Katrine

This is my first full dam line that Starts off in the late 1870’s up to the present day. It is one of only a very few lines that extend for so long and this line is carried on by just three kennels which are Demelewis, Mejola and Corydon. This family was presumed to start off with two litter sisters called Clyde and Scott whose parentage is unknown. They were born in about 1872. I have taken this from the book Rough Collies of Distinction written by a combination of Iris Comb, Dareen Bridge and Pat Hutchinson that was published in 2001.

I think that it was Dareen Bridge who did most of the research into pedigrees and I have to question the above litter sisters. I am almost certain that owners would not call their bitches by the name of Scott. I have been handed an old pedigree that confirms that Scott was indeed a dog. The same pedigree confirms Clyde was a bitch. It is interesting that the daughter of Scott (Katrine) should start a long line of blue merles. Therefore, I am assuming that Scott was in fact a dog that was a very good coloured blue merle and the first blue merle to be registered at the Kennel club. His name was Scott and was owned and bred by a Mr Brackenburg who was a farmer in Suffolk. He was born at the same time as the Scott in the book and he won a stud book number that is the same as the Scott in the book. This dog was used by Mr Arkwright to start his very famous line of blue merle Collies.

I have had to change the line being headed by Scott to that of Katrine. The above book has a bitch line starting with Lady Lamb’s Lassie however as this bitch had the same stud book number as Katrine I have to assume that Lady Lamb purchased this bitch and changed her name to Lassie. This was a very common practice at that time and indeed carried on until the late 1940’s.

This practice of changing names makes research very difficult. Even the famous Eden Examine that was born in 1944 started life as being registered at the Kennel Club as Worsboro Model. Earlier in 1921 Ch Backwoods Fashion started his registered life as Eden Edward. This dog actually won a class at Crufts Dog Show under his first registered name before he was sold to the Backwoods kennel. He was full brother earlier litter to Ch Eden Emerald who was the main name in UK and American Rough Collies.

Katrine had her name changed to Lassie when she was sold to a Lady Lamb. The only reason that we know that Katrine had her named changed is that she won a stud book number that was on Lassie’s pedigree when she had a litter. The stud book number was 5434. This newly named Lassie had a litter in about 1880 that had a bitch called Leila and this is the start of a very long line of bitches that are very alive today as all Corydon bitches and their relatives go back tail female on this line. I have worked out that our Ch Corydon Clarissa is fifty generations from Katrine. This has to be the top bitch line in the World today. Ch Witchcraft of Rokeby is in this line. Such famous kennels as Westcarrs, Ladypark, Jefsfire, Glenmist, Pattingham, Sandiacre as well as Corydon, had or have Collie bitches in this line.

I have included the bitch line from our Ch Corydon Clarissa born in 2020, to the earliest that can be traced, Katrine. This line rather proves my point that Champion bitches are not necessarily the best producers as there are so few Champion bitches in this very long line. But it does emphasise that a strong bitch line is very important for future breeding plans. In this line there are only five Champion Bitches out of the 50 dams. In comparison the male line which I have taken for the litter brother of Clarissa contains many more top winners. As there are 28 Champions in this line of 50 males.

