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Show Shetland Sheepdogs of the Past

Part 1
First Written in 1940
By
Day Currie

In 1908, I was taken to my first dog show. It was in Glasgow, and I was still at school, but had taken a dog journal about a year and had also carefully studied several books on dogs. Therefore, as I went round the benches,I 'could recognise the various breeds. At last, however, I came to one breed I couldn't place, and on enquiry found they were. Called , Shetland Collies, although absolutely unlike a Collie. There were five, and I think they were all black-and-tan or black-and-white.

The first prize-winner in dogs was Mr. C. F. Thompson's Inverness Orczy (the Inverness prefix was to become famous in the breed), and the first prize bitch was Mrs. J. B. Rattray's Queen Mormond. These five Shelties were very like the little mongrels one sees ab out the streets. They were about eight to ten inches high. (20,32 – 25,40 cm !)

At Aberdeen, in January, 1909, several dogs were entered, including exhibits from Mr. Thompson's and Mr. Loggie's kennels. At Glasgow, in March, one was called Voe Bluecoat, which evidently was a merle, but I don't remember it. Dundee, 1909, brought out Mr. Loggie's Lerwick Jarl and Mr. Thompson's winning brace, Inverness Flora and Inverness Topsy. They were litter sisters, and, although Flora was the winner on this occasion; I preferred Topsy, who afterwards did a lot of winning. These three and some others were shown at the L.K.A. that year, the first show which had classes for the breed in England. Westminster Pet Dogs in December also had classes, and Mrs. Ashton Cross, the famous Pekingese breeder, showed three, Wee McGregor;, Macduff and Elsie, all "of Alderbourne."

- In January, 1910, at Aberdeen, Shetland Balta made his apparance and started his winning career. He was: an orange sable with lovely white markings -and sired a tremendous number of puppies, mostly sable and white. He was 13 inches, so was an inch higher than the standard, but his owner, Mr. W. Bullock, had in his kennels fully grown Shelties which measured only eight inches, so height then, as now, varied..

At Cruft's Mrs. Ashton Cross won firsts in the two classes provided with Elsie and Jean of Alderbourne. I never saw them, as the first English show I visited was Cruft's, 1917.

At Dundee, in April, 1910, Mrs. Fordyce Burke brought out the wonderful Eva, the 11-inch golden sable and white, who caused such a furore. At the same show were Lerwick Jarl, Shetland Balta, Inverness Topsy, Inverness Yarrow, and other famous dogs:, but Eva won all the class from open to puppy ahd beat the lot. It must seem strange to modern Sheltie exhibitors to read of a Sheltie under 11 inches high winning, but the high then was 12 inches and under.Mrs. Burke hat about 40 Shelties all 12 inches of less.

At the rest of the shows in 1910, namely, Edinburgh in May, the L.K.A., Richmond, Edinburgh in October, the Crystal Palace and Westminster Pet Dogs, practically the same dogs did the winning, with the addition of Inverness Lassie, Aberdeen Nellie and Lerwick Siguard, the last-named being a dark sable dog, an inch over height, but a big winner and good sire.

In 1911 the new faces were Mrs. Burke's Evan and Evantha; Mr. Parker's Crichton Olaf, who later was the sire of Ch. Woodvold; Mr. Loggie's Lerwick Rex, Lerwiek Erie, Lerwick Roska and Lerwick Zamora, the last being an l1-inch bitch who won many firsts.

That year saw Miss Shove exhibiting her first Sheltie, Bashful Boy. Other newcomers to the breed in 1911 were Mrs. Hunloke, the Pekingese fancier, Mr. Robert Tait, the well-known Collie expert, and Mrs. Huband, who had purchased Lerwick Jarl from Mr. Loggie. The well-known winners of the previous year, Balta, Siguard, Yarrow and Jarl in dogs, and Eva, Topsy, Aberdeen Minna, Aberdeen Nellie and Northem Norna in bitchies, continued their winning careers.

