Collie Association

Thank you to the committee for the invitation to judge one of my favourite breed shows

Well done to all the hardy exhibitors and exhibits who had already endured a show in the morning in the rising temperature, I tried to be quick and not overhandle the exhibits.

A Grateful thanks to Christine Collins for giving up her weekend to steward for me.

I have been extremely fortunate to have seen some of the best of collies in over 30 years of showing and breeding, these collies provide me with the blueprint in my mind’s eye to this day.

I will not ramble on with my opinion of the breed, as I feel we should all be able to evaluate our own stock before we take them to a show, but I will say I am surprised by the quality that some exhibitors are showing at present!!!

1 Veteran Dog (2,1)

1st Cooney, Ch. Jopium Stole my heart at Lingwell, this rich sable gentleman stole my heart immediately, a striking male at 9 years old, he has a lovely head with correct placed stop, flat skull and with the most expressive eyes and correctly tipped ears, he really did make me melt.

He is beautifully constructed which you can see from his true elegant shape, well arched neck flowing into lovely lay of shoulders nice bend of stifle and short hocks, on the move he covered the ground with ease with plenty of drive from behind, thank you for the opportunity to handle this very worthy champion still in his prime, was pleased to award him Best Dog, Best Veteran and Res Best of Breed.

He ended the day as Best Veteran In show.

2 Minor Puppy Dog (0)

3 Puppy Dog (0)

4 Junior Dog (4,0)

4 junior dogs all different stages of development and maturity.

1st Brookers, Corisian Parisian Magic

This golden sable boy was a true showman beautifully presented, he was a good size and lovely shape, he had a good length of head with a flat skull, obliquely set eyes giving a masculine expression. He covered the ground with ease and should mature into a quality male in time.

2nd Scott, Sherlock Holmes of Moon River for Chantique (imp Fra) NAF TAF, on first glance around the ring thought this tri was my winner he is an impressive size with good bone and carries a wealth of coat which was well presented, on handling I found his head lacked balance hopefully this will improve with age, he had a lovely soft expression that you an only get from a tricolour enhanced by his neat ears. He had a nice reach of neck and length of back, he could not match one for movement.

3rd Fielding, Lillyway Lemon Crush

5 Novice Dog (2,0)

1st Brookers, Corisian Parisian Magic

2nd Tilley, Ingledene Dark Moon Rising

This tricolour was 4th in Junior dog, he was an impressive size and shiny black, I found his head too strong for my taste and would prefer a sweeter eye to enhance his expression.

6 Graduate Dog (2,1)

1st Hawkins & Foy Beldones Toucher Du Bois

A young golden sable dog who appealed instantly for his shape in profile, good reach of neck and his abundance of well-presented coat. On handling he had correct laid shoulders, flowing into a well-developed body, he was well muscled and had nice short hock that allowed him to propel around the ring. I found his head strong in back skull and his ear carriage and size spoiled his expression for me.

7 Post Graduate (2,0)

1st Crowcott, Lillyway Legacy

This boy was high spirited for his handler and was rather proud of his tail. Tricolour of nice size, his head is of good length and he has nice dark eyes giving a nice expression, I wouldn’t want his stop to be any deeper but he has a nice flat skull and nice set ears, at almost 3 years old he has still to mature, he moved around the ring with ease just needs to settle to the job.

2nd Gautrey, Lillyway Landwind

Sable litter brother to 1 and similar remarks apply this boy was more settled just preferred the eye on the tricolour.

8 Limit Dog (2,1)

1st Kenny, Lanlin Benji at Leesaund

Shaded sable of impressive size, more classical type of collie, he has correct length of head but rather strong in head for me and would prefer a softer expression. He was well made, strong and muscular throughout. Moved well for his handler.

9 Open Dog (5,2)

1st Cronk, Chelborn Storyteller,

An impressive tricolour dog at full maturity he caught my eye as soon as he entered the ring, sparkling black in the sunshine, his white collar enhanced his well arched neck, on handling he excelled in construction with nice round bone and well laid shoulders flowing into a deep chest good turn of stifle and short hock. He was handled well by handler, moved well in all directions at the correct pace. Overall, he was a lovely dog with a well-balanced head, lovely soft round muzzle, correct placed stop and dark almond shaped eyes with neat well used ears, his expression is pleasant but not the softness I desire on a tricolour and this is where he lost out against the veteran sable, who was on top form. I was pleased to award him res Best Dog.

2nd Cooney, Jopium Danny Boy at Lingwell.

Strong shaded sable dog, his colour is glorious not often seen these days and every hair was presented to perfection, he has matured well since I last judged him as a youngster, he has a good expression from nice dark eyes, good reach of neck and length of back moved well around the ring from his powerful hocks giving plenty of drive, ran first place close I just preferred the balanced head of 1.

10 Veteran Bitch (4,1)

1st Brooker, Telforth Sweet Dreams to Corisian JW,

WOW this veteran lady also stole my heart as a puppy when I first judged her and again today, she has got better and better, now 9 years old she is looking and moving fantastic, I was captivated by her balance when standing she stood perfect from all angles. On handling everything was in the right place no coarseness, or anything overdone. She has such a sweet expression beautiful head, presented in sparkling condition. Thank you for bringing her at the end of the long day she had to bow to a elegant younger bitch and veteran dog on top form. Was pleased to award her res Best Bitch, wish she was mine.

