Richmond Dog Show Society

Richmond Championship Dog Show

5th, 6th, 7th September 2025

Border Collies

Judge: Kathleen Burnell (Fieldbank)

Thank you to the club for the invite to judge and to all the exhibitors for their entry.  I was pleased to see some of the dogs that I have previously judged and lay my hands on them again as well as some promising youngsters. My stewards Val & Kim worked tirelessly throughout the day keeping the ring flowing, thanks for your help. 

 Overall, the dogs present I found to be quite a mixed group in build with several lacking muscle tone. The mouths on the dogs were good, no missing teeth and just one level bite today.  Dirty teeth were present in several of the classes! Temperaments were all good.

BEST OF BREED : AKESTER, Mr Adam & AKESTER, Mrs Elizabeth & WILTSHIRE Sh Ch Thwaitlake Buzzman

Dog CC : AKESTER, Mr Adam & AKESTER, Mrs Elizabeth & WILTSHIRE Sh Ch Thwaitlake Buzzman

Res Dog CC :  AUSTIN, Ms S & ZOLAKOVA, Miss K Hysteps Come By Jw

Bitch CC :  AUSTIN, Ms S & ZOLAKOVA, Miss K Sh Ch, NL Ch Hysteps My Irish Colleen JW

Res Bitch CC :  LEE, Mrs S & RATCLIFFE, Miss Joanne Arrodare No Wonder

Best Puppy :  WILKINSON, Miss Tracey Altricia Love Me Do

Best Veteran :  LEE, Miss B & RATCLIFFE, Miss J Sh Ch Arrodare Royal Flush JW

Best Special Beginner :  JOHNSON, Miss Jessica Shemella Moonlight Gem

Class: Veteran Dog (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: BARTON, Mrs Sophia Brytess Achilles. This 10 year old black and white has a good head with well-shaped dark eyes giving a gentle expression. Carrying a good coat of correct texture on his balanced body, good muscle tone with nice depth and pleasing angulation, tail could be a little longer.  A bit steadier on the move than the last time I judged him but nevertheless sound and kept his topline.   

2nd: JOHNSON, Mrs C & Mr M Tidespring Storm Breaker 7yrs, black and white.  Very similar to my winner in coat, bone quality and markings. Lovely eye shape and ok head pattern. On the move showed a pleasing side gait and good reach with minimum lift of feet.  Rear movement not as positive, hocks could be firmer.

Class: Minor Puppy Dog (No entries)

Class: Puppy Dog (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: OLIVER, Dr A J Smart As A Whip Danger Zone At Tambuzi (imp Esp) 11 mths, black and white.  A very smart looking dog of good size and bone.  Well-shaped head with an alert expression, good length of neck and lay of shoulders.  A well angulated and balanced body throughout.  Strong, well let down hocks.  Nice reach and side profile.  Moving away felt rear pasterns could be a little firmer.  Did not challenge for best puppy due to a minor foot problem. 

2nd: JORDAN, Mrs Marie Nobite No Tux Required With Jakovall.  11 mths, tricolour showing an alert expression with his prick ears.  Presented in lovely coat and condition.  Finer boned in body and head.  On the move he kept his topline but was not able to match the drive of the winner.

Class: Junior Dog (2 Entries) Abs: 1

1st:  AUSTIN, Ms S & ZOLAKOVA, Miss K Hysteps Come By JW. A very promising young dog with a balanced skull and foreface, lovely dark eye and correct stop.  Good length of neck, well laid shoulders correctly angled with his upper arm, correct 9/10 body proportions. Very good rear angulation through the croup and thighs with well let down hocks.  Movement was sound coming and going, smooth in side profile showing a ground covering gait, firm topline and plenty of drive. Still quite young I feel this dog has more to give us. Reserve CC. 

Class: Yearling Dog (No Entries)

Class: Novice Dog (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: JORDAN, Mrs Marie Nobite No Tux Required With Jakovall.

