Officers and Committee

Chairman: Hilary Kerr
Secretary: Karen Angier
Treasurer: David Angier

As a friendly, welcoming club we felt it only right that when you visit our site you get to know a little about not just the CLUB but also the PEOPLE – so here is a brief introduction to our hardworking committee members and how they ended up where they are today! We work as a team and despite the hard work we have a lot of fun too.

Our aim for 2008 is to continue to work to the aims of the club since its foundation in 1979 - ‘to preserve the working attributes of the breed, to encourage responsible ownership, to endeavour to safeguard the breed from exploitation by breeders, the promotion, general care and well being of the breed both on the field and in the show ring’. To that I will add just one thing – and I know the whole committee will agree with me here – we are all of us here for one reason – our love of the Border Collie.

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Chairman: Hilary Kerr
It all started a VERY long time ago – on a day when my younger brother was scared by a dog. My parents, being sensible people, decided that to help him get over it, the best thing to do was to get one. And so Fred arrived - he was a collie x poodle, hairy, lovable and about a year old; he rapidly became my brother's constant companion and lived to a grand old age. From then on dogs were part of my life, my first pedigree dog was a Lhasa Apso, pet name Pema; she was followed some years later by a collie x spaniel and then a Working Sheepdog - my love of the border collie started then – and now Border Collies share our lives.

Layla was the first and the foundation of my lines; she got me started in showing, agility, and sheepwork and we even had a hilarious go at Flyball! Sadly she died in May 2007 – a very special girl who left a large hole in my heart. The line continues though and hopefully there will be a great grandchild of hers in the ring in 2008!

I seem to spend most weekends at shows or attending seminars and meetings. I have been on the committee of SBCC since 1997, and was Vice Chairman before taking on the role of Chairman.

So, that's who I am now. But how did I start in dogs? Well it all goes back to that dog called Fred! – and now, almost as if things have come full circle I once again have a dog called Fred!!

Secretary: Karen Angier
My father was a farmer and Border Collies played a large part in my childhood. I got my first German Shepherd in my late teens – from there I moved into the world of Obedience. I went on numerous courses, some for the weekend and sometimes for a whole week, and worked with some wonderful people – the late John Fisher, Roy Hunter, John Rogerson and Ian Dunbar, and from the USA, Martha Jordan, Gail Fisher and Linda Tellington.

When my last GSD went to the Rainbow Bridge, I did some research into Belgian Shepherds and from there moved into the world of showing and eventually gained my first ticket in Belgians. Other Belgians became part of my family – and so did David. My first words to him were, “Do you like dogs?” He replied “I had one once.” By now he was hooked as well!

One day a little red merle Border Collie, Frank, arrived on the scene, just as a pal. So things had come full circle and Border Collies were back in my life. At the same time, David and I were looking for another breed and were introduced to Australian Shepherds. I had no intention of showing Frank, but somehow he just got entered. Life is funny, and because of showing him, I have renewed some old friendships from the German Shepherd days.

For many years, I ran a dog training school with a friend. I have served on other committees and I judge all the breeds with which I have been involved and have enjoyed every appointment. The most exciting was judging Australian Shepherds at Crufts in 2003, where my Best of Breed went on to be shortlisted in the Group.

We have been lucky enough to have had some success in each breed we been involved with. Our family now consists of Border Collies, Aussies and one Tervueren. When people ask me how long have you been in dogs, I say, “A lifetime!” But I’m not telling you just how long!

Treasurer: David Angier
It is 30 years since I had my first dog, but only since I met Karen have I became involved with showing, training and living with more than one dog. In those early years I attended a variety of one day and residential courses organised by, amongst others, John Rogerson, John Uncle, Roy Hunter and Gail Fisher, and The Anglo American Dog Training Association. These gave me real insight into the behavioural aspects and training skills associated with our canine friends. I also helped Karen to run her dog-training club in Chatham.

Karen took me to my first Championship Show at Bath - she was showing Belgian Shepherds. I stood around generally helping, holding dogs and fetching tea and also watching the Briards. I remember one particular handler running around the ring in a very strange manner - I was heard to say "you will never get me in the ring if I have to run like that!" But it wasn’t long before I was persuaded. My first show dog was ‘Flight’ – a beautiful Groenendal and she will always be very special to me. Amongst her many achievements were two Reserve Tickets and the last CC at LKA before the four Belgian Shepherds varieties were amalgamated - a decision which has since been reversed. Sadly an accident ended her show career, but I continued to show our other Belgians and won Best Puppy in breed at Crufts and went to the European speciality show in France.

