This is Ebony. Her Kennel name is Carnegga Ebony of Levelmoor. She was born on 18th March 1998. Her Dad was Sh.CH. Gayplume Fine Fettle of Kenjo, and her Mum was Braemist River Witch. She was our first Levelmoor Flatcoated Retriever, and she is what has made me fall in love with this breed. She was bred by the late Gill and Philip Stiles in Cornwall. She travelled the long journey back to the Midlands pretty well, via a stop off at Bovey Tracey, and another at Taunton. She was unfortunately a little car sick, but otherwise settled quite well. When we got home we introduced her to the Gordon Setter, whom took to her straight away. She absolutely changed my life, and I guess the rest is history.

I showed her from 6 months old, and she did moderately well, albeit quite small and often beaten by more mature dogs. She did not manage to qualify for the 1999 Crufts, only missing out by one place when coming fourth in puppy bitch class at Midland Counties. However the following year she qualified at Darlington, when handled by Ms Dawn Hall, as I had hurt myself and could not run. And she later went on to achieve her Stud book number and qualify for Crufts for life. We tried to breed from her, and although managing matings the first few times, achieved no puppies, but when using a third stud Dog she eventually got pregnant. She gave birth to 3 boys and 3 girls, out of CH. Steeplehouse Gamekeeper in 2003.

We kept her daughter Hermione aka Levelmoor Vitifer Leat.

Ebony went on to achieve some nice placings, winning in both Limit and Open classes at Championship shows, but never anything of greater importance. She was a great starting Flatcoat. I also worked her sparingly, and did take part in one working test, which ended in second last placing. She had an issue coming out of the water on the water retrieve, and then found water on the open field retrieve. Which to the amusement of the gallery meant she did not score highly. Water was always her downfall, as she loved to swim, and paddle. She was a beautiful girl, but unfortunately contracted Cancer in her shoulder. We almost carried out amputation, but at 8 years old, she had signs of Arthritis in her other front leg, which would have meant it would be too difficult to continue. We made the very sad decision after a few weeks to have her PTS on 20th May 2007.

A very sad day and a dog we will NEVER forget.