North Of Scotland Sheepdog Club

Show – The North of Scotland Sheepdog Club (Sub Group open show)

Date – 12 April 2025

Judge – Lynda Nicholas (Nickarlyn)

Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge and my efficient stewards. I appreciate every exhibitor for entering under me; it was a pleasure to go over your dogs, there are some fabulous dogs “north of the border” - youngsters were particularly exciting. Teeth overall were clean though there was a mix of body condition. Underneath the glamourous exterior I am still looking for a dog that can do a day’s work - body condition and muscle tone is essential.

SHETLAND SHEEPDPG

MP (2,0)

1 Main – Shenachie Bubbles

6 mths girl. Immature but has lovely outline and proportions. Head still to develop but sweet expression with good head planes and blunt wedge. Ears used to advantage though could be lighter/tighter. Good height to length ratio. Spot on for size and enough bone for age. Stands on good legs and feet. Nice neck into good shoulders. Light effortless movement and showed balanced side gait for one so young. Her blue colour is not textbook - took class on balance and symmetry.

2 Proudfoot – Sommerville Mr Simbaa

Sable dog. Amond, dark oblique eye, but rather heavy ears. Decent stop and backskull. Hope he does not grow anymore and now needs to drop into his frame. Preferred the balance and silhouette of 1 at this stage of their development. Moved Ok but not quite reach and drive of winner.

P (1,0)

1 Forbes – Degallo The Name of the Game

Sable dog 10 mths with lovely balance and proportions. Head handled well – dark, almond eye oblique eye and correct stop gave sweet yet masculine expression. Today having a tricky time with one ear but sure it will settle down. Beautifully schooled and presented (as were all exhibits belonging to this kennel). Head proudly held on elegant neck into well set shoulders. Decent depth to front and ribs reached well back. Slight rise over loin and long well set tail. Good bone and feet. Ground covering movement appearing effortless with minimum lift.

SY (4,1)

1 Forbes – Degallo The Prodigy – BP / BOB

Mature sable puppy who commands attention with poised ring presence. Beautifully balanced head, lovely eyes, correct stop and perfect ears used no-stop combined to give a wonderful expression. Presents a fabulous outline, good body proportions - in overall balance, with a nicely arched neck, balanced front and rear angulations and sweep over loins. Well set tail carried well. Good substance (depth of chest/spring of rib) and well-off for bone, good turn of stifle and short below the hock ensured he moved out well with reach and drive. Loved him, he really did have that “X-Factor” and pleased to see he was RBPIS

2 Saunders – Leterikhills River Star over Torriglen

Pretty, shapely sable lady. Presents good silhouette though slightly longer in body that winner. Good ear set, dark almond shaped eyes, decent stop but prefer more fill of muzzle. Good reach of neck into well laid shoulders, good profile gait holding topline, but not quite the extension and drive of winner.

N (1,0)

1 Forbes – Little Blue Rose Ze Shetlandu (Imp CZE)(NAF)

Feminine bi blue, very much a baby. Little unsettled at venue but relaxed as class progressed. Presents typey silhouette – pleasing proportions size and shape. Good expression coming from dark eye and good stop, prefer ears a tad smaller though nicely tipped. Nicely arched neck, good front assembly, enough rib, level topline and well-turned stifle. Needs time to drop into her lovely frame. Blue colour was well broken / splashed and marbled. (Thank you for bringing her – it is the first time I have judged this colour).

PGD (1,0)

1 White – Dajarls Glittering Prize

Sable carrying a large coat that slightly hid mid-size frame. Not really settled on table or moving. Masculine expression, dark eye though slightly full. Well placed stop and flat backskull, prefer more fill to muzzle. Balanced front and rear angulations. Firm topline with enough bone for frame; prefer slightly better front pasterns/feet. Moderate turn of stifle and short below the hock. Moved OK

LD (2,0)

1 Simpson – Shenachie Secretariat

Sable of excellent make, shape and size - elegant in profile with flowing lines nose to tail. Refined head, all male expression, flat skull and pleasing eye shape. Good ear set and carriage. Body balanced throughout with matching front/rear angulations. Good turn of stifle and short below hock. Movement showed the reach and drive angulation suggested. Holds topline and has a well-set/carried tail. Coat of good texture fitting his frame. Light accurate footfall covering the ground with ease.

