Collie Association

THE COLLIE ASSOCIATION OPEN SHOW (2) - 5TH JULY 2026

BEST IN SHOW

A wonderful atmosphere for this lovely open show ran by the very capable and friendly committee of The Collie Association who always offer excellent hospitality to their exhibitors, with fabulous food from the lovely Tracey and Joanna as always.

The weather was very warm and the grass beneath the dogs feet was dry and in places quite prickly which did show with some dogs movement on the day. My thanks also to very capable ring stewards.  

BEST IN SHOW was awarded to the Best of Breed Smooth Collie, the Clear Silver Blue Merle CH. BLAMORDER DOUBLE OR QUITS OF OAKESTELLE JW owned and handled by Miss M K Benton. This bitch of just over 2 years has a lovely moulded foreface with lovely eye shape, correct proportions and good level head planes, well placed ears of correct size and tipped correctly, good length of neck into strong shoulders with correct fore and aft angulation and decent length to body and tail, she has a decent chest and is well muscled, I can only see her improving in body as she matures, today was free flowing on the move with good forward reach and rear drive. Could not be denied the Best in Show award over the lovely Best of Breed 3 year old Sable Rough Collie Dog, Mrs J Williams CH. MEJOLA TOP GUN JW who is so correct with masculine head but not overdone, great overall construction, lost out on the move today for the top award but could not be denied RESERVE BEST IN SHOW.  

BEST PUPPY IN SHOW awarded to the Blue Merle dog puppy BLAMORDER MASTERPIECE who has the makings of living up to his name, he is a handsome young dog with excellent conformation and has lovely substance to him throughout, although some could say from a distance his blue colouring looks slightly muddy in areas, get up close and see that he is clear blue and you can see the tell tale signs of the silver tips shining through that a good correct blue merle should have. Such a promising and exciting young dog and well deserved Best Puppy in Show over the pretty 11 month old sable rough collie bitch, Ms C E Cooper’s KELEKONA PEARLS OF HOPE of whom is very attractive and promising with good head planes and kind eye, good overall shape but did not have the reach and drive of the Smooth Collie on the move and appeared to favour her left shoulder on the very dry and prickly ground when moving.  

BEST VETERAN IN SHOW awarded to Miss M K Benton’s 9 year old Smooth Collie Bitch CH. OAKESTELLE ARTEMIS ShCEx VW who is another that is a decent colour blue merle, slightly spoilt by the white patches in the body of the coat, however this does not detract from her overall balance, she is in proportion to her frame and she has good length of neck leading into good shoulders, correct length of back, good bend of stifle, good length to tail and she is well muscled, she easily floated around the ring on the move and whom overall I felt was closer against the individual breed standards over the Best of Breed Veteran rough collie bitch of 11 years, Mrs H Lyall’s SANTALOLY’S SKY AMIDALAS VW ShCEx, who does not show her age and was well presented.

Judge – Mrs Cathy Howard

SHANDLMAIN COLLIES