City Of Birmingham Canine Association Championship Show

1 st September 2022

Rough Collies

Thank you to the Society for the opportunity of judging at this well run and organised show. A huge thank you to my very organised and efficient stewards Mark and Joyce you were very much appreciated.

Thank you all for your entries. However, I really have a few concerns about our beautiful breed, having not been around the show ring for quite a few years I was shocked by how few collies had the ability to move with drive from the rear – our breed standard does state :- Hindlegs powerful with plenty of drive. This was sadly lacking in a large proportion of the exhibits, more so in the males. I was also looking for the Light and appear effortless movement which again was sadly lacking. Movement and soundness in our breed as a working breed is of paramount importance, please think about this only breeders and exhibitors can make improvements.

I did make allowances for the metal drains that rattled as the dogs moved over them. I also noticed front movement was not as sound as it could have been in some exhibits. Lack of bone and Substance is also creeping in as is lack of stop.

Presentation in some cases was poor – there is no excuse for this. This does not apply to all exhibits lots were beautifully presented it does make a difference. Noted were :- grubby dogs, untrimmed feet, sticky coats, grimy coats, coats only groomed on the top – leaving cotton wool type dead coat underneath – entering a dog show is not a cheap hobby – why would you not present your exhibit if not to perfection at least clean.

Ring training could be useful – particularly being able to stand straight remember – Appears
as a dog of great beauty, standing with impassive dignity – difficult to achieve if your exhibit Stands like a crab. I did notice exhibitors focusing on heads and being totally unaware of the placement of back legs and feet and what they were doing on the move.

I am sorry if this all sounds negative and I really don’t like to be critical, but I honestly feel these points need mentioning it is a breed I have owned now for over 50 years and it is heart breaking to see such a beautiful breed declining both in numbers and quality.

On the plus side there were some lovely quality exhibits – some of which I would gladly have taken home. Unfortunately the other half had his golf clubs in the back.

Special Beginners Dog - 3 entries

1 st Dr Boyle Barrenclough Heart Of Gold JW
Shaded sable and white, lovely make and shape, well balanced in head, lovely eye and expression, moved well.
2 nd Dix’s Barrenclough Diamond Skies
Sable and white, decent head and eye, ears could be tighter, not the movement of the class winner, lacked body.
3 rd Gautrey’s Lillyway Landwind

Veteran Dog - 1 entry
1 st Scott’s Aneish Touch Of Black
Tri colour as name suggests , now 8 years old, lovely black coat , nice head, eye and expression, well put together, moved well.

Minor Puppy Dog - 3 entries (1) Absent

Two lovely tri colour puppies who I am certain will change places many times. Both maturing along correct lines and both of excellent quality.

1 st Tipper’s Amalunaque Arcturis Wind At Tiganlea
Tri colour baby of 9 months, jet black coat, with rich tan markings, well boned, lovely make and shape, head of lovely proportions with dark almond shaped eyes which with excellent ear placement combined to give the most sweetest of expressions. Well constructed with good reach of neck. Excellent presentation. Moved well – just needs to tighten in rear movement.

2 nd Cronk’s Chelborn Gambling List
Another lovely quality tri colour baby again of 9 months. Excellent shape and conformation, again lovely head qualities, jet black coat with rich tan markings, well boned. Excellent presentation. Another who moved well but just needs to tighten in rear movement.

Puppy Dog – No entries

Junior Dog – 2 entries – With held.

Yearling Dog – 4 entries No Absentees

1 st Lockyer’s Gataj Out Of The Woods JW R.C.C.
Sable and white this young dog stood and really made the most of himself. Particularly liked his make and shape. Well balanced head with dark almond shaped eyes, neat correctly placed well used ears, correctly constructed with well laid shoulders, good front, moved with drive from the rear, in good coat which was presented to perfection – look forward to seeing him as a fully mature dog. Well deserved R.C.C.

2nd Bolt and Hollywood’s Amalie A Chance To Shine
Another very nice sable and white young dog, good conformation, good bone, lovely head properties, just not as positive in movement today.

3 rd Monsolana Aspire To Inspire Over Barrenclough Imp Russia

Graduate Dog – 2 entries (1) Absent

1 st Dix’s Barrenclough Diamond Skies
Previous placing from S.B.D.

Post Graduate Dog – 2 entries No Absentees

1 st Growcott’s Lillyway Legacy
Masculine tri colour dog, Lovely head qualities nice dark well placed eyes, neat ears – used well, good body and shape, lovely black coat in good condition, presented very well, moved with purpose.

