Breed Notes
1st October 2021

Another busy, but long show day for those who attended both Birmingham National and the club Ch show of the CA on Friday at Stafford. This resulted in 3 new champions and loads of celebrations but first some sad news to report from Cheryl Lockett who let me know her father, Derek, sadly died at the age of 88. He was married to Doris for over 66 years and founded the Cheryldene kennel of collies and latterly Shetland Sheepdogs, back in 1954. Derek’s proudest moment came at Crufts in 1969 when he took the BCC and BOB, from Hazel Collins (now Hunt) with their homebred Ch Cheryldene Blue Lilac. Born in 1964, officially owned by Doris, she was sired by Bririch Silver Spray, a son of Ch Carramar Boy Blue, out of Donna Julia from Dunsinane, who was also by Boy Blue. One of her more notable offspring was Ch Cheryldene Moonskater of Dunsinane, owned by the late Audrey Chatfield who always referred to Derek as Mr. Cheryldene. To Cheryl and family we extend our sympathies and funeral details will be published via Collielife.

Now back to the National, who under difficult conditions pulled off a spectacular show by all accounts. Our breed was judged in one of the halls along with the Smooth Collies and Border Collies, who also held club shows after the National judging was completed.
Marianne Grindley (Lanrue) was our first judge with a respectable entry of 94 to run the rule over. Marianne last judged in 2017 at N&D where she officiated over the bitches. Her choice for the Dog CC was none other than John Congdon with Jive, Ch/Int Ch Jugband Blues de Clos De Sea-Wind via Aaronwell, winning his 12th CC having recently won at L&P from Andre Scott. In reserve was Jo Brooker and Corisian French Connection JW, who won Limit. He is a sable, by I Am Fantastic du Bois des Amazones for Corisian out of Lovely Flower du Bois des Amazones for Corisian JW (Imp Fra). Christine Collins took BPD with Triburle Chance of Passion, another who has been winning well recently and nice to read that Foggy has returned to the ring in style, namely, Ch Tiganlea Too Good To Be Forgotten, now a young Veteran. Sired by Ch Chantique Huggy Bear for Tiganlea out of Tiganlea Girl Talk but he had to give way to the DCC winner, Jive for BVD.

Bitches was the start of a memorable day for Melissa Lockyer, good to hear that husband Graham is feeling so much better and even more so as Melissa piloted her Paradise Girl du Clos de Sea-Wind to win not only Open, the BCC and then BOB. This is the first Champion for Melissa and celebrations started following this lovely win. This sable bitch, bred, as was the Dog CC winner by Giles Mervant in France, is sired by Iggy Pop du Clos de Sea Wind out of Miami Life du Clos de Sea-Wind and was born in June 2019. Her 1st CC came from Val Tame at London Collie earlier this year, her 2nd from Christine Collins at the recent N&D show all with BOB.

John Tipper took home yet another RCC with Aerial, Int Ch Tiganlea Make Good Time for Monika Bardos, whilst Melissa then celebrated with BPB with her homebred Gataj Good Time Girl. Veteran was won by Rob & Margaret Shipp and Rahlissa Snow Maiden for Tremaro (Ch Samhaven Detox ex Fancy That From Tremaro) but she too lost out for BVIB to Jive. There were no Puppy or Veteran Groups held at the National this year but the Pastoral Group was judged by Derek Smith but we did not feature.
Now to the CA championship show, held this year with the National and with the same entry (94) to that of the National and bearing in mind that Officers and Committee of the CA do not show at their own shows, so the entry could have been slightly larger and some attended just the National and others just the CA. As usual, there were two appointed judges for this event, Penny Sewell and although the published bitch judge, Joyce Skillbeck withdrew on health grounds, a replacement, Eleanor Kitchen, took over just in time before entries finally closed.

Penny Sewell (Lewarne) judged the dogs; this was just her 2nd appointment for the breed, the first being here for the National back in 2016.

Veteran was the first class and again this was won by Foggy for Caroline and John. MP was won by Sherlock Holmes of Moon River for Chantique (Imp Fra). Bred by Christopher Lehic and sired by Idle Black de Midland Valley out of Naomi Watt’s Blue of Moon River for Andre and Chantel Scott.

Christine Collins took Puppy with Cody (Triburle Chance of Passion) and along with the Novice class he then took BPD his details were given last week.

Charlene Turner took Junior with Chantique Magical Mystery and Gwen Beadon won Yearling with her Marvalan Spirit of Rock, known at home as Hektor.

