Irish Collie Club 2021 

I was originally contracted to judge this show in 2022, but this was brought forwards at short notice due to the 2021 judge Mr Searle being unable to undertake the appointment owing to illness. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Mr Searle well, and to thank the committee for their kind invitation, my steward Michelle Mitchell for efficiently keeping the proceedings running so well on the day and finally the exhibitors for accepting the change of judge after the close of entries and my choices on the day graciously.

As an Osteopath, both structure and function are of the utmost importance to me. Before anything else, I need to be in no doubt that a collie could do a day’s work with strength, endurance and nimble agility. My line ups in both sexes will make it obvious to those watching, the things which are important to me when judging. All of my top winners moved around the ring with effortless efficiency and grace.

Several dogs were noticeably flagging on the day, perhaps due to travelling, being away from home, and three shows in two days. Some beautiful exhibits disappointingly refused to show themselves at their best on the day and some seemed unhappy in the hall which cost them higher awards. There were some gleaming teeth, and some that needed attention which in otherwise well presented exhibits, was a surprising let down.

Minor Puppy Dog (1,0)

Masculine, flashily marked, gleaming and composed young golden sable man. Presents himself well on the stand with a good reach of neck for a young male, and good amount of bone to ‘grow into’ for his age. Neat feet, strong front pasterns and moved well. Tail met his hock. Plenty of promise.

Puppy Dog (4,0)

S/w dog, good showman, quite compact all over. The first exhibit of the day from this kennel and every one presented in excellent form and sparkling condition. Clean head, which needs time to finish and fill in foreface and underjaw, but at this age is absolutely acceptable. Moves really soundly for a dog his age, and temperament solid. Most together movement, especially at the rear, of any in his class and any in his age category. BPD and BPIB.

Appealing sable dog, shorter and deeper in head than 1. Balanced in body. Gleaming whites. Adequate neck, stands well, rear angulation is stronger than front at this current time. I think he will make a good adult when he grows into himself.

2. Beldones Hunky Dory

3. Ballahanna Bugatti TAF

Junior Dog (0)

Yearling Dog (1,0)

Lovely rich colouring on this s/sable dog, coat presented in good order. Good bone, clean and masculine head, oblique and dark eye. I would prefer ear set tighter. He surprised me on the move as he was lighter on his neat feet and more agile that I would have expected for one carrying a few more lockdown pounds than I would like and this did unfortunately affect the positivity of his movement in both directions, but particularly at the rear.

Post Graduate Dog (2,1)

S/w dog of really nice type with dark eye, and clean head. Quite fine all over but balanced and well proportioned although I’d like a little more neck. Not moving as strongly at the rear as I would like. Well presented.

Limit Dog (4, 0)

Glorious blue boy presented in really good order and the most complete package in the class. Rock solid temperament and outstanding presentation. Super showmanship and handled sympathetically with a real partnership with his handler that is a joy to see. He has a really appealing kind sweetness to his expression whilst still maintaining his air of masculinity. At first glance, he doesn’t seem a big dog, but when compared to his peers, he remains a balanced, well proportioned and masculine boy who meets the standard for size. Neat well tipped tight ears which he carried well and used non stop. Holds his topline and tail well on the move in his herding gait with a good amount of strength and drive at the rear. RDCC.

There was a lot that I liked about this boy, and it was a close decision for me with the winner. Each had their own strengths and merits. I loved the masculine elegance and length of head in this dog, lovely size, shape and build. Jet black coat, well presented and oozing quality and breed type. Eye shape and set is lovely, head is clean, no coarseness whatsoever. Overall moved quite soundly. Doesn’t have the showmanship of the winner but I’d like to see him outside in a grass ring giving us his all.

3. Think of Me Prince of Sunlight at Gataj (Imp HUN) JW

4. Ballahanna All Bets Off

Open Dog (9, 4)

This boy was the most complete package for me today. He is the epitome of impassive dignity, beautifully groomed and presented rich sable, and standing with a commanding profile that one simply cannot go past. Well  proportioned, good bone, carries a strong topline and good reach of neck, Head is a clean and refined wedge, with parallel planes, flat skull, sufficient well placed stop and well sized and set ears all coming together to give a most pleasing expression. He was sound on the move and in temperament. DCC & BOB

2. CH Jugband Blues du Clos de Seawind via Aaronwell (Imp Fra) 

An old favourite of mine, a truly beautiful and elegantly well proportioned gentleman. I have seen him with more vibrancy, including when I judged him before. Beautifully broken blue, with clean masculine head, well moulded, well filled soft foreface, flat skull, well set eye and super expression. Ear set is there, but he was disinterested in his class and in the challenge and this cost him higher honours. Moved at speed, his rear drive is his best feature of his overall sound movement. Considered for the RCC but gave way to two younger boys who were more animated today.

3. Cammana Codename

4. Xcode Della Bucca Delle Fate at Rannaleroch

5. Cariadhaf Crazy Dream

Veteran Dog (2,1)

1. Savataurus’s Only the Lonely VET CH CV19 VW

This handsome gent still has good head qualities despite his years but was flagging today at the third show of the weekend.