2nd Wray – Ramsden, Beldones Duchess of Dreams,

Another lady that is hard to believe is already a veteran, she clearly adores her handler and showed her socks of totally different type to 1, but an honest collie with a balanced shape and can show some youngsters how to move, for me she was a little strong in head and overdone in bone.

3rd Samhaven Time is Money with Nikal,

11 Minor puppy bitch (3,0)

2 very young puppy bitches at the same stage in development.

1st Tamira’s Miracles Cornflake Girl For Hanvale (imp Hun) NAF TAF.

This puppy had everything in the right place for her age just a tad raw in coat and finishing this however showed off her lovely shape and well arched neck on standing, she moved around the ring steadily, for one so young she was sound on the move.

2nd Tiganlea Hoity Toity at Revdvicki.

Similar remarks apply to this young lady on comparison to 1, I would prefer a bit more length of back and back end will need to improve, but she has a sweet expression and good length of head.

3rd Wray- Ramsden Takhisis Lady of Mystery,

12 Puppy bitch (1,0)

1st Hawkins & Foy Beldones Sound Gold

This was an extremely sweet 10-month-old puppy showing great promise, she captivated me for her balance so feminine, lovely length of head with correct stop for age and flat skull, well placed almond shaped eyes and tight neat ears set well. She has a nice length of neck flowing into a good body, well let down hocks, she has a lovely light golden sable coat that enhanced her outline. Moved well, Best Puppy and Best Puppy in show.

13 Junior bitch (1,0)

1st Crowcott, Lillyway Lemon Breeze,

This tricolour was another handful for her handler like her kennel mate, she was a nice size and type, her head is a good length and dark expressive eyes, I wouldn’t want any more stop at this stage, I would like more neck for balance, and she was erratic on the move.

14 Novice bitch (0)

15 Graduate bitch (1,0)

1st Larkin, Rahlissa Toffee Cake for Denora.

Golden sable bitch who was a joy to handle everything in the right place for her age, she showed off all her virtues from her lovely, sweet head to her balanced construction, correct length of head with well placed stop and exquisite dark eyes with the melting expression. She was a beautiful shape with enough neck and good length of back, she moved effortlessly around the ring with light precise footfall, she was a joy to judge and will watch her progress as she matures fully.

16 Post Graduate bitch (4,1)

1st Scott, Chantique Ooh La La,

A golden sable, at just over 2 years old she was very mature and a beautiful type in excellent coat, she is balanced throughout, her head is a joy to handle correct placed stop, obliquely set eyes giving my desired expression neat well set ears that she showed all the time, on the move she covered the ground with ease, just not as positive in front as her sister.

2nd Tippers, Tignalea Twinkling Star.

A very reluctant show girl who refuses to make the most of herself, this bitch is a lovely colour of blue that glinted in the sunlight, she earned her place in the class with her movement she soared around the ring, covering the ground well. He head is of good length and has a pleasant expression when you can pull her ears up just wish she would make more of herself.

3rd Takhisis Lady of Illusions,

17 Limit bitch (5,0)

1st Scott, Chantique Déjà vu,

The star of the day and this really was Déjà vu so like her litter sister who won the previous class. This bitch oozed charisma and gave me goosebumps even on a warm day just what I was looking for.

Her head handles so well lovely moulding, soft rounded muzzle correct placed stop, almond shaped eyes and softest of expression looked adoringly at her handler using her neat ears all the time she painted a beautiful picture standing, in profuse dense coat that covered her beautiful frame. She had the most wonderful arch to her neck that when its right gives the elegance and impassive dignity that the standard requires, everything flowed into her well made body excellent turn of stifle and neat short hocks, she moved out well floating around the ring effortlessly, delighted to award her Best Bitch and Best of Breed.

2nd Crowcott, Lillyway Lemonade Blush,

A golden sable bitch who is a nice type with a sweet expression, her head was a bit short but in proportion to the rest of her, she has a nice shape and moved well.

3rd Beare, Jemspark Maid in Secret,

18 Open bitch (6,2)

This was a hard class to judge as all 4 were of very different types.

1st Hawkins & Foy, Beldones Looks Like Fun,

Fully mature shaded sable bitch who did not strike me as the outright winner, but she won the class on her honest collie type and has to be handled to appreciate her, she has a pleasing head of correct length dark well-placed eyes and neat ears.

I would like better front angulation as I felt this spoiled her top line slightly, she had a good length of back and elegant shape she moved around the ring with ease.

2nd Brookers, Paris Venise Du Bois Des Amazons for Corisian JW (imp Fra)

Glamourise golden sable in fantastic coat that was presented to perfection giving her an ultra-feminine look she has a beautifully moulded head, her expression was just marred slightly by her eye placement would prefer a sweeter eye, but this did not detract from her other qualities she showed her lovely outline off on a loose lead and my eye was drawn to her shape she moved around the ring well positive in all directions.

3rd Walder, Ch Beldones La Vita Bella for Hanvale JW.