1912 produced 17 shows with classes for Shelties, eight being held in Scotland and nine in England. The principal new winners were : Halcreine and Uradale Princess, both belonging to Mrs. Burke, both black-and-whites, and both under 11 inches. Mr. Charlie Thompson's Inverness Gladdy. who won a tremendous lot, and who, was later bought by Miss Thynne, and who changed his name to Kilravock Laddie, the Rev. Pinkney's sable dog, Huntingdon Scotchman, Miss Shove's Bashful Tricomasetta, Miss Wilkinson's Janet, the beautiful little sable-and-white, Zesta, who was bred by Mr. Loggie, but owned and shown by the famous partnership, Messrs. Keith and Ramsay, and Mrs. Dewar's Lassodie Willie Winkie, and Lerwick Zamora, having bought her from Mr. Loggie. Willie Winkie was a 12-inch black-and-white dog who won many firsts but I didn't care for the white markings on his body. Later he was sold to America.

In 1913 there were 20 shows which catered for Shelties, nine in Scotland, 10 in England and one in Ireland. The new faces this year were Craigengelt

Kep, a pretty little 12-inch dog, who was very Collie-like for then. His owner, Miss Wingate, told me that she chose him out of the nest, paid 30s. for him, and won three firsts at his first show. He was by Halcrow, a name that appears in many pedigrees. Other first prize-winners this year were Ashbank Daisy, a lovely bitch, who, unfortunately, died young; Mrs. Burke's team, Shetland Spurrie, Shetland Evathor, Halcrinette, and the Scot Laird. The last named was a showy little sable-and-white dog, quite like an old-fashioned Collie. Clifford Sharper arid Wishaw Myrtle were two other famous Shelties who made their debut in 1913. I saw Myrtle at Mr. Tait's kennels and could have bought her, but didn't like her, possibly because she was almost all black.

This year saw the start of the late Miss Thynne's kennel. All Sheltie people know the Kilravock (http://bowlingsite.mcf.com/Imports/KLassie.html) prefix. Her first show was the L.K.A., where she won second with Inverness Gladdy, whose name she later changed to Kilravock Laddie. Two other newcomers whose names are well known to the older Sheltie fanciers, are Miss Dawson, who had bought Wishaw Myrtle from Mr. Tait, and Miss Tyssen, who had invested in Zesta, who won a lot but, unfortunately, died whelping. I admired her yery much. Another newcomer to the breed was Lady Alexander, of Ballochmyle, who won with Ballochmyle Village Boy and Jason, the latter purchased from Mrs. Huband

1914 brought the Great War, but shows went on as usual, and it was this year that the English Club was started. Some famous Shelties were shown, including Ashbank Trixie, later bought by Miss Thynne, who changed her name to Kilravock Eureka, Chesham Gem Erica, who was the first, I think, shown by the late Miss Grey, and the two famous sires, Wallace and Woodvold. The latter's dam was a small Collie, and he was a bigger dog than Wallace, but he sired some good stock and was one of the pillars of the past. Wallace, to my mind, was a better dog and a most wonderful sire. All our present strains, with one exception, are descended from him, the exception being the Houghton Hills. Miss Humphries, his owner, made many attempts to trace Wallace's pedigree, and even journeyed toScotland in a final effort, but nothing except the names of his sire and dam were ever discovered.

(http://home.online.no/~toonieh/Felthorn/Breed%20history.html )

1915 is noteworthy, as that was the year in which Shelties got their first Kennel Club challenge certificate. It was at Birmingham in Januar, and Mrs. Huband's Frea was the lucky recipient. It may surprise modern showgoers to know that at some shows only one C.C. was awarded, that for the best of breed. Cruft's next month saw the debut of the Misses Dawson and Wilkinson's Clifford Pat: who won all his classes. He was the first Sheltie Champion, and it is interesting to note that he and Woodvold were the only two Shelties to become champions before shows stopped in 1917. Hastings ch. show in September saw Mr. Hoggan's Shadforth Bretta, who was a daughter of Woodvold's, enter the ring after a journey of 1,000 miles, and take the C.C. from Clifford Pat, who was out for his title. She was sold after the show to Miss Thynne. Clifford Pat won his title in November at the People's. Palace, the bitch C.C. there .being won by Britannia of Kilravock, a six months daughter of Wallace's. Her litter sister, Suzanne of Mountfort, got the reserve certificate.