2 nd Gautrey’s Lillyway Landwind
Litter brother to the class winner, nice coat and condition, just not the quality or movement of his brother for me.

Limit Dog – 5 entries 2 Absent

1 st Proctor’s Willmaranna Out Of The Blue For Cathbri
Blue merle, lovely outline, soundly built, pleasing head, eyes and expression, neat ears, level topline which he kept on the move, moved well, very well presented.

2 nd Dr Boyle’s Barrenclough Heart Of Gold
Previous placing from S.B.D.
3 rd Spendelow’s Uffspring The Understudy

Open Dog – 11 entries 3 Absent

This was unmistakably the best of the classes of males and I thank you all most sincerely for
giving me the opportunity to go over such lovely dogs. Some really top class dogs went
unplaced – I thought you were all worthy of a first place but sadly only have one.

1 st Cronk’s Chelborn Storyteller D.C.C.
This top quality tri colour dog just oozes quality, I loved everything about him. Jet black coat that just gleamed, rich tan markings. The most lovely dark almond shaped eyes, well balanced in head and skull, well moulded foreface, has the most melting of expressions. Correctly constructed with good bone, well angulated shoulders, good bend of stifle, well let down hocks, moved soundly both front and rear, has the drive from the rear. Presented to perfection. This dog reminded me very much of a young tri dog I saw many years ago at Blackpool Ch Show whom I admired from that day – I was absolutely delighted when I read that he was the sire of this dog. I am sure the
third C.C. won’t be far away. Didn’t move as well in the challenge for Best Of Breed
as he did in this class.

2 nd Congdon’s Ch./ Fr.Ch.Jugband Blues Du Clos De Sea Wind Via Aaronwell Another outstanding top quality dog, a well coated blue merle, again presented to perfection. Well put together, lovely head, eye and expression, well boned, beautiful outline when standing, level topline kept on the move, moved soundly fore and aft.

3 rd Cooney’s Jopium Danny Boy At Lingwell

Good Citizen Dog – 3 entries No Absentees
1 st Wray-Ramsden Takhisis Dream Weaver
Sable and white of quality. Liked his make and shape, nice dark eye, nicely balanced in head, pleasing expression. Well constructed with good bone and substance. Moved soundly. Beautifully presented as were all from this kennel.

2 nd Proctor’s Out Of The Blue For Cathbri
Previous placing from Limit Dog

3 rd Dr Boyle’s Barrenclough Heart Of Gold

Rough Collie Bitches

Special Beginners Bitch – 3 entries (1) Absent

1 st Dr Boyle’s Barrenclough Touch Of Silk
Sable and white, balanced outline , nice make and shape, pleasing head, eye and expression, to be critical would have liked a more rounded foreface, moved well.

2 nd Lyall’s Santaloy’s Sky Amidalas
Sable and white, 7 years old, had left her clothes at home today.

Veteran Bitch – 5 entries (1) Absent

1 st Watkins and Cook’s Aneish Forever Blue With Whatacoo
Lovely blue merle bitch in good coat which was presented well, good, head, eye and expression, lovely outline. Positive movement.

2 nd Skinner’s Samhaven Time Is Money With Nikal
Tri colour bitch,now 8 years old who shows well – didn’t seem to be at her best today. Moved well.

3 rd Dr Boyle’s Monsolana Butterfly Blue Over Barrenclough JW Sh.cm. Imp Russia

Minor Puppy Bitch - 6 entries (4) Absent

1 st McEntee’s Lynway Sun Blossom Through Gerian - Best Puppy
Beautiful feminine sable and white puppy of almost 9 months. Appealed for her overall quality. Lovely dark eye, neat ears which she used well, sweetest of expressions, balanced head. Nice reach of neck, well laid shoulders, good body and substance, in beautiful coat and condition which was expertly presented. Just needs to tighten in movement. A lovely baby and I am sure she will have a very bright future.

2 nd Radford-House’s Chelborn Betting List For Fivejays
Another lovely sable and white baby, who is also quality, nice head, eye and expression, lovely outline, maturing along correct lines. Also just needs to tighten in movement.

Puppy Bitch – 7 entries (2) Absent

1 st McEntee’s Lynway Sun Blossom Through Gerian
Winner from previous class.

