I thought it was time I gave a little history of my small kennel.
I have always liked the Rough Collie & in 1978 was lucky to have my 1st Rough Collie, a Tri-Colour 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 & I’ll never have another like him.
In 1984 I bought my 2nd Rough, a sable & 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 & entered Zeb in a few classes & 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 & he did very well, but as he was now 7yrs old, I decided to look for something a little younger to show & I was lucky to buy, a Tri-colour 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, so in 1993 I mated Mitzy to Zeb & had one puppy dog, who I kept, he was known as Markenfield’s Gold Sunrise, he won many Best Puppys & BOB’s at open shows & he did qualify for Crufts, but once he turned 3yrs old he decided that he would rather stay at home.
Also in late 1993, I bought a Sable bitch known as Steldave’s Touch of Elegance at Markenfield ( Abby), little did I know then that she was going to be the foundation of my present day kennel, she really loved the showing & won no end of BOB’s at open shows & won her studbook number at Champ show level, in 1994 I decided to have a litter from Abby & I mated her to Mirlyndon Moonraker, she produced 5 puppies, from the litter a Tri bitch was kept, she was named Markenfield’s Tri Dawn (Cleo) like her mum cleo took to the show ring like a duck to water, she won Best Puppy nearly every time out & as an adult won BOB at nearly every show, she also won 2 res CC’s, but the day I’ll never forget was when she won the Bitch CC & BOB at Leeds Champ show, under Peter Scarth.
In 1995 I decided to mate Abby again, this time I took her to the well known Pelido Kennel, she was mated to Int Ch Sogno del Narciso with Pelido & in November she produced 6 puppies, all sables, from the litter I kept 2 puppies a dog & a bitch, known as Markenfield’s Asti Spumante (Blake) & Markenfield’s Maid of Rome ( Sophie) they both did very well in the ring, they had both qualified for Crufts by the time they were 8mths old, but as time went on I decided to let Sophie go & just keep Blake, but 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 West of England Collie Champ Show, under breed judge Mrs Hazel Hunt (Rifflesea) to my delight he won the Open dog class & thats when it hit me, he was in for the challenge to win the CC and to my shock Hazel gave it to him, along with Best of Breed & to top the day off he went on to beat the Smooth collie for Best In Show, he gained his 2nd CC & BIS at Collie Association & his 3rd and his crown at Southern Counties.
Blake is now 12yrs old & Cleo is now 13yrs old & both are still going strong and enjoying time at home.
Well that’s the story so far, I have put some photos below of my dogs, from Past, Present & Future.
The Past:
Snoopy.
Duke Golden Delight at Markenfield. Trisever Blue at
Markenfield
(Zeb) (Mitzy)
Their son Markenfield's Gold Sunrise (Josh)
Steldave's Touch of Elegance at Markenfield (Abby)
Markenfield's Tri Dawn (1CC & 2 Res cc's) (Cleo)
The Present:
Ch Markenfield's Asti Spumante.
(Blake)
Markenfield's Fantasy on Ice. Markenfield's Silver Visage.
(Son of Ch Pelido Blue Bolero & Cleo) (Pebbles daughter of Beck)
Elvaston Fancy Nancy Markenfield's Super Dream.
For Markenfield
(Cara) (Jorden)
(Sire:Ch Markenfield's Asti Spumante)( Pelido Forgotten Dreams & Cara)
(Jorden is no longer owned by us)
Markenfield Galliano. (Harvey)
(Son of Int Ch Sogno del Narciso with Pelido & Fancy Nancy)
Rifflesea Right to Roam Markenfield's Cat Balou.
over Markenfield
(Ryan) (Buffy)
(Son of Ch Markenfield's Asti Spumante) (Daughter of Ryan)
Markenfield's Caravan Caper. Markenfield's Babycham.
(Evie) (Lilly)
(Sire Pelido Forgotten Dreams ) (Ch Markenfield's Asti Spumante & Evie)
(Evie is no longer owned by us)
Markenfield's Cider Sally. Markenfield's Knightbird.
(Sally) (Murphy)
(Ch Markenfield's Asti Spumante daughter)(Markenfield's Black Fantasy & Sally)
(Sally is no longer owned by us)
The Future:
Markenfield's Dream Wizard (Photo taken at 4mths)
Sire: Clairone Lonely Dreamer With Pelido (Pelido Forgotten Dreams)
Dam: Markenfield's Babycham (Ch M's Asti Spumante Daughter)
Markenfield's Pheobe
Sire: Rifflesea Right to Roam over Markenfield (Ch M's Asti Spumante son)
Dam: Spearow Blackberry for Markenfield (M's Knightbird daughter)
Pheobe has now gone to live with Marianne Benton (Oakaville) and we wish them both well for the rest of the year and hope they have alot of fun both in and out of the ring.