South Wales Kennel Association

My thanks to the committee of South Wales Kennel for inviting me to judge, to the exhibitors for their entry and the privilege of judging their dogs, and to my hard working ring steward Jo for keeping the ring running seamlessly throughout the day.  

I don't generally watch television in the mornings, but as I was having an early breakfast I decided to flick the tv on for a few minutes, and quite by coincidence coverage of the International Sheepdog Trials from earlier in the year was on. It gave me much to think about on my drive to Builth and acted as a reminder that I was about to judge the world's premiere sheep herding breed. I firmly believe that whether your dog works or not, it should still be physically capable of doing the job it was originally bred to do. Today I was looking for a Border Collie that not only excelled in breed type, but was also fit for function. I was happy with my main winners, in particular my CC winners who are both excellent examples of the breed. A few points of concern that need addressing, there were some dogs that were too narrow through the front. Front construction on some was poor with short upper arms and little or no return which translated into short choppy untypical movement. Lastly, I noticed some dogs were overly long in loin and whilst this wasn't immediately apparent on the stack, on the move the sagging toplines made it very obvious. On the plus side, bites were correct, tail length was correct, coat length and texture was correct, temperaments were excellent and presentation exemplary. Congratulations to my Best Puppy and Best Veteran who were both placed in their respective Groups.

Veteran Dog (3/1). 1. Int Sh Ch/nld/bel/rom/lux Ch From Borders Home Anakin Skywalker (Mrs J J, Miss S C & Mr I Smit-Siraal, Smit & Wiltshire) 7 year old of good breed type with a handsome masculine head, balanced angulation fore and aft and shown in really good hard condition, He was a little close behind but he has excellent breed typical ground covering side action. VD BV & VG4 . 2. Brytess Achilles (Miss S E M Barton). 11 years old and still putting on a good show here today. Shown in super coat and condition, I liked his overall make and shape, he was sound enough on the out and back but couldn't match the side gait of my winner. 

Minor Puppy Dog (2/1). 1. Bryning Secret Admirer (Ms S Warren) A 7 month old blue merle boy who was thoroughly enjoying his day out but giving his poor handler a very hard time. His head is typical for his age and stage of development, eye shape is correct and he has well set ears that were mobile in use. I liked his height to length, he has enough bone and good feet. He needs time to develop and needs to learn his craft in the ring.

Puppy Dog (2/0) 1. Tobermoray In To The Wild (Mrs A R Spencer). A dark, attractive young male who appealed to me for type. Beautiful head with intelligent expression, strong neck in to good lay of shoulder, firm backline, correct croup and good length of tail that was carried correctly. Sound out and back but I would have liked more forward extension. One to watch in the future. BPD 2.Bryning Secret Admirer.

Junior Dog (2/0) 1. Lesnuages Now I'm Here (Mrs G R Davies) A classically marked black and white boy of good overall type. His head is developing nicely with a correct stop and good depth through the back skull. Good length of neck, his topline needs to strengthen but that will come with maturity, I’d like more upper arm on him, he has well developed rear quarters and nice short hocks that he used to advantage on the move. 2. Caleykiz Ignite The Passion (Miss D & Mr M Wiltshire & Rogers) another nice youngster and close up to my winner. I really liked the outline of this boy, he has the most lovely shape to him, his head still needs to develop but that will come. He has good height to length, enough bone, a firm backline that was held on the move, sound coming and going but not the forward reach of my winner.

Yearling Dog (2/1) 1. Blackgold Age of Aquarius JW (Mrs R Wilcox) Stood alone in the class but a worthy winner, he’s a handsome well made dog and surprisingly well developed for his age. Good masculine head that handles well, with dark, well placed oval eyes and a broad topskull. Good length of neck into well laid shoulders, solid topline, nice turn of stifle and correct oval feet. Moved soundly in all directions.

