North Of England Bearded Collie Club

North of England Bearded Collie Club Championship Show

25th July 2026

Bitches – Robynne S Wood (Osmart)

I would like to start by thanking the Committee for inviting me to judge at their 35th Anniversary Club Show and for making me feel so welcome. I’d also like to thank the exhibitors who entered because I enjoyed meeting your dogs and I’m respectful of the compliment of you seeking my opinion. I was excited to judge because I’ve not judged bitches since 2018 and I’m currently so far removed from the show scene that I was effectively “stepping into the ring blind”. I was by no means disappointed by what I found but equally I am mindful that people will enter the dogs that they think you will like. So maybe take my thoughts with a pinch of salt but I left with a positive impression of where our breed was at today. The quality of construction was high, the majority of dogs felt like they could do a day’s work and there was a distinct lack of the heavy and unmanageable coats the breed is often criticised for. This may well have been because of who was stood in the centre of the ring but I was pleasantly surprised to find a lot of dogs that felt akin to the ones I saw growing up. I’m now curious to see whether my experience matches those of all-rounders or those perceived to prefer more modern fashions so perhaps I’ll be spotted by the ringside on some occasions! But thank you once again for the honour of inviting me to judge and for the pleasure of meeting (and being mugged by many of!) your dogs.

Baby Puppy Bitch (1 ent, 0 abs)

1st Cope’s Menander Xtraspecl Edition

4.5 months wriggly and delightfully cheeky slate baby. I really enjoyed this class because the aim is to give them a nice experience in the ring, which I was very happy to provide. However, it is hard to give an assessment of confirmation on a puppy that will develop so quickly between now and being eligible for minor puppy! But I did like what I could see – nice shape, well boned, moved well in pockets and a temperament that wasn’t phased by the experience. 

Minor Puppy Bitch (4 ent, 0 abs)

1st Burscough’s Orme Rose for Kilfinan

Plainly marked but eye-catching slate who is currently paling out. Pleasing head, dark eye and pigment. Well laid-back shoulder, good length of rib and balanced rear angulation. Touch unsettled but showed her ability to move well. 

2nd Lewin’s Potterdale Phuture Plus

A flashier slate with a pleasing shape on the stand. Nice head and whilst paler in the eye than 1st shows signs of darkening and still had a soft expression. Good shoulder, appropriate length of rib and balanced rear angulation. Well-schooled and showed herself off well in the move. 

3rd Sale. Lewis & Joss’ Potterdale Plus One More

Another slate who was taller and more heavily boned than the first two but certainly not overdone. Balanced angulation overall with an excellent length of rib but not quite the lay-back of shoulder of 1st and 2nd. Another well-schooled puppy who showed herself off well but her rear movement was not quite to my personal taste. 

Puppy Bitch (4 ent, 1 abs)

1st Ayrton’s Briarsfield Little Swan at Aoibh

Best described as honest and old-fashioned girl who caught my eye from the moment she came in the ring. Good size, well boned whilst still being feminine and freestanding allowed her to show off her pleasing shape. Pleasing head and eye. Excellent shoulder, good length of rib and balanced rear angulation. Moved with effortless drive. Best Puppy Bitch and pleased to see her be awarded Best Opposite Sex Puppy in Show.

2nd Brooks & Grundy’s Dark Butterfly for Fraglestone

Litter sister to 1st. Has many of the same qualities but not quite as balanced to look but still a lot of maturing to do. Good layback of shoulder, good rib and balanced rear angulation. Showed signs of moving well at times but was definitely a bit more interested in enjoying her day out!

3rd Jenkinson’s Tybury’s Arya’s Legend for Ellishar

She was unfortunate to come up against the other two today but still much to appreciate. Presented a nice shape on the stand and nice head. Didn’t have the same softness of expression of 1st and 2nd due to her paler cooler-toned eye that can be seen in some blues but could develop with age and coat changes. Good shoulder and rear angulation with a decent length of rib. Movement was correct but was lacking “punch” – not sure she was feeling her best today and I’d be interested to see how she matures.

