Shetland Sheepdog Club Of Wales

Shetland Sheepdog Club of Wales Championship Show

15th March 2020

I always enjoy attending this Club’s shows at Pontypool, and was delighted to be invited to judge the dog entry this year at what must have been the last show in the UK before the Covid-19 lockdown. I received a very warm welcome from the committee, for which I would like to thank them, and also my two very efficient stewards for the smooth running of the ring. I had some very nice exhibits to go over, generally the quality was high and I was very pleased with my final line up. Heads on the whole were good, with some really melting expressions which make our breed so endearing. However it is still hard to find the really good shoulder and upper arm angulation which, coupled with strong hindquarters, gives a Sheltie the lithe and graceful action in profile which is such a pleasure to watch. My co-judge and I were spoilt for choice when it came to the final awards, with the dog getting the nod for BIS, the beautiful bitch CC winner taking RBIS and, on the referee’s decision, the dog puppy BPIS.

Dogs

Veteran (5,1 absent)

1st Curtis’ Keltihope In The Frame at Yasleyrose

Shaded sable, nice for size with good bone. Pleasing head with flat skull, rounded muzzle, good underjaw, nicely placed dark almond shaped eye and neat ears. Good reach of neck and layback of shoulder, straight front, good depth of chest, level topline and graceful sweep over loins. I would prefer more bend of stifle, but he moved soundly enough. A little short of coat on the day but what he had was well presented.

2nd Marsh’s Mohnesee’s Mackeson ShCM VW

Tri, attentive showman with a profuse coat, stood foursquare at all times. His head is a shorter wedge than 1st but still balanced with parallel planes, rounded muzzle, nicely placed and shaped dark eye, and very neat ears carried alertly. His shoulder is well laid back, but he is a shade steep in upper arm, straight front with flexible pasterns, level topline, nice sweep over loins, good bend of stifle and well let down hocks.

3rd Pattinson’s Kyleburn Acis

Minor Puppy (2,0)

1st Walker’s Tooralie’s Pie In The Sky, BPD & BPIS

Shaded sable who caught my eye with his lovely outline. He has a flat skull, good underjaw, nicely rounded muzzle, smooth cheeks, obliquely set dark almond eye, and good ear carriage. He still needs to develop in stop but has plenty of time on his side. He has a good reach of neck enhanced by a white collar, nicely angulated forequarters, level topline, graceful sweep over loins, good bend of stifle and well let down hocks. Strode out with good reach in profile and drive from behind.

2nd Bastiani & John’s Auberswell Ghost Rider

G/s with a very sweet expression. His head is balanced with a flat skull, correctly placed stop, dark eye and good ear carriage, but he still needs to fill in foreface. Not the forehand angulation of 1st but he has a straight front with good bone, level topline, good bend of stifle, well let down hocks and long tail. Was rather loose in front movement as can be expected from a puppy, this should tighten as he develops more muscle.

Puppy (8,4)

1st Arnould’s Shadoway Chance Encounter

Nicely balanced sable in good coat. He has pleasing head proportions with a nicely rounded muzzle, smooth cheeks, neatly tipped ears and a dark almond shaped eye. His angulation is balanced at both ends and he has a good reach of neck, level topline, graceful sweep over loins, and a very long tail. He moved quite soundly in all directions, and presented a pleasing overall picture.

2nd Gruszka’s Japaro Timeless Design for Samphrey

G/s puppy almost a year old, nice for size with good bone, but very much more immature than 1st and needs to develop in body. Good wedge head with correct balance of skull to muzzle, neatly tipped ears and dark almond shaped eye, but still needs to fill under the eye and in foreface. He has a nicely arched neck, level topline, good sweep over loins, and long tail. The white markings on his stifle give the illusion that it is straight which is not in fact the case, however I would prefer more definition of the hock joint. Moved OK.

3rd Sutherland’s Shougie’s Starmaker

Junior (4,1)

1st Lycett’s Iliad Isle Delight

Attractive g/s, rather more mature in body and coat than 2nd. Another that still needs to fill under the eye, but his head is refined with a flat skull, parallel planes, just the right amount of stop, dark almond eye and neatly tipped ears giving a very sweet expression. He has a good reach of neck and layback of shoulder, level topline and long tail. Moved well.

2nd Japaro Timeless Design for Samphrey

3rd Eaves’ Kyleburn Orpheus

Yearling (4,0)

1st Pattinson’s Kyleburn Hidden Dream

Plain shaded sable, not an enthusiastic showman but had to win this class on his excellent conformation which allowed him to stride out with good reach in profile and drive from strong hindquarters. He has a nicely filled foreface, good underjaw, skull and muzzle of equal length, correctly placed stop, dark obliquely set eye, and neat ears when he chose to use them.

