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** Elyn arrives in Slovakia - at home with Thorsteinar **
	Left: Lenka, Mick & Jenny with Elyn at London Heathrow Airport on 24 September 2011. Elyn is about to make the journey to Slovakia via Vienna, but takes it all in her stride and makes lots of new friends with airport staff and travellers! Below left: Next day at home in Slovakia with Svetozar Prochotsky (Thorsteinar) and Lenka. Elyn has immediately been accepted into the pack by new friends Anni and Tywi and enjoying her new life in the wonderful Slovakian countryside. Further photos taken at 11 weeks - full of joie de vivre! See also below: photos of sister Willow at 11 weeks
Below: Willowstaff Arcadian Rose 'Willow' at 11 weeks of age	Below: Willowstaff Arcadian Rose 'Willow' at 11 weeks of age
LITTER BORN - 25 JULY 2011 (see details of breeding below*) Unfortunately we lost 5 of the 7 expected puppies from this much anticipated litter out of Bonnie. Happily we did have 2 lovely bitch puppies and these have now gone to their new homes. See above - Elyn arriving in Slovakia and again at 11 weeks and also Willow at 11 weeks  and below photos of the puppies' progress over the weeks.
*Willowstaff Barbed Wire (KC Stud Book) x Chelmstaff Black Jack (KC Stud Book) See Photo of Sire & Dam and Litter Pedigree on 'Latest News' page and Pedigree/Photo of Dam on 'Show Team' page
Above and below: Peter & Yvonne Rhodes' Willowstaff Arcadian Rose (Willow) (above at 3 weeks 5 days old; all below at 7 weeks 6 days) Above and below: Svetozar & Lenka Prochotsky's Willowstaff Boga Lada (Elyn) (above at 3 weeks 5 days old; all below at 7 weeks 6 days) Above: Peter & Yvonne Rhodes' Willowstaff Arcadian Rose (Willow) (pictured at 8 weeks 4 days before leaving for her new home) Above: Svetozar & Lenka Prochotsky's Willowstaff Boga Lada (Elyn) (pictured at 8 weeks 4 days before leaving for her new home)   www.thekennelclub.org.uk/assuredbreederscheme Mick & Jenny Smith and Sally Cox are Kennel Club Assured Breeders All our breeding stock is DNA tested 'Clear' for L2-HGA & HC and is clinically 'unaffected' for PHPV & PPSC See 'Latest News' Page for what to expect when purchasing a Willowstaff puppy
Willowstaff Travelling Man (Tigger) Arrives in Sweden! Thanks to Nicklas, Louise & Ella Nuland (Ballstaffkennel) for giving Tigger such a lovely home ** see latest photos below at 7.5 months - he is one happy boy! **
Above: Tigger with Ella Nuland	Above: Tigger at 10 weeks before leaving the UK
Above: Tigger at 15 weeks	Above: Tigger & Tingeling with Ella Nuland
Above: Tigger at 7.5 months	Above: Tigger at 8 months - now doing show & agility training!

Above: photo of Amber taken at 5½ months of age	Above: photo of Amber taken at 9 months of age
Above: photo of Amber taken at 12 months of age	Above: head shot of Amber taken at 12 months of age (photo: courtesy John Parker - Nettleworth)
Above: photo of Amber taken at 18 months of age	Above: photo of Amber taken at 18 months of age

GENERAL INFORMATION/NOTICE BOARD

Contact: Mick & Jenny Smith (Derbyshire) Email: mailto:willowstaf@aol.com
Tel: +44 (0)1332-781-062; Mobile: 07769-955-260

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Jenny and myself purchased our first Stafford (a bitch) in May 1985, with the assistance of Brian Grattidge of the well known ‘Karjobri’ Kennel Name. She was a standard black/brindle bitch out of Ch Pegs Bolton Trip and Lady Black Bess. Shortly afterwards we purchased a dog out of Ch Karjobri Black Pepper x Moonlight Symphony, born 29 June 1985. Originally intended as pets, we decided to show our dogs on a casual basis and so began a ‘hobby’ which has lasted over twenty five years and taken us all over the country and abroad to America, South Africa, Australia and Slovakia – some hobby?!
 

