About Us
Our Peasblossom Journey
Dave and I began our Peasblossom journey together in 2005 with just three springers, Summer, Eden and Honey. Sadly Honey had been diagnosed with Chronic Hepatitis and despite some really good times with her, where we excitedly planned some puppies, it was not to be. She was very special to us and her loss was a devastating blow. Not long before Honey died, we purchased Cepen Celtic Charm from Karl Payne's successful kennel in the West Country. 'Izzie' was to be the foundation bitch of our new kennel. Alanea Charm joined us soon after, a liver, white and tan bitch sired by Sh Ch Calvdale Crimewatch and out of Alanea Carisma.
Around that time I was spending a lot of time looking at websites and mainly those of Scandinavian breeders. After losing our beloved Honey, we decided to look at what else was available to us. We were smitten with many of the dogs and fell completely in love with Wongan Kadenza who had been imported from Australia by Helene & David Bjorkman in Sweden. We very cheekily emailed and asked if they would consider sending 'Lleyton' to us in the UK! We were thrilled when Helene agreed to send him for one month. Lleyton flew to England for his holiday but of course, as our luck would have it, Eden failed to come in season as planned for the first time in her entire life! Semen was taken and stored for the right girl later on however.
When we drove Lleyton back to Sweden, we saw Seamus for the first time. He was just three weeks old and we were beyond happy when Helene agreed to us having one of the dog puppies from Kylie's litter to Fritz, Ch Barecho Fun For the Future. The rest, of course, is history. Such a long wait ensued, eleven months then before dogs could come into the UK but Seamus was worth every second! He had a wonderful showing career, taking 21 CCs, BOB at Crufts, Best In Show at an All Breed Champ Show, titles in several countries - the list of unforgettable moments that he gave us is endless. More important than all of that though, was the dog himself, the kindest, gentlest dog we could have ever wished for. We count ourselves so lucky to have been able to share our lives with him and he remains the benchmark for everything that has followed him.
While we waited for Seamus to arrive, Izzie produced our first Peasblossom litter to Sh Ch Mompesson Royal Destiny. 'Lila', Peasblossom Aria stayed with us and enjoyed a super show career. Really the most lovely girl inside and out, who achieved her title much to our absolute delight.
Our second Peasblossom litter produced 'Rattan' who gained her title for Trudy Topliss' Beresford kennel in Yorkshire. Sh Ch Peasblossom Butterfly was a daughter of 'Grynet', a Lleyton daughter and the lovely male, Ch Trollangens Maximum Effect. We were lucky enough to have Grynet on loan for a year before she was returned in whelp to Sh Ch Roandew Dez Diddit. The Peasblossom 'C' litter was produced by Teasel, Alanea Flame For Peasblossom and the father was Seamus,
producing Peasblossom Chance and his sister, Peasblossom Caress. 'Mattie' made a great start too before leaving for a new life in Holland at Kennel van het Veense Springertje where she gained her title. Kye stayed here where he also gained his title, not least thrilled us beyond words when he was awarded Best of Breed at Crufts in 2013 under judge, Marion Stowe.
After Seamus' arrival from Sweden, we welcomed 'Holly', Barecho Qualified To Show who gained her title and who gave us ‘Hope’ (P Heaven Sent) who gained her International title and was a World Winner in 2012. Also, dear 'Halle' (P Hope) who in turn produced for us, 'Millie', Sh Ch P Moonstruck. In between all of this, Lila produced the beautiful 'Robin', P Escape to Beresford who gained his title before sadly passing away much too soon. His sister 'Elin' produced for us our glorious 'Rafferty' (P Jester) who lived each day as if it is his last and more than matched his Dad, Seamus, in the CC gathering stakes.
Millie and Rafferty, together produced for us our black and white boy, Rocco, who was top English Springer puppy in the UK in his first year of showing. To date he has gained 13 CCs as well as his Croatian and Slovenian titles. He won the Dog CC at Crufts in 2023 and delighted us by taking the DCC and BOB there in 2025. He finished last year, 2025 as joint top male in the UK. Not bad for a 'Croatian boy'.
Heulyn Years
Dave's interest in English Springers began in 1977 (!), when 'Muffin' or Delta Lady to give her pedigree name, was purchased from a local pet shop for the huge sum of £50! Muffin was a working bred bitch who came complete with distemper! However, it was to be Muffin that inspired his ever lasting love affair with the breed as well as the start of the essential but oh-so-expensive relationships with vets! Muffin attended obedience classes where she had to compete against the superior skills of Border Collies and GSDs but it was at one of those classes that someone uttered the fateful words, 'she's beautiful - you should show her'. Duly Muffin was taken to a local exemption show where she didn't win but it was on that day that the showing 'bug' was well and truly caught.
