Lancashire and Cheshire Collie Club Championship show. 2016

I would like to thank the committee for making me feel so welcome and my hard working ring stewards for keeping things flowing smoothly.

I was initially disappointed with my entry of 36 dogs, however I quickly began to appreciate the general high quality present today. I found very few weak hindquarters and I feel breeders have taken this 'problem' to heart and are actively working to improve things in this area. I congratulate them. I am looking for that true Collie hallmark of 'impassive dignity' and found it in my class winners.

We do need to remember the Collie has a unique head shape within the pastoral breeds and we must continuously strive to attain this head, it is not easy. Ours is the only breed requiring a stop that is slight (not definite) and this slight (but perceptible) stop, along with a well formed chin, is essential to creating a clean well blunted wedge in profile without depth from brow to jaw.

It was a pleasure to find the majority of dogs today did not have an excessive amount of stop, however several are too wide and bulky in bone around the eye sockets which creates a more triangular head rather than a clean gradually tapering wedge.

Minor puppy dog. 2
1) Blake's DEMELEWIS DARE TO BEAR FOR CORYDON. What a lovely start to the day, a baby blue boy of just 6 months but standing with elegance and dignity. Loved his overall balance and bone, strong legs and feet and a good length of neck.  Long clean head with beautifully formed chin and well filled beneath the eye, absolutely no flare through the cheek and no excessive depth. Slight stop is perceptible when studied and gives room for the head to mature and deepen without ever becoming coarse. Uses his well placed ears to present a complete picture.  On the move he showed a style and grace that is beyond his tender age. BPD and BPIB.
2) Abbot's COTSWOLDSWAY STAR GAZER Bigger male who needs time to gain the coordination required of his larger frame. He shows much promise. Excellent forechest. I preferred his expression but he could not compete at present with the dignity, composure and coordinated movement of the winner. His head is a true wedge with strong chin and correct stop.

Puppy dog

no entries

Junior dog 8:2a
1) Geddes INGLEDENE SPIRITS ARISE.  Immaculately presented young tricolour male. His heavy coat sparkles with vitality and he has wonderful depth of colour. He presents a picture of dignity and balance, standing on well boned strong legs and tight feet. I would prefer him longer in body but he has time on his side and I am sure he will lengthen as his body matures and he drops into his frame. His coat hides his true shape to some degree. Beautiful expression from the darkest of obliquely placed eyes, clean in the cheek, well finished chin. This together with his slight stop and flat skull give him a correct profile and a true wedge from every angle. Nice ears which he consistently uses; his handler really gets the best from him. On the move he shows strength and lightness, flexing his strong hocks as he moved powerfully away from me. Correct oval rib cage allowed him true movement coming toward me. A very nice young male who against strong competition was rewarded with the reserve CC. 
2) Barrets BROOKLYNSON SUNDANCER On first glance I thought he would be my winner as he has the perfect balance, overall length and the dignified presence I am searching for. Head handles well and he uses his ears, his expression has that look of sweet superiority. Moving toward me he is correct, but moving away and in profile I preferred the strength of the class winner.
3) Randalls LADNAR MOONDUST.  Another elegant young male. Tricolour in lovely condition, his long arched neck enhanced by a big sparkling white collar.  A super showman and and positive and collected on the move. To be critical his nose profile is a little wavy and his stop a little deep which slightly detracts from his head in profile and he is slightly flared through the cheeks, however he has a charming expression and correct ear placement. Completed a trio of very nice young males.
4) Stringfellows KRAMILLIE KONSEVEATION
5) Fairgieves MULDOANICH HIGHLAND LADDIE

Maiden dog 2
1) DEMELEWIS DARE TO BEAR FOR CORYDON
2) Bartram's AMBARTR KEEP THE FAITH Big tricolour male who was very unsettled today. His profile movement was good but he was not happy with me going over him and consequently I could not give a true evaluation of him. Novice dog 4:1a
1) DEMELEWIS DARE TO BEAR
2) Salters CEDAR PRINCE Sable male who stands and shows himself off. His dark eyes are the correct shape and they are very dark but, because his stop is too deep his eyes are placed incorrectly, they are facing forward rather than obliquely. I would prefer more length of head and body which shows in his profile movement where his top-line rolls,  however his movement coming and going is sound.
3) AMBARTR KEEP THE FAITH

Graduate Dog 4
1) INGLEDENE SPIRITS ARISE
2) Edwards MOONPROMISES EVER AFTER  IMP. CZE Tricolour of smaller proportions but he has a balanced body with good general construction. Nice length of arched neck provides elegance and he stands on strong hocks. His coat sparkles with health and he is very attentive to his handler. Moving well. He has a balanced head with nice eye and expression. I would prefer him to have more refinement through the skull and cheeks to give a cleaner wedge.
3) Williams ESSANJAY STORM WARNING Big upstanding tricolour, more the size and substance I like. Fabulous front with excellent forechest and lay of shoulder. He moves with drive keeping a good top line. His head is a touch too wide and his eyes are a little full, therefore his expression could not quite match the dogs in front of him. Having said this, he has an expression filled with kindness and intelligence.
4) Everatts ILEYDA JOHNNY DEPP.

