Champion Dogs
" Our dogs are first and foremost our companions who, through belonging to us, have enhanced our lives, made us many friends and have taught us so much. " -
Mary & Rita
Rita’s first competition dog - WT. Ch. Zaffle at Fircroft
Zaffle achieved the title Working Trials Champion. She was also an accomplished obedience and agility dog. She gained the qualifications Companion Dog Excellent, Utility Dog Ex., Working Dog Ex., and Tracking Dog Ex. She featured in many films and TV commercials – much loved by cast and crew of Faircity as Paddy Clarke’s dog Snaffles. Zaffle was Rita’s constant companion though a long and happy life and Rita reckons it was the best £7.00 she ever spent when she found her as a tiny puppy in the Cats & Dogs home.
Mary’s competition dogs - Fircroft Cassandra - Toy Poodle
Cass was Irelands first Toy Poodle to be awarded two Canine Obedience Championship Certificates. She achieved reserve Top Obedience Bitch in 1979. An enthusiastic little Agility dog, Cass was a delightful companion - intelligent and entertaining. Cass started Mary’s career in competition obedience and agility and made Mary many lasting friendships throughout the length and breadth of Ireland.
Ch.Fircroft’s Sealight Pizza, CDex - Border Collie
Mary's Tansy was Ireland’s first dog to achieve the dual titles of Show Champion and Obedience champion. Tansy achieved top Obedience Bitch 1981, 1985. Top Open Obedience Bitch 1985 and 1986. Top Championship Obedience Bitch 1982, 83, 84, 85 & 86. Top Agility Bitch 1986. She also gained the Working Trials qualification of Companion Dog excellent. Tansy’s TV career started when she became the popular studio dog in the RTE series Youngline.
She made many appearances on TV including the Late Late Show. Tansy was Fircroft’s foundation Border Collie bitch. Tansy’s puppies were high achievers and great companions having inherited her intelligence and lovely temperament. Chrissy from Tansy’s first litter became Irelands first Border Collie to become a working guide dog. Chrissy led a long and happy working life in Galway. Tansy was a very special companion and friend.
Sh. Ch. Ob. Ch. & WT. Ch. Fircroft Legend - Border Collie
Tansy’s son Leto was Ireland’s second dog to achieve the triple titles of Show, Obedience and Working Trials Champion. His litter sister Fircroft Fascination owned and trained by Judith Owens was the first to achieve the three titles. Leto gained the Working Trials qualifications of Companion Dog Excellent, Utility Dog Ex., Working Dog Ex., Tracking Dog Ex. He represented Ireland in the Superdogs Final UK in 1989. Leto featured in many films and commercials. He was a lovely companion - a great gentle dog always eager to please.
Ch. Fircroft Something Special, CD ex. WD ex. Border Collie
Leto’s daughter Jess achieved the title Show Champion and also gained the Working Trial qualifications of Companion Dog Excellent and Working Dog Excellent. She was working Championship Obedience when she had to take a career break to work on the Hallmark Movie ‘Animal Farm’ where her daughter Spice played the starring canine role. Jess was a very happy dog, bright and responsive - like her father she just loved to please.