At Aberdeen in 1916 Wishaw Dougal, a black-and-white, won all the firsts, Berryden Prince, a name seen in many modern pedigrees, being second best. The L.K.A. produced two puppies, who later won two C.C.s each, but who never became champions owing to the lack of shows. They were Mr. Barnard's Clifford Model, who was a “get" of Woodvold's and Mrs. Huband's Fulla. Model got his two C.C.s in two consecutive days at Richmond on July 11 and the People's Palace on July 12, while Fulla got her first at the People's Palace and her second at Southend in September. At this show Woodvold got his third certificate and became a champion. At the last show of the year, Kensington, held at the People's Palace, on November 15, Miss Grey's Peat took the dog C.C. He won a lot after the war was over and was the sire of Ch. Hurly Burly. The bitch C.C. was won by Miss Humphries' Duchess of Mountfort. She was a really lovely bitch, but, unfortunately, escaped from her box while travelling to be mated and was never seen again.

In 1917 only one show was held, that of Cruft's, and the C.C. winners were Taybank Viking in dogs and Nada the Lily of Kilravock in bitches.

This was the first English show I had ever visited and the entry was disappointing, only nine Shelties being entered. This, no doubt, was owing to the seriousness of the war situation. The show was an International one, open to the world, as the catalogue says, and was of three days' duration. I wonder how modern exhibitors would like that. Rip of Mountfort was a puppy at this show. He was a nice little dog, dark sable and white, and his name appears more often in pedigrees than that of any other dog of that time. He helped the breed a lot.

After Crufts there were no shows till 1920.

The first show after the Great War to hold classes for Shelties was the Kensington C.S. on March 24, 1920. There weree three classes, four specials, two C.C.s and only three Shelties. The dog C.C. winner was Walesby Seleet. The winner of the bitch C.C. was a little lady called Brenda ; she came all the, way from Wick and stayed with me for some days before the show. I handled her in the ring and wasn't I pleased to collect a pile of cards to send to her owner, Mr. A. Mathieson! The next show was the L.KA., where there was a much better entry. There Hurly Burlyr a son of Peat, won the C.C. for dogs and Starling, who was by Tarn, the one for bitchest, Miss Grey thus taking both certificates. I didn't care much for Starling ; she was toyish to please me.

There were several Shelties at that Show that I liked, including Select, Peat, Comfrey and Fifinella of Mountfort, who was a really lovely puppy by War Baby of Mountfort, but was too big to please the judge. At Richmond, in July, she won, while Hurly Burly won in dogs. Practically the same dogs were at both shows, with the addition of Foss at Richmond; who took seconds in all her classes. At the Kennel Club Show Foss took her first C.C. and Walesby Select his second.

In 1921, at Crufts, entries were down again, only five dogs competing, Walesby Select gained his title and Starling her second certificate, the other three exhibits being Peat, Hurly Burly ,and LittleMiss Muffet. There were no classes for Shelties at Kensington that year, but at the L.KA. there was a very good entry, although no C.C.s were offered, the first prize-winners being Tiny Tim of Mountfort, Peat and Perrine. the K.C. show was held in July in 1921, Mr, Stansfield was judge, and Ch. Walesby Select won in dogs, while Freshfield Fad took her first C.C. Other exhibits included Tiny Tim, Starling and Nan of Redbraes. At the S.K.C. show Mr. R. Tait judged and there were 44 entries, Rufus of Mountfort, a son of War Baby, winning the dog C.C. and Flora of Redbraes the one for bitchies.

