South Wales Kennel Association

SOUTH WALES KENNEL ASSOCIATION GENERAL CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

11 OCTOBER 2026

ROUGH COLLIES – PAUL BATTIGAN (ROCLYNN) IRELAND

Spoiler alert, it’s a rather long one! If that’s not your thing – look away now.

Safe to say we all have an understanding of the evolution of the “Dog World” and can acknowledge the arc of it as opposed to a cyclical nature to it; acknowledge also, (especially if we were fortunate to have experienced a view from the numerical apex of that arc) that those statistics were not sustainable in the long-term, that they did not suddenly plummet and that we are now heading towards what is arguably and predicably a third decade of that decline. I’ll have said this before, but it remains relevant - rather than attempting in vain to recapture the past and the sheer spectacle of the scale of it, it’s incumbent upon the active to write instead a new chapter and one which is reflective of the new reality. Seeking out meaningful collaborative opportunities, having a strategy, maintaining the quality, focusing on the things we can control and letting go of that which we cannot – those are the goals.

Now in penning critiques it is therefore also incumbent upon any judge to temper somewhat views which focus on the negative and lament the numerical heights of the past. In this breed despite the declining numbers, you do for now retain the patronage of breeders who continue to go about their business in a mindful and purposeful way. (some were here today, others not) That they bring to exhibition, at significant cost, examples of their work is not something to be taken lightly by any judge. Of course, a balance in critiquing is by its definition also required. What follows may see my peppering my remarks with references to the past, but I hope in a positive way, not the numerical past, the qualitative past. What follows may also reference my preferences, otherwise – what would be the point of a critique, I’m not interested in merely going through the motions. 

So – Heads - – Skulls, and here I will have to concede I may be a lone voice or picky about this but I wish for my hand to flow over not alone the foreface but the entire skull of the animal in one move, anything that jars with that, whether or not it is apparent to a ringside is indicating something I might prefer to alter. What’s interesting is the frequency with which critiques seem to compliment a “nice flat skull,” but I seem to find some which have moulding which is sufficient in foreface but often lacking in “back skull”. Conversely also those who have ample clean moulding in foreface but “back skulls” which are not quite as flat and clean through as I might desire or which flare. One to watch?

Body – watch for fore chest and still those upper arms please. 

I am not averse to promoting puppies I feel are ready, those who are forward or have an air of distinction about them – but – be mindful, there are those who sometimes finish too early and are at risk at “going over the top” by adulthood and finishing too strong or deep. Conversely those, and I am thinking of your males here who are very refined but right through and who finish a little narrow all round. You want your males of a certain age to have a little oomph. You want your adult bitches to retain femininity, but these ladies are your brood bitches, the mothers of your next generation males – they need to have a bit about them too.    

Movement – Single tracking occurs when a certain pace is achieved, below that level watch for movement which is too narrow behind. That top line on your triangle is telling, watch your profile action. Have another person move your dog and with the most unbiased and critical eye you can muster watch front action for out at elbow and plaiting. Even with exhibits with good outline in stance watch for centre of balance through the core, no roll, no sway.

Pace you animal appropriately and with consistency. Be mindful of the tension of the lead connecting you. Ringcraft is the place to practice your craft, the showring is the place to exhibit it. Don’t throw your animal off balance, you are a team its six legs in coordination not four. Keep the standard of presentation high, like it or not it’s also a beauty competition, every last hair fresh smelling and groomed is minimum requirement.   

Sense of smell in the canine is of course extraordinary, but hearing is acutely developed and sensitive and our breeds hearing is designed to cup and hold long distance commands. (fit for function) It seems to me then that certain situations may provoke something of a sensory overload. I want to compliment here then exhibits who take it all in their stride and get on with the modern-day job in hand, but I also wish to acknowledge the patience of exhibitors with their charges most especially the younger ones who are learning the ropes. I will add here that as much I love to see the animal fully projecting itself, it is also understandable to me in certain situations that the dog itself should be intelligent enough to choose to carry its ears in repose, expression is not going to alter so much from moment to moment that I need to see constantly the completeness of it in order to know it is there. 

