Oswestry & District Kennel Association

Thank you very much to the Officers and Committee for inviting me to judge your Pastoral Group. The exhibits were of varying standard, some were certainly out of the top drawer, being placed highly in the Best in Show ring. A special thank you must go to my wonderful stewards, Val, assisted by Ann, who looked after me so well, in a difficult situation with the terrible wet weather conditions and saturated ground. I felt it was not fair on the exhibitors or exhibits for me to judge the Group outside. It resulted in a long wait for a vacant indoor ring, although a little small for the Pastoral breeds to show their true movement, it was certainly better than the exhibitors, dogs and me slipping outside.

BORDER COLLIE

JUNIOR (1)

1. Gomm’s Rockerdar Willow. Standing alone in her class, but well worth her 1st place. Very much the type and style of Border Collie I like. Just a year old and needs to change from her lovely puppy coat. A well-proportioned bitch with a super smooth outline. Correct head shape and topped off with well-placed semi-erect ears. Unfortunately, her head markings detracted from her muzzle, although her head was correctly proportioned. Super, smooth movement with minimum lift of feet. A little apprehensive at times. BEST OF BREED.

POST GRADUATE (2) 

1. Garside & Davies’ Starside Tina Turner. Nearly three years old and quite a different type to above. She did not stand out so well, therefore appeared to have a shorter body. Correctly proportioned head. Broad skull and distinct stop. Well placed eyes giving a pleasing expression. Very well-muscled and fit for purpose. Tail just reaching hock.

OPEN (4)

1. Gomm’s Rockerdar Willow. SEE ABOVE

2. Garside & Davies’ Starside Break Every Rule. Litter sister to her kennel mate. She has similar attributes, but I felt she was a better specimen. I thought she was a little unsure of herself, which could be my raincoat, but unfortunately, I could not take it off in the rain. She has a very pleasing head of correct proportion, ultra feminine. She had enough substance and fit for purpose. She was a better mover than her sister, moving smoothly with little lift of feet. RESERVE BEST OF BREED.

COLLIE (ROUGH)

JUNIOR (5) 

1. Bearsdworth’s Wicani Dulcibella Gyda Maysinder. A 17-month-old beautiful blue merle bitch. My notes start with – ‘Lovely in every way’ and end with ‘Just gorgeous’. That explains it all! Very well balanced, standing with that Collie dignity. Head very well balanced, resembling a well-blunted wedge. Flat skull, with skull and muzzle on two parallel straight planes. Correct sized almond eyes and well-placed tipped ears, giving the required sweet expression. She has a nicely arched neck, firm level back, good depth to brisket, muscular loin, correct croup and tail carried correctly. She stands nice and straight in front with well bent stifles in the rear. Very nice oval, neat feet. Excellent coat colour, blue of excellent silver ground colour - splashed and marbled with black. The coat is of the correct texture. Nicely presented in good body condition with moderate bone. Wonderful, sound movement with good, tight elbows. Front and hind movement straight, with parallel hocks. Excellent side gait, with good reach and plenty of drive, but little lift of feet. BEST OF BREED.

2. Hawkins & Foy’s Beldones Rich Velvet. Another very nice bitch of similar age, but sable and white. She presents a very good outline, but I would prefer her ears one third tipped, not so heavy and used more, spoiling the Collie expression for me. Otherwise, an excellent shaped head, resembling a well-blunted wedge with skull and muzzle, on two parallel straight planes. Very nice body, well sprung ribs, slight rise over loin, with well bent stifles. Enough bone for size and good feet. Very good movement, the same as above and presented in good coat.

3. Flower’s Serenlas Catching Stars.

4. Garside’s Lara Croft of the Kimewopark. BEST PUPPY.

POST GRADUATE (4)

1. Edwards’ Beldones Summer Dreams. Quite nice 20-month-old sable and white bitch. Well balanced of good proportions. Very good head resembling a well-blunted clean wedge. Flat skull, with skull and muzzle making the correct parallel planes. Correctly placed stop. Almond shaped eyes, obliquely set, giving sweet expression. Good ears, nicely tipped. Firm back with a slight rise over the loin. Well-presented and groomed immaculately. Moved OK.

2. Williams’ Essanjay Heartbreaker. I felt she did not have such a good head as the above, having too much stop for me. Good, tipped ears. Presented in good bone and condition. Super coat texture. A nice merle colour but splashing and marbling not so well distributed as some. Lovely oval neat feet.

OPEN (5)

1. Vogan’s Drofgnal Dazzling Desire for Lenosann. A nice matured 4-year-old bitch. Good head with all the correct attributes, giving the correct Collie ‘sweet expression’. Super outline with everything in proportion. Well angulated shoulders with straight round boned forelegs. Well sprung ribs, deep chest, firm back and slight rise over the loin. Muscular thighs and well bent stifles. Hocks well let down and powerful. With this structure she was the best mover of the day. Plenty of reach and drive, with straight movement up and down. Not abundance of coat, but enough. RESERVE BEST OF BREED.

2. Skinner’s Ladnar Makeithappen for Nikal. I have judged this 3-year-old Merle dog before. He has a good textured coat of excellent clear colour with contrasting markings and presented a good balanced outline when standing. He has a masculine well-proportioned head with flat skull, perceptible stop and well-rounded blunt muzzle. Almond shaped dark eyes and good ears. Full dentition with correct scissor bite. Good reach of neck, well laid shoulders, straight forelegs, excellent depth of chest and well sprung ribs. Correct topline and rise over the loin. Good bend of stifle, well let down parallel hocks and nice length of tail. He has good flowing movement and neat feet.