Some years ago we got our first Border Collie and then, with the help of our good friends, our first Australian Shepherd, Tucker, whom I handled throughout his career to numerous Best of Breeds at Open and Championship shows. We qualified for the Kent Super Match several times, winning Best Veteran in Show. Our Tucker went to the Rainbow Bridge in 2006 and is sadly missed. I have also been showing Louis, a fabulous Blue Merle who has won several Best in Shows and qualified each year for the Kent Super Match. He has been awarded his Show Certificate of Merit. He is now a Veteran and lightly shown.

I have twice attended the National Australian Shepherd show in America and the All Winners Show in Amsterdam. I am a member of several societies and clubs and for some time was Treasurer of the National Australian Shepherd Association.

Sarah Barwick (Agility Trainer)
Sarah has been a member of SBCC for many years and has recently returned to the committee after a well earned break! She is one of our agility trainers at Faversham and we welcome her back to the committee.

Terry Condra

Carol Curtis
I don’t come from an animal orientated background but managed to persuade my parents to let me have my first dog when I was ten, she was a little Manchester Terrier who unfortunately died at two years. My second dog came after I was married when we acquired a mongrel from Battersea, which was a complete disaster – even after castration we had so many problems he became a liability and had to be put down. After this rather shaky start with dogs our first Border Collie was bought from a Cattery in 1968 and it is the only breed we have owned since.

My main interest for many years has been obedience and watching sheep dog trials whenever possible although I have dabbled in training other disciplines. I entered my first obedience competition in 1972 with my Border Collie and was hooked. I have worked up to C and judge all classes. I also take training classes. My husband Ernie also competed in the past and still does some stewarding. We have also been involved on committees and the running of shows in some form from the early days. I seem to have spent a lot of time in kitchens so I suppose I’m mainly the catering side but have been involved with most aspects of running shows.

I acquired my lovely Macey from Corinne Geering four years ago with no intention of showing; well the best laid plans as they say. I shall be showing my third Border Collie this year, so you could say I’m interested! I have enjoyed the first four years greatly and hope to become more involved on the breed side and with the club.

Terry Felstead (Agility Section co-ordinator)

Corinne Geering (Puppy List Co-ordinator)
I had a poodle as my first dog, I was 3 years old, and desperate for a German Shepherd, or Alsatian as they were then called. I finally got one when I was 12, this was the age it was decided that I would be able to look after a dog. This breed is, and always will be, my first love, but as age and creeping senility is catching me up, I find the Border Collies much easier to handle.

The first Border Collie entered my parent’s home in 1972, it came from obedience lines, but this was my Mum’s dog, not mine. I still had my GSDs. In 1980 I joined BAGSD with my beautiful shepherd Jossie. In 1990 we moved to Surrey (just down the road) I joined Warlingham DTC with my first collie, he taught me a lot, especially patience! My first “show” collie arrived in 1999, I had a little success in showing her, and then decided that I would like a boy to show, no seasons and hair falling out... I had heard of a litter in North Wales, which had some promising boys and that was really where it all started. Now I’m tentatively heading back towards obedience with my latest collie. We shall see what happens.....

For the past 8 years I have been Secretary of Warlingham Dog Training Club, based in Surrey. This is a very hands on club, having 11 obedience, 2 ringcraft and 4 agility classes a week. I was very honoured to be asked to join Southern Border Collie Club Committee and I’m looking forward to helping the Club with it’s continued success.

Robert Harlow
I was born into a dog family, my grandfather bred Fox Terriers and my father Chows. I attended my first show in 1971 and have been going ever since.

My interest in dogs always has been and will remain varied; I have had many different breeds over the years, but since the mid 70s have always had Border Collies. I have always competed in multiple disciplines but am probably better known in obedience where I have worked dogs in Ch Test C and award CCs.

I first showed Border Collies when they were first accepted as a breed and qualified two dogs that first year; I first judged the breed back in 1989 and have continued ever since.

I am a member of the Kennel Club and currently sit on the Judges Working Party (Working), WTOA sub-committee, Obedience Council and I am a board member of the Kennel Club Accreditation of Dog Training Instructors and Behaviourists scheme; I also have responsibility for the Obedience World Cup at Crufts.

