It was my very great pleasure to be invited to judge bitches for the West of England Collie Society’s 75th Anniversary championship show and though numbers were not high, the quality in depth was most rewarding. This was my 18th appointment to award CCs in the breed in the UK. A very kind donation of £75 for BIS on the occasion of the anniversary by Tony & Barbara Leverton was a wonderful gesture to the Society as was the invite to Anne Hollywood (Amalie) to receive a special award.
My grateful thanks to my two excellent stewards, Amy Liddell, granddaughter of show manager Nigel Godbury-Ford, and Kirsty Port, plus the superb running of the show by Chairman Phil Amos who at times appeared to be running the events single handed.
Interesting to note that all the bitches in the challenge were sables apart from one, the blue merle Ch Skabona If I Saw You In Heaven for Chelborn (Imp Swe) who, though a champion through her RCC wins, now becomes fully fledged with a crowning third CC. For those compliant with Facebook’s demand not to use the word bitch, it is not a crime. It is the RKC’s wording for the females. Facebook should take a look at the Oxford Concise’s interpretation of the word: ‘bitch, a female dog, wolf, fox or otter’. As in cow (bull), mare (horse), sow (pig). If people choose to interpret the word into other meanings, that is their prerogative. A dog show is for dogs. And bitches.
Bitches: V (3,2) 1 Denton’s Brooklynson Jolene at Rifflesea, ten year old s/w lady who carries her head proudly, very well presented in good coat of good texture covering fit body, clean head, kind expression, well up for size but in proportion, good overall make and shape, good length of tail, good temperament and attitude, sound on the move. MP (4) 1 Lockyer’s Vichy Vuitton Of Dirty Booties at Gataj (Imp Deu) most promising six and a half months s/w baby on her show debut, very well trained and presented, outstanding temperament, interesting to note she is out of Alsting Doll To All who I awarded the CAC and BIS to in Berlin last year. No wonder I was attracted to this puppy. Most pleasing clean head, sweet eye and mischievous expression, very good ear carriage, nicely arched neck into good shoulder, well boned legs, tidy feet, good body shape and length of back, very sound mover, delightful attitude; 2 Morey’s homebred Brookynut Hot And Spicy, three days younger than 1, well presented s/w of good type and shape, pleasing head, eye and expression, good ear carriage, good length of back, temperament and attitude, easy on the move but couldn’t match drive of winner; 3 Wells’ Gataj Little Miss Sassy at Terelimon.
P (1) Lockyer’s Gataj Exotic Girl, homebred from champion parents and s/w litter sister to third in previous class, exotic she is and not slow at coming forward, at eight and a half months, should have a bright future, well presented in full coat, clean head, balanced, lovely dark eye, feminine expression, good ear carriage, arched neck into good shoulder, like previous winner, well trained which makes all the difference with puppies, impressed on the move but to be critical, needs to tighten up at rear, another bright prospect for this kennel. BPB & RBPIS.
J (5) Very good class. 1 Walder’s Hanvale Patsy Stone, well trained homebred s/w not long out of puppy, most impressive and won on her overall make and shape. Ultra feminine, beautifully presented in full coat of correct texture, loved her head, clean and balanced, well moulded foreface, excellent ears, good stop, lovely dark eyes, captivating expression, very good, well used ears, good reach of neck, good shoulder, bitch with attitude, superb ring presence, good stifle and hock, moved with drive, should reach the top with maturity; 2 Congdon’s homebred s/w, like 1, super feminine bitch with attitude, beautiful head, eye and expression, good ears, stop and muzzle, turned out in best of order, very good body covered in well presented coat, good length of back, good rear construction, well developed thighs, good bend of stifle, strong hocks, unlucky to meet 1; 3 Collins’ Triburle Leading Lady.
M (1) 1 Wells’ Gataj Little Miss Sassy at Terelimon, promising s/w, litter sister to BPB, nice shape, well presented in good coat, keen sweet expression, nice dark eye, good ears, lovely temperament and attitude, moves well. N (2) awkward situation where I had to reverse placings between these seen bitches from MP as, on moving them again, Brookynut Hot And Spicy kept putting the brakes on so I couldn’t justify her repeating her win over Gataj Little Miss Sassy at Terelimon. Fortunately her owner accepted my reasons and to her credit, was very sporting.
G (3) 1 Mitchell, Mitchell & Jordan’s Avonfair A Million Dreams, homebred s/w whose long trip from Lanarkshire knocked off one of those dreams as this win completed her Junior Warrant, congratulations. Just out of puppy, has a future, very glamourous s/w in good body covered in beautifully presented coat, sets herself up well, proudly showing off her appealing head, lovely moulded foreface, beautiful dark eye, feminine expression, well placed ears, good skull, good stop, well muscled neck into good shoulder, good depth of chest, plenty of heartroom, strong legs, neat feet, good length of back, delightul temperament, moves very well, another year on her back and could be quite something; 2 Rae’s Gataj Majestic Hope, s/w bred in the purple, just turned two, full of appeal, well turned out, pleasing head, eye and expression, very good ears, well arched neck, good depth of chest, lovely temperament, not match winner for movement; 3 Mills’ Samhaven Super Natural at Willowcombe.
