GB CH. Desborough Dramatist at Allhiker
16 April 1986 - 14 April 1999
Flash's pedigree can be viewed here http://www.bcpedigree.se/irena/beardis.nsf/l3vy/154
My memories:-
GB CH. Desborough Dramatist at Allhiker was bred by Peter Lancaster of Weybridge , Surrey. He was born on 16th April 1986. His mother was Cleo, GB Ch Shilstone Minuet of Desborough, and his father Boysie, GB. AM. CAN. CH Sammara Standing Ovation.
("Desborough" is the name of an island in the Thames close to Weybridge). When very tiny and in the litter Peter's family called him the "Flash" puppy and so it stuck for the rest of his life.
I had my own, first ever, litter of puppies at the time and I lived near Peter so I went along to see how how our puppies compared. They were "all sold" and with mine at home, it seemed quite safe to go and window shop!
The puppies were stunning, particularly remember two of the "girls" and one boy and thought "Wow". I asked Peter if they were all sold and he said that the flashy boy was still available (as apparently he wasn't good enough to be near the top of the "pick of litter" list) and with that, the little chap turned his back on me and toddled down the long garden as if to say "I don't care!". I was smitten - I had fallen in love with his bottom wiggle!
and so "Flash" came home to live with me...
Flash's two sisters became champions quite quickly, Peter did well with his dog puppy and we were the bride's maid! nearly always coming home with blue rosettes (2nd place) that I thought we would have to redecorate the house to tone. Flash's sisters were GB Ch. D. Destiny of sammara and GBCH. D Dulcinea of Snowmead.
Flash had a heavy dark coat, which used to stretch when it got wrapped around brambles and shrubs - it rarely broke off. Often judges would comment that he had too much coat, or that he had decided to go to sleep in the ring, rather than move out. It is true he loved nothing better than to clamber into your lap, turn belly up and lie there on top of you, waiting for a tummy rub whilst you spat out mouthfuls of his hair. He had a lovely personality, adorable character and temperament - he was nicknamed " 'Ansome " and he knew it.
In the show ring I had not got the skills to show him well enough to gain top honours and the late Ann Waldron, and daughter, Justine, were brilliant at handling and grooming him for me, and without their help, I believe Flash would not have become a GB champion. As a consequence I was a nervous wreck hiding on the benches and craning my neck to see how they were doing. Often, I was not looking in the right direction to see him win! If anyone has old video footage of him winning , I would love to see it- even 21 years later!
1989 Manchester Reserve CC
1990 WELKS Reserve CC
Oct 1990 Midland Counties 1st Challenge certificate (C.C.)
Dec 1990 Bearded Collie Ch. show 2nd CC and Best in Show, and all on my birthday!
and 1 month later,
9/1/91 Crufts 100th centenary show 3rd CC.
Another fabulous day and I saw this one!. Nail biting. I 've no idea how I managed to get home that day but I presume I didn't drive!
Also, in 1991 Flash had a memorable experience with Professor Gary England, twice, at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, where Gary was doing a PHD. We were in the process of arranging one of the first "fresh semen" artificial insemination transfers to Sweden. Gary's "boss" was going to do the procedure but he died unexpectedly and Gary agreed to give it a go, as time was so short to reorganise. The deed was done and the semen shipped to Sweden but on the way over in the plane, the semen died as it became frozen to the inside of the vacuum flask. I found out late in the evening when I received a call from Sweden. Gary was due to be at a college ball that night and he received my distressed call at the party! We agreed to meet again early in the morning and give it another go.
Overnight Gary found another courier, a morning flight to Sweden, and organised the Swedish veterinary labs end (oh, and the "wife") to be ready. Round the M25 again before breakfast to repeat the procedure, to the amusement and enjoyment of Flash. Gary remembered that he hadn't got another metal vacuum flask and he told me there was a quiet panic whilst he banged on the door of the local supermarket begging to be let in. He needed to buy a flask as it was "a matter of life or death" if he didn't have one, neither did he have enough or any money on him! He was convincing because they gave him the flask.
The second batch of test tube contents arrived within the 24 hour window and was successfully implanted, resulting in 7 beautiful "Woolpacks" puppies born naturally. Carina and I will always remember this time as the "Alice in Wonderland" time, not just because of the surreal nightmare nature of the problems, but because "the rabbit said to itself "Dear,Dear! I SHALL be too late!"".
Gary became an respected expert in his field, I'll leave you to guess at what! (University of Nottingham as the Foundation Dean & Professor of Comparative Veterinary Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences).
Flash retired to a home life, with the occasional visits from girlfriends, and was given a longer rest after an unfortunate spinal injury, caused by an upside down lazy roll going wrong, at the age of 13.
Flash sired puppies of all four colours.
'Ansome is remembered fondly and often.
His memory lives on in his descendants.
GB CH. Desborough Dramatist at Allhiker was bred by Peter Lancaster of Weybridge , Surrey. He was born on 16th April 1986. His mother was Cleo, GB Ch Shilstone Minuet of Desborough, and his father Boysie, GB. AM. CAN. CH Sammara Standing Ovation.