Class: Graduate Dog (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: BARWICK, Mrs E A Tobermoray Touch Of Class JW, medium size black and white of 17 months, well balanced with good head and expression, best shoulders, good rear end construction, a clear winner on the move.

2nd: WILDE, Mrs A J Shemella Shepherds Moon. A neat blue and white, with a well-balanced head, good topline, neat shoulders, tail a tad short, somewhat steadier on the move and not convincing me of his ability to move with great stealth.

3rd: 2102 CASBOLT, Miss Debbie & ORMOND-WALSHE, Miss Sarah Sheltysham Symphony O'psalms.

Class: Post Graduate Dog (3 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: WILDE, Mrs A J Shemella Shepherds Moon.

2nd: CASBOLT, Miss Debbie & ORMOND-WALSHE, Miss Sarah Sheltysham Symphony O'psalms. 5 year old black and white. A neat looking dog with a pleasing profile, not the biggest boy, shoulders could be tighter, and he was lacking drive on the move.

Class: Limit Dog (4 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: MEAD, Miss Julie & GEERING, Mrs Corinne Quintopia Master of Puppets (a.i) A well boned black and white with a lovely head pattern, dark eyes and well-defined stop. Good neck, well placed shoulders with correct upper arm angulation.  Plenty of depth of brisket and a smooth profile over his croup.  A toned male with well let down hocks.  Tail a little short.  Showed good reach on the move but not as smooth in profile as some of the others here today.

2nd: BARRATT, Mrs Julie C Pendleway Time Lord similar in type to first, nice head, good depth, a little longer through the loin, ok reach but rear not as firm and lacking drive.

3rd: 2101 BRIDGES, Mrs Lindsey & COOPER, Mrs Elizabeth Kirkbridgend Kairos AW(B).

Class: Open Dog (8 Entries) Abs: 2

1st: AKESTER, Mr Adam & AKESTER, Mrs Elizabeth & WILTSHIRE Sh Ch Thwaitlake Buzzman. I awarded this dog the reserve CC at WELKS in 2023.  Now approaching 5 years old I feel he has settled more into his body. Carrying firmer muscle, he showed to me how, when correctly toned a dog can pull together their overall shape and use it to their advantage on the move.  My previous write up comments still apply so will happily repeat some of them. This dog is of obvious quality; it was a pleasure to go over him.   An eye-catching boy the moment he enters the ring.  A strong boned dog towards the upper bound of my expectations.  He has a chiselled head giving distinctive definition.  His neck flows neatly into his well-placed shoulders, well angulated forequarters through to a firm level back. Very pleasing construction over the croup and down into his hindquarters. Firm over the hock and pasterns, good depth of chest.  Movement is a joy to watch showing his excellent reach, drive and well held topline.  Presented in tip top show condition I was pleased to award him the CC and BOB today.

2nd: OLIVER, Dr A J Simmovon Shockwave at Tambuzi JW, black and white.  Another male that has caught my eye in the past. Now, at 4 years old he still does not disappoint me. He has firmed up to show a very positive, sound profile, a lovely balanced head with dark eyes and active ears. Strong neck with well laid shoulders, correct depth of brisket to length of leg. Firm topline and correct set and length of tail, strong sound rear angulation through upper and lower thigh.  Smooth tireless action on the move showing the capability to cover the ground at speed with minimum lift.  Firm pasterns with positive action coming and going.

3rd: GREEN, Mr R K & RATCLIFFE, Miss J Sh Ch Fayken Truth Or Dare With Arrodare JW.

Class; Special Beg. Dog (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: CASBOLT, Miss Debbie & ORMOND-WALSHE, Miss Sarah Sheltysham Symphony O'psalms.

Class: Veteran Bitch (3 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: MORLEY, Mrs Sue A & ROGERSON, Mrs Ann Chikaramor Black Magic. A 7 year old tricolour of good size with pleasing bone. A pretty head with good skull width and oval brown eyes. Carries a good coat of correct texture. Well balanced throughout with neat forequarters and excellent rear angulation, well bent stifle and good firm hocks. Moved well keeping her firm topline.