2nd Lycett’s Iliad Isle of Ewe

Much more immature boy of 14 months, of pleasing shape and size. He still needs to fill in foreface and under the eye, but he has a good wedge head with a flat skull, sweet eye and nicely tipped ears used all the time. He lacks the length of neck and shoulder angulation of his brother who won Junior, but he has a good straight front, level topline, nice sweep over loins, good bend of stifle, and he moved soundly in all directions.

3rd John’s Jolex Silver Sixpence with Cadlyn

Maiden (3,0)

1st Tooralie’s Pie In The Sky

2nd Shadoway Chance Encounter

3rd Auberswell Ghost Rider

Novice (4,2)

1st Japaro Timeless Design for Samphrey

2nd Bastiani & John’s Lirren Showtime joins Auberswell

Masculine tricolour with plenty of substance. His head is balanced with a flat skull but still needs to clear in stop, rounded muzzle, good underjaw, dark eye and well used ears. He has a good reach of neck and his angulation is balanced at both ends so he was sound on the move, but he was a bit of a fidget and not keen to stand foursquare and show himself off to advantage on the day.

Graduate (4,1)

1st Edwards’ Castlerose Foxtrot

Shaded sable in fitting jacket which shows off his lovely outline. I liked his overall balance with correct length to height ratio, good reach of neck, decent forehand angulation, good ribcage, level topline, graceful sweep over loins, and good bend of stifle. He has a pleasing expression with a flat skull, sweet eye and well carried ears. Showed and moved very well.

2nd Moore’s Jacanshe Be Our Guest at Santiara JW

Tri with a pleasing outline and profuse coat, well presented. He is slightly shorter in head than 1st, although still balanced in length of skull to muzzle, he is a shade deep in stop and full in eye, but uses his ears well and has a kind expression. Good reach of neck and layback of shoulder, enough depth of chest, level topline, sloping croup and good tailset. Moved very well.

3rd Pierce’s Philhope Son Of A Diva

Post Graduate (6,2)

1st Robinson’s Alnmac Midnight Flyer

Workmanlike tricolour of ideal size. Good wedge head with flat skull, nicely filled foreface, good underjaw, enough stop, his eye could be a little sweeter but he has neatly tipped ears which he used well. Muscular well arched neck, good layback of shoulder and length of upper arm, straight front with strong bone, level topline, graceful sweep over loins, good bend of stifle and well let down hocks. Moved very well.

2nd Officer’s Castlerose A Shropshire Lad JW ShCM

G/s, masculine but without a trace of coarseness. He has a very pleasing head with a flat skull, nicely rounded muzzle, well placed dark eye and good ear carriage. He is well constructed throughout with a good reach of neck, level topline and sweep over the croup, however he tended to tuck himself up which spoilt his outline.

3rd Pattinson’s Kyleburn Everlasting Dream

Mid Limit (3,1)

1st Gamble’s Solyric Inaugural Gold

G/s, scores on his sweet typical Sheltie expression. His head is nicely balanced with a dark almond shaped eye and the neatest of ears, carried alertly. He has enough substance for his correct size, good depth of chest, level back and gentle slope over croup. His angulation is balanced at both ends so he moved soundly.

2nd Atkins’ Willowgarth Harvest Sunset over Jontygray

Another g/s, a size bigger than 1st. Unquestionably male, but his head is nicely moulded with a rounded muzzle, good underjaw, a well placed dark eye and neat well used ears when he deigned to cooperate with his handler. He has a good reach of neck, good layback of shoulder and length of upper arm complemented by a good bend of stifle and strong well let down hocks, so should have moved well but he disappointed me by toeing in behind and moving wide in front.

Limit (9,1)

1st Walker’s Tooralie’s Ocho Rios

Eye catching shaded sable with a full white collar, super shape and spot on for size. Very pleasing head qualities with flat skull, smooth cheeks, rounded muzzle, dark almond shaped eye and neatly tipped ears. He has enough reach of neck and good layback of shoulder, straight front with strong bone and flexible pasterns, level back and slope over croup, good bend of stifle and well let down hocks. Moved soundly although ideally I would like to see more front extension.

2nd Edwards’ Castlerose Star Turn JW ShCM

Handsome tri I have met before, on the day he was rather out of coat which showed off his lovely outline but a bit too much “daylight” underneath. Lovely for size and substance, he has matured into a very nice dog with a good wedge head with just the right amount of stop, flat skull, very dark eye and well carried ears. His neck is muscular and well arched and he has a good layback of shoulder, straight front with flexible pasterns, level back with graceful sweep over loins, good bend of stifle and a long tail. Moved as his construction would suggest.

