Breed Notes
6th May 2022

I was sorry to read news of the passing, following a fall at home of Bob De-Vine (Salroyd). Probably a name that is known only to a few, nowadays.
Bob and his late wife Kath, kept a small kennel in Yorkshire and they both spent many years on the YCC Committee, helping out with refreshments and other duties.

His small kennel of collies was based mainly on those lines produced by a fellow Yorkshire breeder, namely the late Audrey Chatfield, Dunsinane.

Perhaps it is with Shetland Sheepdogs he will be recalled fondly but anyone who knew or even met him could not forget that fabulous sense of humour and his generosity to all, old and new.

Now to the Ch show for Lancashire & Cheshire, held as usual at the Thompson House Equestrian Centre with a floor covering suitable for most collies. The judges for the show had gained an entry of 103 made up of 42 males for John Congdon (Aaronwell) and 61 bitches for Sandra Wigglesworth of the famous Sandiacre kennels.

John last judged the breed back in 2020 at Crufts, where he judged bitches. Classes started with MP which went to Rannaleroch Perfect Storm, alone, for the partnership of Jeremy Barron and Carron Jenkins. All 4 were present in PD and the start of a lovely day for Robin Blaikie as his Kourika You’ll Do For Me won this. Junior had 6 entered and 4 placed with no one marked absent! This went to Andre Scott handling his latest boy, a tricolour, Sherlock Holmes of Moon River for Chantique (Imp Fra). Both Maiden and Novice were won by the MP winner as he was the only one present.

Louise Walker won Graduate with Starlenga Curious George and PG, which had 7 entries and 1 missing, again only 4 places recorded with the class going to Vanessa Cronk and her Chelborn That’ll Do. Limit had 8 present and 5 placings with top spot going to Barrenclough Heart of Gold JW for Dr Lynda Boyle. Open went to Roughrigg Rag n Bone Man for Morag and Jim McCarte and the last dog class was won by Lynda with Barrenclough Moonglow JW ShCm. So she had to employ a handler for this and it was Eleri Bluck who handled in the challenge.

Now to the CC and a lovely message from Chantal Scott gave me some details of Sherlock Holmes, who is a tricolour, aged just 15 months. Bred in France by Christopher Lehuic. Sired by Idle Black de Midland Valley out of Naomi Watts Blue of Moon River and this is his 1st CC and he ended the day with a CC and Reserve BOB.

The Reserve CC went to the winner of Open, Roughrigg Rag n Bone Man, who recently won at CCW from Brian Hawkins and in case you forget he is sired by Lynmack Walk All Over You at Roughrigg out of Beldones Fun n Games at Roughrigg.

Best Puppy Dog was an automatic win for Robin Blaikie and his tricolour, Kourika You’ll Do For Me as he won Puppy Dog, beating the MP winner into 3rd place. Sired by Chelborn That’ll Do out of Kourika Kover Girl. Best Veteran dog was another nice win for Lynda Boyle, this time with Barrenclough Moonglow JW ShCm. He is sired by  Ch Moonwalker Dallinaire for Chantique out of Carristina Radiant Sunrise Over Barrenclough, known at home as Hogan, he was born in February 2013.

Now to the ladies, Sandra Wigglesworth is one of our top judges and she last judged the breed at YCC in 2019 and her appointments are far too numerous to mention but she is one of our more respected judges.

Andre and Chantal continued their winning day, as they won the MP class with Torrino Renesmee for Chantique (Imp Italy). Melissa won Puppy with Shining Star du Clos de Sea-Wind and 2nd in MP,  then won Maiden for Dennis Beardsworth and Maysinder Sapphire Reign. Norma Larkin and Rahlissa Toffee Cake for Denora won Novice and Graduate. Then came PG and this went to Arklethill Delilah at Ileyda JW for Daphne and Tony Iley. Jane Llewellyn handled her Artzaiak Selina de Salsina to win Limit and Robin Blaikie took Open with the dam of the BPD, Kourika Kover Girl. Veteran went to Monsolana Butterfly Blue Over Barrenclough, owned by Lynda Boyle but handled by Sophie Gelder in the challenge. This was the first time Sophie had shown a collie.

Now to the bitch challenge and taking her 2nd CC, following on from her 1st at MCC from Kay Hateley was Kourika Kover Girl. A sable by Ch Willowdene Double or Quits at Wassail out of Geosamka Simply Has To Be for Kourika. Known at home as Keira, she was born in July 2018. Taking the RBCC was another winner from CCW, the PG winner, Arklethill Delilah at Ileyda JW. BPB was Melissa and her Shining Star du Cle de Sea-Wind. Bred in France by Giles Mervant she is sired by Local Hero du Clos de Sea-Wind out of Fr Ch Miami Life du Clos de Sea-Wind and will celebrate her birthday in July.

BOB went to the sable bitch, and in the final show awards, judged by Geoff Hyde (Londer) BIS went to the tricolour Smooth, Ch Wynele Indian Ink, who beat his kennel mate, Ch Wynele Cover Girl, judged by Barry Croft. RBIS went to the smooth and BPIS to another smooth, Wynele Obsession, so many congratulations to Bob Naulls and his Wynele kennel. Not to be outdone, the BVIS went to the evergreen Ch Clingstones Hot Shot at Foxearth, (Petra) owned by Trevor Hayward who beat the BVIB Rough, Barrenclough Moonglow.
I am still short on other awards, perhaps, if and when I receive a marked catalogue from the show, or in fact if anyone contacts me, I will write this up. Unless any of the winners contact either myself or Julie Growcott, who tries to keep the Collielife results pages up to date we cannot produce records for you!

Finally, with many shows nearly back to pre Covid times, it would appear that many of our judges are still unaware that unless they meet Level 1 of the current JEP (Judges Education Programme) they are not allowed to judge! This has been highlighted many times and came into effect on January 2021. Also for judges who request assessments, presumably those hoping to “go through” via the old A2 system, please remember that to be assessed, you MUST be sponsored by a Breed Club.  Assessments cannot be arranged otherwise.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)