Post Graduate Dog (1/1)

Limit Dog (7/2) 1. Jupavia A Kind of Magic (Ms F & Mr S Wright & Agnew) At two and a half years old this young dog is just starting to come to his best. He has a beautiful male head of correct proportions with no hint of coarseness, dark eyes and well set mobile ears, a muscular well arched neck that runs smoothly into well laid back shoulders, correct length of upper arm with correct return, good ribbing and a deep well developed chest. His rear quarters are well developed with long well muscled thighs and short strong hocks. He has just the right amount of bone and coat for the breed, and sufficient length of leg that allowed him to cover the ground effortlessly. I found him to be extremely sound in all directions, but if I had one criticism it would be that I'd like him to move it up a gear and move forward with more purpose. That said, he is a quality dog and I had no hesitation in awarding him his first CC here today. 2. Shemella Moon River (Mr I J & Mrs M J Lewis), a very honest type who is free from exaggeration. He has a well balanced masculine head with a mild expression, over all correct height to length, and on the move he held his shape really well. Well presented and shown in fantastic hard muscular condition. 3.Art of Blossom Drowned in Emotion Into Borderbrook JW (Imp Esp) (Ms A Kempton)

Open Dog (7/3) 1. Laceway Bite The Bullet with Jupavia JW (Miss V & Miss H Carley & Fawcett) A quality male of excellent type, he’s every inch a Border Collie. Good head, super front construction, solid backline that was held on the move and my goodness can he motor. He covered the ground soundly and effortlessly. A well deserved RCC. 2. Wizaland Put A Sock in It (Mr N D Knight) A well balanced dog of good proportions with good breed type. Hands on he is well made and on the move he has good side action, he needs to tighten up on the out and back and I just felt that his handler wasn't getting the best out of him today. 3. Fayken I Am Soul JW (Mrs S & Mr R K Lee & Green)

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog (3/0) 1.Wizaland Time for Change at Ginnylands JW (Mrs G Charlesworth) I’ve judged this dog before and done well for him so I was pleased to see him back again. An eye-catching dog that is full of quality with a beautiful head and dark eye, good length of neck into correct front assembly, well ribbed and enough depth of chest, broad well muscled loin and well developed rear quarters.. Sound on the move, but the unavoidable change of handler hindered his movement today. 2. Art of Blossom Drowned in Emotion Into Borderbrook JW (Imp Esp) (Ms A Kempton) A well balanced dog with a super head and expression. I liked his height to length, he's well muscled, well coated and turned out in tip top condition. 3. Blackgold Age of Aquarius JW (Mrs R Wilcox)

Veteran Bitch (3/0) 1. Shemella Moonlight Skye (Mr I J & Mrs M J Lewis) A well made 7 year old bitch of good type who is feminine throughout, nice head, good reach of neck, solid topline and correct croup. She covered the ground soundly and effortlessly with a correct daisy cutting action. 2. Tonkory Yasmine (Mrs M & Mr P Surridge) I was splitting hairs between the first two in this class. I loved the head on this bitch, it's so well proportioned with a typical Border Collie expression. Correct front angulation and balanced rear quarters, she is sound on the move but didn't hold her shape as well as my winner. 3. Shemella Evening Sunshine of Dollindaw (Mrs L J Neil)

Minor Puppy Bitch (6/3) 1. Borderbrook Follow My Heart (Ms A Kempton) What a little cracker this puppy is, she has the loveliest of heads which is well developed for her age, excellent reach of neck into correct shoulders, firm topline that was held on the move, a well muscled rear with enough turn of stifle and short strong hocks. Sound as a pound on the move. BPIB & PG3. 2. Jupavia Fusion by Design (Miss V Carley) a different type to my winner and not as mature but already showing lots of promise. I liked her outline , she has good length of leg and the appropriate depth of body for her age and stage of development. Her head needs to be handled to be appreciated, it's balanced with enough depth of muzzle. Lots of reach and drive on the move and sound out and back. 3. Bryning Secret Obsession (Miss N Holtappel)

Puppy Bitch (5/2) 1. Borderbrook Follow My Heart (Ms A Kempton) winner of MP 2. Bryning Secret Obsession (Miss N Holtappel) A very attractive blue merle puppy who has text book front construction and balanced rear, correct bone, neat feet and shown in super coat and condition. Moved well but her topline needs to firm up. 3. Tobermoray Simply Wild (Ms S Kunschke)

