MIDLAND COLLIE CLUB Single Breed Championship Show - Rough Collies – 7/8/21
Dog Critique – Judge Paul Battigan (Roclynn)

Midland Collie Club held their deferred Breed Championship Show today 7th August 2021 at a new outdoor venue for them at Edingale, where despite the ominous weather forecast, fortune did “favour the brave” and judging was completed in comfort for all.  My thanks to the hard-working Officers, Committee and Stewards, lots of attention to detail and behind the scenes work not least in the “Bake Off” Pavilion.  Congratulations to Show Secretary Sophie Wray-Ramsden and the entire team on a job well done. Naturally, and as always, a huge thank you to the exhibitors who gave me the pleasure of going over their dogs here today. I also had the pleasure of judging alongside Mrs. Samantha Wrisdale and have to acknowledge the beautiful bitches she sent forward for final awards, the high- quality Ch Tiganlea Tinkerbelle at Revdvicki was a treat to go over, such a high-quality all-rounder and worthy Champion, Res Best in Show.  The nod for Best Puppy in Show went to Erjon Ebony Jewels, little charmer, super make and shape and quality head, eye and expression. In the males my tops seven, one Swed, three French, one Dutch & two Scotsmen but my pleasure to judge all, placed or unplaced – Thank You.    

Veteran Dog

1. Clares BLUECHIP SOLAR STORM OF SKYESHELM. Headpiece of nice length with a soft and mild eye, nice length of neck and body, in nice condition. He covered the ground with ease and carries his years well. His balance of attributes between head and construction securing him the class.

2. Williams ESSANJAY DARK MOON RISING. Clean lines with lovely length of neck flowing into nice shoulder. A dog with a little style about him with size and length who was nicely toned throughout. Moved ok too.

Minor Puppy Dog

1. Lockyer’s GATAJ OUT OF THE WOODS. Amongst an interesting range of puppies at different stages of development this sweet young man for me today scored highest not in either one area or another alone but for the essential “in the moment” mix of qualities. The head was quiet pleasing with dark eye and neat ears, well enough angulated and he showed steadily and moved out with confidence to the end. He was also Best Puppy Dog today.

2. Collins TRIBURLE CHANCE OF PASSION. I did at first think this boy might be my class winner. Well coated up with nice body and the most forward of the youngsters. More matured in head, nicely balanced and filled in foreface with pleasant alert expression, enough neck, nicely rounded quarters.

Puppy Dog

1. Llewellyn’s RED HOT CHILLI PEPPER DU CLOS DE SEAWIND AT SALSINA. Stood alone but an attractive sable lad who was pleasing to handle, kind in eye, clean in head. Moved ok. Just needs to mature on now.

Junior Dog

1. Turners CHANTIQUE MAGICAL MYSTERY

2. Turners PAULARA NO WHERE MAN. Although their age when given revealed otherwise my first though was that these two could be litter mates, not the case, however they are from the same kennel I see now, and I felt they had much in common. Masculine in outlook with wealth of coat, both handled quite well in head, both with neat ears and good eye and expression and moving out on short strong well let down hocks. Little to separate them all round really but although the tri on first look seemed to have marginally more neck, on handling I did just prefer the upper arm on the sable, and this gave him the edge.

Special Yearling Dog

1. Turners CHANTIQUE MAGICAL MYSTERY

2. Turners PAULARA NO WHERE MAN

Maiden Dog

1. Collins TRIBURLE CHANCE OF PASSION

2. Blakes CORYDON KRUG. Just a baby but one who can put his best foot forward on the move. This clever breeder doesn't require my “tuppence worth” and knows well that he has the essentials in that department and that as he develops on in body and finishes in head be will make up to a stylish dog of clean lines. Beautifully black. Sensibly handled.

Novice Dog

1. Collins TRIBURLE CHANCE OF PASSION

2. Blakes CORYDON KRUG. 

Graduate Dog

1. Cronk’s CHELBORN THAT'LL DO. Well his sire owed this kennel nor the breed nothing more and yet it would seem that he has left a parting gift in the shape of this attractive tricolour, a lad with a little attitude and sense of himself. The head is clean and moulded, his stop breaks very nicely, the eye is dark and well set and the whole combines to produce a desirable expression.

2. Dixs BARRENCLOUGH DIAMOND SKIES. Moved up from 3rd in two previous classes, a golden sable whose head was nicely forward of the shoulder, ok for bone. Quite a well -balanced clean wedge and pleasant expression.

