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. May was another incredible month for Collies and their dedicated breeders, owners and handlers. Participation at the specialties and all-breeds with Collies continues on . . .

There were 16 specialties – 10 independent and 6 designated – held in 7 states. The shows started in Utah, then went onto Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan and concluded with Minnesota on the last weekend of the month. Collies took placements at all six all-breed shows that hosted designated specialties, including two shows in which both varieties were awarded group placements – an outcome, that is generally not common.

The specialty show that received the highest entry of collies was shared by Judges Shelley Roos and Lily Russell at Indiana Collie Club on Saturday and Sunday, May 12 and 13 in Franklin, Indiana. There were 84 collies entered at both shows. The show was held along with the prestigious Kem Memorial Sweepstakes judged by Pati Merrill.

Judge Roos also presided over the largest entry, surveying 72 collies – 40 roughs and 32 smooths with just 2 more smooth entries than Judge Russell. Roos was approved to judge in May 1998. Russell was approved for the breed in July 2009.

May Best of Breed Winners

May was a month that saw seven different collies taking Best of Breed. The lineup of winners included three rough dogs, three rough bitches and one smooth bitch. There were two collies this month that were awarded multiple Best of Breed awards: GCHB Alaric Hold My Heart and GCH Taliesin Fresh Powder O'Paray. GCHS Jereco's Simply Irresistible also stood out with awards at both an Independent specialty and multiple designated specialties.

One Best of Breed awarded to five collies in May: CH Overland Walk This Way At Pinemeade, GCH Tallywood Indulgence, GCH Marnus Trip It On The Light Fantastick, CGC, GCH Taliesin The Masterplan, GCHS Jereco's Simply Irresistible.

At the all-breeds: There was lots of love for the Collie at the all-breed shows in May. The month recorded two Best in Shows for the rough dog, GCH Anjay's Illusion under judges James Frederiksen and James Noe, two Reserve Bests in Show for the rough dog, GCHS Taradells Silent Leader, HT, under Judges Kenneth Berg and Terry DePietro and one Reserve Best in Show for the rough bitch, GCH Tallywood Indulgence under Judge William Shelton.

Collies accrued 38 Herding Group placements, including the highest number of Group 1 placements for a month through the first five months – 12. The extra large blue ribbon went to the following collies: GCH Tallywood Indulgence (B), GCHG Creekwood Miss Behavin' (B), GCH Anjay's Illusion (D), GCHS Aurealis Endeavour (D), GCHS Jereco's Simply Irresistible (B), GCHS Taradells Silent Leader, HT (D), Highcroft Fame And Fortune (D) and GCH Travler's Catching Zzzzz (D).

These are the judges who elevated the Collie as the top herding dog of the day: Lynda Saranchuk, Lynette Saltzman, James Frederiksen, Joan Kefeli, Raymond Filburn, Jr., Peter Frost, Linda More, Terry DePietro, Klaus Anselm, Murrel Purkhiser, Joe Purkhiser, Col., AF, Ret., and Shelley Hennessy. A total of 22 different collies recorded placements in May – 16 roughs and 6 smooths.

Other placements included 11 Group 2s, 11 Group 3s and 5 Group 4s. Of all the placements, the Rough Variety came away with a ribbon 32 times compared to 6 for the Smooth Variety.

Group placing collies total 22 in May

Roughs placing in the group – 16: GCH Tallywood Indulgence (B), GCH Highcroft Debonair (D), GCHS Taradells Silent Leader, HT (D), GCH Glenshire You Make Me Smile (B), GCHB Sylvan Argent Pumped Up Kicks (D) CH Valley Park Serendipity At Baldwin Ridge (D), Alcor Just Ducky (B), CH Anjay's Illusion (D), GCHS Aurealis Endeavour (D), GCH Glenshire Peaches And Cream (B), GCH Highcroft St. Germaine Wildfire (D), GCH Karachristo Moon River Of Strathmoor (D) GCHB Scalloway's Lion Hunter (D),GCHG Sylvan Argent Hollywood And Vine (B) CH Highcroft Bond Girl (B) Highcroft Fame And Fortune (D).

Smooths placing in the group – 6: CHG Creekwood Miss Behavin' (B), GCHP Bandor's The Wyching Hour (D), GCHS Lachki Dream Out Loud, RN (D), GCHS Jereco's Simply Irresistible (B), GCHB Travler Sugarnspice Witches Do Come Blue (D), GCH CH Travler's Catching Zzzzz (D)

The largest number of herding dogs shown at a show in which a collie placed was 234. It happened at Grand Rapids Kennel Club in Kalamazoo, Michigan – the same show as the Midwest Collie Club designated specialty on May 26, where Dana Cline judged the breed. The award was a Group 2 and it went to the rough bitch, GCHG Sylvan Argent Hollywood And Vine. The Herding Group judge was Harry (Butch) Schulman.

There were three judges that placed both varieties in the group. At two of those shows designated specialties were held earlier in the day: Judge Lynette Saltzman at Trenton Kennel Club (Keystone Collie Club) with a Group 1 for the Smooth and Group 4 for the Rough, James Frederiksen at Magic Valley Kennel Club with a Group 1 for the Rough and a Group 4 for the Smooth, and Linda More with a Group 1 for the Smooth and a Group 3 for the Rough at Key City KC (Minnesota Collie Club). More also judged the breed at the designated specialty earlier in the day.

National Owner-handled Series: Herding Group judges placed collies 30 times in the AKC's National Owner-handled Series. The placements included five Group 1s, two for the Rough Variety and three for the Smooth Variety. Smooths took 20 placements and the Roughs took 10.

NOHS award winners for May: GCH Highcroft Longview London Fog , GCH Glenshire You Make Me Smile, GCHB Markos Just-n-time-4-showtime, BN, RE, CGC, TKA, GCHB Tir Nan' Og Brighton The Night Of Willow Fox Farm, CH Liege's Playing For The Ashes, GCHS Windkist 's Ain'T No Rest For The Wicked, RAE2, PT, NA, NAJ, OAP, OJP, OF, XFP, CAA, CH Wyldrose Anticipation, CH Miholiday's Ramblin Rose, CGC, TKN, Barramist's Super Bowl MVP, CH Windkist Perfect Storm, RN, CGCA, TKI, GCHB Creekwood Lochlomun I'Ll Be D'amned, Riverwind's Mystery Solved, GCHB CH 5c's Little Boy Blue, CH Gambit's Sunkissed Grand Illusion, Riverwind's Mystery Solved, CH Heatherfield Legacy Of Love, GCH Wild Wind's Too Good To Be Tru, CH Highcroft Envision The Future, GCH Travler's Catching Zzzzz.

All we can say is, "Wow! Congratulations to all."