2 Saunders – Galateus Bohemia Classic at Torriglen (Imp CZE)

Glamorous looking, mid-sized sable with striking blaze on face. Dark eye though a little full. Slight stop, rounded muzzle with good underjaw. Touch wide in backskull which affected ear set. Little more length to neck and back would enhance overall shape. Excels in bone, good feet and pasterns. Movement steady and accurate, holding topline, front angulation restricted reach a little. Good rear angulation, gave plenty of drive. Correctly textured coat beautifully presented.

OD (0)

PGB (4,4)

LB (3,1)

1 Brodie & Raithel – Shanaburn Strawberry Wine

Almost 4 yr balanced sable, nothing exaggerated presenting a typical outline. Sweet expression with good head planes, blunt wedge and fill to muzzle. Well placed, lightly tipped ears used to full advantage. Well placed shoulder and matching return of upper arm, though slight dip behind the shoulder, Correct body proportions and decent ribs and loin. Strong bone, feet could be a tad tighter. Good croup, well set/carried tail, and lovely bend of stifle. Moved as angles suggested, light and effortless showing reach and drive. Correct textured coat - presented and shown to enhance her qualities.

2 Main – Senachie Lyric Fantasy

Very flashy, perfectly schooled sable. Different type to winner - larger in frame and slightly longer in body. Head a clean blunt wedge with correct stop would prefer a more oblique/almond eye. Ears a little heavy. Good bone for size. Steady on the move with accurate footfall just not quite as lithe and graceful as 1. Fabulous coat with A1 presentation

OB (4,1)

1 Forbes – Degallo Blonde Ambition - BOS

Glamorous sable who really appealed for overall balance, size and shape - quite the showgirl. Sweet, feminine head and expression coming from great eyes and ears, lovely long blunt wedge, refined backskull. Nicely moulded foreface and correctly place stop. Lovely length of neck leading to great front assembly. Correct depth of chest, level top line and sweep over loins. Excellent rear angulation, short strong hocks, when settled moved well with good drive and forward reach. Pushed hard for BOB.

2 Hepburn – Leterikhills River Lass

Lovely sized shaded sable presented in excellent order and body condition. Good shape - a tad more neck would complete the picture. Appealing expression, correct eye and stop, parallel head planes and enough underjaw. Touch broad in backskull - ears used to advantage though could be a little lighter/tighter. Depth to chest, level top line and sweep over loin Stands on good legs and feet. Good rear angulation. Efficient ground-coverage on the move. Not quite the elegant silhouette of winner

V (2,1)

1 Main – Shenachie Lyric of Light BV / BVIS

Shaded sable. Instant appeal for lovely outline, could not believe her age (10 ½ yrs), shown in A1 coat/condition and out-moved some of the youngsters today - displaying style and grace. Respect to owner for keeping her in such amazing condition. Refined head with sweet expression, good moulding and underjaw. Fabulous front, lovely reach of neck and well-constructed balanced body. Well set tail carried low. Movement was effortless and light- gave 100% in the big ring - floated around.

COLLIE (ROUGH)

MP (1,0)

1 Haslam-Craib – Gaia from Angles Path

Baby still working out what to do in the ring. One-piece head showing parallel planes and well-placed stop, oblique almond eyes - expression could be enhanced by tighter/lighter ears. Difficult age for growth spurts and should even out in proportions. Blue of good broken colour and flashy markings. Well off for bone and good feet. Needs time to settle and show off her movement.

P (1,0)

1 Brodie – Shanaburn Dark Knight

10 mth Tri with rich tan – change of handler slightly unsettled him on the move but showed me enough reach and drive, though not the fluid side gait of his sister. Dark oblique eye gave a masculine expression. Beautifully presented in correct puppy coat. Well off for bone and substance and balanced front and rear angulation. Preferred the body proportions of his litter sister (S Yearling) for BP today.

SY (3,0)

Both had so much to offer and filled with exuberance of youth.

1 Brodie – Shanaburn Midnight Kisses – BP

Litter sister to above. Scores in outline, which just edged her this class. Well constructed Tri girl. Lovely moulded head with super ears, nice eye shape and placement. Good reach of neck and lovely length to back. Correct leg length and decent front assembly and well-sprung rib. Well laid shoulder and turn of stifle - just the right amount of bone and good feet. Lovely, graceful sweep over the croup which draws the eye.

