Northern Counties Shetland Sheepdog Club

Northern Counties Shetland Sheepdog Championship Show

Sunday 6th April 2025

I was honoured to judge my first ever championship show for the club that has supported me in my journey. The little girl choosing her first pet Sheltie at a farm in 1976 could never imagine that such a day would come. I would like to thank the Northern Counties Shetland Sheepdog club for their invitation, my steward who assisted me greatly and of course, the exhibitors. I found in some classes I had dogs of equal merit, and I had to ‘nit-pick’. For this, I thank each and every one of the exhibitors for accepting my decisions with grace. My aim was to find what encapsulates the Shetland Sheepdog – a small, working dog, free from exaggeration. I knew what I wanted to find – a dog that fits the breed standard and that could really move. I make no apologies for making the best of the ring and taking my time, searching for that special one. Overall, I found teeth and bites were good, but we really have a duty as breeders to ensure we concentrate on improving front angulation. Exhibits with good front assemblies were few and far between. Eyes are another problem: the Shetland Sheepdog should have an obliquely set, almond shaped eye. Although generally they do not now have to endure the harsh climate of the Shetland Isles, and thus so requiring the correct shape and placement of eye aforementioned; we must maintain breed type. Eye colour was also an issue in some sables. The standard calls for the eye to be dark brown (except in the case of merles), whereas I came across dogs whose eye were of a lighter brown in colour.

BPD(1) 1st Goodwin’s Highbrook Hells Bells. Still wearing his baby coat meant there was nothing to hide. On examination, one notes his forefeet were where they should be – direct beneath his shoulders: not his ears or his nose. Hands on examination confirmed the aforementioned. Moving down his forequarters, he had good angulation and length of upper arm, leading down his straight legs to flexible pasterns and well padded feet. His hindquarters were equally as pleasing as the front. If I could be critical, I would like a more refined head. Nevertheless he was handled so expertly he had you believe he had been showing for years and did enough to scoop Best Baby Puppy In Show, with agreement from my co-judge.

MPD (5, 1a) 1st Hateley’s Mohnesee The Charm Master. Attractive puppy of a deep rich sable colour, finished with white trim. An appealing wedge shaped head, with correctly placed dark eye, complimented the overall picture. Elegant neck settled into well angulated forequarters. Level topline and good spring of rib. Elegant sweep over loins, well angulated rear quarters and muscular thighs. He moved with purpose. 2nd Botham’s Balidorn Olympic Star. Of a similar age to the class winner, this young man, as with 1, had a coat of rich, deep sable, with moderate covering, as expected with a pup of his age. He has a refined head when viewed from the front, with pleasing expression, dark eye and correctly placed ears. Flat skull with required amount of stop. I would prefer a little more underjaw. Moved with drive from the rear, but I preferred the front angulation and movement of the class winner. 3rd Fisher’s Shellamoyed Winter Blues.

PD (7) 1st Forbes’ Degallo The Prodigy. Promising youngster who excels in breed type. With a balanced, one piece, refined head, dark, almond shaped eye and correct ear set and carriage finished the picture of beauty. Elegant, well arched neck, leading to well laid back shoulder and good upper arm, adequate body and great turn of stifle and clean hocks. In good coat. Balanced throughout. Very pleasing on the move. I have no doubt he will gain his title at a young age. BPD and full agreement with the co-judge for BPIS. 2nd Jeavons’ Grandgenes Play The Game. Of a lighter sable colour than the class winner, this boy caught my eye when he entered the ring, grabbing my attention with his elegance. A pleasing head with a flat skull, eye dark with a captivating expression. Cheeks flat, merging into a well rounded muzzle and good underjaw. Lips dark and tightly closed. I would prefer a little more lift to the ear to complete the pictures. Graceful and stylish neck, lovely layback of shoulders, well let down hocks and good length of tail, his handler getting the best out of him on the move. A lot to like, but I preferred the head qualities of the winner today. Another youngster destined for great things, I am sure. 3rd Hateley’s Mohnesee The Charm Master.

