8th August 2025

Before  our Show Results section, Many Congratulations to our intrepid Diamonds In The Rough Obreedience Team.  In their quest to qualify a team of Rough Collies for Crufts 2026, this team recorded their best result so far this year.

Jane Uffspring and her team competed at Hatchford Brook Obedience Show over the weekend and gained a spectacular 3rd place overall. Keep up the great work ladies (and dogs) and hopefully you will achieve your dream of having a team of Roughs, showing that not only are they show dogs but also have many other attributes too along with versatility in many departments.

Stacy Steven set off before the weekend with her exceptional collie family to attend not only shows but also to compete.  Having just spent a short break abroad to celebrate a certain birthday, she packed her bags and car and set off from home in Scotland for another few days away – where do you get the energy from?
Having competed at Paignton with a few of her collies, she stayed on to compete in the Obedience and Hooper’s event at the same venue with a varied amount of success. Then, packing everything up, travelled north to spend a few days away and to include the EACA Ch show before taking part in another obedience and the Obreedience comps before setting off homewards to Scotland where she will attend a wedding!
Friday saw Stacy and Barra, ( I think) taking a Beginners 3rd place and a 6th place in Pre-Beginners. Her beloved Brooke, (Cambrogan Blowin A Hoolie) managed 3 clear rounds in Hoopers. Barra (Cambrogan Blissful Barra) managed 7th in the KCGC Stakes.

Then followed up by a drive north to attend another event where, Barra was placed 6th in the Pre-Beginners. Following on from her 3rd place on Friday, Stacy is now probably out of the Pre-Beginners section and faces a few more challenges in the next grade. There are so many different factors involved in this and I have yet to understand them so perhaps this could be my next new challenge although I doubt if my “Houdini Hound” would respond so easily. Stacy, I may need help!  Well done to all concerned and I am sure the drive back home will be a welcome break from all these competitions.

Now to some show news, another Friday show, this time it was Paignton and what a day for some of those who had entered it turned out to be!

The judge was Darren Clarke, (Peluche) Well known for his Briards, amongst other breeds including Pulis, he is also Acting Sec to Richmond Dog Show. This was his 2nd appointment having judged at Bournemouth back in 2022 and today had an entry of 55 with just 2 dogs and 6 bitches marked absent and roughs were 2nd in ring behind Briards, also judged by Darren.

What a great day for us, as we now have two new Champions and a Pastoral Group Winner to add to our 2025 records.

The dog CC, his 3rd, went to Chelborn’s Gambling List, owned by Vanessa Cronk but actually she has never won a CC with him as he has always had other handlers. Today, his handler was again Isaac Preddy, who won his first CC for Vanessa at Three Counties from Sally Duffin and his 2nd came from Tracy Wilkinson at Windsor where Linda Lester showed him. Today, Isaac showed him and whilst I was checking Stakes class results, also noticed that Isaac was also listed as the judge for both the Adult Handling and the JHA Handling classes prior to this lovely win handling for Vanessa
Sired by Ch Skabona The Gambler at Chelborn out of Ch Chelborn Wish List for those unaware he is a tricolour and bred by Vanessa and was born  in January 2022 and won his Minor Puppy class when Darren first judged. Today he won the Open class of 3.

Clovis, Ch Beldones Ivory Star, continued his winning ways for Brian & Odile as he won Junior and the Reserve CC. I am sure by now you all know his breeding but just as a reminder, he is sired by Ch Camanna Codename out of Beldones Ebony and Ivory.

