The London Collie Club
Championship Show 13th June 2021
I would like to thank the officers and committee of The London Collie Club for inviting me to judge Smooth Collies at this lovely, well organised show. The committee worked flat out and my steward was excellent keeping everything moving steadily.
My observations of the breed since last time I judged were these. In a lot of cases eyes have lost the medium size almond shape that the breed standard asks for, along with light eyes which spoil that sweet expression which only a collie can give, when the ear and eye set are correctly placed. Where has the lovely round bone and substance gone, many of the exhibits were fine and too small. In general movement wasn't as good as it could be, the lovely long stride and driving rear action was missing today. I know the ring was uneven, but no way should that stop a collie moving with style and elegance, with good top line, stood and on the move. When all these factors are pulled together, watching the exhibits moving around the the ring commands attention of the judge and spectators, it just takes your breath away,... wonderful! Having said all that I was pleased with my main winners and my critique is not intended to pull the exhibits to pieces but rather to encourage breeders to strive for excellence and to see Smooth Collies taking groups and best in shows, which many have done in the past and will continue to do so.
1. Puppy Dog - Lusty's Blamorder Audacity, tri-colour of 7 months old, of nice type,pleasing head, ears correctly placed and he used them when asked to do so, enough neck leading into good shoulders a deep chest, nicely boned legs and feet, level top line which he held on the move, stood and he was balanced, presenting a good outline. He moved well enough to take best puppy and best puppy in breed well done.
2. Flower, Breckamore Peaky Blinder at Lyndaryn, Blue merle of 8 months, lovely colour - clear, well broken silver blue splashed with black, his head is of good length and needs to settle in stop. He has good planes and good under jaw, he has a good neck. He appears a little high on the leg at the moment, when he drops in chest and fills out, it should sort that out and make him look more balanced. Needs more time to mature.
Junior dog. 1. French Wynele Top Gun, sable and white of 10 months a quality quality puppy with excellent make and shape, well balanced head correctly placed stop well shaped eyes moulded muzzle, good under jaw and level planes, strong neck of good length, his chest is deep well laid shoulders level top line held on the move, lovely turn of stifle moving steadily with tail carried correctly, unfortunately he couldn't go any higher in the awards today.
Post Graduate Dog 1. Holloway- Coneypark Coldplay tri - colour coming up 5 years in nice condition and well bodied up, his head is too strong in back skull for me, his eye could have a better shape, having said that he has a good length of head moulded for face good under jaw and neat well placed ears, good top-line and moved steady.
2. Martin & Howard Shandlmain Blue Chief, blue merle of 2 years, his colour needs to clear another dog who is in nice condition. His head is too strong in back skull for me he has a lovely reach of neck and nicely made throughout, he wasn't moving as good as the winner today.
Limit Dog, 1. Naulls- Wynelle Indian Ink, coming up 2 years a quality tri-colour dog just coming into his own, certainly the best mover of the day I think he has a lot to offer the breed as he is full of breed type, My Dog CC and BOB. He has a good clean head well placed ears which he uses, when he is stood to attention produces a pleasing expression with the combination of the eye set and balance of head, structurally he is so well balanced throughout and on the move he was striding out with lovely extension of his front and driving from the rear keeping his top line all the time carrying his tail correctly and moving true for and aft, in this current form I was pleased to award him a well deserved first CC surely the other 2 cannot be too far away.
2.Lusty Blamorder Bring Him Home 4 year old tricolour smaller than the winner but a nice type and pleasing outline, his head is of good type with level planes, flat skull with the neatest of ears correctly placed, he has a good reach of neck nice front assembly, level top line moving steady. 3. Howard Jack Mack's Va Buidhinn of Shandlmain Imp Deu .
Open dog 1. Hayward Ch Foxearth Fletch coming up 4 year, Blue Merle of nice type, stood this dog has a lovely out line good rounded bone and substance but on the move today he lacked motivation and rather lethargic his obvious qualities won him the Rcc. He carries a good head with nice expression used his ears well ,good reach of Neck good front assembly deep chest,. level top line ,good turn of stifle,2 Smith, ESP/PT/GIB/INT CH Winter Is Coming To Tentola 5 year old Blue Merle well broken , a dog in good condition with a tight jacket well presented, he possess a good length of head level planes, good under jaw and well filled muzzle, he uses his ears well ,good reach of neck good front and deep chest nicely boned good feet, level top line well turned stifle ,long tail he was moving wide at the rear today probably with excitement not getting to any shows for 18 months.
