West Of England Collie Society

Show – West of England Collie Society

Date – 5 April 2026

Judge – Lynda Nicholas (Nickarlyn)

Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge at their show. Thanks to all exhibitors for allowing me the pleasure to go over your dogs. Today, I was not concerned about ears and coats blowing in the wind as was keen to stay outside in the bigger ring. A variety of types present. To my stewards “Thank You”, you battled some challenging weather conditions owing to Storm Dave.

Both tris at the vintage end of the spectrum, a testament to the care and attention of their owners and longevity of the breed. Pleased to see them still enjoying their showing; greying hairs, faded tan and less than perfect dentition worn as a badge of honour.

Veteran D (1,0)

1 Scamp - Aaronwell Ayebeecee at Marketdene

11 yrs young. Good head planes with correctly placed stop and kindly almond/oblique eye. Decent bone and substance throughout. Not quite the profile of the female. Showing his age on the move which was deciding factor.

Veteran B (2,1)

1 Skinner – Samhaven Time is Money with Nikal VW - BVIB

12 yrs young. Good height to length ratio. Head of good length, flat skull, correctly placed slight stop. OK bone and I forgave her pasterns. Well set tail of good length. In the BV challenge she moved with enthusiasm giving it her all, at one with her handler.

Minor Puppy D (1,0)

1 Lockyer - Artiste Nocturne Du Domaine Des Emeraudes at Gataj (Imp FRA)

8 mth tri in excellent puppy coat with a flashy white collar that enhanced a nicely arched neck. Dark almond eye and correct stop give a masculine expression, head needs time to develop further. Used his well-tipped ears to advantage. Spot on height/length ratio and ribs reached well back. Bone and substance correct for age, just needs to tighten up in movement all round.

Puppy D (2,0) BPD/RBD/BPIB/BPIS

Two rather special lads

1 Lockyer – Gataj Just Like Jesse James

Well put together mature golden sable just approaching his birthday. Sweet masculine expression with correct shape/set dark eye. Used ears to advantage. Nicely made forequarters, good ribbing and should drop a little more into himself as he matures on. Excellent bone and substance throughout. Well angled stifle, short below the hock with good pasterns and neat feet. Abundance of correctly textured coat that enhanced make and shape. Moved positively with reach and drive holding topline. Beautifully schooled and presented as were all exhibits from this kennel.

2 Thorne - Chelborn Look at Me

Another lovely lad with excellent proportions and balance. Wedge shaped head with correct length of foreface / nicely rounded muzzle. Blue is well splashed and marbled has big white collar and attractive tan marking. Well sprung ribs and depth to chest. Rounded croup, good tail set and great length. Pushed hard for 1st - just preferred the expression and positive rear drive of winner today.

Junior D (2,0) – the class that took the worse of the weather today

1 Lockyer – Gataj I Got You Babe

Litter brother to puppy class winner and many of the same comments apply. On occasions could stand under himself making him appear a little square in outline. Preferred the front angulations on this lad to 2.

2 Flower – Serenlas Catching Stars

Tri – good for size presenting a rangier silhouette but balanced. Parallel head planes a blunt wedge from all angles. Good under-jaw. Ears could be a little lighter/tighter. Correct body proportions and enough bone. Nicely fitted jacket of correct texture and classic collie markings beautifully presented. Well set long tail. On occasions could stand a little close in front/wide behind but remedied in motion.

Spec Yearling D (1,1)

1 Ross - Samshernik Majestic Boy BD

Sable 22 months. Head is well proportioned, balanced with clean lines and well placed stop giving masculine expression. Good set/size of dark almond eye. May like a little more underjaw. Well off for bone and good feet. Nicely sprung ribs reaching well back. Topline held on move Matching angulations front and back - everything fitting together nicely and moved as angulations suggested covering the ground with efficient ease displaying reach and drive. Coat of good texture.

Post Graduate D (0)

Limit D (2,2)

1 Skinner – Ladnar Makeithappen for Nikal

Last judged him as a very exuberant puppy and has taken time to mature. Well sized clear silvery blue boy splashed and marbled. Clean, smooth head, correctly placed slight stop, good set/size of dark eye. Ears could be a little tighter. Good height to length body with slight rise over loin, prefer a longer tail with lower carriage without the tendency to favour one flank. Covered the ground ok, rear movement could improve further with extra muscle tone and conditioning.

2 Hawkins - Serenlas Black Majic

4 yr old tri with super black jacket, rich tan and Persil white. Ok head of good length with parallel planes, good length to muzzle, enough underjaw but would prefer a sweeter darker almond shaped eye. Decent lay-back of shoulder but prefer little more length and return to upper-arm. Well off for bone, good pasterns and feet. Moved OK but could drive more from hocks. Fabulous presentation his coat gleamed.

3 Harris - Geosamka Loves to Love at Ithilien

Open D (1,1)

Minor Puppy B (2,0)

Both coped well with conditions as just 6 months (and shared birth dates!) - at different growing stages but showing lots of promise.

