Collie Association

COLLIE ASSOCIATION

Towards the end of 1933, a group of Southern enthusiasts, including Mrs Nadine George ‘Beulah’, Miss Clare Molony ‘Westcarrs’, and Mrs M. I. (Zoë) Rhys ‘Hughley’, considered the time was right for a new National Collie Breed Society with a southern base. An application to register the Collie Association, complete with the necessary 21 shilling [£1.05] fee was received by The Kennel Club on 2 December 1933, with approval granted on the 16 January 1934. With founding members coming from both the Rough and Smooth Collie worlds the club as was then customary, catered for both varieties.

In the Collie Association’s original application for registration, the stated aims were given as: “To try and again make the collie one of the popular British breeds” and true to their intentions the Collie Association supported all Collie varieties, including the Bearded Collie throughout its early struggles for acceptance during the 1950s, as well as working disciplines scheduling obedience classes at some of the early post-war shows.

CHAMPIONSHIP STATUS

Championship status came in 1946 when the club was awarded two of the four sets of Challenge Certificates offered to the Rough Collie, both shows held at the London Scottish Drill Hall, Buckingham Gate, London SW1, the first in May and the second in September. 1947 saw a repeat of this arrangement, although these shows were held at the Corn Exchange, Leeds, and Portland Street, London. In an effort to encourage the regeneration of the General Championship Show the Kennel Club withdrew championship status from all breed clubs in 1948, but by 1950 common sense had prevailed and championship status returned to the Collie Association. Just why it was withdrawn in 1952, when Rough Collies were limited to a single Breed Club Championship show is no longer apparent, but whatever the reason it was resolved within the year, and Championship status from 1953 when the Collie Association engaged its only foreign judge to officiate at its June show, since when it has become an annual event, anchored to November at the end of the show calendar since 1955.

Dog and bitch Challenge Certificate winners at the Collie Association’s first Championship Show May 1946 – where allrounder Mr Leo Wilson judged collies for the first time at this level.

Dog CC: Ch Beulah’s Golden Futureson winning the 1st of his three Challenge Certificate, all won at Collie Association shows	Bitch CC: Beulah’s Nightglamorous winning her only Challenge Certificate on the day there is no record of which Collie was the Best of Breed
Both images courtesy of: The Collie Association

INNOVATIONS

With the election, in 1951, of Miss Margaret Osborne ‘Shiel’ to the secretarial post the Collie Association provided itself with an indomitable champion who, over her twenty-one year tenure, was responsible for introducing many innovations in an continuing effort to promote the society. Chief amongst which were the now famous Handbook, published in 1952, and the first club sponsored quarterly newsletter issued free to members.

For some years the Collie Association was dedicated to promoting of the Rough Collie only, but with the success of the Club’s reintroduction of Smooth Collie Classes in 2010 the club has returned to scheduling classes for both Rough and Smooth Collie, with committee members, officers or representatives, covering both breeds, throughout the United Kingdom, it aims to achieve its objective by: Membership and inclusion in the Judging Lists (subject to acceptance) is open to all. For more details about what the Collie Association has to offer contact the Secretary.

Promoting the breeding and exhibition of pedigree Rough Collies.

Giving help and encouragement to novice and hobby breeders.

To do all possible to further the progress and health of the breed as a whole.

The Collie Association Handbook
edited by: Miss Margaret Osborne ‘Shiel’

CONTACTS

For more details about the Collie Association, and its activities contact the Secretary:

Ms Sheila Telford - e-mail: telford.glenbowdene@gmail.com

Or visit their website

last update 01-May-2023