Notable among the Black Rock Border Collie family is Ch. Darkwind's Mercury Rising HT, CT (Scorch). This slow-to-mature, blue and white son of Darkwind champions has a nearly perfect front complimented by a well-placed shoulder and lovely, arching neck. Coupled with his strong rear, balanced proportion of leg to length, and pleasing head, Scorch will play an active role in developing the Black Rock Border Collies of the future. His fall 2001 breeding to the ageless and elegant Ch. Wizaland's Daily Double at Darkwind (Dailey), produced two puppies who blend their parent's flowing outlines and efficient, effortless movement.
While attending the 1999 Border Collie national specialty, Storey was one of the judge's hospitality coordinators. Primarily the job required driving repeatedly to the airport picking up and dropping off judges over the course of a week. One sad evening Storey's parents called to say that Ch. Black Rock Switching to Guns (Gunny, and the first homegrown AKC Aussie champion) had died quite suddenly from apparent heart failure while out on a morning run.
The next morning Storey opened the door of the rented Suburban and up popped the inquisitive face of a young, blue Border Collie. Time was the director of the day's schedule so Storey simply walked the dog to the nearest tree for a morning pee and put him back in the car for the trip to the airport. As the day, and the trips to the airport went on, the dog and Storey began to warm to each other. His dark eyes held a steady gaze. His inquisitiveness reflected an almost contemplative nature. He was gangly yet beautifully built with endless promise. By the end of the day Storey was in love and Scorch was certain he had found his own true love. Storey asked Robyn, a day or so later, "What do you plan to do with Scorch?" Robyn didn't have any solid and immediate plans for the boy. Storey, now convinced Scorch was the reincarnate of Gunny, suggested he go to live with her parents, Norm and Diane. Robyn agreed. Now the problem was convincing the prospective new mom that she would like living with a Border Collie. To date, Diane's experiences with Border Collies had been limited to the hyperdriven, scrawny, and obsessive coyote-like dogs then dominating the obedience and agility rings.
After returning from the nationals, Storey called Diane. "I have found a new dog for you." "I don't need a new dog," said Diane. "You need this one." "Well, where did you find it?" Diane logically asked. "He's a blue dog," Storey replied. "He's very well bred. Wait till you see him at Christmas time." Diane agreed to wait.
Christmas time came and Norm and Diane arrived in New Mexico. Scorch ran to greet Diane. He politely jumped up on her, tail wagging, to have a better look. "He's got a tail!" Diane exclaimed. "Of course he has a tail," Storey agreed. "He's a Border Collie. "You told me the dog was a blue merle," said Diane in a half complaint. "I did not," said Storey. "I said he was a blue dog. You just wanted to hear 'blue merle." "But I don't like Border Collies." The protest was growing weaker by the second and no reply was needed. Scorch was home.
Although Scorch lives in the avalanche-free state of Ohio, he showed early promise as a search and rescue avalanche dog. On a trip out to New Mexico in early 2000, Scorch and an assortment of his human family took a trip to the Pecos Wilderness. Scorch was snuffling his head into the snow drifts in a meadow when Storey got the bright idea to bury her son, Robby, in the snow in the lee of a hill. Calling Scorch to come, Storey stood about 15 feet away from the Robby-bump. Scorch came running straight to Storey until he was parallel and downwind of Robby. He then made an immediate right angle turn and began sniffing around Robby's outline. Encouraged by Storey to "find him," Scorch began digging until he had uncovered the upper half of Robby. A repeat of the exercise in a different location and with a different child (this time Storey's nephew, Ricky, was the victim) brought about the same results. Scorch's actions were entirely predictable. Any Border Collie worth his kibble would have done the same thing searching for a lost lamb; the day served to prove you can take the dog away from his flock but you can't take the instinct to protect his flock out of the dog.
On July 8 & 9, 2001 Scorch completed his Herding Tested title in Galisteo, NM. His two runs demonstrated the fluid and natural style of the well bred, well conformed Border Collie. His first run, completed in 2:20+, demonstrated his natural instincts in balancing the sheep between himself and Storey. His second run the next day was a model of control and obedience. The run was completed in 1:20.
Scorch excels in agility. He has multiple titles in multiple agility organizations. But the true test of any learned skill is in its application. While out running along the bosque trails with Storey in October 2001, Scorch slipped, jumped, or fell (it's not clear which!) into the ditch and came up on the other side running parallel to Storey, about 20 feet away. Although a strong and exuberant swimmer, Scorch was reluctant to swim back across the ditch. Fortunately, a ways up the ditch was a 2x6 plank crossing. Applying Scorch's agility training Storey hollered "Scorch here, walk it." At which point Scorch executed a 90 degree turn, trotted across the plank and fell back into step with Storey.
Tragically, Scorch was killed in an accident in September 2002. His death was devastating.
