Smooth Collie Club Of Great Britain

The Smooth Collie Club OF Great Britain

22/08/21

I had eagerly been looking forward to judging the Smooth Collie Club show. One of my favourite

breeds in the Pastoral Group and always a pleasure to judge, the show didn’t disappoint. A great

entry no doubt helped by being back to back with the Club Ch show and the enormous effort that

was evident the Committee had put in to make the ‘Special Anniversary’ event such a success.

Overall, there was quality to be found throughout the entry. Heads were generally good. Nearly all

were well proportioned with a well placed, moderate stop. Eye shape seems to have improved and

most ear set, size and carriage were ok. General conformation was also pretty even which became

evident on the move, particularly from profile, many having a good depth of stride. Couple of things I

noted; some lacked body, particularly the youngsters. A couple of factors could be that a number of

breeds in our Group are notoriously difficult to keep body on. They are live-wires as adolescents and

most don’t mature fully until 3 to 4 years of age. We are also going through quite an intense clump

of shows, squeezed together due to the pandemic. This too can take its toll on our dogs. When we

would normally leave some youngsters at home to mature fully, so many missed out on valuable

socialisation periods, so feel it is more beneficial to get them out. This brings me on to my next

point, temperaments, which were absolutely excellent in all. None were shy or retiring and all

seemed to enjoy the day as much as their owners!

Thanks to the Committee for the invitation and hospitality and to the exhibitors for staying on and

entering the afternoon show. A real garden party atmosphere, good dogs, owners and a pleasant

lunch with like-minded company. The perfect day!

MPD (1) 1st Blamorder Opulence At Himinnsaga. Approaching 9 month old blue baby. Quite forward

for his age. Pleases in head, good wedge with a well placed stop and flat skull. Ears of correct size

and tipped. Moderate neck. Good layback of shoulder but a bit steep in upperarm. Excellent body

shape and proportions. Good quarters. Colour well broken. Moved freely. BPD.

PD (1) 1st

 Oakestelle God Of Mischief. Medium sized tri boy. A bit fine all through at present but has

plenty of time on his side. Good head, excellent eye shape and expression. Ears well set and used.

Good conformation. Moved well in all directions with a well carried tail. Deep black colour with rich

tan markings.

JD (2) 1st Brackenhaye Lionheart. Tri of great promise. Only young but already very mature in body

and muscletone. Good clean wedge head of pleasing length and proportions. Moderate, well placed

stop. Almond eye, nicely placed ears. Good reach of neck. Balanced angulation front and back. Holds

a firm topline at all times. Looks like he could do a good day’s work. Well presented double coat.

Moved out with a reachy, open stride.

2nd Stormsett Shadow Dancer Via Capriona. Another young tri of excellent colour and richest of tan

markings. Excellent head piece. High set, well used, tipped ears. Moderate reach of neck. A touch

straight in front but has good body proportions and a moderately angled rear. Still to mature fully

and generally body-up. Sound, easy mover.

PG (3) 1st Shandlmain Blu Chief. Well grown, masculine blue merle. Pleasing head, shows strength

without any coarseness. Well placed, moderate stop. Good eye shape and colour. Ears well set and

used. Good reach and arch of neck, Well laid shoulder and return of upperarm. Firm topline. Short,

muscular loin. Good hindquarters. Slightly sloping croup leading to a low set tail. Moved with reach

and drive.

2nd Foxearth Fly Forward. Medium sized sable of excellent type. Equally pleasing in head and

expression. Soundly made all through with substance and bone to compliment his frame. Good

croup, low set and carried tail. Moved very well once he got into his stride. Well presented double

coat.

LD (2) 1st Jack Mack’s Va Buidhinn Of Shandlmain. Masculine tri of good type and height to length

proportions. Pleasing enough in head. Excellent eye colour and sweet expression. Medium neck.

Balanced angles front and back. Deep, functional chest. Can settle further out and back but has a

good length of stride from profile. Well handled and presented.

OD (5) Lovely class, quality right down the line.

1st Ch Breckamore By Design. Outstanding blue of lovely clear colour and well broken markings.

Super head, clean wedge with a well placed stop. Good eye shape and ear set and carriage. Excellent

reach and arch of neck, extenuated by a full white collar. Good front and rear angles. Deep chest.

Excellent body, good croup, mature and in hard condition. Quality bone and stands on functional

feet. Moved well out and back and really covered the ground from profile. Looked a picture on the

day and was pleased to award him BD and BIS.

2nd ESP/PT/GIB/INT Ch. Winter Is Coming To Tentola. Another mature blue. Equally good in outline

and appeals for his masculine outlook and strength but not overdone in anyway. Good head, eye

and ears. Super body and muscletone. Not quite the length of stride of 1st, but an excellent Ch that is

absolutely sound in all directions. Good colour, well broken markings. Keen showman that works

well with his handler. RBD.

