English Shetland Sheepdog Club

ENGLISH SHETLAND SHEEPDOG CLUB

CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW BITCHES 21.6.25

I would like to thank the club for its hospitality and my stewards Donald and Sheila for keeping everything ticking along nicely. This was the second time I have judged at the ESSC and it really is a privilege to have received the most votes in the ballot and as such I opted for bitches at the summer show as I feel there is nothing nicer than a sheltie outside in the sunshine. Well the sunshine well and truly obliged with the hottest day of the year so far ! Shade was available outside under the trees and the heat didnt seem a problem for the dogs

Observations or call it concerns – the breed should have elegance and refinement, they shouldnt be heavy boned and youngsters shouldn’t be finished in head. Light eyes seem to be creeping in and the true obliquely set almond dark eyes are being lost. A few had visible teeth -not very attractive and needs watching.

My BCC winner (Sheltisha Royal Approval) was in sparkling form gaining her 3rd CC on the day and took a unanimous Best in show. A close RCC to her and also getting the vote from my co judge Lisa Pettitt for Reserve Best in Show was Rannerdale Queen of the Nite. The services of the referee Sandra Taylor decided the Best Puppy in Show which went to the bitch puppy Misti Moon over Neraklee. Making it a clean sweep for the girls Best Veteran was also agreed and went to Ristine Emerald.

VETERAN (8, 2 abs)

What a super class to start with

1st Welfords RISTINE EMERALD, Beautifully presented Tri girl who moves with such ease and has a super forehand and retains her topline. Head handles well with lovely rich tan and good ear carriage, combining to give her an air of quality. I do wish she were a shade smaller all over but you cannot deny her balance and movement and it was these virtues that I retained her to the last 5 for the CC. She finished the day as Best Veteran in Show. Congratulations

2nd Lycetts HERDS HALLICIA AT ILIAD, Ultra feminine sable 12 year old who is most enchanting with such a typical head and expression. Couldn’t match the forehand of the winner and is slightly shorter in back but moved with drive behind which ensured her place in this good class. Superbly presented.

3RD Thornley and Withers CH MITCHFIELDS FASHION GIRL AT FELTHORN, 7.5 year old blue who is now a touch darker in colour. She has a nice overall shape but couldn’t match the drive of those above her today and lacked a touch of feminity.

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (11, 2abs) A nice quality class.

1st Moores SANSCOTT RUBY TUESDAY, 7 month sweet sable in good coat, I liked her size , balanced head and eye set and she has accurate movement for a baby and it was this that clinched her the class

2ND Staffords RANNERDALE CRUNCH NUT, a lovely puppy who was another who went well on the move. Fractionally smaller than the winner but totally balanced .Head handles well with a good eye set, just one running a little today. Close decision

3RD Mettan Ures OAKCROFT GRACEFUL STAR OVER SAVENDIE, well coated feminine sable who showed herself off well and has a good neck and length of back

PUPPY BITCH (7, 1 abs)

1st Durants MISTI MOON OVER NERAKLEE, A very captivating young lady – 9 months old and in good coat and a lovely blue colour. Loved her shape and balance with a lovely sweep over the croup. Liked her size and femininity. Soft expression , ears could be smaller. On the move she just flowed so easily and couldn’t be denied . Best puppy bitch and on the referees decision Best puppy in show. Congratulations

2ND Staffords RANNERDALE SUGAR PUFF sable and white who was litter sister to the second in mpb. A size larger than her sister and the class winner. She has a lovely soft eye and expression but couldn’t match the movement of the blue today. Lovely neck and level topline.

3RD Barrowcloughs SHADOWESS ENCHANTED DREAM, Very sound young lady who moved well with a lovely footfall. A nice size with good bone , just not quite the feminine expression of those above her today.

