Northern Counties Shetland Sheepdog Club

Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge this lovely well run show, and for getting the show rescheduled so promptly after the original date had to be cancelled because of the snow. Also to my two stewards who kept the classes running well. And a last thank you to the ladies in the kitchen for a super lunch.

All dogs present had good bone, and all had the correct scissor bite. A large number of the exhibits had a more rounder eye than is ideal. And quite a few were flying their tails although all tails were well set the dogs were just happy to be showing off.

Minor Puppy Dog - 4 entries

What a lovely class to start the day

1st & RBD, BPIS– Gartland’s – Arcot Polished Black – 8 months Tri, What a super puppy this boy. Good wedge shaped head with ok eye shape and set. Nice neat ears correctly placed and he used them well. Good length of neck with lovely shoulder and front angulations. Good rear angulations which meant he moved out really well for his age. I think this young man has a very exciting future ahead of him and just had to give way to his half brother for BD but it was very close.

2nd – Bywater’s – Tachnamdra Royal Salute 8 months S/W. Another very nice puppy. Good wedge head. He could do with a touch more neck but he has good front angulations. Good topline leading into a good rear. His ears are a little heavier than I prefer and he was a little unsettled at times on the move which cost him today.

3rd – Bendelow’s – The Great Houdini From Amethrickeh

Puppy Dog – 2 Entries, 1 Absent

1st – Malone’s – Di’Leila’s Sheltie Amore mio (IMP POL) – 9 months B/M. In good full and well coloured coat. Good wedge shaped head and good well used ears. Nice straight front with ok angulations. Level topline with good rear angulations. Good on the move but a bit tail happy. I’d prefer a touch more neck.

Junior Dog – 2 entries, 2 absent

Yearling Dog – 2 entries

1st – Parker’s Edglonian Prime Target With Tolarock, This boy was enjoying his day out. 22 month Shaded sable in good coat. Nice wedge shaped head with good eye. Good ears. Lovely well arched neck and good front. Level topline and good rear. On the move he was giving his handler a hard time which cost him in the challenge for BD and nearly cost him in this class.

2nd – Arkley’s Amethrickeh Perfect Spirit. 21 month well coated S/W. Wedge shaped head but with a slightly rounder eye than ideal and a deeper stop. Good ears. Good neck with good shoulders. Level topline and nice sweep over the croup. Not the reach or drive of 1st on the move.

Maiden Dog – 1 entry

1st –Hill’s Moving On Up To Molson Naf Taf – 4th in MP, 7 month golden S/W. strong, wedge shaped head but would prefer a little more stop and his head could be a better size in proportion to his body. He has a good well arched neck with good shoulder and front. Moved ok. Such a shame he is already too big.

Novice Dog 2 entries

1st Arcot Polished Black

2nd – Moving On Up To Molson Naf Taf

Graduate Dog – 1 entry, 1 absent

Post Graduate Dog – 1 entry, 1 absent

Limit Dog – 3 entries, 1 Absent

1st – Walker’s – Tooralie Tornade JW – really liked this 2 year old B/W With a very good masculine head and a lovely almond eye set well. You do have to get hands on to appreciate his head as he has no white so it can look a little stronger than it is. Lovely body shape with good shoulder but could do with a better upperarm. Nice level topline with lovely sweep on the croup into a good angulated rear. Moved well. Considered him for higher honours but he couldn’t match my winners who were reaching out on the move better.

2nd – Malone’s Pathaaron After The Storm – 5 year Tri. Good wedge head. His eye is a little rounder than ideal. Nice well used and set ears. Good front but like 1st would prefer a bit better upperarm. Good topline and rear. Moved well. Just preferred the better eye shape of my winner but it was close between these two.

Open Dog – 1 entry

1st BD & RBIS– Goodwin’s – Highbrook Hobnob JW – lovely 7 year S/W Who is a good shape. He has a good head although a shade deeper in stop than is ideal. Good neat ears well tipped and set well. He has a good neck into good shoulders. Good bone. Level topline with good sweep over the croup. Moved well with good reach and drive. Just edged BD over the puppy, who is his half brother, on his maturity.

Veteran Dog – 4 entries, 3 absent

1st BVD– Bird & Caden’s – Molson Mr Blue Sky JW – Good coloured 8 year old B/M. Ok wedge shaped head with good ears although I’d prefer them slightly better tipped. Ok front and rear angulations. Could reach out on the move better which cost him against the VB winner for BV.

Special Open S/W – no entries

Special Open Tricolour – 1 entry

1st – Bendelow’s – Amethrickeh Mysuntime – Tri – Oh how I wish this boy would show himself and had more confidence. Good wedge shaped head and good stop. Eye a little round. He refused to use his ears despite his handler trying her best. He is a good shape with good front and rear angulations. He is top end for size but everything is in good proportion. He has really good reach and drive on the move.

