Show Report for: London & Provincial Collie Club, 28th August 2022 

Many thanks to this friendly committee for inviting me to judge Rough Collie Dogs at their final show with CCs. – it was an honour to go over some lovely dogs.  The attractive outdoor setting was not as green as usual, with the recent heat wave drying out the grass rings, and the rock hard ground was quite unforgiving with several humps and hollows for the dogs to contend with on the move.  This possibly explains why several dogs were moving very close in hind action – some actually rubbing hocks together when moving away.   Following the Covid lockdown we had all looked forward to getting back to normal, but now the latest cost of living crisis is hitting entries hard, plus fewer pups appearing in the ring.  Hopefully things will eventually return to normal. Finally, many thanks to my able stewards who kept things on track.

Rough Collie Dogs
VD (2, 1abs) 1. Collino’s Wicani Altitude at Imaginist. 8yrs tri shown in good muscular body condition. Retaining his long clean head with correctly placed stop, flat skull, correctly set neat ears, lovely moulded muzzle, and clean through the cheeks, well define underjaw and beautifully set dark almond eye giving a gentle yet intelligent look. Well angulated, with firm topline of good length and well set and carried tail. Moved out well with a strong, confidant drive. BVD.
2. Bartram’s Ambartr Keep the Faith. Another tri of 7yrs, again in good body condition, presenting a nice outline. Moved positively in profile. But a little close behind moving away.

MPD (1) 1. Cronk’s Chelborn’s Gambling List. Stood alone, but very promising tri pup of just 7mth, standing 4 square on a loose lead and full of confidence. Well off for coat and bone, I originally thought he was a little dish faced but on handling discovered he has the flattest of skulls under his present puppy coat. He has an appealing expression from a well shaped/placed eye, correct stop and well tipped and carried ears. His shiny coat is black down to the skin. On the move there was some expected puppy looseness, but he moved steadily with a correctly carried tail. Must have a bright future. BPD.

PD. (No entries)

JD (3) 1. Howard, Newton &Patterson’s. Ladnar Dream Chaser. Well presented 17 mths b/m of clear colour with harsh jacket and good bone. I liked his clean head, well placed stop, neat ears and nice eye set and shape. Good reach of neck, well angulated front and rear which showed in his movement, although a little proud of his tail. 2. Chaplin’s Takhisis Lysander. Nicely made 14 mths sable at that between stage with coats, but this showed off his correct length of body. Clean head of good length with correctly placed stop, eye and ear. Moved reasonably over the rutted ground, but another a little too proud of his tail today.
3. White’s Phreelancer Phederal Agent at Mejola.

YD. (1/1) 1. Milligan & Marley’s Alfsden He Lives in You.  Attractive b/m shown in good hard condition. Pleasing balanced head with kind eye and expression coming from well placed dark eyes and neat ears. He has a good front, enough bone and good tail carriage. Moved well.
2. White’s Phreelancer Phederal Agent at Mejola.

ND (1/1ab) 1. Chaplin’s T. Lysander. More relaxed on the move in this class.

GD (1) 1. James’ Deanjan Dambuster. Nice shaped tri with good topline, bone and tailset. Decent neck and front, attractive head with well set and carried ears, and dark almond eye giving a sweet expression. Moved ok but a little loose going away.

PG (2,1abs) 1. Beaden’s Marvalan Spirit of Rock (Imp Pol.) Quality jet black tri approaching 2 yrs, presented in top coat and body condition, and sympathetically handled to get the best out of him. Clean head with kind expression, coming from correctly placed ears, eyes and stop, with good backskull and underjaw. Moved out well in profile, if a little close behind. One I considered in the final line-up, but he was up against the big boys there and just needs that bit more maturity to finish him. His day will come.

ML (1) 1. Phillips’ Essanjay Against All Odds. Top size tri in good coat, with good bone, strong in head but clean through cheeks with flat skull and well placed ears. Presented a nice outline when standing, but tail set and carriage let him down on the move.

L (6) 1. Bluck’s Phreelancer Chill Phactor for Elshajo.  Well coloured b/m who had left his coat at home. However what he had was beautifully presented and the lack of furnishings just enhanced his clean outline, emphasising his elegant reach of neck, correct front and length of back, with firm topline and good tail set and carriage. His head handles well with nicely moulded foreface, well placed stop and flat skull, with neat well placed and used ears, and kind eye, giving the required expression. Moved out well in profile, but again, another moving a little close behind. 
2. Allsopp’s Aqualita It’s a Miracle.  Well presented tri shown in good coat and body condition. Clean through the head with well-placed eye, stop and flat skull, ears appeared well set but he was reluctant to use them. Good co-ordinated movement. 3.  Phillips’ Essanjay Against All Odds.

O (8, 2abs.) The class I had been waiting for!  6 dogs present, every one of them worthy of top honours, giving me a headache, but of the best kind, leaving me to split hairs on decisions.  1. Benton & Smith’s Ch. Brooklynson El Dorado. Mature s/w, maybe not in his best bib & tucker, but took the class on his amazing movement. He has a good overall outline, helped by firm muscle condition, well angulated fore and aft, firm topline, correct set and carriage of tail. His skull is flat, if a little flared in backskull, ears well set and constantly used, nicely moulded muzzled with good underjaw, and kind eye giving intelligent expression. I had been somewhat forgiving of movement in earlier classes due to the hard, uneven surface of the ring, but this boy showed that if the construction is right correct movement should follow. In the final challenge he not only powered around the ring with great extension and drive, but going away he moved effortlessly showing a clean set of pads with each step, with hocks a hands width apart.  DCC.
2. Teslovica’s DK/LT/LV/EE Ch. Skabona Kiss from Heaven. A new one to me. Stunning mature b/m of nice clear colour. Loved his lean classic head of good length with correct stop, moulded foreface, flat skull and dark obliquely set eye, finished with neat well tipped ears, giving that dreamy yet intelligent expression. He is well made with a good front angles, leading to a long well arched neck, into a firm topline of good length. His rear is equally balanced with a firm rise over the loin and nicely rounded croup with correct tail set and carriage. On the move he was effortless with ground covering action in profile, but as with many today was moving a little close behind, having to give way to El Dorado. RDCC.
3. Randall’s Ch. Ladnar Mustriharder.

Judge: Ros MacDonald.