2McCarte – Roughrigg Rags’N’Riches – BOS

Masculine golden sable 15 mths of good size and substance. Beautiful head, well balanced and moulded, correctly placed stop with kind eye and good underjaw. Flat skull, neatly tipped ears used to full advantage all giving that elusive angelic expression. Preferred his expression to winner. Adequate length of neck, good lay of shoulder, solid topline. Balanced front and rear angulation. Abundance of correctly texture coat groomed to perfection. Super bone. Just preferred the body proportions of winner. Not completely focused today.

N (2,0)

1 Shorten – Beldones Dancing in the Dark at Bracoisla

Tri sporting a correctly textured jacket that fitted her outline with white shawl enhancing make and shape. 3rd in Yearling. Not really settled in the hall and reluctant to use heavily tipped ears. Well placed stop and dark eyes but a little flared in backskull. Ok body proportions but needs time to drop into frame. Good bone and feet. Movement a little erratic.

2 Haslam-Craib – Gaia from Angles Path

PGD (2,0)

1 Shorten – Thistlewings Andromeda at Bracoisla

3 yr old Sable took this class on movement. Well placed dark oblique eye of good size, rather deep stop and low set ears. Sadly seemed disinterested in today’s proceedings. Shapely body with good shoulder placement, good ribs and length to back. Well presented.

2 Taylor – Thistlewing Fire Dancer at Bryany

Sable 3 ½ yrs - different type to winner and longer in body proportions. Clean head without flare and correctly placed stop. OK eye though low set heavily tipped ears. Enough bone for his size and substance though would prefer better pasterns and tighter feet. Did not make the best of himself on the move, not in the best of coats today.

OD (2,0)

1 Brodie – Shanaburn Country Road

Handsome 3 ½ yr shaded sable presenting a good outline. Attractive well-balanced head, pleasing dark eye giving lovely masculine expression. Ears well placed by heavily tipped. Good foreface and underjaw. Good size and substance with excellent bone. Ribs reached well back and a strong loin. Correct front assembly but would prefer a little more rear angulation. Presented in excellent order.

2 Taylor – Thistlewing Fire Dancer at Bryany

PGB (2,0)

1 Barr – Roughrigg Ragnfrid

Attractive golden sable wearing a fitted jacket that enhanced make and shape. Dark oblique almond eye, nicely moulded foreface and correct stop. Ears were a little unsymmetrical today and for me distracted from her many head attributes. Straight front though a little upright in shoulder. Good ribbing with enough bone for size with good height to length ratio. Movement was much more settled that 2. Well presented.

2 Taylor – Elshajo As If by Magic of Bryany

Different type to winner and another not that happy at the venue and did not make the best of herself. Preferred head and expression of winner. Decent body proportions with length to back. A little weak in rear and could improve on feet and pasterns.

LB (4,2)

1 Haslam-Craib – Roughrigg Ragga

Gold sable, litter sister to previous class winner and many of the same comments apply. Head properties were pleasing, though slightly deep stop. Front angulation was good and enhanced by a flashy white collar matched her rear angulation that produced steady movement with accurate footfall. Rise over loin, good croup and well presented jacket of excellent texture.

2 Taylor – Elshajo As If by Magic of Bryany

OB (2,0)

1 McCarte – Roughrigg Remember Me – BOB

Elegant sable in full bloom, lovely shape and make, smooth curvy outline from nose to tail. Notes say “sassy and classy” - such a showing diva. Head all in proportion, obliquely set almond eye and well placed ears used to advantage giving the desired angelic expression. Good shoulder and matching return of upper arm, depth to chest, standing on good legs and feet. Correctly turned stifle and short below the hock. Moved with reach and drive though a little fond of her tail today. A1 presentation

2 Taylor – Elshajo As If by Magic of Bryany

V (1, 0)

1 Yule – Ingledene Gold Lace

10 yr shaded sable starting to show her advancing years. However, remarkably light on her feet with good ground coverage – just as her front and rear angulation suggested. Dark eye and decent length to head though would prefer a sweeter expression.

COLLIE (SMOOTH)

O (2,1)

1 Shorten – Glencorrie Stella Bark at Bracoisla

Smaller framed feminine sable of 19 months, beautifully schooled – completely focused on handler, giving her all making the most of her make and shape. Clean head, dark oblique eye and good stop though prefer a little more underjaw. Well placed ears - one only just tipped today. Coat a little open. Would like more of her all over. Moved freely with coordinated reach and drive, holding topline.