3. Garside’s Demelewis Gang Leader.

4. Jones’ Brooklynson Black Diamond with Dancol.

FINNISH LAPPHUND

OPEN (3)

1. Samuel’s Ch. Oberitz Buoremus. A very vocal 6-year-old strongly built mature dog. Good masculine balanced outline on the stand. Lovely head proportions with defined stop and length of muzzle shorter than skull. Medium length of neck. Correct lay of shoulders and well boned straight forelegs. Firm top line and muscular loin. Slight tuck up. Strong boned hindquarters. Well arched, oval feet. Moved well, when concentrating. Presented in profuse coat and condition, with correct markings. BEST OF BREED.

2. Lloyd’s Arianrhod Havukruunu (AI). 2-year-old black and tan dog of nice breed type and not so vocal. Good head with correct proportions. Medium long, strong neck. Excellent coat, plenty of bone. Moved very well, effortlessly, brisk, agile and straight. Well arched oval feet. High set tail, covered with profuse long hair. Tip of tail has a ‘J’ formed hook. RESERVE BEST OF BREED.

SHETLAND SHEEPDOG

JUNIOR (1)

1. Ferguson’s Fervaila Black Cuillin. A really super 11-month-old tricolored dog. Who must have great potential. He presents a wonderful well-balanced outline, showing off his good proportions, full of grace. Perfect refined, elegant head, all in proportion. Flat skull, with skull and muzzle of equal length divided by slight but definite stop. Eyes may be a little rounder than required. Ears carried semi-erect. Very well laid shoulders flowing down to straight strong boned forelegs. Correct length of body, deep chest and well sprung ribs. Level back with graceful sweep over loin. Muscular thighs with well bent stifles and straight hocks. Nice oval feet with well arched toes. Low set tail carried nicely. This super body, enabled smooth, graceful movement with drive from the rear. His effortless movement makes him very fit for purpose and little lift of feet. Super adult coat. BEST PUPPY AND BEST OF BREED.

POST GRADUATE (2)

Two completely different types of dogs.

1. Ferguson’s Fervaila Blue Dahlia. Litter brother to above, with some of the same virtues, but rather on the larger side. If he does not grow anymore but matures filling out he should be OK. Good blue merle colour coat. Attractive head, but almost had too much stop for me, spoiling the expression. Correct ear carriage and good wedge-shaped head. Nicely balanced throughout with straight front, good neck and correct topline. Moved so well, freely with light, graceful action and little lift of feet. Coat well presented. 

2. Gamble’s Balidorn Olympic Star with Solyric JW. Although older, he was a smaller version with finer, lighter bone. Lovely typical outline and balanced throughout. A little apprehensive. A very nice refined and elegant head. Flat skull, good ear-set and eyes a little rounder. Nicely arched neck, a little loose in front, good body and topline, a little untidy in front movement, which was a shame and could have more confidence to complete the overall picture. Fabulous coat.

OPEN (2)

1. Ferguson’s Fervaila Black Cuillin. SEE ABOVE.

2. Ferguson’s Dinmore Wild Blue Yonder of Fervaila. A very nice blue merle dog with eyes to match. Strong, masculine head, flat skull, ideal almond shaped eyes, ears well set and carried, giving a nice expression. Well laid shoulders and straight muscular forelegs. Level back with graceful sweep over loin. Muscular thighs and good turn of stifle. Presented in excellent coat and condition, holding a firm topline in the stand and on the move. Neat oval feet with arched toes. RESERVE BEST OF BREED.

WELSH CORGI (PEMBROKE)

JUNIOR (4)

14-month-old brother and sister. Both very nice, having very similar attributes. Low set, strong and sturdily built. Well balanced foxy heads with skulls fairly wide and flat between the ears. Well set, round brown eyes and pricked, slightly rounded ears. Forearms molded around chest. Well sprung ribs and level topline. Well angulated stifles. Oval feet. Tails set in line with the topline. Super coats. Moved well with thrust and drive, with very lift of feet. The dog coped with the weather better.

1. Barrow’s Jailhouse Rock of Stormship. RESERVE BEST OF BREED.

2. Morris’ Do You Know Who I Am.

BEST PASTORAL: Walsh & Davis’ Australian Shepherd, Rosschell Maid to Dream. RESERVE BEST IN SHOW.

RESERVE BEST PASTORAL: Thomas & Lusty’s Collie (Smooth), Blamorder Side Hustle with Mournebrake JW

GROUP THREE: Irving’s Welsh Corgi (Pembroke), Born to be Your Unicum with Twinan (IMP HUN).

GROUP FOUR: Bearsdworth’s Collie (Rough), Wicani Dulcibella Gyda Maysinder

BEST PASTORAL PUPPY: Irving’s Welsh Corgi (Pembroke), Born to be your Unicum with Twinan (IMP HUN). BEST PUPPY IN SHOW.

RESERVE BEST PASTORAL PUPPY: Ferguson’s Shetland Sheepdog, Fervaila Black Cuillin.

PUPPY GROUP THREE; Ayrton’s Bearded Collie, Briarsfield Little Swan at Aoibh.

PUPPY GROUP FOUR: Platt’s German Shepherd Dog, Charbonnel Ruma.

Felicity A. Snook

JUDGE