2nd: BRIDGES, Mrs Lindsey Kirkbridgend Rock Star AW(D) Looking good for her 12 years and seemed to be enjoying her time in the ring.  Her well set and shaped eyes give a mild expression. Not able to show me the free movement of the younger dogs today, nevertheless sound and steady.

Class: Minor Puppy Bitch (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: MORLEY, Mrs Sue A & ROGERSON, Mrs Ann Chikaramor Chyna Roses.  A neat compact black and white of 7mths. An alert expression from her developing head. Neat forequarters and moderate bone.  Sound and steady on the move as she settled her pace in the ring.

2nd: LIEBSCHER, Mrs Jacqueline Windwalker Golden Delight At Troumerle 8 mths, red and gold, a colour not often seen. Pretty head and expression with correct eye colour. In the ring she tends to look slighter than some of the darker coloured dogs however I found her to be of good size and bone, needs to fill out more, but time is on her side. Sound forequarters, well laid shoulders and correct angle to upper arm. Nice slope over the croup and a well-set tail of good length.  Could have more angulation over the stifle and show more drive on the move.

3rd:  WARD, Mrs P B Windwalker Aurora

Class: Puppy Bitch (5 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: WILKINSON, Miss Tracey Altricia Love Me Do.  I think there will be a lot of judges ‘Love’ this beautifully balanced youngster, an eye catcher as she enters the ring and a cheeky character.  At 11mths she is maturing well with correct head properties, balanced skull and foreface, nice stop and well-set eyes. Good length of neck flowing into neatly placed shoulders and a firm topline. Well sprung ribs with enough depth, correct tail set. Lovely shape over her hindquarters and well let down hock.  Once she was more settled on the move showed good reach, drive and soundness coming and going. Best Puppy.  I later heard she was also placed 4th in the group.  

2nd: LEWIS, Mrs Melanie Jane & LEWIS, Mr Iain Shemella Sky Full Of Stars 10 mths.  A nice type with good bone, and angulation. Level topline standing and on the move.  Correct leg length to depth of chest.  A good length of neck and pretty head but she tended to drop and tuck into her shoulders not making the best of her profile. Movement was sound but not showing the reach of the winner. 

3rd: CLEMENTS, Ms C Shemella Moonlight At Sea.

Class: Junior Bitch (5 Entries) Abs: 2

1st: SPENCER, Mrs A R Tobermoray All About Freya 9 mths, black and white.  Good bone throughout in this youngster with plenty of coat, fully furnished over the rear and a tail of good length, set well. Movement was sound with minimum lift. I found her height/length ratio a bit out today, hopefully this will balance up as she matures. 

2nd:  MURFET, Mrs Helen & OLIVER, DR Amanda Tambuzi Guess Who's Back JW 17mths. Well balanced black and white with well-defined head proportions. Finer in frame than the winner and needs to firm up more in body. Her movement was typical but a little loose.

3rd: WILKINSON, Miss Tracey Altricia Day Dream.

Class: Yearling Bitch (1 Entries) Abs: 1 

Class: Novice Bitch (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: LEWIS, Mrs Melanie Jane & LEWIS, Mr Iain Shemella To The Moon And Back, black and white of 9mths. Good head, bone and eye colour, good rear angulation and tail set, correct tail length.  Bit steep in upper arm and needs to be more confident on the move.

2nd: LIEBSCHER, Mrs Jacqueline Windwalker Golden Delight At Troumerle.

3rd: PRESTON, Mr & Mrs J & S T Calareto Norwegian Wood 

Class: Graduate Bitch (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: JOHNSON, Miss Jessica Shemella Moonlight Gem.  6-year-old black and white. Nice head pattern, feminine with dark rather round eyes.  Good depth of rib.  Nice reach on the move but rear was rather loose, and hocks were too close.