PB (3) 1st Shandlmain’s Sofistikate. Pretty, feminine tri. Lovely type and appeals greatly in head, dark

almond eye giving a sweet expression and overall outline. Well bodied and in good double coat that

was beautifully put down and a good colour. Moved out well, once settled, with reach and drive.

Well set and carried tail. Should have a good future. BPB & BPIS.

2nd Shandlimain’s Shuri With Sturtmoor. Litter sister to 1st and quite similar in many aspects. Slightly

larger built overall but still feminine. Equally appealing in head and eye but ears need to settle

further. Good conformation and a sound mover.

JB (3) 1st Brackenhaye Heart And Soul. Really beautiful young tri that took my eye when she entered

the ring. Lovely, feminine size with good bone. Still to mature fully in body but gives off a balanced

outline. Loved her clean, wedge shaped head. Excellent eye. Well placed tipped ears, used at all

times to enhance her expression. Good conformation which was reflected on the move, covers the

ground with an effortless stride. One for the future. RBB.

2nd Brackenhaye Heartbreaker At Shandlmain. Litter sister to 1st. Liked her overall type and size.

Excellent bone and feet. Good wedge head with a moderate well placed stop. Good neck leading to a

sound front. More mature in body than 1st, and uses her rear well to drive around the ring. Close-up

but not quite the length of stride from profile.

YB (1) 1st Brackenhaye Queen Of Hearts Of Oakestelle. Yet another tri from, what must have been, a

super litter. Similar all through to her siblings. Equally appealing, feminine size. Liked her head, eye,

ear set and carriage. Good neck. Well balanced angles. Free mover with a low carried tail. In good

double coat and condition.

PGB (2) 1st Cownbred Northern Xclusive. Strongly-built tri but still no mistaking her gender. Liked her

head. Ear set a touch wide but tipped and a good size and shape. Good proportions with a moderate

stop. Almond, dark eye. Pleasing in body and muscle. Free, easy mover covering the ground well.

LB (6) 1st Blamorder Sunny Sky. Pretty sable that excels in head properties. Good length, stop and a

good underjaw. Lovely dark eye giving a melting expression. Ears used to advantage. Moderate neck.

Well laid shoulder and upperarm with corresponding rear. Carrying a bit too much weight but

appealing for type and proportions. Moved soundly but could be a touch more animated. Thick,

double coat.

2nd Coneypark Golden Brown. Another pleasing sable that ran the winner close. Liked her sound

breed type and is good to go over on the stack, particularly pleasing in reach of neck giving some

elegance to her outline. Excellent head and outlook and no mistaking her gender. Moved very well

from profile but can firm-up a bit going away. Well presented coat and handled to best advantage.

OB (4) 1st Wynele Alice Blue Gown With Breckamore. Super blue merle. So well balanced and of

great type. Bang-on for size with quality bone and plenty of substance but no mistaking her gender.

Excellent head. Good wedge, stop and moulded muzzle. Almond shape eye. Excellent ear set, size

and carriage. Long, reachy neck. Deep, functional chest. Well angled both ends giving her the ability

to extend and drive around the ring. Super colour and markings. Pushed her kennel mate all the way

for the top spot…close decision for BIS. Thought they looked a great pair in the challenge. Gather she

has recently gained her title. Congratulations! BB. RBIS & BOS.

2nd Ir Ch. Blamorder Jelly Bean Queen For Slievemac. Another quality blue. Slightly smaller and finer

built than 1st. Feminine, shapely head. Good ear set and carriage. Reachy neck. Handles well on the

stack with her sound conformation. Easy mover.

SP. Veteran B (7) 1st Oakestelle Venus De Milo. 8 year old finer-built blue merle. Pleases in head.

Clean wedge. Excellent almond eye. High set tipped ears. Good neck. Moderately angled both ends.

Typical outline. In hard condition. Moved very well, particularly from profile with a good open stride.

Excellent colour, a clear, silvery blue and well broken markings. She always shows so well for her

handler and they make a great team. BVB & BVIS. Well done.

2nd Jack Mack’s Hefin Hew. Another lovely veteran. 9 years old and gave a pleasing account of

herself, just carrying a bit too much weight now. Stronger in head than 1st. Good ear and eye.

Typical expression. Soundly made. Good bone. Moved well.

Sp. Vintage B (3) 1st Ch. Manordeifi Satin Doll Of Koczkodan. 12 year old tri still looking well and in

lovely condition. Excellent head, eye, ear set and carriage. Still so good to go over on the stack.

Understandably, at her age, now losing her topline at times and a touch loose on the move but what

a great ambassador and shows how well the breed can mature into later years. Thank you for

bringing her.

2nd Multi Ch. Kangasvuokon Venice. Sable girl of 11 years and another super veteran. Loved her head

and expression. Well bodied. Excellent colour. Moved ok. Enjoying her day in the ring.

Darren Clarke (Judge)