Many thanks to the West of England Collie Society committee for inviting me to judge the SAC for Smooth Collies at their open show, to my ring steward for all her help and support and to the exhibitors for their generous entry. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and found it an excellent learning experience.
Puppy D/B (0)
Post Graduate D/B (8. 4abs)
1 Denton’s Brackenhaye Fields of Gold – s/w dog of 19 months. Handsome lad having a lovely balanced masculine head with flat skull and good foreface. Correct almond eyes and well placed ears used well which combined to provide a super, kind expression. Very good body length to height ratio, good length of neck and depth of chest with a nice length of rib and a well held topline. Balanced front and rear angulation which gave him a really nice outline standing which he maintained very well while he was on the move. I found him so easy on the eye with everything in proportion and his overall shape and make most appealing. Loved him.
2 Denton’s Brackenhaye Shape O’My Heart – tri bitch, litter sister to class winner. Nicely constructed, happy, elegant bitch with a very attractive wedge shaped head and good dark almond eyes and well placed ears. Good neck and depth of chest. Excellent body length with balanced front and rear angulation. She held her topline on the move with good reach in her stride, just needs to steady a bit. I thought at first she might be my class winner but today her brother had the edge in overall balance and steadiness.
3 Blamorder Ice Cream Dream
Res Foxearth Fly Orchis
Open D/B (11. 5 abs)
Difficult class of mixed type – all bitches – two were exhibited by colleagues of their owners.
1 Benton’s Alopex Marionette of Oakestelle – B/M bitch, eight and a half years young. Her owner was not handling her but she’s clearly very well schooled and knows her job well. She is a smaller and more compact type than I prefer but I found her nicely proportioned, fit and well toned. Would prefer a more evenly marked coat. She has a wedge shaped head with flat skull. Her eyes are dark and her ears well placed and nicely tipped. Attentive to her handler she looked interested and alert. Good front and rear angulation and her top line is level and firm. I thought her movement very balanced and true in profile, going and coming. She rather belies her age and on the day her overall balance, movement and showmanship put her in first place.
2 Lusty’s Juniperwood Just a Dream – tri bitch nearly seven years. Wedge shaped head with good ears and nice eyes. Good strong neck into level topline and nice croup and tail set. Good breadth of chest and depth of ribcage with nice shoulder and upper arm placement. Showy white collar. Movement was a bit erratic – hind action was rather wide but she wanted to go a lot faster than her handler who was trying to steady her by holding her up. Nevertheless she has reach and power and did enough to show the balance she clearly has.
3 Ch. Kevranna Theras Enate Echo
Res Manordeifi Silver Sparkle
VHC Ch. Juniperwood Dream Maker at Blamorder
Gill Loader