LONDON COLLIE OPEN SHOW

22/10/16

Firstly I would like to thank the committee for their kind invitation to judge at this show and to the exhibitors for a very flattering entry of 85 rough collies.  The atmosphere from the second I arrived was just so friendly and welcoming with such a pleasant ambience all day long making it a truly lovely day.
As a “non breed” person, I have bred , owned and shown roughs and first judged them 30 years ago. One thing that struck me about today was the handling which in some cases didn’t enable the dogs to be shown at their best advantage. All too often dogs were being “strung up” and moved at too fast a pace resulting in legs going in all directions ! What has happened to a loose lead ? Nothing looks better than a dog standing there showing itself off without being strung up !
Overall I was surprised at the quality of the exhibits entered today particularly in the bitches.

VETERAN DOG (5, 1 ABS)
1ST TAKHISIS HIGH VOLTAGE, 10 year old blue boy who scored heavily here on his driving rear movement. An attentive showman who was enjoying his day out and was handled to advantage.  Balanced head properties. A lovely gentleman. BVD
2ND DAMOS DIAMOND LEGEND, 9 year old tri colour who was very well presented, excellent ear carriage and an attentive showman. I liked his length of back but he couldn’t quite match the rear drive of the winner.
3RD ANTOC KISS THE GIRLS

VETERAN BITCH (2)
1ST FRANCHESKA FROM ANTOC, loved this old lady. A 9 year old shaded sable who was in full bloom. I liked her moulded head properties with a super eye and expression. Moved easily around the ring and was well presented. Finished the day as Best Veteran in Show and was not disgraced in the challenge where she was in contention. 
2ND LIZMARK LOOKING FAB, 9.5 year old golden sable who like the winner had a lovely tail and had a very good depth of chest. Head of good length but light ears did detract from her expression. Not carrying the coat of the winner to challenge.

MINOR PUPPY DOG  (1)
1ST BROOKYNUT STORM’S GEM, raw 6 month old sable baby who was very unco-ordinated on the move today but he enjoyed his day! Head of good length and i liked his expression. Ears a bit large at the moment.

PUPPY DOG (4,2 ABS)
1ST RIVERSIDE SONG JEWEL IN THE CROWN FOR KELBEWOOD BPD, 11 month old sable who i preferred as my winner on his length of back and ear set together with a more correct backskull. Not carrying the coat of the second. Had the stronger rear movement on the day.
2ND MERTRISA WILD FIRE, heavily coated sable who did actually have the correct topline but it was camouflaged by his huge coat ! He has a good eye but heavy ears detracted from his expression and on the day he didn’t have the drive of the winner.

JUNIOR DOG (4)                                                                  
1ST LYNMEAD AMALIE BRING ME BACK,  14 month old sable at that in-between stage with his coat. I liked his length of back and overall scope. Could be a tad better in upper arm but overall he moved really well with drive from the rear. Well presented and handled and will be interested to see how he matures on. I believe this win gave him his Junior Warrant. Congratulations.
2ND RS jewel in the crown for K
3rd JOTARS MOON’N’ STARZ

NOVICE DOG (4)
1ST J Moon ‘n’ Starz          12 month old blue merle who won this class on his overall maturity and movement. His blue is a good colour but i would like a richer tan. I liked his ear set and carriage and although balanced I would prefer a slightly longer length of head
2nd B Storms Gem
3rd JOTARS MOON SPRITZER

GRADUATE DOG (3)
1ST TRIBURLE TRIPLE TROUBLE, exquisite moulded head on this rich coloured sable, who I later learnt was at his first show. Such a lovely foreface , eye and a melting expression. Ideally he could have a tad more neck and length of back.  He moved well enough around the ring and if he can get his performance level up he will have some good days out. Excellently presented.  Would have figured highly in the challenge but he’d thrown the towel in by then. 
2ND L A Bring me back
3rd TRENLEY TAVANAGH AT HAMISKS

