Not surprisingly the shear volume of new
fanciers encouraged the establishment of
further regional breed clubs, and by the end
of the decade their number had increased to
fourteen covering all areas of the British
Isles. The Kennel Club rewarding the best by
granting Championship status to regional club
shows, which it had not done since the First
World War. In Rough Collies London Collie
Club were the first to be elevated to this status
in 1955, when Nadine George BEULAH did the
double under all-rounder Mr Jimmy Garrow. The following year West of England Collie Society staged their first Championship event where Mr Frank Mitchell, GLENMIST gained 1sts from Mr S. A. Martin SYLVESTRAL with three separate bitches, adding both the ticket for Sceptre of Glenmist, and reserve for her dam Riffelsee Reward of Glenmist.
Smooth Collie fortunes continued to languish in the doldrums during the first half of the decade, and after an annual registration figure of just 14 in 1951 few could have been surprised that once again the Kennel Club considered interest insufficient to support Championship status, withdrawing CCs in 1953, only to re-instated them in 1954 when annual registration figures had climbed into the thirties.
Whilst established breeders and exhibitors lamented the lack of opportunities to promote the Smooth variety, two unrelated events contributed more to the breed’s future viability than any others, and in doing so ensured the Smooth Collie’s survival, and continued Championship status.
