MIDLAND COLLIE CH BITCHES 5.2.22

Id like to thank the Officers and Committee for the invite to judges bitches at this years Championship show. To the exhibitors for a super entry of 68 – many thanks. Also thanks to my stewards Jan Milligan and Simon Walder for keeping the ring running smoothly. I enjoyed my day for this my first CC appointment with the breed. If I may make some observations I would have liked to have seen more exhibits move with a better rear drive, some were hesitant with the floor (as is with some in sports halls) and it could well have been different outdoors. Tail carriage was also disappointing in some cases. Presentation was generally good, although in some cases surplus hair left on the rear hocks spoils the finish.

My CC winner emerged from the limit class in the shape of Kourika Kover Girl. In the challenge she drove up the ring with a real purpose. When it came to Best in Show I preferred her head properties and more correct topline so the decision for BIS was handed over to the referee Sophie Wray-Ramsden and she pulled out all the stops to take the award. Congratulations. All the remaining In Show awards were agreed upon with Reserve Best in Show going to the male Ch Ingledene Mercury Risin JW, Best Puppy in Show to the Minor Puppy Bitch Breckamore Pitch Black and Best Veteran in Show to Ch Tiganlea Tinkerbelle at Redvicki.    

VETERAN BITCH (3)
1ST Brookers TELFORTH SWEET DREAMS TO CORISIAN JW. Close decision between these two ladies. The winner had the better ears with a sweeter eye. She was in lovely bloom and well presented and doesn’t look like she’s 8.5 and moved easily.
2ND McGowans BARRENCLOUGH GOLDEN CHARM AT WESTOAK, 7.5 year old sable and another in good bloom. I liked her length of head and stop but she couldn’t match the winners ear set and expression to challenge further. I liked her body balance and length of back but she hadn’t got the lightness of foot of the winner.
3RD Skinners SAMHAVEN TIME IS MONEY WITH NIKAL

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (15, 2 ABS)
Wow – what a class numbers wise. To be honest it was a bit of a mixed bag, some quite over awed with the day, some bouncing all over the place, making assessment of movement hard in both cases.
1ST Frenchs BRECKAMORE PITCH DARK, This 7 month baby captivated me, she was just so balanced all round. Lovely angles, super neck leading into well set shoulders and she moved with a steady assurance belying her age. Good ears and expression. Lovely bone for her size. Showed herself off very well and was well presented. My notes say very similar shape to the second who turned out to be her litter sister! Pleased to award her Best Puppy Bitch and that my co judge agreed she be BPIS. A lovely debut and I look forward to following her progress
2ND Hawkins BRECKAMORE WELSH HONEY, sable sister to the winner and certainly has the same shape and outline with such a reachy neck. She is a size bigger than her sister and it will be interesting to see how they finish. Not quite the sweet expression of her sister. Superbly presented and in good coat and stood and showed herself off well. She is well made but wasn’t as coordinated on the move today as her sister. Scored in feminity over the 3rd. I hope she gets her act together.
3RD Randalls LADNAR IZADORABLE

PUPPY BITCH (2)
1ST Turners CORISIAN FRENCH FLIRT, 10 month fully coated sable who was presented well. Nice for size and earning her place here on her better neck, overall shape and more collected movement. Good ears and an attentive showgirl. Reserve Best puppy bitch
2ND Burrows COLOUR MY WORLD VON DER ISCHLERBAHN AT REVDVICKI (IMP AUS), almost 12 mths old tri and she was also a nice size. Moved okay enough but just not the purpose of the winner today. Coat seemed a bit inbetween and her black could be denser.

JUNIOR BITCH (4)
1ST Jones & Blackburns ERJON EBONY JEWELS, 15 mth tri who I was very taken with. She has a well balanced head and a delightful expression coming from a sweet eye set and good ears, but its her beautiful shape and oh so sound movement where she scores. At her age shes not in full coat at the moment but she simply cant stand wrong, setting herself up so well and using her lovely neck to advantage. Moved so easily and in the challenge she just strode out with purpose and assurance to take home the RCC. With maturity will carry her title easily I’m sure.
2ND Lockyers GATAJ GOOD TIME GIRL, 14 mth old golden s/w who was a lovely size and has a sweet expression. As with all the exhibits presented by this exhibitor today, she was beautifully presented. Couldn’t match the free easy movement of the winner today but non the less shes a quality young lady.
3RD Mellish DEMELEWIS DOUBLE TAKE

SPECIAL YEARLING BITCH (5). A class headed by two shapely tri colours
1ST Finneys MILLUBIE REWIND (IMP SERB), smaller framed 22 mth old tri . and every hair gleamed with health, she was immaculately presented. Her head was in perfect balance for her size and she has a soft expression. lovely feet and bone and finished off with a lovely swirl to her tail. Overall she presented a very balanced picture and moved with such ease and like the previous class winner she moved out really well in the challenge, so much so that I kept her in my final 4 for the CC.
2ND Edwards  & Bluck PAULARA LUCY IN THE SKY FOR ELSHAJO, slightly larger than the winner and just about squeezing in this class being a few days short of 2 years old. Shes a very attentive showgirl with a super neck she uses to advantage. I liked her length of head and ear carriage. Not as collected on the move as the winner today but with time and a full coat and maturity she will have some very good days in the future I think.
3RD Lockyers GATAJ HONEY BEE

