SKC May 2021

I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge at this extra special double show, it’s no easy task to organise one championship show let alone two running simultaneously, that takes courage and organisation. Well done. I enjoyed judging this lovely breed with some tough decisions in some of the higher classes. Overall temperaments were very good. A couple of minor observations; teeth should be part of the grooming of your dogs, I found a few with wonky teeth and even some missing quite a few, not amongst my winners I hasten to say. Also, a few with tails not reaching the hock joint.

MPD (4) 1 Melvin & Jopson’s Nithview Summer Of Rockets. Nicely balanced baby both on the stand and moving which won him the class, pleasing head planes, good length of neck with lovely big rough, well angulated forequarters, firm body with well-rounded hindquarters, enough bone at this age and lovely tight feet, coat of good texture and steady on the move. 2 Johnston’s Jopium Front Runner TAF. Steady on the move but at this stage not quite the forward reach of first, just needs to settle into himself. 3 McLean’s Phreelander Phinal Salute TAF.

PD (4, 1) 1 Tipper’s Tiganlea Twist And Turn. Just 10 months, masculine puppy with gorgeous head developing, dark expressive eyes and small neat semi erect ears, muscular neck covered with large rough, good layback of shoulder and ribs well sprung, back firm with slight rise over loin, good rear angulation with firm hocks, tight feet, coat well presented, lovely effortless movement with good reach and drive. BPD and in the challenge he was one of the better movers, hence RDCC. 2 Lockyer’s Gataj Out Of The Woods. 9 months, another super puppy, balanced throughout, just preferred the slightly better head planes and length of body of first, sound on the move. 3 Hanson’s Jards Ring Presence.

JD (4, 1) 1 Turner’s Chantique Magical Mystery. Nice blunt wedge shaped head with dark almond shaped eyes giving sweet expression, neat semi erect ears, large rough covering muscular neck leading into well placed shoulders, well sprung ribs and deep chest, back firm with sloping croup and good hind angulation, plenty of bone throughout and tight well padded feet, carrying a heavy coat but beautifully presented. Steady effortless movement with good forward reach and drive from rear. 2 Hanson’s Jards Ring Presence. Third in last class. 3 Mains’ Scotiablue Teddy Bear.

YD (3) 1 Donaldson’s Caronlea Celtic Traveller With Fivannte. Masculine blunt wedge head with good width, small neat ears, dark almond shaped eyes giving typical expression, muscular neck and shoulders well placed, chest deep and broad, ribs well sprung, back long and firm with good rear angulation, well developed thigh muscles, correct amount of bone and well padded feet, covered the ground well on the move. 2 Garside’s Demelewis Gang Leader. Slightly longer in body length than first and not carrying such a heavy coat today but balanced and steady on the move. 3 Turner’s Paulara No Where Man.

ND (2) 1 Raven’s Corydon Ice Imperial. 4th minor puppy, needs time to settle. 2 Hanson’s Jards Ring Presence. Third and second in previous classes.

PGD (3, 1) 1 Blaikie’s Kourika King Pin. Masculine head with good width between ears, slight stop and dark eyes, would prefer longer neck, shoulders well placed and good spring of rib, firm back, well rounded croup and good rear angulation. Coat a nice clear merle. Steady on the move. 2 McLarty’s Phreelancer Phortunes Leap. Nice head planes, dark eyes giving soft expression, good length of neck and body of good length, nice rear angulation, would like a slightly longer tail. Steady on the move.

LD (6, 1) First three could easily have swapped places and I was splitting hairs between them. 1 McCarthy’s Roughrigg Rag ‘N’ Bone Man. Masculine blunt, wedge shaped head, dark almond eyes set slightly obliquely, ears small and semi erect, neck of good length set into well placed shoulders, chest deep with well sprung ribs, back firm, slight rise over loin, well muscled hindquarters and hocks firm allowing free effortless gait, in good coat. 2 Brown & Jopson’s Lilleyway Lattimer At Nithview. Very similar comments to first just preferred the slightly longer stride of first, parallel coming and going away. Shown in good coat with good muscletone. 3 Bluck’s Phreelancer Chill Phactor.

OD (12, 1) 1 Tipper’s Tiganlea Turning Blue. This beautiful blue merle male headed a really lovely strong class, very eye catching. Masculine head with sweetest expression, dark almond shaped eyes, small, neat semi erect ears that he used all the time, well arched muscular neck of good length sitting on well placed shoulders, chest broad and deep, well sprung ribs and slight rise over loin, well muscled thighs with good rear angulation, hocks well let down. Coat beautifully presented with nice clear merle along with his steady and free movement both fore and aft making it look effortless. DCC and in challenge pushed the bitch really hard but just didn’t settle into his stride. 2 Benton & Smith’s Brooklynson El Dorado. Super shaded sable, in excellent coat and condition, masculine head and softest expression, good neck and body proportions and good muscletone throughout, balanced but just not quite the length of stride as first and that’s all that split them. 3 Locker’s Think Of Me Prince Of Sunlight At Gataj (Imp Hun).

VD (2) 1 Thorne’s Triforce Dragon Heart ShCM. 9 year old dark shaded sable boy, slightly longer in body than second but won here on his movement as he was settled and steady, not showing his age. 2 Tipper’s Ch Tiganlea Too Good To Be Forgotten. 7 year old masculine dog, preferred his overall balance but he was not co-operating at all with his handler and had to settle for second place.