DAM LINE of: CH Corydon Clarissa

Sex: F
Date of Birth: 31/05/2020
Colour & Markings: S/W
Owner: John Blake

DAM
Corydon Moonflower………………….Corydon The Ringmaster
Corydon Grandeflora …………………CH Demelewis Dark Moon Driftin Over Corydon JW
Corydon Follow Me ……………………CH Corydon Rio Grande JW
Corydon Fancy Me JW ………………..CH Demelewis Dark Moon Driftin Over Corydon JW
Corydon Sudden Fancy ……………….CH Corydon Il Supremo JW
Corydon Gold Demelza ……………….Corydon Sudden Impact
Corydon Gold Delilah …………………CH Alssala Canny Bairn at Corydon
Corydon Hannalara ……………………CH Corydon Gold Star
Corydon Polyhanna JW ……………….CH & Aus CH Little Caesar at Corydon
CH Corydon Hippolyta ………………..CH Bririch Gold Edition
CH Corydon Qui Vive ………………….Corydon King Hector
Corydon Regality of Rokeby …………,Corydon Quo Vadis
CH Romney of Rokeby …………………CH Royal Ace of Rokeby
CH Witchcraft of Rokeby ………………Dazzler of Dunsinane
Retta of Rokeby ………………………….Prospecthill Rustler of Rokeby
Miss Chief of Rokeby ……………………CH Danvis Damascus
Alloas Masterpiece ……………………..Netherkier Torchfire
Happy of Narragansette ……………….Normansfield Suntan
Honour of Narragansette ………………CH Forth of Naragansette
Delwood Sarah ……………………………Golden Wonder Boy
Delwood Brenda ……………………………..
Delwood Suzie ………………………………
CH Delwood Meryl ………………………..Golden Victor
Delwood Aristocrat Belle ………………..Delwood Barrie
Silver Emblem ……………………………..Round Robin
Silver Bouquet ……………………………..Radient Knight
Blue Poppy …………………………………..CH Backwoods Flutter
Westcarrs Blue Dawn ……………………..Backwoods Fireman
Westcarrs Blue Moon ……………………..Lucas of Sedgemoor
Westcarrs Blue Mascot …………………….Lucas of Sedgemoor
Westcarrs Winsome ………………………..Knight O’ Blue Mist
Rosery Jill …………………………………….Treffynnon Squire
Esstar …………………………………….
Billesley Blue Bee ………………………….
Billesley Blue Gown ………………………..Billesley Britisher
Billesley Blue Beauty ……………………….Master Willie
Billesley Bluey ……………………………….Billesley Buller
Curzon Blue Betty …………………………..Moreton Jason
Curzon Jess (Unreg) Unreg…………………Yardley True Blue
Lady Curzon ………………………………….CH Metchley Wonder
Lady Anstruther …………………………….
Hesketh Beauty ……………………………..
Ormskirk Rose ………………………………
Sweet Lassie ………………………………….Smuggler
Lady Macbeth ………………………………..Young Cockie
Leila …………………………………………….CH Wolf
Katrine – Lassie (Lady Lamb) 5434……….Cheviot

This line leads into the Smooth Collie Dam Line C. It comes from the above Westcarrs Blue Moon where it breaks off to her daughter Westcarrs Blue Minuet then to her daughter Westcarrs Blue Dory that produced the Smooth Collie bitch simply called Melody. Her sire was called Glenogil Blue Bond. He was a son of Smooth Collie Ch Laund Lawson. Melody was mated to Smooth Collie Ch Hewburn Perfection to produce Smooth Collie sire Footprint of Hughley

Katrine did not produce anything other than her daughter Leila that was mated to Ch Wolf to produce a bitch called Lady Macbeth. That was then mated to a dog called Young Cockie, and no he was not a son of Old Cockie.

However, this mating produced a bitch called Sweet Lassie that was to prove a wonderful dam. No exaggeration to say that she was directly behind almost all of the Rough Collies up to the turn of the 20^th century. She was the foundation bitch for the Ormskirk kennel of Mr Stretch who was to have a profound impact on the breed up to the start of the 1^st World War. She had litters to Smuggler and Ch Christopher. I have  to guess that her daughter Ormskirk Rose was by Smuggler as Christopher was born in the same year as Rose.

These bitches all had puppies that carried on their line for several generations. Ormskirk Rose was the bitch that carried on the principal line. Olton Pride goes down in the history of the breed as she was the Great Granddam of the very famous Ch Wellesbourne Conqueror.

It is truly extraordinary that this bitch should have so much influence on the future of the breed. This is a 6 generation reverse pedigree. I have cut out those that were not important for the future of the breed. But it still leaves very many that were so important at the start of the breeds formation.

REVERSE PEDIGREE of: Sweet Lassie
Sex: F
Date of Birth: 01/01/1885
Colour & Markings: S/W
Owner: Mr Stretch

