It is now exactly twenty years since the Martins came to Lanton Hill Farm. Edward came up first, with Elizabeths' parents, leaving her and the dogs down in Suffolk. Accomodation had to be made for the dogs,before they could join the rest of the family.We used the far end stable in the majority,as the cattle court destined to be the new kennels needed a complete make-over and £10,000 to make it habitable for Sealpin Dogs!!

The rest is history, as they say,we set off running and only now feel ,with the arrival of our grown-up family from France,that we can begin to relax. Our major trip to the antipodeas,early in 2008 , with the family looking after the farm and business here, gave them the idea that they could also base their Performing Horse enterprise ,here in the Borders. William, our son arriving in early summer ,for a major green oak building job ,while Sue and the family stayed back in France to fulfill their summer schedule of horse shows,all over the south.

Bethany , Jacob and Sue arrived with the horse in two long journeys from the Charente at the end of September and began straight away ,making plans for setting them selves up in business here. Based on the original house at Lanton Hill, where Elizabeths' parents lived until their demise. There will be a link to their web-site very soon,so I will encrouch no further on their story ,which is hugely different and more entertaining than most!!

Having got the family here to Elizabeths' satisfaction , the sharing of Lanton Hill has not been an easy transition for Edward ,who,as many of you will know, is a most particular person and he has had to bite his tongue, on several occasions .No doubt the family have had similar explosions in private. However ,as the months have passed and we each are getting on with our own parts of the work here, things are settling into a good regime. The family taking on some of the heavier work of road-making ,mowing and fencing etc. Bethany and Jacob have re-started Boarding in the main kennels and it is proving a popular place ,as ever ,for dogs to get a lovely free run in our paddocks up to four
and five times daily. They have benefitted from local help in setting up their business,both practically and on the book-keeping side of things.

The Polmaise Cup. This was a newly instigated competition for the chance of dog handlers to handle
a spaniel, for the hunting up,a retriever for the retrieving and to shoot over your own dogs. This took place in Stirlingshire in
November. Edward had tried to get a number of folks interested,as he thought it a very good idea. In the event he won the
competition and has a handsome cup to show for his effort. He ran Sealpin Clemency and Cocker Sealpin Saltana.

In the mean-time Edward has continued to enjoy his trialling and Judging dates,in particular judging the Cocker Spaniel Championship, for the first time ,in January, amazingly enough ,on the Shadwell Estate in Suffolk, where he won his very first Trial . He kept four puppies from The Sealpin Saltana and Prebenfield Towser litter of last summer and thinks highly of them all.We shall not be breeding any Cockers this year ,though have mated Labrador Sealpin Amulet (Tilly) with our own Ruleberry Boss (Ruler).

Edward decided not to breed Wanda again, though she and Claus have produced some marvellous dogs,she has had four litters and that we feel is plenty. 

When the last two puppies go from a very nice litter we had with one of our bitches now belonging to clients ,we shall be down to the  managable number of twelve dogs altogether in the kennels. We are hoping to have our dogs out of the main building by the end of the summer and up nearer the house, leaving the children a freer reign in the kennels. One of the twelve is young Cody,one of the two last sons of the late lamented Digby , out of Tilly. He is a splendid example of both his parents, having the looks and soft nature of his Father and the skill and determination of his Mother! Not quite a year old yet but a character to be watched.

So ,our twelve are: Claus,Ruler, and Cody. Bitches: Wanda Tilly, Clemmie (Labradors) and Tana, Albany, Malmo,Billabong and Jillyroo(who is actually now Betheny's) and Roly,  Edwards ' favourite right hand man,the Cocker stud. 

Looking forward to the summer, Edward is judging the Spaniel Tests at the Scottish Game Fair at Scone , in July and looking after the many queries and help folks require here at home. The time flies, as ever and it will soon be Grouse time again. To celebrate our twenty years and introducing the Family with their Horse Troupe ,we are having an 'Open Day' here on the Bank Holiday monday  the 25th May and hope to post up for you all a good display of pictures on the site for your enjoyment.

Bizz