London & Provincial Collie Club Ch Show 31.10.2021

BOB (Rough) and BIS

Thank you so much to the officers, committee and stewards of London & Provincial Collie Club for inviting me to judge BOB (Rough) and the BIS awards at their championship show. I had a very enjoyable day, it was a very friendly atmosphere and a very well run show. Also, many thanks to the exhibitors and my co-judges for accepting my choices in such a sporting manner.

I was pleased to award BOB and finally BIS to the rough tricolour, Int Ch Skabona The Gambler at Chelborn – a handsome and upstanding male with an imposing ring presence, he has great substance yet does not appear ‘cloddy’, well balanced head and a pleasant expression, to be critical I would prefer a slightly better moulded foreface and a little less depth through in head but this did not distract from his many other qualities, strong and well built body, adequate reach of neck, his front assembly has a good shoulder and upper arm enabling him to move with good forward reach, equally well angulated at the rear and with a strong hock which he uses well, on the move he reaches out well in front and has excellent drive both viewed from the side and back, covering the ground well and with ease, giving a completely balanced impression and keeping a firm topline, very well presented and handled. He beat the very glamorous and eye catching Ch Hanvale Polly Shelby - a top class girl who presents a most attractive outline and overall picture, she excels in expression possessing the most soft and kind eye and with her perfect and neat ears, correctly placed and used, she gives a most melting look. She has adequate front angulation, excellent spring of rib and depth of chest and excellent rear angulation, she moved freely although a little heavy and rather loose in topline which meant she had to give way for Reserve Best of Breed to the blue merle, Ch Ingledene Mercury Risin – a very elegant male, his head is very clean from all angles, free from depth, good underjaw, correct stop, flat and well filled backskull, dark, obliquely set and almond shaped eyes giving a kind and gentle expression, correct ears which he used when needed, he is soundly constructed which showed in his effortless and free movement, excellent reach and drive, very light on his feet, clear silvery colour and correct marbling. He also beat the smooth shaded sable bitch, Coneypark Golden Brown for Reserve Best In Show – a very balanced looking girl with excellent construction giving a really lovely outline, well arched neck and great top line, beautifully angulated front and back, good spring of rib and depth of chest, moved out well from all angles although a little wide behind, balanced in head although I would prefer better head planes and moulding and a better eye.

Best Puppy In Breed and eventually Best Puppy In Show was the young tricolour, Corydon Krug - a very well balanced and stylish tricolour with a shiny jet black coat in lovely condition, he has the cleanest head, very refined and whilst still needing time to develop in head, there is no trace of depth and a lovely shaped and placed eye giving him a pleasing expression, good reach of neck, strong well built body and well toned, well angulated front and back and he glides across the ground without effort keeping a steady topline, to be critical I would just like a little more of him all over, he narrowly beat a very glamorous and attractive sable, Gataj Good Time Girl, who instantly appealed for her make and shape, immaculately presented, very feminine with excellent body proportions, pleasing head and eye, adequate front angulation although a little steep in upper arm, excellent hind angulation, however, I found her a little overweight which also affected her topline on the move.

Reserve Best Puppy In Show went to the smooth puppy, Blamorder Audacity – a very smart looking tricolour male with excellent proportions and a good reach of neck, balanced in head but I would prefer a better moulded foreface and a better eye, slightly steep in upper arm and moved a little broad behind, jet black coat, a very confident youngster and he used himself well.

Best Veteran In Show was the smooth, Oakestelle Venus De Milo – a very elegant blue merle built on clean sweeping lines, stood out with her excellent conformation and overall balance, head clean and perfectly balanced with a correct stop, flat skull, no depth or flaring in skull, pleasant eye, very soundly constructed, good forechest, spring of rib and depth of chest, strong and firm topline, well angulated front and back which showed in her free flowing, effortless and purposeful movement, covering the ground with ease, correct tight fitting coat in top condition and a clear silvery blue with perfect black marbling completed the picture, presented in top condition. She beat the rough veteran, Collingvale Chardonnay – a  well balanced sable presenting a very pleasing overall outline, soundly constructed, well balanced head and sweet expression, good angulation front and back, excellent bone, very fit, she moved out freely and effortlessly, she beat the very well known Nikal It’s Gud To Be Black - tricolour who was presented in tip top condition and possessing a jet black coat, I would prefer a cleaner head pattern and a better shaped eye, very well bodied with deep chest and good spring of rib, moved freely but on this occasion was outshone by the sable.

Lene Newman