History

History

 Ch. Marko's Preferred Stock (Broker)

My first champion was Marko's Preferred Stock, "Broker". I went all the way to the West Coast, WA state, to get him. Broker was a beautiful, sound tri dog,with many of the traits I needed for my breeding program.  His owner, Marie Markovich, became my first mentor in collies. She was kind enough to sell this rank newcomer dogs that would be a good foundation for a kennel.  Broker finished his championship in 10 shows. It took 3 weekends. Marie finished him in WA for me and then I picked him up at the 1998 CCA Nationals in Virginia Beach.


Marko's Silver Lace (Lacey)

In 2000 I bought my second show dog from Marie.  A stunningly beautiful blue bitch Marko's Silver Lace.  Although circumstances prevented my using Lacey as I had hoped to, she was an integral part of our family for all of her life.  She helped raise my grandchildren and all the puppies raised at Ceilidh's during her lifetime.  She died here at the age of 13, and we will always miss her and love her.



In 2001 I finished my first homebred champion, Ceilidh's Celtic Sabre,  He was by "Broker" out of  Marko's Love Me Tender.  He now resides with my good friend Shirley Conley.






At about that time I met my second mentor in Cocoa Beach, Judy Pitt of Kitleigh Collies. I was able to purchase 2 dogs from her line that phenotypically fit with my Markos collies. Her stud dog, Ch. Kitleigh Knickerbocker was of tremendous import at that time to the breed and was the type that I liked.  I was fortunate to find a friend closer to home who was willing to teach me the finer points of collies.





In 2006, after some personal tragedies, I had to start my kennel over again. I started with yet another Markos girl out of Ch. Kanebrier Clockwise, Ch. Marko's Sweet Temptation "Candy"; Ceilidh's Natty Knickers "Natty", a double up great-granddaughter of Knickerbocker, and 2 more girls, Ch. Deep River Consider Her Mine and Ch Deep River Northshields Soleil,  from Kathy Moll of Deep River Kennels, who would become my great friend and and teacher.

At this time I also want to mention another girl that I was privileged to own, and although I was not able to keep anything from her, her littermates are still in my pedigrees.  Her name was Two Jays Summertime Blues (Summer).  She was a rough daughter of Ch. Pinewynds Sparkling Brut (Andre) and had an exquisite head piece which I have tried to reproduce. 

And so, finally, with the help of handlers Frank Jewett and Dona Williams, Ceilidh Collies has become nationally competitive.