Early History Of Border Terriers in NZ

BORDER TERRIERS IN NEW ZEALAND

(Dogs which have become NZ champions are marked with an asterisk)

It is quite likely that in earlier days the odd Border Terrier came into New Zealand as a loved pet and part of a family. However, the first record of a Border is of a bitch, Grenor Bunty, imported in 1947 by Mrs. N. Green .Bunty was a well bred bitch, being by Fearsome Fellow out of Crafty Clara, both well known in U.K. pedigrees. Fearsome Fellow was a major influence on the breed. Unfortunately there are no recorded progeny from Grenor Bunty. However, a daughter of Fearsome Fellow, mated to Ch. Future Fame produced both Ch. Step Ahead and Ch. Ribbleside Ridgeman – both dogs that are in many of present day New Zealand Borders pedigrees, albeit, fairly far back.

In 1949 Pat Gilchrist imported Tweedside Red Soda, in whelp to Tweedside Red Silvo. A litter of three dogs and two bitches were registered with NZ Kennel Club under the Glendare prefix. Pat Gilchrist also brought in a dog, Beaucorn Bingo from Australia. bred by a Mrs. P. Russell of Melbourne..

1952 brought Tweedside Red Echo, sire Cruggleton Don, another well known U.K. name, to Pat Gilchrist... Red Echo was also imported in whelp to Tweedside Red Kingpin, another famous sire with Champions Rab Roy, Bright Light and Happy Day to his credit.

There were several litters from these imports and their progeny with fairly close breeding taking place. Glendare Tyne (I.I.D) mated back to Tweedside Red Soda in 1951 and again 1953, the first mating producing four dogs and the second three dogs.

Glendare Tyne (I.I.D) was mated to his litter sister, Glendare Spey (I.I.D.) in 1952, resulting in a litter of two bitches and one dog.

Altogether in the years 1949 through to 1954 thirty one puppies were registered by Pat Gilchrist under the Glendare prefix. There are no further registrations from these kennels after 1954.

The next recorded import is Peggy of Glendearg, brought in from Galasheils by Mrs. E.A. Graham, then in 1955 Mr. A. S. Cooke of Christchurch imported the dog *Jim Bahadur from U.K. *Jim Bahadur was a half brother to Tweedside Red Echo but there is no record of any contact between Pat Gilchrist and Mr. Cooke. But *Jim Bahadur sired a litter by Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Graham’s bitch, Peggy of Glendearg. One bitch from this litter, *Dee of Avalon, went to Mr. Cooke. She became the first New Zealand Border Terrier Champion.

*Dee was bred back to (now) Ch. Jim Bahadur with two litters recorded in 1960, one in April, producing two bitch puppies and one in December with a dog and a bitch puppy. The dog *Teviot of Avalon also became a champion. The mating was again repeated in 1960, resulting in one dog puppy.

D. Vicars of Christchurch also imported a bitch in whelp, Knavesmire Kelso. Two dog puppies were registered from this bitch.

It appears these lines have died out.

   In 1968 Mrs. Marion Forester of well known Loggerheads Staffordshire Bull Terriers imported Hanleycastle Ruthless from U.K. Some time later she imported *Tippy of Petrina also from U.K.

*Tippy of Petrina was made up to a champion and when mated to Hanleycastle Ruthless produced a litter of two dogs and one bitch...

A dog from this litter was mated to Smethstowe Bigearle, imported from Australia,

A grandson of *Tippy of Petrina,  Sandy of Awa E Tory, bred by B.J.Living of Pahiatua was handled by his owner Mr. H. Radcliffe of Wellington. to his C.D.X. title and appears to be the first Border Terrier to gain this

Other puppies were bred from the progeny of these matings but only two puppies were registered under Mrs.H.J.Taylor’s  prefix – Brandyhills.

.Mr. T.C.M. Innes of Waipukarau jointly owned Thornhill Sambo, with the breeder J. Hunter, also of Waipukarau.

   Rosemary and George Williamson arrived in New Zealand in 1965 accompanied by four sons and two Border Terriers, *Red William and his dam, Cleo of the Hunt. Cleo of the Hunt was put back to her sire, Leatty Ploughboy to produce Red William.