Sweet Lassie
| +--Broadford Duchess
| | +--Stracathro Fancy
| |  | +--Stracathro Ralph
| |  |  | +--Heather Ralph
| +--Edgbaston Excelsior
| | +--Ormskirk Prima Donna
| | | +--Ormskirk Memoir
| | | | +--Ormskirk Galopin
| | | | | +--CH Heachum Galopin
| | +--Venus
| | | +--Barwell Perfection 113B
| | | | +--Princess Louisa
| | | | +--Parbold Plum
| | | | | +--CH Parbold Pagoda
| | +--Wellesbourne Christopher
| | | +--Wellesbourne Beauty
| | | | +--CH Wellesbourne Conqueror
| | | | | +--CH Parbold Piccolo
| | | | | +--CH Moreton Coroner
| +--Olton Pride (Newmarket Pride)
| | +--Ryland Jennie
| | | +--Wellesbourne Beauty
| | | | +--CH Wellesbourne Conqueror
| +--Ormskirk Amazement 
| | +--Parbold Peery
| | | +--Guy Mannering
| | | | +--CH Ormskirk Ideal
| | | | | +--CH Ormskirk Olympian
| | | | +--Nell (Unregistered)
| | | | | +--CH Balgreggie Hope
| | +--Wishaw Rose
| | | +--Last Rose
| | | | +--CH Wishaw Clinker
| | | | | +--CH Balgreggie Baronet
| | | +--Miss Purden
| | | | +--CH Rightaway
| | | | | +--CH Barwell Masterpiece (Young Rightaway)
| | | | | +--CH Woodmansterne Tartan 
| | +--Sir Hector
| | | +--Great Gun 
| +--Sir Gent
| | +--Wellesbourne Lady
| | | +--Wellesbourne Ada
| | | | +--Aughton Bessie
| | | | | +--CH Ormskirk Emerald 
| +--Sweet Fanny
| | +--Great Alne Douglas
| | | +--Wellesbourne Ada
| | | | +--Aughton Bessie
| | | | | +--CH Ormskirk Emerald 
| | | +--CH Barwell Pearl
| | | | +--Southport Matrimony
| +--Ormskirk Rose
| | +--Hesketh Beauty
| | | +--Lady Anstruther
| | | | +--Lady Curzon
| | | | | +--CH Emerald's Gem
| | | | | +--Curzon Jess (Unreg) Unreg
| +--Ormskirk Fanny
| | +--Ormskirk Prima Donna
| | | +--Ormskirk Memoir
| | | | +--Ormskirk Galopin
| | | | | +--CH Heachum Galopin

The next important bitch in this line is Lady Curzon. She was the dam of Champion Emerald Gem. She was by Ch Ormskirk Emerald that was described by many at that time as the perfect Collie. He did not excel as a sire but all Collies go back to him tail male.

Lady Curzon also had a litter to Ch Metchley Wonder that produced a bitch called Little Goldleaf and here I have to make a guess that also in this litter was an unregistered bitch called Curzon Jess, a bitch that carried on this line by being the dam of Curzon Blue Betty.

This assumption that Curzon Jess is the dam of Curzon Blue betty and is by CH Metchley Wonder out of Lady Curzon is highly likely as Mr Claypole was a very close friend of Mr T W Cole the owner of Lady Curzon and is most probably the reason that Mr Claypole used this prefix.

Lady Curzon was probably a blue merle as she was the dam of several of this colour and Ch Metchley Wonder was used quite a lot on blue merle bitches although he was a sable and white. He was very strongly white factored as he himself was from a line of blue merle Collies. This blue to sable mating is not allowed today but was common practise in those early days.

The fact that Ch Metchley Wonder was white factored is the main reason for the white Collies in the USA. This line is the main line for blue merles with the Billesley blue merles and following these the famous Westcarrs blue merle Collies.

This line of Collie bitches went for another thirteen generations before another bitch came along to produce more than a single puppy to breed on. This was a bitch called Blue Poppy born in 1934. She was the dam of a blue merle bitch Silver Bouquet and a tricolour bitch called Backwoods Flower Girl that was the dam of several important Chapelburn bitches.

Silver Bouquet was the granddam of Mystic Maid the granddam of Champions Rose and Maid of Ladypark, and the famous Delwood bitches that carried on this line. Blue Poppy is interesting as she was at the head of another line that stretched right up to 1996 to a bitch called Sandiacre Social Graces. Here I have put her dam line right back to Blue Poppy

DAM LINE of: Sandiacre Social Graces
Sex: F
Date of Birth: 07/05/1996
Colour & Markings:
Owner: Wigglesworth

