Eastern Bearded Collie Association

Bitch Critique – EBCA – 21.4.25

Judging a club show is always an honour, and I would like to thank the committee of EBCA for inviting me to award my first CC/RCC at one of my favourite shows. I would also like to praise them for their support of new and upcoming breed judges. To encourage more breed specialists to judge is so important as the amount of breed exhibitors decline and our specialist judges retire.

Thank you to the committee for your hospitality and to my stewards for keeping the ring running smoothly and efficiently. I was really pleased with the quality of exhibits entered and would like to thank the exhibitors for accepting my decisions with great sportsmanship.

With so many lovely dogs to judge with very few absentees, made for some tough decisions but I was very happy with my final lineup. I felt these dogs fulfilled my interpretation of the breed standard and I was delighted to watch my main winners go BIS, BPIS and BVIS. Congratulations to you all and thank you for making my day memorable.

VETERAN BITCH (Entries 10, Absentees: 1)

Such a delightful class of veterans with my top 3 being worthy champions

1st MRS A M GLASGOW – CH MALANDEX XPATS GEM AT GALLUS JW 7-year-old slate with good head proportions, good dentition and dark eye. Presenting a lovely outline on the stand, she has a good length of neck, correct front assembly and good length of back coming from her rib and short loin. Her well-muscled, unexaggerated rear enabled her to power around the ring to take the class.

2nd MISSES M BAKER & R VAN DE HOEF – CH MALANDEX XQUISIT DIAMOND JW At 10 years old, this brown girl was unlucky to meet the class winner today. Strong head and dark eye giving a kind expression. Correct shoulder placement with matching rear angulation, a long rib with short loin. She is well muscled and held her topline as she moved effortlessly around the ring.

3rd MRS N EDWARDS – CH NELLBROOK PURE IMAGINATION JW 7-year-old, blue with lovely head with eye and pigment toning with her well-presented coat. Good length of neck, good lay of shoulder and short loin. Another who was shown in hard condition.

SPECIAL VETERAN BITCH (Entries: 2, Absentees: 0)

1st MRS SE & MS C E BOWDEN – CH SUBESSEN BLAZE OF FIRE VW 10-year-old, quality slate bitch with feminine head, dark eye and lovely expression with good pigment. Beautifully balanced with good lay of shoulder, upper arm and fore chest. Correct shape and length of rib and short loin. Presented in hard condition, she flowed around the ring in complete harmony with her handler. RBCC and delighted to see her go (BVIS)

2nd MR A AND MRS J WOOD – CH PIPADENE VISIONARY SPIRIT FOR PEPPERJAY JW Another dark slate quality bitch who I have judged before and who I liked for her overall conformation and balance, elegance and expression with the most beautiful dark eyes. As an 11-year-old lady, she has lost none of her qualities. She was enjoying her day in the ring but was unable to match the winner on her movement today.

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (Entries: 3, Absentees: 0)

A really lovely trio of puppies who I am sure will swap places

1st MRS A M GLASGOW – GALLUS HOPES AND DREAM, Brown 7 ½ month old puppy who is very nicely put together. With a pretty head and eye matching her coat and good dentition. She has good lay of shoulder and nice rear angulation and moved well for such a baby.

2nd MRS L BROOKES, BROOKLES BARKAROLE, Dark slate 81/2-month-old who is yet to pale and looked lovely on the stand. A bigger bitch than 1, she has a strong head with an eye that will hopefully darken as she matures, good pigment and dentition. Her well laid back shoulders and forechest means that she stands over herself and with her correct rear angulation she moved out well with her handler. She was carrying a little too much weight which lost her the class today.

3rd MR M & MRS N MOGFORD, MONARKSHYRE AUTUMNAL GLORY, 7-month-old dark slate puppy with many qualities to like about her. Beautiful head and dark eye giving typical expression. Nice shoulders and length of rib, but slightly bum high at the moment which affected her outline on the stand. Sympathetically handled and I’m sure will swap places with the other pups as she matures

PUPPY BITCH (Entries: 8, Absentees: 0)

1st MRS A PEDDER, NOBILITY SENT WITH LOVE TO CALDERMIST (IMP DEU) Just loved this 10-month-old brown puppy who is going through the pale stage but has a good harsh coat coming. Beautifully balanced with a feminine head, good pigment and dentition with a lovely kind expression. Eye going through light stage but will hopefully darken as she matures. Good height to length ratios with lovely length of neck, well laid-back shoulders, good shape and length of rib and short loin with balanced rear angulation. Such a steady girl who moved with grace on the move, holding her firm topline. Well-handled and one that is surely destined for top honours so will watch with interest. So pleased to see her go on to be awarded BPIS. (BPB, BPIS)

2nd MR N EDWARDS, BREAKSEA ITS TIME AT NELLBROOK, 8 months old. Another lovely brown puppy with a slightly lower profile. Many qualities to like about her, good length and depth of rib with short loin and correct tail carriage, but not quite the reach of one.

