"Topper" continues to live up to his name. We are talking about the rough sable dog TC MACH4 Riverrun Galatean Wyndham's Top Contender, VCD2 UD RN HSAds HSBd HSDs HIAs HIBd HXAds HXBd MXB2 MJS2 XF NFP owned, trained and handled by Michelle Shoemaker of Wyndham Collies. Topper has now earned the title of winning the Most Versatile Collie Award at the Collie Club of America National Specialty four times in the past five years. With his latest award coming in 2025 at the CCA National Specialty in Syracuse, New York. He added this accomplishment to the previous three times he earned MVC in Peoria, Illinois (2024), Ft. Wayne, Indiana (2023) and Cheyenne, Wyoming (2021).
Topper was sired by CH Riverrun Galatean Golden Lion, out of CH Riverrun Galatean A Singular Sensation. He was bred by Mary and Jillian Jackson of Riverrun Collies and Mary and Rose Robischon of Galatean Collies.
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. What follows is an interview with the owner of the 2025 MVC award, Michelle Shoemaker, and a full list of all the MVC recipients.
COL: Topper has now earned the Most Versatile Collie (MVC) award three years in a row and four out of the last five years. Tell us about the highlights from the week of the competition.
Topper won his 4th Most Versatile Collie at the 2025 National. He has won the title the last 4 times we attended the National and he competed. There were a few highlights from this year’s National for me. My proudest moment was qualifying in Advanced A sheep at Raspberry Ridge Farm. The sheep at this farm were difficult as they were very opportunistic and took advantage of any weakness you or your dog had. Advanced is the most difficult class as the handler must remain at a post and direct the dog to move the sheep around the course and through obstacles. We did not qualify on the course the first day, but I did learn a lot watching the sheep’s behavior on the course. The second day, Topper and I worked really hard and well as a team. He took commands precisely and I stayed calm. I was thrilled when we closed the gate and I knew we had qualified. He was the only Advanced dog to qualify on sheep over the two days. Since scores for MVC are weighted by class difficulty - qualifying in Advanced is almost necessary to win. The second highlight was at the agility trial where Topper managed to win High in Trial both days! He did this at the National in Wyoming too. To win High in Trial you must qualify in both Master Standard, Master Jumpers and have the fastest overall time. Topper is now 8 years old so his times are slower than in his prime. On the second day, he took second place in his first run so I knew we had to push it on his second run and he picked up the needed time! Topper is such a perfect partner in all the sports. We have had so many career highlights over the last 4 years at the National. I am grateful that our national club continues to support our collies showing off their versatility.
COL: Considering that Topper turned 8 years old this year, does your game plan change as he ages?
Michelle: Topper turned 8 this past April so this was probably his last National competing for Most Versatile, not because of his age but because of the distance to travel for the next couple of years. Competing for Most Versatile means our National is 8 days long so adding travel time to both ends just makes the next few trips a bit too daunting. Topper continues to compete in agility and we are headed to Orlando, Florida for AKC Agility Invitationals in December. He also continues to compete in obedience where he currently has 8 UDX legs and was invited to the National Obedience Championship and finally we would like to complete his TDX in 2026. Most of my collies continue to compete in sports until they turn about 11 or 12. I am planning on a couple of great years ahead with him.
COL: How did this year compare to the previous three times that Topper earned the MVC award?
Michelle: I felt much more pressure/stress this year than the previous years during the competition. During the year Topper competes mostly in agility and we train tracking. I essentially take him out of retirement in herding and obedience in January and start training but getting a dog back to competition shape at the most advanced level in those sports is difficult. Herding training is hit and miss due to the weather in the winter. Obedience is the most difficult sport for us. I am not great at training or trialing in obedience so it remains our weakest link. This year I competed with Topper, two of his sons ("Keeper" and "Jax") and a daughter ("Mink"). Getting all those dogs trained and then showing them all in the various sports was a bit much. I really wanted to concentrate on Topper and the youngsters were not my priority yet they took up a lot of time and mental energy. I knew Topper was the dog to beat so I had to concentrate when I was working him. I was so happy when he qualified in Open B obedience - then the pressure was off!
Topper is an incredible dog. He not only competes at the highest level of these sports but he excels in all he does. He has passed on his enthusiasm and work ethic to his kids and they are doing great in their sports. Four of his kids competed for Most Versatile at the 2025 National. I am grateful the CCA supports the versatility of our breed at the National by showcasing it with this award.
Collie Club Of America Most Versatile Collies by Year
2025, 2024, 2023
(2025, Syracuse, New York :: 2024, Peoria, Illinois :: 2023, Ft. Wayne, Indiana)
"Topper," TC MACH4 Riverrun Galatean Wyndham's Top Contender, VCD2 UD RN HSAds HSBd HSDs HIAs HIBd HXAds HXBd MXB2 MJS2 XF NFP :: Owned by Michelle Shoemaker :: Bred by Mary Jackson and Mary Robischon
2022 :: Sandy, Utah
"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
2021 :: Cheyenne, Wyoming
"Topper," TC MACH4 Riverrun Galatean Wyndham's Top Contender, VCD2 UD RN HSAds HSBd HSDs HIAs HIBd HXAds HXBd MXB2 MJS2 XF NFP :: Owned by Michelle Shoemaker :: Bred by Mary Jackson and Mary Robischon
2020 CCA Cancelled
2019 :: Peoria, Illinois
"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
(2018, Virginia Beach, Virginia :: 2017, Sacramento, California :: 2016, Louisville, Kentucky :: 2015 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma :: 2014 Springfield, Ohio)
"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
2013 :: La Crosse, Wisconsin
DC Ability's Rock Star, CD RE HXADs HSBs HXBd HXAd NA NAJ NF :: Owned by Jeanine Blaner :: Bred by Linda Holloway
2012 :: Oaks, Pennsylvania
"Scooter," GCH/MACH2/TC Riverrun Wyndham's Imagine That! CDX, RE, VX :: Owned by Michelle Shoemaker :: Bred by Mary Benedict and Mary Jackson
2011 :: Tulsa, Oklahoma
"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
2010 :: Pomona, California
“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 :: Springfield, Massachusetts
"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 :: La Crosse, Wisconsin
“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 :: Concord, North Carolina
"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 :: Boise, Idaho
"Rowan," CH Deep River Karizma's Rowan, UD MX MXJ PT ASCA-CD AAD RM JM SCH TT :: Owned by Sue Klein :: Bred by Kathy Moll and Ruth Bennett
2005 :: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
"Cody," VCH Am/Can CH Row-Bar Wynhaven Dakota Sky, CDX RN HSAds HIAds MX MXJ NF BPD VX :: Owned by Yvonne Evans-Wynn and Mitch Wynn :: Bred by Robette and Stephen Johns
1998 :: Virginia Beach, Virginia
"Swing," Sunbriar Swing, CD PT :: Bred and owned by Kathy Stokey-Dillon
Related feature:
Celebrating CCA's Most Versatile Collies :: 2023 Collies Online Performance Week
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