POST GRADUATE DOG (7, 2 ABS) a bit of a quandary in this class as two different types
1ST JUMP IN THE FIRE DU BOIS DES AMAZONES AT TRIBURLE (IMP FRA) Heavily coated sable scoring today in eye and expression and rear drive on the move. I would like him with a slightly better neck and length of back. Neater ears than the tri. Excellently presented.
TAKHISIS TRICK OR TREAT, preferred the shape on this boy with a lovely neck and he is a lovely black with a super rich tan. Still needs to finish in body and today on the move he was quite lethargic and didn’t move around the ring like his construction suggested he would. Maturity will see him have better days, another  very nice  exhibit.
3RD LYNMEAD AMALIE LET ME GO

LIMIT DOG (6, 1ABS)
1ST RYDEEN JAMBOREE AT BRIHOW (IMP DEU ) JW    Mature looking 4 year old tri who was presented and gently handled to perfection. Not a showing fool but he did enough. Loved his length of head , neatest of ears with a super soft expression. Occasionally he was a tad close behind but overall he presented the best package to easily  take Best Dog
2ND COLLINGVALE CRUNCHIE AT TERELIMON JWShCM    3 year old sable still needing to time to mature and come to his best , by the side of the winner looked to be lacking in undercoat on the day. Neat ears and a soft expression.  A shapely boy whose best days are yet to come. In the challenge for Reserve Best Dog he performed superbly and i was pleased to award him RBD.
3RD LIZMARK SOLID GOLD

OPEN DOG(9, 1ABS)Mixed class
1ST COLLINGVALE CAST A SPELL OVER TERELIMON, 6 year old with a very sweet eye and expression and a well rounded foreface, although still looking masculine.  Mature in body and depth of chest, Sound enough on the move scoring his place in the run off on the better front action coming toward me. A little inbetween coats at present.
2ND LIZMARK GOLD STANDARD ShCM ,  Lovely ears on this golden sable who also had a very long tail and a good upper arm. Smaller in eye than the winner which gave a different expression. Moved soundly behind , just a bit slack in front in the final decisions.
3RD DARAHILL CHAOS AT STABLEMYST

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (6, 2 ABS)
1ST BELLA BIMBA DELLA BUCA DELLE FATE AT WASSAIL, what a super start to the bitches. A beautiful 6.5 month old baby, so very balanced in all departments, very sound on the move with lovely bone, well handled and superbly presented. Such a promising baby who no doubt will have a fabulous future.
2ND LYNMEAD SENT WITH LOVE AT KALZAN, another very promising baby, but not quite the eye and the sweetness of the winner. Good upper arm and bone and moved reasonably well for a baby with the promise of a good coat. Will have better days as she matures to the job in hand.
3RD BROOKYNUT STORMY AFFAIR

PUPPY BITCH (6, 1 ABS) The best class of the day for in depth quality and a close decision
1ST RIVERSIDE SONG HAPPY ENDING FOR RAYVEL (IMP ROM) just loved this sable girl, in full bloom just being a couple of days short of 12 months. Clean head properties with a kind soft expression, she has a good neck with the correct topline and was very well presented. Moved really well being slightly more accurate in front than the second but a close decision. In the challenge she nearly went all the way  but non the less she is of such quality that she couldn’t be denied BPB,  RBB and BPIS
2ND BELDONES PANDORA, a quality girl who was close up to the winner and followed home by her litter sister. Another in full bloom and she is a born showgirl who was handled and presented to advantage. She has a reachy neck which she used well.  Not disgraced to stand second in this lovely class.
3RD BELDONES SWEET ILLUSION WITH LYNDALE

JUNIOR BITCH (4, 2 ABS)
1ST FRIDENS SIMPLY SPECIAL WITH MERTISA (IMP RUS ), mature looking blue who is a shade darker than the ideal, she has a sweet expression coming from a very nice eye but is perhaps a shade deep  through. She has good bone , a nice neck and a level topline. Moved soundly
2ND SANTALOLY’S SKY AMIDALAS, 17 month old sable who was immaculately presented and handled. Not carrying a coat today. Head is balanced but would prefer a sweeter eye. In spotless condition.

