My first champion collie was CH Azalea Hill’s Windhover CD purchased from Bobbie Fairbanks in 1976. Wind was a tri-factored sable rough dog from the last litter produced by CH Two Jay’s Hanover Enterprise ROM.My first litter born in 1978 contained only two puppies, both huge and only one was alive. This puppy, also a sable rough male, became my first homebred champion named CH Deep River’s Even Chance CD. His dam was Azalea Hill’s Dark Angel a double Enterprise granddaughter by a CH Tartanside the Gladiator son.

Also around this time, I was fortunate to own and finish a blue rough CH Stoneybrook’s Silver Saint, CD bred by Betsy and Larry Winberry and sired by CH Wickmere’s Silver Bullet, ROM. Saint contributed a great deal to my breeding program even though I only used him a few times. He is my favorite personal collie ever. We truly had a “girl and her collie thing” going on. When he died, it was the hardest collie death I ever endured before or since!

My second litter was from my Azalea Hill Deep River Leah CDX, also purchased from Bobby. When bred to CH City View Advantage, Leah produced a rough sable dog named Loren – CH Deep River’s Time Lord. Loren was pivotal as the sire of CH Foxbride’s Skip and Go Naked (Music) from a breeding done by Lynn Fox. In 1990 my friend Lee Justice and I purchased and co-owned a smooth puppy bitch from Loren’s daughter, Music. She was our first smooth, and Lee named her Roxanne. She became CH Foxbride’s Put on the Red Light UD, NA, HT.

Roxanne had one litter; she was bred to CH Kitleigh Knickerboker ROM. Of the litter of 6 smooths, 5 finished; two of these were the famous sisters (Randi) CH Deep River’s Joy Ride CD and (Rita) CH Deep River’s Right on Red ROM. Randi was BOV twice at the CCA national and BOS to BOB from the 11 and over Veterans Class. She was also #1 winning smooth all-systems for two years in the ‘90’s. Rita is the dam of 17 champions, making her the #1 smooth dam in collie history at this time. Rita’s children, grandchildren, and now great grandchildren have been reserve, winners, or AOM winners many times at CCA nationals.

Although many have made substantial contributions, Saint and Rita have had the greatest impact on current Deep River Collies of any collies I’ve owned. In addition, Dan & Bonnie Begle’s wonderful CH Pinewynd’s Sparkling Brut, ROM has been the most influential collie not my own. I thank Andre, who passed away from old age this year, for his many contributions to Deep River Collies! In all there have been 40+ rough champions and 50+ smooth champions that we are proud to call our own!