3. Denton. CH Brackenhaye Fields of Gold.
Puppy Bitch.1. Naulls. Wynelle Cover Girl sable & White of, 10months what a lovely puppy she is well grown with lovely bone and substance, such a pity the lock down has taken its toll, hopefully she will gain in confidence as she gets used to the show scene. Good head with clean wedge, level planes good stop nicely filled muzzle and good under jaw, she has a pleasing expression and neat well placed ears, good reach of neck ,well placed shoulders deep chest ans good legs and feet, good length of back strong rear with good turn of stifle a long well set tail unfortunately I could not assess her movement.
2. Howard. Shandlmain Sofistikate Tricolour of 8 months nicely grown giving a couple of months away to the winner, she presents a very neat package with some nice qualities, she has a clean cut head, needs to settle in skull,very good neck and shoulders I was unable to assess her top line and movement as she was unsure of her surroundings and what is expected of her, another casualty of lock down,hopefully with time she with gain in confidence.
3. Davies & Brown. Breckamore Blessings At Wystry
Junior Bitch.1. Benton. Brackenhaye Queen of Hearts of Oakstelle. 15 months Tricolour making the most of herself possessing a very pretty head which is balanced with a well placed stop very neat well placed and carried ears combined with her eye set produced a sweet expression, her neck has a lovely reach which can be appreciated when stood in profile as can her top line, front and rear angulation correctly carried tail, moved steady.
2. Denton. Brackenhaye Heart and Soul, Tricolour of 15 months litter sister to the winner and of the same shapely type most of my critique applies to both the winners to be critical I would prefer a darker eye.
3, Howard. Brackenhaye Heartbreaker at Shandlmain.
Post Graduate Bitch. 1. Sweeney & Lusty . Blamorder Do Quite Nicely, good coloured Blue Merle 2 years old, good outline carrying a pretty head with neat well placed ears, lovely reach of neck ,good shoulders legs and feet level top line which she held on the move which was true, super long tail .
2. French. Foxearth Fabostinta. 3 Year old Tricolour slightly bigger all through than the winner which is not a bad thing having the bone and substance that I like, she has a good head with a lovely dark eye which seem to be in decline in the breed, neat well placed ears with a good outline and lovely turn of stifle and moving well,
3. Caulfield. Blamorder Marvellousness
Limit Bitch.1. Jerrett. Blamorder Sunny Day. 3 year old Sable & White, My CC winner hope her 3rd is not too far away, when she entered the ring she instantly appealed for her type and her cleanness of head going over her she did not disappoint. Her head for me is of classic type which I love to see she has a lovely dark almond eye neat ears, the cleanest of heads so smooth to go over and a good length, she possesses a sweet expression which I love. Lovely neck, good front and rear level back good tail carriage movement was true,she did everything asked of her, when it came to best of breed my dog CC winner just out moved her with his long stride and free flowing action, well done .
2. Naulls. Wynelle Couldn't Could She. Coming up 2 years old Sable & White, of good quality, lovely bone and substance very good type with a good head and good outline unfortunately she was rather unsettled standing and on the move, never the less a good dual purpose girl.
3. Lusty. Blamorder Fancy Patter
Open Bitch. 1. French. Wyelle Alice Blue Gown with Breckamore, Blue Merle 4 years old, well broken colour a bigger type girl with plenty to give, nice head of good length good stop moulded muzzle and good under jaw, I would prefer a smaller better shaped eye which would enhance her expression as she used her ears to advantage, good neck ,deep chest well boned legs and feet ,good length of back, nicely angled rear well carried tail her movement was true ,she wasn't motivated to put in the effort to stride out which I know she can, stilled deserved the RCC
2. Flower. Breckamore Butter Fingers. 5 years old Tricolour of good make and shape very appealing, another with a pleasing head and expression, balanced head and neat ears I would prefer a darker eye, her outline says it all, nothing out of place and looks good.
A special mention to all the exhibitors for their entries and bringing their dogs under me, thank you
Geoff Hyde
judge |
