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Sylvia Marston and her Falconcrag Borzois The article and photos are a courtesy of Lisa Cole, Sterling borzois, USA Special thanks to Mrs. Brenda Blyth (Lelant
borzois, UK), Mr. Michael Real (Nakora Borzois, UK), Pam Marston Pollock (Falconcrag, UK) for
providing photographs.
In her childhood, Sylvia's family always owned a Lakeland terrier and during that time a strong and
unbroken bond was established between Sylvia and her canine companions. She later added Boston Terriers but after her marriage and having a new
home on Low Braithwaite Farm with a lot more space to raise dogs, Sylvia desired to add a borzoi to her kennel
of terriers and so began the history behind her long established Falconcrag Borzois.
A well-known natural rock formation in the English Lake District over looking Derwentwater near Sylvia's home
is called Falconcrag and so a fitting name for her kennel had been chosen.
It was on May 19, 1956 when a young white and black borzoi puppy arrived at Falconcrag from the south of England.
This young lady, who cost the princely sum of ten guineas, was Lataband Anita. Her call name was Zena and her
sire was Marcellus of Fortrouge ex Charmaine of Rydens. Both Rydens and Fortrouge being top kennels of that time.
In her early days, Sylvia did a lot of painting and drawing so initially it had been the graceful lines and elegant
appearance that had attracted her to the borzoi but it was Zena's character, disposition and adaptability that
convinced her that she had found a breed to admire and soon was to discover that there was much more to love about
this breed.
When her daughter, Pamela was born, Zena became a devoted baby sitter and later was Pamela's first
exhibit in the show ring. As a schoolteacher for 34 years, Sylvia's time was well filled. Dog shows were restricted
to holidays and a few weekends so it had always been difficult for her to actively campaign her dogs.
Sylvia was not about to let that happen to the Falconcrag dogs. She feared that as the breed became more popular
indiscriminant breeding would cause the breed to suffer in the hands of inexperienced breeders who seemed to
have little understanding of structure or soundness. Sylvia couldn't consider even the most beautiful dog to be
correct unless it was physically sound and she selected her breeding stock accordingly.
In Sylvia's words, "My ideal borzoi would have to have a classical head. Conformation must be such that the movement
is strong and positive, showing extension in the forehand and powerful drive from well developed hindquarters. Tail to be carried low complementing the flowing line
from nose to tip of tail. A borzoi must have spring of rib and good depth of chest for heart and
lung room. In dentition, if the whole animal is satisfactory and would successfully perform the work
he was bred to do with good bite and all fang teeth, I would forgive a missing pre-molar. Coats,
texture, color and height are the icing on the cake but what is underneath is of much more
importance to me, so I have no preference. I would consider as a serious fault anything that would
affect performance in the field."
At five years old, on May 24, 1961, Zena whelped her first litter by Barthill Feodorovitch. This union produced
the lovely bitch, Falconcrag Ksarina who went to the Keepers Kennel of Jackie Bennet-Heard. While at Keepers,
Falconcrag Ksarina was bred to Ch. Arnorinski of Greenhaven and Keepers Arco of Greenhaven and there made her
contributions being in the pedigrees of Ch.Keepers Angeline les
Angels, Ch. Sholwood Seraph, Ch. Colhugh Clangers
and Ch. Nakora Aludka. Quite a spectacular line up representing the epitome of English type combined with soundness. Jackie Bennett-Heard next bred Falconcrag Ksarina to the
well-known Ch. Keepers Michaelangelo and thus produced Am. Ch. Keepers Melissa. Melissa was exported
to the United States and owned by Karistan Kennels in California. Melissa quickly became an American
champion. She was bred to Sirhan Wilolea Teryoshka (Ch. Adage DuncanCD ex Springett Shere Vanity)
and this mating produced a number of champions known also for their beautiful type and soundness.
Among these dogs were Ch. Karistan's Picasso, Ch. Karistan's Pegasus, and Ch. Karistan's Winter
Ash. Karistan's Copper Beach was also a deserving littermate who wasn't shown consistently
enough by his novice owner to complete his title.
When Melissa was bred to Ch. Eglon of Karistan, she produced Ch. Karistan's Vidal and Ch. Karistan's Melina. These dogs can be found
behind quite a number of quality and influential American bred borzois today.
Back at Falconcrag, Zena's second litter in 1962 was a repeat breeding that produced Ch. Springbank Barthill Marcus
and Ch. Falconcrag Zsa Zsa. When Zsa Zsa was mated to Ch. Zastro of Carradale they produced Reyas Falconcrag Zenith who
in turn sired Ch.Swallowcroft Reyas Ivanovitch for the Reyas Kennels of Vivian and Edgar Sayer and Falconcrag Zephyr
who was exported to Australia.
In 1968, Sylvia imported Korotai Krasivaja Antoniina from Finland. This Finnish import whelped her first litter
in August of 1969 by Ch. Reyas Keepers Kwango. That same year, Margaret Davis of Russkimir Borzoi in Australia traveled
to England in search of her perfect borzoi and Falconcrag to acquire some quality breeding stock. As it was, fate
changed her plans.
