BIRMINGHAM NATIONAL - 2024
Rough Collies

I wish to thank Birmingham National for inviting me to judge Rough Collie and for taking such good care of me, thoroughly enjoyed my judging experience and awarded CCs in this breed for the firs time. I want to thank the exhibitors for their superb entry. I was looked after every step of the way by my excellent stewards Marg Garland and Celia Vines who made my job so much easier. I was rather disappointed with the earlier classes in dogs but they got better as we moved up the classes and the bitches showed more quality than the dogs overall.

SBD (7) 1. Boyle’s Barrenclough Heart of Gold JW. 6 year old dog, slightly small for a dog however was compact and balanced overall, lovely wedge shaped head with well placed ears and eyes, moved extremely well and carried his tail low, lovely sound back end, BSpB. 2. Gelder’s Libanel Erebus Eternal Love. 2 year old tri coloured dog who was better for size than 1, good head and body with great animation and energy, rather happy with his tail carriage but the tail was of sufficient length. 3. Toogood’s Hanvale Ralph Lauren.

PD (6) 1. Toogood’s Hanvale Ralph Lauren. This puppy was entered in several classes and the more he went in the ring the steadier he became, the handler was clearly enthusiastic but inexperienced - please keep on Sir. Despite the inexperienced handling this sable puppy’s quality showed through, just right for age, well grown and shown in good condition, masculine and exuberant, excellent coat well presented, good conformation throughout and well proportioned head with flat skull, very typy and movement very sound coming and going and when settled had a lovely fluid gait around the ring, BPD. 2. Mitchell/Jordan’s Avonfair Aloysius. Well grown and well balanced sable, body of good proportion, head forming well although ears could come up higher, hopefully hind action will strengthen with age. 3. Van De Ven’s Winner of Dreams Angel Silvestre.

JD (3) This class was a great improvement on the puppy class, I really liked the winner in this class. 1. Hawkins’ Brilyn Worth The Wait. Nicely maturing sable dog, lovely wedge shaped head, superb eye, well shaped and well placed, ears up and tipped, good back stop, well arched neck of sufficient length, well angled fore and aft which produced the reach and drive I was looking for, tail was well set and carried low and of sufficient length, I think this dog has a bright future and awarded him RDCC. 2. Farthing’s Didek Once In A Blue Moon. 16 month old blue merle dog, a masculine well balanced young dog who was responsive and alert to handler, his shoulder and hindquarters were well angulated, he had a lovely long tail which he carried low on the move producing a flowing outline in profile. 3. Skinner’s Ladnar Makeithappen for Nikal.

YD (2) 1. Perrott’s Gataj Lightning Flash. 22 months old shaded sable dog, very true to type, excellent head with good proportions, well shaped and placed eyes and ears, well presented and showed lots of attitude. 2. Walton’s Sassari Smudge. Almost 2 years old, tri coloured dog, promising young dog who was very full of himself which showed in his tail carriage, masculine without being coarse and a good dense coat.

ND (3) 1. Toogood’s Hanvale Ralph Lauren. Repeat. 2. Dodsworth/Amos’ Libanel Everlasting Charm. 2 year old, tri coloured dog, moved well, was balanced overall, dense coat, sound coming and going.

GD (4) 1. Cronk’s Chelborn’s Gambling List. Very well balanced tri coloured male, very pleasing head of good proportions, I was impressed by his flowing gait and soundness, one of the few dogs with a well laid lay back of shoulder and upper arm. 2. Vogan’s Luminous Moon over Lenosann. Top size blue merle male, well made dog whose excellent conformation showed in his movement, his tail was of good length and carried low. 3. Gelder’s Libanel Erebus Eternal Love.

PGD (3) 1. Boyle’s Monsolana Aspire To Inspire over Barrenclough (imp). Well balanced, well coated tri coloured dog, very well constructed and moved very soundly with smooth flowing gait, good head with flat skull although ears could be higher. 2. Dix’s Barrenclough Diamond Skies. This shaded sable dog has got better and better in each class, he has well shaped and placed eyes and ears, moved around the ring with great animation. 3. Chaplin’s Takhisis Lysander.

LD (10,2) 1. Corben/Moore’s Welanga Winter Carols via Caprioara. 4 year old blue merle dog, well put together and this conformation showed in his movement, well proportioned head, almond shaped eyes and well used ears, really flowed around the ring and was handled superbly. 2. Pullin’s Barrenclough Diamond Dawn at Myjacks. 4 year old sable dog, standing this dog was well balanced and well proportioned, very good angulation fore and aft, good head but ears could be more erect to enhance his expression. 3. White’s Phreelancer Phederal Agent at Mejola.

OD (9,3) 1. Beaden’s Marvalan Spirit of Rock (imp POL). 4 year old tri coloured male, very balanced head with dark, well placed eyes, presented a very balanced eye-catching profile on the stand, excellent front, plenty of heart room between parallel front legs, I would prefer stronger hindquarters, moved very soundly with plenty of animation carrying his lovely long tail low. 2. Foy/Hawkins’ Beldones Toucher Du Bois. Very attractive 4 year old sable dog with a lovely head, very well placed and shaped dark eyes giving a sweet but masculine expression, ears could be higher, his movement which was flowing and effortless won him this place. 3. Corben’s Astromelias Ulises via Caprioara (imp ESP).

