When I was a little girl I asked my Dad for a Rough Collie, but since we did not have the space he bought me a Sheltie from the Lynway Kennels. After I was married I asked my husband for a collie and he went and bought me a Border Collie..........but eventually in 1979 I acquired my first Rough Collie. I called her Heidie. She was by Ch Little Caesar at Corydon. She was bought as a pet but someone convinced me to show her.....and that was it, I was hooked! We did well with Heidi but never managed to qualify her for Crufts. My second rough was Dargrant Dancing Queen.

John was not keen on showing the Collies and he spotted a Tervueren [Belgian Shepherd Dog] and he decided to have one, so off we went to Potters Bar, and one gear box later!!!! we had our first Tervueren.... Of course we made a few mistakes along the way but then we went to see Vic & Lynne Salt of the Woodlyn Kennels where we were privileged enough for Vic to let us have our first Groenendael, Kirsty [Ch Woodlyn Bewitched]. We went to look at another litter of Groenendael's that Vic had with the possibility of purchasing a kennel mate for Kirsty but saw a litter of Tervueren's that he had. I laid my eyes on one particular bitch and fell in love with her - it took my two weeks to convince Vic to let us have her. To our delight she won her 3rd C.C. at Crufts in 1990. She was the youngest ever Tervueren to gain her Junior Warrant. Her name was Carla [Ch Woodlyn Fascination].

Unfortunately the Collies that we had took a back seat whilst we campaigned the Belgian Shepherd Dogs. I then had the privilege of going back to the Clark's [Lynway] for a Rough Collie Bitch called Lynway Steamy Windows [Widget] which I had great fun showing. She qualified for Crufts in 1993. We had the joy in taking 6 dogs to Crufts, Widget, Kirsty, Carla, Highnol Bitter Sweet [Topsy], Highnol Curiosity [Kiri] and Highnol Classic Image [Jay].

Ch Woodlyn Bewitched [Kirsty]

[Left to right] Ch Woodlyn Fascination [Carla], Highnol Bitter Sweet & Ch Woodlyn Bewitched

Lisa [my daughter] then bought me what was going to become my all-time favourite collie [which I know you are not supposed to have] but when I looked into his eyes nothing else mattered, no matter what kind of day I was having, he always made it seem to go away. His name was Cayoss [Corydon Cayoss]. We were very fortunate in successfully campaigning him to 1C.C., 1 R.C.C, 2 Major Green Stars and 3 Res. Green Stars but unfortunately his show career was cut short, due to him having cancer.

We were then introduced to the Vonarkle Kennel and purchased litter brother and sister Vonarkle Tudor Knight [Alex] and Vonarkle Savanna Lace [Tabatha] which have become the backbone of our kennel today along with Highnol Future Vision [Leo] and Vonarkle Sent from Heaven to Highnol [Brodie].

Vonarkle Tudor Knight [Alex[

Highnol Future Vision [Leo]

Irish & GB Ch. Vonarkle Sent from Heaven to Highnol [Brodie] 3rd CC with BOB & G2 - PAIGNTON CHAMP. SHOW 2009

We have had great success with the three we are campaigning at present, their greatest achievements to date are...Leo - 1 Green Star & 3 Res. Green Stars: Alex - 3 Green Stars, 4 Res. Green Stars, 1 Res. CAC & 1 Res. CACIB. The icing on the cake is Brodie who has done us extremely proud by gaining the following 2 C.C.'s, 3 Major Green Stars, 1 CACIB & 1Res. CACIB. She also won the Pastoral Group at Blackpool under judge Marion Spavin.

At the Belgian Shepherd Club of Ireland & Group 1 Champ Show 23 May 2009, HIGHNOL HEAVENENLY KNIGHT won Puppy Dog, VONARKLE TUDOR KNIGHT won Veteran Dog, GREEN STAR, Best Veteran in Breed and Res. Best Veteran in Show. VONARKLE SENT FROM HEAVEN TO HIGHNOL won Open Bitch, GREEN STAR, BOB & Res BIS under Ms M Vernmiere from Belgium. This gave Brodie her Irish Title [subject to IKC confirmation]