One of the most exciting and greatest accomplishments to emerge from the Collie Club of America National Specialty show each year would easily have to be the winner of the Most Versatile Collie (MVC) award. The MVC is a competition held during the week of the National Specialty show. The recipients of the MVC award must compete and qualify in a minimum of three events during the week: conformation, obedience/rally, agility and herding. The reality is that it will most likely take competing in four events and in the most advanced classes. Not an easy feat and there are no shortcuts. It takes an incredible collie and a very dedicated owner to pull this off. What follows is a celebration of the dogs, the owners and the breeders along with a special interview with the owner of this years' winner of the MVC.
Success in the dog world is a two-way street. When an owner/trainer recognizes something special in a talented breeder's program and when a breeder recognizes the same talent in a special owner, you have the foundation for high achievement. There are three breeders out of sixteen who stand out for breeding multiple MVC Collies: Kathy Neil Magers of Rosehaeven Collies bred three collies with this honor, and Mary Jackson of Riverrun Collies and Robette and Stephen Johns of Row-Bar Collies bred two each. It's a very select group.
In 2023, "Topper" TC MACH 3 Riverrun Galatean Wyndham's Top Contender TD UD HXASD HXBD XF RN and owner Michelle Shoemaker repeated the Most Versatile Collie at the Collie Club of America National Specialty in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. The rough sable dog previously won in 2021 in Cheyenne, Wyoming making him only the second collie to repeat this win. Michelle also earned MVC in 2012 with her rough sable dog, "Scooter" GCH/MACH2/TC Riverrun Wyndham's Imagine That! CDX, RE, VX. What a run it has been for Wyndham Collies!
In 1998, the Most Versatile Collie (MVC) was awarded for the first time at the National Specialty in Virginia Beach, Virginia, thanks to Jim and Judy Smotrel whose passion for the breed made this award possible. The winner of the "pilot" competition was the smooth bitch, “Swing” Sunbriar Swing CD, PT owned by Kathy Stokey-Dillon. This team competed in all four CCA events (herding, obedience, agility and conformation). There were ten collies that competed for the MVC award in '98 and five of those collies qualified which was a great start for this competition.
There is another rough sable dog that must be acknowledged as he dominated the MVC awards at the National Specialty in the second half of the 2000s. His name is "Logan" and he won MVC an unprecedented six times in 2011 and 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Logan, TC MACH3 PACH2 Rosehaevens Summit Nobility UD PCDX RAE2 HSAds HSBds HIAds HIBd HXAdMsM HXBdM MXG MJB2 MXP5 MXPS MJP5 MJPS PAX2 XF T2B2 was only the second collie that Dr. Deanna Levenhagen ever owned. Then in 2019, following Logan's incredible run, Deanna and “Ranger” CH Rosehaevens Alpine Guardian CDX RAE MX MXJ XF T2B HSas MdM HSBd PT HT HIC CGC, took home the top MVC award.
Below is a list of the CCA's Most Versatile Collies from 2005 to 2023, including the first MVC in 1998. But first, we present an interview with Michelle Shoemaker about competing and winning this award at the 2023 CCA National Specialty.
COL: You have had great success at the National Specialty with your collies, earning MVC with “Scooter” in 2012 and winning MVC twice now with “Topper.” What stands out as the most memorable experience competing at the National with either one of these collies?
Michelle: My most memorable experience competing at the National for MVC was in 2012 with Scooter. I had never trained a dog through Utility in Obedience before Scooter so the poor dog had a very novice handler for this level of obedience. Much to my surprise he qualified in Utility A and Open B that day and won High Combined! Those who compete in obedience understand the difficulty of Utility then to qualify in such a high stress environment was really memorable for me. I think it was the surprise that we were able to put it all together that day.
COL: With Topper winning MVC at the National in 2021, did you approach this year's event with the same strategy from 2021 or did you change things up?