2 nd Wray-Ramsden’s Takhisis Lady Of Mystery
Sable and white bitch of almost 10 months. Nice outline, make and shape, good head, eye and expression. Moved well. Again expertly presented.
3 rd Blackburn/Jones’s Erjon Embroided In Blue

Junior Bitch – 6 entries No Absentees

1 st Blaikie’s Kourika Dressed To Thrill – Best Junior
The most lovely tri colour, jet black coat, rich tan markings, loved her head eye and expression, very well put together. When standing has a lovely outline and did not disappoint when going over her. Although a little unsettled today moved with drive and purpose. Liked her very much and I am sure she will have a bright future.

2 nd Growcott’s Lillyway Lemon Breeze
Lovely quality tri colour, who makes the most of herself in the ring. Excellent head qualities, lovely dark eye, neat ears – used well. Well constructed, lovely outline when standing moved well.

3 rd Lockyer’s Shining Star Du Clos De Seawind At Gataj – Imp France

Yearling Bitch – 2 entries (1) Absent

1 st Blackburn/Jones’s Erjon Ebony Jewels
Although this young lady stood alone, I was pleased to give her a first place. A lovely shape and outline. Jet black coat, rich tan markings. Liked her head pattern, nice dark eye, correct ear placement, nice stop and foreface. Correctly constructed with good shoulders, moved soundly both fore and aft. Excellent presentation. A worthy winner.

Graduate Bitch – 3 entries (1) Absent

1 st Patman’s Riverside Song Ice Cream Girl – Imp Romania
Tri colour bitch in lovely coat and condition. Nice head, eye and expression, well rounded muzzle, correct shoulder placement, good reach of neck, good body and substance, moved well.

2 nd Dr Boyle’s Barrenclough Touch Of Silk
Previous placing from S.B.B.

Post Graduate Bitch – 3 entries No Absentees

1 st Lockyer’s Gataj Honey Bee
The most beautiful sable and white in excellent coat and condition – presented to perfection as were all this exhibitors dogs. When standing has a lovely outline, good front, well bent stifles, nice shoulder placement. Excellent head properties with a lovely expression. Moved soundly.

2 nd Gautrey’s Carristina Summer Rhapsody
Pleasing sable and white, nice shape and make. Not happy today.

3 rd Mellish’s Demelewis Double Take

Limit Bitch – 9 entries No Absentees

1 st Tipper’s Tiganlea Twinkling Star
This blue merle certainly is a twinkling star, in good coat and condition. Expertly presented. Lovely colour. Not a showing fool but does enough. I liked her overall make and shape. Well put together, nice level topline. Excellent head, nice dark eyes, lovely expression, ears correctly placed. Moved well.

2 nd Lockyer’s Gataj A Girls Best Friend
My notes read lovely sable and white presented to perfection. Everything to like about her, lovely head qualities, stood and made the most of herself. Moved well.

3 rd Mitchell and Jordan’s Salsina Secret Love At Avonfair

Open Bitch – 9 entries (3) Absent

This was a class of some really quality ladies a few just coming back into coat.

1 st Walder’s Ch. Beldones La Vita Bella For Hanvale JW – Bitch C.C.
Best Of Breed
This stunning sable and white just stood there on a loose lead a showed her head off. What a picture this presented. In excellent coat and condition with not a hair out of place, presented to perfection, her coat gleamed. Excellent shape and outline, the most beautiful head, eye and expression, neat ears which she certainly used well. Good reach of neck, well placed shoulders, excellent body and substance, correct bend of stifle, well let down hocks. Moved effortlessly and with ease both fore and aft. What a lovely example of our breed. I had no hesitation in awarding this quality lady the Bitch C.C. and Best Of Breed.

2 nd Hodge’s Jopium Secrets In The Mist R.C.C.
Most lovely quality blue merle, also in excellent coat and condition, presented again to perfection. Lovely shape and outline, well boned, excellent body and substance. She also has good reach of neck and well placed shoulders. Loved her head eye and expression. Moved soundly and effortlessly. It gave me great pleasure to award this quality merle the R.C.C.

3 rd Hawkin’s Ch. Brilyn Mollycoddles

Good Citizen Bitch – 3 entries No Absentees

1 st Wray-Ramsdan’s Takhisis Lady Of Illusions
Sable and white bitch of quality, beautifully presented. Lovely make and shape, nice head properties, moved well.

2 nd Dr Boyle’s Monsolana Butterfly Blue Over Barrenclough JW Sh.cm
Imp Russia
Blue merle bitch of nice type, good shape and outline, good head properties, moved well. Unfortunately her colour lets her down.
3 rd Lyall’s Santaloy’s Sky Amidalas

Judge Sue Phipps
Oakanmoor