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The Travistock affix
was registered in1991 under my maiden name of Miss Jill Lunt.
Our History of working and showing dogs goes back to 1984 when
I was successfully showing rottweilers and competing in
working tests, I qualified many rottweilers into the UK stud
book which gives them eligibility to be shown at Crufts for
life.
I also bred one of the top winning Champion Rottweiler's in
Barbados CH Travistock Jack Frost of Elthor owned by DR Wayne
Welsh (Dr Welsh also owned many top winning Akitas including
Barbados CH Redwitch Rave On). Jack had a very successful
Career wining Reserve Best In Show & Best Puppy In Show at the
Barbados Kennel Club All Breeds Championship show in 2000
Under respected all round judge Dr
Monica Boggia Black.
My first Akita, I rescued
Louise's Way To Travistock
in 1994 please take time to read
Kiaya's
Story. Kiaya lived a happy life at Travistock
With her Best friend Gizmo, Travistock Aramis ( Rottweiler)
until she was 12 years old. We NEVER re home our older dogs
they stay with us 'till they pass away. I purchased my
foundation bitch from Maria Cockerham in 1995
Yakuza
Patience at Travistock. She was 12 months old
and had been consistently winning at Championship shows When
Maria decided to let her go. Rose was just what I wanted as a
brood, Size type and movement. Her sire was the outstanding
American import CH Goshens Bigger is Better At Redwitch.
When Rose was ready to be mated Maria and I went back to the
Redwich Kennel, Rose's Grand Father was AM CH /CH Goshen's
Heir Apparent At Redwitch one of the most impressive Akita's I
have ever seen. I contacted Dave & Jenny Killilea and booked
there new import Ch /Nor Ch Redwitch Dancin In The Dark 'Rave'
Unfortunately when I arrived Rave had hurt his back and was
not available to use, Dave and Jenny however had a young male
Am CH Redwitch Billy Big Time who was soon to be exported to
the states and they agreed to let me use him.
The mating was a success the first Travistock Akita's where
born!!. I kept a bitch
Travistock Touch Of Class
(Suki) Billy went out to the States and took his American
title in two weekends on the Florida Circuit, the first
Redwitch dog to be exported to the U.S.A..
Suki had a very consistent showing career winning at
Championship show level she won a reserve C.C. at Richmond
Championship show in 2000 under Jenny Killilea, she then went
on to compete at the Akita Association Top Akita of the year
getting through to the quarter final under Top breed
specialist Mrs Tracy Morgan (Rossimon Akita's).
When looking for a suitable mate for Suki I had become very
good friends with Mrs Susan Sadler Keskai Akita's, I chose CH
Keskai First Class an outstanding male who was an Heir
Apparentent son, although I was unable to keep anything from
this litter the puppy's where consistent to type and sound
moving dogs.In the meantime Susan had gone to Redwitch to use
there young dog Ch Redwitch Feel Free to Stare ( JC) over her
young Champion bitch Keskai Witches Brew ( Pumpkin was offered
to me as a puppy but I had to say no as I had just bred Suki
and had no room looking back a really bad mistake!!) JC is
line bred to the dog I went to use originally all those years
before Redwitch Dancin In the Dark. Susan kept two puppy's out
of this litter Basha CH Keskai Best Of British & Bam Bam CH
Keskai Maid In England (Later to be owned by Ruthdales
Akita's) I followed this young dogs progress at the shows and
just loved his sound movement and breed type I asked Sue to
use him at stud he had not yet won his title and was only just
12 months old.the year 2001.
The mating took and we had 4 puppies 1 bitch & 3 dogs I kept a
bitch Stella
Travistock Classic Cliché.