At Aberdeen in 1922 there were 67 entries and they included Rip of Mountfort, his' daughters Lady Park, Farbun Fascination and Farburn Olive; also Chestnut Lassie, Flora of Redbraes, etc. Lady Park won most of the firsts, but she was not a Sheltie I cared for. Crufts saw the debut of Nettle of Mountfort, who won his first C.C. there, while Brenda took her second. Other exhibits were Chesnut Lassie, Freshfield Fad, Peat, Starling, Hurly Burly, Pict of Greyhill and Ch. Walesby Select, all good winners of their time. Birmingham (also in February) had classes, and certificates for Shelties and there Nettle got his second C.C. and Chestnut Lassie her first. No new faces appeared. At Manchester only three Shelties turned up, but there was a good entry at Perth, the new one there being; Helensdale Ned, another child of Rip's, who won all the firsts. At Kensington, there was a good entry, but no certificates, Freshfield Fad taking most of the, firsts, while Miss Read's Billie, a son of Ch. Walesby Select, won in dogs. Bath had classes for Shelties for the first time, the judge, Miss Tysen; putting the black-and-tan dog, Piet of Greyhill, first, with Billie runner-up. Piet was sired by Peat. The classes were mixed, but the bitches don't seem to have had a look in. The L.KA. saw Nettle and Fad taking certificates, while at Dundee, in September, Helensdale Ned and Lady Park were the chief winners. At the KC. show Fad and Primus won the C.C.'s. This show saw the introduction of the famous Specks of Mountfort, who' won all his , classes except puppy, where he was beaten by Primus. At the S.KC. show Specks took his first certificate and Fad gained her title. Wishaw Darky had won the Open Junior and Graduate Classes, but Specks beat him in Novice and Puppy, so took the C.C. At Birmingham the certificates were won, by Foss and Spindles, the latter a sable dog who was short in leg and head. Aberdeen, in 1923; saw a lot of new faces, icluding Active Eda; Dandy Vic, all sired by Rip of Mountfort, also Larkbeare Rusk and Doughnut and familiar faces like Helensdale Ned, Lady Park, Starling, etc.

At Crufts Miss Bowring judged Shelties for the first time, giving the certficates to Hurly Burly and Foss and the other firsts to Lady Coya, Foss’s daughter.

The A.G.M. of the English Club was. held the day before the show and it was at this meeting that the height was raised. 1 ˝-inches by the standard being changed from the 12-inch ideal to the 13 ˝ -inch ideal, which it still remains. It was also decided to retain the club's description of the general appearance of the Shetland Sheepdog as approximately that of a show Collie in miniature. This word "approximately" is what led to the awful disagreements of later years, as one section of the club said the Sheltie was not really to be like a show Collie, while others, who had always wanted modern Collie type (I was one), said differently. However, in 1930, it was altered to "should resemble a Collie (Rough) in miniature," so all is now peaceful and progressive in the Sheltie world. To get back to 1923, the show after Crufts was Kensington; where Larkbeare Rusk and Lady Park won the certificates, with Specks and Larkbeare Doughnut runners-up. At Perth, under Mr. Hally, all the firsts were won by 'Specks and Golden Lady of Mountfort. Indeed, all the dogs in the money were sired by Mountfort dogs, Mr. Hally, like myself, being a great admirer of the Mountforts. At the L.K.A. Hurly Burly won his title and Lady Coya took her first certificate, Specks and Farne of Greyhill being runners-up.

At Bath Mr. Pierce judged Shelties for the first time, Freshfield Fare, a little sable-and-white dog, winning all the firsts. At the next show, Taunton, under Miss Thynne, he went unplaced. The winners' at Taunton were Rusk, Golden Lady, Specks, Blackie and Doughnut. Newcastle-on-Tyne provided four classes for the breed, but only three Shelties turned up, Specks beating Rusk in the dog dasses and Doughnut being alone in the bitch dasses. At the K.C. show, with Miss Tyssen judging, Eltham Park Petite, the wonderful, made her debut and took the certificate, Rusk getting the one for dogs, with Farburn Olive and Holly of Greyhill the runners-up. All four were sables and good dogs, but Petite was far away the most outstanding Sheltie that had yet appeared. At the S.K.C. show Miss Humphries judged and gave the C.C.s to Oscar and Helensdale Beauty. The M. and E. had classes and certificates and Miss Thynne was judge, Petite and Dandy Vic getting the certificates. Vic was a black-and-white. At Birmingham, with Miss Grey judging, Petite and Primus won the certificates. The entry was appalling, Primus being alone in Limit and Open Dogs and Petite alone in Open Bitches. Kensington and L.K.A. members were better supported, but no new faces appeared.