PG (5.1) 1 Hawkins’ Brilyn Shows The Difference, homebred s/w, very easy on the eye, classy and feminine, turned out in best of order, lovely make and shape, in full, well presented coat, very feminine and well balanced head, good skull, sweet eye and expression, good overall conformation, well boned legs, good feet, seemed at times to be a little bit subdued but had sufficient in the tank to head the class, moved out well, a bitch you could not dislike; 2 Ware’s Millubie Essence Of Magic at Wassail (Imp Srb), rising three, very attractive feminine tri of excellent shape, presented well in good harsh coat, clean head, excellent ears, good skull and stop, beautiful dark eye and expression, well arched neck into well developed body, looks quite outstanding in her full spotlessly white shawl, good depth of chest and topline, good rear, stifle and hocks, very sound mover, delightful temperament; 3 Primmer’s Riverside Song Paloma Nera at Colcanis (Imp Rom).
ML (5,2) 1 Mitchell, Mitchell & Jordan’s Avonfair A Million Lovesong, homebred s/w rising three, really had to be on her toes to beat the blue in second but she is an ultra feminine girl full of quality with most beautiful head, eye and expression, very good ears, stop and muzzle, well filled in foreface, well arched neck, in good body covered in very well presented full coat of correct texture, well constructed rear, thigh well developed, good bend of stifle, short strong hocks enabling good thrust from rear, lovely temperament and attitude; 2 Turner’s Delfluvia Blue Raine for Paulara, rising two and a half, beautifully coloured blue merle whose loss of coat made her look dippy in the back, which she is not, and similarly like a two-piece dog as the front and back had sufficient coat which was so well presented. Such are the joys of showing long-coated breeds. She is, in fact, an ultra-feminine near two and a half year old charmer with a most delightful head, dark eye and expression, clean cut, good ears, skull, stop and foreface, supported on a well arched neck, in good body, front and well boned legs, excellently presented, good depth of chest, good rear angulation and very sound on the move. At times she appeared apprehensive as, like some of the other exhibits, wasn’t keen on the flooring but she had the temperament to overcome this and has the quality to become titled; 3 Mills’ Samhaven Super Natural at Willowcombe.
L (3) 1 Cronk’s Skabona If I Saw You in Heaven for Chelborn (Imp Swe), this 18 months b/m import, bred from champion parents, is as lovely as her name. Ring presence and charisma in abundance, I thought to myself that she was going to take some beating. When I saw her move, had that opinion confirmed. Beautiful make and shape, level topline and good depth of chest, well arched neck supporting her lovely clean head, lovely earset, good skull and foreface, rich tan markings, dark eyes, such an addition for merles, good stop, well filled under the eyes, good bite and muzzle, beautiful white shawl round her neck and front, well boned legs, neat feet, good rear end, bend of stifle, strong hocks, thighs well muscled. That’s the opinion. Could she move? The minute she set off I thought, that’s what I’m looking for. It is what Collie movement is all about. They are, after all, a working breed and one has to ask oneself, could they do what they are bred for? And the cherry on the pie? Ring presence and charisma, something you can’t breed for. She is a champion by virtue of the new RKC ruling in that, having won 2 CCs and five RCCs, the first of the breed, I believe to do this, she now has won her third CC, which makes her a champion proper under any ruling. Congratulations, BCC and RBIS; 2 Llewellyn’s Salsina Share The Love, homebred s/w of six years, another ultra feminine bitch, beautifully turned out in full coat of correct texture, lovely clean head, sweet dark eye, good ears, skull and stop, body well toned up, good depth of chest, always on her toes, impressive on the move but couldn’t match 1 for rear movement. Super temperament; 3 Patman’s Riverside Song Ice Cream Girl (Imp Rom).
O (8,1) This was an excellent class full of quality. 1 Lockyer’s Gataj Good Time Girl, homebred three and a half years old s/w, ‘good time girl’ used to be an affectionate term for ‘Lady of the Night’, well this one certainly had that seductive look about her, total femininity, class act, and knows it, she wouldn’t have to ‘Put on that red dress tonight’. Lovely clean and proportionate head, beautiful eye and expression, excellent ears, good skull and stop, clean under the eyes, good muzzle, good reach of neck, well constructed body covered in full, well presented coat of correct texture, good depth of body, strong well boned legs, neat feet, correct rear construction enabling sound workmanlike movement. Excellent temperament and attitude, attentive all the time. RBCC. She has, at present, 2CCs, has everything you need to be a champion; 2 Congdon’s Riverside Song Desiderata at Aaronwell (Imp Rom) dam of second in Junior who has clearly inherited this five year old s/w’s, charms turned out in the best of order with lovely full petticoats flowing behind. Beautifull head, eye and expression, lovely ears, flat skull, good stop and muzzle, well filled in under eyes, in good body and depth of chest, good rear construction enabling such positive sound movement, lovely temperament; 3 Hawkins & Foy’s homebred s/w Beldones Just For Fun at Starlenga, beautiful three and a half year old who has just returned to the kennel and one who should trouble the best, very eyecatching, beautiful head, eye and expression, good overall conformation and moves accordingly, super temperament, completed a trio of terrific ladies.
Geoff Duffield
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