Finally, under general remarks. There are as I have noted, few enough of the new and younger enthusiasts about. But to those I would say, whilst you can, absorb as much as you possibly can, understand how the senior members of your breed “construct” a pedigree for example, continue the tradition of the kennel visit best you can within the parameters of the new reality, watch until end of judging and listen to the story of the breed which those seniors can still share, value your mentors (not “use” – there is a difference!!) but also identify behaviours you wish to emulate, model yourself on those clever breeders and maintain sportsmanship so that your hobby remains a space which is safe, welcoming, fun. Remember that when you hang up your show lead it is not alone the quantity of certificates which will be the measure of you. At the end of the day what you are really left with in any sport is “your good name,” so please, by word nor deed diminish without foundation neither your own nor another’s reputation. Pull together more than ever before, whilst understanding also that neither you as an individual, nor collectively as breed clubs or Kennel Club should tolerate nonsense, anything less than that is not a worthy “legacy.” 

 Thank you as ever to the exhibitors who went to the expense to enter and who came along today and demonstrated sportsmanship whatever the result.  

   VETERAN DOG 

1 BOYLES BARRENCLOUGH HEART OF GOLD JW ShCEx OSW VW 

9-year Sable son of an old favourite of mine. He possesses a very nice length of head of true wedge with clean cheeks and nicely placed stop, his eye is good for size and colour and his ears are neat, he has reach of neck and length of back, on the move better going away than oncoming today. Tail carriage is good. In good coat, I would make a little more of it perhaps. He has capacity to move out well if paced correctly.

MINOR PUPPY DOG 

1 PATMANS ROUGHRIGG REVVED’N READY In profile presenting a quite pleasing picture, balance of frame, quite nice height to length ratio, he can stand nicely on straight legs, good pastern and feet, his topline is ok and his movement at 8 months reflective of his youth but with potential there. Nicely turned out, sympathetically handled. He needs time to finish in head but again that is fine for now.     

JUNIOR DOG 

1 LOCKYERS GATAJ JUST LIKE JESSE JAMES 

One of no less than five of six exbibits entered from this kennel, if only we could bottle the energy and enthusiasm, Lord knows it’s what we need and breeders like this are carrying entries right through the show year in both yours and my country, so respect is due and thus my thanks. Now all were of type (unsurprising given the team included a father and two offspring), all a standard and all presented in order which is a feat in itself. All also at varying stages of their development and career, elements about each which I can understand will find favour even now but for me just right now – more to come and this theme was exemplified by this young man Jesse James. I found him very clean in head, enough stop, dark in eye, expression is ok for me. I feel he would benefit from the upper arm of some I favoured more here today to allow greater front extension. He goes away quite well on the back and carried his tail well. Attentive, attractive, potential to be glamorous, will do well but for me it’s a wait and see for now in terms of higher awards. 

2 BLAIKIES KOURIKA DANCING ON ICE 

Nice, moulded foreface on this blue lad, so dad has passed this one, this one also has nice dark eyes, he is nicely broken up in colour with rich tan marking, has a shape to him, is good enough for size and substance. Has time to settle into the job and put his best foot forward on the move.  

POST GRADUATE DOG 

1 MCCARTES ROUGHRIGG RAGS ‘N’ RICHES 

Judged this boy as a very forward puppy, found him then to be very finished in head but just was reticent about how he might finish in totality. Right now, it is right that he is working his way up the classes, body and movement needs to come back together before he presents a picture of completeness, went away better in the back than coming forward today, he will need the finish off in coat and to resettle himself to the job in hand. I don’t want him any shorter in head nor deeper in stop, but I appreciate his moulding, his eye and expression and well placed and used ears. Patience now with this one.   

