North Of England Bearded Collie Club

North of England Bearded Collie Club Ch Show (Bitches) 26/8/24

The committee and helpers of NEBCOL must be commended on finding an alternative venue after the sad cancellation of Driffield within the space of just one day to enable the show to go on! The venue was superb and with the space and gazebos reminiscent of Midshires shows in days gone by. The Beardie community pulled together to put on a wonderful buffet too – what more could we ask for – the sun even shone! I was honoured to receive a beautiful gift from the committee.

A special thanks to my two stewards; Jody and Nick for keeping the ring running smoothly. While we have seen a decline in numbers in recent years with many factors impacting this I was pleased with the depth of quality I found in my winners. We have some lovely youngsters coming up who I hope will ensure as a breed we maintain consistency of quality. While I found no plethora of faults in the dogs I judged, fitness and fatness are two things that impact on both construction and movement. Finally, thanks to NEBCOL for my invitation and to my fellow judges who made the day a delight.

MPB (3,1)

1 Skinner’s Valkyrie de Chester at Tamjenta (Imp Fra) Such a lovely puppy, this 7-month-old young lady has a beautiful profile on the stand being very balanced and correctly proportioned but it is on the move that she excels – she opens up and just covers the ground effortlessly with super reach in front while driving from the rear. Lovely expression which is only enhanced by her correct head proportions, with good length of neck leading to correct length of back coming from the rib. All packaged in a good quality coat well presented. She had just the right amount of ‘cheek’ to be completely endearing. Pleased to award her BPB and delighted to see her go on to BPIS under the BIS judge.

2 Savage & McClean’s Strufingill Penny Benjamin at Canaich. Another lovely baby of just 6 months of age who was enjoying her day. Presented a pleasing outline on the stand with super head and kind expression. A little untidy on the move but when settled her movement was as would be expected from her construction. Coat is quite profuse at the moment which can detract from her profile but will I am sure settle as she grows.

PB (3,0)

1 Skinner’s Valkyrie de Chester at Tamjenta (Imp Fra)

2 Leckenby’s Kiltondale Kisses of Fire at Briaryburn 9-month-old sweet brown girl who is of correct proportions. Pleasing expression and head with nice length of neck leading to good lay of shoulders. Good quality coat coming through. Showed moments of lovely movement when she settled. Well presented.

3 Savage & McClean’s Strufingill Penny Benjamin at Canaich

VB (11,3)

A lovely class of girls to judge – proving that for a Beardie 7 is no age!

1 Harkins’ Corimist Galway Girl at Claudalla The last time I judged I awarded this lovely girl the CC and it is super to see that as a veteran she still has all of her attributes. Presented to perfection, she has a lovely profile on the stand with correct amount of coat of good texture. Lovely expression enhanced by dark eyes and broad head. Well laid back shoulder and correct upper arm combined with matching rear angles allowed her to move out well. BVB and delighted to see the BIS judge award her BVIS

2 Cope’s Ch Scalbeck Sophistication at Menander. A very close decision between these two girls, with both being built on similar lines. Appeals for shape and size and again in super condition and presentation. Super head with sweet expression being attentive to her handler at all times. Good length of neck leading to nicely laid back shoulders. She has correct length of back coming from ribs of correct shape. Free flowing movement as would be expected from her construction.

3 Woolley’s Malandex Xpressly Sweet at Aratika A brown girl who as her name suggests is a sweetie. Built on smaller lines than the first two she has a kind eye and good head. Soundly constructed with lovely coat of good texture. Carrying a little extra weight which impacted on her movement.

JB (4,1)

1 Harcourt Brown’s Orora’s Pearly Princess Pale slate girl who on first look is quite unassuming, but comes into her own when she settled with her wonderful scopey movement which with hands on assessment proves she is built as her movement shows. Kind eye and sweet expression, balanced head leading to shoulders laid back enough and correct length of body. Rear angulation to match the front.

2 Abbott’s Clanwillow Crown of Hearts. A mature looking 16-month-old girl built on heavier lines than 1. Lots of qualities to like about her, including correct width and depth of head with a typical expression. Balanced in angulation. Not very settled on the move which impacted her movement including some crabbing.

3 Leckenby’s Kiltondale Kisses of Fire at Briaryburn

YB (4,0)

1 Fiedlers’ Malandex Most Xpressive for Malarkey Having seen this young lady in the ring I know that she has presented her handler with a challenge on a few occasions so was delighted to see her give a faultless performance in this class to win. Both her and her litter sister, who had to be content with 2nd today are built on similar lines but I felt that in lightness of foot and front extension she had the edge today.