In 1973 Rosemary began showing and enjoyed a most successful showing career of many years under the PATTERDALE kennel name. That year she imported the bitch,  *Farmway Swinging Chick (Farmway Black Hawk – Hobbykirk Barsac) from Madeleine Aspinwall . At that time dogs came by sea. The sea trip was approximately six weeks and served as a quarantine period. *Farmway Swinging Chick was followed by *Foxhill Fenominal (Ch. Foxhill Fusilier – Foxhill Foenix) and* Ribbleside Rigger (Ch. Ribbleside Ridgeman- Ribbleside Brockenburr) then Clipstone Cuppa (Ch. Clipstone Guardsman - Clipstone Crack of Dawn). Cuppa was later transferred to Florrie and Jim Graham. Further imports by Rosemary and George were *Ribbleside Lady Love (Ch.Ribbleside Ridgeman – Ribbleside Windwhistle) Ribbleside Regent (Ribbleside Regardless – Kestrel of Ribbleside) *Chevinor Ronach (Ch. Ribbleside Ridgeman – Chevinor Rosa) a full brother to*Chevinor Raransay from a later mating.

*Farmway Red Raven (Ch. Farmway Fine Feathers – Hanleycastle Sally) arrived in 1980, also Farmway Tui (Thrushgill Tussock- Farmway Shell Duck) and Farmway White Dove (Farmway Snow Kestrel-Wilderscot Ring Dove of Farmway).

 Next came *Head Waiter at Dormic (Dormic Macandrew – Hagg Bush Bracken) and *Dormic Mood Indigo (Mr. Chips of Thoraldby – Dormic Mood Indigo)

*Farmway Red Raven made history in New Zealand by being the first Border Terrier to win Best in Show at an all breeds championship show at Kumeu under Mrs. Molly Grocott

   Jim Graham had known and successfully shown Borders in Scotland so was delighted to meet up with Rosemary Williamson and with Marion Forrester

In 1974 Florrie and Jim Graham imported the dog  *Wilderscot Bandsman (Ch. Clipstone Guardsman – Farmway Blue Dove) and a bitch *Farmway Swansdown.(Deerstone Deputy Duty – Farmway Red Puffin) and established their ‘OTTERHEAD kennels’ Later they imported  *Chevinor Raransay ( Ch. Ribbleside Ridgeman - Chevinor Rosa).

With both Rosemary Williamson and Jim Graham gaining group wins from both imported and home-bred stock and actively promoting the breed, Borders at last got a firm footing in New Zealand. It is doubtful if anyone before or since had as much Border knowledge and lore and done as much to promote the breed in New Zealand as Jim Graham.

Foxhill Fenominal when mated to Red William produced one dog pup, *Calypso of Patterdale, a blue and tan. . *Chevinor Raransay, mated to Calypso, produced *Otterhead of Catcleugh.

   This dog was purchased by Mary Whittington and saw the start of LADEBRAES kennels in 1980. When put back to his half sister Otterhead of Ancroft( Wilderscot Bandsman – Chevinor Raransay) they produced *Ladebraes Laverock. A repeat mating gave Otterhead of Dukesfield, who became an Australian champion.

Mated to NZ/Aust Ch. Brigand of Brockhole and Lynsett, *Laverock produced three puppies, *Ladebraes Larkspur, *Ladebraes Love in a Mist and *Ladebraes Lanimer., all consistent group winners. Ladebraes Lucci Locket quickly gained her Australian title

Patterdale, Otterhead and Ladebraes were all showing around the top half of North Island and all were regularly in Group and In Show line-ups helping to put the breed on the map.

   In 1982 Pamela Hall-Jones of Invercargill purchased Otterhead of Ethelfrith from Jim Graham. Although not into the show ring she bred a few  litters  under her BEN BHRAGGIE prefix, then she  imported a bitch, Plushcourt Scarlet Ribbons that she also bred from.

   In 1985 Gail O’Keefe of TENNILLE  kennels purchased *Teca of Patterdale(*Teucer of Patterdale-*Inca Dove of Patterdale) from Rosemary Williamson which saw Borders being successful in the ring in the South Island. Since Teca, Gail has  imported dogs from Australia as well as exporting dogs to Australia and producing many home bred winners, including Ch. Tennille Howzatt Hadlee.

