Breed Notes
11th December

In this month’s issue of the Kennel Gazette is an article by Alison Skipper MRCVS called “Back to the Future”. Included in this is a copy of MacDonald Daly’s (a well known all-rounder) Christmas page from Our Dogs 1954 with the heading: Come Along, You fireside critics, what’s your opinion on this little lot.

This 1954 article by top judge Macdonald Daly asked his readers to consider the pictured dogs with the following transcript of his introduction: I present to you, herewith, a dozen pictures that you won’t find in the Supplement and I suggest that before you set about identifying them, you consider how these dogs depicted might have faired in the competitions in 1954.

He goes on to remind us that the only real object of dog shows has nothing to do with the collection of bright-coloured prize cards. It is simply and solely the improvement of the pedigree dog. How true that statement still is today in 2020!

All the photos, of 12 breeds include a Rough and a Smooth were taken 45 years ago from the Our Dogs Christmas supplements of 1907/1908 and 1909.

The smooth is a tricolour, Ch Colet Lucy, owned by the Hon Charles Rothschild in his extensive kennel at Oundle and I am sad to say I do not recognise this one.

However, the Rough is  Seedley Superior, from the celebrated Lancashire kennel of Mr R H Lord and the photo was taken when he was a mere youngster and  McDonald Daly writes “I would fancy him, wouldn’t you for a Junior Warrant point or two at today’s shows? “

Seedley Superior was a sable and white, born in 1906 and sired by Seedley Squire out of Seedley Constance. On his sire’s line he is line bred to both Ch Parbold Piccolo and Ch Wishaw Clinker (Crufts winner in 1903). On his dam line, she goes back to both Ch Anfield Model and Ch Balgreggie Baronet, both good winners.

Seedley Superior, KCSB 1225M, won at many of the shows, including, The Collie Club’s show at Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Cardiff (Welsh Kennel Club), the Kennel Club show at Crystal Palace, Bristol and the Scottish Kennel Club show, he gained his title easily, and was used at stud, producing winners for not only Mr Lord’s kennel but others including Ch Bayard of Tytton.

Coming a little more up to date, as many of you may know, the Kennel Club issued a Press Release concerning the “New CC Allocation Model” and an electronic meeting was held between representatives of our Breed Clubs (but not all of our clubs were able to attend) and the KC.

Following the meetings, which involved 11 breeds, including both Rough and Smooth Collies, a further Press Release was issued (which is available for all to read in full on the KC Site: www.thekennelclub.org/CCallocation)

The outcome of this has  yet to be decided BUT, basically it is all about show entries, and the annual allocation of CC’s to breeds, including Rough (and Smooth) Collies and the outcome will decide the CC model for the years 2024-2028. However the situation is likely to change with effect from 2029 when the appropriate scale will be applied to each breed.

Parts of the discussions revolved around possible breed club amalgamation and the KC stressed that it was not forcing any clubs to amalgamate and that no clubs would be de-registered, however, a reduction in the number of clubs, in some breeds might be beneficial to a breed where there are complicated CC rotations coupled with the falling numbers of exhibitors, lack of available committee members and a crowded show diary. Clubs were reminded of the KC offer of guaranteed yearly CC status from 2022, for 10 years, to any newly amalgamated club.  (Information on possible amalgamation will be circulated to all Club Secretaries)

Prior to this announcement, the KC Board realised that a NEW approach was needed as offering CC’s for every breed at all shows is clearly not helpful to numerically small breeds as there are too few exhibitors, a shortage of judges which gives the potential to undermine the KC Champion title!

Therefore Clubs have been asked to suggest ways in which this can be changed.
As data is used from show entries on the previous 2 years, they have agreed NOT to include 2020 in this calculation (obviously)

The new objectives include a sustainable and transparent system of CC Allocation with the potential to increase entries by way of Partnership Shows, the removal of ALL Breed Club rotations which include breeds with a high number of clubs but who receive lower than average entries.

There will be a revision of the existing KCSB Bands (based on average show entries along with the number of CC’s available at National Group and General Ch Shows and Breed Clubs.

If you have any comments on this, please first contact your Breed Club Secretary, or the Rough Collie Breed Council.

All breeds involved have until the end of January 2021 to contact the KC with their views.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)