Bowswood Brandy Snap, 'Rosie' also joined the Heulyns and she too went on to win a RCC. She produced only one dog puppy when mated to Sh Ch Barlochan Engineer. Unfortunately Rosie died at a young age from a liver-related disease. Two more Bowswood Springers were purchased after that, Bijou and Bracken, 'Mai' and 'Minnie'. Mai inspired an interest in the field trial and working side of the breed and she eventually became one of the breed's very few full champions. (Photo above). A week after winning her third CC, Mai had to be spayed following a pyometra so the full weight of expectation fell on the shoulders of Minnie. She was mated to Marshring Major Mitchell, producing Heulyn Belle Heather, 'Cissie'. She, in turn, was mated to Sh Ch Bowswood Brown Doublet, which produced 'Tansy', Heulyn Catch The Wind who produced the kennel's first champion in Heulyn Desperado, 'Finn'. Photo below.
Bowswood Belle Esprit, 'Sadie' was brought in along the way and mated to Finn, produced Jack and Phoebe, Heulyn Flambeau and Folie Bergere. Jack had a great show career, winning one CC and six RCCs. Tansy had a second litter, this time to Sh Ch Penrioch Patter Merchant, producing another successful bitch, Heulyn Eclaire, 'Katie'. Much later Katie was put to Petranella Purple Ronnie, producing the kennel's second homebred champion in 'Maddie', Heuln Giselle.
Dave and his then wife, Angela, went to have a look round at a local general Championship Show, Southern Counties. The entries of English Springers then were huge, somewhere approaching 200 dogs at a single show! They saw and fell in love with a bitch called Sh Ch Verulam Liver Pate, to find that she was already in whelp. Her breeders, Lyn and Keith Payne, agreed to them having one of her puppies. Verulam Tom Boy came home with them and taught them the rudiments of the breed in terms of ringcraft and trimming. Sadly, at only a year old 'Leyla' had to be spayed following a pyometra. Nevertheless she provided a fantastic moment for their newly-established kennel when she was awarded a RCC from the Post Graduate class at the Southern ESS Society Champ Show, under judge, Carolyn Muirhead. Leyla went on to win a CC and two further RCCs.
Summerstone
When I was a child, my family owned English Cocker Spaniels, from the Lochranza kennel. They were just pets and were never shown but they were the reason for my passion for dogs. We used to visit Crufts every year, held in London then, and I was competely enthralled. The dogs and the whole atmosphere there further fuelled the obsession to one day breed and show dogs of my own.
Eventually, when the time was right, I went to Crufts for two consecutive years to decide on a breed and to find a suitable breeder. Much time was spent walking around the benches and watching the judging. I spotted one particular bitch that appealed very much and the following year, I picked her out again! She was Sh Ch Tiverstone Play Misty For Me and I thought she was exquisite. Contact was made with her owners, Julie and Malcolm Shovel, to find that she was in whelp. Finally, after what seemed like forever, I took home my first Springer puppy, Tiverstone Sweet Lady (photo left) and named her 'Summer'. She was the best introduction to the breed you coud wish for and very aply named. Unfortunately, at not much more than a year old, Summer was diagnosed with Addisons disease.
Sadly, this meant that Summer would never have puppies and another search was on to look for a suitable bitch. 'Bronte', Calvdale In Possession soon joined us in Kent, daughter of the breed record holder, Sh Ch Wadeson Inspector Wexford. Bronte was like a whirlwind, an all action girl in direct contrast to Summer's gentle and girly ways. A kennel name was chosen as a tribute to Summer but it was Bronte who went on to produce the first Summerstone litter, sired by Eastriding Paco Rabanne. Her second litter was to Sh Ch Berkenbar Carrera, son of much-admired Sh Ch Elimvek Earthbound. From this litter, we kept 'Honey', Summerstone Basilissa.
When Honey was around nine months old, I flew to the Honeymans in Scotland to have a look at a litter of puppies with the intention of hopefully bringing a bitch puppy home. However, you know what they say about making plans! Instead, 'Dylan', Beecraigs Bedevilled, a lovely dog puppy came instead, bringing his infectiously joyful personality with him. Photo of Dylan below. Both Honey and Dylan enjoyed some good times in the show ring. Dylan especially won well in both his Puppy and Junior classes, got his Junior warrant and went on to win a CC and a RCC. Honey was sadly diagnosed with Chronic Hepatitis at under a year old and we lost her before her second Birthday.
Judging
We have both been lucky to have had the opportunity to judge the breed we love many times and in many different parts of the world. In the UK of course, but also as far away as Sweden, Finland, Australia, Poland, the Netherlands and Australia. It is always interesting to see how the breed differs from place to place and exciting to find dogs that could contribute to your breeding programmes in the future.
Click on gallery below to see some of our special memories of judging our breed.
