Wessex Border Collie Club

Thank you to the committee for asking me to judge at your well-run friendly show, Thank you to all exhibitors for entering under me and my two stewards Hilary and Juliette who kept the ring running smoothly.

 I thoroughly enjoyed my day with you all and was truly spoilt for choice, I felt the standard of the males had improved since I last judged males, which is good for the future of our breed, with some very promising youngsters coming through.

 All dogs had super temperaments and were turned out in good condition. I personally look for a dog that can move with reach, drive and minimal lift to paw. After all, at the end of the day border collies are a working breed. I was more then pleased with my final line up. And then to see my CC winner go on to be BIS was the icing on the cake.

Baby Puppy Dog (2/0)

1st Spencer’s Tobermoray In To The Wild

4-month-old baby boy, What a sweetheart this boy is, Lovely head for age and in good proportions, lovely eye shape and set to ears. Good reach of neck leading to well placed shoulders. Balanced in body for age as well. Has everything there for a baby and will it be exciting to see him mature. Stood beautifully to be gone over and really came into his own on the move. Lovely condition, and handled with kindness, lovely to see him go BBPIS

2nd Ward’s Starside Valentino Rossi

Also 4 months old red baby boy, so much to like of him at this age. Stood well to be gone over just let himself down on the move, he was having a good time sniffing the grass and being a puppy, which is absolutely fine at this age, movement will come as he grows up as I could see glimpses of it there. He as a good head with good portions. Balanced also in body with good angles front and rear. He will be a lovely boy once he is matured. Lovely condition and again handled with kindness and patience.

Minor Puppy Dog (1/0)

1st Holtappel’s Bryning The Pretender 8 months old blue boy who I liked very much. Very attentive to handler at all times. Lovely male head for his age, correct oval shape to eye giving him an alert expression. Ear set and bite correct. Good length to neck leading into correct lay of shoulder. Lovely level topline, Body in proportion with really nice angulation front and rear, allowing him to move as a BC should do covering the ground with easy. Turned out in lovely condition, BPD and delighted to watch him go BISP.

Puppy Dog (2/0)

1st Holtappel’s Bryning The Pretender

See 1st in MPD

2nd Shaw & Morris’s Noblewolves Bramleyapple** Almost a year-old male. Lovley head with correct eye shape and bite. Good reach of neck, he has level topline when standing. He was enjoying himself on the grass today on the move which spoilt his movement. But in the later classes he did settle down more on the move at times.

Junior Dog (4/0)

1st Molnar’s Leclway On The Right Track 13 months old male, another young male I like very much, in fact he made it to my last 4 for the CC, missing out only on maturity. He is one I have watched from ring side and to get my hands on him and to see him power round the ring today he did not disappoint me one bit. This young boy is very well put together from head to paws, Lovely all male head, oval eye of correct colour, used his ears well giving that all alert expression. Lovely length of neck leading to a lovely lay of shoulder, beautiful angles front and rear. Such a balanced boy in body with correct amount of bone. On the stand he looked the part and came into his own on the move, free flowing with minimal lift of feet, good reach and drive and pushed hard in the challenge. Topped off by being presented in super condition.

2nd Wilcox Blackgold Age Of Aquarius

What a lovely Red/White male unlucky to meet 1st place today, so much I liked about this young man. Lovely male head, with correct eye and ear set. Nice length to his neck, with good angles front and rear. Level topline on the stand and move. Good depth to chest and athletic in body, he moved well and his movement got better the more classes he came back into the ring for. Good condition and turned out well.

3rd Askey Piece Of Happiness Tornado At Petalnote (IMP)

Yearling Dog (5/0)

1st Oliver’s Smart As A Whip Danger Zone At Tambuzi ( IMP Esp) what a smart young dog he is, super condition through-out. Very attentive to handler at all times. Super male head with correct shape and colour to eye, correct scissor bite and good set to ears which he used to his advantage. Good off for size and bone with an athletic appearance. Good depth to chest with well sprung ribs. This boy has good angulation front and rear and a super firm topline allowing him to move with reach and drive. Turned out to perfection.

2nd Wilcox Blackgold Age Of Aquarius

See 2nd place in Junior dog

3rd Wells Bordabears Move To The Music

Novice Dog (2/0)

1st Holtappel’s Bryning The Pretender

See 1st place in MPD

2nd Askey Piece Of Happiness Tornado At Petalnote (IMP) Just over a year-old male. Nice head and expression with correct eye shape, good length to neck. Stood four square with a level topline. Good length to neck and needs to balance out in body, which should come with age. Moved well and in good condition.

