Midlands Border Collie Club

Thank you to the MBCC committee for this opportunity to judge males, my stewards who kept the classes flowing and the exhibitors for their entries. I thoroughly enjoyed this appointment and was pleased to find an abundance of clean exhibits with excellent temperaments, and overall, a good standard of handling. I was seeking a male with a graceful, smooth flowing outline both standing and, on the move, slightly longer than high, with proportionate bone and sufficient substance for endurance and a balanced light-footed gait without inefficient lift. In general, construction and movement has improved in recent years, I was particularly pleased with the quality of multiple dogs in my Limit and Open classes – several being worthy of the title of Show Champion. Length/return of upper arm remains a concern, however the lay of shoulder was generally good. The number with long and potentially weak loins has increased since the last time I judged males. Soft textured coats are also increasing but this might be partly due to preparation. Minor Puppy Dog (2 Entries) Abs: 0 Two excellent tempered youngsters both handled very well. 1st: 65 OLIVER, Dr A J Smart As A Whip Danger Zone At Tambuzi (imp Esp) Upstanding, alert 7 month old B/W, active ears still to decide if they wish to be prick or tipped. He has a masculine head with lovely kind expressive oval eye. His neck length is excellent flowing into a good lay of shoulder. He has very good rear angulation and moved soundly away with strong hocks for a youngster. At the moment he is still in the puppy in gait stage needing to drop into his action further. 2nd: 82 WALKER, Mrs E Borderbrook Final Straw At Ravenskirk Almost 9 month old B/W with good skull/muzzle proportions and active tipped ears. He has sufficient lay of shoulder and length of neck is well ribbed with good loin. Just needs to tighten in movement in both directions. Puppy Dog (1 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: 10 AUSTIN, Ms S & ZOLAKOVA, Miss K Hysteps Come By Extremely mature 11 month B/W. His head does not have the more refined proportions I prefer, but the expression is kind with correct oval and position of eye together with attentive tipped ears. He has a good lay of shoulder, balanced neck length, ok ribs and a well angulated rear with good croup and tail set/carriage. Presentation was immaculate. He moved extremely soundly out and back and his side gait was balanced and he maintained correct body shape. Best Puppy Dog and in full agreement with my co-judge Best Puppy In Show over a really nice Best Puppy Bitch that just lost out on movement at the end of a long day. Junior Dog (2 Entries) Abs: 0 AI found this a challenging class as both dogs have different virtues 1st: 2 ALEXANDER, Mrs Julia & TURNER, Mrs Heather & MACDO Locheil Freeze Frame (ai) B/W male with balanced head proportions and correct oval bone for size of dog. He excels in rear both standing and moving. He was sound out and back and displayed a low effortless side gait covering the ground with ease which together with his head won him this class. 2nd: 42 KEMPTON, Ms Audrey Art Of Blossom Drowned In Emotion Into Borderbrook On first look I preferred the overall shape of this boy over 1 – being slightly longer than high with graceful lines over neck, withers, back and croup. He has a very good shoulder and neck and good rear angulation. He moved OK out and back but did not settle and drop into his side gait in this class. Yearling Dog (4 Entries) Abs: 0 Tough class to judge as these were very close to each other in virtues. 1st: 67 PRANDLE, Miss Joanne Roydenbark Meet Joe Black At Baywern 22 month B/W with very nice overall balance and proportions, presented in super coat and condition. Quality well-proportioned head with kind eye correctly placed in the skull. Sufficient neck, Ok shoulder, correct oval bone, lovely tight oval feet. Was sound out and back, in side gait he still just needs to drop and drive from behind to complete the overall picture. 2nd: 19 PORTMAN, Mrs Susan & PORTMAN, Mr Carl Laceway Black Sabbath B/W of different style to first but equally correct representation of a Border Collie. Nice neck and bone, good foreleg, well muscled, ok rear angulation. Moved with enthusiasm which somewhat upset his balance at times but was sound out and back. 3rd: 24 MERCER, Ms Jill Elizabeth Kirkwind Sargent Pepper Res: 30 HOLTAPPEL, Miss Natalie Bryning Smooth Operator Graduate Dog (4 Entries) Abs: 0 My 2nd in Junior Dog was much more settled in side gait to win this class. 1st: 42 KEMPTON, Ms Audrey Art Of Blossom Drowned In Emotion Into Borderbrook 2nd: 86 WALTERS, Ms A Goytre Born To Be Wild (ai) I preferred this B/W’s head over first, with correct balance of skull/muzzle and defined but not excessive stop. He has correct bone and good rear angulation. He moved well coming towards, side gait was steady but did not extend on this surface. Would like to see him move outside on grass. 3rd: 69 RHODES, Miss Amy Locheil Rock Shore Res: 31 WESTLAND, Mrs Anya Wykdsunrise Quest For Glory Post Graduate Dog (2 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: 15 BUCKLEY, Mrs J Amkamel Half Blood Prince JW Appealing B/W who is a really nice type/style of Border Collie. His head properties are correct, ok shoulder, correct bone, lovely tight oval feet He moved soundly out and back and maintained a correct balanced profile in side gait. Just carrying a few extra pounds and needed a bit more animation to be considered further. Handler needs to encourage more enthusiasm rather than suppress. 