Other class winners were: Ladnar Secret Gift for Chaizonz for Cheryl Turner who won the first class, mixed Special Beginners. I am not sure if they stayed for the SB Group but did not see any video to confirm this or had any message.
Melissa won both the puppy classes, being alone in each with Gataj Strike It Lucky and Gataj Time Will Tell. Another Gataj, this was Bonnie Eddie and he too was alone in Yearling for Julia Bolt.  Avonfair Aloysius JW won PG for the Mitchell family whilst Sophie won Limit with Monty, Takhisis Daggers at Dawn with Pat Corben’s Astromelias Ulises via Capriora was alone in Veteran Dog.
Now to the star of the day, who was, Anne Kokkonen and Natalia Skalin with the Top Collie in Finland, now undertaking yet another long journey from her home in Sweden, Int Ch Skabona Too Good To Be True. Ingrid as she is known outside of the show ring travelled back to the UK with Natalia and won a very strong Open class and annexed not only BOB, thus gaining her UK title to add to the long list she already holds but then, under respected judge Jeff Horswell gained Pastoral G4. A credit, not only for the breed but to her owners/handler and breeder, Natalia. Her 1st CC, won this year was from Cathy Howard at WELKS, followed by a 2nd at SKC from Karen McDevitt each with BOB. Sired by Skabona Classic Code out of Heidelind’s Good Luck to Skabona and she was born in April 2022. Congratulations to all concerned.
Standing 2nd in the same class, was Skabona What A Lady at Joshren in the ownership of John, Mary and Alan Walsh. Having collected numerous Irish titles and 2 UK CC’s, she took home a reserve CC and thanks from the Walsh family for those who helped bring her to the show and to the Lavika girls for the showing and presentation. She adds this to her CC won at Belfast last year and her 2nd also at SKC this year. She is a blue, known at home as Viva, and sired by Gatefields Hot or What, who is a Norwegian and Swedish Ch out of Skabona Heaven Can Wait and she too is a blue merle.

Others to win classes included: Sheila Carlton with Lynmead Dresses The Stars of Sambreeze, Michelle Davis and Jake Walsh with Wicani Bellissima Rosschell. Sophie with Takhisis Extraordinary Lady who carries a Bel Junior Ch title. Donna Baker also won a class, Yearling with Salsina’s My Girl of Marilake but as a beaten lady was not in the challenge. Vanessa won PG with Chelborn Tell Me Your Wish, Di Ware took Limit with Wassail Call The Midwife and Stefani Flower and Serenlas Heaven in Blu took Veteran.

BOB, went to Ingrid, Best Puppy to Wicani Bellissima Rosschell and Best Veteran to Stefani with her blue lady, Eden who did stay for the Veteran Group but was not placed. Thanks for letting me know.

A day’s rest and some gathered at Littleport Community Centre, nr Ely Cambs for the annual EACA Ch show.

The EACA has as Secretary Miranda Blake  and a hard-working committee including, Chair in Tina May; Treasurer is Dawn Muir, Health Rep is Marion Withers and Lisa Pettitt is Membership Secretary along with Show Secretary in Jo Williams and a Committee of Linda Philpin, Cathy Cooper and Zoe Alexander.

The committee had invited Tomas Rohlin of the very well known Rollington kennel from Denmark, Jan Milligan for a first ever appointment along with Chairperson, Tina May for BIS. Special Award classes were allocated to Colin Bartram (Ambartr) with Smooths, no CC allocation,  also to Jan Milligan

The entry was slightly lower than normal for this lovely garden party show, which seems to always have good weather, which this year, held until the end of the day when the heavens opened for the Barbara Blake Stakes and SAC classes but did clear up to allow the final awards and photos to take place. Jo Williams is show secretary and thanks to her, results arrived quite quickly and hopefully, I do have them all correct. EACA    offers a good scheduling of classes, including the Barbara Blake Memorial Stakes (with prize money) and also a Champions class for separate sexes, although there were no Ch males entered but a lovely class of 4 Champion ladies.

Tomas Rohlin was actually on his 3rd UK appointment here, having previously judged at EACA in 2010 for the ladies and Yorkshire in 2014 for males.

There were the usual number of absentees, some could not be avoided others due to illness and injury and lack of coats, so there were a few classes (in both sexes) with small numbers.

Tomas found his CC winner in Tom Wall and UK Ch and Ir/Int Ch Daliyhaa Master Craftsman An Cg 24m Cw25 and CenPw. A tricolour who had some good wins earlier in the year when he annexed 3 CC’s in 3 shows. Now, with a 5th CC, Hugo as we know him added this to his extensive list of wins. Sired by Ch Beldones Blue Echo out of Daliyhaa Isadorable and is homebred and born in March 2022.

