I bought my first Australian Terrier in 1982.

I had gone to buy a Cairn Terrier and ended up with a breed I'd never heard of! I saw the parents but as they were "kennel dogs" I really had no idea how this animal would turn out. Eventually the breeder encouraged me to show him...I had NEVER shown a dog in my life and the rest as they say is history.

That first dog, Jamie, became Ch. Marchbank Tell A Story. I went on to buy a red bitch from the Ralindi Kennels, then based in Glasgow, Ralindi I'm A Lady of Millvalley who was to become my foundation bitch and all the Millvalleys can be traced back to her. My affix was granted to me by the Kennel Club in 1985. At that time you had to earn your affix, it was not simply granted on application.

I had moderate success over the years winning CC's but another champion eluded me till I imported Dinky Di Southern Cross from the U.S.A.
After completing her obligatory six months in quarantine she quite quickly became a U.K. Champion and handled by Richard Allen on most occasions she won 22 CC's, the bitch record by the age of 5.
She then temporarily retired to have the first of her two litters.
Sam, as she was called was the very first Australian Terrier to win a Terrier Group at a general Championship Show and attained other Group placings. She was the first Terrier Veteran Group winner at a Championship Show when this group was introduced to some of the shows. Apart from winning she produced the first U.K. bred Group winner, Ch. Millvalley Heather Belle and also the first red Group winner in her daughter from her second litter Ch. Millvalley Monopoly at Silhill. Most of today's winning Australian Terriers have her in their pedigrees. Her descendants are also currently shown in Scandinavia and the U.S.A.

Ch. Millvalley Heather Belle produced three champions from her first litter to Ch. Sherex Shiraz, namely Ch. Millvalley Firecracker, Int. Ch. Millvalley Styled in Red at Silhill and Ch. Millvalley Diva who currently has 13 CC's and recently returned to the show ring after maternity duties to win CAC, CACIB and BOB at the Eurodog Show in Belgium.

A daughter of Ch. Millvalley Firecracker, Ch. Millvalley Red Ruby has 6 CC's and a Group 4 at Paignton Ch. Show and also RBIS at The Australian Terrier Club of Great Britain Ch. Show. Her brother, Ch./Am Ch. Millvalley Red Rufus is currently on loan to Julie Seaton of the Temora Kennels in Wisconsin USA and is the first U.K. champion Aussie to become an American Champion. He is also proving to be a prolific Sire.

I have been Top Breeder over several years last winning in 2008 and this year (2009) I own the Top Brood Bitch in the Breed.
I feel I have come a long way since my "Chance" purchase in 1982.

Sheila