Southern Border Collie Club

SOUTHERN BORDER COLLIE CLUB OPEN SHOW

12 APRIL 2026

Many thanks to the secretary Karen Angier and the whole committee for the invite to judge this very well organised breed club show. This is the first time I have been to Lockmeadow for a breed specific club show having been there many there many times previously for general open shows. I thought it an excellent venue and was so well organised for the 2 shows running in sync running with each other. It was a friendly day and I was very pleased with the overall quality of the exhibits.

PD 4(0)

1. Carley’s Jupavia Legacy of Dreams. Pleasing start to the day, this young male pleased me for his overall proportions. He has a very pleasing head and expression. Good breadth to the skull and overall his skull and foreface proportions are correct. Correct stop. Good dark eye which is nicely oval shaped and of decent size. Well set. Well used ears. He has a correct length of neck into well placed shoulders. Good bone without being overdone. And good well arched toes. He has an athletic appearance and has good spring of rib at this age. He is well ribbed back. Good front assembly. Nice hind angulation which is not overdone. Moved well carrying his head and tail correctly as the breed should do. His movement was effortless and he was in good hard condition. BD, BPD & BPIS.

2. Goodliffe’s Elystari Moonlit Dreams. Another nicely made male. Slightly longer cast than the 1st placed dog. Another with a good head and expression and well used ears. Good length of neck into well placed shoulders and nice front assembly. Decent bone and feet. Correct depth and breadth of chest. Muscular in the loin. Good turn of stifle and let down hock. A nice overall specimen although I just preferred the tail carriage of the 1st placed dog and not quite the front extension of the winner. Both should do very well.

3. Young’s Langamay Ace of Diamonds.

JD 4(0)

1. Molnar’s Leclway On The Right Track. Quality black and white male, very pleasing headpiece with good breadth of skull and overall correct proportions. Correct stop. Nice and clean in the back skull. Good eye of moderate size. Well placed ears which are of good size and well carried. Good length of neck into well placed shoulders and elbows nice and close to the body. Good breadth of chest. For me, he just falls off a little at the croup. Well angulated rear. Moves well in profile.

2. Wilcox’s Blackgold Age of Aquarius. Another black and white. Nice overall size and nice overall proportions. Head of correct proportions but preferred the overall expression on the 1st placed dog. Nice neck and shoulder. Good front assembly. Well ribbed. Chest of adequate depth and breadth. Strong through the loin. Good bone which is not overdone and nice tight foot. In good coat and condition. Moved with typical carriage although could be a little tidier going away.

3. Goodliffe’s Elystari Moonlit Dreams.

YD 2(0)

1. Oliver’s Smart As A Whip Danger Zone at Tambuzi JW (imp ESP). Pleased me for his overall size and proportions. Very typical headpiece which is of sufficient breadth and overall correct muzzle to back skull proportion. Ideal stop. Good dark nose. Nice eye and ear. Has enough length of neck. For me, he could be slightly longer in the upper arm for my preference and he could have a little more front extension on the move. His body is athletic in type and his ribs are well sprung and his chest of adequate depth. Good breadth of his hindquarters which are well muscled. Well turned in the stifle and well let down through the hock. Carries his head and tail correctly. Good reach and drive.

2. Wilcox’s Blackgold Age of Aquarius. Second in junior.

ND 2(0)

1. Hughes’ Piece of Happiness Olaf von Langamay. A merle male, heavier in type than my preference both in terms of substance and bone. However, pleasing head and expression. If I am being critical, would prefer a little more stop. Nice dark eye and good dark eye rim. Adequate length of neck into good shoulders. Good top-line. Good front. Well carried tail. Moved ok.

2. Shaw/Morris’ Noblewolves Bramleyapple Pleased for size and overall style. Decent quality head of good breadth and good overall proportion. Good eye. Well used ear. Good length of neck. Nice front and rear angulation. Just falls off a little at the rear for me and carries his tail a little too proudly for a Border Collie.

PGD 1(0)

1. Casbolt’s Sheltysham Symphony O’Psalm. Black and white of good size. Pleased in the head with good overall head proportions and a quality headpiece with good expression. Nice ears of good size correctly used. Nice front assembly and good bone and nice tight foot. For me, he could have a little more length of leg to complete his overall balance. Well ribbed. Strong muscular loin. Nicely angulated rear. Moved with good front extension. Could be a fraction tidier behind. In super coat and condition.

LD 2(0)

1. Woodrow/Oliver’s Tambuzi Ride The Storm. Black and white dog. Very balanced dog who presents a typical silhouette. On closer inspection he has a good headpiece which is clean in back skull, is of good breadth in skull, correct length of muzzle which is correctly tapered. He has enough stop and has a pleasing eye and ear. Good neck of adequate length and muscular with correct slight arch. His shoulders are well laid back. He has enough bone and good feet. Well ribbed. Correct overall body proportions. Well angulated rear. Nice on profile but could be a little tidier in the rear.