2nd: 24 MERCER, Ms Jill Elizabeth Kirkwind Sargent Pepper Heavier style but not excessive, ok head properties with well placed eye. Ok neck and shoulder, good chest and ribs, ok rear. Excels in side gait with balanced and low extension. Limit Dog (6 Entries) Abs: 0 Good class which I enjoyed judging. 1st: 9 WILTSHIRE, Mrs C & Miss D Caleykiz St Elmos Fire Dark B/W with quality refined but masculine head, correctly balanced skull and muzzle with distinct but not excessive stop, oval eye shape correctly placed on the skull. Reluctant of surroundings at first, but on gaining some confidence he displayed active tipped ears that were set high with sufficient width between. The best front I felt today, correct lay of shoulder with great length and return of upper arm. Oval proportionate bone, correct in weight and size for an endurance breed. Good rib cage and length of loin, excellent rear angulation with necessary depth of thigh and length of second thigh. Correct in croup with low set and carried tail. He is sound moving towards, close but sound away. His side gait was at times excellent but he never totally settled which ultimately cost him higher honours. I discovered after that he had only been shown a handful of times - I do hope the owners show him more. 2nd: 9 ARAN, Ms Kimmie Mikami Scottish Affair Lovely graceful flowing lines from neck, over withers, back and croup to tip of tail on this B/W. Quality refined head pattern, balanced skull/muzzle, correct proportionate stop and very good eye shape and position. Correct volume of bone for size of dog, good tight oval feet, very good rear angulation. He was sound coming towards, close but not crossing away. I would just like to have seen him a little more relaxed in gait as he was somewhat excited in this environment which spoilt the side gait. 3rd: 59 MITCHELL, Mrs K Bordabears Strike It Hot Res: 45 KNIGHT, Mr Nik Wizaland Put A Sock In It VHC: 31 WESTLAND, Mrs Anya Wykdsunrise Quest For Glory Open Dog (6 Entries) Abs: 0 A strong class and a pleasure to judge. 1st: 71 SCHEVENELS/DE CREE, Mr.,Mrs Isabel/Paul Eyes Of The World The Ecstasy Of Gold. Pleasing type 4.5 year B/W male who I judged as a yearling and awarded the Res CC on that occasion. He has a good balanced head with distinct but not overly pronounced stop, parallel skull and muzzle plains, correctly shaped and positioned oval brown eyes, active tipped ears. Very good neck onto excellent lay of shoulder, bone proportionate to size of dog, good length to foreleg, correct oval feet, loin of correct length to body, good slope to croup, excellent rear angulation with well let down hocks. He moved soundly out and back and covered the ground with ease in profile. Standing and moving he depicts the graceful flowing lines of a Border Collie. He was shown in lovely muscle condition and handled sympathetically to get the very best out of him – Dog CC. On complete agreement with my co-judge he lost out on BIS to his daughter Fawcett’s Laceway Bottom's Up. 2nd: 76 SIMMONS, Mr P & SIMMONS, mrs Yvonne & INVERNO, mrs Sashdan Pure Imagination With Simmovon (Imp Aus) Young not yet 2 years old B/W of nice style presented in gleaming coat and condition. Standing he has a lovely flowing smooth graceful outline which is the correct slightly longer length to height ratio required. He has a kind eye, positioned correctly, super neck, correct lay of shoulder, oval bone, low set tail with excellent rear angulation. He was 100% sound away and back and at times he displayed excellent balanced reach in front and rear holding the correct shape. He was very close to winning this class and the top honour today. Reserve CC. 3rd: 6 ARAN, Ms Kimmie Jun Ch Mikami Black Smoke Rising Res: 64 OLIVER, Dr A J Simmovon Shockwave At Tambuzi JW VHC: 26 HARTFIELD, Mrs Patricia Moshanta May Contain Nuts JW ShCEx OSW Veteran Dog (2 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: 28 HOLTAPPEL, Miss Natalie Romanybay Morning Star At Bryning 7.5 year B/Merle who is of nice type and style. Very good balanced head properties, correct shape and placed kind eye, ears were active, good length of neck, balanced angulation front and rear. Sound out and back, balanced in profile. Carrying a touch more weight than I prefer – but lovely dog just lost out to bitch on BVIS by a whisker. 2nd: 66 PRANDLE, Miss Joanne Borderbrook Spring Dreamer At Baywern 7 year old B/W, shown in lovely condition with muscle and body tone and a gleaming coat. Kind eye, ok neck, balanced angulation. Moved soundly out and back. Special Working Dog (2 Entries) Abs: 1 1st: 16 CHANCE, Mrs Jan & CHANCE, Mr Graham Goytre Chance To Reflect Almost 5 years B/W who has a quality head, with correct skull to muzzle balance, correct parallel plains and taper to nose, lovely eye shape and position, correct distinct but moderate stop. He moved soundly away and in side gait he showed excellent front reach. Special Open Dog (Any Other Colour than Black/White) (1 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: 28 HOLTAPPEL, Miss Natalie Romanybay Morning Star At Bryning As Veteran class.