My love for this most beautiful of breeds started as a young child, my father kept a couple of rough collies and bred them for a few years, so I grew up with my very own lassie. It was a dream from that early age that I would one day breed and show my own, and although it has taken many years that dream is now in the making. Working full time and bringing up 3 children didn’t leave much free time. We moved to Devon in 1986 and I ran a small guest house, so I was at home working and this gave me the opportunity and the time to have my much longed for collie. Christmas 1988 on a visit to family in Liverpool George bought me my first collie Emma; she was to steal our hearts and those of every guest we had over the years. She was a shaded sable with a super temperament, she was my constant companion over the years, and grew up alongside our 3 grandchildren. It was heart breaking for all of us when at the age of 13 she passed away. She will always be very special to us.


"Emma" aged 4 months

"Emma" aged 15months with her pal, "Pixie"

Emma left a huge void in our lives and the house seemed so empty without her that we decided to start the search for a new collie with the view of showing and breeding. After seeing the Brooklynson web site I knew they were the type of collie I was looking for, we contacted Steve Barrett and as luck would have it he had a new litter from Ch Brooklynson Headliner x Ch Brooklynson Golden Fashion so we booked 2 puppies from him. On a cold day in January we picked up our 2 bundles of fluffy mischief and travelled the 300 miles home, and then the fun really began. We started training classes and did our first open show in June with Rosie at Exeter and we did quite well, a few open shows followed with quite a bit of success and then we did our first champ show Midland Counties under Mr Joe Chorley the girls took 2nd and 3rd in puppy bitch qualifying them both for Crufts, unfortunately they came into season so we couldn’t show them.


Soon after we decided we would apply for our own affix, the name came about because we live in small valley and guests over the years have called our home a peaceful haven so the name Valleyhaven was formed.

BROOKLYNSON DREAM MAKER FOR VALLEYHAVEN

[Sire: Ch Brooklynson Headliner x Dam: Ch Brooklynson Golden Fashion]

Rosie is a rich shaded sable, she has had a very successful career in the ring with many best puppy, best of breed and group placing's and was reserve best puppy in show at South West Working and Pastoral open show. At the age of 12 and a half months she gained a reserve C.C out of junior at L.K.A under Mrs Carole Smedley. She has continued her successes in the ring although has been shown very lightly for the past year. We are hoping for a much longed for litter from her at the beginning of January 2006.

 

BROOKLYNSON PEACE MAKER FOR VALLEYHAVEN

[Sire: Ch Brooklynson Headliner x Dam: Ch Brooklynson Golden Fashion


[Photo: Valleyhaven]
Amber with D'arcy after their first litter

Amber is a totally different character to Rosie; she is very quiet and confident and takes no nonsense from the rest of the dogs. Although she has held her own in the show ring she prefers to do agility with our son Chris, and she has now started her training again after having her litter and she loves every minute of it. She is entered for her first competition early next year.

When the girls were a year old we brought home our first male a golden sable (D’Arcy) from John and Caroline Tipper I had fallen for him from the first minute I had seen him, so once again we did a long haul to visit him we did the trip 3 times, bringing him home the third time. He was and still is sweet natured boy and a delight to own. We have had a lot of success with him in the ring with many best puppy, best of breed and group placings; he gained his junior warrant at the age of 15 months and was the Green Star dog at Limerick Champ Show 2005 and Res Green Star at Killarney 2005. He has been resting for a few months to grow his new coat but will be back the ring soon.

On Christmas day 2004 we mated D’Arcy to Amber and she produced a litter of 10 puppies (6 Bitches & 4 Dogs) on the 25th February 2005, the first litter for both of us, you might say it was a baptism of fire, but we enjoyed every minute of it, even all the sleepless nights were worth it, and all the puppies went to their new families happy and healthy. We kept 2 girls Abbie and Bella. Pictured below.




TIGANLEA MIDAS TOUCH FOR VALLEYHAVEN JW
VIEW PEDIGREE

[Sire: Samhaven Made in Devon x Dam: Tiganlea Golden Touch at Yorvik]


photo by Valleyhaven aged 10 months
Photo by Farlap, aged 2 years

"Amber"
[Brooklynson Peace Maker for Valleyhaven]

at her 1st agility show.
As you can see she loves every minute of it.

VALLEYHAVEN LET'S CELEBRATE
[Sire: Brooklynson De Carvalho - Dam: Brooklynson Dream Maker for Valleyhaven]
DOB 1st January 2006


Photo by William Moores

Introducing Ebony one of the newest members of our family, she is a happy and confident puppy
and has made a wonderful start to her show career.
.

Paignton: 1st Puppy Bitch & BPIB - Mrs Jane Gay
WECS: 2nd Puppy Bitch - Mrs Meg McCOURT
Minehead: 1st Junior & BPIB - Mr Mike Marshall
Pastoral Puppy Group 1 - Pat Patch
North Devon Agric. Show: 1st Puppy and BPIB - Mrs M Penwarne
1st AV Puppy & PPG1 - Mrs M Harris
Reserve Best Puppy in show - Mr Andrew Brace.

We wish to thank all the judges who have thought her a worthy winner.

Her litter sister Valleyhaven Midnite Kisses [Jazzie] will be in the ring later in the year and we are looking forward to showing her with great anticipations.

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We have had lots of fun in the short time we have been on the show scene, and we have made many good and supportive friends along the way. We have had good advice from so many people and would like to thank them for their time and patience with us, Jennifer McKendrick for pointing us in the right direction for training and her valuable help always there when we’ve needed it. John and Caroline Tipper for letting us have such a wonderful boy in D’Arcy and for their help along the way in answering my many questions and their constant support. Steve and Alison for letting us have our 2 lovely girls. And a special thanks to our good friend Di Ware who is always there at the end of the phone and gives her help in so many ways. We hope we have made some lifelong friends in the people we have met and enjoyed time with.

George and Paula Wilson
Thorn Lea
Horns Cross
Bideford
Devon
Tel: 01237 451800
e-mail:valleyhaven@btconnect.com
or: valleyhavenb@btconnect.com

Visit our website
www.valleyhaven.co.uk