Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Officers and Committee for inviting me to Judge such an efficiently, well run Open Show and for the fantastic Hospitality, and also to my Stewards and not by least, the Exhibitors for the lovely entry of 52 Dogs making 66 entries. On writing critiques it has come to my attention that all my Main Winners go back to ‘Atendus Made Step by Step’, bred by the late Gill Unstead (Browne), who has only recently been lost to the Collie World, it is a nice thought that maybe Gill was watching and smiling down on proceedings of her local show!
VETERAN DOG – 2 (1 abs)
1st Rae’s ANTOC KISS THE GIRLS – A very handsome blue merle dog of almost 8 years with nicely rounded muzzle and good head planes, well placed stop with kind but correct eye shape, well placed and tipped ears, good length of neck and back, moved well, beautifully presented. Such a handsome and well built dog could not be denied RBD.
MINOR PUPPY DOG – 2 (0 abs)
1st Carvey’s RASHEL ONE MOMENT IN TIME – Adorable baby of just 6 months sporting the blackest of jackets who immediately caught my eye, fabulous head for one so young, lovely dark well placed eye with correctly placed stop, correct ear set tipped well and ears used non-stop, a good chest with lovely front and rear angulation, can move so well and moved well enough in this class but was very playful and threw it away in the following class. Will follow this one with interest.
2nd Lockyer’s GATAJ VELVET TEDDY SURPRISE – Well presented 7 month sable with a lovely head, nicely rounded muzzle for one so young, good ear set, nicely placed eye and stop, good neck in well placed shoulders, nice chest, well angulated front and rear just needs to tighten in rear but another lovely minor puppy.
PUPPY DOG – 6 (2 abs)
1st Ware’s WASSAIL MIXED BLESSING – Tri colour puppy of 9 months with a nice head and good rounded muzzle, good dentition, well placed eye, could use his ears better as they are placed correctly but he tends to hold them low, good length of neck into well placed shoulders, nice length of back and tail, moved well to win him the class. BPD
2nd Rostron’s WASSAIL CALL ME DYNAMITE – Tri colour puppy of whom on checking the catalogue I see is litter brother to 1. Another nice puppy dog very similar to his litter brother although being of similar construction and much of 1 applies, this young man has more fill of chest and I was ‘nit picking’ between the two, but on the day I just preferred the width of back skull and eye of 1. Could definitely swap places on another day.
3rd Carvey’s RASHEL ONE MOMENT IN TIME
JUNIOR DOG – 1 (0 abs)
1st Randall’s LADNAR MOONDUST – Stood alone in the class but definitely a worthy winner. Immaculate presentation of a very handsome tri colour dog of 17 months wearing the blackest of jackets, lovely wedge shape head, correct set eye with kind but alert expression, flat skull with well placed correct ears, good length of neck flowing into well placed shoulders, excellent front and rear angulation and good fill of chest enabling this dog to have the power and drive to outmove the rest of the dog field in the Challenge. BD & RBOB
SPECIAL YEARLING DOG – 2 (1 abs)
1st Randall’s LADNAR MOONDUST
NOVICE DOG – 2 (1 abs)
1st Lockyer’s GATAJ VELVET TEDDY SURPRISE
GRADUATE DOG – 2 (1 abs)
1st Patman’s PICK POCKET VIA SAMHAVEN – Well presented 2 year old sable dog who sports a good ear carriage. I would prefer more front angulation to enable him to stride out more freely and has a tendency to carry his tail over his back on the move.
POST GRADUATE DOG – 1 (0)
1st Hogg’s FIRST LOVE FOR BARNABUS – Sable dog of 4 ½ years who lacked a willingness to have his head handled, wider in backskull and I would prefer more length of neck and front angulation. Good length of back and tail, well presented.