At Stella's debut show the Akita Association Speciality she
won Best Puppy Bitch and Reserve Best Bitch In Show being
beaten for best Puppy In show by her half brother Keskai King
Of the Ring all this at 6 months old!! Stella won Dog world
/Purina Puppy Stakes at SKC 2002 Overall beating 10,000 dogs
according to press Stella won out of all her qualifying
classes being in limit at 18 months old!! when entry's where
in there hundreds Top bitches at the time taking tickets at
most shows where CH Buckridges American Dream owned by Chris
McClain and Matthew Bostock & CH Redwitch Stare If You Dare.
 It
was as a Veteran that Stella really came into her own, winning
numerous Best Veteran In Breed Awards at both Speciality &
Championship Shows. In 2009 at Darlington Championship
Show Stella was awarded Best Veteran in The Utility Group.
In 2001 I met my husband Peter Hopkins I had been training his
English Springer spaniel for gun work but unfortunately Jack
was gun
shy to Peter was unable to shoot over him. So soon Peter was
introduced to my hobby of dog showing. We where married in
2002 and it was more like a dog show, I had more dog handlers
there than they have at a normal champ show these days. Susan
being one of my bridesmaids. Instead of confetti I was
showered with dog food!!.
We concentrated on showing Stella till she was nearly 4 years
old and after winning over 50 classes and still not picking up
any tickets we decided to mate her, we went to Ruthdales
kennels owned by Mathew Bostock and mated her to CH Ruthdales
Regime Change after three seasons and no puppy's Stella then
had a pyometra, luckily this was treated with drugs and she
was not spayed but the vet thought that she would now be
barren, I was devastated my line gone. I was so disheartened I
had 18 months break from showing ( had 3 holidays abroad
though) Blackpool show was coming up as it was local I thought
I'd take Stella for a day out.
At the show I saw Sue we had not spoken for a while as people
just go there separate ways. Sue had told me about a litter
that she had on the ground out of Anshee Heart Stopper for
Keskai (Willow) I knew that willow had been formally owned by
Rachel Hawkins (now Rachel Corr) and had seen her being shown
as a puppy. Rachel had had two Travistock dogs from me
in the past Neo who was stolen from her property & Mai (Travistock
Really Rich at Geventer) who also gained entry
to the UK Stud book.
Sue persuaded me to come and see the pups on my day off there
sire was Basha (CH Keskai Best of Britsh). When Sue let the
pups out this big silver and white puppy came bounding out
towards me she was the image of Suki the bitch I had lost 12
months previous. Susan was keeping a dog and offered me pick
bitch I couldn't say no. So Star
CH Keskai Starlett at Travistock
came to live at Travistock. Peter nearly left me he didn't
want another dog and this put a strain on our marriage (he
would now get rid of me before Star)
At Star's first show show she won Best Puppy In Breed and
Reserve Best Of Breed the next week at her First Champ show
BUBA she won 1st Minor Puppy Bitch and Best Puppy Bitch In
Breed beaten for best puppy by her Brother Keskai Lion Heart.
At Manchester Champ Show the judge was breed specialist Mrs
Sheena Clarke she did it again winning Minor puppy bitch then
Best Puppy Bitch in Breed again beaten by her brother Keskai
Lion Heart for Best Puppy In Breed. Our next show was WELKS it
was Star's birthday 12 months on the day, she won Puppy Bitch
then in the Challenge won the Reserve Challenge Certificate
and Best Puppy in Breed!!. Handled by Sue.
 By
flook Stella came into season with a lot of soul searching we
decided to take the chance and try and mate her. I rang Dave
and Jenny who knew the history of this bitch and that is was a
last ditch attempt to get my line back. Redwitch do not allow
there dogs for public stud and they very kindly let me use CH/AMCH
Redwitch Heaven Can Wait I phoned Dave on day 12 we had one
good mating for 10 minutes and 63 days later in November 2007
we had a litter of 9 by caesarean section 5 dogs and 4
Bitches. I had to have a bitch but I couldn't keep my eye's of
a big fawn dog, so I ended up keeping a dog and a bitch.
Travistock It's Show
Time and
Travistock Classic Cache.
We also exported a bitch
Travistock Angel Eyes to Greatlands kennels in
Australia.
