London and Provincial Collie Club Championship Show
November 18th 2018
Bitches

I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge Rough Bitches at this show, and I thank my two stewards for keeping everything in apple pie order. I was extremely happy with my entry which had quality in depth making for some hard decisions. Keeping in mind the Collie’s sheepdog heritage I am searching for dogs with strong athletic body construction, completely free from cloddiness, because without such construction  the Collie cannot possibly work tirelessly as a shepherd for up to 14 hours per day. I have met Rough Collies that DO work such long hours, they do still exist. Movement is the key to structure and I am delighted to say that my line up of top-quality bitches could all move without effort and not one had a cloddy appearance! Single tracking is an important factor in every shepherding breed, it is the most energy efficient form of movement, and every old book written on the Collie tell us they should single track when moving at speed. Dogs cannot single track if the chest is too wide and the rib cage too round, not without developing a rolling top-line anyway! The breed relies on us to acquire enough knowledge that we can preserve its true qualities, it will be a sad world for Collies if we fail in our duty.

Veteran 5(2a)
1) Stillwell's BELLAWAVE MOONLIGHT MELODY Evergreen tricolour of 11 years and moving like a well oiled five year old. Such grace and elegance, her superbly arched neck and body length coupled with legs of the correct length provide a true collie outline. Still strong in pastern  (front and rear) with lovely tight feet, good length of head, every detail harmonising.  Her endearing expression is both sweet and cheeky, she has lovely small neat ears and is a non-stop showgirl, what more can one ask for? For me the proof of a good Collie lies in his/her ability to remain youthful, she has mastered that art!  I was thrilled to see her take BVIB on the referee’s decision. 
2) Margett's AMALIE LET ME BE AT COLINGVALE JW Very feminine sable with head of good length, flat skull, clean cheeks and attentive ears. Her dark well shaped eyes gave a sweet, happy and intelligent expression. Another having inherited the 'youth gene' Moves very soundly, nicely angulated but not quite the length of neck of my winner.
3) Clark's BUEBEZI BIJOU AVEC DERBYPARK JW Blue merle of good colour, very dark sweet eyes, clean through the cheek, flat skull. Ears a little widely set and she lacked enthusiasm on the move, but she completed a trio of lovely veteran bitches.

Minor Puppy (5)
1) Carlyon's DYCOSHEM SEDONA BELLE Sable baby of good size showing off her super length of neck and elegant outline. Nice balanced with very good height to body length ratio. Stylish mover for a baby. Good length of head is in harmony with her body length, and sports clean cheeks, flat skull and correct amount of stop. Neat well used ears combined with dark well placed eyes of the correct size give her a gentle and appealing expression. Very nice baby.
2) Flowers SERENLAS HEAVEN IN BLUE Blue baby of 6 months and giving away a lot to maturity. She is a touch dark in colour but I feel this will improve when she gets her adult jacket. Gorgeous head, so clean and a true wedge from every angle. Lovely expression and neat well used ears Flat well filled skull, strong chin with tight lip line (which I love) She has a well balanced outline showing no exaggerations, and she has a dignified disposition. Just needs time. 
3) Clark's STAVOS SODA STREAM Another blue bitch, much more mature and her colour is wonderful. Lovely happy character. She has a decent head and dark well placed eyes provide her with a lovely expression. She is a little short in croup and this shows on the move, where her tail manners spoilt her outline.
4) Hendricks MERTRISSA WILD JASMINE WITH ANPASCH
5) DYCOSHEM SONORA SUNSHINE.

