One or more AKC herding trials and tests, and the BCCA herding instinct test may be held yearly at the national specialty. A herding trial chair is selected by the regional or other club that sponsors the specialty and he/she is responsible for establishing a herding committee, determining the number of trials and events (course, stock, level), selecting judges from the list provided by the BCCA Herding Committee and, the other tasks necessary for a trial.
Some trial chairs have prior experience; for those relatively new to being a trial chair, this Checklist may be useful.
Standing Rules cover how judges for the event are selected and for the trophies awarded.
Judge Selection. The specialty herding trial chair sends a notice to the BCCA recording secretary for publication in the January Bagpipes following the fall BCCA annual board meeting that selects the sponsoring club for the specialty two years later. The announcement consists of the SR – which invites BCCA membership to submit nominations for the herding judges to the BCCA Herding Committee chair. In their nomination a member is asked to list their highest herding title and to comment on why a judge is being nominated. The nomination period is 60 days. The nominees are reviewed by the BCCA Herding Committee and an ad hoc committee consisting of BCCA members with a started title or higher, from AKC point regions closest to the specialty location. A final list of judges and the reasons for their selection is sent to the national specialty trial chair in 2 weeks.
Specialty Trophies for Competition During the National Specialty Herding Event.
Over the years different trophies have been offered to winners in different categories at each national specialty herding trial. The relevant standing rule for each and the winners are listed below with active trophies first and retired trophy last.
Active Trophies
02/08-01. Faith Memorial Challenge Trophy (retired Sept 2021).
“The Faith Memorial Challenge Trophy” in memory of HC Artisan Starlight HXAs HX is approved, to be offered by Cindy Mendonca. This challenge trophy is to be awarded to the Beardie Collie Bitch with the highest combined score on sheep earned during the National Herding Event(s) each year until retired, commencing at 2008 National Specialty, using qualifying scores from A, B, and/or C course or any combination of these courses. The trophy will be a hand-painted slice of agate mounted on wood on which there will be a place for the years and the names of the winners. This trophy is offered on a three-time win basis. For permanent possession, this trophy must be won three times at three different National Specialty Herding Event(s) by the same owner, not necessarily with the same bitch.
Winners
2008 – Harvest Mystic Dream, Barbara Burton
2009 – Wigglesworth Party Favor – Terry Manganiello and Sharon Isper
2010 – Chantilly Dusta Ol Fashion Love Song – Mary Lott
2011 – Barnhollow’s Worth The Wait – Maryann Groves
2012 – Chaniam Liath Keelin – Tish Pollock
2013 – Artisan Mystic Crystal – Janet and Russell Kittel
2014 – Lil’ Clove Hello Poppet – Trudy Wisner
2015 – Pentangle’s if You Please – Deb Thomas
2016 – Balderdash Taylored in Vermont – Sonja Blanchard
2017 – Tweeddale’s Star Spangled – Terry Johnson & Linda Porter
2018 – Runningmtn Hairloom Rise Up Shepherd – Lynne Corn
2019 – Runningmtn Justine Morgan – Lynne Corn
2020 – Spicewood Mysterious Shaded Light – Barbara Claxton
2021 – Runningmtn Hairloom Rise Up Shepherd – Lynne Corn
02/08-02. Boone Memorial Trophy.
“The Boone Memorial Trophy” in memory of Am. Can. Ch. Artisan Bronze Paladin HXAs HX is approved, offered by Ann Witte, to be awarded annually to the Beardie Collie Dog with the highest combined score on sheep earned during the National Herding Event(s) each year, using qualifying scores from A, B, and/or C course or any combination of these courses. Offered on a limited lifetime basis, individual trophies will be awarded annually for a period of 25 years. The first trophy will be awarded at the 2008 National Specialty, with the final trophy being awarded at the 2032 National Specialty. Individual annual trophies will be small replicas of a bronze sculpture of a Bearded Collie facing off a Scottish Blackface ram mounted on a wooden base. The original sculpture, upon which each year’s winner will be recorded, will be displayed at all National Specialties and remain in the permanent possession of the BCCA.
