smooth collies.

More congratulations to Champion Sandcastles True Topic

Best In Show Scottish Working Breeds.

Well Done Tatu, Trevor & Faye.

Congratulations to this years Cruft's winners.

Bitch CC Champion Foxearth Fluorescent At Molloney

Dog CC Champion Sandcastles True Topic BOB Group 2

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*Devern First Prime's first visit to Cruft's: 2nd Post Graduate Dog *

* Devern First Prime wins First Post Graduate Dog at British Collie Club Championship show *

* Lilymead Amazing Grace wins First Limit Bitch at British Collie Club Championship Show *

Well done Kids!

First time out in 2010 and both First Prime and Amazing Grace Qualify for Cruft's 2011

Manchester Championships show Devern First Prime wins Post Graduate Dog Lilymead Amazing Grace gains 3rd Limit Bitch

Devern First Prime's own page Click Here Lilymead Amazing Grace's own page Click Here

I am in the process of choosing a new prefix and hope to have a litter from Lucy this year by

Champion Sandcastles True Topic, BOB, & Group 2 Crufts 2010

We live in beautiful North Yorkshire close to James Herriot Country.

The famous Peterblue Kennels, which the breed owes much too, was sited just 15 miles from our home Sunley Raynes which is set in some 6 acres or so.

About me

As a child I loved dogs. All dogs and ponies but was allowed neither for many years. The dogs we did eventually have were much loved by me, but stayed only briefly, various mongrels, a Corgi, Cocker Spaniel and a jack Russell. Plus many neighbours dogs which I "borrowed"!

After I was married I saw two Rough Collies in a Cricket Club frequented by my father - in - law one afternoon, a tri colour and a sable & white. I knew then I wanted a Rough collie.

My very first was a sable and white bitch by Champion Sangreat Something Special in 1982.

By 1983 I had started to show a bitch by Cramer Gold Accolade owned by Duna Jones out of Sylcroft Saucy Nancy, a Chips daughter bred by Sylvia Pinchbeck and soon became friends with the now late Sylvia who bred and made up Champion Sylcroft Sorcerer. Through Sylvia I met and became friends with Duna Jones of Erjon Collies who made up quite a number of Champions over the years including Arranbrook Mr Chips full sister Ch Polly Peachum and also had the most beautiful

Tri dog Eyecatcher , pictured, who hated being shown.

I had a gorgeous daughter of his, Sylcroft Sorceress of exactly the same ilk!!!

I only had three male dogs in total, a blue merle early on Lavinloc Blue Peter, Sylcroft Simon Templar a heartbreak dog by Mr Chips full brother Arranbrook Summerwind at Camanna. He never did carry a full jacket.

Sylcroft Simon Templar

The Best Rough Collie I had was a beautiful Champion S Sorcerer son, another by S Saucy Nancy . Luke, Sylcroft Spitting Image won well for me and gained his Stud book No. under Lisa Burtenshaw of Pelido collies.

Sylcroft Spitting Image

In those days exhibitors went to the local Open shows as well as Championship shows and I remember many happy days with all of us taking food for lunch sat in deck chairs, no one in any real rush to get home if the sun was shining. Often they would be myself, Sylvia, Sheila and Gordon Smith with their Daughter Nicola from Billingham, sometimes Moira Hart with David of Akdeniz Collies, the Mather's with their Rubec Collies,( Champion's Rubec Blue Peter and then Snow Symphony often travelled in the same car when being campaigned to their titles ) and Anne Hassock with her Champion Pied Piper of Aberhill at Rixown.

I particularly liked the Brettonpark's Collies of Gordon and Thelma Duncan's and remember a number of visits along with Sylvia to use their Stud dogs.

Old Wooley (Champion whatzizname) was still around as was Country Tweed, a lovely dog but his ears were a little heavy. The sable Shellina Mr Sandman and young B Keep it Dark, a Tri dog.

The Big winning kennels during this time were the Pelido, Abbestones, Myberns, Lynways and Sandiacre Kennels. Huge classes, especially Puppies of 20 or even 30 were the order of the day and nothing less than a First Qualified for Crufts!

During this time I always liked to look at the Top winning dogs of other breeds and well remember watching the Boxer, Ch Marbleton Dressed to Kill move around the ring one day, his legs moving like pistons!

I also much admired Mary Gatheral's Shetland sheepdog Champion Herriot of Herds.

I soon found myself following the Smooth Collies and really wanted one but my timing was not good as I then went through a divorce. While I did keep all my Rough Collies, my showing and certainly adding to them was curtailed for many years. I owned Rough Collies for well over over 27 years in total. Still having one today.

Camanna Cissy Speck

It actually took me 15 years to return to the ring but meanwhile an assortment of dogs came and only ever left when they went over to Rainbow Ridge.

The Smooths I well remember and admired were Champion Sylbecq Fleur De Lys, Foxearth's Flourish, Frappant, and Jubilant the latter owned By Geoff Duffield. The Mitchell's Blue Movie and Newarp Silver Moonbeam.

In 2005 I came across an advert in the Dog press for a litter of Smooth Collies which were of all Trevor and Birgit's Foxearth breeding but bred in Lancashire.

By now I had built up a successful Herd of rare Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys and was busy showing them.

I now have the Top winning Miniature Donkey Stud in Europe with a number of Champions and breeders of Champion and show winning stock.

I have to say that dog showing is very much a day out for me and certainly never have as much fun and laughter as I do with the Rough & Smooth Collie Folk!!

Ann French

Email ann@minidonks.co.uk

If I do not answer email within 24 hours I have not received it.

Ripon, North Yorkshire

01765 603149

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE LINKS CLICK HERE

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