DAM
Sandiacre Soft Music …………………………CH Sandiacre Social Climber
Sandiacre Sets Appeal ……………………….Lingwell Ranger
CH Sandiacre Set ‘N’ Match …………………Pelido Forgotten Dreams
Sandiacre Serve ‘N’ Volley …………………..CH Sandiacre Stop ‘N’ Think
Sandiacre S’Only Me ………………………….CH Sandiacre Stop ‘N’ Think
CH Sandiacre Sweet Georgia Brown ………CH Arranbrook Mr Chips of Aberhill
CH Sandiacre Seed Pearl …………………….Sandiacre Softly Softly
CH Sandiacre String of Pearls ………………CH Brettonpark Highlander of Dunsinane
Colrenes Seawitch of Sandiacre ……………CH Royal Ace of Rokeby
Sandiacre Jefsfire Gaytweed ………………..Jefsfire Fury
Jefsfire Gaytime ……………………………….Franwyns Jefsfire Starmaker
Riffelsee Rosemary …………………………..Statesman of Southwardedge
CH Rose of Ladypark ………………………..Riffelsee Royalist
Laird’s Rose …………………………………….CH Lochinvar of Ladypark
Mystic Maid ……………………………………Air Commander
Silver Emblem ………………………………..Round Robin
Silver Bouquet ………………………………..Radient Knight
Blue Poppy …………………………………….CH Backwoods Flutter

This time it is the very successful Sandiacre kennel that was so dominant for a very long time. And it is one of those bitches that I still think is one of the very best I have ever seen. This was Ch Sandiacre String of Pearls. She was bred by Mr Colin Chambers and was sired by Ch Royal Ace of Rokeby. She became a very dominant dam with two UK Champions coming from her. She was also the dam of Sandiacre Softly Softly who must have been the most used dog in the breed that was never a Champion. We used him with some success. He had very heavy ears which rather set him back in the show ring. Why his owners did not shave them when he was young I do not know.

I Remember our Ch Corydon Hippolyta had heavy ears as a young puppy. Barbara shaved them. We could not show her for several months but her ear carriage became perfect.

Ch Sandiacre String of Pearls was the dam of two female Champions Sandiacre Sweet Lorraine and Sandiacre Seed Pearl, they bred on for many generations. Sweet Lorraine was a prolific dam. She was the dam of two female Champions, Mybern’s Megs Girl and Sandiacre Sweet Valentine and a male Champion Sandiacre Silence is Golden. Meg’s Girl did not breed on but Sweet Valantine produced a Champion male Sandiacre Sonny Jim of Lassina but no other of note. Seed Pearl was also a successful dam from just one litter bred she produced Ch Sandiacre Sweet Georgia Brown and she went on to produce Champions and her get produced more and more Champions. This was a very successful family for many years. Yet surprisingly I cannot find any line of bitches that go back to this prefix.

The Wigglesworth’s named all of their puppies from pop songs beginning with the letter S. They also refused to show any of their dogs once they became Champions. Hence they never had what we call a great dog. I suppose the only Sandiacre that could be put in that category is Sandiacre Softly Softly that never became a Champion. His main claim to fame was his ability as a sire of excellence. His sire line only goes on for six generations. Yet a reverse pedigree of him goes on forever.

Back to the main line where Ch Rose of Ladypark was by far the most important of these dams. The Champions coming down from her are legion. Just one line demonstrates how important she was. From her daughter Ch Riffelsee Reward of Glenmist to her daughter Ch Sapphire of Glenmist to her daughter Ch Pattingham Gay Lady of Glenmist. Four generations of Champion bitches is rare in the breed. Unfortunately, this line seems to have run its course by the mid 1970’s. 

There is a little story here as to how we got Regality. Betty Eglin rang me up one evening and asked if we would be interested in a bitch puppy. As Rokeby were by far the top kennel at this time. We were very interested, but the price was a bit high as I was just a normal agricultural salesman at this time. The puppy had been sired by Ch Royal Ace of Rokeby out of his litter sister Ch Romney of Rokeby. However, Barbara and I talked about it and agreed to buy her. She was rather nervous, probably because she was a brother sister mating (would not be allowed today) and of course that very nervous dog Dazzler of Dunsinane was her grandsire on both sides. I saw this dog once when we visited Audrey Chatfield’s kennel. He would not come anywhere near us. It is said thathe would not mate a bitch if anyone was watching. Fortunately, we had a very strong tempered dog in Corydon Quo Vadis a tricolour that was not related in any way to Regality. This mating produced two Champions. One was a Czech Champion dog the other Champion was our Corydon Qui Vive and it is she that really started us off to great heights in the breed.