Winners
2008 –Britannia Zoots Me Fine – Sharon Prassa and Michele Ritter
2009 –Britannia Zoom To Spare – Joyce & Hank Price and Michele Ritter
2010 – Pentangle’s Captain Jack – Joanne Williamson
2011 – Britannia Flashback – Joanne Williamson and Michele Ritter
2012 – Woodsong’s Danner Take A Hike – Nancy Thompson
2013 – Artisan Here Comes the Sun – Carol Sirrine and Ann Witte
2014 – DC Pentangle’s Captain Jack – Joanne Williamson
2015 – Dunachie Xavier – Sharon and Joe Prassa
2016 – Briarpatch Look What’s Next – Lucy Campbell-Gracie
2017 – Bedlam’s Kindled Karma – Laurie Lo
2018 – Aellen Accentuate The Positive – Nancy Bylin
2019 – Britannia Ripple In Time – Joanne Williamson
2020 – Charter O’Tis A Shepherds Pride – Terry & Charles Manganiello
2021 – Aellen Talk of the Town – Brad & Michele George
02/08-03. Britannia Chip Thrills Perpetual Trophy. The Ch HC Britannia Chip Thrills UDX MX MXJ MV Memorial Trophy, offered by Sandy Weiss, will be presented annually at the BCCA National Specialty Awards Banquet to the overall highest scoring Bearded Collie at each year’s National Specialty Herding Event(s), earned on any type of stock, commencing with the 2008 National Specialty. The trophy will be a bronze sculpture of a Bearded Collie herding sheep, mounted on a wooden base. The original sculpture, upon which each year’s winner will be recorded, will be displayed at all National Specialties. (Amended 10/08-01)
Winners
2008 – Britannia Zoots Me Fine – Sharon Prassa and Michele Ritter
2009 – Britannia Zoom To Spare – Joyce & Hank Price and Michele Ritter
2010 – Pentangle’s If You Please – Deb Thomas
2011 – Pentangle’s Captain Jack – Joanne Williamson
2012 – Woodsong’s Danner Take A Hike – Nancy Thompson
2013 – Artisan Here Comes the Sun – Carol Sirrine and Ann Witte
2014 – DC Pentangle’s Captain Jack – Joanne Williamson
2015 – Pentangle’s if You Please – Deb Thomas
2016 – Lil’Clove True Grit – Sonja Blanchard
2017 – Balderdash Bedazzled At Balgrae – Joanne Williamson
2018 – Pentangle’s Up Up And Away – Barbara Burton & Lisa Voss
2019 – Runningmtn Justine Morgan – Lynne Corn
2020 – Artisan Here Comes The Sun – Carol Sirrine & Brian Wistrom
2021 – Tweeddale’s Wild Heart At Pentangle – Deb Thomas & Linda Porter
SR 9.4.8 (established 2017) The Ann Adler Witte Memorial Trophy is presented to the highest scoring veteran bearded collie, any class, any stock, at each year’s National Specialty herding event(s). The trophy, offered by the Great Plains Bearded Collie Club, is a ram’s horn with a Bearded Collie and Scottish thistle engraved in silver on the horn. The trophy is mount ed on a wooden base on which each winner’s name is engraved.
Winners
2017 – Fairhill A Knights Artisan – Carol Sirrine and Brian Wistrom
2018 – Aellen Young At Heart – Linda & Martell Weeks, Ruth Colavecchio
2019 – Runningmtn Justine Morgan – Lynne Corn
2020 – Artisan Here Comes The Sun – Carol Sirrine and Brian Wistrom
2021 – Runningmtn Hairloom Rise Up Shepherd – Lynne Corn
Retired Trophy
09/90‑01. The BCCA Junior Herding Champion Rogue’s Hollow Tweed Memorial Challenge Trophy shall be awarded to the Beardie with the highest score earned on the day of the National Herding Event(s) each year until retired.
1991 – Sunbriar Noble Grace of Holm – Kathryn Stokey-Dillon
1994 – Silverhammer’s Maxwell HT – Breanna New
1996 – CH Balgrae’s Sean MacKay – Joanne Williamson
1997 – Edmar My Own Sweet Patch – Mary Lott
1998 – CH HC Britannia Chip Thrills HX CD NA NAJ – Sandy Weiss & Michele Ritter
1999 – Artisan Starlight – Cindy Mendonca
2000 – CH Artisan Dreamcatcher, HS – Carol Sirrine, Brian Wistrom, A Witte
2001 – CH HC Britannia Chip Thrills UD MX AXJ – Sandy Weiss & Michele Ritter
2002 – Dogtown Leader of the Pack – Nancy Layton & Scott Mandel
2003 – Walkoway’s Star Cruiser, HSAs – Jim New
2004 – CH Pentangle’s Forever Young, HIAsd – Deb Thomas
2005 – CH Pentangle’s Celtic Flight, HXAsd, NA – Elaine & Robert Robinson
2006 – Chaniam Liath Keelin – Tish Pollock
2007 – CH Ashberry Portrait of a Lady CDX RN AX OAJ OJP HSAs – Sandy Weiss.
The Tweed Memorial Challenge Trophy was retired in 2007 by Sandy Weiss
