Midlands Border Collie Club

Midlands Border Collie Club Championship Show

10th May 2025 – Bitches

I would like to thank the Committee of the Midlands BC for a lovely afternoon judging at their show; it was very much appreciated to have the ring opened up to make it a nice size to assess movement. I thoroughly enjoyed the judging and I was very pleased with my entry on paper. I am pleased to report there were some very nice classes of Bitches to judge.

As always I was looking for a well angulated, balanced, moderate bitch of correct Breed type and I am pleased to say that I was able to find this throughout the classes.

I did find several overweight and lacking in body condition. A concern throughout the entry was the lack of return of upper arm, something so important in our Breed to allow for the correct reach without lift. I was pleased to not find any dogs with the excessive kick back in the rear. Mouths were on the whole very good. There was however a surprising number of overly long loins often coupled with lack of croup; distorting the outline from the graceful, flowing picture required and often creating a rolling action on the move. Movement in general would be my main point of note, it is so important to remember that a low, efficient Breed typical, ground covering gait including holding the correct shape on the move is so very important in our Breed. My winners, without exception, were pleasing examples of the Breed and possessed the attributes required.

On judging the finals alongside Ross we were in agreement that BIS and RBIS should go to the lovely bitches despite being up against a very nice male that I have previously awarded a CC to and who was certainly not disgraced with a well deserved BOS. In the challenge for BPIS we were also in agreement that the male should take the top award as he continued to move out well and soundly at the end of the long day although we both very much appreciated the qualities of the bitch puppy. Best Veteran went to the lovely bitch over a very nice blue merle male.

MPB (4, 1 abs)

Lovely class of babies, all lovely temperaments and handling the environment well.

1st – Kirkwind Secret Soul. Still much the baby as expected at 6 months of age, but a lot to like about her with the best front construction in the class. Keen yet kind expression, with the correct eye and was alert to her handler. She has a good neck, shoulder and return of upper arm, correct bone for size as well as a long tail. Large coat which is a little obscuring of her shape until you assess closer. Movement, although still babyish was positive and she strode out well here to win this class.

2nd – Portnadoran Family Recipe. A very pretty baby of almost 8 months, presented and handled to advantage. Compact body with a lovely neck and held her top line well with good hind angulation. She moved soundly out and back and shows potential for a ground covering action; I am sure with time & ring experience she will do very well.

3rd – Borderbrook Final Destiny

PB (6)

1st – Tambuzi Guess Who’s Back. A lovely feminine puppy who is maturing very nicely. She appeals greatly for breed type with a lovely head and expression leading onto a well proportioned body, creating a pleasing breed typical outine. Correct bone for her size. Good length of neck and depth of chest. Correct length of loin. Her movement was correct up and back, holding her shape on the move & when settled she showed a correct ground covering action which should only improve with maturity and experience. One that I liked a lot. Best Puppy Bitch & Res Best Puppy In Show.

2nd – Portnadoran Special Recipe. Another very appealing puppy, sister to and is of very similar style to 2nd in MP. Again had a lovely neck, top line and croup creating a nice profile shape. She was well presented, in lovely condition and moved out well to gain this well deserved 2nd in a nice class.

3rd – Hysteps That’ll Do

JB (3, 3 abs)

Yearling Bitch (6, 1 abs)

1st – Laceway Breaking Waves. Black and white girl with a lot to like and everything in proportion. She has a keen alert expression with well used ears. Currently not in full coat but presented in excellent body condition and was handled to her advantage. She has a nice neck and good shoulder into correct topline and slope to croup finishing off her outline nicely. Correct bone for her size and sound in both directions. When settled her side gait is low, long and far reaching although she can have a tendency to pull off the lead which spoils the overall picture somewhat and the change of handler in the challenge made things difficult for her but a quality bitch nonetheless.

2nd – Borderbrook Stolen Heart. A lovely blue Merle bitch who appeals to me a lot for type. Of lovely size with a feminine head to match. I liked her head and alert expression with kind, keen eye. Bone is in proportion to her size and she is a correct moderate girl. She was struggling a little to settle today, but did so at times and showed her correct movement which was sound but just needs to settle to the job in hand as at times her exuberance gets the better of her and she loses her topline which spoils her profile shape. Presented in lovely condition. Very nice bitch.

3rd – Mikami True Karma

Graduate Bitch (7, 1 abs)

1st – Borderbrook Stolen Heart. 2nd in Yearling. This girl moved nicely in this class to well deserve her win.

2nd – Wenmap Topaki Gem. Super feminine black & white bitch who appeals for size and type with a lovely head and eye, giving an appealing expression. She is of correct size with the ideal bone to compliment. Lovely deep black coat with super pigment. Correct topline and croup creating a nice profile shape. In between stages of maturity as to be expected at this stage but with a lot to like about her. Handler had tendency to move her a little fast which sometimes spoils her side gait but she was sound and a lot to like.