Ch Corydon Hippolyta on left and right Corydon Polyhanna

She was the dam of two Champions. The tri dog Ch Corydon Quinault and the sable bitch Ch Corydon Hippolyta. I have to say that Hippolyta must be one of the very best we have bred. And she lived for a long time by living to fifteen years of age. And she produced four Champions, two in South Africa and two UK Champions. They were Ch Corydon Polly Hera by Ch Corydon Handsome Hero. Ch Corydon Polymeros of Bririch by Ch Bririch Gold Edition. SA Ch Corydon Polyphemus At Bririch also by Gold Edition, and SA Ch Corydon Polly Wagtail by Sandiacre Softly Softly.

 But it is her uncrowned daughter Corydon Polyhanna that carries on this line. She was the dam of two Champion dogs Corydon Handsome Hero who I believe is the only male Collie to have won Group 1 and Group 2 awards. The other Champion was Corydon Handsome Hotspur, he was a very successful sire in the breed. And it is Polyhannah’s daughter Corydon Hannastar that carried on the line to the present day. But back to Hippolyta who had another daughter called Corydon Polytucka a tricolour bitch that could not be shown because she lost an eyeball when she had an infection at just a few days old. She was the litter sister of Ch Corydon Polyhera that was hopeless as a dam and not nearly as good from the show points as Tucka. Corydon Polytucka’s line continues to the present through the Demelewis bitch line. I am especially pleased with this as I thought the line had died out after Corydon Whisper Willow.

DAM LINE of: Demelewis Double Take

Sex: F
Date of Birth: 09/01/2021
Colour & Markings:
Owner: Mellish

Corydon Polly Tucka

Her Dam………………………………………………Her Sire
Demelewis Double Dare …………………………..Corydon Riffson
Demelewis Dare To Tell …………………………..Demelewis Catch My Drift
Corydon Victoriana at Demelewis ……………..CH Corydon Once in a Blue Moon
Demelewis Catch The Breeze For Corydon …..Corydon Victor Ludorum
Demelewis Mooncatcher …………………………CH Corydon Once in a Blue Moon
Demelewis Raven Moon ………………………….Int CH Corydon Catch Me Driftin
Corydon Be A Madam at Demelewis …………..Aqualita Class Act with Corydon
Corydon Willa Bea ………………………………….CH Phreelancer Phrosty Moon over Corydon JW
Corydon Whisper Willow …………………………CH Corydon Blackcat
Corydon Tuck’s Whisper ………………………….CH Corydon Gold Spur JW
Corydon Polly Tucka ………………………………Corydon Caruso
CH Corydon Hippolyta…………………………….CH & Aus CH Corydon Handsome Hero JW
CH Corydon Qui Vive ………………………………Corydon King Hector

Demelewis Raven Moon was the litter sister to Ch Demelewis Dark Moon Driftin Over Corydon that won thirteen CCs making him the most successful modern tricolour dog. Like her brother she was a tricolour and won at least one Challenge Certificate.

Corydon Polytucka was a prolific and successful dam. Among her children were NU Ch Corydon Augustus Caesar whose main claim to fame was his win as Reserve Best in Show at the National Working Breeds Championship Show. She was also the dam of Ch Corydon Tuck’s Tiger that went to Australia after winning his UK title. He then became the biggest ever winner in Australia. Among her many female offspring was NU Ch Corydon Tuck’s Fizz a very successful dam in Norway.

The present Corydon bitches go back to the sister of Corydon Polly Tucka, Corydon Polyhanna that was the dam of Corydon Hannalara. And she was the dam of a famous bitch Aus & UK Ch Corydon Glory Hallelujah the dam of at least eight Champions. But the line is carried on by her other daughter Corydon Gold Delilah up to today’s latest Ch Corydon Clarrisa.

Delilah goes down in fame as the dam of Ch Corydon Gold Spur. He was unique at the time as he won his Junior Warrant with his fourth CC. His Junior Warrant certificate did not have his Champion title on it as the KC computers were not programmed to put this in. Evidently, he was the first of any breed to win his Junior Warrant under these circumstances. It is quite a rare feat to win four Challenged Certificates as a junior. It is her daughter Corydon Gold Demelza that carries on the bitch line.