LIMIT DOG 

1 RANDALLS LADNAR CALL MY NAME 

Well, it’s so far back and so long ago now that the relevance of this comment I realise is questionable and perhaps his owner will not agree I don’t know but I looked at this boy and somehow the late Gill Unstead and her blue boy Ch Mayd Welcome came to my mind, in his stance, his outlook, his head pattern – there was somehow that old familiarity. Here is a boy with reach of neck and a return of upper arm to please, run over that front if you can, feel the difference. Pleasing in expression, clean in head planes, sits comfortably in the palm of the hand, nice length through his back and good rear quarters, he acquitted himself well on the move, given his make and shape I did just wonder if he was holding back just a little or if taking it up a gear might compromise his tail carriage more. But an undoubtably handsome dog and although he has understandably made a name for himself already, I feel his best is to come yet. Today for him the RESERVE CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE to add to his collection. 

OPEN DOG 

1 HAWKINS/FOY CH BELDONES TOUCHER DU BOIS  

The finished product, a male with enough bone and size without being overdone in any way, in head - masculine but not course, in fact that full muzzle which blends softly through cheeks and skull allows for a complementary soft eye, a correct medium and well placed, and the resulting expression has a mellow warmth to it which put me in mind of La Vita Bella who carried the same prefix, and little wonder – more use perhaps could have been made of their sire by others. If I were being picky, he could get his ears marginally higher, but it doesn’t affect his expression. On the move he held a steady gait, showed me the pads of those feet as he went and extended sufficiently with a sensibly carried tail. He has a correct double coat and the topcoat of length to afford that finished look. Performed steadily and sensibly throughout to take the DOG CC.

2 BLAIKIES CH KOURIKA THE GIGOLO. 

Through the years Champions in all three colours and yet I seem to most associate this prefix with the merles. They say the breed has changed a lot, well for all the years that have passed, for me this boy could pass for Mantika progeny. I was bound to appreciate the trademark moulded foreface, the well-placed stop the expressive eyes and near ears. He has a nice length of head too and it is carried well on a good reach neck which has a crest to it. In stance he presents a good outline and overall picture and, on another day, perhaps another venue I may have switched places here. When he doesn’t fidget, he is a different dog, but today within the short time I had with him I just found he tended to alternate from putting it all together to compromising his chances. A nice dog, representative of his breeding and although I just today wanted to feel more confident about what he might do next, the shape is nevertheless hard to hide, the head properties of quality and drew me back to give him 2nd here over a tri dog who in head type and expression had also been to my liking.  

GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME  

1 BOYLES BARRENCLOUGH HEART OF GOLD (Veteran Dog)

 VETERAN BITCH 

1 GEDDES CH INGLEDENE SNO WANDA 

Well, I have said before that I love the opportunity to see a dog more than once in its career, but I believe for me it was a first to have one return to whom I have previously awarded a CC. I think she may have had another visit to the whelping room since last I saw her but in no way has she returned in any way “matronly “ I have not changed my mind about this lady, elegantly limbed, each part flows to the next, there is an undeniably cleanness to everything about her, aloof would imply an expression which might seem not in keeping with the breed, so it’s not quite the word I want, but there is a cooler tone to the look and as with when last I judged her she may reveal it, she may not, it’s akin to a quite grand dame grandeur, she knows who she is! . She moved well here again today, the capacity for ground coverage afforded to her by her angulation and length which I had to acknowledge once more, and I could happily have signed another ticket for her but today it was a RESERVE CC AND BEST VETERAN to another lady asking for my attention. I might add here that post judging I caught a glimpse of her on a raised grass bank with autumn sunlight falling upon her and here, unleashed, in a more natural environment - she looked glorious. There is no need for these veterans to be retired to the sofa when the chance is there for eyes to fall upon that kind of graceful beauty. Thank you for bringing her back to me. 

