Ashtead

Designed & Maintained by
‘Emmsmoor’

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Arthur Wardle's "On The Hill Side" engraved by O Butterworth for Rawdon Lees' 'The Collie or Sheep Dog'

Established 1966

photo: Guiver

Ashtead has been used by a variety of different people across at least three groups, but it was first used, and earned its greatest accolades when attached to Collies between the two world-wars, for this reason the ‘Rough Collie Breed Council’ has arranged a special dispensation with the Kennel Club which ensures it will never be attached to any future Collies.

Protected Affixes

Alphington : Ashtead : Carramar : Coverdale : Eden : Ladypark : Mariemeau : Mywicks : Ugony : Westcarrs

Mr Roberts, a founder member of the
London and Provincial Collie Club, had
served an extended apprenticeship before
registering his then address as his
Ashtead kennel name in 1920, success
quickly followed.

Possibly now best remembered for the
beautifully headed Ch Ashtead Applause,
the inspiration for the popular Royal
Doulton Collie figurine, although during
in his lifetime it was his feminine bitches
which drew the greatest acclaim. Unusually
for the times Richard Roberts was always a
breeder first supplying top class specimens to many of the more commercially minded kennels who frequently hide their charges’ origins with a name change.

Rarely campaigning his Collies much beyond their title, the home bred sable and white dog, Lucason of Ashtead, arguably brought the kennel its greatest show achievement when, entered right through the classes, he gained the Challenge Certificate, at the tender age of 8 months, from Mr W. W. Stansfield, annexing the Collie Club Challenge Trophy for Best In Show .

Within days Mr Stansfield, accompanied by six Collies including Lucason’s litter brother, now named Laund Loyalty, were on their way to America, where on joining Mrs Ilch’s Bellhaven kennel Loyalty wrote his name in the history books by becoming the only Collie to win Best In Show at Westminster, New York, USA. Loyalty was immediately retired from the show ring so never gained his American title, however Lucason did after following his bother later the same year.

Lucason of Ashtead - sable and white dog born 12 May 1928, bred by Mr R. H. Roberts, who piloted him to Best in Show at the British Collie Club Championship Show 1929. By Lucas of Ashtead ex Jean of Ashtead, exported to America in 1929 where he acquired the suffix o'Bellhaven before gaining his American title and Best of Breed at Westminster 1930

Ch Ashtead Violetta - tricolour bitch born 17 March 1929 owner/bred by Mr R. H. Roberts by Ashtead Applause ex Jean of Ashtead - winner of 4 Challenge Certificates, the first three at Crufts - LKA and The Kennel Club Show 1930

Ch Ashtead Applause

winner of 4 Challenge Certificates
and model for the Royal Doulton Collie figurine

Ch Ashtead Violetta

Ch Ashtead Applause’s daughter ex Jean of Ashtead
one of many feminine champion bitches,
both sable and white and tricolour, bred by Mr Roberts

Am Ch Lucason of Ashtead o’Bellhaven

winner of the Collie Club Challenge Trophy for Best in Show at the
British Collie Club Championship Show 1929,
before join the Bellhaven kennel where
he gained his American title.

Images donated by ‘Emmsmoor’

courtesy of Rough Collie Archive