London Collie Club Championship Show

12.6.22

Collies (Smooth) critique

Many thanks to the committee for the invitation, hospitality, and beautiful smooth collie glasses gift. It was so wonderful to judge for this club which is full of fond memories for me accompanying my mother to so many shows as President back in the day.
Thanks also to the smooth collie enthusiasts for their careful breeding since I last judged the breed almost 3 years ago. The quality has noticeably improved, and they are to be praised for that.

Puppy dog (2,0)
1st: French’s WYNELE SHOW TIME. Very well-boned 10-month tri, so beautifully balanced in outline. Excellent angulation fore and aft and super tight feet. His head was balanced, clean with no depth and a super dark eye giving a keen expression. I would prefer slightly less heavy ears and a darker coat colour, but watching him power round the ring was a joy.
2nd: Wensley’s CONSTELLA HAZY COSMIC DRIVE. Another very handsome tri boy. I really liked his top-quality balanced head, dark eye and expression. He is a bit high over the loin at the moment, which spoiled his outline particularly on the move, but that should drop in time. He did not have the bone of the winner but had an excellent jet black jacket.
Junior dog (2,0)
1st: WYNELE SHOW TIME.
2nd:  CONSTELLA HAZY COSMIC DRIVE.

Post Graduate dog (1,0)
1st: Flower’s BRECKAMORE PEAKY BLINDER AT LYNDARYN. This 2-year-old b/m was my star of the day. As he floated round the ring he took my breath away – I have not felt that way seeing a smooth in the UK for a very long time. He possessed such balance, substance and breed type. His head fitted his body completely and I loved the lack of depth in skull, strong underjaw and parallel planes. His ear set was tight, and his expression was all male. He was in fit, muscled body condition and this was reflected in his powerful-yet-effortless movement – he could drive cattle to market all day. Top all this with a perfect silver blue colour with just small dapples of black and an open, happy character. I was delighted to award him his first CC and BOB and he was RBIS under judge Penny Sewell. What a wonderful dog to have for the future of the breed!

Limit dog (0)

Open dog (3,1)
1st: Naull’s CH WYNELE INDIAN INK. I loved this boy’s beautiful head – flat skull, no ugly depth or breadth, super dark eyes and great expression. His jet-black jacket was gleaming. I would like a little more length of back and definition in croup, but his overall quality and breed type won him the RCC.
2nd: Beeney’s CONEYPARK BLACK SABBATH. This tri boy was from the top drawer for size, and I found him a bit coarse all through and he was carrying too much weight which made his movement appear less than effortless. He was well-constructed with correct angulation. His head was too much for me – I found it very broad and deep in skull and this made the cheek bones quite prominent.

Veteran dog (2,0)
1st: Lusty’s AM GR CH/CAN GR CH CARDROSS RED DIRT ROAD TO BLAMORDER. This 7 year old sable could have been a contender for top honours if he had been in better body and coat condition. I found him a bit overweight and slack in muscle tone, which affected his topline on the move. His head was of a more USA standard type, but saying that, he did have parallel planes, a flat skull and excellent ears. It was just his eye shape which was a little different to the UK.
2nd: French’s CH BRECKAMORE BY DESIGN. Very glamorous and upstanding b/m, but he did not have the front angulation or ear carriage of the class winner. His head was balanced, but I would like more underjaw.

Puppy bitch (4,1)
1st: Naull’s WYNELE OBSESSION. Beautiful tri, brother of PD winner. She had the lovely head qualities of her father (Open dog winner) but both pups have better rears (clever breeding). Her immaculate jet black jacket covered a fit, well angulated and muscled body. She moved with drive and purpose. To be picky I would like a little more foreface, but she has plenty of time for that to develop with maturity. I was very pleased to award her RCC & BPIB. I was thrilled that BIS judge Penny Sewell awarded her BPIS. A definite star!
2nd: Richardson’s LIZONI VA VA VOOM. Another lovely example of the breed, and what a super jet-black coat. She did not quite have the expression or angulation of the winner which caused her not to have the forward reach or rear drive I was looking for.
3rd: Leich’s KOCZKODAN GOOD AS GOLD.

Junior bitch ((2,1)
1st: Trundley’s  NUUK SAARSKALL BILA KAIFA (IMP CZE) TAF. Tri with a super firm topline on the move, caused by excellent angulation and balance all through. I liked her dark eye and expression, but she had a touch too much stop. Just watch her weight – she did not need any more.
Post Graduate bitch (4,1)
1st: Howard’s SHANDLMAIN’S SOFISTIKATE. This class contained three tri girls who were like peas out of a pod – all had many great qualities. This young lady’s balance and shape on the move won the day. I would like a little more definition in stop, but her ear carriage was excellent, and she had a feminine expression.
2nd: Benton’s BRACKENHAYE QUEEN OF HEARTS OF OAKESTELLE. This quality bitch’s tail set and carriage spoiled her outline on the move, I also found her a little steep in front and rear angulation, but I loved her dark eye and expression.
3rd: Richardson’s KOCZKODAN SWEET DREAMS OF LIZONI.

Limit bitch (4, 1)
1st: Williams’ BLAMORDER POCO LOCO. Very feminine s/w at the lower end of the size spectrum. What a beautiful head, so clean through the cheeks and flat in skull. Her oblique dark eyes gave her a beautiful expression. Well-balanced construction and good fitness ensured she moved with forward reach and rear drive. I just wish her coat had a shine to it.
2nd: Denton’s BRACKENHAYE HEART AND SOUL. Very smart tri at the opposite end of the size scale. Super ears, though I found her eye a touch round. She moved very well, but her handler needed to be more sympathetic to her charge.
3rd: Davies & Brown’s BRECKAMORE BLESSINGS AT WYSTRY,

Open bitch (3,2)
1st: Beeney’s CONEYPARK GOLDEN BROWN, Glamorous almost 3 year old s/w. Her skull was flat but a tad broad. I would like more underjaw and overall refinement in head. She had a pleasant expression, with excellent ears. She was well-made all through, a correct weight, and she moved powerfully.

Veteran bitch (3,1)
1st: Benton’s OAKESTELLE VENUS DE MILO VW. This 8 year old b/m was my star of the girls today. The overall impression of fitness, agility, condition and breed type could not be denied. I last judged her 3 years ago and boy has she improved, particularly in body. She now has matured and dropped to gain correct shoulder angulation and super spring of rib. Yes, I would like more foreface and tan, but her clean, refined skull with no ugly breadth of depth won me over. Top that with immaculate presentation and sympathetic handling and she presented the picture I was looking for. Proud to award her crowning CC and BVIB.
2nd: Lusty’s CH BLAMORDER JUST MY LUCK. This 7 year old tri had a lovely head type, but was carrying a bit of extra weight and so did not quite have the lightness on the move as the winner.

Miranda Blake (judge)