On January 1st, 1924, at Edinburgh, there were C.C.s for the breed, Rusk and Helensdale Beauty winning them, while at Aberdeen, on the same day, there was a big entry with Ashbank Zev and Fairdeal Fanny winning the Open classes, but both.were beaten in the Mixed Maiden by Winnie, a tri puppy. At Crufts Sam Graham was judge and Kilravoc Nettle, a daughterof Ch. Nettle of Mountfort, made her appearance and won the certificate, while Grand Parade, a son of Rip of Mountfort, took that for dogs, thus giving their owner, Miss Thynne, all the honours. Specks and Lady Betty were the runners-up. At Kensington, with Yeates Rhind judging, Specks and Lady Betty took the C.C.s, with Kilravock Nettle and Eltham Park Perfection runners-up. The latter was a lovely headed son of Specks and at his next three shows won every class in which he was entered -13 firsts in all and a C.C. He was then bought by Miss Thynne. Some new faces came out at Bath show, including Tinker and Twinkle, both of Mountfort and Kit of Mountshannon, who was owned. By the famous Collie fancier, Rev. T. Salter. At. the L.K.A., under Mr. Hancock Mountjoy, Perfection, won his first certificate and Petite, now a champion, took the other, the runners-up being Specks and his daughter, Queen of Mountfort, a lovely little 12-inch sable who was the dam of many famous prize-winners.

At Perth there were certificates and Mr. M. Smith was judge, Specks and Petite being the lucky ones; the runners-up were Perfection and Twinkle. Thus Specks and his three children won the four principle awards. At Windsor, without certificates and with Miss. Grey judging, the non-Collie-cross exhibits did all the winning, Holly and Pict of Greyhill, Primus and Fetlar Norma getting all the firsts. They were all very good of their type, but were not miniature modern Collies, nor did their owners want them to be. At Halstead next day, with Mr.Cox judging, Queen of Mountfort ran through her classes, only being beaten in the Open by Ch. Eltham Park Petite. During the summer of 1924 there were many shows with classes for Shelties, but the only new faces of any importance to come out were Walesby Species, Chestnut Lassie, Farburn Advance and Winstonian Pixie, all of which were future C.C. winners. At the KC. show; under Chris Houlker, Ch. Specks .and Lady Park took the certificates, with Pixie and Species winning the Puppy and Junior classes. At the S.KC. show Ch. Specks and Pixie won the C.C.s', with Farburn Advance and Chestnut Lassie as runners-up. At the M. and E., with Mr. Tait judging, Ch. Specks took his sixth and last certificate and Chestnut Lassie her second, with Walesby Species and Aberlady Wendy runners-up. At Birmingham the following week, with Mr. Graham Clark judging, Species, a son of Ch. Specks, took the certificate, with Rolly of Greyhill runner-up, while Winstonian Pixie took the one for bitches, Kilravock Nettle being runner-up.

At Aberdeen, in 1925, with Mr. Pierce judging, there was a wonderlul entry of nearly 100. This show saw the debut of the famous Chestnut Bud and Blossom, a pair of tricolours of real Collie type and the beginning of a new strain which did much to help knock the Sheltie into shape. Bud won his classesl till he met Farbum Advance, who beat him in the Senior classes. The latter was a son of Ch. Nettle of Mountfort and was a dark sable with a heavy coat and nicely moulded head and foreface. Other first prize-winners were Newpark Beauty and Farbum Victrix, both very nice tri. bitches. At Crufts, with Mr. Pierce again judge, Advance and Pixie took the C.C.s, Species and Nettle being the runners-up. Ayr was the next show with certificates and Mr. J. G. Saunders was judge. C. Bud and Kilravock Nettle won with Eltham Park Erling (whose original name was Farburn Major) and Dondy Primrose runners-up. Mr. W. J. Nichols was the judge at the L.KA., and he gave Primus and Parburn Olive the certificates, with Farbum Advance and Eltham Park Ellaline (who was a sister of Pixie's) runners-up.