Taking the RDCC, was the winner of Veteran, Jo Williams and Ch Mejola Fate and Fortune ShCex. He is sired by Ch Corydon Once In A Blue Moon out of Corydon femme Fatale for Mejola and celebrated his birthday in June.
Alone in MP was an entry from Gianpaulo Falletto, based in Italy and is well known as a part of the Di Cambiano kennel of Maria Teresa Garabelli. This was a young tricolour who, I understand will now be spending time in a new home with Michelle Davis and Jake Walsh, who handled him today and he is Verysuper Black di Cambiano  born November 2024, and known as Dion.
Lenosann The Prophecy won PD for the Vogan family from Warrington. Heidi Gallagher and Audrey Boyd brought Gemheid May’d In Black with Stregato down from East Calder to win Junior. Novice went to Imaginist Superior Sam and Megan Gatt. Ingledene Absolute Legend in the ownership of Val & John Geddes took Yearling. PG was Siluto Blue Wizzrd at Amberwish for Yvonne Ross, whilst Janine Hanson brought her Jards Ring Presence to win Mid Limit, 2nd in Limit and 3rd in Open. Limit was Demelewis Silver Spur at Corydon for Maxine Mellish and Special Beginners was won by Sassari Smudge and Emily Walton.

Jan Milligan fulfilled her ambition and awarded her very first CC to the breed. She has the Alfsden kennel and has been campaigning her blue boy to his title last year. Her winners were: From a very nice Veteran class, Stefani Flower repeated her win at Paignton with her blue lady, Serenlas Heaven in Blue. There were no MPB present and taking puppy bitch was Michelle and Jake with Wicani Bellissima Rosschell. Junior was Sophie with Takhisis Extraordinary Lady Bel Jun Ch who also won yearling. Novice went to Lene Newman and her Phreelancer Pheel It Still. Gill Whittaker and Siluto Silvary Blue Moon took PG and Chelborn Tell Me Your Wish won Mid Limit for Vanessa. Mary & Denis Beardsworth are over the moon as they annexed not only Limit but their KCSB no too. Natalia Skalin handled the jointly owned In Ch Skabona Heaven Can Wait for her and Vanessa to win Open. Georgina Howard and Gib Ch Serenlas Angel of Casatentola won the Champion Bitch class and Special Beginners was won by Ladnar Yourstruly at Pomnenka for Helen Rodwell.
So, the first CC that Jan awarded went to the winner of Novice, Lene Newman and her sable Phreelancer Pheel It Still. This at just, I understand her 2nd show, having taken BB and RBIS at the recent Midland Collie Open Show. Sired by Phreelancer Phinal Salute out of Phreelancer Phifty Shades, she was born in May 2023.
Winning the RCC was Natalia and Vanessa with Int Ch Skabona Heaven Can Wait (Imp Swe). She adds this RCC to the CC she won back in 2017 at WKC when Val Geddes judged. She is sired by Ch Chelborn Kiss n Tell out of Int Ch Impressive Lady Fantazja and born in June 2017. She is also the dam of the CC and RCC winning Skabona What a Lady at Joshren who won at Paignton.

BOB was the sable of Lene, Reserve BOB to Natalia & Vanessa, BOS to Tom Wall and Hugo, BPIB to Wicani Bellissima Rosschell, Best Minor Puppy to Gianpaulo’s Verysuper Black di Cambiano handled by Jake. Best Veteran to Stefani and Eden.

With BOB Smooth being Blamorder Double ot Quits of Oakestelle JW for Marianne Benton and Emily Bemelmans all gathered for BIS, which went to Lene. RBIS to the smooth. BOSIS to Nick & Ann Smith with Ch Winter is Coming to Tentola.  BPIS to Jake & Michelle, BOSPIS to Blamorder Star Struck for the Wensley family, BVIS also went to the smooth and RBVIS to the blue rough. Best Special Beginner was awarded to Ladnar Yourstruly at Pomnenka.

The Barbara Blake Memorial Stakes, had 18 original entries but not all were present to be judged by Tomas who gave this and £20 to Wicani Bellissima Rosschell. Colin Bartram found his winners for SAC classes in Wicani Bellissima Rosschell; Corydon The Baronet and Phreelancer Pheel It Still.

Finally, the latest RKC Press Release concerning some aspects of Judging via the JEP, some of which come into effect in January 2026 have been released and are available on the RKC News Section on Collielife pages - CLICK HERE. Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me. Also, there is a section concerning A3 Club judging Lists, may I suggest that all, especially Breed Club Officers do take a quick look. Thanks, from your BEC.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

email: ca.antoc@btinternet.com