Graduate Dog (3/0)

1st Wilcox Blackgold Age Of Aquarius

See 2nd place in Junior and Yearling dog

2nd Tandy’s Borderbrook Stolen Affair

All most 3 years old male, nice head, good set to ears, which he used well. Attentive to handler. Nice shape to body but I would personal like a little more off him all over for a male. Having said this, he is balanced in body with nice angulation and moved well.

3rd Shaw & Morris’s Noblewolves Bramleyapple**

Mid Limit Dog (1/0)

1st Lewis’s Shemella Moon River 4-year-old male, lovely male head with correct oval eye and colour, good set to eras giving an alert expression. Good length of neck leading into good shoulder placement, Lovely angles front and rear. Level topline with good depth to chest and well sprung ribs. Move out well with minimum lift to feet and in good condition.

Limit Dog (3/0)

1st Barwick’s Tobermoray Touch Of Class JW Just over 2 years old. This boy caught my eye as he walked into the ring, and my eye was drawn back to him throughout the class and the challenge. Sadly, in the challenge his movement was not quite as it was in the class. It was a very hot day though. But I’m sure his time will come as he is a super boy and put together so well. Lovely all male head with correct eye shape, lovely set and carriage to ears giving a fabulous alert expression. Lovely length to neck leading to good shoulder placement. Super balance in body with good angles front and rear. Good depth to chest with a well sprung rib, moulded croup, great tail set all this allowing him to cover the ground in this class with ease. Turned out in spot on condition.

2nd Woodrow’s Tambuzi Ride The Storm Just over 3 years old and a shame to be in the same class as 1st place. So much to like about this young lad. Super all male head, lovely eye shape and colour, good set to ears that he used well, very attentive to his handler at all times. Lovely reach of neck leading into correct shoulder placement well angled front and rear with a balanced body. Moved well with reach and drive, in super condition.

3rd Ward’s Blackgold Basil

Open Dog ( 10/2)

1st Akester, Akester, Wiltshire’s Sh Ch Thwaitlake Buzzman

Wow what can I say about this boy. He walked into the ring with such ring presence; he is polished to perfection in every way. It was an honour to judge him. Super balanced in head, with one of the best keen and alert expressions, lovely length of neck which literally flows into his well-placed lay of shoulder, super angles front and rear. Level topline at all times, good depth of chest with well sprung ribs. Lovely croup that leads down to well-muscled hindquarters. Great tail set and length. And then he moves; with such purpose and drive with the minimum lift of paws, his movement is effortless and a joy to behold. Turned out in absolute perfection in every way. His handler brings out the best of him at all times; they make a great partnership. I could not deny this male the CC, Absolutely delighted to watch him in the BIS ring and be awarded BIS.

2nd Oliver’s Simmovon Shockwave At Tambuzi JW

A very impressive all male dog. Lovely headed male of good balance, not only in head but throughout. Good length of neck leading to correct shoulder placement and great angles front and rear. Balanced and athletic in body. Lovely depth to chest. Nice slop to croup and a level topline. Good set to tail and length. He came into his own on the move with effortless movement and drive, unlucky to meet the winner today. Turned out in super condition. A pleasure to award him the Res CC

3rd Fawcett Sh Ch Laceway Don’t Stop Me Now

Veteran Dog ( 3/0)

1st Oliver’s Sh Ch Tambuzi Stryka Blow JW

7-year-old male of excellent make. Lovely all male in head of good proportions. Lovely oval eye shape and colour. Good set to ears which he used to his advantage. Lovley neck length leading to good shoulder placement, lovely balanced angles front and rear. Deep chest with a good spring to ribs. Moved with reach and drive at all times. Turned out in super condition in coat and muscle. Res BVIS

2nd Holtappel’s Romanybay Morning Star At Bryning

Bluem Merle of 8 years old. Anther nice male of good balance and bone. Head of good portions as well with good length to neck leading to good lay of shoulder, Lovely level topline on the stand and when moving. He moved with good reach a drive covering the ground well. Unlucky to meet 1st place today.

3rd Lampier’s Pencoppen Good Timin’

Special AOC Dog ( 3/0)

1st Wilcox Blackgold Age Of Aquarius

See 2nd place in Junior dog

2nd Holtappel’s Romanybay Morning Star At Bryning

See 2nd place in Veteran dog

3rd Shaw & Morris’s Noblewolves Bramleyapple**

Champion Dog( 1/0)

1st Portman’s Sh Ch Laceway Black Sabbath

A lovely striking male of 2.5 years. He has an all-male head of good proportions, lovely oval eye showing his keenness with a kind look still in his eye. Goody length of neck leading into good lay of shoulders, balanced front and rear, lovely deep chest with a good spring of ribs. He moves with reach and drive covering the ground with minimal lift to paw. Turned out in super condition not just in coat but muscle tone as well.

Judge: Christina Dalby