Puppy 7 (1a)
1) Beadon and Arrowsmith's SAGANAN BLUE DIAMOND she conquered my heart, her colour and balance of outline hit me right between the eyes, she shimmered like sunlight on hoarfrost! Everything harmonises. Body and head of correct length and depth, such a feminine girl and simply bursting with promise. She has strong rounded bone, neat feet with strength in pastern. Super strong arch of neck, ably created by her well angulated front and her beautiful sweep of stife and strong hocks complete the picture. She is a madam and it shows! She moves exceptionally well. BPB and on the decision of the referee she finished BPIS. Well done! 
2) D. SEDONA BELLE
3) Mellish's DEMELEWIS DOUBLE DARE Another extremely elegant blue baby showing off her long well arched neck and correct balance in length of leg versus depth of chest ratio. Nicely angulated, long tail, collected and athletic on the move with good topline. Head is a true wedge being clean through the cheeks, stop correct, flat skull and excellent chin and lip line. Not quite the maturity of first and second and at this stage I prefered their expression.
4) Collino's IMAGINIST SPARROWHAWK
5) COLLINGVALE CAVA

Junior Bitch 5
1) Gallagher's GEMHEID CALL ME TROUBLE Tricolour bitch, well up to size but still feminine. Superb head and expression, such a well filled muzzle, flat skull, beautifully formed chin and tight lip line. Correct stop. Her dark eyes give a melting but intelligent expression. Good show girl. She has a lot of puppy coat over her shoulders and back which I hope will flatten out with her next coat, presently her lovely neck
and topline tend to disappear into it. I really had to feel through her coat to find her lovely construction. Strong bone and substance, compact tight feet and pasterns, correct body proportions and strong hocks. She is very enthusiastic and positive on the move showing off her power and energy.
2) Wray-Ramsden's DANFRABEK LADY MADONNA eye catching and elegant young lady, clean long head with good chin and a super eye shape and placement giving her a soft, sweet yet intelligent expression. Moves very well with style and ease, she pushed my class winner right to the wire!
3) Jackson's SASSARI MADE ME SILVER Completed a lovely trio of young ladies. Loved this feminine blue who was just a little unsettled today. Very pretty head, the length of which was in balance with her overall length of body. Fabulous eye and expression, she looked at me and I saw my old boy 'Neon' shining through those eyes, it brought a lump to my throat. Her blue jacket is a glorious colour, one I would love to judge outside.
4) COLINVALE CAVA
5) AMBARTR ETERNAL LIFE

Novice 7
1) Mesdams W. MCgill and A Boyd's STREGATO GEMELLI AMORE  Sable bitch with such an attitude to life, she really could do a days work, her stand and demand attitude seemed to know no bounds, and I am certain she could tackle the strongest of rams and 'nip and tuck' all day long. Standing she has a beautiful outline, strong rounded bone, plenty of substance but without any coarseness.  Dark well placed eyes, strong muzzle and chin. Alert and focused to the job in hand. Being top size and young, she needs time to develop supportive muscle, and because of this her handler needs to slow down a little when moving her. When moved at the right pace for 'her' she went with effortless ease and positive flowing movements. I had a line up of top notch bitches to choose from and it was a tough decision, but in the end I chose to reward her workmanlike qualities in a breed that is in danger of losing such, and I gave her the RBCC , I later discovered this was a first show for this dog and a first homebred reserve cc winner for her owners, so well done !
2) D SEDONA BELLE
3) Collino's IMAGINIST BIRD ON A WIRE. Pretty and feminine sable bitch with a nice outline, clean well balanced head, flat skull, correct stop and dark sweet, well placed eyes giving a lovely expression. She has a nice body outline but needs to settle and strengthen on the move.
4) COLLINGVALE CAVA
5) AMBARTR ETERNAL FLAME

