5th April 2024

What an emotional day occurred at the recent Scottish Breeds, let me try to explain because if you were not present, no doubt word will have reached you!
Held in its comparatively new venue of Lanark Agricultural Showground, now over 2 days, this sub- group championship show, caters for the majority of native Scottish Breeds, hence it’s title and has CC’s on offer for most of them
Judging today, was Lancs & Cheshire Vice-Chairman, Bill Rogerson (Orchardby) on his 3rd breed appointment, the last being at SKC in 2019. He had received an entry of 28 males and 35 females with the normal number of absentees.
By around 11am, the dogs assembled for the challenge, and these included: Avonfair Aloysius, handled by Michelle Mitchell and family owned  (MP); Prince of Sunlight Thrilled By the Difference at Gataj for Melissa Lockyer (PD); Didek Once In a Blue Moon for Mr & Mrs Farthing who won Junior. Gataj Turn Back Time and Melissa were alone in Yearling; Thistlewings Andromeda at Bracoisla won Graduate for Chloe Shorten, (Who is based near Fraserborough  and has joined the collie world through the ACC Buddies Scheme and in her spare time has annexed a Gold Award for Farming); Jo Hodges and Jopium Love On The Rocks won PG; Limit was Jopium Front Runner and Karen Johnstone and Robin Blaikie took Open with Kourika You’ll Do For Me and Veteran went to Lynmack Starman at Lemivee for Alex Mills and Thistlewings Andromeda at Bracoisla then won Special Beginners.
Taking his 3rd CC in as many consecutive shows, our first male Champion for 2024 is Jazz, officially, Ch Kourika You’ll Do For Me. A tricolour, homebred by Robin, sired by Chelborn That’ll Do out of Ch Kourika Kover Girl, who Robin sadly lost so recently, so a very bitter-sweet moment as Jazz is also a grand-son of Ch Willowdene Double Or Quits at Wassail who passed to the rainbow bridge a few days after Robin’s lovely win at Crufts. I am sure we all want to both congratulate and commiserate with Robin as one moment we are on Cloud 9 and next moment we are sadly reflecting on the loss of not one but 2 collie companions.
Called in, and receiving the RCC was the sable, Beldones Toucher Du Bois, for Brian and Odile. This boy already holds a CC and adds this win to his collection. Sired by Honky Tonk Man of River Tweed he is out of Ch Beldones Enable.
Now to the ladies, and those competing for the big green card were: The Mitchell family with Avonfair A Million Dreams, who was alone in MP; Aaronwell Able Mabel took PB for John Congdon; Roughrigg Ragga won not only Junior but also Special Beginners for Dianne Haslam-Carib, she was handled on the day by Wilma Brodie’s partner David who has been most helpful, along with Wilma, in guiding Diane at shows etc.  Yearling was Riverside Song Thrills of Night at Scottyre for Isobel Hutchings; Ingledene Powdered Sugar was alone in Graduate for Mrs Gee; Avonfair A Million Lovesong (dam of the MP winner) won Post Grad, another class  for the Mitchell family; Julie Edwards handled Paulara Lucy In The Sky for Elshajo for joint owner, Eleri Bluck and won Limit. Open went to the dam of the puppy winner, Riverside Song Desiderata at Aaronwell (Imp Rom) for John Congdon and Veteran was a lovely win for Jo, Pat & Emma Brooker with the sprightly Telforth Sweet Dreams to Corisian.
In the challenge, a first CC went to the winner of Open, John and his sable import. Sired by Alsting New Horizon out of Lullaby du Clos de Sea-Wind and bred in Romania by Olivia Cruscov and has been at Aaronwell for a while and is the dam of A. Able Mabel.
The RCC and the award of Best Veteran was given to the effervescent Telforth Sweet Dreams to Corisian, known by all as Dreamy, her breeder, Pauline Sibbald was present to see this lovely win. Dreamy is shown by Jo, she is a shaded sable, winner of 1 CC and adds this to her collection. Born in 2013, she is sired by Ch Westoak Warlord out of Ch Lynmead Amalie Lucy Locket and has recently been collecting a few BV wins.
BOB fell to John and his bitch, BPIB was Avonfair Aloysius, Best Junior and Best Special Beginners to Roughrigg Ragga and BVIB to Dreamy.
All gathered for the BIS award, judged by Sandra Marshall (Lowerton) and although our collie did not feature, our Best Veteran in breed did and after a very long day, the accolade for Best Veteran In Show, fell to Jo and Dreamy. Well done and such a boost for not only our “oldies” but for the breed as well.
Instead of relaxing or attending a local show, Sophie Wray-Ramsden, along with 2 friends set off for a weekend in Ireland. Taking her 2 roughs and her ASD, Sophie attended the shows held over the Easter weekend. The Rough Collie Club of Ireland and the Combined Canine Club the next day. I understand that the long journey by car/ferry etc was well worth the effort as under Eva Eriksson. Her Takhisis Daggers at Dawn annexed 3 Excellent Grades, 3 wins in Junior Dog, and the Junior CACIB, along with a Green Star and BOB, whilst her other entrant, Takhisis Lady of Illusions,  also managed 3 Excellent, 1x 1st, 1 Green Star and BIS, along with a 2nd and 3rd.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

email: ca.antoc@btinternet.com