To round the year off we went to the LKA CH Show on 12th December. Judge Steve Barrett (Brooklynson) placed Erin 3rd out of 15 in the yearling bitch class which we were very pleased about considering she didn’t like the noise of the floor moving under the ring.
A break from showing for a month or two now, trying to contend with the ever lengthening firework season! We have done a repeat mating of Talia to Dennis but bonfire night fell as she was six weeks in whelp and she was terrified. Talia went in to labour on 29th November and after an emergency caesarean had two lovely boys. Sadly they didn’t last the week.
We had to say a sad goodbye to Faye (Mejola Wicked Lady) on 6th November. She had been squinting for a few days and we awoke this morning to find her eye bulging out and twisted to the side. The vets diagnosed a tumour or cyst and said that even if they operated it was likely to come back. As she couldn't see and was distressed we decided to let her go.
A hot sunny day for the Darlington CH Show on 19th September. Good day for us as judge placed Geno 1st in limit dog and Mia 1st in limit bitch, giving Mia her Kennel Club Stud Book Number.
A very long journey up to Edinburgh on 29th August for the Scottish Kennel Club CH Show under judge Robin Newhouse (Annecy). Geno was placed 3rd in limit dog and Mia 2nd in limit bitch.
6th August was Bakewell Premier open show. I always go to this show as it is quite local to us but can be very temperamental with the weather. The kids did well under judge Howard Ogden (Beauview). Erin 1st junior, Mia 1st post graduate and Geno 2nd open dog.
2nd August – EACA CH Show. Love going to this show. Always such a well run show with a friendly atmosphere and always brilliant weather. Fern Sargeant (Coarhabeg) was judging dogs and placed Geno 3rd in limit dog and Jake VHC in open dog. Bitch judge Jim Peach (Rosdyke) placed Erin 1st junior bitch and Mia VHC post graduate bitch.
26th July was Leeds CH Show. I don’t think I’ve ever run round the ring so many times at a show. Great to get the dogs moving but was really testing for some of the handlers. Judge Tracey Wilkinson (Altricia) placed Geno a respectable 3rd out of 12 in the limit dog class.
12th July – Alfreton & District C S open show. Left the coatless Erin at home so just went with Geno. Judge Paul Singer (Rushingwell) gave him the open class and Best of Breed.
Blackpool CH Show dawned on 28th June with Finnish judge Kari Jarvinen. It was a very wet and windy day but thankfully we stayed outside for judging. Erin was unplaced in junior bitch and is now very out of coat. Mia and Geno showed their socks off and Mia was placed second in yearling bitch whilst Geno went on to win yearling dog.
7th June we went to the Ashfield C S open show as it is just a few minutes away for us. Judge Christine Owen (Owainglyndwr) placed Erin 1st in junior and Jake 3rd in open.
6th of June was the British Collie Club open show. Hadn’t been to this venue at Overseal before but it was outside and a lovely friendly little show. The judge was Marianne Benton (Oakestelle) and she gave Erin second in junior bitch and Jake won the open dog class and also took Reserve Best Dog.
30th May – Erin is just starting to drop her coat but nevertheless we went down to the Collie Association Open Show under judge Margaret Masterman (Santerman). She placed Erin 2nd in junior bitch and 3rd in graduate bitch.
16th May – Loughborough & District C S open show. Judge Dave Chapman (Kitsune) awards Erin the junior class and Best of Breed and Mia takes the open class.
4th May – the Banbury & District Canine Association open show. Debated whether to go as it was the bank holiday but we did. So pleased as the judge Sue Searle (Murrayvhale) gave Erin 1st in the junior class, 2nd in the post graduate class and Reserve Best of Breed. This point means Erin gains her Junior warrant title.
3rd May was the Lancs and Cheshire CH Show at the Thompson House Equestrian Centre. Judge Mrs M Elizabeth Blake-Watts awarded Erin 2nd in the junior bitch class.
12th April saw us going down to Littleport to the EACA open show. Judge Johnny Reid (Catchwell) gave Erin 2nd in junior bitch and 1st in under graduate bitch.
11th April – the Mansfield & District C S open show at the Newark Showground. Judge Mike Braddish (Bradmigail) awarded Erin both the post graduate and open classes and Best of Breed.
4th April saw our first ever trip to the Collie Club of Wales CH Show at Llantrisant. Judge Valerie Geddes (Ingledene) awarded Erin both the junior bitch and graduate bitch classes taking her to within 3 points of her Junior Warrant title.
29th March – a new venue for the Wellingborough & District C S open show at a very nice equestrian centre. Erin won the junior class under judge Kathie Kinton (Kinaway) and was placed 2nd in the post graduate class.
6th March was our day at Crufts. Just took Geno and Erin this year who were both shortlisted by dog judge Gwen Beaden (Myriehewe) and Brenda Cooney (Lingwell).
15th February – the Matlock and District C S open show, again at Newark Showground. Erin took the junior class under judge Chris Biggs (Spirecroft) and Jake took 3rd in the open class.
14th February – the Wath, West Melton and District C S open show at the Newark Showground. The judge was Sue Walker (Tooralie). She awarded Erin the junior class and Best of Breed and Jake the open class and Reserve Best of Breed. Erin went on to take Pastoral Group 3 under judge David Robbins (Jenting).
24th January - we travelled down to Stafford Showground for the Lichfield C S open show. Our judge was Angie Allan (Allmark). She awarded Erin the puppy class and Best of Breed whilst Jake took the open class and Reserve Best of Breed. This ended up being Erin’s last show as a puppy.
11th January saw the Nuneaton & District C S open show. Erin won the puppy class under judge Irene Crane-Duplock (Mirene).
The year started on 4th January with the East Anglian Collie Association Collie of the year competition. Talia, Geno and Erin were entered. The judges this year were Henriette Pahl (Pahlex) and Tomas Rohlin (Rollington). Both Talia and Geno were shortlisted in the adult competition. Talia was crowned Adult of the Year ably handled by my daughter Megan.
2015