Show – West of England Collie Society
Date – 19th July 2026
Judge – Val Geddes (Ingledene)
Smooth Collies.
Firstly, I want to Thank the Officers and Committee of WECS for inviting me to judge at their show. Thanks too to the exhibitors for giving me a lovely entry which I thoroughly enjoyed going over. A few notable features and changes to type came as a surprise as the breed was always so stable for overall type. Most notable was the change in head style from being well filled, balanced and smooth in outline to a shorter type, fine around the muzzle then ‘flaring’ through the backskull. Not only does this affect the head pattern, it alters the eye set to being wider and forward rather than the oblique setting which the clean, wedge shape encouraged. The wider skull also affect ear set, these being wider set due to the wider skull, the ears themselves cannot tip forward as the standard clearly asks ‘1/3 of the ear tipping forward’ instead the ears take on a tipped but outward pointing position. With these changes the head loses that ‘clean’, alert looking wedge which both varieties of Collie are admired for. Length of back was also noticeably shorter in a few too many, this brings in a shorter stride and less flexible back, so less efficient and more injury prone in the job of work.
A long time back, I overheard a comment that went… Any mongrel can move well, it takes Breed Type to ………. whatever ! I’d passed without hearing the end !!
VD
(3) 1/Mr.Mrs.Denton RYLANCE MOONSHINE OVER BRACKENHAYE
Stylish 8yo BM. Excellent outline, well filled head, dark,well placed eyes, ears good, just not so enthusiastic. Excellent outline, angles, good substance and ribbing, firm topline, forechest,harsh coat and well angulated. Moved free and true RCC.
2/A.Lusty BLAMORDER BRING HIM HOME
10yo tri, smaller all through, nicely filled head with correct planes, dark, well paced eyes, high set ears with tendency to prick. Good body, neck, topline and rib, good angles and enough substance for size.
3/Ms.D.Bell KOCZKODAN NOSTROMO.
JUN
1/Mr.Mrs.Denton COLDELEE TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT
sh.s/w 16mths. lovely overall, masculine, well balanced head, filled in muzzle and skull, dark eyes, slightly large but with beautiful almond shape, well set and used ears, good neck and topline, could have a little more length of back, well ribbed with good depth, good angles and substance. Harsh coat.
PGD. ABS.
LD
1/ French and Swann.BRECKAMORE BOBBY DAZZLER AT SWANNDALE
Very handsome 20mths s/w. Excellent head qualities being beautifully balanced, well placed almond shaped eyes give a good expression, correctly set and carried ears, excellent bite. Beautiful body and outline, good neck, firm topline and well angulated with good substance, ribbing and excellent condition. Moved sound and free. DOG CC AND BOB. Sadly his owner had her reasons to leave before BIS.
2/Thomas/Lusty BLAMORDER SIDE HUSTLE WITH MOURNEBRAKE JW
2yo tric very pleasing head, ears small and wider set, flattest skull, dark eyes which are rounder and forward rather then oblique,very good outline and substance,firm back and good angles, moving sound and free.
OD
1.HAYWARD,HAYWARD & NORMAN CH.WYNELE DOUBLE TROUBLE AT FOXEARTH
Almost 3yo tric of slightly lighter build, beautiful head, dark eyes and ears used well to enhance expression. Excellent neck into good shoulders and topline, deep body. angulation could be a little more developed to advantage, good body and harsh coat, moved out soundly.
2/K.M.Martin CH STURTMOOR ARCEUS’S LEGACY JW
3yo heavier all through, pleasing head,eyes dark, slightly rounder,good ears, good neck and topline, well angulated, just a shade wide in front, very well bodied and firm rear, moved well keeping tail low.
3/Rodgers BLAMORDER MISCHIEF MAKER WITH JERDONI.
VB
1/Sweeney/Lusty CH.BLAMORDER DO QUITE NICELY AW(S)
7yo Beautifully marked and coloured BM Balanced and well filled in head, dark,well placed eyes and good ears combine to produce a very feminine expression. Excellent outline, not a big girl by anymeans but so well balanced, firm in topline and nicely angulated, moving sound and free, enjoying her day BVIB
2/S Flower BRECKAMORE BUTTERFINGER ShCM ShCEx VW
10yo tric in great form, well filled about a pleasing head, dark eyes and excellent ears, good neck, firm topline and well developed body, good ribbing and angles, moved free and true.
3/ Beeney CH.CONEYPARK GOLDEN BROWN.
PB
1/Thomas BLAMORDER BUTTER SIDE DOWN AT MOURNEBRAKE/
Two delightful 9mth tric sisters headed this class, both raw but with lots of potential, so alike they could be twins, this girl standing still for a few seconds longer to show herself off
2/Llewellyn/Lusty BLAMORDER SUNNY SIDE UP
And still learning the ropes, both good in body and head type and needing to settle which I’m sure will come in time, they both moved freely and in a happy fashion!
JB
1/ Mr.Mrs.Russell KOCZKODAN IN MY HEART sh.s/w
Well developed for age, nicely balanced in head, good muzzle and flat skull, dark eyes are well placed but a little too full, well set ears, excellent topline, balanced all through with good angles and substance, moved soundly and free, harsh coat.
2/B BUTTERSIDE DOWN AT M.
3/Batten KOCZKODAN IN MY DREAMS WITHQUEDEEKAE.
PGB
1/ Watkins BLAMORDER UNLUCKY FOR SOME
2yo tric in lovely order and showed well, balanced head with good muzzle, flat skull with enough stop, dark eyes give a pleasing expression, good neck and topline, well angulated with good body and coat, has some length with good substance,
2/B.Butterside Down at M.
3/K.In My Dreams with Q.
LB
1/Rundle SHULUNE IMPERIAL BONNY BLU
As her name suggests a bm in superb order, well balanced all through and moved accordingly with impulsion and ease. Beautiful head, well balanced and nicely filled both in muzzle and skull, excellent ears and well placed eyes produce a very desirable expression. Fully mature in body, needs no further weight gain ! well filled about neck with good, firm topline and ribbing, good substance,angles and correctly carried tail. Most impressive for me today, eventually gaining CC.
2/Richardson LIZONI VA VA VOOM
Lovely tric, head with excellent detail, dark eyes and well placed ears which she made good use of. Good neck, a little straight into shoulders/upper arm, lengthy back firm with good body and rear, moved soundly.
3/Cole & Fort SHULUNE IMPERIAL RUM PUNCH JW
OB
1/W&R Wensley BLAMORDER STARSTRUCK BY VERSATILIS
Approx. 18mths s/w very pleasing well balanced head, filled in muzzle with flat skull and good ears. Stylish outline, good body, excellent neck and topline, good depth and substance to suit, excellent coat, moved soundly and stands well, Just unlucky to meet the maturity of the older girl but her day will come. RCC
2/Mr.Mrs.R Denton CH. BRACKENHAYE HEART AND SOUL
6yo tri, slightly heavier set and thicker coated, older style with a softness of head due to correct moulding and expression from dark eyes and neat ears, good fill of neck and mature body which is well angulated, moving her easily and soundly with freedom.
Valerie Geddes