NOVICE BITCH (9, 4 ABS)
1ST RS happy ending for R
2ND B sweet illusion for L, moving up from 3rd in the super puppy class, a feminine girl in full coat with a super reach of neck. I liked her head and expression but still needs a bit of time to fill out. Good bone for her size. Needs to tighten up a little behind but non the less a quality girl.
3rd WASSAIL MIXED SPICE

GRADUATE BITCH ( 11, 5 ABS)           Headed by two nice bitches.
1ST TREEVIEW HOPE AND PROMISES, 2 year old sable in lovely bloom with her coat gleaming, well handled. Accurate on the move if lacking a little bit of verve! Could be slightly cleaner in cheeks but she has a good length of head with correctly set ears. 
2ND SAMHAVEN TIME IS MONEY WITH NIKAL, very shapely tri who in complete contrast to the winner is full of verve !She has a better neck than the winner but on the day wasn’t quite as accurate on the move as the winner. Wish she had richer tan markings. Lovely shape with a good length of back. 
3RD MERTRISA DAMSEL IN BLUE WITH DEANJAN

POST GRADUATE BITCH (3)
1ST   TREEVIEW TELL NO SECRETS OF KELBEWOOD, 2 year old sable and litter sister to the previous class winner and very similar. Another in super bloom and so well presented. Well handled by her young handler. Excellent bone, would prefer a sweeter eye.
2ND RHODABERN WHISPER AND KISS, 3 year old sable in full coat which was well presented. Of a smaller size and carrying a bit too much weight for her frame which didn’t help her on the move
3RD ATENDUS SHARED WISH WITH ANTOC

LIMIT BITCH (7, 3 ABS)
1ST TREMARO TAINTED LOVE AT RAHLISSA 5 year old richly coloured sable and white in excellent body and coat condition with every hair gleaming. Super feminine size, excellent bone, balanced length of head for her size. I would’ve preferred sweeter eye but thats nit picking and i thought overall she presented me a beautiful picture. An excellent  length of back and she is a very good mover and just floated around the ring. A well deserved BB & BOB & BEST IN SHOW
2ND LIZMARK GOLDEN GIRL,  another 5 year old sable with a good topline and yet another from this kennel with a long tail.  Not carrying the body of the winner and was consequently a bit narrow in front, so couldn’t challenge the winner in this department. She has a better eye than the winner but would prefer her ears to be tighter. A very nice size.
3RD BROOKLYNSON JANE RUSSELL OF OAKESTELLE

OPEN BITCH (6, 3 ABS)A bit of mixed class
1ST ANTOC SOUL  DIVA, 3.5 year old daughter of the BVIS winner and a lighter shade of sable than her mother but not dissimilar overall. I liked her size and feminity.  Not an overly enthusiastic showgirl and i would prefer her ears to be tighter which would enhance her expression. Well presented.
2ND RIVERSIDE SONG FAIRY TALE WITH MERTRISA (IMP ROM), A very feminine pale gold sable exhibit who at 6.5 years old is fully mature. This is her downfall coatwise as for me she is carrying far too much which camouflages the body underneath that coat which is actually quite a sound one! She has a very sweet eye and expression and a very reachy neck.
3RD LIZMARK GOLD NUGGET

AV COLLIE ROUGH AND SMOOOTH.
SPECIAL OPEN TRI COLOUR
1ST S TIME IS MONEY at NIKAL rough
2nd D DIAMOND LEGEND rough
3rd BLAMORDER BACK IN TOWN smooth
SPECIAL OPEN BLUE MERLE
1ST ALOPEX MARIONETTE OF OAKESTELLE smooth, very smart moving veteran bitch, liked her head pattern , nice colour with a little bit more black on her than her daughter who was second.  Two very nice blues. 
2ND OAKESTELLE VENUS DE MILO smooth, daughter of the winner and like her she has a very nice neck and overall shape. Not quite the stop of her mother but never the less a quality exhibit.
3RD PELIDO BLUE SAPPHIRE rough
SPECIAL OPEN SABLE AND WHITE
1ST BELDONES SWEET ILLUSION AT LYNDALE rough
2nd LYNMEAD AMALIE LET ME GO rough
3rd LYNMEAD AMALIE BRING ME BACK        

JUDGE  KAY HATELEY