Breed Notes 18th June

Before I start these notes, great big thanks must be offered to one, Vince Hogan, MD and Editor of Our Dogs. As he very generously sent on this information, following on from his weekly broadcast “From the OD Bunker” from Manchester.

These refer to Breed notes published in OD in 1926 for June 18th and are sub titled Collie Chatter, with contributors listed as Mr W Baskerville (author of the famously, now expensive, book on the breed) and Mr R H Roberts who lived in Stamford Hill London
Just to give you a flavour of the times, British held a Ch show, in January also in Manchester, judged by Mr W Houghton his winners were Ch Thane of Athelney (BIS) and Eden Enrapture.

Ch Thane was owned by Mr L Hayter (Ch Poplar Perfection ex Greta of Altheney) Eden Enrapture was just one of many winners for Mr Robson and also had the same sire, P Perfection but out of Eden Elenora

Crufts was listed as the “Great International Dog Society” and was held in the Agricultural Hall, London with Mr E H Withers in charge. His winners were Wishaw Standard (Wishaw Ben ex Shotts Model) and owned by Mr R Tait with Backwoods Faultless winning in bitches for Mr F W Ball, she was sired by Backwoods Fashion, known previously as Eden Edward out of Seedley Sunshine.

There were 17 Ch shows listed for that year, including Manchester, Ayrshire Agricultural Society, Belfast, SKC, LKA, Richmond and Birmingham Dog Show, along with others who are no longer active.

Now to the notes –“Collies at Bath made one of the leading sections with 72 entries and more remarkable was the fact that all the exhibitors, with the exception of 2 hailed from the West of England. The principal successes were won by Mr Hayter’s collies, securing 10 of the 12 first prizes scheduled. Mr Salter’s Mountshannon taking the remaining 2. Ch Thane of Athelney appeared for the third year in succession and carried all before him, winning 1st Open, Bath Collie Cup and three other specials. Violet of Athelney (a daughter of Thane out of Rose of Athelney) added 5 x 1st prizes and three specials to her record. Mr Walter Houghton judged with much ability, giving general satisfaction to exhibitors and ringsiders”.

Also included in some of the information from Vince is the actual show report! Not sure how exhibitors of today would react to some of these published comments though!

“A Record entry for Bath was a great compliment to Mr W Houghton who judged in his usual splendid manner. Violet of Athelney, the Manchester winner went through her classes; could do with a rest. Miss Prudence, fair length of head, clean cut, small well-carried ears, good body and texture of coat, nice bone, legs and feet; a shade light in the eyes. Lady Advocate, good coat and form, head of fair length, small ears, wants to flatten in skull; shade large eyes, Fairview Fashion, long clean head of nice type; wants to tighten in ears, in fair coat; darker eyes would improve.

Maiden: Mountshannon Sylvia, a showy tricolour rather on the small side; fair head and ears, dark eyes, shown in nice form; was rather lucky. Alphington Squire, a big sable and white, shown in rather poor form; he owns a long head of good type, rather strong in skull and low in ears.

Graduate: Lenden Lassiue, head of good type; rather too much foreface; fair coat, good bone legs and feet; wants to tighten in ears.
Spl Limit Dog: Atheling of Athelney was greatly admired, in great coat and form. Eltham Park Satisfaction, head of good length and shape; dark eyes, good bone legs and feet; wants more body did not make the most of himself. St Fagan’s Lucas, a big dog in fair form, long head which is inclined to be a bit coarse; darker eyes and smaller ears would improve.

Open Dog: contained two Champions – Thane of Athelney and Mountshannon Blue Splendour; both were in great form and showed well; they were placed as written

Spl Limit Bitch: Ruby of Athelney, shown in nice form. Westcarrs Blue Mascot, a very pretty blue merle, nice head and eyes, well-carried ears; perhaps a shade large; shown in good coat and form; a very taking bitch. Mt Hayter won brace and team. Ch Thane won the cup for best collie – W Dring

In the adverts section from the same paper, is the following: Ch Thane of Athelney - Quote: THE IDEAL COLLIE! Sire, Ch Poplar Perfection, Dam Greta of Athelney. Stud Fee 5 Guineas.  Winner of 6 Championship Certificates, British Collie Club’s principal trophies 2 years on succession, at the largest show for collies on record. His latest puppies include Violet of Athelney winner of the Championship at Ayr and reserve at Manchester and Liverpool. Flower of Athelney, the finest headed tricolour seen for many years!

Also included in the “Collie Chatter” notes is a reference to Midland Collie Club, who were actually founded in 1924 and I quote:
“Midland Collie Club brought a resurrection of limelight when they persuaded that “old expert Mr H E Packwood to judge the members show in its headquarters Birmingham on Wednesday of last week. Mr F W Ball, of Backwoods’ fame, its President, was a successful exhibitor and is an inspiring force to the new and younger generation of Collie enthusiasts, whose endeavours are mainly bent upon a revival of the cilt in Birmingham. The Forward City has been prominently associated with the cultivation of show collies from the earliest days.  It was the Birmingham National Dog Show Society in 1860 that first provided a Sheepdog class. Mr J Bissell of Birmingham, breeder of Ch Charlemagne (Trefoil ex Maude) introduced this noted collie without success in 1879, since which period, Birmingham and district has played a conspicuous share in the shaping and making of the refined modern collie. The War, however, was responsible for many of the Birmingham breeders permanently retiring. Now it is up to the younger fanciers to re-establish the collie fame the city once boasted of which there is every promise.

Also, within the same article is a comment that Mr R Hunter, the Shildon enthusiast has disposed of his sable and white dog puppy, Golden Monarch, to Mr Watts, Golden Monarch has made several success appearances and will no doubt be heard further of.
Mr A W Belton is loud in his praise of the success which followed his advertisement in Our Dogs, having received 54 replies. He states that the Smooth collie, Ch Canute Ringleader was sold by wire before he received his copy of OD and desires to express his thanks to the many applicants.

Mr Sandy Dalzell receives congratulations on the continued success of his collie, which will now rejoice in the familiar affix of Lynte of Knock

Finally, comment was made to Mr Stockdale, who the article states, will not be well known to many present day Collie fanciers, his name will always be associated with that of Ch Bashful Jennie and other winners. Mr Stockdale is now taking a very active interest in Sheepdog Trials and has presented a Silver Challenge Cup to the Burnley Sheepdog Trials Society, to be won outright after 3 wins by one owner. These trials are held annually, the proceeds being given to the Burnley Victoria Hospital.

Whilst we are unable to actually attend shows and seminars, make a note in your Diary to join the Finnish Collie Club Webinar on Smooth Collies, speaker, our own Bev White to be held 20th June. This will be followed by Collie Breed History on 27th June. Organised by the FCC, contact is Satu Havukainen, who can be contacted via FB. Do join in and learn.
If you don’t wish to learn, but compete (albeit on line) there are numerous O/L shows, one of which is open now for entries at the Rhyl Canine Society who are raising funds for Shooting Star Cancer Support and the Welsh Air Ambulance. Details can be found by contacting Eleri Bluck.

Now, coming up to date, I have heard of many clubs having to cancel shows and re-arrange at a later date, all subject to KC Confirmation and these now include Irish Collie, who MAY, if approved be able to hold 2 CC shows in 2021 as others intend to
I also notice that many clubs are advertising judges for forthcoming shows, especially Championship Shows. I understood, and I am sure someone out there will have pleasure in correcting me, but if a name is published, until full KC Approval is given, following a meeting of both the JSC and GC, any name should be followed by “SUBJECT TO KC APPROVAL”

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)