Ch & Aus Ch Corydon Glory Hallelujah was an extraordinary show bitch and dam. She was the dam of four Champions in Europe before we sold her to friends in Australia. She quickly won her title over there. Then she went to New Zealand to have a litter. Her owners in Australia were not confident enough to rear a litter from her. She went to New Zealand where she was mated to NZ Ch Corydon Hot Rod. I am told that five of the resultant litter became Champions in New Zealand and Australia. To be the dam of nine Champions must be a record in the breed. Glory was a truly beautiful bitch. I saw her in Australia when we visited there in 1991 and I said at the time that I thought she was the most beautiful bitch I had ever seen. She was very happy in her new home. Just a little story here as when her dam was whelping the litter I helped and pulled Glory out. I then decided that she was the pick of the litter while she was still in her bag. At this point I should add that the others in the litter were not very good.

From all this research there appears a bitch that has probably had more influence on the breed than any other, Ch Corydon Qui Vive as she was tail female behind all of the Corydon bitches and behind all of the Corydon dogs.

She was the dam of female Ch Corydon Hippolyta and male Ch Corydon Quinault. I have been unable to find any other bitch that has that amount of influence. Very rare for a bitch to produce a female line and a male line, especially when mated to different sires.  She is twelve generations in direct line from Corydon Clarissa and seventeen generations on the male side from Clarissa. A five generation reverse pedigree of her is quite extraordinary as it covers about 30 pages. So many kennels have her in their line besides the Corydon’s. She was a great favourite of Barbara who took her to countless shows and eventually won her Champion title. If any bitch deserved to be a Champion, it was her.

I have included here the Mejola line back to Ch Witchcraft of Rokeby

DAM LINE of: Mejola Main Event
Sex: F
Date of Birth: 12/06/2021
Colour & Markings:
Owner: Maxine Mellish

DAM
Mejola Main Attraction ……………………..Corydon Winning Factor
Mejola Fatale Attraction ……………………CH Mejola I Am Persuasive
Corydon Femme Fatale at Mejola JW……CH Corydon Once in a Blue Moon
Corydon La Donnarita ……………………..Corydon The Persuader
Corydon Rio Rita …………………………..CH Demelewis Dark Moon Driftin Over Corydon
Corydon Black Czaretta ……………………CH Brooklynson From Rio
Corydon Gold Demelza …………………….CH Corydon Blackcat
Corydon Gold Delilah ………………………CH Alssala Canny Bairn at Corydon
Corydon Hannalara …………………………CH Corydon Gold Star
Corydon Polyhanna JW …………………….CH & Aus CH Little Caesar at Corydon
CH Corydon Hippolyta……………………..CH Bririch Gold Edition
CH Corydon Qui Vive ………………………Corydon King Hector
Corydon Regality of Rokeby ………………Corydon Quo Vadis
CH Romney of Rokeby …………………….CH Royal Ace of Rokeby
CH Witchcraft of Rokeby ………………….Dazzler of Dunsinane

Amazingly these are the only lines that go back to Ch Witchcraft of Rokeby. This most famous of all the bitches in the breed. I find it difficult to understand how this is the last bitch line left. Maybe it is because Witchcraft was mated to a dog that had no close relations to her. In other words, this mating was an outcross.

Corydon Sudden Fancy is the next in the line and she started another line that is right up to the present day.

DAM LINE of: Corydon Cristal Vision
Sex: F
Date of Birth: 25/05/2024
Colour & Markings:
Owner: Corydon

DAM SIRE
Corydon Agatha Cristal With Kelekona ….Corydon The Baron
Corydon Cristal ……………………………….Corydon The Grandmaster
Corydon Blue Fizz JW ……………………….Corydon Winning Factor
Mejola My Blue Heaven For Corydon…CH Demelewis Dark Moon Driftin Over Corydon
Corydon Coracat For Mejola ………………CH Corydon Once in a Blue Moon
Corydon Sudden Fancy …………………….CH Corydon Blackcat
Corydon Gold Demelza …………………….Corydon Sudden Impact
Corydon Gold Delilah 5562BY……………..CH Alssala Canny Bairn at Corydon