West Of England Ladies Kennel Society

Thank you so much to Caroline and her committee for inviting me to judge Smooth Collies without CCs. A special thank you to my stewards, Hilary Gilpin and Karen. The entry may have been numerically small, but the quality was extremely high, with several of my lovely favourites present.

JUNIOR DOG (2)

1. Thomas & Lusty’s Blamorder Side Hustle with Mournebrake. A really lovely tricoloured 11-month-old puppy. He stands with dignity, giving the appearance of working capacity. Flowing lines, free from cloddiness and coarseness. Won the class with his perfectly balanced head and expression. Well-proportioned head, flat skull, two parallel planes, perceptive stop, ending with well-rounded blunt muzzle. Correct shape and size of eyes giving the required expression. Well placed ears nicely tipped. Well arched neck and good lay of shoulders. Straight, well-boned forelegs. Good chest and firm back. Well bent stifles and hocks well let down. Lovely oval feet and correctly set tail. He has such beautiful free and easy movement, with good length of stride and drive from the rear. It was such a shame his coat was ‘on the blow’ making him look quite ragged to go in the Puppy group, so he was beaten by the bitch for Best Puppy. I was pleased I helped him attain his Junior Warrant at less than a year old. BEST DOG.

2. Howard, Howard & Fort’s Shulune Imperial Inkheart with Casatentola. A much older merle dog, right up to age, who had a heavier body, almost too much for me. More compact than the winner which suited his size. However, he was balanced with a pleasing shape. Head a little short and a little deep. Good neck flowing into well laid-back shoulders. Good fore chest and round, strong bone. Correct topline with correct tail set and length. Moderate hindquarters and moved very soundly.

POST GRADUATE DOG (2)

1. Rodger’s Blamorder Mischief Maker with Jerdoni. A well boned masculine dog, nicely bodied and in good condition, who appeared to look shorter in body. I felt he had a better head than the other dog. A flat skull, almond shaped dark brown eyes obliquely set. Well placed ears tipped correctly. Everything positioned right to give the pleasing expression. I thought his tail set was OK, but he would fly his tail rather high. He moved very soundly with reach from the front and drive from behind.

2. Metcalf’s Koczkodan Well I Never. A tricoloured dog, a lot longer in body. He was losing his coat badly, resulting in his outline looking quite ‘shelly’ and lacking in body. However, he had good bone and construction. Well boned straight front legs and tight feet. He had a balanced head and was very vocal. His tail set was good and he carried his tail lower with the correct slight swirl at the tip. He moved well.

OPEN (2)

1. Seager’s Blamorder Magic Maker with Freejack JW. I have judged this chap several times before and watched him mature. He is masculine, with good bone, condition and size, but not coarse. A real charmer that you can’t ignore. I felt he had the better head. Which was a well-proportioned masculine wedged head forming two parallel planes. Strong under-jaw, good bite and black nose. Flat skull, with ears set correctly and used, nicely tipped. Correct oblique eye placement. A well arched muscular neck flowing into well laid shoulders. Forelegs are straight and strong with moderate bone and deep chest. Well sprung ribs. Hocks are strong and stifles well bent. A good tail set although he tends to fly his tail. Lovely oval feet with arched toes. He moves well. RESERVE BEST DOG.

2. Martin & Martin’s Ch Sturtmoor Arceus’s Legacy JW. Another sable, well boned with a lovely overall outline. He appeared shorter in body which did not give him that true elegance and dignity required in this breed. He uses his ears well, has expressive dark eyes, a flat skull and a good bite. Nice length of neck, deep chest and well sprung ribs. Correct topline and good angulation, He had an excellent harsh weatherproof coat of super condition. He moved very well, covering the ground and holding his outline.

VETERAN BITCH (1)

1. Lusty’s Ch Blamorder Ice Cream Dream VW. A worthy champion. She shows little sign of age and is in great condition, showing off a lovely balanced profile. A great credit to her owner/breeder. A super blue merle colour, predominantly clear, silvery blue evenly splashed and marbled with black. Nicely balanced head, flat skull, with the sweetest of eyes and expression. Nicely arched neck flowing into well angulated sloping shoulders. Good length of back with correct topline and croup. Muscled hindquarters well bent stifles and hocks well let down. Moved very well with reach and drive. In superb coat and condition. BEST VETERAN.

JUNIOR BITCH (4)

1. Cole & Fort’s Shulune Imperial Rum Punch JW. A good quality tricolour bitch. Feminine, with ample substance, producing the balanced dignified outline. Correct head proportions, flat skull, nice clean wedge, good ear set and alert usage, dark brown almond eyes giving the correct expression. Well laid shoulders, straight forelegs and good oval feet. Firm level back with slight rise over the loin. Muscled hindquarters, well bent stifles and hocks well let down. Moved freely with positive ground covering action with very little lift of feet. RESERVE BEST BITCH.

2. Geddes’ Texforrier the Whole Sheband (IMP FIN). A lovely tricoloured puppy, maturing very well with great promise for the future. Very well balanced, giving a nice overall outline of dignity. Correct length of head showing two planes with a perceptive stop. Flat skull, well set nicely tipped ears and dark brown almond shaped eyes to complete the picture,giving the desired expression. Good neck flowing into well laid shoulders. Level back with slight rise over the loins and well sprung ribs. Muscled hindquarters, good turn of stifle and hocks well let down. Good bone and condition. Moved well. BEST PUPPY.

3. Davies-Brown’s Blamorder I Dreamed a Dream at Wystry.

4. Watkins’ Blamorder Unlucky for Some.

POST GRADUATE BITCH (2)

1. Davies-Brown’s Blamorder I Dreamed a Dream at Wystry. Placed third in a strong Junior class, but she is very nice. A lovely tricolour, predominantly black with correct rich tan markings. A quality feminine bitch producing a super outline and shape. Well-proportioned head, flat skull, lovely dark brown eyes and well-placed tipped ears. Correct neck flowing into well-laid shoulders. Good top line, slight rise over the loin, sloping croup, good tail set and carriage. Moved very well.

OPEN BITCH (2)

1. Denton’s Ch Brackenhaye Heart and Soul. I first judged this lovely bitch in a variety class at a local Open show 3 years ago and thought she was gorgeous. I was delighted to read later she became a champion and was awarded Best of Breed at Crufts. She is such a good example of the standard – ‘stands with dignity governed by perfect anatomical formation, with no part out of proportion.’ Well-proportioned wedge-shaped head with flat skull, well-rounded blunt muzzle and perceptible stop. Well placed tipped ears and excellent almond eyes, giving the true Smooth Collie ‘sweet expression’. She is so good at standing so dignified, like a Smooth Collie should. She has a good well arched neck flowing into well placed shoulders. Correct, well covered bone. Firm topline, good ribbing, strong loin and correct croup. Good bend of stifle, strong hocks. Good conformation, which was reflected on the move, producing the distinct breed movement, covering the ground with an effortless stride. There is not much more to say other than she is a very worthy champion. She has developed into a top-class bitch. Thank you for bringing her today. BEST BITCH & BEST OF BREED.

Felicity A. Snook

JUDGE