JUNIOR BITCH (10, 4 abs) mixed class

1st Brays LIANBRAY LUCY LOCKET, a very pale sable who scored here for head type and feminity. Lovely dark eye and pigmentation. Nice size and length of back. A little unsettled in rear action today. Well presented and sympathetically handled

2nd R Crunchy Nut (2nd PB)

3RD Haensels SHERKARL BLUE ELEGANCE, Pretty and feminine blue girl of a good colour. Fractionally broader in back skull that those above her today but she has a sweet expression. Needs to settle in front action

YEARLING BITCH ((5, 1 abs)

1ST Sorockyjs SHAZBEC MAID OF HONOUR AT SHELTISHA JW, Feminine young lady who excels in eye and expression, colour could be a fraction clearer and would prefer smaller ears. Sound on the move and a good showgirl with a level topline, coat coming in and was well presented

2ND Lewis’ SAVENDIE FORTUNE COOKIE FOR SHEMELLA, smaller framed sable who has a good topline and was in good coat. Moved with a good footfall, ears a fraction light

3RD Jackson’s GRANDGENES LOOK AT ME AT TOORALIE, darker sable who wasn’t as feminine in head as those above her. Level topline. Well presented and handled.

NOVICE BITCH ((12, 2 abs)

1ST M MOON OVER N (1ST PB)

2ND S FORTUNE COOKIE FOR S (2ND YB)

3RD S ENCHANTED DREAM (3RD PB)

TYRO BITCH (3, 1 W/D). Mixed.

1ST Mettan Ures SAVENDIE MELEYS, nicely sized very plain tri scoring in topline and forehand reach over the second. Ears a fraction light and needs to coat up.

2Nd Gruszkas ACHORS SUPRISE HIMALAYA OVER SAMPHREY (IMP CHE ). Better coat than the winner – a lovely clear blue but ears a little light also.

GRADUATE BITCH (8, 1abs ) another mixed class

1st Lewthwaite & Staffords RANNERDALE QUEEN OF MAJIC, scored here on overall shape although I would prefer her a tad smaller, clean head properties with a kind eye and expression. Uses her neck well on the stance and has a level topline. Well presented.

2nd Graham-Wealls DINMORE MAKING WAVES AT LAVIKA, blue merle who has a rich tan and who is a nice feminine size with a good length of back

3RD Rossiters MOLSON MORE ABOUT ME AT COCARO, 3 year old sable who has a good head pattern and was presented superbly. Eye a little full and didn’t move as well behind as those above her.

POST GRADUATE BITCH ((7, 1abs)

1st Hardy’s SANDWICK A LA MODE, 4 year old Tri girl in beautiful condition, excels in shape with a lovely arched neck, level topline and sweeping shape over the croup. Rich tan markings and an attentive showgirl. Perhaps a tad more foreface would be ideal but when she moves like she does with such drive from the rear it’s easily forgiven. She was in my final 5 for the CC and was very close up to gaining a major award on the day. Loved her.

2ND Bensteads MELCETTE SILVER STAR AT BENRAVIA, have judged this lovely blue girl as a junior and she too has that super shape that I look for. Ears typically a tad larger than the ideal . Super topline. Flat back skull and kind eyes. Wish she would make more of herself as she could quite easily get overlooked. A lovely girl

3RD Wellers EVAD HALLOWEEN SPICE JW. A sable showgirl that I’ve also judged and done well for. On the day she couldn’t match the drive of the movement or shape of the two above her.

MID LIMIT BITCH (8, 2 abs) mixed class

1st French’s LAVIKA SOUL OF GOLD FOR LINDFERN, a 3 year old sable who seemed a little in-between coats . Liked her size and topline. Balanced length of head but could fill in foreface a little and ears a little large . Moved accurately enough just lacked a bit of enthusiasm.

2ND Lewthwaite & Staffords RANNERDALE KILLER QUEEN. Immaculately presented smaller framed Tri. Excellent bone for size. Eye could be smaller. A lovely black and a rich tan

3RD Ayres GEMETTE GLITTER GIRL a very shapely 4 year blue girl who has a level topline and a lovely neck, Colour a fraction darker than the ideal . Moved with enthusiasm. Ears could be better settled.

