The South West corner of England although often
producing important kennels had never been associated
with the Collie’s development until the early post war period when they made a significant contribution to the breed’s ultimate regeneration.

Initial attempts at establishing a regional society were disappointing, but after advertising for support sufficient interest was shown to gain Kennel Club registration for the West of England Collie Society in March 1949, with founder members Mr Fred Daw ‘Frienell’ as President, and Mr B. Findley holding the secretarial reigns for the first four years before passing them to Mrs H. Collins ‘Riffelsee’, another founder member who is better known to today’s
fanciers as Hazel Hunt ‘Rifflesea’.

The West of England Collie Society’s first show held at the
Bristol Cattle Market, which took place in the autumn of 1949,
introduced five new trophies, all solid silver at the insistence of
the club’s first Chairman Mr Armitage. At the Society’s first
Championship Show in September 1956, the judge
Mr S. A. Martin ‘Sylvestrel’ gave Mr Frank Mitchell a day to
remember with three bitches in the challenge, including
Sceptre of Glenmist, winning from puppy, with the dog
ticket going to Lancelot of Overmist, both winning
their only Challenge Certificate on the day.

Championship status was withdrawn for the
following year, but returned in 1959 for a three
year run before the Society once again
reverted to Open Show status, until
Championship status finally returned
for an almost thirty year run in 1969.

right – Bitch CC: Sceptre of Glenmist

winning her only Challenge Certificates from Puppy at the West of England Collie Society’s 1st Championship Show in September 1956,
beating her dam Ch Riffelsee Reward of Glenmist into the Reserve spot.

With the show established as a popular annual event the Kennel
Club decided to reduce the Challenge Certificate allocation for
Rough Collies in 1996, deeming it necessary to curtail the number available at Breed Club shows to 13 each year. This to be accomplished by the West of England Collie Society and the Collie Club of Wales holding Championship Shows on alternate years, although a special dispensation was granted for the club’s Golden Jubilee year celebrations in 1999.

The West of England Collie Society has always taken a keen interest in health matters, for many years holding an annual eye testing session in conjunction with one of its shows, whilst the ‘Round Up’, edited by Mrs Hazel Hunt, which became freely available to all members in 1979, has, over the years, highlighted many topics of interest to the exhibitor/breeder.

The West of England Collie Society’s current aims and objective shall be:

To promote the breeding and exhibition of the pedigree Collie – Rough and Smooth

To help and encourage the novice and small breeder

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

Membership is open to all.

For more details about what the West of England Collie Society has to offer
please contact the secretary
or visit the West of England Collie Society pages on Collie Net.