MBISS/MG1 GCHB. Wyndlair Point Given

2014 #1 Rough Collie (Hawkins System)

2014 CCA Select Dog

2013 CCA Award of Merit

2011 CCA Reserve Winners Dog

2010 Kem Memorial Winner

Xander represented the pinnacle of the Wyndlair bloodline. He is quite simply the finest Collie we have ever been blessed to be associated with. Linebred to the power-packed litter that produced our Ch. Twin City Wyndlair Anthem (CCA WB/BW & 3X AOM), Xander possessed the trademarked breed virtues we value most.

I think this dog is one of our current generation’s very best.” – Nioma Coen, 2014 CCA Critique

Xander jumped out of the gate, going WD/BW under Tom Coen at his very first show at 6 months of age. He followed that up the next month going WD/BW at the Central Iowa C.C. under Joe Reno for a 4 point major. The next week he took a large Best In Sweepstakes under Judy Rychter at Central States Collie Club. Later that same week he nailed at 5 point major at Illiana Collie Club under Sue Christie. Along the way, he also picked up major reserves under Carmen Leonard and Lily Russell. He capped off his puppy show season by winning the premier Collie Sweepstakes in the country, the 2010 Kem Memorial Sweepstakes under most respected judge Nioma Stoner Coen! Xander came back out as an young adult at the 2011 CCA National and took Reserve Winners Dog under Judge Larry Willeford. His very next show he finished under Judge Carmen Leonard at Indiana Collie Club winning his fourth major.

Specialed just a handful of times as a young dog, he took an Award of Merit at the 2013 CCA and multiple Herding Group 1 wins. However, he mostly stayed on the sidelines while his litter brother, GChP. Wyndlair Cherokee Vindication, was on his way to becoming the top BISS-winning male in breed history.

In 2014, Xander finally got his chance at the Top 10. He exploded out of the gate taking BISS after BISS win, and shot immediately to #1 Collie in the USA. Xander suffered a severe foot laceration two weeks prior to the 2014 CCA and was on crate-rest until the day of Best of Variety judging. While not in top form, he battled to the very end with Ch. Headline’s Soldier of Light, falling just short of the National’s top honor, taking 2014 CCA Select Dog. However, his 11 Specialty Best of Breed wins easily cemented him as the #1 Rough Collie (Hawkins System) in the country for 2014, and retired the CCA’s Ch. Tokalon’s Blue Banner, CD perpetual trophy for the #1 Blue Merle Collie in the United States.

Following the 2014 CCA, he spent a year on the East Coast standing at stud. Unfortunately, he came home the next spring positive for heartworm, and tragically passed away in our living room the evening following his medical treatment. There will forever be a hole in our family’s hearts and his loss hurts to this day. Xander was truly larger than life. His accomplishments aside, he was a centerpiece of our family, and the result of 25 years of work in the breed. Whether judging a major specialty or evaluating a promising litter of puppies, Xander set the mental standard we compare all Collies against.

While Xander stud career was cut short, he did have a couple of notable siring accomplishments. His son, Ch. Thorndale Point Determined, was 2015 CCA Winners Dog/Best of Winners/Best Puppy. At the 2016 CCA National, two of his sons (Ch. Tavern Hill Limerick Celtic Classic & Ch. Chatham Moon Shadow at Rivendell) both won classes under judge Judie Evan. His daughter, Ch. Maverick Painted Lady, won 2018 CCA Best of Variety, and her littermate, GCH. Maverick Fanfare was the 2019 CCA Select Bitch & 2021 Westminster Best of Breed.

In his brief stud career, he produced an amazing FOUR Register of Merit (ROM) offspring, including:

Ch. Tavern Hill Limerick Celtic Classic, ROM

Ch. Maverick Painted Lady, ROM

GCH. Maverick Fanfare, ROM

CH. Chatham’s Moonlight on Snow, ROM

While we were prevented from having our own Xander puppy, we were blessed with two granddaughters of his. Multi-BISS Ch. Wyndlair Amen Hallelujah (Ch. Thorndale Point Determined ex Ch. Wyndlair Classique Incandescent) finished in style in 5 specialties at 8 months of age from the Bred-By Exhibitor class. Ch. Wyndlair Star Spangled (Ch. Tavern Hill Limerick Celtic Classic ex Wyndlair National Anthem) finished undefeated with all specialty majors. They have allowed us to carry on Xander’s legacy in our breeding program.