Graduate 5
1) Geddes INGLEDENE LACE'N LIGHT What a super young lady this is, she was a heart breaker as she was distracted in the challenge by background noise and insisted on tuning into it! She has strength,substance and true workmanlike construction, and yet she is utterly feminine.  Perfect for size. One of the first breed standards I ever read said that the Collie is a dog of 'perfect anatomical balance' I have never forgotten those words and wish the KC would re-introduce them, this girl has it. Her construction is balanced in every way providing elegance and dignity. Sitting atop that lovely arch of powerful neck is a stunning head, perfectly proportioned with absolutely no excessive depth, she has a clean cut chin, tight lip-line, ultra flat skull which is on display for all to see, she has nothing hidden or moulded, by excess hair. Ears are well placed when she uses them. Correct size, shape and placement of eyes giving her a sweet intelligent expression. Athletic, strong and positive on the move.
2) Scamp's STREGATO THE MALEFICENT AT MARKETDENE Sable girl with one of the best heads I judged all day, good length, balanced throughout, no excessive depth, superb chin. Ultra flat skull, cleanest of cheeks running smoothly into a well filled muzzle and providing a perfect receptacle for her obliquely set dark eyes. She is well constructed and moves well, but has a tendency to tuck herself under at the back which spoils her outline in profile. She is probably very keen on the bait!
3) Collino's IMAGINIST WILLOW WREN I really liked this tri bitch and she was unlucky to meet first and second. Smaller but not undersized. Graceful balanced outline, alert ears, beautiful dark well placed eyes giving her a soft and dreamy expression. Sound mover. She was not in the best of coat condition today.
4) Lyall's SANTOLY'S SKY AMIDALAS
5) Tungate's PRINCE OF SUNLIGHT LET ME LOVE YOU (imp Hungary)

Post Graduate 6
1) Flower's SERENLAS KEEPING FAITH My star of the day and how lovely to see the sheer astonishment turn to joy when I handed her owner the big green card! No exaggerations on this tricolour bitch whose inky black coat shone like a mirror. She reminds me of some of the bitches from the 1970-80’s 'golden' era of Collies! Absolutely classic head. The Collie is not or should not be a square dog. It is or should be rectangular, and the head should be in proportion to that body shape, so the head is required to have length. The whole 'picture' should portray dignity. I was looking for this lovely length of head in my winners, and found it in several, including this one. She just oozes impassive dignity, taking life calmly, unflustered by the life passing by her, she is owning the ground! One cannot show impassive dignity to the enst degree without having harmony, balance and character. Her ultra flat skull merges harmoniously into her well filled muzzle, just the right amount of stop too and absolutely no flare or prominent cheek bones, all finished by a well formed chin with tight lip-line. Together these outstanding head qualities blend into the perfect well blunted clean wedge, just what the breed standard asks for. However it doesn't stop there. The breed standard also says ABSOLUTE SOUNDNESS IS ESSENTIAL and I take the words of the standard with great seriousness. I do not focus on one aspect. Movement outlines every inch of a dog’s construction and especially when viewed in profile and even more so during the second journey around the ring. I want my CC winner to move like a sheepdog, thus showing it has perfect annatomical formation!  When moving at speed the Collie (like all sheepdogs) should begin to single track. Single tracking is the most economic (energy saving) form of movement, think of trying to run yourself without merging one foot in front of the other. A dog cannot successfully single track if the rib cage is too wide and round. No matter how much I moved this collie, she obliged by putting in a faultless performance, and when her speed went up a notch, she began to single track whilst maintaining a perfectly level top line, now that is proof of good construction!  Bitch CC and on the decision of the referee BOS RBIS BOSIS Huge congratulations to her breeder/owner.
2) Jackson's SASSARI SKYFALL oh my what a charmer! So cheeky in attitude I just loved her seductive showring smile, and she really used her crested neck constantly showing off a super outline! Coat in lovely condition, it gleams jet black. Would like her head to be very slightly longer, but I couldn't resist her overall charm, good construction and sound movement. I bet she is an absolute joy to own.
3) Bartrams AMBARTR BORN TO FOLLOW Some would say this sable girl is oversized and that could be true, however when I looked beyond her size I found a bitch that in no way could anyone truly describe as anything but Rough Collie! Everything is in proportion. Lovely long clean head, excellent finish to her chin and lip line, perfect stop so she has no excessive depth between the brow and under-line of her jaw. I have seen her before but I have never seen her looking so good, but this type of bitch inevitably gets better with age. She has the space to provide her with an excellent lay of shoulder and beautiful forechest, and she has powerful rear angulation too. She moved out with fluidity and style. Size is only one fault which should be taken by degree and viewed against a dog’s other qualities, too small is also a fault! In my book this girl will always deserve a second look.
4) Pilpin's SASSARI SNOW SHIMMER FOR TUDORLYN JW
5) S.SKY AMIDALAS