2. Badman’s Tecklebridge Code Breaker. Red merle of good overall size and overall proportions. Good head and expression. For me, he does stand a fraction wide in front. However, is of good bone and nice foot. Well proportioned through the body. Good croup and tail set. Not the reach of drive of the winner.

SpOD (confined to Members) 1(0)

1. Wilcox’s Blackgold Age of Aquarius. Second

OD 4(0)

I must admit to finding this class a challenging class. Four very good dogs, some which are carrying their titles, yet all varying in very different type and style. Here I was looking for a balanced dog with length of leg for body type, correct gait with excellent reach and drive. All had merits and demerits.

1. Mead/Geering’s Quintopia Master of Puppets (AI). This dog pleased me for his overall size and most importantly his reach and drive and soundness on the move. He could, if I am being picky, be a fraction tidier going away but his reach and drive, overall carriage and breed type carried him to win this class. He has a very pleasing head of correct proportions, well used ears. Nice and clean and back skull. Good front assembly. Good depth and breadth of chest. Could be a little tidier in his front pastern and does stand a frection ten to two. He is however well ribbed with correct topline and crooup. Good overall proportions. In hard condition.

2. Lewis’ Shemella Moon River. Very smart dog of good size who importantly is good on the move. Pleasing head and expression. Lovely front assembly and nicely angulated rear. For me, I just preferred the balance and reach and drive of the winner. In excellent condition and of good hard muscle.

3. Green/Ratcliffe’s Sh Ch. Arrodare Family Tradition JW.

VD 2(0)

1. Oliver’s Sh Ch. Tambuzi Stryka Blow JW. I thought this veteran dog was a super overall specimen. He has an excellent head which has good breadth through the skull, correct distinct stop and good eye and ears which he uses correctly. Good skull to foreface proportions and skull is of good strength and good underjaw and well tapered. He is clean through the neck and through his shoulder. Nice front assembly. For a veteran dog he is in excellent condition and well ribbed and still has a strong, muscular, hard loin. He has a good breadth of hindquarters and good length of thigh which are still well muscled, good turn of stifle. Good bone which is not overdone and nicely arched feet. He pushed hard for Best Dog today and was just beaten by what I think is a very nice quality puppy. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to go over this veteran dog today, RBD, BVD & RBVIS.

2. Barton’s Brytess Achilles. Heavier type. Pleasing head proportions. Nice front assembly. Carries himself correctly with correct Border Collie head and tail carriage on the move. Moves with good reach in front although not quite as precise behind as 1.

MPB 4(0)

1. Allison’s Wenmap Special Arrival. Pleased me for her lovely type. Really pleasing headpiece with good overall proportions. Correct distinct stop. Clean through the back skull and well used ears. She has the most beautiful bone and feet. Lovely front assembly and well ribbed and mature for her age. Not helped by her handler today, she could be a little more settled on the move, however I thought her a quality prospect and I will follow her with interest.

2. Lea’s Jerseywood Keep On Loving. Very raw but many merits here. Pleased in her head and expression and overall balance. She is slightly bum high at this stage. However, I forgave this in the Minor Puppy class. She is well proportioned both fore and rear and moved well with typical gait. 3. Lea’s Jerseywood Love in The Dark.

PB 8(0)

1. Milham’s Elystari Million Dreams. This bitch presents a lovely overall balanced silhouette. She looks a little fine from the ringside but when you put your hands on her, she is actually well proportioned. She has a very pleasing headpiece which has good overall proportions and quality. She is very feminine in type. Good eye and well placed and well used ear. Lovely bone and super feet. She could have a fraction more upper arm for my preference. Well ribbed with strong loin. Correct overall croup and tail set. Moved very well with typical carriage. Another that should do well with time and maturity, BPB & RBPIS.

2. Allison’s Wenmap Special Arrival. Winner of MPB

3. Baxter’s Wild Storm Tamita at Roseley (imp ESP).

JB 5(0)

1. Milham’s Elystari Million Dreams. Winner of PB

2. Lewis’ Shemella Sky Full of Stars. Very nice young bitch who was not sure of herself today but when settled managed to put on a very sound and typical performance. With a little gentle handling she came out of herself and showed herself for the balanced quality bitch that she is. Pleasing head and expression. Well used ears that were of good moderate size and well placed. Good dark eye. Nicely made through the front. Well ribbed. Good hindquarters. Very typical on the move which won her her place.

3. Neil’s Dollindaw Dolly Daydream.

YB 5(0)

1. Lewis’ Shemella Sky Full of Stars. Second in JB. Continued to improve in her overall performance and confidence to win this class.

2. Hawker’s Taytinja Defying Gravity. Another very nice bitch who impressed me for her balance and her size. She has a good headpiece which shows good breadth of skull, good clean back skull with no cheekiness, well tapered muzzle which has a strong underjaw. Overall proportions are good. Good oval shaped eyes are of good size and set well apart. She uses her ears well. She has a nice length of neck and overall shoulder placement is good with well laid shoulder. Athletic body with good rib, well ribbed back. Nice angulation to the rear. Good turn of stifle. Strong in hock. Nice bone. A super mover and in good hard condition.

