Breed Notes
27th January

Our first Championship show for the year was Manchester, but a second outing for Judges from the “Fort – Shulune” family!
This time it was June Fort who had received, on paper, a good entry of 106 but on the day marred by some 20+ absentees
This was only June’s second CC appointment, her first being at Leeds in 2018. All assembled for an early start of 8.30am in the Argyll Building at Stafford for her opinion.

Taking the first class of the day, Puppy, with 9 entered and 5 missing, was Robin Blaikie and Kourika You’ll Do For Me (Chelborn That’ll Do ex Kourika Kover Girl) and born 2nd July last year. Junior was won by Beldones Rocket Man for Brian and Odile. He is sired by Roughrigg Rag’n’Bone Man out of Beldones Carradina) and was born 31st Jan last year.
Post Grad (12/3) went to Jean Singh with Tiganlea Task Master at Trenic, handled as usual by co breeder John Tipper. He is a blue, by Ch Tiganlea Tone Down out of Tiganlea Twinkling Star.

Limit went to Corisian French Connection JW (I Am Fantastic du Bois des Amazones for Corisian ex Lovely Flower du Bois des Amazones for Corisian JW (Imp Fra) for the Brooker family from New Silksworth, Co Durham.
Alison Grainger won Open with Ch Samhaven Ballahanna Banjo (Ch Samhaven Sound Track ex Samhaven From The Top Drawer) and the last dog class of the day went to Jive, Multi titled Ch Jugband Blues du Clos de Sea-Wind via Aaronwell owned by John Congdon from Cornwall.  Jive, in case any of you forgot, is sired by Dazzle Blue Legend de la Chapelle aux Arbres out of Eclipse Totale du Clos de Sea-Wind and was born in August 2014.

With all her class winners assembled, her choice for the CC was the PG winner, Tiganlea Task Master at Trenic. This is his 1st CC, although he already has a RCC won last year at EACA from Sue Randall (Ladnar). Calling in her 2nd from the same class and winning the RCC was a delighted Julie Edwards, who I believe had been celebrating a birthday. She won with Starlenga Harry Potter, a sable sired by Starlenga Dizzy Rascal out of Izzy of Lowlands Green Valley for Corisian (Imp Fra) and according to the catalogue is bred by Gary & Margo Walker.

Sorry to say but I am not sure who actually won BPD. Apologies to those concerned.
A lovely class of 17 puppy bitches, again with a few absent, was headed by Chantique Strawberry Moon for Andre and Chantal by Ch Magical Moon of Lowlands Green Valley ex Chantique Déjà Vu and born 16th June last year. Junior went to Beldones Magical Bliss for Brian and Odile and is a litter sister to their Rocket Man.

Jo Hodges made another long journey down from Scotland and was rewarded with a class win in PG with her Jopium Love’s To Sparkle With Meryctin, a daughter of her Ch Jopium Love Heart JW ShCm by Jealous Guy of Slatestone with Jopium.
The Brookers, Jo, Pat and Emma,  won a good Limit class of 17 (again with a few absent) with Paris Venise du Bois des Amazones for Corisian JW (Imp Fra) Sired by Eclipse Totale du Clos de Sea-Wind out of I Love Paris du Bois des Amazones and born January 2019.
Open was a smaller class of 4, with 1 missing and this was won by Chantique Cinderella at Starlenga, owned by Margo/ Gary and Louise but listed in the catalogue as owned by Mr A Scott!!!! Who along with wife actually Chantal bred her!
Veteran was Beldones Duchess of Dreams JW (Geko de Midland Valley (Imp Fra) ex Beldones Diamonds n Pearls (Re-Imp) for Sophie Wray-Ramsden.

Taking her First CC and BOB, a repeat of her win at Boston, (but no CC’s on offer there) from June’s daughter Michelle, was Paris Venise du Bois des Amazones for Corisian JW (Imp Fra)

Winning another RCC was Jo Hodges and Jopium Loves To Sparkle at Meryctin. Best Puppy Bitch and eventual BPIB went to Chantique Strawberry Moon and BVIB went to Jive.

A lovely e mail from Chantal Scott did tell me that although very late in the day, their puppy, known at home as Yara, Chantique Strawberry Moon, who was actually at her first show, not only won BPIB but did stay for the puppy group and although not placed, by all accounts put up a great show and eventually left the venue at 7.15pm, so a very long day! Well done and I bet she and Andre slept well too.

Sue Bird was our Group Judge and I was hoping to see our breed represented in the Group but it would appear she was absent, we really do need to try and promote the Collie, perhaps there is a good reason as to why she was missing, but as I have not heard from anyone, and an early deadline, maybe more news next week.

Finally, apologies to Brenda Welsh who has corrected me on the results of the recent EACA Collie of the Year result. Not quite sure how I managed to get it wrong, but I did, Sorry. The overall Runner Up was her bitch, Thistlewing Spell On You who was also Puppy of the Year

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)