Mid Limit 3
A difficult class to judge as there was such a wide variance in type.
1) COLLINVALE CHARDONAY Feminine sable bitch, her flowing elegance of construction creating a beautiful outline. On the smaller size of the standard but still within the size range. In glamorous coat with a wealth of feathers. Presented well and very attentive to her handler. I would prefer her a little longer and cleaner in head which would provide space for a more obliquely set eye, however her overall quality of outline and sound movement could not be denied. Ears are small, placed correctly and well used, I find her eyes to be foreward set but they are dark and show a bright, happy and intelligent expression.
2) A. BORN TO FOLLOW
3) Lyall's SANTOLY'S SKY AMIDALAS Pretty girl showing a nice profile outline, very attentive to handler and well presented, in sparkling coat condition. Excellent ear carriage, bright intelligent expression, head ok although she is a little bit strong through the cheeks. Hind movement was a little weak.

Limit 4 (1a)
Another difficult class.
1) Gallagher's GEMHEID REBEKAH Bold outgoing super confident sable bitch, well up to size but not oversized, showing strength of body and ease of movement, she strode out covering the ground with ease and style. Ears were a touch light but well placed. Decent head of good length, balanced with a well filled muzzle, clean cheeks and good chin. Happy and intelligent expression. She is between coats and it marred her outline slightly, however she was the only bitch in this class to move with drive and confidence on the hall floor.
2) Randall's FATA TURCHINA LADNAR DI CAMBIANO (IMP ITA) Very feminine blue of lovely colour, her silvery blue jacket had excellent clarity. Coat in grand condition. Neat clean head with flat skull and strong chin, I appreciated her lovely expression and tight ear carriage. She was not enjoying the hall which became evident when asked to move when she insisted on slouching as she went round the ring.  I am sure she would be much more enthusiastic outside on grass.
3) Bartrams JARDS CRYSTAL ROSE AT AMBARTR Loved this bitch, such a super type. Clean refined and elegant and in lovely coat with glamorous petticoats and feathering. Beautiful true Collie outline. Sadly she didn't want to be handled. I am sure she can move well when the mood takes her, but today she was unsettled and thus it affected her movement.

Open 7
1) Mellish's CORYDON VICTORIANA FOR DEMELEWIS . What a jolt down memory lane, she reminds me so much of the Corydon bitch I fell in love with back in the very early 70's, namely Ch Corydon Qui Vive! She shares that same magnificent length of body and neck, strength, substance and bone, long clean head with well filled muzzle, and the fluidity of movement of Qui Vive, or Sophie as she was known by her friends, and I consider myself to have been one of them! However Victoriana has a nicer eye and expression than her predecessor. I LOVED her elegance and sheer dignity. I considered her for the CC but she just lacked a little in coat condition today that could otherwise have catapulted her to higher honours.
2) Mesdames McGill and Boyd's GEMHEID CHINA GIRL AT STREGATO Beautifully formed shaded sable in glorious coat condition, she has super bone and is a powerhouse on the move. Very attentive to handler. Beautifully shaped angulation and lovely short strong hocks, good length of well arched neck, and she exhibits such enthusiasm, she was a happy girl and she didn't care who knew it, she hadn't a care in the world! I would just prefer a slightly longer leaner head, but she has very many wonderful qualities and one cannot fail to listen when she clearly shouts out, "look at me again"
3) Benton's BROOKLYNSON JANE RUSSELL OF OAKSTELLE Feminine sable bitch of lovely breed type, elegant and refined. Beautiful head, clean and of good length, flat skull, well filled foreface, clean cut chin and tight lip-line. Expressive neat ears and beautiful expression. I would prefer a tad more length of neck. Moves soundly.
4) SASSARI SEA SHIMMER
5) LADNAR INKHEART

Angela Harvey (judge)