2 BROOKERS TELFORTH SWEET DREAMS TO CORISIAN 

This for me was difficult, many I understand will insist that these two veteran ladies are so different and yet I will stick by my conviction that there is merit to be seen and appreciated in both all be it for different reasons.

 This is the first time in her 13 years that I have seen her – but no post show catalogue required here as on arrival she announces her heritage. And no, I am not just a “head judge” but yes, it’s there for sure – in the truly oblique eye, in the balance of the refined feminine head and that sweetness – there is the word – she is that. I found I had several others today equally dark in eye, similarly sized too but for me not necessarily the set and thus the sweetness this lady has. On social media I have noticed lately a growing trend in other jurisdictions for the sharing of images and footage of “ear training” in young puppies. Wrong audience here but I wish they could see the perfectly placed, tipped and used ears on this bitch as a reminder that whilst on occasion mother nature may require a little assistance, the idea is to breed for such qualities and fix them in that way. The judging role pays respect to “fit for function”, some may justifiably question if a 13-year-old could do a day’s work – but – remember it’s about what the animal is representative of and I balance that thought with a nod in the direction of longevity and is that not an example of fit for function, and then to work a showring like she does, alert, positive, immaculate and still happy in her job and in the perfect partnership she shares with her owner is for me quite remarkable and a little emotional. My heart was with her, little consolation to her owner I am sure, but I truly wish her well, it’s not over yet and right now she is Champion in all but name. Long life to her.

 MINOR PUPPY BITCH 

1 EDWARDS BELDONES NIGHT SHADE a promising tri bitch of just seven month and who therefore needs to finish, to clean through her stop and mould up, all perfectly fine by me, more important now is that she has the makings of a nice show girl with essentials like a nice dark eye and neat ears, nice little make and shape to her with nice turn of stifle, could well swap places with the puppy winner shortly. Good luck with her.

2 BOYLES VIREL ACTIS OVER BARRENCLOUGH NAF TAF A long clean and refined feminine head on this young lady, little close on move needs to settle and use ears, difficult to fully assess her in the hall today, hopefully with patience and time she will grow in confidence.

PUPPY BITCH 

1 WRAY-RAMSDENS TAKHISIS LADY IS A TRAMP

Also in nice black coat. At 11month more grown on and developed than the minor puppy, nice outline, well turned out and calmly handled she is allowed to stand back off her handler and remains attentive and in balance. Quite nice in muzzle, ok for stop, I appreciated her outline in stance. Moved ok. Nice bone nice tight feet and her maturity secured for her the BEST PUPPY. 

2 LOCKYERS GATAJ MISS SPARKLES just turned a year, another golden sable from this consistent kennel she is again Sweet, feminine, attractive, and when back in coat will look pretty and turn enough heads. Moved ok. 

JUNIOR BITCH 

1 MCCARTES SWEETMINTS YASMIN AT ROUGHRIGG 

 Just over the year now, just past the best of the baby months and making her owners work hard today but, in that department, again it’s just time, she will come right here when she is ready. Nice length of head, dark eyes, ears are ok, enough neck. Hard to assess her on the move today. 

POST GRADUATE BITCH 

1 CONGDONS AARONWELL ANOTHER LOVE, pretty blue, blessed with two dark eyes and the expression hard to hide despite her best efforts to be shy with her ears here today, I like the nicely filled smooth foreface, when she wants to, she can stand and present a nice outline. Feminine, shapely, Moved ok here has enough angulation to extend well, and I think out of doors she may have pushed on more on the drive too but nevertheless went well enough with nicely carried tail. When bodied up, in full coat and working the whole showmanship thing she should catch eyes.

  2 WARES MILLUBIE PARACHUTE INTO WASSAIL. really nothing to dislike about this young lady, I find her to be quite balanced throughout, good head planes, stop, scores in expression, totally naked but well enough made to get away it so I appreciated her being here, steady on the move and pushed the winner hard here. Could be useful for her kennel.  