At that time, England had a sudden rabies scare when someone brought back a stray they had found in Germany and
it died of rabies 6 months after. The Australian government banned all English dogs and it happened a few days before
Margaret's 3 dogs were to leave the UK. Originally she was bringing in Keepers Prince Arkle, Falesti of Wythalsade
(Carradale lines) and a daughter of Falconcrag Zsa Zsa. During this time tragedy struck Falconcrag and amongst the
youngsters that died were the young Zsa Zsa offspring. The Ministry vets could only assume that seabirds had carried
in something toxic. Those were the only youngsters having complete freedom and so would come and go as they pleased
on the other part of the farm. No others were ill but as a precaution Falconcrag went under a self-imposed quarantine
for six months.
The pup that Margaret had hoped to take back to Australia had died from the mystery virus. Instead it was a
daughter of Antoniina's from her first litter that she would still have to wait for. Margaret had to go home to
Australia until the ban was lifted. With the uncertainty of the quarantine ban continuing, Falesti was sold because
of her age and later the Antoniina pup went too. It took two years of anxious waiting before the ban was lifted
Margaret was went back to England.
At Falconcrag, Keepers Prince Arkle was still Margaret's she went in search
of an Antoniina daughter and bought Falconcrag Jaga, who later became an Australian champion.
It was after that
when Sylvia agreed to let her bring Antoniina back to Australia too. All three did very well in that country and
their descendants are continuing to pass on the type and many of their personality traits for generations.
There are over 60 Russkimir champions in direct descent from those imports and many more bred by other people who
used the Russkimir lines. Another Australian borzoi breeder that imported and bred from three Falconcrag imports
was Mrs. D. Mercuri of Boronoff Borzois. It was in 1966 when she imported Falconcrag Sirotka then Falconcrag
Zareba and Falconcrag Pagan Paladin.
An exceptionally well-done history of the borzoi in Australia has been compiled in a book written by Margaret
Davis entitled "The Australian Borzoi Book-The First Hundred Years In Australia 1898-1998" Back at Falconcrag,
losing Zsa Zsa's litter was a devastating blow to Sylvia but eventually time does heal. In August of 1970 Pamela
went to stay in Kent for a while and Sylvia planned that she would take Zsa Zsa along for the ride to fetch Pamela,
with the Borzoi Club Championship show as the meeting place.
Zsa Zsa won the special veteran class and Mr.Reg Bassett
(Colhugh) persuaded Sylvia to leave her with him so that she could be mated to Ch. Grand Manner of
Colhugh who was sired by Lataband Anita's litter brother. Sylvia recalls hearing the arrangements
for Zsa Zsa's return to Falconcrag with a V.I.P. escort across London with Sylvia meeting the train
at Carlisle! Zsa Zsa's litter was whelped on November 8, 1970 and from this came Eng.& Sw. Ch.
Falconcrag Esmerarna and Falconcrag Esmerillion.
He won his first CC at 13 months and grew in maturity to his 2nd CC with a Best of Breed win. It was only a week
later that Dragoon collapsed and died suddenly at Sylvia's feet. This was indeed a huge sorrow for Falconcrag.
But, in Sylvia's words, "We like the phoenix rose from the ashes yet again!".
With that sadness behind her Sylvia continued to maintain her type. When she bred Vorenoff Draco to Falconcrag
Roksana she produced the lovely Falconcrag Ebony. Ebony has the distinction of producing Ch. Tayu Casmilla of
Yadasar, the dam of the top winning bitch, Eng. Am. Ch. Yadasar Black Orchid with 20 CCs and 11 Res CCs.
in England prior to coming to America. Falconcrag Ebony also produced Falconcrag Khristov, a dual CC winner who
produced quite a few very nice dogs and was the sire of four champions, three of them for Zomahli Kennels
including Ch. Zomahli Ozopnik and one for Mr. Michael Real's Nakora kennels in the UK. Khristov's son, Eng &
Aust Ch. Zomahli Radooga did very well in Australia.
Another long-term contribution Sylvia has made for the future of borzoi
was the founding of The Northern Borzoi Association in 1975. Sylvia's untiring efforts eventually bore
fruit but in the beginning she was known as "the instigator" by the members of the already existing Borzoi Club
because there was a bit of a riff at first regarding the addition of a second club.
However, Sylvia still managed to collect the required number of twenty five persons willing to participate and
among those were notably Mrs. Lillie Pearson and Mr. Keith Prior (Zomahli) Peggy Malone (Enolam) Vivian and Edgar
Sayer (Reyas and Springbank) Grace Beresford (Yadasar) and Harry and
Sylvia Hawkin (Carradale).
Recently the Northern Borzoi Association celebrated its 25th anniversary by holding their Silver Jubilee Year
Championship Show on April 16, 2000. Sylvia had been invited to judge this show but was unable to accept the assignment
due to her health. It was fitting that Best In Show was Ch. Falconcrag Beannchor Anna
(Ch.Falconcrag Krassai ex Ir.Ch. Falconcrag Kroner), owned by Michael Real and Robert Sallay of Nakora Borzois.
So now, after a lifetime of devotion to borzois, Sylvia has had to wind down a bit. A few years ago she suffered a
stroke and then another.
Parting with her borzois on doctors orders was a very difficult decision for her and one that, unfortunately,
we all might have to face sometime in the future. Four of her remaining dogs went to Manitias Kennels in England
and less than a year later, after many tears, her last two borzois; Eng. & Irish Ch. Falconcrag Othello and
Falconcrag
Orestes were exported to America. In her words, Lisa Cole Home
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