NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM COLLIE CLUB

18th September 2021

Rough Collie (Bitches)

Although not a huge entry, I was delighted with the three higher classes which contained many beautiful bitches and several on two tickets.  I was looking for a bitch with substance and elegance that could move freely, and do a day’s work - thankfully I had plenty of choice.  

General observations from the day in relation to the dogs presented to me were that more attention needs to be paid to cleaning the dogs’ teeth. Several of the younger exhibits lacked bone, but were also seriously overweight.  

I would like to thank exhibitors for their presentation - I much appreciated the cleanliness and I found no overuse of grooming spray.  Many thanks to Pauline and Terry for very ably stewarding for me.

The majority of the main awards  required input from the referee.

MINOR PUPPY BITCH(2)

1. Lockyer’s GATAJ GOOD TIME GIRL. Glamourous s/w that made a good first impression.  She has a correct outline and is nicely coated for age.  Head handles well with good moulding, well shaped eye, giving lovely expression.  Showed well and used her ears. On the move was a little loose, nice front assembly, good bend of stifle.  Excellent presentation.

2. Tipper’s REVDICKI TAHITIAN PEARL AT TIGANLEA, sweet tri with a pretty head, enough stop, well shaped eye, nice ear placement.  Good reach of neck and body shape.  Well presented and moved considerately by handler.  Just looked a little raw, would like a bit more bone and substance.

PUPPY BITCH  (3)

1.  Tipper’s TIGANLEA TRUE HEARTS DESIRE, very appealing s/w, good outline overall, nice length of neck, good body shape.  Well bent stifle, neat hock, well off for bone and excellent presentation. Head has well placed stop, lovely flat skull, ears a little heavy at the moment.  Moved out well, nicely handled, delighted to award Best Puppy Bitch, and referee agreed that she should be Best Puppy In Show.

2. Jones & Blackburn’s ERJON EBONY JEWELS, well known tricolour, I thought would be my winner.  Lovely head, well placed stop, dark almond eye.  Good ear carriage and placement, lovely reach of neck onto well covered body.  Lovely in outline, soundly made.  On the move just seemed to be distracted and insisted on pulling away from handler. Good presentation.

3. Leslie’s KLEOPATRA AT INTERMITTENT LAKE (IMP SLO)

JUNIOR (2)

1. Lockyer’s GATAJ HONEY BEE, another glamour puss.  Lovely front assembly, good length of back, strode out well on the move.  Rolled a little, and would benefit from a little weight loss.  Has a pleasant head, lovely flat skull, good stop, correct eye.  Ears just a little heavy, overall excellent presentation.

2. Mitchell & Jordan’s SALSINA SECRET LOVE SONG AT AVONFAIR, it’s no secret that I love this breeding, but on the day she had left her clothes behind.  I found her very similar in head properties to the winner, sweet eye and expression.  Lovely outline,  but with her lack of furnishings and coat she had to bow to the winner.  She has grown in confidence, and moved out well.  A tough decision, would like to see her again when in full coat.

YEARLING (2-1)

1.  Boyle’s BARRENCLOUGH TOUCH OF SILK.  Another with nice profile, not overly coated and well presented.  Stood well, moved soundly.  Her head has a sweet eye, flat skull, well placed ears. Good angulation throughout.  Just a tad out of condition today.

NOVICE (4-1)

1.  Rose’s UFFSPRING ULTRAVOX, this tri, like her litter sister, is quite overweight.  Lovely jet black and rich tan markings, coat was well presented. Movement not good, but am sure roadwork would help.  Both bitches had a nice eye, enough neck and nice length of back.

2. Clarke-Kerr’s UFFSPRING UNIQUELY MAYD,  so similar to the above, and same remarks apply.

3. May’s SAMHAVEN JUMP TO THE BEAT WITH MAQUEEBA

GRADUATE (3-1)

1. Uffspring Ultravox

2. Samhaven Jump to the Beat with Maqueeba, for me this bitch lacked the femininity I like, being quite rangy.  Movement was poor on the day, but was well presented.