 

LIMIT BITCH 

1 MCCARTES ROUGHRIGG ONE OF A KIND 

Two things to note here to begin with, firstly this was one of a number to carry this prefix/affix who today met with variable success, it’s not the kennel, it’s never the exhibitor, it’s the dog, the right dog on the right day, it’s really that simple and straightforward. Secondly, I will say that this bitch previously secured from me a 2nd placing. I want to say that I respect an exhibitor who is brave enough to come and try again. Last time out I critiqued this lady nicely, today I will add that on that occasion I considered her then to be 2nd in line to that day’s Best of Breed and that is rather telling for two years later she needed no more than a two-point upgrade to win the day. Cliché I know but still true – sometimes it’s just your day, sometimes it’s just right and this one for me was the one in form, looking right – right now, timing! Time and again in critiques I will acknowledge the variances we see, I will seek to find the good in all but given the opportunity I will drop in favour of the middle ground. For me today, here was a bitch clearly now at her peak but with a headpiece neither too short nor long, a foreface well filled, smooth, rounded, neither too fine nor too strong. A stop placement which maintains the balance of the headpiece, ears well placed and used, and expression to please courtesy of eyes which are again a proper medium, nicely set and of tone to please and speak of the breed she is and the nature of it. Enough angulation both fore and aft, a rib cage, some depth, heart & lung room and on the move when correctly paced, footwork and placement predictable and thus lending me a comfortable confidence in her and her ability. Bitch CC which I am told is her third. When you believe in something, have faith in it and work at it – good things can happen. Congratulations. 

 2 HAWKINS/FOY BELDONES FANTASY, pretty, balanced, proportioned, nothing exaggerated, I felt her head handled well, good planes, clean, feminine with a softness to the expression not unlike her sire, she moved out ok for me, holding a topline and steady gait. Fine for neck. Nice bitch all round and that’s what you want. For now, she needs the time to come to her best. More to come here.
 

OPEN BITCH 

1 CONGDONS CH AARONWELL ABLE MABEL JW 

There is a school of thought which will insist that the modern British collie is invariably short in head, short in back, lacks elegance etc. Well, here is a poster girl for the fact that it is perfectly possible to continue to work with the best of British or British root stock and produce an outlook, a shape which sings. Natural showgirl, she knows her job, it’s a dog show – yes, it makes a difference, this is how we stand a Rough Collie, then we drop that lead, remove ourselves from the picture and allow to animal the space to shine. I appreciate her head qualities, nicely rounded foreface, clean cheeks. This is another who for me scores well in expression, and see the eye, neither too tight nor full or glary, she has wonderful reach of neck, good topline, nice back end, steadiness through her core and her expression secured her place and she was next in line to Best of Breed today. Worthy Champion.

2 CRONKS CH SKABONA IF I SAW YOU IN HEAVEN FOR CHELBORN JW.

 And here is another who was well presented and handled to advantage, can fully understand why she is titled. Her owner’s lifetime of experience in how to present a quality animal for the showring is evident and exemplary. This bitch is balanced in head, has clean body lines, a good make and shape and stance. I like her for size, she has legs under her, and she thus has the potential to extend well. She had ample bone and body and still feminine with it, she is in short what you wish for in a brood bitch. She pushed out well enough on the move for me and was quite easily within my top handful here today.     

GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME BITCH 

1 CARLTONS LYNMEAD DRESSES THE STARS OF SAMBREEZE who was unplaced in Limit.

Dainty little golden lady moved more steadily than the second her, nice, moulded foreface. Dark expressive eyes, short hock, good feet. 

2 BOYLES TIMELESS DESTINY STAR ACTIS OVER BARRENCLOUGH this lady was VHC in Post Grad. Little unsettled in stance and on the move, another day and venue will hopefully see her relax into the job and move out happily. 

   

Paul Battigan.