I have sat on many committees over the years in many roles and have had responsibility for running many events. I was surprised to be asked if I would like to become a member of the SBCC committee, and I hope that I will be of some use to the club.

Iain Lewis (Discover Dogs Co-ordinator & Membership co-Secretary)
My family has always owned dogs and the first one I remember as a very young child was a Boxer named Patsy. This was followed by a Foxhound called Willum, who we had for over fifteen years. At the age of seventeen I obtained my first Border Collie, Joey, who became famous as one of the dogs trained by the late Barbara Woodhouse....Sit! I lost Joey when he was just eighteen months old with severe epilepsy. But my heart was now with the breed.

Border Collies brought my wife and me together. She was my original agility trainer and I purchased my other dog, Owen, from her. Little did I know I was going to adopt three more the following year!

I am in my final year studying for my KCAI and have passed my ACAI exams. I am a qualified Border Collie Breed judge and also judge agility and flyball (BFA and Crufts). I instruct agility regularly each week at my agility club, Cranbourne, and also take ringcraft classes on a rota basis. I write an agility column for the magazine Freedom of Spirit and have done a few “specials” on Police, Fire, Mine Detection Dogs and Dogs of the Titanic.

My role on the committee is Discover Dogs Co-ordinator - a job I have been doing for the past four years. It is one of the Southern Border Collie Club’s main “meeting the public” events.

Melanie Lewis (Membership co-Secretary)
I fell in love with the Border Collie at a very young age - it was always the only dog for me. I was not allowed to have a dog until I was 10 - actually that's not that old really, but at that age it seems like forever! She was a collie/lab cross and you guessed it, black and white. I did a bit of obedience, but not seriously. She died the year I qualified as an Optometrist. My next dog was a pedigree BC - I was going to do obedience, but Felix Cosme introduced me to showing and soon I was hooked. Bella was good all rounder and I had a lot of fun with her in obedience, showing and agility, and learned so much.

I met my husband, Iain, through agility - I was his instructor! He had a puppy from my first litter with Bella's half sister Stelle - I had to marry him to get him back! Iain introduced me to flyball and I also got an interested in heel work to music, first with Cloud - so life is very busy for us and our six collies. Showing is still my main love, and the best day in my life, (other than my wedding day, of course,) was winning the CC with Hesky at LKA – dreams can come true!

Kim Sermon
Coming from a "doggy" family, I have never known a time without dogs (and cats for that matter). Our first dog was a collie x called Chiv, who was followed by two rescue dogs from Battersea - Gazza (a GSD cross) and Sedge (a Heinz 57). All were great fun to grow up with although a little lacking in discipline and obedience compared with the dogs we have now.

We got our first family border collies in 2002 and now have four (with the fifth due in the next few weeks) plus a rescue working collie. Their names are Bud, Merlot, Chablis, Scrumpy and Jack - spot the trend here! - although the new addition will be called Taz to break with tradition.

I now also have a border collie (Oz) and working collie (Ruby) of my own, and between my mum, sister and myself we ensure that all seven collies are regulars at agility and flyball training and flyball competitions (under the FourPaws Racing name run by Terry Condra). Ruby and Oz also attend Obedience classes once a week.

I have worked on the BC stand at Discover Dogs with Iain Lewis for the last two years, and two of my parents' collies (Bud and Merlot) have also put in an appearance on the stand.

I spend four days per week at agility, obedience and flyball training, with additional weekend competitions as scheduled - so you could say that it dominates my leisure time but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Julie Waterman
‘When you’re ready – GO - over - climb – flat - no silly’. Oh sorry my name is Julie and that was Beth on an agility course! My interest in the Border Collie started when I went to a show with my Jack Russell terrier and had a go at agility. Then, in 1991, I got my Sharn - she was a working sheepdog, she taught me obedience and agility and I also started showing her at companion dog shows. I got my first Border Collie in January 1996 from a local breeder in Maidstone; we dabbled in showing, obedience, agility; she is also able to search for drugs and is a protection dog.

In June 2000 I got a blue merle bitch from the same breeder - she is a sweet loving little lady, a good obedience dog as long as when you are in the ring she knows no one outside as she loves people! I bred from her in 2001 and kept a black & white bitch, Beth, who is my agility dog - she would be great with a better handler! Then there is my Dream, she is Beth’s daughter, her one and only puppy, who was born in 2004. She has made one of my dreams come true by qualifying for Crufts in 2006.