Veteran Bitch (6 ent, 1 abs)

I always look forward to this class and the quality in this class did not disappoint. Each of these girls were a credit to their owner and a good indication of how Beardies age like a fine wine. There as much to like about all of them and placings came down to choosing between the finer points of my own personal preference.

1st Bowden’s Subessen Heart of Hearts

This girl oozed femininity being of a smaller (but correct) size and lighter bone than some seen today but felt very able to do a full days work. Pleasing head, eye and expression. Excellent lay-back of shoulder, good length of rib and balanced rear angulation. Moved with effortless drive. Pleased to award her Best Veteran Bitch and see her be awarded Best Veteran in Show.

2nd Burscough’s Kilfinan Ladybird

Taller and stronger boned than 1st but still could not be described as being heavy. Pleasing strong head with nice eye but would prefer them a touch darker. Good depth of chest, well-laid back shoulder and excellent length of rib. Moved with effortless drive. 1st and 2nd could easily have swapped places in a different day.

3rd Rivers’ Talraz Comedy Act for Kyleca

Lovely shape on the shape but her longer coat created the illusion of being a touch square, which didn’t match up when going over her. Lovely head and expression. Well-laid-back shoulder, good length of rib and balanced angulation. Moved well and there was plenty to like about her. 

Junior Bitch (5 ent, 1 abs)

1st Duncan’s Frida de Maeluma at Duncannas (Imp Esp) 

Good size and well-boned young lady who is currently paling out. Pleasing head and a paler eye that tones with coat but shows signs of darkening as her coat changes back. Good depth of chest, well laid-back shoulder with rear balanced angulation and excellent length of rib. Moved well and with drive.

2nd Peart’s Malandex Xquisit’s Legacy for Talluarchy

Slightly smaller and denser boned than 1st but still of good size and felt feminine. Gorgeous head, eye and pigmentation but coat touch brassy in places, which should clear with age. Excellent shoulder and rear angulation with good length of rib. Moved with an effortless drive that gave the impression of being able to go all day.

3rd Jay’s Talraz Midngiht Lady JW

Different and flashier feel to this girl with much still to like. Pleasing shape on the stand with a pleasing head and eye. Well laid-back shoulder balanced rear angulation with excellent length of rib. Had all the ingredients to produce excellent movement but didn’t quite have the rear drive of 1st and 2nd today – more due to conditions than construction. Another one to watch maturing.

Yearling Bitch (6 ent, 3 abs)

1st Peirson’s Ch Kiltondale Miley Cyrus JW

Good size. Strong yet feminine head with pleasing eyes and pigmentation. Excellent lay-back of shoulder, pleasing depth of chest, long rib and balanced angulation. Moved with effortless drive. I was pleasantly surprised to see this girl has her title because she feels like she still has some growing into herself to do – clearly one to watch!

2nd Duncan’s Frida de Maeluma at Duncannas (Imp Esp)

3rd Lewis & Moreland’s Potterdale Prime Rose

Good size and heavier in bone than 1st and 2nd but still feels very feminine. Good head, pleasing eye and sweet expression. Decent lay back of shoulder and balanced angulation with good rib but not quite the length of 1st and 2nd. Well-schooled and movement was efficient but preferred the drive of 1st and 2nd. There was much to like about this young lady and she was unlucky to come across these other two today.

Novice Bitch (3 ent, 1 abs)

1st Lewin’s Potterdale Phuture Plus

2nd Wooley’s Astuce De Vauboison for Aritaka (Imp Fra)

Slate of good size and strong bone. Nice head and eye – coat currently gives impression that she may not pale out to much degree. Good lay-back of shoulder and balanced rear angulation with a decent length of rib. Moved better in this class but lost out to others in previous class on steadiness of movement. Plenty to like about this girl but has some growing into herself to do.