VD (7) 1. Benton’s Ch. Brooklynson El Dorado ShCEx. Fine upstanding, almost 8 years old shaded sable dog, alert and attentive to handler, after judging the previous classes ‘they don’t make them like this anymore’ and maybe some breed enthusiast would say that this was good, I really appreciate the workmanlike lines of this dog who appeared ‘fit for function’, he was well angulated fore and aft, excellent tail set and carriage and did everything that was asked of him with willingness and enthusiasm, this dog’s head was masculine and noble with correctly shaped dark eyes and alert tipped ears, no mistaking his masculinity, DCC & BV. 2. Scott’s Aniesh Touch of Black. 10 year old tri coloured dog who belies his age, beautiful eye, very balanced, good bone, well presented and shown. 3. White’s Ch. Mejola Fate and Fortune ShCEx.

SBB (5,1) 1. Gautrey’s Carristina Summer Rhapsody. 5 year old bitch, very balanced with a lovely wedge shaped head, good dense coat and very tidy neat feet, good tail length. 2. Mills’ Hanvale Edina Monsoon. Very sweet, almost 1 year old bitch with a lovely head, excellent eye, ears not as high as 1, moved so well for one so young, what a superb litter this is, this is the 3rd puppy I have placed from this litter, congratulations to the breeder. 3. Whitaker’s Siluto Blueberry Mist.

MPB (3) 1. Flower’s Serenlas Truly Scrumptious. Young sable bitch who was full of fun, very playful, good head and ears, well placed eye giving a very sweet expression, well constructed body and moved well around the ring. 2. Collino’s Imaginist My Fair Lady. Very close decision between 1 and 2, good head with everything in place, body maturing nicely, well angulated fore and aft, I loved her athleticism and potential ability to work, very ‘fit for function’. 3. Growcott’s Chantique Sent From Heaven for Lillyway.

PB (8) 1. Walder’s Hanvale Patsy Stone. Probably the best puppy I have judged from this extraordinary litter and BPIB, mature 10 month old sable bitch, very balanced in profile, lovely feminine head with very sweet expression, dark almond shaped eyes and up and tipped ears, so good to handle confirming her excellent conformation, good length of neck, firm top-line, sloping croup and well set on and carried tail, sound coming and going and just flowed around the ring, sensitively handled to get the best out of her and I predict a bright future for this puppy. 2. Mills’ Hanvale Edina Monsoon. Repeat. 3. Mitchell/Jordan’s Avonfair A Million Dreams.

JB (6) 1. Cronk’s Skabona If I Saw You In Heaven for Chelborn (imp SWE). I really liked this 16 month old blue merle bitch, presented a balanced typey overall profile, excellent coat with good merling, lovely head with well used ears, dark well shaped ears, moved well around the ring. 2. Boyle’s Timeless Destiny Star Actis over Barrenclough (imp). This young sable bitch had a lovely eye shape and very sweet expression, ears were lower than 1st, her movement coming and going was very sound and she moved very fluidly around the ring. 3. Whitaker’s Siluto Silvary Blue Moon.

YB (4) 1. Boyle’s Timeless Destiny Star Actis over Barrenclough (imp). Repeat. 2. Whitaker’s Siluto Blueberry Mist. 17 month old blue merle bitch, very alert and responsive to handler, very feminine, very animated on the move. 3. Corben’s Wisewyn For Eternity via Caprioara (imp PORT).

NB (4) 1. Walder’s Hanvale Patsy Stone. Repeat. 2. Dodsworth/Amos’ Libanel Everlasting Dezire. 2 year old blue merle, lovely head, well coated, not so well up on pasterns as 1, moved well around the ring. 3. Boyle’s Timeless Destiny Star Actis over Barrenclough (imp). GB (4,1) 1. Swain’s Touch of Blaze for Lexcol. 2 year old compact tri coloured bitch, very feminine with a well balanced head with well used ears, well coated and moved very well. 2. Whitaker’s Siluto Silvary Blue Moon. 17 month old blue merle, very animated on the move, attentive to handler and very agile. 3. Boyle’s Barrenclough Touch of Silk.

PGB (7,1) 1. Blackburn/Jones’ Erjon Evolving Beauty. Clear winner in this class, beautiful 2 year old shaded sable bitch, mature and very balanced, excellent head, well used ears, well placed eyes of good shape, well angulated fore and aft which produced an excellent movement both coming and going and gaiting around the ring, RBCC. 2. Mitchell/Jordan’s Avonfair A Million Love Song JW. Another lovely bitch, very balanced profile, good bone, good head and sweet expression, long tail which was carried well on the move. 3. Perrott’s Gataj One Moment In Time.

LB (7,2) 1. Blackburn/Jones’ Erjon Ebony Jewels. 2½ year old tri coloured bitch carrying a dense double coat, was well presented, lovely head and alert and responsive expression, very well handled to show off her excellent movement around the ring. 2. Flower’s Serenlas Pumpkin Spice JW. Close up to 1st place bitch, very feminine, well presented and balanced, moved with an impressive reach and drive. 3. Growcott’s Lillyway Lemon Breeze.

OB (9,1) 1. Cronk’s Chelborn Gambler’s Wish. Compact and balanced bitch with a very sweet head and expression, well presented, well angulated, moved holding a good top-line, good tail length and placement, BCC & BOB. 2. White’s Mejola Main Event JW. Standing, she had a lovely profile, beautifully presented with tidy feet, shaded sable, good head with a sweet expression. 3. Foy/Hawkins’ Beldones Magical Bliss. VB (8,2) 1. Beare’s Jemspark Maid In Secret. Nearly 8 years old, very sweet feminine bitch, well balanced, well coated, good conformation and moved well. 2. Benton’s Ch. Brooklynson Jane Russell of Oakestelle VW. 9 years old shaded sable bitch, excellent in all departments, attentive to handler at all times, very responsive and wonderful movement around the ring. 3. Walder’s Ch. Beldones La Vita Bella for Hanvale JW.

J Gregory