Post Graduate dog 10: 2a
1) Greenfields KARCASAM BECKHAM. When this dog first stood in the line my heart said wow! he has a near perfect outline that screams 'collie' he has such elegance, strength and dignity. In his construction and outline he reminds me of some of the Karava champions from the last decade. Long well arched neck set into a perfect shoulder, correct length of body from forechest to buttocks, beautiful turn of stifle and strong hocks. Moves stylishly with drive. He sports a decent head with a slight stop that is none the less perceptible, a flat skull , clean cheeks and well formed chin. Everything harmonising without lumps and bumps into a true wedge from every angle. I would prefer his eye to be slightly sweeter but I feel this will happen when his handler learns to relax and allow his dog to speak for himself. Please relax and have more confidence in this beautiful dog whose natural ring presence sings its own song!
2) Wrays TAKHISIS TRICK OR TREAT Another elegant young tricolour with lots to like. Sweeter expression than the winner but not the cleaness of cheek and side skull.  His head is a touch more triangular than it is a true wedge, this was a common problem today. However his head is balanced and his skull is flat, he has a nice fill of muzzle. Uses his ears well and obviously adores his handler. Moves without effort. I like his length of neck and his general outlook.
3) Hansons JARDS GRAND ATTRACTION Very nice type of dog who stands with a calm dignified presence. Dark shaded jacket is in lovely condition. Clean wedge shaped head with nicely finished chin, alert ears and kind expressive eyes. I just wish he had more bone and substance to give strength to his body. Moves confidently.
4) ESSANJAY STORM WARNING
5) Jones INGLEDENE DARE TO DREAM WITH DANCOL

Limit dog  8: 1a
1) Pryors AQUALITA DR NO  My heart breaker. This dog is so sound and fleet of foot, he moves around the ring with style and elegance with no sign of weakness in any area. He has the true grace and dignity that personifies the Collie. He looks every inch a male and his rich sable coat glistens with condition. Long arched neck set into correct front, strong well let down hocks and no weakeness in pastern, on his feet with tight toes. All of this is topped by a quality head with the correct length, a beautiful fill of rounded muzzle and the cleaness of cheek required to create that beautiful well blunted wedge we should strive for. He sports a well formed chin and a slight stop,  blending into a flat skull , all so important in creating the correct profile. Dark obliquely set eyes surrounded by excellent pigment give him an appealing expression, and now the big 'BUT', he simply refused to use his ears and demonstrate his full beauty for me in the challenge. If he gets his act together,  this dog should easily reach the top, he has it all.
2) Whites MEJOLA I AM PURSUASIVE JW sable with outstanding head properties. His head and expression encapsulate everything I am seeking. He moves collectively with level topline and he is well constructed but for me his body lacks substance. I am guessing he is a slow maturer.
3) Randalls LADNAR FISHERKING. Blue dog with nice bone and substance, stands out well behind on strong hocks. Good length of neck and correct front. He moves very soundly with good topline. Decent head although a touch strong and deep in skull but he has a nicely filled muzzle. He lacks animation which is a shame as he is a nice Collie.
4) INGLEDENE DARE TO DREAM WITH DANCOL
5) BARRENCLOUGH TOUCH OF CLASS JW

Open dog 8
1) Jondahl's MULTI CHAMPION WORLD WINNER, INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION SHEP'S GONZALOS QUE GUAPPO. I first saw this striking male when he won his first English CC at Windor two or three years ago, I never thought I would be the one to give him his third and crowning CC. Just 3 days short of his ninth birthday and moving like a three year old, his body is superbly muscled. Each and every time I turned to look at this male he was standing correctly, he is an object lesson is outline and construction. Such beautiful strong hocks, I believe he is incapable of the ugly habit we see so often in the breed whereby so many Collies tuck the hind feet under the body (which smacks of weak construction) whereas this boy demonstrates nothing but dignity and power in his stance. He calmly surveys the arena with an air of superiority in his expressive eyes, he is owning the ring with his quality and presence. His head has not coarsened with age because he has the correct amount of stop, slight but when we look closely it IS perceptible! This gives him a beautiful correct wedge in profile without depth from brow to under-jaw. His chin is beginning to recede a little with age, but his teeth are still remarkable! He is everything I am looking for and the proof of his greatness is shown in that he came to England age almost 9 years, saw and conquered, to take his third and crowing CC, adding yet another title to his long list. Congratulations to his breeder/owner. 
2) Whites MEJOLA MY BLUE HARLEQUIN. I judged this blue dog as a puppy and on that day he went BPIS. This is only the second time I have judged him and he has not let me down, I love the way he has matured. Such a clean and correct profile, super eye placement, size and shape are bang on, giving a sweet expression with that lovely hint of aristocracy. This was an exceptionally strong class and to be placed second was certainly no disgrace. I appreciated his length of body and arched neck, moves out very well.
3) Blakes CORYDON THE RINGLEADER. Completed a trio of fabulous male Collies, all showing elegance, pride and dignity of outline and outlook. Ultra sweet expression from well set dark eyes although I would prefer them to be a little larger. Strong underjaw as always from this kennel, and I liked his velvety rounded muzzle. Moved soundly.
4) Quinces KARRAFAYE BLACK QUILLAN
5) Hannahs CH MILAS DANCING SOLO

Judge Angela Harvey