Star is jointly handled by myself and Susan, Star went on to
win 6 strait Junior classes. At Bath 2008 on a very cold wet
windy day under breed specialist Mrs Maureen Thompson Star
wins Post Graduate Bitch with Susan then went into the
challenge and won the Bitch Challenge Certificate and Best
Opposite Sex. Star continued her winning streak winning 5
limit classes but ticket and reserve going either side of us
after a coat blow she came back out looking unstoppable. We
won limit at Richmond then at
 Darlington
Championship show 2009 under Breed Specialist Mrs Tracy Morgan
show we won Post Graduate Dog with Todd (Travistock It's Show
Time) Then Sue won Limit Bitch with Star I handled Stella In
Veteran we won that to. The stunning CH Redwitch Lap Dancer
won Open ( bitch breed record holder) The ground was terrible
pot holes everywhere Star moved like a train the judge was
looking between the three bitches Star, Diva and Stella for
the bitch ticket as the judge moved toward Sue I felt Sick,
she had no hesitation in handing her the bitch ticket!! With
Diva getting the reserve. Star then had to challenge for B.O.B
Dave Chapman's young Brindle dog Kitsune Doctor No he also was
now on two Tickets (he now has his title) The two dogs moved
around together and Star got the Best Of Breed Stella then
went on to win best veteran in breed and won the Veteran
Utility Group with Star being short listed in the Utility
Group.
The next week is was Belfast Champ show I was travelling on my
own to handle Star and Todd but as she handled so well for Sue
we decided Sue to come with us. We arrived at Belfast Todd was
entered in Open and won third in his class Star went on to win
Limit again Tickets either side. the whole judging was
finished in 45 minuets!! .
 Two
weeks later our next show was Driffield under Top all rounder
Mr Peter Jolly I handled Todd and got 2nd Post Graduate then
it was Star's turn, her last Class in Limit as she had had her
7 wins and she won the class, CH Redwitch Lap Dancer ( Diva)
won open, history repeating it's self. In the challenge all
the bitches where moved individually then he called Diva out
to the middle of the ring I
thought it was all over, he then went over to Sue and asked
her into the middle of the ring. He moved them side by side
I've never seen that before. Then put them back in the line up
he went to the table picked up the CC and reserve CC walked
strait to Sue and handed her the ticket the crowd went mad
Star 31/2 years old, thousands of pounds, thousands of
miles,16 years we had our first UK CHAMPION!! Not only did she
take the bitch ticket she beat the no1 Akita Ruthdales Ready
To Rule for Best Of Breed!!
After a very long day we waited for the group and not to be
out done we won reserve in the Utility group the winner being
the Dalmation Breed record Holder.
On October 29th 2009 we mated Star to Todd later that night my
world turned upside down my eldest son Kyle went out to
MacDonald's on this motor bike and tragically died in a road
traffic accident he was 18years old my best friend,
Dogs where the last thing on my mind but they helped me keep
sane. I had promised pick bitch from this mating to one of the
top kennels in Australia
Shinano Akita's Julia kept me informed about
Katana the bitch I had exported and was trying to buy her,
Julia got the phone call saying he was selling her and she
flew out strait away to bring her home in December 09. Julia
got Katana home she was told she would never get her into the
ring. In less than four months of hard work and a lot of love
Katana. Travistock Angel Eyes takes her Australian
Championship title a second Champion for Travistock.
In April 2010 we exported Julia's new puppy
Travistock Dark Velvet she has taken Australia
by storm winning Best Puppy In show's and numerous group wins
as well, we have no doubt she will title easily.
As well as showing dogs I judge Akitas and Rottweilers as a
breed
specialist at open show level. I manage
Dog Training UK
I have to thank my friends at
Keskai
Akitas,
Redwitch Akitas.Rossimon
Akitas
Anshee Akitas,
Minioso Akitas, for
without your help and your
wonderful dogs I would not have the sound typy dogs I have
today. |