2 Baker & Van de Hoef’s Malandex Xpression of Love. As with 1, this young girl has lovely construction with balanced proportions. She has a charming, feminine head with soft expression. Presented in excellent order, with a good quality jacket. Moved out well, just felt that she didn’t have quite the reach of her sister today.

3 Harcourt Brown’s Orora’s Pearly Princess

NB (3,0)

1 Skinner’s Valkyrie de Chester at Tamjenta (Imp Fra)

2 Savage & McClean’s Strufingill Penny Benjamin at Canaich

3 Abbott’s Clanwillow Crown of Hearts

GB (3,1)

Both girls in this class evenly matched for type and maturity.

1 Burfitt’s Breaksea Timeless A very honest Beardie, with a charming feminine head and soft expression. Good bone and balanced proportions. As would be expected at her age, her coat is still maturing but shows correct texture and is coming through nicely. Moved out well with an effortless gait. To nitpick I would prefer slightly less white on her hocks.

2 Costellos’ Bradiba’s Devil in a Bush for Calkylona Brown girl, again with a kind expression and feminine head. Nice length of neck leading to well laid back shoulders and good length of rib. Just not as settled on the move as 1.

PGB (7,3)

1 O’Connells’ Potterdale Royal Sapphire of Atherleigh. Not the biggest of girls but everything was in proportion which is of the utmost importance! Blue girl with correct head pattern – to be critical I would like a slightly darker eye but would expect this to come with full maturity. Nicely constructed all through with good bone. Level topline held both on the move and in profile, she moved out smoothly displaying characteristic reach and drive. I would quite happily give this girl room at home.

2 Price’s Winaria Winter Solstice for Mobuff JW. Dark plain slate built on bigger lines than 1 but again with correct proportions. Feminine expression of an old fashioned type. She has good front angulation with rear to match. Good quality coat presented in lovely condition. Moved out well.

3 Harcourt Brown’s Farmarens Imperial Highness at Orora JW (Imp Swe) Another lovely girl. Not quite the width of head of the first two, she nevertheless has a sweet and endearing expression. Lovely shape in profile with pleasing outline and overall sound construction. Well presented with good quality coat. Not quite the front reach of 1 & 2 today.

LB (11,5)

1 Burscough’s Talraz Light Up the Sky for Kilfinan. This girl surprised me as while not my usual preference for type she really could not be denied this class and her breed qualities are undeniable. She possesses many qualities, her head is clean and well proportioned with a super expression. She is balanced in body with a strong topline and good ribbing. Her movement is efficient with good reach and drive allowing her to cover the ground with ease. Coat of good texture and well presented.

2 Stead’s Colvabrae Villanelle. This girl is very much my type, and she has many qualities. Beautiful balanced head with a soft expression and well set eyes. Coat of excellent texture and condition. Longer caste than 1 in body giving a typical outline. Constructed well all through with good angulation which enabled her to move out smoothly. Just struggled to consistently maintain her topline today.

3 Jays’ Matamata Lorien Lady at Talraz. Very similar type to 1 and I see that they share the same sire. Again she has a good head pattern and endearing expression. Nice lay back of shoulder leading to good length of rib and short loin. She was just lacking a little confidence on the move which impacted her stride.

OB (10,3)

1 Cope’s Ch Menander Special Edition. I must confess I haven’t taken much notice of this girl in the ring before but just wow – there isn’t anything I didn’t love about her and at 3-and-a-half years of age she is truly in her prime. She has a lovely feminine expression with dark expressive eyes. Coat of excellent texture and length. Well proportioned and balanced outline with a strong level topline with correct front and rear. Her movement is fluid showcasing the free, ground-covering gait that should be typical of our breed. She has both grace and power and just flowed round the ring looking like she could carry on all day. Delighted to award her BCC and so pleased to see her awarded BIS.

2 Betts’ Ch Pipadene Extraa Hint of Chili JW A girl I have liked and placed well before and who is now as a mature adult on top form. She has a strong head while maintaining femininity with the kindest of expressions. Well laid back shoulders with matching rear. Level topline which she maintained both standing and on the move. Another with an easy ground covering gait. The whole package wrapped up in good quality coat of correct texture and well presented. RCC and was lovely to see her awarded RBIS.

3 Harcourt Brown’s Ch Orora’s Oriana The third of a lovely line of girls in this open class, a lot of the comments for the two girls above apply to this girl as well. A precocious youngster who was rightly made up at a young age, she was just giving away on maturity today.

Justine Waldron (Judge)