3rd Robinson’s Sheltysham Nutbox in Alnmac

Open (6,0)

1st Bray’s Ch Lianbray Lothario JW. CC and BIS

Another boy I have met previously and predicted he would gain his title – I am pleased he has fulfilled his promise. Quality shaded sable with such a charming expression, his head is refined with a flat skull, smooth cheeks, correctly placed stop, dark almond shaped eye and perfectly tipped ears. He presented a lovely picture standing, being of ideal size, balanced throughout with an arched neck carrying his head proudly. He covered the ground well on the move with drive from behind.

2nd Goodwin’s Highbrook Hobnob JW. Res CC

A very close decision between 1st and 2nd, I just preferred the slightly softer expression of 1st. This boy is a Lothario son, and possesses many of the same virtues. A beautifully moulded head with rounded muzzle, good underjaw, correct stop, obliquely set dark eye and well carried ears, showing non stop for his owner. Behind the ears he is equally well made with a well arched neck, nicely angulated forequarters, good depth of chest and ribcage, level topline and gentle sweep over the croup, and stands foursquare on good legs and feet. Pleasing movement in profile, coming and going, and in a beautifully groomed well fitting golden jacket he too filled my eye.

3rd Pierce’s Philhope Buzzword

Special Breeders (2,0)

1st Roberts’ Ch Malaroc Mystery Writer JW

Handsome shaded sable with almost too much coat as it obscures his outline, but underneath it he is well made with everything in the right place. His head handles well with a rounded muzzle, enough underjaw, nice eye shape and placement, and good ear set. An attentive showman, he stood foursquare showing off his well arched neck, level back and gentle sweep over the loins. Today he was not striding out as well as I have seen him on previous occasions, which cost him in the challenge.

2nd Kyleburn Orpheus

Not a very confident boy so when standing he does not do himself justice as he tends to hunch up. He has a shorter head than some, but the skull to muzzle proportions are correct and he does have a flat skull. Slightly deeper in stop than the ideal, and his eye is dark, almond shaped and obliquely set but a shade full. He has a nicely rounded muzzle and sufficient underjaw, but I would prefer smoother cheeks. He is very soundly constructed, with a particularly good layback of shoulder and length of upper arm so his elbow is right under the withers. Good length to height ratio, level topline and good sweep over the loins, I would like to see more bend of stifle. He is still very immature in body but that will come. On the move he has great front extension which so many lack.

Special Open S/W (5,2)

1st Robinson’s Lavika Lush Life JW

Since I last judged him as a puppy he has matured into a very nice dog with a delightful expression. Good head proportions with flat skull, well placed stop, dark obliquely set almond shaped eye, neatest of ears, and ever attentive to his handler. Strong muscular well arched neck, straight front with good bone, level topline, graceful sweep over loins, good bend of stifle, well let down hocks. As always, immaculately presented and moved well. His day will come.

2nd Haensel’s Ch Sherkarl Uptown Funk JW ShCM

Shaded sable in good coat presented in sparkling condition. His head proportions are correct with a flat skull, correct stop, nicely placed dark eye and neatly tipped ears giving a soft expression. Of ideal size with good bone, he stands foursquare, carrying his head proudly on a well arched neck, with a level topline and gentle slope to a low set tail, giving an attractive outline. Moved and showed well.

3rd Keltihope In The Frame at Yasleyrose

Special Open B/M (2,0)

1st Bastiani & John’s Ch Hawk Blue Eyes Des Romarins de Mayerling joins Auberswell JW (Imp Fra)

Blue merle whose colour has darkened with age but it is well broken and enhanced by his white neck markings. Attractive head with rounded muzzle, good eye shape and neat well carried ears, parallel planes, but just a shade deep in stop. Pleasing overall shape with nice bone for size, a well arched neck, good depth of chest, good ribcage, level topline, nice sweep over loins, and adequate bend of stifle but would prefer more definition of hock joint.

2nd John’s Jolex Silver Sixpence with Cadlyn

B/m of good colour, well broken. Pleasing size and shape with good bone. Longer in head than 1st, he has smooth cheeks and a rounded muzzle, and a dark almond shaped eye, but his ears could be trimmed to advantage. He has a good reach of neck and layback of shoulder, straight front, good bend of stifle and well let down hocks. Still needs to develop in body. Moved soundly enough, but was not a very enthusiastic showman.

Special Open Tri (7,4)

1st Woolley’s Pepperhill In The Moment at Valjon

Moved up from a good Limit class. Plain tricolour with a dense black well fitting coat of good harsh texture. Pleasing head with good balance of skull to muzzle, rounded foreface, smooth cheeks, correctly placed stop, sweet eye and neatly tipped ears. Strong well arched neck, good forehand angulation, straight front with strong bone, good depth of chest, level topline, gentle sweep over loins, very good bend of stifle. Looks good in profile as he stands foursquare on good legs and feet, and he moved with good reach and drive.

2nd Lirren Showtime joins Auberswell

3rd Sutherland’s Shougies Starmaker

Marion Withers