At the charity show held in May at Ranelagh in aid of Earl Haig's Fund, Erling and Nettle took the certificates, her third, with Advance and Ellaline runners-up. The same dogs kept winning through the summer shows with the addition of Chestnut Magnet (whose name later was changed to Redbraes Madga) and Farburn Captain, a showy sable-and-white, who won a lot of firsts as a puppy before he went to the States, where he became a champion. At the KC. show. Mr. Rally was judge, Farburn Adjutant and Kilravock Goldfinder being the lucky ones; Adjutant, like Captain, was a son of Forward's, and Goldfinder was a daughter of Species. She was a bitch I admired greatly. The runners-up were Dondy Cyros and Primrose, who was a very long-headed black-and-tan. At the S.KC, with the Rev. J. Rae judging, Adjutant again won, with Redbraes Madga taking the bitch honours. Chestnut Lucky Boy and Kilravock Goldfinder were the respective runners-up. At the M. and E. a month later, under Mr. W. M. Saunders, Goldfinder took the C.C. for bitches, while the famous Eltham Park Eureka (who started life as Peter Pan of Mountfort) made his appearance and won eight firsts and the C.C. The runners-up were Adjutant and Eltham Park Elfreda, who was a dark sable, daughter of Ch. Specks, and who had previously been known as Fatima of Mountfort. The only new face to appear this year was Coy, a very small sable bitch owned by H.H. Princess Marie Louise. She was by Ch. Specks ex Nora of Mountfort and was bred by Mr. Harvard Phillips.'She won several firsts at Haslemere show under Mr. W. J. Nichols.

In January, 1926, at Aberdeen, Dondy Pontiff, Farburn Captain and Aberlady Dot won the chief awards; Pontiff was a tri dog with an extra long head and enormous coat. His sire was unregistered. Crufts brought out Eltham Park Esme, who took the bitch certificate, while her kennel mate, Eureka, took the one for dogs, with thelittle golden Antoni of M. and black-and-white Aberlady Dot runners-up. Middlesex Hospital Charity show in March and Kensington in April saw Eureka and Esme the victors again, their wins making them full champions, with Holly of Greyhill and Eltham Park Ellaline runners-up at the former show and Wee McGregor of Hardingham and Kilravock Nettle at the latter. There were certificates at Richmond and these were won by Eureka and Ellaline, with Dondy Cyrus and Goldfinder runners-up. At Edinburgh and Dundee, Helensdale Laddie and Lassie made their appearance and won well, other winners being Dondy Pontiff and Ashbank Veester Prince, who was a son of Redbraes Rollo. Perth saw the debut of the famous Blaeberry of Clerwood, who won all his classes, beating. Laddie. Melite of Clerwood also came out at this show, winning firsts. Mr. John Powers was the judge at the K.C. show and gave the C.C.s to Eureka and Ellaline.

The runners-up were Blaeberry and Melite, who had won all the minor classes for their respective sexes. At the S.K.C. show, under Mr. W. M. Saunders, Eureka and Ellaline again won, the former taking his seventh and last certificate and the latter winning her title. Blaeberry and Helensdale Lassie were the runners-up here. At Peterborough, where there were classes, Mrs. Baker took all the firsts with Black Sheep and. Fleurette of Houghton Hill. Mr. A. Jones judged at the M. and E. and there Blaeberry took his first certificate and Goldfinder her third at last.(she was a very temperamental lady), with Ashbank Veester Prince arid Melite runners-up. This bring us to the end of 1926 and the Mountfort saga, and there I'll need to stop for the time being, having brought the Sheltie in this article through many vicissitudes into fairly calm water, although not yet into the harbour of complete agreement as to type, cross-breeding, etc. That came later and I. may write about it some other time.