Welcome to Ring Patterns, the Colliesonline.com feature where we re-cap, month by month, the general achievements of the breed at specialties and all-breeds throughout the country. The 11th month of the year contained 16 specialties held in five states: Ohio, California, Tennessee, Oregon and Alabama.

The specialty show that received the highest entry of collies was for Judge Mary Benjamin at Cleveland Collie Club on Saturday, November 11 in Medina, Ohio. There were 68 collies entered at this Sunday morning specialty show. Judge Benjamin also judged the largest entry, surveying 60 collies – 35 roughs and 25 smooths. She was approved to judge in August of 1984.

November Best of Breed Winners

The lineup of Best of Breed winners included one smooth dog, one veteran smooth dog, two smooth bitches, six rough dogs and two rough bitches. There were two collies, the rough dog, GCHS Aurealis Endeavour and the rough bitch, CH West Point Army Brat awarded multiple Best of Breed awards. CH West Point Army Brat's first Breed win was from the classes.

One Best of Breed awarded to 10 collies in November: GCHP Calibre's Key To The Fortune (S/D), GCHB Kirkhaven Sandman Dream Chaser (Veteran S/D), CH Demuir Heiress At First Light (S/B), GCHB Demuir Barefoot Contessa (S/B), GCH Aurealis Zandria's Winning Colors (R/D), CH Skyview Advantage (R/D), GCH Highcroft St. Germaine Wildfire (R/D), CH Country Cove Hay And Honey, GCH Monarch Clarion Promise Me The Night (R/D), Marnus Reason To Believe (R/D – from the classes).

At the all-breeds: Collies accrued 17 Herding Group placements in November. A total of 12 different collies recorded placements – eight roughs and four smooths. Placements included three Group 2s, seven Group 3s and seven Group 4s. Of all the placements, the Rough Variety came away with a ribbon 11 times compared to 6 for the Smooth Variety.

Group placing collies total 12 in November

Roughs placing in the group – eight: GCHB Oak Knolls Secret Flame (D), GCHS Scalloway's Lion Hunter (D), Calavar Heart's Desire (B), Clearvu Magic Sterling Silver Angel (B), GCHS Taradells Silent Leader, HT (D), GCHB Wild Wind's Rev On The Red Line, RA, Fantasy's Just Dream On (B), GCH Kaigan The Black Pearl (B)

Smooths placing in the group – four: GCH Qualteri Lazurite Island Tryst (D), GCHS Travler Sugarnspice Witches Do Come Blue (D), GCHS Creekwood Lochlomun I'll Be D'amned (D), GCH Nirvana's Sunshines Ghost Rider, BN, HSAd, HXAd, FDC, CGC, TKA (D)

The largest number of herding dogs exhibited at a show in which a collie placed was 255. It was at Lima Kennel Club in Columbus, Ohio on November 17. The award was a Group 4 and it went to the rough class bitch, Fantasy's Just Dream On. The Herding Group judge was Sharon Newcomb (initial breed – Shetland Sheepdogs).

National Owner-handled Series: Herding Group judges placed collies 25 times in the AKC's National Owner-handled Series along with a Reserve Best Owner-handled in Show for the rough dog, GCHB Oak Knolls Secret Flame. The placements included nine Group 1s, seven for the Rough Variety and two for the Smooth Variety. Smooths took 11 placements and the Roughs took 14.

NOHS Group Award Placements for November: GCH Heatherfield Legacy Of Love, CH Capella's Mirabeau Blue Dakota Wynde, GCH Miholiday Crown Jewel Of Party Paws, CGC, TKI, GCHS Windkist's Ain't No Rest For The Wicked, RAE2, PT, NA, NAJ, OAP, OJP, OF, XFP, CAA, GCHB Breezy Acre's In Your Face, Calavar The Music Man, Calavar Heart's Desire, GCHB Oak Knolls Secret Flame, GCHB Wild Wind's Rev On The Red Line, RA, Stonehaven Trinity Knockin On Heaven's Door, CH Sugarnspice Creekwood Ha Cha Cha, GCH Highcroft Polar Express, NAP, OJP, Star Country Smallmont Stolen Kiss, GCHS Creekwood Lochlomun I'll Be D'amned, CH Nehani's Enchanting Graybrier Baron, GCHB Markos Just-n-time-4-showtime, CD, BN, RE, CGC, TKA, GCH Kaigan The Black Pearl, CH Special Sealore's The Glamorous Life

Congratulations to all.