THE SCOTTISH COLLIE CLUB - FOUNDED 1885

Introduction and History

The Scottish Collie Club was founded in 1885 one year before the American Collie Club. This makes the Scottish Collie Club the oldest Collie Club in the World!

Rough Collies became popular and prized possessions around the latter end of the 19th Century and the beginning of the 20th Century. There are documented cases of show animals being sold around that time for sums between £250 and £1500!

Such notable persons as Queen Victoria and Andrew Carnegie had estates in Scotland and kept Rough Collies. This included the white coated variety as still bred and shown in America.

The Early Days of Dog Showing

It is not generally realised the Kennel Club did not always enjoy the supreme control over Canine Matters that it does to-day. Although the KC always licensed shows maintained a stud book and awarded Challenge Certificates, independent Clubs could hold their own shows without facing any KC action. Moreover it was not necessary to register dogs at the Kennel Club. It was possible to breed pedigreed unregistered stock and register some or all of the offspring required. Against this background it was not until 1939 that the Scottish Collie Club became a Kennel Club Registered Society, previous Committees having decided to retain their independence from the KC. It was not until 1950 that the Kennel Club took possession of all breed standards. Before then, in theory, any Club could have its own standard. Indeed in the 1930's the Scottish Collie Club Standard differed slightly from that of the other UK Collie Clubs.

Scottish Exhibitors could however still compete for Kennel Club CC's at the Scottish Kennel Club and the Perthshire and Ayrshire Agricultural Societies.

The following Rough Collie adverts were taken from the October 1886 Edition of the STOCK KEEPER AND FANCIER'S CHRONICLE

Mr T Jackson Tullylumb Perth was selling puppies from the lines of Ch Wolf, Glenericht and Ch Rutland from 2 to 4 Guineas - or exchange for Fancy pigeons!

Mr Haig of Portobello Edinburgh was selling a 7 month Old dog by Lord Roseberry out of Nellie (Daughter of Ch Hero) for £10. The pup was described as ' the best dog in Scotland - exhibitors should see him.'

Mr Young of Tranent was selling his entire Kennel Stock of stud dogs brood bitches maiden bitches and puppies but no prices were quoted.

Some Early Breeders/Exhibitors:

In 1888 Mr R Tait's Wishaw affix was established. This was probably Scotland’s most successful Kennel of the era and produced the following Champions

Ch Wishaw Leader
Ch Wishaw Clinker
Ch Wishaw Rival
Ch Wishaw Reliable
Ch Wishaw Blue Lettie

Leader was bred by Mr James Shields of West Calder and Campaigned to his title by Mr Tait before being sold to America. Mr Tait was later to become President of Scottish Collie Club and had the honour to judge Crufts in 1916.
Wishaw Victor sired Ch Wishaw Reliable who sired Mr Watt's Netherkeir Reliable. Netherkeir Reliable then sired the first Champion of this well known kennel Ch Netherkeir Starboy.

Perhaps the most famous Scottish bred collie of this era was Ch Anfield Model, bred in 1902 by Mr H Galt of Ayrshire and sold first to Mr Ainscough, then to Mr W E Mason before being exported to Mr W E Ellery's Valverde Kennels in San Francisco. Mr Ellery paid £250 for Model.

Other Breeder/Exhibitors of the era included Mr James Agnew of Old Hall, Newton Stewart, Mr George Paterson of Dundee (Smooths) and Lord & Lady Alexander of Ballochmyle with their smooths Ch Babette of Moreton & Ch Irthlingborough Village Lass. Early Club Secretaries were Mr J McKillop, Mr Hugh Miller and Mr Joseph Logan.

Kennel Club Registration & Championship Status

The Club Registered with the Kennel Club in 1939 but little could take place during the war years. The first show with KC Challenge Certificates was held in 1946 and the CC's were Won by the dog Sensation of Bellrenia owned by Mr Prosser and the bitch Helengowan Saphire owned by Mr T Marshall. The following year the dog CC went to Ch Chapelburn Ivor owned by Mr and Mrs A McAdam and bred by the Misses Stewart one of whom was the then Club Secretary, The bitch CC was a repeat of 1946.

During the war the number of collies in the UK in general and Scotland in particular had declined drastically. Travel was still difficult and the very poor entries at our 1946 & 1947 Shows led to the withdrawal of our Ch status. This was not to be returned until 1970.

