Of the 182 Challenge Certificates, 91 sets, on
offer to Smooth Collies during the period
under review 57 were awarded to Smooths
carrying the PETERBLUE affix, making this
kennel easily the most successful whether
viewed as a showing or breeding kennel.
Mrs Joan Hill’s SELSKAR kennel also
continued to fly the Smooth Collie flag,
although somewhat behind with a mere 25 Challenge
Certificates during the same period. Other successful recruits to the fancy included
Mrs B. Hodgetts COTSBELLE, Miss P. Hindes CHICNOIR, Mrs Judy White, nee Plummer, DANCERWOOD, and towards the end of the decade the JALONDA kennel of Mr & Mrs Liversidge.
Smooth exhibitors have always been more prepared to campaign their Collies throughout their lives so that multiple Challenge Certificate winners have never been the exception. Tom Purvis of DANVIS fame could always be relied upon to exhibit only the best, and coming, as he did, from the North East, which many consider the ancestral home of the Smooth Collie, always had a soft spot for a good Smooth. Few could have suspected when Tom piloted the home bred almost fourteen month old Danvis Blue Prince to the Reserve Best of Sex at Blackpool 1961 that he would go on to become the decade’s most successful winner amassing a total of thirteen Challenge Certificates in a little under four years.