Graduate Bitch (8 ent, 2 abs, 1 withdrawn)

1st Pedder’s Nobility Sent To Love to Caldermist JW (Imp Deu)

Brown of pleasing size and shape with an ultra-feminine feel to her. Coat of excellent strength of colour but clear signs of an even richer coat to come. Lovely head and expression with eyes that tone with her coat but again show signs of deepening further with her coat. Good depth of chest, well laid-back shoulder and balanced rear angulation and good length of rib. Moved well with effortless drive. 

2nd Duncan’s Frida de Maeluma at Duncannas (Imp Esp)

3rd Savage & Mclean’s Strufingill Penny Benjamin at Canaich

A lot to like about this girl but she is clearly still maturing and growing into herself. Pleasing head and cheeky expression. Good lay-back of shoulder and length of rib but preferred the overall balance of angulation on 1st and 2nd. Moved well but not as forward/settled as 1st and 2nd. All these things should come with maturity and experience.

Post Graduate Bitch (5 ent, 0 abs)

1st Robertson’s Quothquan Aylyth

A plain and honest Beardie that could be easily overlooked. Excellent head and pleasing eye and expression. Good depth of chest, excellent lay-back of shoulder, long rib and balanced angulation. Moved with effortless drive.

2nd Harcourt-Brown’s Pearly Princess

This girl is certainly an eye-catcher for all the right reasons but she wasn’t her happiest today. Gorgeous feminine head and melting expression. Excellent lay-back of shoulder and rear angulation with good length of rib but not quite that of 1st. Moved well but her unsettledness just went against her today. 

3rd Edwards’ Breaksea It’s Time at Nellbrook JW

Brown of pleasing size and shape. Lovely head with an eye that toned with the coat but does show some signs of darkening to give a softer expression. Well laid-back shoulder and balanced angulation. Good length of rib but the coat does give an impression of boxiness that doesn’t match up to what you can feel. Moved well. Still feels like she has some further maturing to do.

Limit Bitch (11 ent, 3 abs)

1st Kuz’s Kiltondale Mephis Belle at Strufingilll

Lovley size, shape and another honest beardie that my eye kept being drawn back to from the moment she walked into the ring. Gorgeous head with beautiful soft dark eye and pigment to match. Good depth of chest, excellent lay-back of shoulder with balanced angulation with an excellent length of rib. Moved with effortless drive. Delighted to award her the CC and see her be awarded Best Opposite Sex in Show.

2nd Swaby’s Kiltondale Hot Favourite for Marsby

Bit taller than 1st but still of pleasing size and shape. Another lovely head and expression but I would prefer a slightly darker eye. Well-laid back shoulder, balanced angulation and good length to rib. Moved with effortless drive. Much to like about this girl but can’t help feeling she still has a bit more growing into herself to do.

3rd Richards’ Wildan’s Dark Sky at Elemark

Another honest beardie who has an understated eye-catching elegance that is only emphasised by her lack of flashy markings. Gorgeous head and eye. Well-laid back shoulder, balanced angulation and good length of rib. Moved well but didn’t quite match the drive of 1st and 2nd today.

Open Bitch (8 ent, abs)

1st Jay’s Matamata Lorien Lady at Talraz

Pleasing size and amount of bone to give her a strong yet feminine feel. Pleasing head, eye and pigment. Good depth of chest. Excellent lay-back of shoulder, balanced angulation and lovely length of rib. Moved with effortless drive. Pleased to award her the RCC and was a strong contender for the CC.

2nd Harcourt-Brown’s Ch Orora’s Oriana

Another girl of pleasing size and shape but her depth of colour and plain markings give her an understated glamour. Gorgeous head and the darkest of eyes giving a most melting expression. Excellent lay-back of shoulder, balanced angulation and another lovely long rib. Moved with effortless drive. It was a tough choice between 1st and 2nd – they could have easily swapped places on another day.

3rd Skinner’s Dychix The Rag Nymph

Good size and shape and another girl who was eye-catching. Pleasing head and expression and a good depth of colour compared to some of the other blues seen today. Well laid-back shoulder, balanced angulation with good length of rib. Moved well but didn’t quite have the efficiency of movement that 1st and 2nd did today.