It all began in 1978 when my future husband, John, brought me a sable and white Rough Collie puppy. I had always wanted a 'Lassie' when I was small, and she was a much-loved companion to me while John was working nightshifts. Her registered name was 'Caprina Girl of Golden Sun' – pet name Candy – and although she had prick ears, a receding skull and not a lot of coat, she was a very cute, happy girl. She developed a number of health problems when she was older, including bad hip dysplasia.

'Sheba & Candy'
SHANTALLOWS FOLLOW THAT STAR & CAPRINA GIRL OF GOLDEN SUN

In 1979 I bought a sable bitch from Mr and Mrs Jarvis (Shantallows), who lived in Harwich. Her name was 'Shantallows Follow That Star', known as Sheeba. Her sire was Ch Leepark Glenbarry and she was to be my first show dog. I took her to some local shows and obedience lessons until, during the mid-eighties, dog shows took a back seat while John and I raised a family of our own.

I had also learnt to drive, so when I resumed showing I was able to get to venues by car rather than having to travel by public transport. By 1990, having had my affix reinstated, I purchased another sable and white bitch with showing and breeding in mind. This was 'Gemma', and she came from the Pelido kennel.

PELIDO SWEET SHERRY AT MAQUEEBA – 9.1.90
Ch Pelido Careless Love x Jaysali Sunshine Girl at Pelido

Sweet Cherry

Gemma attended a few shows as a puppy, where she also took part in junior handling with my eldest daughter Nicola. When she was two years old I bred her with Damirayan Dream Lover at Pelido. From this mating I retained a bitch, Maqueeba Donna Daydreams – Donna.

Maqueeba Donna Daydreams – 9/3/92
Damirayan Dream Lover at Pelido x Pelido Sweet Sherry at Maqueeba

Donna was Crufts qualified and my fondest memory with her was at EACA, when she was awarded second in a big Post Graduate class by John Walsh (Joshren), followed by a worthy critique. I line bred Donna back to Ch Pelido Italian Affair and she produced a lovely litter to him. I retained another sable bitch in Maqueeba Amber Mist (Ch Pelido Italian Affair x Maqueeba Donna Daydreams).

Amber excelled in front angulation and a long neck, which happens to be a point of the Standard I like to see in a Collie. Sadly, she did not breed on. Having mated her on a few occasions, she did not produce live puppies. She had a litter brother, owned by Linda Philpin, by the name of Maqueeba Italian Dream at Tudorlyn – 'Spencer' – who won a CC, an award of which I was very proud as his breeder.

In 1996 I introduced a Blue Merle to the kennel, 'Jay' – Pelido Sugar Moon at Maqueeba. She was a lovely-coloured merle with coat markings as described by the Standard. She won well as a puppy and the highlight of her show career came as a junior, when she won the Reserve CC at the British Collie Club Championship Show under Robin Serle (Surlson).

Jay's first litter was to Cathanbrae Midnight Affair at Pelido. I retained a tricolour bitch this time, Maqueeba Holly Black. One of her blue brothers, Maqueeba Blue Lance, went to live with Brian and Gillian Hull (Lizmark). The mating produced good bone and substance and correct colours too.

Pelido Sugar Moon at Maqueeba – 28/2/96
Kybo Lad at Pelido x Pelido Kiss Me Kate

As Amber was unable to breed on, I mated Holly to Amber's brother Spencer to keep a line with my foundation bitch Gemma. She in turn produced Maqueeba Shady Lady – 'Lucy'.

Lucy retained the lovely outline that I had been aiming for and had done reasonably well at the shows she attended, gaining a few Best Puppy awards at open shows. However, I felt I needed to sweeten the eye and expression in my breeding plans and decided to expand further on bloodlines for the next generation. I took Lucy for her first litter to Amalie Mild Affair. In December 2004 she produced a large litter of nine fat, healthy puppies, from which I retained two siblings: a dog and a bitch named Maqueeba Mildest Dream – Lenny – and Maqueeba December Dawn – Dawn.

I campaigned these two puppies during 2005. I was pleased that both did well and became Crufts qualified for 2006.

Now to revert back to the blues. Jay had a second litter in 2003 to the well-known tricolour Ch Sundorne Spiritualist. I kept a Blue bitch, Maqueeba Blue Shimmer – 'Summer'. However, she was not a keen show girl. I had a litter from Summer.