Minor Puppy Bitch (1,1)

Puppy Bitch (5,2)

1. Erjon Ebony Jewels

Tri pup of 11.5 months, not in full coat now but with nothing to hide! There is much to like about this young lady who has such ring presence for a youngster. Her profile when standing is so balanced, with everything as it should be, almost as if she were a drawing in a textbook of the ideal collie shape. Lovely length of back to height ratio and excellent angulation both front and rear. Clean and well balanced head with enough stop, skull flat and eye well shaped and set. Used ears well. She is one that I considered for top honours but on the move although her nimble gait looked good in profile, she was tending to pull away from her handler and this cost her a green card on the day.

2. Gataj Good Time Girl

Another quality pup beautifully turned out from this kennel and in full bloom today. So similar to her litter brother in type, she is a pretty girl with a clean head, but again, I would like more fill in her foreface, and hope that this will come in time as she develops further. Eye is dark, ears well placed and used. Needs a little more composure on the move but should make a lovely adult.

3. Ballahanna Bethanny TAF

Junior Bitch (0)

Yearling Bitch (3,2)

1. Gataj Honey Bee

Again, I have to say outstanding presentation on this bitch. She has an appealing head with a softness to her expression that comes from clean lines and a well filled muzzle and good underjaw. I would like her ears tighter to complete the picture. Well proportioned throughout and well angled front quarters. Slight roll on the move.

Post Graduate Bitch (4,0)

1. Call Me Dreamer in Blue for Ileyda Della Verde Scozia JW (IMP ITA)

This elegant blue lady was the most complete picture and outmoved the other exhibits today in this class. She isn’t in full coat, but as with the puppy, she is not hiding anything and is balanced in shape and proportion, well angled with a particularly good reach of neck. Soft expression, used ears well. Beautifully presented and handled to get the best from her. In the challenge, while she presented a lovely profile view, she was not quite as settled on the move and this cost her higher honours.

2. Starlenga All My Love to Aaronwell TAF As with her litter brother, there was a lot that I liked about this young lady. A pretty girl, slightly shorter in head than 1 with a lovely fill to her muzzle and super dark well placed eye. I would prefer ears smaller and tighter to complete the picture. Sound on the move, well angulated front and rear.

3. Jopium Loves to Sparkle at Meryctin

4. Tiganlea Twinkling Sapphire at Rannaleroch

Limit Bitch (5,0)
Interesting class of quality bitches, all with their own merits and on a different day, several could change places.

1. Tiganlea Too Good to be True

Glamourous sable bitch with a wealth of coat. I have never seen her before and thought her quite lovely. Super length of back, well proportioned, good reach of neck and well angled on the stand. Head is clean, eye is dark and well positioned, with clean stop giving soft expression. Skull flat, used her ears intermittently, but I’d have liked to see them tighter. Won her class on movement. In the challenge, she frustratingly refused to show off her virtues despite me giving her every opportunity, and so gave the top award away to her sister.

2. Erjon Evolving Star

‘What a good make and shape’ is what I have written in my notes. Lovely parallel planes to her flat skull, nicely shaped eye, used ears well. Very sound on the move and took her place over 3 on front construction and topline.

3. Paradise Girl du Clos de Seawind for Gataj (IMP FRA)

4. Samhaven Sister Sara for Ballahanna

5. Cambrogan Blowin a Hoolie

Open Bitch (6,2)

1.HUN INT CH Tiganlea Make Good Time JW

Perfectly proportioned bitch who has a lovely reach of neck and length of back. She is well put together, and beautifully conditioned with excellent muscle tone and a correct tail length. On the stand, she is very keen for food and can push her weight bearing back into her hocks, but her construction front and rear is sound and her athletic movement is effortless with both reach and drive. If you go over her head with the standard in your mind, she ticks all the boxes. Very similar indeed to the winner of Limit, who if I am honest, I prefer ‘between the eyes’ as her stop is slightly cleaner, and overall expression softer, but one has to see a dog ‘holistically’ as a complete specimen and on the day, for me she was the most complete bitch and just outmoved everyone else. The CC says ‘worthy of the title Champion’ and she undoubtably is. BCC.

2. Jopium Love Heart JW SHCM

This bitch is a real picture, and knows how to make the best of herself. So well presented and totally at one with her owner using her neat ears non stop. Has a ‘flick’ in her coat on her topline which makes her look like her slight rise over the loin starts too far forwards, but hands on she is correct. She has an appealing head and soft sweetness to her enquiring expression, with a deeper stop than 1, though I would perhaps like something somewhere between the two of them in a perfect world. Lovely bone, neat feet, in super condition throughout and moved soundly to take the RCC when called in to challenge.

3. Takhisis Hope and Dreams with Gataj

4. Cariadhaf Cookies and Cream for Cambrogan

Veteran Bitch (0)

Hannah Walder (Hanvale)