3rd MRS L BROOKES, BROOKLES BARKAROLE (as above)

JUNIOR BITCH (Entries 6, Absentees: 0)

1st MISS J HORNE, POTTERDALE SOLITAIRE OF MINTARIA, I loved this 16 month old dark slate girl for her beautiful balance and calm ring presence. She caught my eye as she walked into the ring, and I was not disappointed when I got my hands on her. Such a feminine bitch with good pigment and dentition. Excellent shoulder and forechest, long rib with short loin. Presented in good coat and condition and handled so well as she flowed effortlessly around the ring without any exaggeration. Will watch her future with interest as she matures.

2nd MRS D SKINNER, VALKYRIE DE CHESTER AT TAMJENTA JW (IMP FRA) 15 months old, lovely slate show girl, with good head, lovely dark eye and correct dentition. Good shoulder placement and length of rib and moved out well with correct tail carriage. Her profuse coat was perfectly presented, but carrying a little too much weight for my preference today and didn’t have the balance of my winner.

3rd MR M & MRS R ROBERTSON, QUOTHQUAN AYLYTH, 16 months old, well-made slate girl with good head proportions, good length of rib and well muscled with good turn of stifle. Held her topline on the move but not quite the finish of the first two

YEARLING BITCH (Entries 6, Absentees: 0)

1st MISS J HORNE, POTTERDALE SOLITAIRE OF MINTARIA (as above)

2nd MR G ATKINS & MRS C CHARLES, CLANWILLOW CROWN OF ROSES FOR SNIKKLES JW 2-year-old, Slate Another quality girl, who gave a pleasing outline on the stand. Feminine head and expression with dark eye. Nice front assembly and good turn of stifle. In good condition with a glamorous coat presented well.

3rd MS A M NASH, WILDAN’S TIMELINE FOR MERRYMORE 2-year-old, slightly taller slate girl in lovely condition. Not quite the lay of shoulder of the first two which meant that she didn’t have the freedom of movement of the first two.

MAIDEN BITCH (Entries 5, Absentees 0)

1st MRS A PEDDER, NOBILITY SENT WITH LOVE TO CALDERMIST (IMP DEU) (as above)

2nd MRS A M GLASGOW – GALLUS HOPES AND DREAM (as above)

3rd MS A COOPER, TYBURY’S ORIGIN OF HOPE, 12 months old, blue girl, with balance feminine head with good eye and pigment and a very cheeky expression. Slightly longer caste, with good length of neck and front and rear assembly, there is much to like about this girl but she wasn’t quite as balanced on the move as the others today. She will surely change places in the future with those that she lost out to today.

NOVICE BITCH (Entries 8, Absentees 0)

1st MISS J HORNE, POTTERDALE SOLITAIRE OF MINTARIA (as above)

2nd MRS A PEDDER, NOBILITY SENT WITH LOVE TO CALDERMIST (IMP DEU) (as above)

3rd MRS A M GLASGOW – GALLUS HOPES AND DREAM (as above)

DEBUTANT BITCH (Entries 7, Absentees 0)

1st MRS A PEDDER, NOBILITY SENT WITH LOVE TO CALDERMIST (IMP DEU) (as above)

2nd MRS A M GLASGOW – GALLUS HOPES AND DREAM (as above)

3rd MR N EDWARDS, BREAKSEA ITS TIME AT NELLBROOK (as above)

GRADUATE BITCH (Entries 7, Absentees 3)

Three quite different girls who will change places I’m sure

1st MRS M SEWELL, UNIQUELY DE CHESTER AT KEMELSTOWE (IMP FRA) This elegant 3-year-old, slate young lady has the most feminine of heads with a lovely dark eye giving a melting expression that was vaguely familiar, good pigment and dentition. With a good length of neck into correct shoulder placement, she has a lovely long rib with short loin. Presented to her best advantage, she moved out in harmony with her handler

2nd MS S JENKINSON, IRISADDITION VICTORIUS WITH ELLISHAR JW 31/2-year-old, pretty slate girl with lovely head, eye and pigment. Not quite the balance of 1 and would prefer a better croup. Well handled, but she didn’t move out as freely as the class winner today.

3rd MRS L DODGSON, WRECKINROC BLACK SATIN, 4 year old, dark slate girl, well presented. Not quite the return of upper arm of the others and tended to drop her topline today

POST GRADUATE BITCH (Entries 6, Absentees 1)

A very difficult class to separate as much to like about all the girls present

1st MS J WALDRON & MISS A GRAY, THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT DE CHESTER AT SNOWMEAD JW (IMP FRA). 21/2-year-old feminine slate bitch who has a strong head with lovely dark eye and the typical Beardie expression. Balanced front and rear angles with good shoulder placement, correct length of rib and short loin. Handled and presented beautifully, they were so together as they moved around the ring.