Special Open B/M – 4 entries

1st – Di’Leila’s Sheltie Amore Mio (IMP POL) – 1st in PD

2nd – Hardman & Barnett’s – Seavall Blue Banner – Super coloured B/M with lovely rich tan markings. Head handles well with good eye and well set ears. Good shoulder and front angulations. Nice topline and good rear. Moved well just unfortunately has grown on too much but preferred his movement to 3rd.

3rd – Molson Mr Blue Sky JW

Minor Puppy Bitch – 1 entry, 1 absent

Puppy Bitch – 1 entry

1st BPB Johnson, Jacobs & Johnson’s – Willowthorn’s Roulette – 9 months S/W, really liked this feminine girl and she was close up for higher honours today. Just love her rich golden colouring. Good wedge head with good eye. Lovely ears set well. Good front and shoulder. Nice topline with lovely sweep over the croup. Good rear angulations. Nice reach and rive on the move and good rear going away but she has a tendency to look up at her owner on the move which sometimes throws her front movement out a bit but she’s only a baby and when she was concentrating her front movement was good. Another puppy who should have a good show career and was unlucky to come up against the tri male in BP.

Junior bitch – 3 entries, 2 absent

1st – Walker’s - Una Fortuna For Tooralie – 13 month shaded sable with full white collar. Good wedge shaped head but I’d prefer her a touch more feminine. Good ears. Nice shoulder. Good topline and rear. Good on the move.

Yearling Bitch – 4 entries, 3 absent

1st Una Fortuna For Tooralie

Maiden Bitch – No entries

Novice Bitch – No entries

Graduate Bitch -4 entries, 2 absent

1st – Willowthorn’s Roulette, 1st in PB

2nd Daniels & Taylor’s – Pepperhill Light ‘N Shade – 2 year old B/M. Good wedge shaped head. Would prefer her eye slightly more almond. Good neck into good shoulders with ok front angulations. Good rear angulations. I liked this girl and she has good reach and drive on the move but she is not as good in topline as 1st.

Post Graduate – 2 entries, 1 absent

1st BB & BIS– Gartland’s – Arcot Take a Moment JW -Nearly 3 year old S/W Good wedge head with a nice eye which is well set and I like the length of her skull and muzzle. Good ears well placed. Correct length of neck with very good front angulations. Good topline. Nice rear. Very good on the move.on the top end of size but all in proportion. In the challenge for BB something caught her attention across the hall and she just stood out against the other class winners. Preferred her body length and better head shape over her half brother for BIS.

Limit Bitch – 5 entries, 2 absent

1st – Goodwin’s – Rannerdale Honey Bee At highbrook – 4 year old S/W. Good feminine well shaped head. Eye is a little rounder than ideal. Good ears well set. Lovely neck with good shoulder. Nice topline and good rear. Moved well.

2nd – Walker’s – Tooralie’s Two Step –3 year old. Wedge shaped head but a rounder eye than I’d prefer and she has quite heavy lower set ears which do distract. Good neck and shoulder. Good rear and moved well.

3rd – Walker’s – Miablue Snowdrop By Tooralie

Open Bitch – 2 entries, 2 absent

Veteran Bitch – 3 entries

Loved judging this class. All 3 are in superb condition and not showing their age at all, and they were all enjoying their day out.

1st BVB & BVIS– Welford’s – Tooralie Indigo Violet – lovely 11 year old B/M with the best of colouring on her body. Best head in the class and good almond eye. Very good dentition for her 11 years. Only a little greying around her muzzle but looking and acting half her age. Good neck leading into good shoulders and front. Level topline and good rear. Moving out well with nice reach and drive.

2nd Schofield’s – Marsula Lotus Blossom (IMP AUS) just 2 days off her 10th birthday, lovely dark shaded sable. Wedge shaped head but would prefer it a bit more feminine. Good shoulder, front and rear. Couldn’t match 1st on the move.

3rd – Johnson, Jacobs & Johnson’s – Tooralie’s Nightingaile At willowthorn – 11 years Tri. Another lovely veteran who was very close up to 2nd. See she is sister to 1st. Like her sister looks half her age.

Special Open S/W Bitch– 3 entries, 3 absent

Special Open Tricolour Bitch – 1 entry

1st RBB– Welford’s – Ristine Emerald 6 years. Good wedge head although I’d prefer her a touch more feminine. Good ears. Good neck. Good front angulations. Nice topline and good rear. She has very good movement with reach and drive, and along with her maturity just pipped the puppy in the end for RBB.

Special Open B/M Bitch– 1 entry

1st – Welford’s – Echolynn Polyphonic. Good coloured 3year old. Ok head although could be more feminine. Ok neck with ok shoulders and front angulations. Good topline and rear. Moved out well but unfortunately has grown too big.

Judge – Kirstie Venton (Mistyisle)