3rd – Chikaramor Carry On

Post Graduate Bitch (9)

1st – Laceway Bottom’s Up. This bitch pulled out all of the stops today, I liked her type and style immediately and the more I looked at her the more I did not find anything that I did not like. Dark head of correct proportions with a nice eye and ear, attentive to handler giving a keen, alert but kind expression. She has a good neck onto well laid back shoulders, correct top line and overall proportions with balanced angulation which shows in her movement. Presented in lovely coat and condition and handled to advantage. As the day continued she consistently moved soundly and correctly, striding out with the sound, low, ground covering gait that I was looking for which ultimately won her a well deserved CC in a nice entry of bitches. BIS in joint agreement.

2nd – Miz Janey of Terverley. Really like the type of this bitch with the most appealing of head and expressions. She has very good front angulation which is complimented by a well angulated rear and correct croup. She moved soundly and efficiently. I would prefer to see her with a little less weight but one that I liked a lot.

3rd – Alpana Summer Storm

Limit Bitch (12, 3 abs)

1st – Taranza Winter Eclipse. This is a new one to me, I do not believe I have seen her before. Appeals greatly for type, size and balance. Alert expression with lovely neck and a very nice profile shape with good topline and correct croup. Overall I found her to be a very correct example of the Breed and as the class progressed she became my clear winner. Sound in all directions with a good profile action. Presented in very good condition and coped very well with the change of handler for movement where the handler did a nice, calm performance to win her this class and was considered for the RCC.

2nd – Tidespring Hopes And Dreams Via Tonkory. I really liked this bitch and on initial glance around the class I suspected she may be my winner. She is well constructed throughout with particularly good front angulation which is complimented very well by the hind. Of lovely breed type with so much to like about her. Unfortunately she was unsettled in the venue but her quality could not be denied for this place and handler did just enough to show me her potential.

3rd – Borderbrook Winter Sunset JW Shcex Osw

Open Bitch (11, 2 abs)

1st – Locheil Dream Come True. A very nice type of bitch who appeals to me a lot. I like her head and expression with kind eye. She is of a nice size with a good neck and a very alert outlook. She held her topline well and moved out positively, sound in both directions with correct ground covering action; at times she was pulling off the lead which spoils her overall shape but well deserved this class win on overall quality and performance. She was also in consideration for the RCC today.

2nd – Goytre Red Rose. This lovely dark bitch was presented in super condition, a real credit to her owner. She is on the smaller side with a large coat which can obscure her proportions to the eye but she is nicely balanced on closer inspection. I found her very pretty and alert, with a lovely style to her. She is balanced throughout and used herself well today in the large ring, covering the ground to secure a nice 2nd place here.

3rd – Chikaramor Hall Of Fame

Champion Bitch (1)

1st – Sh Ch Tambuzi Girlz On Fire JW. A bitch that I have admired before and today she impressed me very much. She was presented and handled to her advantage. Of correct type, size and moderation. She has the best of heads with a lovely eye and ears giving a super alert yet kind expression. Her angulation is balanced and allows her to move in an efficient manner, showing reach and drive with minimal lift. In a nice line up of bitches she won a well deserved RCC today.

Veteran Bitch (6)

1st – Sh Ch Sashdan Never Ending Story (Ai) JW. 7 year old bitch who is looking in her prime, presented in super coat and condition. Every bit the showgirl who creates a lovely alert picture on the stand, with balanced angulation and correct topline. She presents a lovely outline shape, was sound in both directions and displayed a correct ground covering gait with secured her a well deserved placing here in a quality veteran class and in agreement with my co-judge she was Best Veteran In Show.

2nd – Sh Ch Goytre Daddy’s Saucie Girl JW. 11 year old bitch who I have often admired, especially for her free flowing movement. She is still looking in excellent condition for her age and was handled sympathetically to her advantage. Of lovely breed type with balanced angulation, only lost out today to 1st who was looking at her best.

3rd – Dk Ch Int Ch Vet Ch Karma My Mica Of Green Borderline

Special Working Bitch (4, 1 abs)

1st – Zeabo Yankee Girl (Imp) It. I really like this lovely blue merle bitch with a very pretty head and expression, alert to her handler. Of correct size and substance, balanced throughout with correct proportions. Lovely quality coat and one of the nicest merles I have seen.

2nd – Chikaramor Carry On. 3rd in Graduate bitch and one I considered for higher in that class, however I would have liked to see a little more animation and maybe a little less weight. She appeals greatly for breed type with a lovely head and expression and she moved soundly in all directions.

3rd – Chikaramor Justify My Love Under Wykdsunrise

Special Open Bitch AOC (5)

1st – Your Still The One At Thistleskye. I really love the type of this 3 year old tricolour. She has the prettiest of heads and is of ideal size, oozing breed type. Lovely outline with a super alert attitude. Although she moved steadily keeping her profile shape, I would really like to see her move out more to her advantage.

2nd – Chikaramor So Magical for Sianworth. Another lovely tricolour, 7 years old of larger stature than 1st. She appeals for breed type as well as overall balance. Alert head and expression with correct eye and ear. Bone correctly proportioned to her size. She moved out well in this class to earn a well deserved 2nd in a quality entry.

3rd – Dreamwork Collat’ral Beauty

Jo Ratcliffe (Arrodare/Fayken/Grandver)