Thame & Oxfordshire County Canine Society

Thame & Oxfordshire County Canine Society

Premier Open Show – 15th July 2026

Collie (Rough)

PD/B (2,0)

1. Cooper’s Kelekona Hearts of Fire. 9 mth old littermates competed here with this tricolour dog taking the win. Needing to gain confidence but an easy winner for me here. He pleased in outline with a nicely arched neck, firm backline, good depth to chest, ribbing developing well, correct croup and tail set and carried just right. Attractive head of good proportions and planes, flat skull, clean cheeks, slight stop, expressive eyes of good colour and placement, good ears and scissor bite. Good angulation both ends and standing on correct feet. On the move, he goes well when viewed in profile, pleased coming towards but is somewhat closer going away. BOB and Best Puppy. 

2. Cooper’s Kelekona Pearls of Hope. Sable bitch who also presented a well balanced outline with good neck, firm backline, good depth to brisket, correct croup and tail carried low and of good length. Feminine headpiece with good skull to muzzle proportions, parallel planes, slight stop, almond-shaped eyes of good colour and correct placement in the skull, smooth through the cheeks and good dentition. Pleasing angles front and rear and she stands well naturally on good feet. On the move, she couldn’t match the length of stride of her brother but pleased when coming towards.

LD/B (1,0)

1. Farthing’s Didek Once in A Blue Moon. 3 yr old blue merle dog who was well handled here. Well arched neck of correct length to balance, firm through the backline, ribbing well sprung, brisket reaches the elbows, correct croup and tail pleased for length, set and carriage. Masculine head with good skull to muzzle proportions and parallel planes, touch more stop than preferred, almond-shaped eyes of correct placement, ears are ok and bite is correct. He stands true in front and has pleasing bone. On the move he goes pretty well on the go around but could be firmer in the rear. Good texture to coat. Reserve BOB. 

OD/B (3,1)

1. Cooper’s Corydon Agatha Cristal with Kelekona. Two very different bitches challenged in this class with this 4 yr old tricolour coming out on top. Not in full coat, she is feminine throughout and was pleasing hands on. Neck of sufficient length, firm back, well ribbed back, good depth to chest and tail carried low and of good length. Nicely proportioned head with flat skull, eyes of good colour, ears set on a tad wider than preferred and clean through the cheeks. Pleasing angulation front and rear and she stands nice and straight in front. Gaiting with a very good length of stride, closer going away and more than ok coming towards.

2. Farthing’s Aldreen Illusion in Blue for Didek. 7 yr old blue merle with plenty of coat. Excellent neck, ribbing carried well back, good depth to brisket, correct croup and tail carried low as desired. Feminine head with good skull to muzzle proportions, stop rather more defined than the ideal, almond-shaped eyes of pleasing set, good ears and clean cheeks. On the move, she could have made more of herself and could not compete with overall action and carriage of the winner. Good texture to coat.

Whippet

PD/B (3,2)

1. Welham’s Khabaray Lucinda Woodz. 6 mth old black brindle/white trim bitch. Promising youngster at her first show and I believe a first show for her owner too. Long, muscular neck, correct topline with arch over the loin, brisket still to fully drop as you would expect, good croup and tail pleased for both set and carriage. Feminine head with good skull to muzzle proportions, oval-shaped eyes, very good ears, slight stop and correct dentition. Pleasing angles both ends and she stands true in front on excellent feet. Going well enough when viewed in profile but with more ring experience for both pup and handler, I’m sure she could go even better. Best Puppy. 

JD/B (5,1)

1. Ryan’s Riocife Moonology. 15 mth old brindle/white trim dog who has plenty to like. Muscular neck of good length, good depth to brisket, topline not quite perfect, correct arch over the loin, definite tuck-up, good croup and tail set on low and of correct carriage. Balanced headpiece with flat skull, expressive oval-shaped eyes, good ears, pleasing underjaw and scissor bite. I liked his angles front and rear and he stands on correct oval-shaped feet. Opens up well on the go around and he’s more than ok coming and going. Very well handled.   

