Ch Oak Vulcan

Ch Cranloch Culloden Lass

Ch Carlaminda Bracken

Ch Wongan Chantiley

Michael came from a dog family, -his grandfather, James Wooding was one of the founders of the Frankston and Peninsula Kennel Club. Michael initially grew up with terriers but when he was thirteen his family bought their first Springer.

Hampshire Snowbird was no world beater and as the family was keen to show Springers, another dog was soon added to the household. Oak Vulcan was a son of Eng Sh Ch / Aus Ch Moorcliff Freetwood Gamecock became their first Ch Best in Group winner. "Jock" won Res Ch for Michael in 1974 at the Melbourne Dog Club. His half sister (again by Gamecock), Ch Cranloch Culloden Lass was purchased as a puppy and proved a very useful winner too with a Res CC at the Pal International show under Ernest Froggatt to her credit. When mated together Vulcan and Culloden Lass produced the BIS winner Ch Carlaminda Bracken, owned by the family and handled by Michael.

For her second litter Culloden Lass was mated to the UK import Ch Hawkhill Crepello.Once again she produced a BIS winner, this time it was Ch Clonbar Commodore. Commodore was used at stud by the Cudgera kennels over Ch Wyngarde Dusky Belle. The resulting litter produced Ch Cudgera Malt n Honey who was a prolific winner and producer. Although Commodore no longer features in the Springers produced by Michael at Alhambra he does occur in the pedigrees of some of todays kennels including Azucroft and Fraelighte. Commodore's half sister (by Crepello) Ch Wongan Chantiley was a notable winner for the Keely family including a RUBIS at the ESSC of NSW Specialty.

In the late seventies it was felt that an import was needed and the Keelys did plenty of research and decided that a B/W from the Shipden kennels (UK) was the way to go!

Shipden Vienna Song (Imp UK) arrived in early 1980. Quite different to what was already in Australia and maybe ahead of his time, Solly nevertheless made his mark. Several of his progeny did well including Ch Clanach Bye Bye Blackbird who was a group winner for Marie Merchant and Ch Wongan Summer Swallow who won 2 Royal  res CCs for the Keely family.

It was only a matter of time until Michael visited the UK to see the cream of the Springers there. He was lucky enough to see the famous Connaught and his son Sh Ch Monclare Mr Chips. Chips had a son called Genghis Khan who really took Michaels eye and featured heavily in his later breeding plans. Whilst visiting "Shipden" Michael became engaged to Kate and eventually "Alhambra"took off!

Michael's prefixes:-

"Carlaminda" (with the Keely family )

"Clonbar"      (with Christopher Keely & Jennifer and Warwick Keene)

"Alhambra"   (with Kate Keely)