UK Debut

Sylvester arrived from Australia in November 2008 fresh from winning his Australian title at just 19 months of age and he made the perfect start with Best in Show at Burton on Trent CS on his debut. 2 weeks later at his first Championship show (LKA 2008), he took the Reserve CC from the Yearling class under Breed Specialist Felix Cosme.

He ended 2008 in style, by winning Reserve Best in Show from a huge entry at the Sleaford & District CS Christmas open show.

Awards

2009 started with another Reserve CC from Yearling, this time at the Midlands Border Collie Club Breed Championship show, under Breed Specialist Irene Kiff. On his second birthday Sylvester moved up into Open Dog and shortly afterwards, in April, he was awarded his first UK CC at Working and Pastoral Breeds Association of Wales - Judge Mike Vincent.

This was the start of a terrific run of major awards over the summer months of 2009, which saw Sylvester achieving his UK title in style. By the end of 2009, he had won 6 CC’s  and had also gained 4 Group placing’s. During 2010 he continued his winning ways and he added a further 10 CC’s over the course of the year (including 8 consecutive CC and BoB awards !!). Along the way he also gained 5 more Group placing’s which included 2 very special Best in Group awards, as well as winning Reserve Best in Show at Richmond Championship Show.

After a 6 month break, Sylvester returned to the ring in April 2011 and in the year to date he has added 9 more CC’s, 3 more Best in Group awards and a group 4 placing. He has also won, at Richmond Championship Show, his first All-Breeds BEST IN SHOW award and also a BEST IN SPECIALTY SHOW award at the West of England BCC Championship show.

Other highlights in 2011, have been his success as the winner of the “Border Collie of the Year 2010” contest hosted by the West of England Border Collie Club in May 2011 and also his wins at the Welsh KC Championship Show in August 2011, where he was the overall winner of the Eukanuba Champion Stakes heat.

He has now been awarded 25 CCs in total (21 with Best of Breed), and also 9 RCCs. By virtue of these wins Sylvester has finished “Top Border Collie in the UK, in 2009, 2010 and in 2011". He is also now confirmed as the #1 ranked dog in the Pastoral Group in 2011.

His CCs have been awarded by Mike Vincent, Gary Gray, Lynne Salt (a special thank you for this third and Crowning CC !), Jeff Luscott, Colin Bobbett, Derek Allsop, Doug Collier, Jeff Horswell, Pat Lister, Jack Bispham, Geoff Duffield, Stuart Mallard, Sandra Wigglesworth, Jean Lanning JP, Nick Grosvenor, Jeff Thomas, Pam Etheredge, Irene Kiff, Karina Le Mare, Mick Taylor, Karen Angier, Alan McCord, Robert Gregory, Judith Gregory and Josie Large.

Pastoral Group

He has been a fantastic ambassador for the breed in the Pastoral Group ring where he has been awarded 13 group placing’s, in just 19 appearances :-

In 2009

• Group 2 at Three Counties A. S. - Judge Rodney Oldham
• Group 3 at Driffield A. S. - Judge Gordon Rual
• Group 4 at South Wales K. A. - Judge Kari Wilberg
• Group 2 at Midland Counties C. S. - Judge Marion Spavin

In 2010

• Group 3 at Paignton & Dist. Fanciers Assoc. - Judge Bob Gregory
  
• Group 2 at Bournemouth C. A. - Judge Jean Lanning, JP
• Group 1 at Richmond Championship D. S. - Judge Rodney Oldham
• Group 1 at Darlington Championship D. S. - Judge Tamás Jakkel
  
• Group 3 at South Wales K. A. - Judge Meg Purnell-Carpenter

In 2011

• Group 1 at Southern Counties C.S. - Judge Vic Salt
• Group 1 at East of England A. S. - Judge Kevin Young
• Group 4 at Paignton & Dist. Fanciers Assoc. - Judge Peter Bailey
• Group 1 at Richmond Championship D. S. - Judge Jeff Luscott

“In Show Awards”

Sylvester has also made his mark in the “main ring” in winning :-

• Reserve Best in Show at Richmond Championship D. S. 2010 - Judge Tom Johnston
• Best in Show at East of England A. S. Champ. Show 2011 - Judge Dr. Ron James
• Eukanuba Champion Stakes Winner at Welsh K.C. 2011 - Judge Tom Johnston