Jackie Dix won Graduate with Barrenclough Diamond Skies and Robin Blaikie took PG with Kourika King Pin (Moondance de Cabrenysset out of Ch Kourika Karrizma)

Mid Limit was another win for Melissa, this time with her home-bred, Gataj Struck By Lightning (Lynmack Thunderstruck ex Gataj Girl’s Best Friend).

Limit, a good class of 7 was headed by Jo Brooker and her Corisian French Connection repeating her success at the morning show
Open was won by Tiganlea Tone Down, Toby to his friends, and he then won the Dog CC thus gaining his title. He is sired by Two Tone for Tiganlea out of Hazelnut des Vergers de Iacchos)  His CC’s came from Sue Randall (Ladnar) at Lancs & Cheshire in 2019 and again at the CA from Angela Hodgson in the same year. If I recall correctly, I awarded him the RDCC earlier that year at CC Wales to the eventual CC winner Camanna Codename, who stood 2nd in Open and he also collected another RCC to his name for Anne Hassock. Mention must be made at this time of Toby’s dam, the late Hazelnut, as there cannot be many bitches that have produced not only Champions but at least 4 different CC winners in their lifetime.

Now to the bitches, Eleanor Kitchen last judged at Windsor in 2019, prior to that Irish Collie in 2017 and Crufts in 2016.
Margaret & Rob Shipp repeated their National success by winning Veteran with Rahlissa Snow Maiden for Tremaro, who is now a very sprightly 11.5 years young and certainly showed many what it was all about and at the end of the day was Best Veteran In Show.
John & Caroline won MP with Revdvicki Tahitian Pearl at Tiganlea but she was beaten for BPB by Melissa and her Gataj Good Time Girl.

Stacey Steven handled for Margaret Harrison today, as Margaret has recently undergone an eye operation which involves lying still for 50 mins of every hour, so attending the show was definitely out of the question. Great to hear that Stacy won the class with Cambrogan Lady of Loch’aber at Cariadhaf, (Cariadhaf Crazy Dream out of Cariadhaf Cookies and Cream for Cambrogan) and that must be a tonic to Margaret.

Barrenclough Touch of Silk took Yearling for Lynda Boyle, sired by Barrenclough Diamond Days out of Barrenclough Touch of Thyme also repeating her win of the morning show. Andre & Chantal took Graduate with Chantique Fairy Magic and Post Grad was won by them with Chantique Phantasia, so a lovely day for this kennel as all their exhibits brought home first prize cards.

Julie Growcott took Mid Limit with her Lillyway Lemonade Blush, a sable, sired by Jopium Stole My Heart at Lingwell out of Lillyway Looby Lou and was born in May 2017.

As Limit Bitch was to be judged, the Birmingham National Group Steward had to come to the ring to advise that the National BOB winner, Melissa and Florence (Ch Paradise Girl) were required in the Group under Derek Smith. Discussions continued with both the Committee of the CA and the judge, and it was agreed to suspend judging whilst Melissa went into the group. This is not a new “one off” situation as many of the other breeds who had scheduled shows following the National judging were also in the same position. The final decision was made by the judge who stated she was prepared to wait, knowing that the group judge would not be too long in making his decisions. However, this delay did make the day much longer than normal but exhibitors must be aware that this can and does happen and accept the consequences be it in their favour or not.

On her return to the CA show with Florence, it was another class win for her which was followed up by winning Open with Takhisis Hopes and Dreams for Gataj, known as Hope and she then took her 3rd CC thus giving Melissa a day to remember with 2 new Champions in one day!. Hope was bred by Sophie Wray-Ramsden, born in August 2016; her 1st CC came from Gary Gray (Slatestone) at Bournemouth in 2019, followed by a recent 2nd CC from Sue Hawkins at the recent Blackpool. Sired by Honky Tonk Man of River Tweed out of Beldones Duchess of Dreams.  She also has a couple of Rcc wins to add to her title.

The RBCC was awarded to Bliss, as she is known at home and a slightly stunned Julie Growcott with the Mid Limit winner, Lillyway Lemonade Blush, her first big award. Well done

Now to BOB, which I understand was judged by Club President, Sandra Wigglesworth and to make her day, Melisa annexed not only BIS but BPIS as well, so very well done. 2 Champions in one day and a multitude of first prizes, I am sure that however late it was, all was forgotten on the journey back home to Tiverton for a good rest before the next outing.

It made interesting reading to compare both show entries for the National and CA, at one show, both major awards went to collies from abroad (France) and at the other, both main awards were UK bred.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)