A huge thanks to WECS for the invitation to judge at this friendly, well run show, and thanks to the Smooth community who honoured me with a fantastic entry of 40. I so enjoyed judging your dogs. A few general observations if I may: tails – most tails only just reached to the hock joint – breeders must watch this. Front angulation continues to be a problem with lack of shoulder angulation across all age groups prevalent and therefore affecting front movement. Eyes – too many eyes are round and large – I do weigh this up with the rest of the dog, construction being imperative, but the desired expression is so very important. We must not lose this. Finally, a lot of dogs were overweight, and this impeded movement and, in some cases, forced elbows out causing plaiting in front movement.
Veteran Dog (1,0)
1 Denton’s Ryecombe Jaffa Jake. Mature gentleman shown in super condition. He is well constructed and presents with a balanced profile. Well angulated front and rear and moved as his construction would suggest. Nice head with a pleasing expression.
Puppy Dog (2,0)
1 Wensley’s Constella Hazy Cosmic Jive. Nice puppy with outgoing disposition. He has a good reach of neck and length of back. Angulation is good for his age, and he has a decent depth of brisket. His head is balanced, and he has a super dark eye and very pleasing expression. Moved well.
2 Stannard’s Constella Black Eye Galaxy. Litter brother to 1 and very similar. Again an exquisite head and expression although his eye is a touch fuller. Has a super body but not as good in front as 1. Moved well. Splitting hairs in this class.
Junior dog (1,0)
1 C Black Eye Galaxy
Post Graduate (2,2)
Limit (3,1)
1 Moores Manordeifi Bow Regard. S/W winning this class on movement. Thanks to his good front and rear angulation, he moves easily with reach and drive. His head is clean with a pleasing expression. Good reach of neck and correct length of back presenting a balanced picture. Would like him to make more of himself and demand to be looked at.
2 Lusty’s Blamorder Audacity. Tri carrying too much weight which did not help his movement which was adequate but not the side extension of the winner. Pleasing expression with dark well shaped eyes, good stop, and ear carriage. Would like a touch more length of neck to complete the picture.
Open dog (5,0)
Super class with quality right down the line.
1 Naulls’ CH Wynele Indian Ink. Pleased to have had the opportunity to go over this masculine yet elegant boy. On the day, he was the most complete package and scores highly for his balanced outline, super reach of neck, good depth of brisket, correct length of back with slight rise over the loin, correct height to length ratio, correct angulations, well boned legs, and low tail carriage. Gives the impression of substance and elegance. His head is clean, with well-placed stop, ears well carried and used, dark, well-shaped and set eyes, giving a pleasing expression. Shown in immaculate condition. His movement was accurate, easy and
efficient although the ring was not big enough for him to really demonstrate his usual flowing movement. CC, BOB, and BIS – congratulations and well deserved.
2 Denton’s Ch Brackenhaye Fields of Gold. A favourite of mine. S/w with an elegant outline thanks to his good reach of neck, length of back and good angulations. His head is balanced but he doesn’t have the eye or expression of the winner. When moving he showed good reach and drive, keeping a correct tail carriage. Took this place thanks to his elegance and sweeping collie lines. Res CC.
3 Lusty’s Blamorder Bring Him Home.
Veteran Bitch (4,0)
What a super class – all beautiful ladies of a certain age who are maturing like fine wine.
1 Sweeney’s Plaisance Blue Belle. What a lovely type of collie this is. Classic balanced outline with no exaggerations. So feminine with the most pleasing of expressions. Very good reach of neck and length of back, well angulated front and rear. Correctly set on tail. Moved very well although flagging a bit in the challenge later. She was close up to the top awards. Best Veteran and RBVIS
2 Denton’s Ch Kevranna Thera’s Enate Echo. S/w bitch whose construction is first class. Excellent angulations, good reach of neck and length of back presenting an elegant picture. Her head is clean although her eye is a touch full for me. Although she is a little down on her pasterns, she covered the ground easily.