JD 5 (2a) 1st Gartland’s Arcot Polished Black. Tri colour male, of ideal size with enough substance for size. Head smooth without any coarseness, enhanced by neatly set ears. One piece head, with good ear placement and carriage. Adequate length of neck. Chest deep and good fore and rear quarters. He seemed a little unsettled with his surroundings today, but excelled in type in this class. 2nd Rennison’s Zaniah’s Illusionist. Blue boy of racier lines than the class winner. The marbling, coupled with the lack of tan markings encourages one to study the head further and needs to be handled to appreciate his qualities. When viewed face on, the head is refined with correct length and proportions. The eye is sweet with super dark pigmentation. Skull flat and with a good underjaw. Neck elegant and well arched, shoulders of good lay. A lot to like, but I just preferred the overall breed type of the class winner. 3rd Malone’s Di’Leila’s Sheltie Amore Mio (Imp Pol).

YD (5, 1a) 1st Miles’ Milesend Mulberry. Tri colour male that displayed masculinity with his substance and type, but of the correct size. Head was of one piece, with good filing in foreface and correctly placed, dark eye. Neck elegant and well arched, back level, front and rear angulation proved correct on hands on examination, confirmed by his lovely movement. Abundant, fitted coat of jet black, ice white trim and rich tan markings completed the picture. 2nd Rutterford’s Myter Black Tarquin At Stormhead JW. Quality tri boy with good bone. Head pleasing with good eye and ear placing. Tan rich. Sufficient upper arm. Hocks clean and feet well padded. Preferred the overall masculinity of the class winner. 3rd Malone’s Di’Leila’s Sheltie Amore Mio (imp Pol)

MD (4) 1st Winfield’s Iskander Bohemia Classic for Oakcroft (imp Cze). Excelling in head qualities, accentuated with the sweet, desired expression. Super balanced with a deep chest, well angulated shoulders, graceful sweep over loin, great turn of stifle and clean hock and long tail. Good bone with required substance. Moved away with drive. 2nd Fisher’s Foxstone Fairy Glen. Another desirable boy with a lovely head and eye. well rounded muzzle, good underjaw, well arched neck, topline level and overall unexaggerated. Not as settled on the move as the class winner today. 3rd Bendelow’s The Great Houdini From Amethrickeh

ND (6, 1a) 1st Hateley’s Mohnesee The Charm Master. 2nd Winfield’s Iskander Bohemia Classic For Oakcroft (Imp Cze). 3rd Bendelow’s The Great Houdini From Amethrickeh

GD (7, 1a) 1st Fisher’s Lavika The Tempest At Shellamoyed. Lovely tri colour boy with a lot to like! His coat is so jet black is positively shone. The tan markings are rich and luxurious. Head clean and without exaggeration. Refined, well arched neck, good layback of shoulders and sufficient, lovely turn of stifle and well rounded bone. Correct length and placement of upper arm. Lovely long tail and graceful sweep over loin. 2nd Gartland’s Arcot Polished Black. 3rd Miles’ Ribans Goldstar of Milesend (JKC)

PGD (8, 2a) 1st Winfield’s Oakcroft The Mandalorian (JW), One I have admired around the show circuit; he caught my eye when he entered the ring. Golden sable boy who simply exudes quality all round. Blunt, wedge shaped head, lovely eye and ear placement, jaws clean – the whole creating a bewitching picture. Adequate reach of neck, leading to well laid back shoulder. Body of good length and lovely turn of stifle. I am certain he will gain his title soon, which will be well deserved. 2nd Potts’ Shadowess Jubilee Prince. Built of more racier lines, I have competed against this chap a few times with my own boy. He has a more fitted coat. Head has the slight stop and flat skull required. Carriage and placement of ears correct. His eye could be a little sweeter. Nice turn of stifle and hocks well let down. Moved away with drive. Preferred the front movement and breed type of the class winner. 3rd Saunders’ Galateus Bohemia Classic At Torriglen (Imp Cze) RL2EX.

LD (6,1a) 1st Mitchells’ Valdosta Gracelands JW. A boy I have competed against many times with my own male, and one I have admired. He did not disappoint today. His face oozes the sweetness required in this breed, An elegant, well arched neck, good layback of shoulders. A no nonsense dog that is balanced and without exaggeration throughout. Another boy that deserves his title. 2nd Revill’s Mosardi Don’t Stop. This workmanlike lad paints a picture of masculinity. Head clean and well rounded in foreface. Lovely reach of neck and correct front and rear angulation. When concentrating, he pulls out the stops and covers the ground with ease. He is however so in tune with his handler, that he does have a tendency to look up at her now and again, which can throw his movement out slightly, but examination, both visual and hands on, proves he is correct in fore and rear quarters. 3rd Sutherland’s Shelcrest Winter Solstice at Suthesley JW

