15th December 2023

The last Championship show for 2023 confirmed our Top Dog for the year when Lynne Salt (Woodlyn) awarded not only the CC but also BOB to Alison Grainger and Ch Samhaven Ballahanna Banjo. This was his 16th CC many with BOB. A Sable, sired by of Ch Samhaven Sound Track out of Samhaven From the Top Drawer and this was his 6th CC this year and he won from Open. Bred by Liam Kelly,(Ballahanna)  as both his parents were Samhaven bred, it gave Alison the right to add “Samhaven” to the front of his registered name.
Now to the actual show and judging here was Lynne Salt, who has officiated over our breed for a number of years and received a good entry of 98, however, as usual there were quite a few absent on the day. LKA now in its new home, Stafford, a change from the NEC, produced a good show with a nice sized ring which allowed all to move out easily.
The first class of the day, produced a winner for Sophie Wray Ramsden and her Takhisis Daggers at Dawn. Anne Hassock took both Puppy and Junior with her sable Camanna Cellmate, handled by Pauline Sibbald but in the challenge for BPIB, decided that showing was a great laugh and would not perform to his advantage. Melissa Lockyer won Yearling with Gataj Turn Back Time and PG saw Sue Howard take this for her, Val Newton and Anne Patterson and their jointly owned Ladnar Dreamchaser.  Melissa changed leads to win Limit with her Gataj Out of the Woods JW and Open went to Alison. Veteran had just 1 present in Dr Lynda Boyle and Barrenclough Diamond Days JW and she also won the Good Citizen class too.
Having awarded the CC to the Open winner, 2nd in Open, Vanessa Cronk and Chelborn That’ll Do was called but the RCC went to Sue Howard and her blue merle boy, much to her delight but marred by the fact that Ann and Valerie were both back home not feeling too well. I am sure this is the tonic you need to get back on the road to recovery !  Sired by Ch Ladnar Mustriharder, Chase, as he is known at home, is out of Fata Turchina Ladnar di Cambiano JW and bred by Dave & Sue Randall.
Now to the ladies, Sue Hawkins handled Aaronwell Able Mabel to win this for John Congdon, Puppy went to Vanessa and her Skabona If I saw You In Heaven for Chelborn winning. Morag and Jim McCarte’s handler, Hannah Walder, piloted their Roughrigg Red Lagertha to win Junior. Val Tame’s Gataj Time After Time at Rahlissa won Yearling. Sophie returned to the ring to win PG with Takhisis Lady of Mystery and then Val Tame won Limit with her Riverside Song Extra Sweet at Rahlissa. Hannah then won Open with Ch Hanvale Polly Shelby JW. Now to the bitch challenge and handler had to be found for those winning more than one class but the CC went to the Open Winner, her 6th CC. Born in January 2018, she is sired by Ch Beldones Double Diamond out of Beldones La Vita Bella for Hanvale, and with this win cemented the Beldones kennel of Brian Hawkins and Odile Foy as top breeders. More details on this will follow in the review of 2023 shortly. The RBCC went to Melissa and Gataj Good Time Girl who had stood 2nd in the same class. Veteran was won by Sue Beare and Jemspark Maid In Secret and Dr Boyle won GCB with her blue, Monsolana Madam Blues over Barrenclough.
In the challenge for BOB, this went to Alison and the sable boy, BPIB was Aaronwell Able Mabel and Sue Beare had the honour of winning Best Veteran In Breed with her Jemspark Maid In Secret and although sent through for the group, the original judge, Mike Vines , had withdrawn and today’s judge was Ben Reynolds-Frost
To end this report, I would like to give my special thanks to Julie Growcott, Jo White, Gwen Beadon and many others who have kept me up to date with either pages of shows or full results. Without you all, keeping records would be much more difficult. I would also like to thank all of you for your comments and messages, so may you all take the best collie home with you in 2024. Have a good, if short break, between shows and please accept my sincere Best Wishes for the forthcoming Festive Season, please enjoy. Next week, time permitting, a review of 2023 should be available for those interested

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

email: ca.antoc@btinternet.com