My involvement with Shelties began in 1978 when I joined the Central Shetland Sheepdog Club and almost immediately found myself on the Committee! From that sudden start I have been Vice President, President, and for almost 20 continuous years now I have been Secretary. I realised very early that full time teaching and family commitments were not going to allow me time to make much impact on the Sheltie world in breeding & exhibiting, so I made the decision to work for the Club and to try to make sure we had Specialist Judges for our shows, especially from UK whenever possible. I am very proud that our Club has achieved that aim over the last 20 years.

My first prefix in Shelties was MAIDRIN, but later I went into partnership with a friend and we took the joint prefix RIABEL that I continued when she left the dog world, later including Jeanine Bishop in the prefix.

My most successful litters were sired by Aust & NZ Ch Edenmist Rush N Roulette who lived with me for about a year when his owner/breeder lived in Australia. He and my Maidrin Mhairi Dhu had 3 champions in their 2 litters. Jimmy, NZ Ch Riabel Son of a Gun, achieved his Australian title with Victor Hugo (Ronas Hill), and then travelled to Sweden where Birgitta and Per Svarstad campaigned him to his many titles, and where he lived happily into his old age with them, passing away a couple of years ago. 

I have bred very little in the past few years and now have only 3 Shelties at home. Jimmy’s full brother, the late NZ Ch. Riabel Crown N Anchor has bred down through NZ Ch Riabel The Jolly Roger, to a grandson NZ Ch Riabel Jolly Jack Tar, who is being shown with great success in the South Island by Barrie & Phillippa Keetley.

My old tricolour NZ Ch Riabel Shadowlands (Callum) (bred & co-owned with Jeanine) is now in 2008 11 years. He is behind some of the Eastonia Champions. 

My old boy NZ Ch Riabel Shadowlands
 

Computers and the internet have been wonderful for me. They have kept me in touch with friends overseas, and I am delighted to still receive messages from the owners of several of Jimmy’s progeny in other countries with photos of  “grandchildren” and “great-grandchildren”.