LIMIT BITCH (7, 4 abs )

1st Thornley and Withers FELTHORN GOOD TIME GIRL, a two year old blue young lady of the most stunning colour and this will win her many admirers. She has a head of good length and she has one blue and one brown eye which doesn’t detract from her expression. She moved well and I retained her into the final 5 for the challenge on the basis of her virtues but against the others in that selection her topline and rear drive didn’t quite match the others.

2ND Hayhursts KEYCHARM SWEET CANDY, two year old sable who was unfortunately lifting her coat. She is a lovely feminine size with a head of good pattern although her ears are fractionally wider set. Couldn’t match the easy movement of the blue on the day. I’m sure she’ll have better days

3rd Barrowcloughs SHADOWESS GINGER BISCUIT. Lovely flat back skull on this 3 year old sable. Correctly set ears which she uses well and make the most of herself. Moved close behind today

OPEN BITCH (2, 1abs)

1st Mitchell’s VALDOSTA GODDESS JW. Heavily coated 3 year old who never lets up for a moment. Presentation was excellent. She is a lovely feminine size with an attractive outlook but I would prefer a sweeter eye. She has a level topline and attractive sweep over the croup. Today she couldnt match the rear drive of her competitors.

SABLE AND WHITE BITCH (4,0)

1ST Van Ulsens Multi Ch DANDLEWOOD ENDLESS SURPRISE, mature looking 6 year old heavily coated sable who was presented immaculately. Feminine outlook and a very attentive showgirl. Would prefer more length of leg for a better balanced profile, but still moved with drive around the ring

2ND James VALMAY IN VOGUE JW, 4 year old in fair coat with a balanced overall picture. Slightly stronger in back skull but eye set is correct. Ears are set well and used all the time. Moved fairly well.

3RD Cheals CAROLELEN CALL MY BLUFF AT FAEMADRA, another good show girl who is feminine in outlook , level topline. At almost 7 she took moved fairly well but her ears are very lightly tipped and this spoils her expression.

TRI COLOUR BITCH ( (4,0)

1ST Staffords RANNERDALE QUEEN OF THE NITE, Loved this girl, such a beautiful wedge head and the most delightful expression, perfectly balanced all through with bone and substance and such an easy mover. Her coat gleamed in the sunshine and in the challenge with a change of handler she just stood there with self assurance taking everything in. A well deserved Rbcc and my co judge agreed that she was also awarded Reserve Best in Show. Congratulations.

2ND S MELEYS (1ST TYRO)

3RD Whittingtons ESTERBON THREE KISSES FOR TIGHNESS JW, 9.5 year old lady who is a lovely size and still retains a good topline. Ears a fraction light but still knows how to show herself off.

BLUE MERLE BITCH (5, 1abs)

1st Sorockyjs SHELTISHA ROYAL APPROVAL, well here we had the star of the show. At 3 years old this blue girl was on top form. She was in full bloom of just the right amount of well fitting coat that enchanced and didn’t hide her beautiful body shape. She has good head properties and is such an attentive showgirl using her neck so well. Her forehand is super which enables her to move with a perfect footfall and a she retains her topline on the move and drives with such power. In the challenge of the final 5 (blue, Tri, limit, post grad and veteran ) she just turned on the charm and out moved them. It was a pleasure to award her the CC (her third)and with full agreement of the dog judge she went Best in Show. Congratulations .

2ND Hardy’s SANDWICK VALENCIA , a very nice girl of a super colour, just coming to her best I feel. I liked her size – she creates a very feminine outlook. Good bone with rich tan. Another super mover who moved with such drive. Ears could be tighter but overall she’s a lovely girl.

3RD D MAKING WAVES t L (2nd Grad)

BREEDERS (2)

1ST RANNERDALE THE SHOWGIRL, smaller framed sable in full coat which was superbly presented. Unfortunately she doesn’t live up to her name and would rather be anywhere else than the showring. Breed type is excellent but she has a worried look about her and this affects her movement as she tends to scurry rather than reach and drive

2ND S MELEYS (1ST Tyro)

KAY HATELEY (JUDGE)