Breed Notes
20th January 2022

As promised, all the details for the EACA Collie of the Year Competition, held last weekend at Littleport, still under Covid restrictions, which also meant there was no annual lunch.

With a total of 50 entries, covering Puppy, Adult and Veterans all judged by Maxine Mellish (Demelewis) and Pat Ward (Starside) who stood in for the original judges who were unable to attend.

The day commenced with the Veterans. There were 9 entries (2 absent) and topping these for Veteran of 2021 was Marianne Benton and her blue merle, Oakestelle Venus De Milo with Vikki Burrows and Ch Tiganlea Tinkerbelle at Revdvicki in reserve.

11 Puppies then followed 4 males and 7 bitches, with 4 absent and 1 NFC. Taking the title was Brenda Welsh from Scotland and her Thistlewing Spell On You (Culbrae Red Again ex Thistlewing Octavia). In runner-up spot was Alfsden He Lives In You (Ch Ladnar Mustriharder ex Ladnar Trust In Me for Alfsden) handled by Jan Milligan.

Adult males were next to be judged with 15 entered with just 2 missing followed by Adult bitches of which there were also 15 with 6 absent. From these the following were recorded as semi-finalists: Ch Ladnar Mustriharder ( Int Ch One Extraordinary Blu di Cambiano ex Ladnar Inkheart) for Dave & Sue Randall;  Camanna Chasing Clouds Over Mejola (Ch Erjon Ebony Joker ex Camanna Coolrain) for Jo White; Marianne Benton’s smooth Brackenhaye Queen of Hearts for Oakestelle (Ch Foxearth Formula One ex Ch Brackenhaye Shape O’My Heart);  Marianne also had Oakestelle Artemis (Juniperwood King of Kings ex Oakestelle Venus de Milo) Lorraine Quince, who had travelled down with the breeder of her Thistlewing Celtic Soul at Karafaye (Karafaye Scotch Blend at Thistlewing ex Yenroc Scottish Harmony at Thistlewing and Jean Singh’s Tiganlea Taskmaster at Trenic ( Ch Tiganlea Tone Down ex Tiganlea Twinkling Star) .
Taking Adult  of the Year was the Smooth, Oakestelle Artemis for Marianne and Runner-Up was Lorraine Quince with Thistlewing Celtic Soul at Karafaye.

Then the Overall Collie of the year was selected from the Veterans. Puppy and Adult with Marianne taking the title for 2021 and the puppy, Alfsden He Lives In You as runner-up.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)