent, loving home, however I appreciate that circumstances can change. I will always try to help in any rehoming process for any dogs I have bred, and will take a dog back when I can. If you are looking for an older dog as a pet it is always worth contacting me as I may be able to help.

Do not hesitate to ring or email for help or advice, visitors always welcome...