OD (2). 1st Pearson’s Ch Edglonian Golden Graham (DCC & BIS). I was thrilled when I saw this boy enter the ring and excited that my opportunity had arrived to examine him, but make no mistake – as with all exhibits today, I intended to judge what was presented to me today, irrespective of what shows had gone before, and this dog was no exception. A super, one piece head, with rounded fore-face and a well defined underjaw. Those lips tightly and firmly closed! Correctly ear set and carriage. the combination of the aforementioned gives an appealing expression. On further examination moving down his well arched neck, he has pleasing fore and rear angulation, forelegs straight, leading to flexible pasterns: he simply floated around the ring effortlessly in the blink of an eye. Totally balanced throughout and oozes breed type. The best dog on the day was adequately awarded DCC and with full agreement with my co-Judge, he was awarded BIS. 2nd Goodwin’s Highbrook Hobnob JW. Sire to the Best Baby Puppy in Show. I have had the pleasure of judging this gentleman a few years ago and I have awarded him top honours. Different in type to the class winner. He exudes an air of nobility in his expression. Incredibly in tune with his handler and perfectly schooled.  Moves steadily, but I preferred the movement and overall breed type of the winner.

VD (2) 1st Walker’s Ch Tooralie’s Ocho Rios JW. This gent caught my eye with his rich, chestnut colouring which contrasted beautifully against his ice white collar, chest and forelegs. Head wedge in shape, with filling in his foreface. Pleasing body shape, topline level and graceful sweep of loin. He had become a veteran that day. Moving towards he strides out, and has good turn of stifle, propelling his rear movement. I would just prefer for him to keep his tail low on the move, but this was not raised above the back – just my personal preference. 2nd Gamble’s Solyric Inaugural Gold JW OSW. A touch older than the winner, with a pleasing expression, dark eye of good shape, all combined with correct ear set and carriage. Coat of correct texture, which was fitted and well groomed. Moved with grace. I preferred the overall front and rear assembly of the class winner today.

Special OD (S&W) (3) 1st Mitchell’s Valdosta Gracelands JW. 2nd Saunders’ Galateus Bohemia Classic At Torriglen (Imp Cze) RL2EX. This boy painted an attractive picture with an appealing blaze on a handsome, one piece head, complimented with dark, correctly placed eyes and good ear placement and carriage. A full muzzle completed the picture. Legs, when viewed standing, were straight and workmanlike. Hocks clean and feet well padded. Preferred the reach of neck of the class winner. 3rd Mettan-Ure’s Oakcroft’s Venturer Avec Savendie

Special OD (Tricolour, B&T, B&W) (1) 1st Rennison’s Zaniah Mono Tone Of Drumcauchile. Black and white male painting an appealing picture on examination. Near ideal for size with good bone and substance. The absence of the tan can play tricks with your eyes and his head can require hands on examination by some to be appreciated. His foreface is well rounded with correctly placed ears, giving a picture of both sweetness and masculinity. I would prefer a little more length to loin. He was a little fidgety today and certainly made his handler work in the class, but was more settled in the challenge.

Special OD (Blue Merle) (4) 1st Brady & Lynn’s Ch Afterglow Sky Miles To Bordercot. Striking, attractive male who oozed quality and was balanced throughout. Elegant head with no exaggerations. Fitted coat, with adequate marbling of black. His handler clearly appreciates the concept of ‘team work’ and dressed accordingly to complement and enhance his clear, blue colouring. Taking full advantage of the ring, he moves with purpose, covering the ground with ease. He can give a slight flick out of his forefeet on occasion on the move, but this can easily be forgiven, as, along with the overall CC winner, he out-moved the rest today. No hesitation given him RCC, with the referee making the ultimate decision and awarding him RBIS. 2nd Forster-Parish’s Lowick Blueberry. Upstanding, no nonsense gent with equal qualities as 1 with regard to coat colouring, but carried a little more coat than the class winner. One piece head, with almond shaped eyes that were as blue as the Caribbean sea, the picture finished off with neat, well placed ears. He was well constructed in fore and hind quarters, but did not stride out as well today as the class winner. 3rd Proctor’s Cullshelties Lochan Torr.

Donna Linford - Judge