3. Pudney’s Bazentills A Star Is Born for Zanyway (imp IRE).

NB 4(0)

1. Lea’s Jerseywood Keep On Loving. Second in MPB.

2. Turns’ Fyglia Cherish Mustardseed. Merle bitch of good size and shape. Pleasing headpiece. Nice expression. Good breadth and depth of chest with good bone and feet. Overall body proportions are ok. Not really using herself on the move could have more drive from the rear and more extension in the front.

3. Lea’s Jerseywood Love in The Dark.

PGB 8(0)

1. Milham’s Elystari This Must Be Love JW. Super bitch who I liked very much. Impressed me for her overall size, her shape, her balance. Her carriage and performance was faultless. Pleasing head, good expression, nicely made front assembly, good bone and feet, well ribbed, strong muscular loin. Good hindquarters. Tail set correct and tail carriage on the move ideal.

2. Wettern-Bloomfield’s Alpana Summer Storm JW. Similar in type to 1 though not quite the body or substance today. This is a very nice bitch who many of the merits attributed to the 1st placed bitch also apply here. Not so positive in front movement as 1 today. Good drive from the rear.

3. Lewis’ Shemella Sky Full of Stars.

LB 5(1)

1. McConnachie’s Your Still The One at Thistleskye. I really liked this tri coloured bitch who is in no way flashy or over the top. She really has to be gone over to be appreciated and in order to identify her many virtues. Nicely sized bitch. Very little to dislike here, lovely head, good expression, good strong muzzle and ideal head proportions, nice underjaw. Very clean front, nicely angulated rear, good body proportions, really is a lovely mover. This bitch was very unlucky not to annex higher awards later in the day and I wish her well.

2. Lee’s Jaybob Child’s Play JW. Heavier type of bitch and enough of her for me. Very sound mover with super reach and drive Correct carriage on the move. Good headpiece. Nicely made front. Well angulated and well muscled rear. Good turn of stifle and hocks well let down. Good bone and nice feet. which as aforementioned was very sound.

3. Barton’s Taranza Enchanted Eclipse.

OB 4(0)

1. Lewis’ Shemella Moonlight Skye. This is a very smart bitch of good size and quality. She is a lovely shape and she is so well balanced. Won here on her balance, body and condition. Pleasing head, good expression, lovely eye and well placed and used ears. Lovely front assembly, decent bone and feet, well made rear, strong top-line, RBB & RBIS.

2. Lee/Ratcliffe’s Sh Ch. Arrodare Rebel with A Cause JW. Another nice one, little longer cast than the 1st placed bitch and not quite the rib of the winner. Nevertheless another quality Border Collie bitch who excels in her movement with good reach and drive. In good hard muscular condition and her overall head and tail carriage is ideal for her breed. I liked her today.

3. Bartlett’s Cwnhapus Celestial Beauty JW.

SpOB (confined to Members) 5(1)

1. Hawker’s Taytinja Shooting Star. Stylish 20 month old bitch. Pleasing for type. Lovely balance. Has a nice overall silhouette and on closer inspection there is very little to dislike here. Very nice head and expression. Pleased me through the neck and shoulder. Good rib. Strong in the loin. Good reach and drive with correct head carriage.

2. Barton’s Taranza Enchanted Eclipse. Another one of good bone and size. She is nicely shaped and sound both fore, aft and on side gait. Moves with good reach and drive. Another in good hard condition and well muscled. Not overdone in bone and nice tight feet. I just preferred the overall head and expression on the winner here.

3. Turns’ Fyglia Mei Titania.

VB 5(0)

The veteran bitch class really did have some lovely bitches for me to go over.

1. Hoskins’ Sh Ch. Birkcross Gracie at Lefevre VW. For me, she was the star of the day. As soon as she came in I thought her a quality bitch of super breed type. I will start with her demerit; for me, she carries too much coat and this does detract from her overall body shape which is ideal. Her overall body proportions and her head proportions are super. She has a beautiful expression. Good breadth to the skull, correct stop, good tapered foreface with good strength throughout and good underjaw. Pleasing eye and good nice tight eye rim. Lovely neck and shoulder. Well angulated rear. Correct top-line and croup. Moved very well with reach and drive and continues to put on a faultless performance. I was pleased to award her BIS from the veteran class, I thought her quite lovely, BB, BVB, BVIS & BIS.

2. Mead’s Somniatis Harlee Quinn. This bitch is also full of quality so good to go over. Pleasing head and expression, good eye, good ears of moderate size and well used. Lovely through the neck and good front assembly. Correct underline. Strong through the loin. Correct tail set. Moved well for a veteran with excellent reach and good drive from the rear.

3. Lee/Ratcliffe’s Sh Ch. Arrodare Royal Flush JW.

IAN H GABRIEL