2nd MR N & MRS L BEVIS, BEABEARDIES CINNAMON GIRL, 51/2-year-old fawn bitch. Nice head with eye and pigment toning with coat colour which was of a good quality. Good length of neck that flows into a well laid back shoulder, good forechest and correct length and shape of rib with short loin. She didn’t work to her advantage today and tended to drop her topline on the stand which spoiled her outline. She moved out well with her handler as her construction suggested she should

3rd MRS G & MR N O’CONNELL – POTTERDALE ROYAL SAPPHIRE OF ATHERLEIGH this nearly 3-year-old lovely, blue bitch has personality in spades. Such a cheeky girl who certainly made me smile today with her sideways glances! Nicely put together, although slightly longer caste than I would prefer, she moved out well with her handler

MID LIMIT BITCH (Entries 7, Absentees 0)

1st MRS B HARCOURT-BROWN – FARMARENS IMPERIAL HIGHNESS AT ORORA JW (IMP SWE) 4-year-old slate bitch who carries herself with such elegance. A really lovely girl to go over with good head proportions with a kind eye and good dentition, nice length of neck and good angulation front and rear. She moved out well with a beautiful unexaggerated stride holding her topline at all times, was close up for top honours

2nd MISS A BUTLER – CALOWYCH MOANA AT BAXILBY JW Almost 4-year-old, dark slate bitch. Would prefer a stronger head but she was correct in shoulder and rear angulation. A glamourous bitch, who appealed on the move

3rd MS J WALDRON & MISS A GRAY – UNE HISTOIRE D’AMOUR DE CHESTER WITH SNOWMEAD JW (IMP FRA) This 3-year-old slate girl has the most beautiful head with the darkest of eyes and pigment to match. She’s longer caste and lower on the leg than is my preference but has a good forechest and good length of rib and is well muscled. Her harsh coat was well presented and she moved well around the ring with correct tail carriage in tune with her handler

LIMIT BITCH (Entries 8, Absentees 0)

1st MR M, MRS E & MISS L JAY – TALRAZ SONG OF SUMMER This nearly 4-year-old, is an understated, beautifully balanced slate girl with so much to like about her. Shown in excellent condition. Feminine head with good eye and dentition, nicely arched neck, with good lay of shoulder, deep chest and long rib with short loin. She moved with free, easy and correct movement which won her the class today.

2nd MR G & MRS C STEAD – CLOVABRAE VILLANELLE 41/2 year old dark slate Beardie who presented an elegant outline on the move. Not the strongest of heads, but such a lovely expression with a dark eye. Nice arch of neck leading to lovely body proportions. Presented beautifully in hard condition, she moved out well with her handler.

3rd MISSES M BAKER & R VAN DE HOEF – MALANDEX XPRESSION OF LOVE Going through the pale stage, this 3-year-old slate Beardie has much to like about her. She is heavier all round compared to the first 2 but is well balanced back and front and has a good head and dentition. Her coat is going through the paling stage and whilst profuse did not detract from her outline. Sadly, outside influences outside of the ring affected her performance in it.

OPEN BITCH (Entries 6, Absentees 0)

1st MR A BURSCOUGH – KILFINAN LADYBIRD – This 51/2-year-old slate Beardie epitomises everything that the breed standard asks for. Her construction is hard to fault, and she ticked many boxes for me. She has a lovely head, with dark eye, good length of neck and correct shoulder placement with balanced angulation and a lovely forechest. She has good bone and stands over herself to present the classic Beardie outline. However, she comes into her own on the move, so in step with her handler as she dropped down a gear moving effortlessly with reach and drive. She certainly gave the impression of being able to work all day. Carrying a beautiful, harsh jacket, she was well presented and handled to her advantage. So pleased to award her the CC and for her to go on to BIS. Surely her title can’t be far away.

2nd MISS J RIVERS – CH ORORA’S FRENCH SILK AT MERRIMAK JW ShCEX OSW Such a lovely 31/2 year old, slate Beardie who oozes breed type and quality. With a feminine outline on the move and when standing, she is balanced throughout. With dark eye giving that typical Beardie expression. A seasoned showgirl who demonstrates her lovely construction as she moves around the ring. Beautifully handled and presented, it was a tough call between these two girls

3rd MRS B HARCOURT-BROWN – CH ORORA’S ORIANA Completing a trio of lovely bitches, this 31/2 year old, dark slate bitch is so lovely to go over and litter sister two 2 above. Such a balanced girl with lovely head and expression, correct rib and well muscled. I was really splitting hairs in this class.