Junior Bitch (7/1) 1. Jerseywood Keep On Loving JW (Miss S Lea) I liked the over all balance of this girl, she’s moderate throughout. Feminine head with broad top skull , correctly set mobile ears, dark eye with intelligent expression, she has particularly good front construction, firm backline and enough rear angulation. Moved soundly in all directions. 2. Borderbrook Special Dream JW (Ms A Kempton). Beautifully presented, (as were all the dogs from this kennel), super feminine head and expression, good length of neck, good front angles and matching rear. She covers the ground well but her topline needs to strengthen. 3. Pencoppen Hot Comet (Mr K & Mrs A Lampier)

Yearling Bitch (8/0) 1. Jerseywood Keep On Loving JW (Miss S Lea) winner of previous class. 2. Bryning Psychedelic Kisses JW (Miss N Holtappel) At first glance I thought this girl might be a bit too heavily boned but hands on it was mostly coat. She has a balanced head with a distinct stop, well placed shoulders, correct height to length and well angulated rear quarters. Not a big bitch and I’d maybe prefer her a size bigger, however she certainly uses what she has to advantage as she excels in breed typical movement. 3. Pencoppen Druids Delight (Mr K & Mrs A Lampier)

Post Graduate Bitch (4/1) 1. Borderbrook Final Destiny JW (Ms A Kempton) Standing, this girl presents a lovely picture, she’s well balanced, has enough bone and substance and a correct double coat. Her movement is sound out and back and she has good reach and drive, I would have liked a firmer topline. 2. Wenmap Topkapi Gem (Miss W E Allison) A different type to my winner, she has a pleasing head that handles well, good length of neck into well laid shoulders, her upper arm could be longer, a firm backline, broad well muscled loin and she is correct over the croup. She was very full of herself here today which somewhat spoiled her movement. 3. Shemella April Showers of Dollindaw (Mrs L J Neil)

Limit Bitch (9/2) 1. Huntly Chat Up Line at Locheil (Mrs H, Mrs J & Miss A Turner, Alexander & Macdonald) This bitch exudes breed type, if all you had of her was a silhouette you would know instantly that she was a border collie. Balanced head with correct eye shape, enough width between the ears which were well set and mobile, good length of neck that fitted seamlessly into a correct front assembly, firm topline that was held on the move, well developed rear quarters and correct length of leg. On the move she is sound, accurate and covers the ground effortlessly. Beautifully presented and handled to get the best from her, I had no hesitation in awarding her the CC & BOB. 2. Jupavia Silver Flame (Miss V Carley). Another lovely bitch that has much to admire with a super head piece and lively intelligent expression. She has a good length of neck and another with a correct front assembly. Correct height to length, enough bone, correct double coat, she moves soundly in all directions and holds her shape on the move. 3. Shemella Sky Full of Stars (Mr I J & Mrs M J Lewis).

Open Bitch (7/3) 1. Caleykiz Passion for Power (Mrs C & Miss D Wiltshire). Feminine and fit for function were the first words in my notes, she may not be flashy but she is certainly well made. She scored highly on her correct make and shape and over all balance. Sound coming and going and her side gait just eats up the ground with a correct daisy cutting action. I was happy to award her a well deserved RCC. 2. Sh Ch Laceway Breaking Waves (Miss H Fawcett) A quality bitch who has the most beautiful classic border collie head, strong neck in to correct front quarters, well ribbed with plenty of heart room, well muscled rear with good turn of stifle and short below the hocks. She is sound as a pound out and back, but needs to settle going around. 3. Jaybob Child’s Play JW (Mrs S Lee)

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch (6/2) 1. Sh Ch Arrodare Rebel with A Cause JW (Miss B & Miss J Lee & Ratcliffe) A beautiful typey bitch with a super outline who is really well balanced. She has a feminine head of correct proportions, a dark expressive eye and mobile ears. Arched neck with a smooth transition into well laid shoulders and firm topline that was held on the move. Shown in very well muscled and hard condition, she moved soundly in all directions. 2. Borderbrook Follow My Heart (Ms A Kempton). 3. Taranza Enchanted Eclipse (Miss S E M Barton)

Judge: Linda Brookes (Bruxly)