We started our journey with rabbits in 1999 with Angel. Angel is a black dwarf lop buck bought from our local pet shop, by Karen. At this time, we had never heard of the British Rabbit Council or breeders affiliated under it. I fell in love with Angel. So Karen bought me a sooty fawn dwarf lop for a Christmas present called Floppsy( a bit to corny I know!). I made the mistake that lots of pet people do and went for the runt of the litter.

To this day we are still unsure what made us think of breeding. Originally, I think it was a joke to wind my husband up; but then, we decided we actually liked the idea. However, at this stage, we knew nothing of showing or the BRC so we went to the RSPCA and found an agouti doe called Lucy. She had a ring on her leg, we did not know what it meant. From a few bunny books we had from the library we found the phone number of the British Rabbit Council. It sounded a bit grand to us, but decided to give them a call. The office told us about a show near us and we put Angel and Floppsy into the pet class. After winning the pet class (not such a big achievement we know, but it felt like it then) we were hooked!! Our search then started to find some show worthy dwarf lop sooty fawn stock.

A chap near us who breed mini's had a dwarf lop sooty buck, so we bought him. At this point, we did not really know what type etc the rabbit should be. We went along to a few small show, and did reasonably well. We decided to go to the London/Luton show ( we must have been mad). When we saw all the lovely sooties from all over the country, we realised our buck was not in quite in the same league. After talking to some very helpful gents, it was left that if a sooty buck or doe came available, one would give us a call. We did not hold out much hope, as we had been finding it very hard to find anyone willing to part with stock. But true to his word he gave us a call, and gave us the choice of either a buck or a doe; we choose the buck.

This was a really great day for us, however we were also very sad as we lost Floppsy due to a heart attack on fire works night ( the night before we went to pick up out new buck). It was heart breaking having to pick up a new bun when we had just lost one we were so fond of. Though we knew that this was a once only offer and could not let our grief destroy this opportunity.

We have now been breeding and showing our own stock for a while. It is a real reward when you see your own bred rabbits doing well in shows. We both were very proud when our first bred buck Boy George won best in show. Granted it was only a small show, but we are still striving and one day hope to be winning big shows with our stock. We now breed Orange mini lops aswell.

Karen and Christine (ShenleyBrook Stud)

P.S We would just like to thank all the breeders that helped us in getting started and out there.