LIMIT DOG – 4 (1 abs)
1st Rae’s ANTOC SOUL MATE – Well groomed sable dog of 3 ½ years, nice head with parallel planes, nice eye and good stop, well set ears, good length of neck set into well placed shoulders, good depth of chest and good front angulation with decent length of back and good bend of stifle enabling him to move very well.
2nd Walton’s PRINCE OF SUNLIGHT STARDUST OVER WALSTAR (IMP HUNG) – 5 year old Blue Merle dog of good colour with a nice head but smaller eye than 1, ears tend to be a bit on the light side but well placed, decent length of back, moved well but I preferred the front construction of 1.
3rd Hogg’s FIRST LOVE FOR BARNABUS
OPEN DOG – 1 (0 abs)
1st Legge’s REDOLA JUST A BREEZE AT KALZAN – Rich sable dog of 3 years carrying a profuse but well groomed coat, shorter and deeper through, I would prefer a leaner head and more neck, needs to tighten on the move.
VETERAN BITCH – 2 (0 abs)
1st Smedley’s ATENDUS QUICKSTEP TO ANTOC – Silver Blue Merle Bitch of correct colour just turned 7 years she has a beautiful feminine head with smooth parallel planes, correct kind eye, lovely ear set with a beautiful arched and correct length of neck set in correctly placed shoulders, fabulous chest and front angulations, good length of back and tail, nice bend of stifle, so light on her feet she floated with ease around the ring. Could not be denied BVIB
2nd Flower’s ATENDUS APRIL MADE IS SERENLAS – Another beautiful blue merle bitch of 9 years, groomed to perfection, lovely head with well placed eye and stop, fabulous ear set and carriage, lovely length of neck, excellent length of back flowing into good length of tail, just outmoved on the day by 1.
MINOR PUPPY BITCH – 4 (1 abs)
1st Randall’s FATA TURCHINA LADNAR DI CAMBIANO (IMP ITA) – Silver Blue Merle of only just 6 months old, fabulous head with correct shape eye and well placed stop, lovely correct ear carriage of which she used her ears non stop, excellent length of neck, correct front and rear angulations and good fill of chest for one so young enabling her to move out with drive and provide excellent reach on the move. Presented in tip top condition as always from this Kennel and surely one who will reach the top with ease. BPB & BPIB
2nd Lockyer’s GATAJ JOLIE OF SURPRISES – Well presented rich sable puppy of 7 months, nice clean head, well placed sweet eye of good expression, lovely well placed ears of good carriage, nice length of neck leading into good shoulder placement, good chest excellent bend of stifle, nice length to tail, moved well.
3rd McGrath’s SERYPHINA PERSUASION,
PUPPY BITCH – 3 (1 abs)
1st Ware’s WASSAIL MIXED SPICE – 9 month old sable bitch with a nice head, smooth rounded muzzle, nice oblique eye and good stop, lovely length of neck with correct front confirmation giving room for a decent depth and fill of chest, nice length of back and tail, good bend of stifle, excelled in movement to take the class.
2nd McDade’s BELDONES SWEET ILLUSION WITH LYNDALE – Another nice sable bitch of 10 months, pretty head with well tipped ear carriage, good length of neck but I preferred length of back and overall outline of 1. Moved well.
JUNIOR BITCH – 5 (1 abs)
1st Wilson’s CALLAHORN’S UNTOUCHED HORIZON AT VALLEYHAVEN (IMP SWE) – Stunning sable bitch of 14 months who is full of quality , head handles so well, with parallel planes, lovely correct shape eye and correct stop, flat skull, well placed ears carried to her advantage at all times, wonderful flowing neck leading into well proportioned body with lovely front angulation and chest, good length of tail, moved well and excellent presentation. I was told later that this win gives her her final Junior Warrant point, well deserved and many congratulations, I will watch her career with interest.
2nd Newton’s CORYDON VICTORIA ROSE AT FIORCARA – Lovely sable bitch of 14 months in lovely condition and well presented, lovely head with smooth parallel planes, good ear set, nice length of neck, well angulated front and rear, lovely topline which sweeps into good length of tail, moved well.