2nd: PRESTON, Mr & Mrs J & S T Calareto Norwegian Wood. A well-presented 2yr old, more upright and somewhat finer in frame than the winner. Standing she showed a nice level topline, smooth line over the croup and a well-set tail of good length. 

Class: Post Grad Bitch (4 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: JOHNSON, Mrs C & Mr M Tidespring Take Your Time, black and white.  with a good head, correct eye colour and nice bone she has a lot of virtues, unfortunately doesn’t do her best to make them stand out in the ring tending to drop her chest into her elbows when standing.  However, she was easily the best mover in the class keeping her level topline whilst showing plenty of reach and drive in side profile.

2nd: DAVIES, Mrs Gwen Wizaland Double Exposure presented in excellent condition, pretty head and expression, good eye colour, well laid shoulders kept her topline on the move,  not showing the drive of winner but this did improve the more she moved round the ring.

3rd: JOHNSON, Miss Jessica Shemella Moonlight Gem.

Class: Limit Bitch (10 Entries) Abs: 2

1st: LEE, Mrs S & RATCLIFFE, Miss Joanne Arrodare No Wonder, a very pretty, 4 year old prick eared black and white, such a feminine head.  Nice length of neck and well laid shoulders with lovely angulation front and rear. Not the biggest in the class but everything is in proportion to her size and so well balanced with good muscle tone.  Movement was smooth and tireless with good reach and drive, keeping a firm topline.  Lovely rear action with positive drive from her well let down hocks. Sound parallel action when viewed from the front. Reserve CC.

2nd: WILKINSON, Miss Tracey Altricia Bobbys Girl overall stronger made than the winner with good bone, presented in super coat and condition lovely head shape and properties, a lovely picture standing with a good coat of the correct texture, pin bones just a little proud under the coat. Sound both front and rear, good side profile on the move in reach and drive which improved after the first circuit of the ring. 

3rd: GREEN Mr R K & Ratcliffe Miss J Arrodare Call it the Blues.

Class: Open Bitch (8 Entries) Abs: 2

1st: 2095 AUSTIN, Ms S & ZOLAKOVA, Miss K Sh Ch NL Ch Hysteps My Irish Colleen JW I have previously awarder this bitch best puppy the last time I judged her at WELKS.  Now 3 years on she has not disappointed me. I will quote some of my previous critique and add to it.  this 4-year-old black and white still enters the ring full of confidence, now with an air of more strength in her body.  She is very well balanced with lovely bone.  A classic well chiselled head, active ears and showing a keen expression in eyes of good shape and colour.  A good length of neck flowing into well laid shoulders, enough length through the body and beautiful lines over the croup and through her well-constructed hindquarters, tail well set and of good length.  Very sound movement from all angles and an easy flowing gait showing a strong level topline.  Her body is supple yet carried the firm muscle needed to propel her round the ring with the positive action of a working dog.  Best Bitch. 

2nd:  OLIVER, Dr A J Sh Ch Tambuzi Girlz On Fire JW. I can see why this bitch is a champion.  A lovely type and so well balanced throughout with correct bone and coat. A lovely head, alert ears and a feminine expression.  Well angled front through upper arm to the top of her well laid shoulders. Nice slope over the croup and well-muscled through her rear thighs.  Neat well let down hocks with strong pasterns.  Movement was sound and efficient from all angles with minimum lift.  

3rd:  LEE, Miss B & RATCLIFFE, Miss J Sh Ch Arrodare Royal Flush JW. Best Veteran

Class 1209 SBB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: JOHNSON, Miss Jessica Shemella Moonlight Gem. 

2nd: CLEMENTS, Ms C Shemella Moonlight At Sea almost 10mths, presented in excellent coat and condition. Competing against a far more mature bitch in this class.  A pretty head, well balanced with alert ears. Good length of neck and balanced through the body. I would like to see a little more bone and feel her movement could be smoother with more practice.    

Judge: Mrs Kathy Burnell (Fieldbank)