   In 1987 Diane Simister- Brown started with Bordersweet Legacy (NZ Ch. Rushby of Pastterdale- Otterhead of Sweethope).she is still breeding under her HOLLYSTONE prefix, with success in the ring. In 1993 she imported *Plushcourt Distinction. Diane also has sent winning dogs to Australia. 

   1994 saw three new Border Terrier kennels, although they had all long been involved in other breeds.  Julie Clarke of LESTER Australian, Bull and Mini Bull Terriers had a bitch Aust. Ch. *Bracklyn Bijou(Aust. Ch.Rhozzum Venture(imp.UK) – Aust Ch. Craigend Keilder Kate) over from Margaret Burgoine to show. She was quickly made up to a NZ champion then mated to  Ch.Otterhead of Catcleugh before returning to Australia. A puppy from that litter came back to Julie to start her off on a happy and successful association with Borders to the extent that she no longer has Bull or Mini Bull Terriers.

Julie, along with her sister Sue Smith has imported and exported dogs to and from Australia.

   Likewise, Pat and David Herd of TAMALEIGH kennels had  a successful kennel of Beagles when their daughter Andrea Hickling – who has bred and shown under the Tamaleigh prefix – got *Lester Border Return in partnership with Julie Clarke. Andrea persuaded her parents to look at the Borders at Crufts in 1991, the result being shortly after their return the arrival of *Firgate Robert at Tamaleigh(Plushcourt Run The Gauntlet-Firgate Rowena off Sprignell). In 1993 they imported *Plushcourt Dewdrop(Plushcourt Royal Warrant – Plushcourt Dazzle). Both Pat and David and their daughter have recently got new Border pups.

   Bev Rodgers, of KIRKCALDY Cairns got a dog from Julie Clarke, Lester Border Kactus Jack. Although a very nice Border, Jack didn’t like the ring but Bev got *Ladebraes Larkspur in partnership with Julie Clarke, *Larkspur loved the ring and more than made up for Jack’s reluctance.

   In 1994 Gaela Tolley arrived in NZ with four Borders, a dog and three bitches, establishing her BOHUNT kennels. The dog, *Brindleoak Hooligan at Plushcourt, quickly became a NZ champion. Later another dog *Baywillow Sun An’ Air came to Bohunt with other imports following. Gaela’s homebred Ch. Bohunt Tawny Owl twice went Best In Show, All Breeds Championship show before he tragically died in his sleep.

  Sue Smith, DUNROBIN kennels had been showing and breeding under her sister, Julie Clarke’s kennel name but in 1995 she established Dunrobin and has produced many winning Borders.

  Cheryl Smith started with *Patterdale Danby then added *Ladebraes Lazy Dazy to start off her CHYTRUGH kennels. She has regular group and In Show wins to her credit and her dogs are always a force to be reckoned with in the ring. Her home bred Ch. Chytrugh Lord Karamu recently gained his Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates for being awarded          over fifty Challenge certificates. Punk, as he is known is a regular in the group line- up.

Murray MacKenzie also started his BALLACH kennels 1995 He started with *Patterdale  Harelyn then added Patterdale Kettlesing. Although a busy veterinarian, he makes time to show and breed the odd litter.

. Maureece Fowler, NARRABRI  who showed Jack Russell terriers then joined the Borders with a bitch from Julie Clarke. She later imported a dog * Bordrocks Elton Tyson from Sweden.

  Sonja and Colin Firby purchased a bitch from Rosemary Williamson. CH Patterdale Tweed became the foundation bitch for their kennel and they kept some of the offspring to continue the kennel name PATTERDALE, which was entrusted to Sonja by George Williamson after Rosemary died. Sonja is an enthusiastic exhibitor mostly in the Upper North Island and is regularly seen in the group and in show line-up.

  Judeen Foreman, BOOMTOWN kennels who also shows Australian terriers has also started showing Borders and is producing some nice winners, another regularly in the line-ups.

A recent addition available to NZ breeders are Diana and Jamie Reed’s two dogs,

Dandyhow Golden Wonder and Gameway Captain Morgan who emigrated from UK with their owners.

Recently Phillipa Boland, Maria Powell, Sally Scott and Marie McKerrow have all obtained puppies and started showing and no doubt these will be followed by others.

Kennels are well spread over both Islands now.