Container preform assembly and method of manufacture

A preform assembly for blow molding a container, which includes:

• a molded plastic preform having a body and a neck with an external surface, and having an open mouth at one end of said neck,
• first and second external circumferential channels molded into said neck external surface for removing said preform from a forming mold, wherein said first circumferential channel is adjacent to said mouth and said second circumferential channel is adjacent to said body, such that the space on said neck between said first and second circumferential channels has no additional circumferential channels, and wherein said neck has at least one external axial channel extending between said circumferential channels on said external surface of said neck;
• and
• a plastic finish ring molded separately from said preform and externally secured to said neck over said surface, and wherein said second circumferential channel is at least partially uncovered by said finish ring.