With Rough Collies rarely campaigned
beyond their title; stars of the show world
were few, Leonertes of Ladypark and
Mywicks Meadowlancer being two of
the exceptions as both were campaigned to
multiple Challenge Certificates, although
both needed to keep a eye on Lochinvar
of Ladypark who was always a threat
whenever he made an appearance. On one
very memorable occasion, amid the smiles and tears of his many admirers, collecting his sixth and final CC from Mrs Newbery ALPHINGTON at Cruft’s 1957, thereby becoming the oldest Rough Collie, at just turned 10 years, to gain a Cruft’s CC. More than 65 years had passed since Arkwright’s blue merle bitch Blue Ruin had won the Collie Club Challenge Trophy when Miss Molony’s young Westcarrs Blue Minoru, having just won his second CC, entered the ring to challenge for, and be awarded Best In Show at the British Collie Club Show in 1955, making him only the second blue merle, and first male to have their name engraved on this historic trophy.
When looking for leading breeding lines, prominent amongst the dominant sires is the legendary Ch Lochinvar of Ladypark and his grand-sons Chs Legend and Liberty both of Ladypark. Whilst Ch Gunner of Glenturret, by Gunner of Mariemeau, continued to further the Laund Lindrum line both north and south of the Scottish border. Before the end of the decade interest shifted as breeders became captivated by improvements in head and expression produced by Ch Mywicks Meadowlancer making him flavour of the period. In Blue Merles Ch Westcarrs Blue Minoru, who traced back to Lad of Ladypark, Lochinvar’s full brother, had it all his own way.
