Inspiration Is Where
You Find It!
Being an avid fan of westerns, I sometimes hit on something
that gets my attention. I like
these shows because they portray life outdoors, feature animals, and generally
have good guys winning over bad guys and leave you with a happy feeling. Kind of like the old Walt Disney movies
made when Disney was still alive.
A quote in an old episode of “Gunsmoke” got my attention
recently. I wrote it down, but
lost the note, so this is the best guess from my not infallible memory. “The further you slip down the
mountain, the more clearly you remember the view from the top!” This was spoken by a retired gunfighter
who knew his day was over and wanted to start new life. It reminded me of my career in dogs.
The years of preparation which included match shows, buying
dogs that didn’t work out , rejoicing over a class ribbon, the first reserve
winners and all the things that led to later success. All my dogs were owner handled so it may have taken longer,
but the successes were oh so sweet.
The first champion (Ch. Wind Song Dealer’s Choice) finished with three
majors and a group win. From there
it was onward and upward.
Starting in the 1960’s and culminating with the second CC of
A Best of Breed in 1976 my dogs were competitive all over the country with me
showing or those I sold with others handling. The quest was to be the best and with two CC of A Best of
Breeds, a Breeder of the Year award, and many other goodies the goal seemed
attained. When I gave up breeding
and showing in 1976 there were no more worlds to conquer and my time was spent
judging, writing, and speaking.
For a time the demand for my time in those new arenas stayed
very high, but little by little it faded.
The people who had seen me at my peak left the game, found new heroes,
or didn’t have good memories of the young guy so driven to succeed. Joyce Hauser of Twin Creek’s fame paid
me a compliment when she said “he’s more fun to show under than to show
against!” Perhaps my wish to win
was too strong, but it drove me in dogs and my career with Owens-Illinois and
it worked for me. I can live with
being a “has been” easier than a “never was.”
The March 2014 CC of A Bulletin surely brought back lots of
memories as I review the pictures of CC of A winners. The differences in grooming and photography are very evident
and unfortunately some photos do no justice to the dogs shown. In spite of that my hat’s off to Laura
DeLaurentis for reminding me of some old friends and a few new ones. Of course, some are even before this
dinosaur hatched.
The first one to catch my attention was Ch. Honeybrook Big
Parade who is behind virtually every Collie winning today. Ch. Braegate model of Bellhaven was Van
Dyck’s favorite of the Bellhaven dogs.
Ch. Gaylord’s Mr. Scalawag was the double grandsire of my first
champion. I never saw Ch.
Parader’s Bold Venture or Ch. Cherrivale Darn Minute, but both were behind some
of my dogs. I did see Ch. Jorie’s
Mr. G win at Morris and Essex under Mrs. Rudolph Engle. What a glorious showman he was. This was the great Morris and Essex
show with Mrs. Dodge still in charge.
Winners Dog that day to Windswept Domino Jac who later did much winning
for the Honigs.
Ch. Stoneykirk Reflection I first saw in the classes when
still owned by his breeder, Priscilla Alden. Bill Trainor’s grooming job took my breath away! Ch. Windcall’s Night Hunter stood next to
me when Alex Gibbs gave me BB. In
1967 with Ch. Jadene’s Breezalong.
Ch. The Clown Prince of Florivale beat Breezy out in Columbus under Dale
McMacken. He had a brother who
didn’t show as well but may have been better, Ch. Floravale Perfect Gentleman.
Breezalong and Daily Double bumped heads a lot in the east
and each had a CC of A win. The
Gladiator put John Buddie on the map and started Tartanside. Ch. Gingeor’s Indelibly Blue was the
last dog I showed competitively.
Ch. Tamarack Asterisk came down from some of my dogs, and I never put
him down when judging. He’s also
one of my wife, Phyllis’ favorite dogs.
Ch. Rio Brand Achilles is the dog who won after I told Debbie Falk, his
handler, to change her shoes. Ch.
Azalea Hills Top Man I put up in Memphis at a good specialty.
Ch. Tel Star’s Cosmic Capers was Reserve from the puppy
class to Steve Field’s Parader’s Regal Lancer. That finished Steve’s dog and he was Steve’s last champion
and the only dog of his I ever put over the years. Ch. Tartanside apparently won a major under me and was one
of my favorite Tartanside dogs along with the sable bitch who won BIS for John. Ch. Marnus Gold Medalist was one I put
up until he encountered Marion Liebsch’s lovely Ch. Pebblebrook Intrigue. This bitch was the dam of the tri Ch.
Pebblebrook Show Biz who I put up at Presque Isle and he got Winners Dog at the
National under Les Canavan.
Ch. Highcroft Lode-Ark’s Legend I gave first points to at
Nebraska CC. The lovely tri Ch.
Fantasy’s Rising Dragon sired by the sable dog from Japan who I put winners at
Presque Isle CC. There are many
recent ones I don’t know, but I hope you’ll pardon my trip down memory
lane. It was fun to remember some
old friends and how they fit into my life and the world of Collies. Don’t ever lose track of your roots
your teacher’s, and your competitors.
They show you how to reach for the stars. They are “the wind beneath your wings!”
Think about it!