2. Smith’s Collooney Devils Advocate. 13 mth old brindle/white trim. This lad is another with lots to like, although out of a larger mould and with a touch more length. Arched neck of good length, firm backline, good depth to brisket, correct arch over the loin and tail just right for length, set and carriage. Shoulders well laid and stands nice and straight in front, has very good feet but a touch more definition to muscling over the shoulder. Very good head and expression with correct skull to muzzle proportions, oval-shaped eyes, rose-shaped ears, slight stop and scissor bite. On the move, he has a nice easy length of stride and was well handled here.  

3. Llewellyn-Lyon’s Pennycress Hawaiian Dream

SYD/B (3,2)

1. Ryan’s Riocife Moonology

PGD/B (7,1)

1. Ryan’s Riocife to The Moon and Back. Quite a varied class which saw this 15 mth old brindle/white trim bitch come out on top. Quality girl who was a delight hands on and she presented such a lovely outline and was elegant all through. Long, muscular neck, excellent topline, brisket reaches the elbows, ribbing well sprung, arch over the loin, lovely curves to the underline, correct croup and tail just right for set and carriage. Delightful head and expression; good skull to muzzle proportions, the best of eyes, rose-shaped ears, slight stop, good underjaw and scissor bite. Well laid shoulders, good return of upper arm, pleasing fill in front, excellent feet and firm, muscular hindquarters. Super on the go around, moving with ease and holding her topline as she goes. BOB and later went on to take Group 4.

2. Thomas’ Bowdonia Elphaba. Brindle/white trim bitch of 12 mths. Another who has much to like. Muscular neck of good length, firm backline with arch over the loin, brisket of good depth, well-muscled loin but with a smidge more length, correct croup and tail of correct set and carried as desired. Balanced headpiece with good skull, oval-shaped eyes, fine rose-shaped ears, good underjaw and correct dentition but overall preferred expression of winner. Pleasing angles front and rear and she stands true in front on correct feet. Moving freely fore and aft and has a pleasing stride when viewed in profile. Well handled. 

3. Middleton & Gilhooly’s Stormida The Brave

LD/B (4,3)

1. Middleton & Gilhooly’s Stormida Neon Tiger. 3 yr old blue brindle/white trim dog. Standing alone here, this boy has a touch more length of leg. Muscular neck of good length, firm backline with arch over the loin, brisket reaches the elbows, correct croup and tail of good length, set and carriage. Masculine headpiece with flat skull, expressive eyes, correct ears, muzzle proportionate in length to that of skull and good underjaw. Shoulders could have touch more layback but he stands well naturally in front and has good feet. On the move, he was accurate when coming and going and although he has an easy profile action he could cover more ground. Shown in firm, hard condition.

OD/B (4,2)

1. Thomas’ Bowdonia Sky Full of Stars JW. Two nice bitches competed in this class. This 3 yr old fawn brindle/white took the win. Pleasing girl, feminine throughout and elegant in outline. Arched neck of good length, correct backline, good depth to chest, ribbing well sprung, arch over the loin, pleasing croup and tail correct for set and carriage. Balanced headpiece with good skull, small fine ears, dark oval-shaped eyes, slight stop and scissor bite but could have a touch more underjaw. I liked her angles front and rear and she stands well naturally in front. Pleasing profile action and self carriage and accurate when going away. Very well handled. Reserve BOB.  

2. Middleton & Gilhooly’s Stormida Squirrels for Tea. Brindle/white particolour of 3 yrs presented here with excellent muscle-tone. This girl also pleased in outline with long muscular neck, correct topline, good depth to chest, ribbing well sprung, good underline and tail correct for length, set and carriage. Nicely proportioned head with dark oval-shaped eyes, correct ears, slight stop and scissor bite. She stands true in front and has correct feet and is well angulated in the rear. On the move she opens up well but winner just had the edge I thought. 

Judge: Tim Ball