I was Born in 1966 and raised in the heart of Suffolk.
As a boy I always looked forward to watching Crufts, on the black and white tv, and always dreamed that one day I would be there showing my own dog and parading around the ring having won best in show.
As a boy we had two corgis both of which were full of sprit, but the dog I was most fond of was my grandfather’s gun-dog, a Black Lab bitch called Bess. I never got to see her in action, but I am sure I got my desire to own dogs from this early bond with her.
When I left home to make my own way in life it wasn’t long before a Black Lab called Sam came my way. Then a parsons type Jack Russell puppy turned up and not too long after another Jack Russell came home giving me a love of gun-dogs and terriers.
From there I moved on to working cockers of which there have been a few over the years. The Russells passed away and I took a great interest in a friend’s border.
My first border arrived in Stowmarket not long after. Ellie is a loyal girl and in her day was full of spirit out in the field, but never a cross word with another dog, although at 16 now she doesn’t move far from the fire or settee! I was lucky to be able to use a fantastic dog over her who had sired many champions. She produced my first show dog Stowthorney Swinging Sam ShCM. He is named after my first Black Lab, who was truly man’s best friend, and is still greatly loved and missed dearly to this day.
From then on we have gone on to winning our first CC with Team Stowthorney and Breckgreen, to making up our first champion. The road to the dream is a long hard journey with many bumps and turns, but the never ending story continues…