Breed Notes
25th November 2022

A few updates for you all, firstly Collie Association, to be held 27th Nov at Coventry will be held in the Main Hall area, as the venue have “Double Booked” their usual Arena Hall. All other arrangements remain as before
Secondly, a note for your 2023 Diary concerning a revised date for Welsh Kennel Club on August 17th, which is the same day as Collie Club of Wales Ch Show. Due to Kennel Club changes, WKC have gone to a 4 day show with Working & Pastoral on THURSDAY, so please make a note. The judges for these shows are Eleanor Kitchen (Seriema) at WKC and at CCW, Sue Randall (Dogs) and Lene Newman (Bitches)
Thirdly, news concerning the new venue for the RCOTY event. Organised by Jo Hodges, on behalf of British Collie Club. The new venue will be  Delta by Marriott  Nottingham Belfry, Mellors Way, Nottingham. NG8 6PY.  Central Reservations contact number will be: 0330.1071.599 FOR ALL BOOKINGS. Costs will be Double/Twin Room £90, Single £85 INCLUDING BREAKFAST. Dogs are allowed in the rooms at £20 per dog. The cost of the Hot Buffet is £30.00
Sad news has come through concerning one of the life members of Collie Club of Wales, Norma Nicholas. Maybe a name that some of the “newer exhibitors” are not familiar with.
Back in the 70’s two very young ladies, Karen and Lynda Nicholas eventually persuaded Mum (Norma) and Dad (John) to have a collie and subsequently registered the Kennel Name, Nickarlyn, a combination of family names. Starting at ring craft classes, progressing to Open shows , Junior Handling,  and eventually at Ch Shows these two young girls started to be noticed, not for their ages, but for the quality of the collies they showed and by the early 1980’s were a standard feature around ringside. Mum, never showed the collies but, if memory serves me well, often took photos of the major winners at each show attended and I do hope these are still around in the family as I am sure many of us would love to see them.
Some of the dogs housed at Nickarlyn were, Damirayn Double Diamond at Nickarlyn, Matai Golden Days at N, Chaiquinta Carousel at N and then the homebred collies, Nicolette, Naughty Naughty, Never Say Die, Neapolitan Ice, just to name a few and in 1979, from Judge Len Green (Coverdale’s) at Crufts they annexed Special Junior, Special Yearling, Graduate and the Reserve CC. Both ladies have continued in various ways in the canine world, Karen is now a qualified Veterinary Surgeon and Lynda has Cockers and has maintained her interest in Roughs and is currently working her way through the judging procedures. To all concerned, I am sure we send our sympathies at this sad time.
Finally, Lynda Boyle messaged to say that subject to KC Confirmation, her blue bitch, Monsolana Madam Blues Over Barrenclough should be able to add VW, which is a Veteran Warrant to her name, so in future she will also carry ShCm and a VW for future shows. Lynda also let me know as she is campaigning 3 others to this award, it is now “1 down and 3 to Go” – so good luck.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)