Nevertheless a number of famous dogs were bred in the post war years. These included Mr Lennox's Ch Dewshill Dynamite (1947) and the CC winner Dewshill Defence. Mr D McPherson's Ch Gunner of Glenturret (1957) and the CC winner Vanity of Glenturret who was Gunners dam. Mr J Richmond's Ch Campsieglen Wendy (1950) bred by Mr & Mrs McAdam. Mr W Tew's Ch Glenlusset Superb and Ch Glenlusset Thane Handled to their titles by Mrs M McAdam, Mr Watt's Ch Netherkeir Dulwych Diolite (1950) and CC winner Netherkeir Dulwych Dancing Lady - both bred by Mr Jarvis. Mr & Mrs McAdam's Ch Helengowan Cornriggs Catriona (also bred by Mr Jarvis) and their Home bred Champions Helengowan Starboy (1949) and Helengowan Superior (1950). Mrs McAdam is currently an Honorary Life Member of the Scottish Collie Club and still regularly attends dog shows both north and south of the Scottish Border. Indeed, she was guest of honour at the International Collie Conference dinner held the evening before our June 2003 Ch Show

A very important breeder in the Scottish scene was the late Mr Harry McLaren with his Narragansette Kennels. His Champions included the following:

Ch Claren of Narragansette (1955)
Ch Forth of  Narragansette (1957)
Ch Snogarth of Narragansette (1970)
Ch Theda of Narragansette (1974)

Theda was latterly owned by the brothers Mitchelson and was to be the last Scottish Champion for 20 years.

Harry McLaren had a long Association with the Scottish Collie Club as a member, breeder, exhibitor, Committee person, President and latterly Honorary Life Member. His interest in the breed survived until his death in May 1996 and he still maintained a kennel of Roughs up until that time.

Harry judged extensively both in the UK (including Crufts 1978) and overseas, being the only Scottish specialist judge to have the honour of judging the breed at Ch level in America.

Yet another Breeder/Exhibitor and Ch Show Judge with a long association with Scottish Collie Club was Mr Alec Semple of the Glencorse Collies, ably assisted by his late wife Peggy and son Ian. This Kennel was to provide some notable collies including Ch Glencorse Gloria (1967). Alec is an Honorary life member of the Scottish Collie Club and still attends meetings and shows as does his son Ian.

Although Technically Tom Wall was English, for much of the time his Fellview Kennels were located in Scotland and his stud dogs had a great influence on the breed in Scotland in the 1970's. His dogs included the following:

Ch Fellview Consort
Ch Fellview Monarch
Ch Fellview Shepherd Boy

Mr Ron Shepherd was also heavily involved with the Club in the sixties and seventies and he is probably best remembered for his s/w dog Ch Sandiacre Shake Hands who had a strong influence on the breed in Scotland in his day.

Post War Club Secretaries

The Post War Club Secretaries of the Scottish Collie Club were as follows:

The late Miss Stewart
The late Mr Bill Tew
The late Mr Alex Caldwell
Mr Ian Butchart (Currently President of SKC)
The late Mr John May
Mrs Betty Sillars
Mrs Nan Wilson
Mrs Gwen Hartley
Mr Crawford Taylor
Mr Alasdair Mackenzie
Mr Alex Baxter
Mrs Morag McCarte
The late Mr Peter McGowan
Mrs Aileen Gemmell
Mrs Gwen Hartley
Mrs I Ashe (current secretary)

Present Day Scottish Champions

This brings us up to the present and since 1994, ten new Scottish Champions have been campaigned to their title.

These are as follows

Mr & Mrs W Ritchie's bitch Ch Brilyn Almost a Princess at Aberquarrie(1994)
Mr & Mrs G. Hartley's home bred bitch Ch Roanburn Black Cherry (1994)
Mrs J Brown's home bred dog Ch Stronvar Silent Warrior (1994)
Mr & Mrs R Douglas's home bred bitch Ch Geosan Chocolate Box (1995)
Mr Crawford Taylor's bitch Ch Wannabe Ria'ly Loved at Ingledene (1996)
Mr & Mrs R Findlay's Scottish-bred Dog Ch Aintshe Salt'N'Shake at Firecraig (1997)
Mr & Mrs R Douglas's home bred bitch Ch Geosan Candy Box
(1999)
Miss Helen Kiltie's bitch Ch Steelhurst Star Addition at Camregan (2000)
Mr & Mrs R Douglas's home bred bitch Ch Geosan Chrismas Box (2001)
Mr & Mrs R McDowall's bitch Ch Jasand Blue Vein at Birmyre (2002)

In addition Ms Lyn Maxwll's Aintshe Kemmels have produced  a Scottish-based Irish Champion and an English based UK Champion as well as Ch Aintshe Salt'N'Shake at Firecraig . Likewise Mr & Mrs R Blaikie’s Kourika Kennels have produced a Scottish-bred English based UK Champion.

The Scottish Collie Club hold one Championship and two Open Shows each Year. This year (2003) our Championship Show was held at Springwood Park Kelso and hosted the International Collie Conference. Judges were Mrs A Hollywood (Amalie) Dogs and Mrs J Phillips (Philjanco) Bitches. Both CC winners at this show were Scottish owned and bred. Dog CC and Best of Breed was Mr & Mrs R McDowall’s home-bred blue Ch Birkmyre The Advocate and Bitch CC was Mr & Mrs R Douglas’s home bred s/w Geosan Money Box.

Due to our Geographical position we are neither the largest nor the most financially prosperous club in the UK but we are the oldest - not only in the UK but also world-wide. This is perhaps fitting given that Scotland is the country where our breed originated.

Crawford Taylor
(Life Member, Former Committee Member, Former Secretary, and Former President Scottish Collie Club). (June 2003)

© Mr Crawford Taylor