GCD (1) 1 Proctor’s Wilmaranna Out Of The Blue For Cathbri. Much more relaxed in this class, blunt wedge shaped head with good under jaw, well placed ears, muscular neck and well placed shoulders, ribs well sprung with firm back, well muscled hindquarters, enough bone, lovely clearly marked blue merle. Settled in this class and moved better. PB (2, 1) 1 Lockyer’s Gataj Good Time Girl. Just 8 months, very feminine head with dark almond shaped eyes, ears just need to settle, nice neck and forequarters, ribs well sprung good length of back and croup slightly sloping with enough rear angulation at this stage, moved really well BPB.

JB (5) 1 Geddes’ Serenglas Sass N’ Class At Ingledene. 17 month dark shaded sable, not as heavily coated as some but beautifully balanced in shape, feminine head with sweetest expression and dark almond shaped eyes, well placed ears, good under jaw, moderate arch to neck with shoulders well laid back and good upper arm, deep chest and well sprung ribs, back firm and slight rise over loin with good rear angulation, tight well padded feet, won this class on her steady effortless gait. 2 Lockyer’s Gataj Honey Bee. Very similar to first in many ways, not heavily coated but shape is balanced, just preferred slightly freer more ground covering movement of first but not a lot else between then. 3 Harrison’s Cambrogan Lady Loch’aber At Cariadhaf.

YB (4) 1 Geddes’ Serenglas SassN’ Class At Ingledene. Winner of last class again, her movement won her this class. 2 Babian’s Nithview Eyrie At Egalefalls. Feminine black tri, gorgeous head and expression, muscular neck, would just like a slightly longer upper arm, good length of back and gently rising over loin, good rear angulation, hocks firm. Not quite the reach of first on the move. 3 Kerr’s Nithview Castle Black At Lynlou.

NB (3) 1 Geddes’ Serenglas Sass N’ Class At Ingledene. Winner of last two classes. 2 Babian’s Nithview Eyrie At Egalefalls. Second in last class. 3 Clark & Kerr’s Uffspring Uniquely Mayd.

GB (6) 1 Quince’s Thistlewing Celtic Soul For Karafaye. Another bitch, not hugely coated so couldn’t hide her lovely overall shape, feminine blunt wedge shaped head with slightly obliquely set almond eyes, small neat ears with nice width between, moderately arched neck leading into well placed shoulders, ribs well sprung and good depth of chest, ribs well sprung and back firm, slight rise over loin with well muscled and angulated hindquarters, hocks firm, steady easy movement with good ground covering gait. 2 Geddes’ Serenglas Sass N’ Class At Ingledene. Winner of previous three classes who pushed first hard, I had a job splitting them. 3 Kerr’s Nithview Firecracker At Lynlou.

PGB (4) 1 Blackburn & Jones’ Erjon Evolving Star. Not carrying a big heavy coat but enough to show her lovely outline, very feminine, lovely blunt wedge shaped head with the sweetest expression, dark almond shaped eyes and well placed ears beautifully tipped over, muscular neck with good lay back of shoulder, deep chest reaching to elbows with ribs well sprung, firm topline and gently rising over loin, slightly sloping croup and good rear angulation with good muscle tone, hocks firm. Moved at just right pace to get a lovely steady free flowing movement, this won her the class and RBCC where, in the challenge, she pushed really hard for CC. 2 Lockyer’s Gataj Girl’s Best Friend. Similar to first but for me just felt first had slightly better forequarters and therefore slight edge on movement. 3 Danilova’s Glenoak Gold Brocade.

LB (8) 1 Welsh’s Thistlewing Harp String. Ultra feminine bitch, balanced in profile, clean blunt wedge head with enough width between ears, dark eyes, muscular neck of good length with lovely big rough, well angulated forequarters, firm body with well sprung ribs and well rounded hindquarters, hocks firm allowing her to cover the ground with ease and this won her the class today. Lovely dark shaded sable coat presented in good condition which completed the picture. 2 Lockyer’s Paradise Girl Du Clos De Sea-Wind For Gataj (Imp Fra). Balanced on the move and with good angulations, I just preferred the slightly more feminine head of first and that was all that split them. 3 Steven’s Cambrogan Blowin A Hoolie.

OB (13, 1) 1 Hodges’ Jopium Love Heart JW ShCM. This bitch, for me, stood out as she entered the ring and I wasn’t disappointed when I put my hands on her. For me she was everything the breed standard calls for, lovely feminine head with sweetest face and expression, neck of good length sitting well into shoulders with good forequarters. Body firm with good spring of rib, hindquarters well muscled with good second thigh and firm powerful hocks which showed when she moved. Lovely dense coat of harsh texture. BCC and BOB, in the challenge she just had the edge on the length of stride of the dog. 2 Fort’s Corisian French Tease From Shulune. Another super bitch and it was a close decision between first and second, very similar comments to first apply to her but this girl just appeared fractionally longer in body, still giving a balanced outline and it was her steady effortless movement that won her second place above others in this class. Coat presented in harsh condition. 3 Melvin & Jopson’s Nithview Country Bumpkin.

VB (2) 1 Flower’s Serenlas Obsession. 8 year old sable, pleasing outline, good head planes, neck of fair length leading into well placed shoulders, body firm and nicely angulated hindquarters, in good condition, steady on the move. 2 Whitaker’s Aniesh Misty Blue Moon Of Siluto. 7 year old blue merle, just felt 1st had better hindquarters, hence she did not have quite the power on the move.