Scottish Kennel Club

Scottish Kennel Club

All-Breed General Championship Show 2026

Pastoral Group

I would like to extend my thanks to Secretary Gillian Jones and the rest of the Committee of the Scottish Kennel Club for their kind invitation to judge the Pastoral Group at this year’s all-breed General Championship Show. The team at SKC have an absolutely exhausting task organising two General Championship Shows running alongside each other and yet quite mind-blowing if you even dare just think about it but they all keep smiling and nothing is too much trouble for any of them. A huge pat on the back to you guys and much appreciation for your vision, total dedication and unsurpassed energy, perhaps the latter is down to the Irn Bru!!!

I made a shortlist of eight dogs: the Australian Shepherd, Walsh & Davis’ Rosschell Maid to Dream JW, the Border Collie, Green & Ratcliffe’s Sh Ch Fayken I Am Love JW, the Finnish Lapphund, Meikle & Henderson’s Ch/Bel Ch Elbereth Etiainen at Lintukoto JW ShCEx OSW Bw25, the Norwegian Buhund, Denham-Horton & Horton’s Tapui Haraldsson at Jjavacobe, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Mottram’s Ch Mybeards Starshine, the Samoyed, Johnson’s Ch Nikara Sweet Dreams for Kimeekasams, the Shetland Sheepdog, Pearson’s Ch Edglonian Golden Glow and finally the Welsh Corgi (Pembroke), Podgornaia & Bergmann’s It/Lux/Hun/Hr/Si Ch Mistycor Esmeralda Flower of Love.

Group 1 went to the sable Shetland Sheepdog bitch. Coming up to 3 yrs, I thought her something special. Full of femininity and a joy hands-on, she presented such a beautiful outline with well arched neck of correct length to give balance, firm through the topline, super ribbing, slope to croup as desired and tail just right for set and carriage. She has a delightful head and expression with the best of eyes and ears, correct proportions and planes, clean cheeks and good underjaw. On the move, she is true fore and aft and smooth on the go around with good ground coverage. Presented in first class condition and shown to advantage.

For Group 2 I selected the Border Collie bitch, one I have done very well for previously and today at almost ten years of age she still looks the part and is competitive at the highest level. Turned out in excellent coat and muscle-tone and another who certainly didn’t disappoint upon closer inspection. Feminine headpiece of correct proportions with distinct stop, oval-shaped eyes which are full of expression and ears are set on well apart. Muscular neck of correct length to balance, firm backline, excellent rib and loin and tail pleased for both set and carriage. Soundly constructed girl all through and when gaiting, she moves with the characteristic carriage of the breed and is flawless viewed from any angle.

The Welsh Corgi (Pembroke) was my choice for Group 3 and this 3 yr old bitch was a total delight and showed her socks off at all times. Of sound construction, she presented a super outline with good length of neck, firm level back, excellent ribbing, muscular loin and tail bang on for set and carriage. Quality head with the best of expressions; correctly proportioned with super eye and ear, tapering muzzle and scissor bite. Good angles both ends and she stands well naturally at all times on excellent feet and is so good in forechest too. Flawless coming and going and holding her topline as she goes.

Completing my top 4 was the 2 yr old Polish Lowland Sheepdog bitch. I have met this girl a couple of times before and today, she still very much appealed. Correct for size, cobby as desired and so well made. Excelling in outline with muscular neck of medium length, firm topline, good depth to chest and ribbing carried well back, broad well-muscled loin and slight slope to croup. Most attractive head with correct proportions, moderate breadth to skull, expressive eyes of good colour and scissor bite. I liked her angles front and rear and she stands dead-on in front and has an excellent forechest. On the move she has such good carriage and was so capably handled here.

Judge: Tim Ball