Michelle: Winning in 2021 was a bit easier for me as Topper was consistently competing in all venues that year. He was trialing at the highest levels in herding and agility but not obedience yet. We continued our regular training schedule to keep him sharp. 2023 was a bit more difficult because I had to bring him out of semi retirement in some of the sports and bring him back up to that level of competition. We had stopped herding lessons and though we continued training in obedience I was not trialing him. I had a litter of pups in 2022 and was quite occupied with training and showing the youngsters. We had to dust off and get back into herding and obedience at the highest level as Topper was now trialing in Utility in obedience. Herding was tough in 2023 as our lessons were a bit sporadic for a variety of reasons but he did not miss a step! Speaking of strategy to win this award -- I am sure everyone has a different thought. I entered Topper in everything he could do but I don’t always show him in the class. Classes are weighted for scores so once you have a score for that venue you can qualify for Most Versatile but in order to win you need to have as high as score as possible. For instance, I had also entered Topper in Rally classes at the National but did not show him. Since Obedience is much more difficult than Rally the scores are weighted. His obedience scores could not be beat by a Rally score so I chose not to trial him and let him have the afternoon off those days. You always need to be aware of fatigue with your dog over the week or competition.
COL: You have mentioned before that competing at the highest levels in herding and agility gives you a better chance for the MVC award. What classes did you enter Topper in for all the events? What were the results from each class?
Michelle: The 2023 National started with herding the first day. The weather was terrible that weekend and the site was a muddy mess. On Saturday, Topper was entered in Advanced A Course Sheep (1st place), Advanced A Course Ducks (2nd place), Advanced B Course Ducks (1st Place). Sunday we entered Advanced A Course Ducks (1st place), Advanced B Course Ducks (1st place). Monday and Tuesday we moved over to the agility site and on Monday he ran Master Standard (1st place) and FAST (1st place). We knocked a bar in JWW so no Q in that class. Tuesday Topper ran Master Standard (1st place) and T2B (1st place). Once again he took a bar in JWW. We packed up and changed sites and hotels again on Tuesday after the trial and stopped to bathe the dogs and head over for Obedience and breed. Wednesday Topper qualified in Open B (1st place) and on Thursday he qualified in Open B (1st place) and Utility B (1st place) and then won High Combined! Last, we showed in Herding Titles in Breed Competition and he won that class.
COL: Even with all the preparation before the National Specialty, I would think that competing in four events in a week's time at the CCA offers many outside variables that you cannot control that you must overcome. What are the things that can undo a great trial run or competition?
Michelle: Funny, when I read this question the first thought that came to my mind is the dog not feeling well. Being on the road, away from home, lots of stress, lots of cookies and days of competition can often cause a little bit of a problem. If the dog does not feel well you cannot expect the dog to perform well and be sharp. This is always my biggest concern. The rest of the stuff, bad weather, cantankerous stock, unexpected distractractions are all somewhat expected and hopefully you and your dog are well trained enough to deal with them. That being said, if you have a bad run you need to regroup and just continue on.
COL: Was there any point during the week when you thought “Topper” could repeat his Most Versatile Collie award that he earned in 2021?
Michelle: Once we started training again to prepare for the 2023 National, I thought he had a chance. He is such an honest, joyful worker and at the age of 5, a seasoned competitor. Every time I step to the line with Topper I feel confident in his ability to execute his job as long as I live up to my expectation! Obedience is always my concern at the utility level. This class is so difficult -- managing to qualify in it is always a relief. This year Topper won High Combined by qualifying in Open and Utility on the same day!
COL: Tell us about the highlights and special moments from the week that made the Most Versatile Collie award a reality for “Topper” again this year.
Michelle: There is a real camaraderie amongst the people competing for Most Versatile Collie at the National. This year I remember the mud at the herding trial and us hosing our dogs off in the cold and then carrying them to the car. They were just too dirty to put in the car let alone take to a hotel! It was a joy to watch the collies compete in agility. Our breed has made huge strides in this venue. We have a lot of fast, well trained collies with incredible skills. I love to watch a collie run and often think, “I would take that one home.” Obedience and Rally had some beautiful, animated working teams. Qualifying and winning High Combined was a very special moment for us. It is hard to explain the connection a handler has with their dog when you get to this level of training and competition. You know you are a team -- the dog knows he belongs to the team. When you step on any start line and you can feel the energy in the dog to play the game. He’s saying, “Put me in coach -- I’m ready to play!” This is what it’s all about!