("Desborough" is the name of an island in the Thames close to Weybridge). When very tiny and in the litter Peter's family called him the "Flash" puppy and so it stuck for the rest of his life.
I had my own, first ever, litter of puppies at the time and I lived near Peter so I went along to see how how our puppies compared. They were "all sold" and with mine at home, it seemed quite safe to go and window shop!
The puppies were stunning, particularly remember two of the "girls" and one boy and thought "Wow". I asked Peter if they were all sold and he said that the flashy boy was still available (as apparently he wasn't good enough to be near the top of the "pick of litter" list) and with that, the little chap turned his back on me and toddled down the long garden as if to say "I don't care!". I was smitten - I had fallen in love with his bottom wiggle!
and so "Flash" came home to live with me...
Flash's two sisters became champions quite quickly, Peter did well with his dog puppy and we were the bride's maid! nearly always coming home with blue rosettes (2nd place) that I thought we would have to redecorate the house to tone. Flash's sisters were GB Ch. D. Destiny of sammara and GBCH. D Dulcinea of Snowmead.
Flash had a heavy dark coat, which used to stretch when it got wrapped around brambles and shrubs - it rarely broke off. Often judges would comment that he had too much coat, or that he had decided to go to sleep in the ring, rather than move out. It is true he loved nothing better than to clamber into your lap, turn belly up and lie there on top of you, waiting for a tummy rub whilst you spat out mouthfuls of his hair. He had a lovely personality, adorable character and temperament - he was nicknamed " 'Ansome " and he knew it.
In the show ring I had not got the skills to show him well enough to gain top honours and the late Ann Waldron, and daughter, Justine, were brilliant at handling and grooming him for me, and without their help, I believe Flash would not have become a GB champion. As a consequence I was a nervous wreck hiding on the benches and craning my neck to see how they were doing. Often, I was not looking in the right direction to see him win! If anyone has old video footage of him winning , I would love to see it- even 21 years later!
1989 Manchester Reserve CC
1990 WELKS Reserve CC
Oct 1990 Midland Counties 1st Challenge certificate (C.C.)
Dec 1990 Bearded Collie Ch. show 2nd CC and Best in Show, and all on my birthday!
and 1 month later,
9/1/91 Crufts 100th centenary show 3rd CC.
Another fabulous day and I saw this one!. Nail biting. I 've no idea how I managed to get home that day but I presume I didn't drive!
Also, in 1991 Flash had a memorable experience with Professor Gary England, twice, at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, where Gary was doing a PHD. We were in the process of arranging one of the first "fresh semen" artificial insemination transfers to Sweden. Gary's "boss" was going to do the procedure but he died unexpectedly and Gary agreed to give it a go, as time was so short to reorganise. The deed was done and the semen shipped to Sweden but on the way over in the plane, the semen died as it became frozen to the inside of the vacuum flask. I found out late in the evening when I received a call from Sweden. Gary was due to be at a college ball that night and he received my distressed call at the party! We agreed to meet again early in the morning and give it another go.
Overnight Gary found another courier, a morning flight to Sweden, and organised the Swedish veterinary labs end (oh, and the "wife") to be ready. Round the M25 again before breakfast to repeat the procedure, to the amusement and enjoyment of Flash. Gary remembered that he hadn't got another metal vacuum flask and he told me there was a quiet panic whilst he banged on the door of the local supermarket begging to be let in. He needed to buy a flask as it was "a matter of life or death" if he didn't have one, neither did he have enough or any money on him! He was convincing because they gave him the flask.
The second batch of test tube contents arrived within the 24 hour window and was successfully implanted, resulting in 7 beautiful "Woolpacks" puppies born naturally. Carina and I will always remember this time as the "Alice in Wonderland" time, not just because of the surreal nightmare nature of the problems, but because "the rabbit said to itself "Dear,Dear! I SHALL be too late!"".
Gary became an respected expert in his field, I'll leave you to guess at what! (University of Nottingham as the Foundation Dean & Professor of Comparative Veterinary Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences).
Flash retired to a home life, with the occasional visits from girlfriends, and was given a longer rest after an unfortunate spinal injury, caused by an upside down lazy roll going wrong, at the age of 13.
Flash sired puppies of all four colours.
'Ansome is remembered fondly and often.
His memory lives on in his descendants.
Ch Desborough Dramatist at Allhiker.
Flash, with some of the trophies won at the Bearded Collie Championship Show.
Copyright photograph - Jezz Whatmore.
Please request permission before coping any of these photographs!
Flash, with some of the trophies won at the Bearded Collie Championship Show.
Copyright photograph - Jezz Whatmore.
Please request permission before coping any of these photographs!
That trophy is absolutely huge!
Thankfully, it only needs to be polished for the year that you are guardian of it!
Thankfully, it only needs to be polished for the year that you are guardian of it!