My husband Steve bought me my first proper dog a few weeks after we were married, in 1974 a fawn dog called Boulevard Bill. I had never heard of a Stafford and indeed he was only one of a handful in the town, hard to image nowadays.

Interested in training him we took him along to our local handling class and it was pointed out that he might make the grade as a show dog. A few months later we entered our first local show, and won RBPIS and the rest is history.

When the family came along we found it impossible to travel far so we gave up showing for a number of years, but always had a Stafford or two around the house.

After the children had left the nest we decided it would be nice to have a go again and purchased a new pup, a Mahogany and White Pied called CARASTAFF CHARISMA, who did us proud. Steve decided he would like to have a go, so we did our homework and asked Audrey Hubery if she knew of any nice litters out of her dog CH JUDAEL BOTH BARRELS at NOZAC a dog we both liked. We were lucky enough to get a nice Black Brindle puppy called RUM BARREL BRAKER who did a fair bit of winning gaining his Sud Bok No.

I have been a committee member of NCSBTC for several years, the last 3 as Show Secretary. We are currently campaigning DRINGSHAW VALENTINO JW, 3 RCC. I consider it a great honour to judge at my own club show and will give you an honest and unbiased opinion.  

Karen Waltham (DRINGSHAW)