Needless to say, Beth (Beth Ann of Birkholme) and Buster (Buster of Birkholme) produced our first litter in May 1987 and we kept a bitch and named her Jemicks Black Siren (Becky). Becky did very well in the show ring despite hating every minute, and by then we had got the bug and so we purchased a dog from Bob Evans in the Black Country (now Councillor Bob Evans who has responsibility for the Black Country SBT Museum). Josh was out of Ghengis Arn - a son of Malstaffs Danny Boy and Yankeestaff Fandango [bred by Nancy Malec]) and we aptly named him Birkholme Bovver Boy. Josh was a successful show dog and in 1989 he was mated to Becky which produced the very first litter with the Willowstaff Kennel Name. There were 3 dogs and 2 bitches in the litter and owing to work commitments etc., we didn’t keep anything for ourselves. We did however show two of the puppies: Willowstaff Guardian Spirit (dog) and Willowstaff Dark Crystal (bitch), who both gained RCC’s under June Bennett and Barbara Lacey respectively. These awards were achieved despite the fact that due to circumstances beyond our control, neither was campaigned sufficiently to gain further success. We were fortunate to be in a position to buy back Willowstaff Dark Crystal (Millie) at 4½ years of age and mated her to Moosskel Medicine Man in 1994, which produced Willowstaff Warpaint. Mac (who was jointly owned with Mick’s Father – Frank) was a top-size dog who did a lot of winning and gained his KC Stud Book number. We also kept his sister Willowstaff Wild Child for her bloodlines and future breeding programme. Millie was mated for the second time in 1996 to Spirestaff Jimmy Jazz (who went on to become a Champion) this was the first time he was used at stud and this mating produced Willowstaff Sheer Elegance, a multiple Stud Book winning bitch and also Willowstaff Tommy Gun who was campaigned in Germany and then Spain when his owners Frank and Gerlinde Weyand moved due to the introduction of the German BSL. Tommy Gun gained CAC and CACIB’s in both Germany and Spain.

Jemicks Black Siren (Becky) had one other litter in 1992 and the surviving bitch out of the litter we kept and named her Willowstaff Sugar and Spice (Tilly). Her father was Dustin Dan – a dog of superb conformation and athleticism. Unfortunately Tilly only ever produced one puppy and ultimately had to be spayed. Nevertheless she remains one of our favourite bitches who did a fair amount of winning and lived a long and healthy life until she had to be put to sleep in October 2007 at the ripe old age of 15.5 years.

Willowstaff Wild Child (Annie) was mated in November 1996 to Ch Boldbull Black Jack and produced Willowstaff Night Guardian (D) and Willowstaff Sheer Delight (B). Willowstaff Night Guardian (Jake) was shown to some success but is predominantly a much loved pet, and Sheer Delight (Willow) was given to our good friend and eventual partner in the Willowstaff Kennel Name, Sally. Willow hated showing and was subsequently mated to a son of Bovver Boy in 1998 which produced Willowstaff Sheer Magic (Zola) who resided with Jenny and Mick and who we showed spasmodically, mating her to Ch Polynesian Waka Navigator in 2002.

Prior to mating Zola, Willowstaff Sheer Elegance was mated to Steelyard Double Dash in December 2001, producing one of our most successful bitches: Willowstaff Poetry N Motion JW (Mollie). Mollie was given to Sally Cox and around that time Sally was incorporated into the Willowstaff Kennel Name and is joint owner of all our more recent Staffords, 3 of whom reside with her in Essex. Zola produced a litter of seven in July 2002, 6 of whom were bitches, and we kept another winning bitch: Willowstaff Spellbinder JW.

