|
|
Southern Border Collie Club – Our History
The Southern Border Collie Club was founded in 1979; the founders' meeting of what was initially called The Border Collie Society was held on the 25th February. In her opening words Mary Gascoigne remarked that now things were moving the new club would be able to 'gain strength and momentum and eventually become the main force in the Border Collie world'.
At the Club's first AGM in 1980 Chairman Iris Combe said that the club was Mary Gascoigne's 'baby' and 'let's hope it grows from strength to strength'. It did and continues to do so.
During 1982 the club planned and held its first Seminar; this was held in August and although attendance was low it was regarded as a success for a first attempt – speakers were Joyce Collis, Felix Cosme, Monica Boggia and Mary Gascoigne. Our seminars go from strength to strength, now ably organised by Secretary Karen Angier. For details of the next seminar please email
Karen.
A major milestone in the club's history came in 1984 when the club was granted Championship Status for 1986, the judges appointed were Iris Combe who judged dogs and Group Captain Sutton who judged the bitches.
The club has always supported the other Border Collie clubs and in 1987 gave its support to Felix Cosme in his successful attempt to form the East Anglian Border Collie Club and then supported the formation of the Border Collie Club of Wales in 1990.
The club has twice hosted the Border Collie of the Year contest, in 1991 and 1999 and will be doing so again in 2008, hosting BCOTY 2007. The venue in 1991 and 1999 was Larkfield Village Hall, current home to the club's open breed shows.
SBCC played an active part in the formation of the Border Collie Breed Council and to this day SBCC is still an active, participatory member.
In 2000 founder members John and Mary Gascoigne both decided the time had come to stand down from the committee after 21 years; sadly theirs was not to be a long retirement as Mary passed away in early 2005. Without Mary there would be no Southern Border Collie Club and her work for the breed and the club will be long remembered.
The Southern Border Collie Club has passed the milestone of its Silver Jubilee in 2004 with a secure financial position and a hardworking committee who are full of new and innovative ideas. Our aims have not changed since that inaugural meeting 25 years ago – and there is no reason for them to change. The Border Collie comes first. Our members matter to us and it is our intention to be there for them whenever we are needed, to help in whatever way we can. We are an approachable committee, we work for our members and their dogs, all are welcome at all of our events, whatever the discipline and we look forward to continuing the aims of the club which are:
'to preserve the working attributes of the breed, to encourage responsible ownership, to endeavour to safeguard the breed from exploitation by breeders, the promotion, general care and well being of the breed both on the field and in the show ring'.
Hilary Kerr, Chairman.
|