1 Flower – Serenlas She’s On Trend

Sable. Good length to head which has more development to come – stop well positioned with enough fill of muzzle and underjaw. Dark oblique eye. Decent bone for size and good feet. Balanced proportions and body shape with moderate turn of stifle. Moved well for a youngster, exuberant and hopefully as she settles into show mode keeps her tail lower. Different type to 2

2 Lockyer – Gataj Honeysuckle

Aptly named sable baby as her expression really is sweet as honey. Playing catch-up in maturity to winner, time will be her friend. Good balance with correct height/length ratio, spring rib and bone to suit her age and build. Nice tail set and carriage. Positive on the move.

Puppy B (2,1)

1 Shipp = Tremaro Fantasy BPB

I judged her a few months ago and my comments are pretty much the same. Absolutely melting expression. Dark almond oblique eye, correctly placed stop, good underjaw and neatly tipped ears. Good spring of rib and matching angulations. Excellent bone, pasterns and feet. Beautifully presented with a wealth of correct puppy coat. Prefer a little more of her all over and could tighten-up further in rear movement, lost her topline a little on the go around in the challenge- these were the deciding factors for BPIB.

Junior B (3,1)

Lovely ladies and on another day could swap places

1 Ware – Millubie Parachute into Wassail (Imp SRB)

Feminine sable with just the right amount of substance and bone. Clean wedge head, correct stop, fill of muzzle and decent underjaw all combine to give a lovely feminine expression. Correct height to length ratio, well sprung ribs, slight rise over loin with well bent stifle. Moved steadily with efficient gait and accurate footfall holding topline and good tail carriage.

2 Lockyer – Gataj Struck by Love

Sable of good make and shape throughout. Dark almond shaped oblique eye, dark pigment, balanced head proportions with correct stop giving the most feminine of expressions. Correct body proportions, spring to rib and strong loin. Not quite as positive behind as winner.

Spec Yearling B (3,1)

1 Ware – Millubie Enchanted at Wassail

Beautifully coloured blue carrying oodles of coat that at certain times in the wind almost hid her make and shape. Moulded foreface. Ears were a little low and heavy. Good reach to neck flowing into well angulated front. Spring to rib, strong loin with slight rise and nicely rounded croup. Good turn of stifle and short below hock. Covered the ground with ease with pleasing side gait.

2 Ross – Samshernik Penny Lover

Really liked the profile and balance of this girl, sadly was unsettled and not keen for me to go over her. Feminine head, with good shape/set dark eye giving a lovely expression. Moved Ok with smooth action. I hope she is more settled at her next outing.

Post Graduate B (6,2)

1 Shipp – Tremaro Million Dollar Baby BB/BOB/BIS

One I have judged and thought highly of previously. Clean head properties, parallel planes, correct stop and fill to foreface giving the sweetest of expressions. Firm topline with rise over loin. Rounded croup, well set tail and short below the hock. Balanced angulations ensured that she moved with smooth ground covering action. Beautifully presented in a jacket that enhanced make and shape. Overall quality and correct proportions took her all the way to BIS.

2 Hawkins & Flower - Serenlas Edge of Heaven

Blue with silvery blue ground colour just a touch heavily marked over rear quarters and of the correct texture. Length to head, slight stop and enough fill of foreface. Expression could be a touch sweeter. Nicely proportioned with good bone, pasterns and feet. Well off for body condition/muscle tone. Moved well but not the topline and drive of winner.

3 Hewett – Serenlas Borrowed Heaven

Limit B (3,0)

1 Ware – Wassail Call The Midwife RBB/RBOB

Profuse sable coat that in the wind made her silhouette look slightly unbalanced, but hands-on I was impressed by her correct construction. Parallel head planes, dark almond/oblique eyes. Nice balanced proportions to head and body. Good reach of neck carried head proudly. Spot-on for length: height ratio. Well ribbed with a strong wide loin. Nice turn to stifle and short below the hock ensured she moved with drive. Well set long tail carried correctly

2 Mason - Elshajo Loves Gift from Shulune

Feminine shapely sable built on finer lines. Head of good length with dark almond eye and good pigment. Neat ears used to advantage. Moderate length to neck but rather upright in shoulder. Not the spring of rib and longer in loin than winner. Prefer to see her carrying more body condition. Light effortless ground coverage. At one with her handler.

3 Mills - Samhaven Super Natural at Willowcombe

Open B (5,3)

1 Ross – Most Majestic Timeless Touch of Samshernik (imp HUN)

Beautifully presented Sable. Wedge shaped head with correct stop, good length and fill of foreface with enough underjaw/tight lip line. Dark obliquely set almond eye and nicely tipped ears. Length to neck and correct height/length ratio. Correct bone for size with good pasterns and feet. Matched front and rear angulations. There is lots to admire, however in the challenge she did not make the best of herself.

2 Scamp - Aaronwell Allure in Black

Tri with a feminine expression that could be enhanced with a darker eye. Decent wedge head with good stop using ears to advantage. Matched front/rear angulations and spring to rib, depth to chest. Enough bone, but a little down on front pasterns. Moved OK, not as positive behind as 1