Welcome to Ring Patterns for February 2018, where we re-cap, month by month, the general achievements of the breed at specialties and all-breeds throughout the country. Everyone knows that February is always a busy month for the breed. It is short on days (and daylight) and long on activities. February 2018 continued that trend as there were 49 independent specialty shows held across the country in 10 states: Arizona, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, Missouri, California, North Carolina., Illinois, Massachusetts and Washington. The show that garnered the highest number of collies entered at a specialty was for Judge Laura Weiss at Panhandle Collie Club of West Virginia on Sunday, February 4 in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania. There were 81 collies entered and 67 exhibited – 53 roughs and 14 smooths. This was a 25 percent increase over February 2017. Judge Weiss was approved for the breed in May 2017.

At the same specialty circuit, Tim Garrison, judged the largest entry, examining 71 collies – 54 roughs and 17 smooths – at the Saturday afternoon show hosted by Collie Club of Western Pennsylvania on February 3. This show was the second of the four-show circuit combined with Panhandle Collie Club of West Virginia. Judge Garrison was approved for the breed in September 1982.

The 54 rough collies seen by Garrison was the largest number judged in that variety. The largest turnout for the Smooth Variety was at Collie Club of New Hampshire on February 18 for Judge Gayle Kaye with 31. The CC of New Hampshire and Collie Club of New England teamed up for five shows over the weekend and at two of the specialties the smooth entry slightly exceeded the rough entry under judges Michelle Esch Brooks (24 roughs and 27 smooths) and Mary Wells (23 roughs and 27 smooths).

At the Specialties: The month saw 30 collies – 14 dogs and 16 bitches, 25 roughs and 5 smooths, awarded Best in Specialty. In addition, 13 collies received multiple Best in Specialty awards, including 1 rough dog and 1 rough bitch, who both stood out with 5 or more Best of Breed awards during the month. See the full list below.

February Best of Breed Winners

Two collies with five or more Best of Breed awards: GCH Overland Red Moon Rising (awarded 6 BOB), CH Wyndlair Classique Incandescent (awarded 5 BOB)

11 collies with 2 Best of Breed awards in February: CH Twin City Blu Ridge Frozen Juell, GCHB Sealore's "A" List, GCHS Sunnland's Bright Lights Big City, GCHG Lochlaren Kings Valley Fire Within, GCH Tallywood Indulgence, GCHB Colebrae After Midnight, CH Gambit's Livin' The Dream, GCH Blu Ridge Triumph Brighter Than The Sun, CH Taliesin The Master Plan, CH Maverick Marauder, CH Blu Ridge Make Way

17 collies awarded 1 Best of Breed award in February: GCHB Aurealis I Am Whimsical, CH Twin City Declaration, GCHG Sunnland's Top Gun CGC RN HIC, GCH Creekwood Lochlomun I'll Be D'amned, CH Taliesin I've Got A Secret!, GCH Travler's Fortune and Glory, CH Kaigan The Black Pearl, Wyndlair Resurgence, Windcrest Lancashire Intrigue, CH Maverick Fanfare, CH Tairis Runnin' Down A Dream, Tairis Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This, GCH Scalloway's Lion Hunter, CH Windcrest Sundown Always Dreaming, GCHS Jereco's Simply Irresistible, CH Taradell's Legendary, CH Tokyo Jazz JP Champagne Shower

At the All-breeds: Collies accrued a dozen Group placements, including two Group 1 awards. Those Group 1 awards went to two collies – one each for the rough bitch, GCHG Sylvan Argent Hollywood And Vine under Judge Eric Liebes and for the rough dog, CH Cheviot Midnight Liaison under Judge Louise Palarik.

Other placements included three Group 2s, six Group 3s and one Group 4. Of all the placements, the Rough Variety came away with a ribbon eight times compared to four for the Smooth Variety.

Eight collies recorded group placements

Five Group-placing roughs: GCHG Sylvan Argent Hollywood And Vine (B), GCHB Wild Wind's Rev On The Red Line RN (D), GCH Markos Mirror Image (D), CH Cheviot Midnight Liaison (D), CH Taradells Legendary (D),

Three Group-placing smooths: GCHB Encore's 'N Zandrias Parlor Trick At Tercan (B), GCHS Lachki Dream Out Loud RN (D), GCHP Bandor's The Wyching Hour (D)

The largest number of herding dogs shown at a show in which a collie placed was 181 at Cyclone Country Kennel Club of Ames in Iowa on February 17. The award was a Group 1 and it went to the rough dog, CH Cheviot Midnight Liaison. The judge was Louise Palarik, who was approved for the breed in June 1995.

National Owner-handled Series: NOHS Herding Group judges placed collies seven times during the month. The roughs took four of those placements compared to three for the smooths. There was one owner-handled Group 1 award for rough collie, GCHB Wild Wind's Rev On The Red Line, RN. He also took a Group 3 in the Herding Group on the same day under Jack Ireland, who judged both Groups (Herding Group and O-H Group) at Plum Creek Kennel Club of Colorado.

NOHS award winners for February: GCH Scalloway's The Huntress, GCHB Wild Wind's Rev On The Red Line RN, GCHB Breezy Acre's In Your Face, CH Wild Wind's Should'Ve Been A Cowboy at Whisperingwind, GCH Oak Knolls Secret Flame

Congratulations to all!