Post Graduate Dog

1. Congdons STARLENGA ALL THAT JAZZ FROM AARONWELL. This one was interesting, doesn't lack anything in terms of length of head, truly clean through the cheeks, nice stop, no depth or flaring, neat ear and good eye. Everything you might expect of his breeding. Ok for neck, good length of back, nicely let down hock and covered enough ground on the move. Will be interested to see how this one progresses as he comes to his best in time.   

2. Lockyer’s GATAJ STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. Another pleasing sable from this kennel. Quite nice head properties here, well placed eye, forehand was ok, enough neck. Short hock. Moved ok.

Mid Limit Dog

1. McCann’s OAKLAND BLUE STYLE DU CLOS DE SEAWIND AT ZOLKHAN. From an exhibitor with a keen eye who always brings something to the table came today this most attractive blue to top one of the stronger classes of the day. Now ultimately, he did face some competition in the stature stakes but for me there is none the less a touch of class about this lad. Nicely coated clear blue coat covers his frame, nothing overdone. Ever attentive to his handler he sets himself up well and makes the most of his attributes. For expression, hard to beat him and that oblique eye set so nicely and in combination with a well-placed stop and super ears and of course that well moulded foreface. Acquitted himself nicely on the move giving a steady and sound performance. Very comfortably within my favorites here today. Should always be there or thereabouts. I wish him well for the future and shall be pleased to see him go further.

2. Walker & Ritchie’s NORSKA REMEMBER OUR LOVE FOR STARLENGA.  Eye catching tri who again possessed a nicely placed stop and neat ears well used, I liked his head eye and expression with beautifully well filled muzzle. Enough neck, good chest, nicely boned. Stepped out nicely and I appreciated the effort taken in preparing him for the ring. Handled to advantage just as I would expect from this kennel too. Moved well. Very nice dog all round who will always be worthy of notice.

Limit Dog

1. Hassocks CAMANNA CODENAME. From an exhibitor who has never lost faith in home grown talent and who continues to consistently produce noteworthy stock this masculine shaded sable filled the next position in the line- up. I Cannot yet recall who exactly he reminds me of, perhaps it is not a specific dog but of a time and place more so.. Well off for size and bone and plenty of heart and lung room here. Wedged shaped head of really good length and pleasant expression. In very dense double coat but none of it hiding his shape.

2. Cooney’s JOPIUM DANNY BOY AT LINGWELL. Again, no mistaking his sex, another imposing sable who was appearing in really good order here today, well turned out in excellent coat and condition. Very well filled in foreface, ears well used, dark eye, enough neck, nice spring of rib. Well let down hocks. 

Open Dog

1.Cronk’s INT/LV/EE/LT/BALT/RU CH SKABONA THE GAMBLER. Instantly appealed as a fully matured male who combines sufficient size and substance, correct moderate bone and a steady alert presence throughout proceedings. For me he is a dog who is balanced throughout with no exaggerations and key to his success here was the blend of attributes he demonstrates between both head properties and construction. He is not a dog to be labelled or appreciated only “by department”, he is a dog that ticks many boxes from nose to tail. His head handles nicely, all points of balance met. His expression is mild and suggestive of nothing other than Rough Collie, His head is carried with a quiet confidence upon a neck of ample length rising from well laid shoulder and superior upper arm. Nice through the patterns to good feet. Good top-line on the move and he extends as well in front as I thought he might. On the rear he really showed me the pads of those feet as he went and I appreciated his smooth easy action when moving in profile also, less inhibited and not at all loaded in shoulder it was another factor which set him aside from several of his peers.  Groomed to the skin and handled with intend and purpose. No hesitation in awarding him the CC here today and with the agreement of my Co Judge he completed the day with Best in Show. Congratulations. 2.Congdons CH/FR CH JUGBAND BLUES DU CLOS DE SEA-WIND VIA AARONWELL. No stranger to top awards and when one takes that clean refined yet moulded headpiece of excellent length and balance in hand, well it is easy to see why. He has the expression to compliment that head and this is a male who lacks for nothing in terms of size and presence .On handling, actually better in length of neck than I first imagined, he has the depth of chest, enough length in back and he appeals for his strong well let down hocks which today drove him forward comfortably just when it mattered most. In good coat and condition, he appeared fresh and purposeful today. Pushed hard here by my Mid Limit winner and also the third placed in this nice class who also appealed to me on so many levels, but this blue could not be overlooked and took home today the Reserve CC to add to his many accolades.

Judge: Paul Battigan (Roclynn)