One must not forget Steelyard Innovator at Willowstaff JW whom we purchased from Simon & Sue Hunt in 1999 out of Ch Boldbull Black Jack (the last litter he sired) x Steelyard Silken Steel. Zac has been a successful show dog gaining his JW/Stud Book and proving himself a most useful Stud Dog, Siring (in addition to our own stock): Tittley & Bosanko's Garwstaff Nats Our Boy JW, RCC, John's Welshstaff Pearley Jack JW, 2 CC's & 1RCC, and a promising young dog: Hall's Willowstaff Black Prince - KC Stud Book (see photo below left).
 

Jason & Julie Hall's Willowstaff Black Prince (Mason) was only campaigned a total of 8 times in 2008; 3 of which were at Champ Shows where he qualified for Crufts 2009, gaining 2nd PGD at both SWKA and Potteries. At the other 5 shows he was placed every time, including: Best Dog, North West SBTC Open Show March 08; Res. Best Dog, Potteries SBTC Open Show Oct 08, Res. Best Dog, Scottish SBTC Open Show Nov 08 and Best Dog/Res. Best in Show, N&DDSBTC Open Dec 08. Mason was awarded 3rd Limit Dog and therefore his KC STUD BOOK at the Notts & Derby District SBT Club Champ Show in July 2009. Thanks to all judges for Mason's placings and to owners Jason & Julie for keeping him in such good condition and allowing us to exhibit him.

Our Congratulations also to John & Tracy Gregory's Willowstaff Shades of Red (Izzy) on gaining her Crufts Qualification again in 2009, this time at 3 Counties Champ Show and good luck to & John & Tracy in the 'big ring' in 2010. Well done to Kevin Tittley & Tina Bosanko for the excellent results gained with Willowstaff New Addition at Garwstaff  (Toby) who had a fantastic start to his showing career which resulted in him gaining his JUNIOR WARRANT/STUD BOOK) and recently being awarded 1st Yearling Dog at both Leeds & Notts & Derby Champ Shows in July 2009. Two puppies are being exhibited from our last litter: Peter & Yvonne Rhodes' Willowstaff Black Marauder (Mason II) who achieved 2nd Puppy Dog at both Leeds & Notts & Derby Champ Shows and therefore his Crufts Qualification 2010 and sister Willowstaff Barbed Tongue (Ziggy) who achieved 1st Minor Puppy, Best Puppy In Show, Best Bitch & Reserve Best In Show on her first outing at the Potteries Limit Show and has since achieved her Crufts Qualification 2010 by winning 1st Puppy Bitch at Leeds under Martin Grimwood (Stormstaff) and subsequently 1st Junior Bitch at LKA Champ Show under Ann Gatenby (Kerrisdale).

For up to date show results and judges' critiques on these and our latest two youngsters: Willowstaff Keep The Faith and Rowellstaff Red Ember at Willowstaff - please refer to the 'Show Team' page and also the 'Latest News' page.
 

Good luck to these and all the other Willowstaffs for 2012, including our youngsters: Willowstaff Keep The Faith (Roxy) and Rowellstaff Red Ember at Willowstaff JW (Amber)

Below is Willowstaff Hot Wired (Leo) taken at 3 years of age owned by Andrew & Julie Coggan	Below is Willowstaff Hot Wired (Leo) taken at 3 years of age owned by Andrew & Julie Coggan
Below is Willowstaff Black Bess (Bess) taken at 12 months of age owned by Jean Collict	Below is Willowstaff Master Cutler (Bruce) taken at 21 months of age owned by Michael Finn

In addition to campaigning dogs Jenny and Mick have been members of a number of Breed Clubs for many years, but our main Club is the
Notts & Derby District SBT Club. Jenny was Club Secretary for the 7 years to March 2009, and has now taken on the roles of Treasurer and News Bulletin Editor and Mick is the Club Chairman and Breed Council Representative. Jenny was also Public Relations Officer for the
SBT Breed Council of Great Britain and NI for the four years 1998-2002.  Mick & Jenny run the monthly Notts & Derby Members' Handling Classes at Shirland Village Hall, Nr. Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 6BB from 8pm on the 3rd Monday in the month (excluding December). Licenced Bar - Raffle - Matches in June & November with invited Judge & Prizes/Free Buffet/Bumper Raffle. Annual membership: Jan-Dec is £4 single & £5 joint.  Anyone interested or for more information please contact us mailto:willowstaf@aol.com or Tel: 01332 781062.