POST GRADUATE (7-2)

A quality class, with several differing types

1. Walker & Ritchie’s NELINKA DE REMBER OUR LOVE FOR STARLENGA (IMP FRA) Gorgeous jet black tri, absolutely groomed to perfection.  I’ve watched her from a baby when collected in France, maturing into the delightful bitch she is today.  Lovely head with well placed stop, very balanced, with good underjaw, nice depth, lovely eye, giving her cheeky expression.  Used her ears well, despite them being a little low set. Good arched neck, flowing into shapely body, with plenty of heart-room, slight rise over the loins, lovely bend of stifle and such cute neat hocks.  Let herself down on the move, being reluctant to flow with handler.  More settled in the challenge with good drive.  Serious contender for tickets.

2. Jones & Blackburn’s ERJON EVOLVING STAR.  Quality s/w with nothing overdone.  Her head is very clean, good stop, nice depth, good underjaw and lipline.  Sweet almond eye, well placed. Good length to neck and body, finished off with well presented coat.   Another who played up on the move, but very attentive to handler. No denying her quality, unlucky to meet winner in such fine form

3. Mills’ LYNMACK SWEET AMBER

LIMIT (8-1)

1.  Lockyer’s PARADISE GIRL DU CLOS DE SEAWIND FOR GATAJ (IMP FRA), 2yr old sable that will always demand a second look.  Lovely outline (has benefitted from some coat or weight loss I feel), very shapely, with lovely reach of neck, balanced throughout, slight rise over loins, stood well.  Head-wise she is very clean, with no flaring.  Good underjaw, well placed stop, dark almond shaped eyes, flat skull topped off with well placed ears which she used well.  Sound and steady on the move, with good extension and drive.  Excellent presentation, she has the desired elegance of her sex, without being too fine.  Loved her size, bone and substance.  Pleased to award her the CC, her second, over a class of top quality bitches.  Delighted to then see the referee award her Best In Show, well done.

2. Walker & Ritchie’s CHANTIQUE CINDERELLA AT STARLENGA, another glamour girl from this kennel with immaculate presentation.  Pretty expression, nicely shaped dark eyes, good ear carriage.  Nice reach of neck, leading to a very shapely body.  Good angulation throughout, lovely bend of stifle, well off for bone, all topped off with a wealth of coat.  Failed on tail carriage (my pet hate) and drive to the winner.

3. Randall’s LADNAR INKHEART JW.  Gleaming tri, with good head properties, well placed stop, lovely eye shape.  Great reach of neck and well proportioned body.  Not overly coated, but impressed me with her soundness and movement.

OPEN (7)

1.  Hodges’ JOPIUM LOVE HEART JW ShCM.  This lovely bitch topped a really high quality class, most on two tickets or knocking thereabouts.  She stood out, gleaming in the sunshine, never putting a foot or hair out of place.  Very soundly made, with bone and substance.  Not overdone in the coat department, but every hair felt brushed and brushed again.  Headwise, ideal underjaw and lipline, well placed stop, correctly placed almond eyes.  Used her ears well, good flat skull.  Good length of neck, excellent ribcage with plenty of heartroom, neat front legs, good rear angulation, neat hocks.  On the move she was very sound, showed like a dream.  Very tough between limit and open winners, just preferred the overall elegance of Paradise Girl.  Well deserved RCC, and joint decision for Reserve Best In Show

2. Lockyer’s TAKHISIS HOPE AND DREAMS WITH GATAJ.  Nicely made bitch, bigger all round than winner, with well fitting, well presented coat.  Another with good head properties, balanced foreface and backskull. Good eye shape, neat ears.  Very keen for bait, which made her stand badly on her rear.  However on the move this was sound with plenty of drive and extension, well presented.

3. Shipp’s GILLYFLOWER DELLA BUCA DELLE FATE (IMP ITA)  So pleased to get the chance to go over this bitch today.  She has a lovely head, with soft expression,  good body shape, lovely bone. She stood and showed well, and moved the same, I wish she had brought her clothes with her to complete the picture.  In such a quality class, I was able to nitpick, but she will remain a favourite of mine.

VETERAN (1)

1. Brand & Reid’s RONANSPREY MIDNIGHT KISS,  8 ½ Year old tri, who was well groomed.  Unfortunately very down on her pasterns, I feel from being overweight.  This affected her movement quite a lot.  Teeth need attention, too.

CHRISTINE COLLINS