CCA's Most Versatile Collies
2023 and 2021 :: "Topper"
TC MACH3 Riverrun Galatean Wyndham Top Contender TD UD HXASD HXBD XF RN :: Owned by Michelle Shoemaker :: Bred by Mary Jackson and Mary Robinschon
2022 :: "Tempest"
Belfair Colebrae Perpetual Motion CD BN RM2 RAE2 HSAs MX MXJ MJB XF BCAT SEA TKI RATN Tl-I :: Owned by: Chelsea Bloomberg, Alene Evans and Jennifer Laik :: Bred by Alene Evans and Jennifer Laik
2020 :: National Specialty cancelled
2019 :: "Ranger"
CH Rosehaevens Alpine Guardian CDX RAE MX MXJ XF T2B HSasMdM HSBd PT HT HIC CGC :: Owned by Dr. Deanna Levenhagen :: Bred by Kathy Neil Magers
2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2011 :: "Logan"
TC MACH3 PACH2 Rosehaevens Summit Nobility UD PCDX RAE2 HSAds HSBds HIAds HIBd HXAdMsM HXBdM MXG MJB2 MXP5 MXPS MJP5 MJPS PAX2 XF T2B2 :: Owned by Dr. Deanna Levenhagen :: Bred by Kathy Neil Magers
2012 :: “Scooter"
GCH/MACH2/TC Riverrun Wyndham's Imagine That! CDX, RE, VX :: Owned by Michelle Shoemaker :: Bred by Mary Benedict and Mary Jackson
2010 :: “Zephyr”
Am./Can.Ch. Signet's "Way To Go!" Woodruff, Can.(DD, HI, SDI,CDX, AgX, AgXJ, RX), Am.(CDX, HSAs, RE, NA, NAJ), STDs, HRDI, RLFI, HTADI, ExStBronze, EAC, TN-E, TG-O, OCC, OJC, HP-N, RXMCL, CGC, CRTX, VX :: Owned by Marilyn Clayton. :: Bred by Michael, Joseph, Michelle and Tess Esch
2009 :: “Claire”
UGRACH UCD CH MACH Row-Bar's Branestorm Challenge 'Er CDX HSAs OAP OJP OF RN ROM-P EAC ECC EJC TG-E O-TN-E WV-O RS-O JS-E GS-O CGC VX :: Owned by Michele and Brian Brane and Robette and Stephen Johns :: Bred by Robette and Stephen Johns
2008 :: “Stryker”
CH Rosehaevens What A Catch CD RE PT AX AXJ NF STDs CCA-VX AWCA-VC :: Owned by Carol Dunton :: Bred by Kathy Neil
2007 :: "Sean"
DC HTCh Savoy's Spy Master by Nirvana, CD, HXAsd, HXBsd, AX, AXJ :: Owned by Ericka Wojack and Vicki Roye :: Bred by Sherry Moss
2006 :: “Rowan”
CH Deep River Karizma's Rowan UD, MX, MXJ, PT (2/3 HSAs) ASCA-CD, AAD, RM, JM, SCH, TT :: Owned by Sue Klein :: Bred by Kathy Moll and Ruth Bennett
2005 :: “Cody”
"Cody" VCH Am/Can CH Row-Bar Wynhaven Dakota Sky, CDX, RN, HSAds, HIAds, MX, MXJ, NF, BPD, VX :: Owner: Yvonne Evans-Wynn and Mitch Wynn :: Bred by Robette and Stephen Johns
1998 :: "Swing"
"Swing" Sunbriar Swing CD, PT :: Bred and owned by Kathy Stokey-Dillon
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