3rd Tame’s CLAUDETTE AT RAHLISSA (IMP SRB)
SPECIAL YEARLING BITCH – 9 (1)
A quality class of which all first 5 bitches placed could change places on a different day.
1st Flower’s SERENLAS KEEPING FAITH – Stunning feminine tri colour bitch in gleaming jet black fitted jacket, beautiful head, nicely moulded foreface with beautiful correct dark eye, perfectly placed ears, lovely flat skull, excellent length of neck leading into well placed shoulders giving correct angulation and good depth of chest. Correct length of back flowing into good length of tail, lovely bend of stifle with short powerful hocks giving her the power of drive from behind and from side view her front extension is superb, this bitch floated round the ring in harmony with her handler and I was more than happy to award her BB, BOB and after a consultation with my Co-Judge was agreed to award her BIS
2nd Benton’s BROOKLYNSON JANE RUSSELL OF OAKESTELLE – Another lovely bitch of gold sable, lovely moulded foreface, good eye and slight but perceptible stop, good ear placement, nice length of neck and back and good length of tail, held topline so well and has drive on the move, just coming back into coat this bitch could not be denied being called back in the Bitch Challenge where I was pleased to award her RBB
3rd Randall’s LADNAR INKHEART JW
NOVICE BITCH – 3 (1 abs)
1st Newton’s CORYDON VICTORIA ROSE AT FIORCARA
2nd Lockyer’s GATAJ JOLIE OF SURPRISES
GRADUATE BITCH – 1 (0 abs)
1st Wilson’s CALLAHORN’S UNTOUCHED HORIZON AT VALLEYHAVEN (IMP SWE)
POST GRADUATE BITCH – 6 (4 abs)
1st Flower’s SERENLAS OBSESSION – Beautiful rich shaded sable bitch full of quality of nearly 3 years of age, fabulous head, correct eye shape and placement, good stop, lovely flat skull and good ear placement of which her ears are well tipped, good length of neck, correct front and good chest, lovely bend of stifle, good length of tail, immaculately presented, moved so true and highly considered for top honours today in the Challenge but did not move out so well as in the Class.
2nd Legge’s LYNMEAD AMALIE BYE BYE LOVE AT KALZAN – sable bitch rising 3 years of smaller type, very pretty but has lighter ear carriage, would prefer slightly more neck but good front and rear angulation giving good movement.
LIMIT BITCH – 6 (1 abs/1 withdrawn)
1st McGrath’s CHURCHOAK TRULY FOR SERYPHINA – Lovely tri colour bitch with a gorgeous dark black coat, head handles so well, well placed eye and stop, flat skull, well placed ears, lovely length of neck, excels in conformation and has a wonderful fill of chest, good length of tail, moves with drive and reach and outmoved the others in this class, was a contender, but lost her sparkle in the Challenge for Best Bitch.
2nd Lockyer’s GATAJ WELCOME WITH A KISS – Blue Merle bitch sporting correct silver blue merle coat, lovely head and nice kind eye, well placed ears which she was a tad reluctant to use, lovely length of neck, good shoulder placement, lovely chest, nice length of back and good bend of stifle, moved really well.
3rd Rostron’s VALLEYHAVEN ROSE D’AMOUR
OPEN BITCH – 2 (0 abs)
1st Newton’s FIORCARA SWEET RHAPSODY – Lovely sable bitch of almost 6 years, correct head, nice eye and well placed stop, well placed ears, good chest, well placed shoulders, good length of tail, groomed to perfection, moved well.
2nd Lockyer’s GATAJ JUBILEE OF SURPRISES – Beautifully presented 4 year old shaded sable bitch with a lovely head well moulded in foreface, kind correct placed and well shaped eye, well placed and tipped ears, good back skull, nice length of neck and body, moved well.
Cathy Howard (Shandlmain)