Border Collie Club Of Great Britain

Border Collie Club Of Great Britain

17/03/19

A great honour to be invited by the Officers and Committee to judge Dogs at the Border Collie Club of GB Championship show. To judge any Breed Club show is special and even more so by the Parent Club…many thanks, I had a lovely day.

There were some very good classes to assess and I was more than pleased with my final line-up for the CC. Open and Veteran Dog were particularly excellent classes and, ultimately, both the CC and Res CC came from the Veteran class proving that the breed lasts well. That said, there were some promising youngsters coming up and I could have taken my BPD home, he has the makings of a great one!

Thanks for the good entry, sporting way you accepted my decisions, to both my excellent Stewards and the catering team for their super hospitality.

This day will stay with me for a long time.

MPD (3) 1st Johnson’s Tidespring Storm Breaker. A cracking 6 month old pup to start the day. Well grown and mature for his tender age. Lovely head, keen expression and excellent conformation. Super mover, covering the ground with an economical stride and low carried tail. Typical collie markings and good coat. Very promising and think he could have an exciting show career ahead of him. BPD & BPIS.

2nd Wilson’s Birkcross Juno Luno. Another good pup. Liked his balanced outline, pleasing head and good reach of neck leading to a well laid shoulder. Good body and coat for his age, just needs to tighten in front and firm-up a bit in topline. Easy mover.

PD (5) 1st Murfet & Ratcliffe’s Arrodare Royal Approval. 11 month old pup who took this class on his excellent side gait. Good head shape, dark eye, scissor bite and uses his ears to best advantage. Balanced angles, firm topline and short, muscular loins. Needs to fill and drop in chest which should come with maturity. Promising.

2nd Kempton’s Borderbrook Spring At Last. 11 month old pup that gives off a pleasing outline both on the stack and on the move. Super head, balanced with correct stop. Dark, expressive eye, excellent ear set and carriage. Good overall conformation. Now needs to grow on as he is on the small side. Moved with reach and drive and a low carried tail.

3rd Ashman’s Bordadale Blue Marvel.

JD (3) 1st Kinsey’s Miraje Keep It Cool. Lovely youngster that has a superb head piece. Correct skull to muzzle ratio, well defined stop and excellent tipped ears. Well balanced all through. Good reach of neck, well angled front and back and keeps a firm topline both on the stack and moving. Correct bone, all standing on functional feet. Good coat with typical collie markings. Moved true out and back, covering the ground well from side gait.

2nd Austin’s Miraje Frozen Again For Hysteps. Litter borother to 1st and many of the same comments apply. Equally good for head, overall conformation and sound breed type. Not quite the reach of neck or lay of shoulder but relatively close-up. Moved very well from all directions.

YD (7) 1st Lee’s Master Of Illusion. Liked this boy for his size, masculinity and function. Very good head, eye and keen expression. Scissor bite. Moderate neck, correct lay of shoulder and return of upper arm. Excellent body, well ribbed and sound quarters. Maybe a shade compact in outline but took this class on his front extension and economical side gait. Low carried tail.

2nd Shahmatova’s Nashdom Putting On The Style. Different type to 1st. Appealing outline on the stack. Lovely head with good eye and ears. Well made all through and pleasing height to length ratio. Moved well enough but not quite the extension of 1st. Functional double coat, typical markings and excellent handling and presentation.

3rd Johnson’s Tonkory Talking Point At Tidespring.

ND (3) 1st A. Royal Approval.

2nd Pollard’s Janbell The Force Awakens. Masculine, strong dog . Good head, eye and bite. Reachy, muscular neck. Chest developing well, good conformation and correct bone. A bit weak in pasterns but moved well enough once settled.

3rd B. Spring At Last.

PG (9) Mixed class that took some sorting. 1st Kempton’s Legend Of Braveheart Earendil Edge OF Heaven Von Borderbrook. Well balanced dog of medium size. Loved his appealing head, expressive oval eye and well set, tipped ears. Moderate neck. Good angulation, firm topline and correct croup leading to a low tail set. Moved freely from side gait but rear end a bit erratic at times. In lovely coat, well prepared.

2nd Garland’s Tonkory Royale. Taller, rangier type of dog that is taking time to mature to his full potential. Overall he presents a functional picture, just needs to drop in chest. Plainer in head than 1st but has a better rear end. Good bone and tight feet. Free mover, sound in all directions.

3rd Diserens’ Bordercot Magic Rhythm.

MLD (7) 1st Beaumont’s Kanamaren Trick Of The Tail At Borderbeau. Masculine dog of pleasing type. Appealing head, oval, dark eye, well set ears, sensitive in use. Good reach of neck, deep chest and correct angulation front and back. A touch long in loin and deep enough in body but could not be denied his placing on his near perfect footfall. Sound in all directions. Shown in good double coat that was well presented.