In 2007 Jenny was approached by the late Alec Waters (Ashtock) along with 4 other breed experts to write chapters in a NEW SBT BOOK.  The book was published in February 2008 as part of the Best of Breed range of books entitled: "Staffordshire Bull Terrier Edited by Alec Waters" (The Pet Book Publishing Company: ISBN 1-906305-00-5 RRP: £12.99) and Jenny is proud to have been part of this project.  Jenny is the author of Chapter 1 (Getting to Know The Staffordshire Bull Terrier) and part-author of Chapter 6 - 'Training & Socialisation', having written about 'New Challenges' (see page 104 to the end of this Chapter).  Other Breed specialists who contributed chapters are Alec Waters (Ashtock), Jim Beaufoy (Wyrefare), Clare Lee (Constones) and Norma Vann (Vanoric).  The book is aimed at the informed enthusiast and new SBT pet owner and we can thoroughly recommend it. 

We have both pursued judging careers and are now both on the A1 List of Judges. Mick judged his first Championship show in 1999 at the SBT Club of South Wales (Bitches). He has since judged Dogs at Notts & Derby at their Diamond Jubilee Show in 2002 and Western SBT Society (Bitches) in 2004. Jenny judged her first Championship Show in 2005 (Bitches at Potteries SBT Club), and Mick has also judged abroad in America and South Africa and both Jenny and Mick had the great honour of judging the Inaugural Championship Shows of the SBT Club of Northern New South Wales Inc., in Australia in September 2005. 

In 2006 both Jenny and Mick judged at General Championship Shows:- Mick at Leeds in July and Jenny at Midland Counties in October.   See 'Show Photos' for photos of these and other shows.  Mick and Jenny also had the pleasure of judging in South Africa in 2008 - Mick at the Northern Tshwane Show and Jenny at the North West Club Show, which was yet another very memorable and wonderful experience. Mick last judged Bitches in the UK at the Potteries SBT Club Championship Show on Saturday, 19 July 2008.  Jenny last judged Bitches in the UK at the Notts & Derby District SBT Club Championship Show on 26 July 2009. Both Mick & Jenny had the great honour of judging the inaugural 'Joseph Dunn Tribute' Championship Show on 29 August 2009 in Bratislava, Slovakia - this was the first time UK judges had been invited to judge Staffords at a SBT Breed Club Championship Show in Slovakia. Mick judged dogs and Jenny judged bitches - see 'Show Photos' page for photos from the Show and above link for 2010 judges.

On 3 July 2010 we had  the great honour of judging the Swedish Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club Championship show in Gränna, near Gothenburg. Mick judged the dogs and Jenny the bitches - the show was a spectacular event with a record entry. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and thank the Club for their wonderful hospitality and the exhibitors for the sporting way in which decisions were received. See 'Show Photos' page for further information and photos of the principal winners.

Jenny judged both sexes twice in 2011: in Dortmund, Germany at a Champ Show on 15 October 2011 and in the UK at the Midland Counties Canine Society Champ Show at the end of October. Mick judged both sexes in Norway on 27 November 2011.  We were both honoured to have been given the opportunity to judge these shows and in particular the wonderful hospitality extended to us by our overseas hosts. 

So twenty seven years on and here we are, still showing and thankful for all the memories and experiences the show world has been kind enough to present us with, and may the Willowstaff Kennel Name continue to flourish.