3 Beeney’s Ryecombe Jolly Jonquil at Coneypark.
Puppy Bitch (3,0)
A lovely class of puppies showing tremendous promise.
1 Richardson’s Lizoni Va Va Voom. Elegant girl with a super reach of neck. Good length of back. Front and rear angulations need to improve as yet, and she needs to drop in brisket as she appears a little on the leg at present. However, when stood correctly she presents such a pleasing picture which together with her balanced head and exquisite impression gave her the nod. She moved well and I look forward to watching her mature. BP and RBPIS
2 Naulls’ Wynele Obsession. Most attractive puppy who is more finished than 1 and more compact. Lovely breed type and very deserving of her wins so far. Well-constructed with a pleasing head and expression. Moved well. Today I just preferred the elegance and expression of 1 but to coin a cliché they could swap places on another day.
3 Caulfield’s Constella Vega Luminosa.
Junior Bitch (3,0)
1 Moores Blamorder High Hopes. Tri only just out of puppy and as yet still some maturing to do. Really lovely head and expression. I would like a better angulated shoulder and a less steep croup, but these may come as she develops. Good reach of neck, correct length of back and she moved well.
2 Caulfield’s Constella Vega Luminosa. Pleasing tri but carrying too much weight affecting her movement. A little flared in back skull but otherwise her head is pleasing, and she has a beautifully shaped eye. Needs to use her neck more to her advantage.
3 Russell’s Koczkodan Steel My Heart.
Post Graduate Bitch (5,1)
1 Richardson’s Koczkodan Sweet Dreams of Lizoni. Elegant tri bitch with a most pleasing outline. Super reach of neck and length of back. Could have a slightly better laid shoulder, Well angulated at the rear. Very nice head and very pleasing expression. Lovely eye placement and good stop. Moved really well.
2 Howard’s Shandlmain Sofistikate. Different type of tri bitch being more compact but nevertheless retaining elegance thanks to her super balanced outline. Super front and rear angulation, just loses her topline sometimes. Her head is pleasing but I would prefer a less full eye. Moved really well.
3 Lusty’s Blamorder Tango for Two.
Limit Bitch (7,0)
A strong class producing my principal winners.
1 Sweeney & Lusty’s Blamorder Do Quite Nicely. My find of the day. What a lovely type of collie. No exaggerations, moderate all through, stands four square and shows quietly on a loose lead, making the most of her super reach of neck. So well balanced with that lovely neck, completely balanced front assembly, lovely fore chest, correct length of back, slight rise over the loin and lovely rounded hind quarters with a good bend of stifle. Tail is set on correctly and carried low on the move. Her head is so well balanced. Correctly placed stop, clean foreface, and good underjaw. Lovely dark eyes which are well shaped and obliquely placed. Ears correctly placed and well used. Her movement was first class and gave the impression that she could go all day. Just wish she was a slightly better colour but that is really nit picking. I loved her. CC, BOS, Res BOB and RBIS. Congratulations.
2 Howard’s Brackenhaye Heartbreaker at Shandlmain. Very feminine tri equally well made with really good front and rear angulations. Super reach of neck, length of back and good bend of stifle. Very nice head with a lovely dark eye, good stop and well used ears giving a most pleasing expression. Movement is light and easy, and she is another who looks as though she could do the job she was intended for. Res CC.
3 Denton’s Brackenhaye Heart and Soul.
Open Bitch (4,1)
1 Beeney’s Coneypark Golden Brown. Another really lovely collie. So well balanced with excellent front and rear angulations. Super reach of neck and length of back. Her head is very pleasing although a touch deep and her eye is a bit full for my taste which I took into account in the challenge. However, there is no doubt about her overall quality and make no mistake, she is a very nice collie who moved effortlessly round the ring.
2 Lusty’s Blamorder Fancy Patter. In her summer clothes today shall we say but coat grows back. Well-constructed and moved really well. Elegant outline and with a well balanced head and very pleasing expression which gave her the edge on 3 who is otherwise a very nice bitch.
3 Naull’s Wynele Couldn’t Could She
Bev White