MAIDEN BITCH (5,1ABS)
1ST Margetts COLLINGVALE CAMPARI, almost 9 mth old tri who was vhc in the huge minor puppy class. Carrying a nice coat for her age and an attentive steady showgirl. Head of good length with a sweet expression and good ears and she has a lovely rich tan. Moved well, just needs to strengthen behind a little.
2ND Bakers MARILAKE MANHATTAN, 6.5 mth old sable baby who coped reasonably well with the floor and was shortlisted to the last 7 in mpb. Already has the promise of a good coat. Head of good length and creates a balanced picture. Needs time.
3RD Ileys ILEYDA BILLIE EILISH

NOVICE BITCH (4)
1ST C CAMPARI
2ND D DOUBLE TAKE, 13mth old tri who was third in junior. Smaller framed girl with a good shape who excels in her driving rear movement. Coat not at its best and eye placement and expression not as sweet as those above her today.
3RD  Spendelows RIVERSIDE SONG NARAYANA AT UFFSPRING (IMP ROM)

GRADUATE BITCH (3,1ABS) not a strong class
1ST Roses UFFSPRING ULTRAVOX, tri bitch approaching 3 years, very well presented who moved steadily. Rather long in body and a plainer type of head, but had a more elegant look than the second
2ND Boyles BARRENCLOUGH TOUCH OF SILK, I preferred the head type of this sable & she has a super reach of neck. Unfortunately she wasn’t in the best bloom and persisted on moving and standing very wide.

POST GRADUATE BITCH (7, 2abs)Headed by three nice ladies
1ST Hodges JOPIUM LOVES TO SPARKLE WITH MERYCTIN, 3 year old sable in lovely bloom who was giving her handler a hard time today but couldn’t be denied for her quality. Moulded head properties with neat ears with a soft eye and expression.  Liked her bone and feet and when she got her act together she did move with purpose. Such a shame she threw her chances away in the challenge as I really liked her. Daughter of the open winner and she has certainly inherited many of her qualities.
2ND Ileys ARKLETHILL DELILAH AT ILEYDA JW, such a quality mature sable bitch approaching 4 and in nice bloom and another from this exhibitor that was well presented. She has a  super expression with lovely ears, a tad steeper in upper arm than the winner but she moved out well driving well from the rear.
3RD Murray & Bellamys BELOREEN STARLIGHT

MID LIMIT BITCH (7,2ABS )
1ST Randalls LADNAR INKSPOT, a very shapely young 2 year old and another tri! What immediately strikes you about this young lady is her balance. Flowing lines finished off with a low set well carried tail. In superb condition, immaculately presented with every hair gleaming. Sweet expression and she just flowed round the ring. In the challenge she looked lovely and she was in my final 4 for the CC. a close decision for the RCC just losing out to the tighter ear carriage of the junior winner. Will no doubt make up as she is of such quality
2ND Ileys CALL ME DREAMER IN BLUE FOR ILEYDA DELLA VERDE SCOZIA (IMP ITA), slightly larger frame than the winner and perhaps not the ultra feminity of either the winner or those behind her today – she is a well broken and coloured blue approaching 4. Seemed a little unsettIed at times but came into her own on the move which scored her this placing. In good bloom and well presented.
3RD Brookers PARIS VENISE DU BOIS DES AMAZONES FOR CORISIAN JW (IMP FRA)

LIMIT BITCH (11,2ABS)
This was a super class
1ST Blaikies KOURIKA KOVER GIRL, the star of the day taking home the BCC and BIS. Rich coloured sable approaching 4. The picture she creates is feminine and balanced. She has a good length of head with neat ears and a lovely eye. Lovely bone and substance and her coat is fitted and fresh looking. She has a lovely bend of stifle and such a lovely drive from the rear. When it came to the challenge she just motored up the mat with such ease and as she stood there and looked around I couldn’t resist her. So pleased the referee concurred and she finished the day as Best in show. Many congratulations
2ND Llewellyns ARTZAIAK SELINA DE SALSINA (IMP ESP), a younger sable girl giving away 12 mths in maturity to the winner. She has a sweet expression and never stopped using her ears. A tad shorter coupled than the winner and couldn’t match her driving rear action. Non the less a quality exhibit who was superbly presented and with a bit more maturity will have better days I’m sure.
3RD Tames RIVERSIDE SONG XTRA SWEET AT RAHLISSA (IMP ROM )

OPEN BITCH (7,2ABS) Another super class with close decisions.
1ST Hodges CH JOPIUM LOVE HEART JW, Almost 7 year old sable in fantastic bloom and condition, slightly larger frame than the second and her head moulding gave her the nod today. Good length of head with well set ears and a soft expression. Completely balanced and in the class moved with the assurance of the Ch she is. Unfortunately when it came to the challenge she went lame so could progress no further. Such a shame for all concerned but thank you for bringing her
2ND Shipps GILLYFLOWER DELLA BUCA DELLE FATE (IMP ITA), slightly smaller framed richly coloured 5 year old sable who stands and shows for all shes worth. Balanced head with a sweet expression with good ears and she was in good coat which was well presented. Moved out well and unlucky to meet the winner in full bloom
3RD LLewellyns SALSINA SHARE THE LOVE
Best veteran bitch – Burrows Ch Tiganlea Tinkerbell at Revdvicki, 8.5 year old who is the ultimate show off and just loves the ring. Scores greatly for her superb breed type and expression, correct head lines and body shape. In lovely bloom and moved so well. She signed off the day as BVIS with the full agreement of my co judge Lene Newman.

JUDGE KAY HATELEY