2nd Barwick’s Tobermoray Talk Of The Town. Preferred this boy for overall balance to 1st and was close-up here, just not quite the reach of neck. Good head, eye shape and expression. Firm, muscular body, holds his topline well at all times. Good angulation. Easy mover, sound, just a bit close going away. Handler got the best out of him.

3rd Dunlin’s Thwaitlake Fire In My Heart At Jachelm.

LD (7) Topped by 3 very good dogs, not a lot to separate them. 1st Kinsey’s Miraje Frozen In Time. Masculine, glamourous dog that catches the eye. Beautiful proportioned head, dark eye, ears set and used well. Strong neck, deep chest, well ribbed and firm loins. Excellent hind angulation which he used to best advantage on the move. Good bone and feet. Showed reach and plenty of drive on the move. Double coat that was well presented.

2nd Lampier’s Tonkory I’m Alright Jack. Well balanced dog of medium size and a typical Border from this famous kennel. Delightful head and expression. Moderate neck and angles. Good body and a sound mover. Correct bone and stands on good feet.

3rd Ambler’s Caleykiz Born To Boogie.

OD (16) Great class with some lovely dogs going cardless. 1st Portman’s Sh Ch Caleykiz Smoke On The Water. Have often admired this blue from ringside and was good to get the chance of hands-on. A well proportioned dog, masculine but not overdone. Pleasing head, good eye shape and uses his ears well. Good reach of neck leading to a well laid shoulder and return of upperarm. Excellent topline, good croup and low tail set. Muscular quarters. Excellent side gait, covering the ground with ease and freedom. Well presented. 3rd in line for the CC.

2nd Ratcliffe’s Arrodare Hear Me Roar. Another excellent Border. So well balanced all through. Good head shape, eye and ears. Attentative to handler and gives off a pleasing picture. Excellent angles front and back. Deep chest and a low set tail. Sound, easy mover. Presented in good coat. Should easily gain his title.

3rd Richards’ Sh Ch Chastanse Sweet William.

SP Open (Colour) (5) 1st Wiltshire’s Calekiz Thunderstruck. Liked this blue very much for type, balance and function. Pleasing head and muzzle, good eye shape, reachy neck, good angulation, firm topline and correct croup with a low tail set. Excellent profile movement and drives well from the rear but can settle a bit coming towards. Good coat for texture and colour. Well handled and presented.

2nd Spencer’s Tobermoray All About Banksy. Another quality blue. Liked his head, eye and ears sensitive in use. A strong, well conditioned dog with sound conformation and mature in body. Moved out well, covering the ground with ease and ran the winner close. Another that was handled and presented to best advantage.

3rd Pollard’s Arnpriors Harvest Gold.

Good Citizen (5) 1st Garland’s Tonkory Doyle. Always had a soft spot for this boy. Now 7 years old and still gives his all for his owner/handler. Medium sized dog of good type and pleasing in both head and body proportions. Nicely angled front and back and in good body and coat condition. Moved soundly in all directions.

2nd Milham’s Locheil Secret Surprise At Elystari. Different type to 1st. Very well made all through but longer in body and plainer in head. Moved out well.

3rd Mocford’s Quories Sweep From Snowmere.

VD () 1st Green’s Sh Ch Fayken I Am Legend. Well known 7 year old that still has the wow factor! For me, he matches the breed standard closely point for point. A beautifully balanced dog. Excellent head, correct skull to muzzle proportions, well defined stop and moderately broad skull. Excellent eye shape with well set, tipped ears, sensitive in use. Medium neck, good length and lay of shoulder and return of upperarm. Plenty of chest room, well ribbed and short muscular loins. Excellent hind angulation leading to firm hocks. Moves in true Border Collie fashion, drops into his frame, lowers his head and has plenty of extension and drive, covering the ground with minimal effort. As always, presented in excellent coat and made a worthy winner of the CC and BIS on the Referee, Miss T Wilkinson (Breed Specialist) decision.

2nd Wiltshire’s Sh Ch Caleykiz I’m A Firestarter. Another good one from this kennel and a favourite of mine. Same Sire as the CC winner and shares many of his attributes. He has excellent breed type and true Border Collie carriage and movement, sound out and back with plenty of scope from side gait. He could, perhaps, be a bit higher on the leg but has an overall functional outlook and could easily see him working a flock. Excellent tail carriage. Sympathetically handled to show off his virtues, presented in full coat. Res CC.

3rd Stacey’s Bilyara Orapa.

Sp. Open Working (1) 1st Q Sweep From S. Workmanlike dog . Pleasing head, oval eye and well set ears. Moderate neck, good angulation and in hard fit condition. Stands on tight oval feet, Moved out well at the end of the lead. Not an immediate eye-catcher but a functional Border nonetheless.

Darren Clarke (Judge)