One of my early recollections of a thing that happed at a show was when Brandy Snap was a puppy, he got off his bench and came to the ring standing in the middle and showing his head off. He had a fantastic puppy career, gaining seventy-five points for his Junior Warrant (only twenty-five required) before he was twelve months old."

Dereks' favourite Shelties are not dogs with the largest number of CCs, in his opinion the Breed benefits from a dog or bitch that can pass on their qualities and produce top winning stock from a number of litters.

Derek Rigby has been connected with the English/Midwestern Training of Judges scheme since it first started and he feels many judges have benefited from these assessments. Derek: "But in all cases, like taking your driving test in a car, after you have passed you the decide to please yourself. After being an Assessor and lecturer for these assessments after many years I have now taken a backseat, but I still assess for the Kennel Club with the training of all rounders for the pastoral group."

Phyllis and Derek's major achievements in the Sheltie world are to have bred and owned seven generations of champion male dogs, the previous record was three owned by the late Miss Olwen Gwynne-Jones. Ch Lythwood Stage Whisper has now taken over from Ch Riverhill Rare Gold as producing the most champion offspring (five) from three litters out of one bitch; three champion dogs in one litter. Five of their shelties gained the title of Top Winner Sheltie (Dog World). They also bred the top brood bitch of all time. 

Looking back over the many years (forty-five) that Phyllis and I have been showing and breeding shelties, they feel that the Breed has benefited from their achievements and they would like to think that in years to come exhibitors stick to the British Standard and keep to the size and substance which the Standard asks for.