JUDGE'S CRITIQUE FOR BOURNEMOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 
     
12th August 2024

Rough Collie Dogs

My thanks must go the Committee for the invitation to judge my lovely breed; my stewards who kept the ring running so smoothly, and especially to the exhibitors who braved the heat and made my day so enjoyable. It may have been a numerically small entry but the quality of the dogs before me was outstanding. I found only one dog with a major construction fault and one with a bad temperament. Teeth were much cleaner than the last time I judged.

Minor Puppy Dog (1)

1. Bolt's Gataj Bonne Eddie.  7 month pale sable on his 1st outing at this level. Stood alone but well deserved his placing. Lovely head and expression when he used his ears, dark eye, needs to fill in foreface but has time. Stands four square and moved soundly. Lots of potential in this baby.

Puppy Dog (1) 

1. Lockyer's Gataj Lewis Capaldi.  9 month old golden sable. Parallel head planes, nice dark eye and well used ears gave a melting but masculine expression. Good arch of neck into well laid shoulders, good spring of rib, level topline with the required rise over the loins. Short straight hocks and low set tail. Movement exemplary and presentation first class. To be hypercritical I would prefer a slightly longer back but again has time on his side.

Junior Dog (3)

1. Lockyer's Salsina's Red Hot Crush with Gataj  11 month golden sable    Well moulded foreface with good underjaw, correct amount of stop, almond eyes, all combining  to give a head and expression to die for, masculine but with the expression I was looking for. Excellent body shape, stood four square, good bone with straight front legs , level topline, excellent bend of stifle with strong second thigh and short hocks. Moved with drive and the exuberance of youth. BPIB and later delighted to award him the reserve CC.
2. Toogoods's Hanvale Ralph Lauren  Just out of puppy, sable and white. Another with a superb head and expression. Close decision between 1 and 2 and the same comments apply. Moved with drive but occasionally flew his tail which cost him the first.
3. Rowlinson's Hanvale Alexander McQueen. Litter brother to 2. Am sure they will change places on another day.

Yearling Dog (3)

1. Collins' Triburle the Joker   Nineteen month sable and white. Head handles well, being balanced and with the desired wedge. Not happy with the conditions (very hot and flapping tent sides). Tended to stand with his neck tucked into his shoulders which made him look a bit stuffy but he is not. Moved well enough to take the class.
2. Hanvale Ralph Lauren
3. Hanvale Alexander McQueen

Graduate Dog (2)

1. Roberts' Barrenclough Diamond Moon   5 year old sable and white. Small but balanced dog. Would prefer him a size bigger all over. Wedge head with good stop and dark almond eyes. Ears were a problem being almost erect. Moved very soundly but I feel would benefit from losing some weight.
2. Bolt and Cronk's RevdVicki's Raffles at Chelborn. Have seen this dog several times from the ringside and have never seen him so unsettled. Better size than the winner but just would not show off his virtues. His construction is good with  balanced angles but he moved erratically and was almost impossible to assess.

Post-Graduate Dog (2)

1. Bolt and Hollywood's Amalie A Chance to Shine.  3 year old sable and white. Well balanced head with masculine expression. Reluctant to use his ears but I think had picked up the tension from his kennel mate. Well angulated with a good bend of stifle and very strong second thigh. Moved with drive but was unsettled. 
2. Barrenclough Diamond Moon

Limit Dog (4)

1. Lockyer's Gataj Turn Back Time JW.  This was the dog I was looking for. I judged him in 2023 and liked him then. I haven’t changed my opinion and he has now matured into a fabulous dog. Head handles beautifully, clean wedge, good fill of foreface, superb dark almond eyes, well used ears, flat skull, good reach of neck. Excellent lay back of shoulder, level top line, good spring of rib, correct bend of stifle, strong second thigh, with well set tail. Moved with drive and purpose and could have worked all day even in the intense heat.  The standard calls for ' impassive dignity'. This dog doesn't have it. He is too busy enjoying his showing and loving everybody. Superb temperament. Presentation, like all the dogs from this kennel was superb. Delighted to award him the CC (his 4th) and later BOB. 
2. Collins Triburle Blue Bolero. 2 and a half year old blue merle. Easy to see why this dog has done the winning he has. Attractive head with rich tan and symmetrical markings. Massive white shawl collar with emphasized his front construction. Level topline, good bend of stifle, and short hocks.  Not on top form today  (feeling the heat) but moved well enough. Excellent coat colour with well broken merling.
3. Vescan's Phreelancer Phinal Salute

Open Dog (4)

1. Shipp's CH No More Heroes Du Clos De Seawind JW.  Glorious rich golden sable, only just over seven years. Balanced head with correct stop, flat backskull and neat well used ears. Good neck leading into well laid shoulders, level topline, super bend of stifle. Well boned with neat feet. Moved with drive and purpose.
2. Milligan's Alfsden He Lives In You. 3 year old blue merle. A newly crowned Champion and very well deserved. Have admired this dog from the ringside and was not disappointed on handling him. Head is perfectly proportioned with strong underjaw, dark almond eyes and neat ears. Good length of neck, well laid shoulders, deep ribbing and strong musculature throughout. Purposeful  movement.
3.  Blaikie's CH Kourika You'll Do For Me.

Veteran dog (2,1)

1. Mills' Lynmack Starmac at Lemivee.  8 year old shaded sable who, apart from a few white hairs on his muzzle, showed no evidence of his age. Gentle masculine expression with dark almond eyes, neat ears and well filled foreface. Complete clean dentition. Well angulated front construction, level topline, low set and well carried tail. Moved with drive  and a definite purpose. Could have shown some of the youngsters how to move! BVIB and delighted when he went Pastoral Veteran Group 2.

Rough Collie Bitches
Special Beginners Dog or Bitch (1)

1. Mills Hanvale Edina Monsoon at Lemivee. 13 month old sable and white, stood alone but so deserved her placing. The third member from the famous litter and is a feminine version of her brothers, Sweetest of heads with everything in perfect balance, dark almond eye, neat ears, flat skull. Swan neck, good layback of shoulder, level topline, good spring of rib, low set well carried tail. Short hocks with neat feet which she used to advantage. Movement was exemplary, another who could work all  day if asked to. Best Special Beginner and delighted to hear she annexed Group 4 in a huge Sp Beg class.

Minor Puppy Bitch (3)

1. Lockyer’s Vichy Vuitton of Dirty Booties  at Gataj.  (Imp Deu) 8 months old sable and white. What a sweetie, lovely head and expression. Nice neck and good shoulder angulation. Long tail carried perfectly on the move.
2. Tofield’s Gataj Dream To Love.  7 months sable and white. Much more immature than the winner despite there only being a month between them. Head unbalanced at the moment, needs to fill in foreface. Time will cure this. Well angulated fore and aft, move soundly with good tail carriage.
3. Primmer’s Xanthe Angel Silvestra at Colcanis. 

Puppy Bitch (2)

1. Lockyer’s Gataj Exotic Girl 11 months old sable and white. Lovely head and expression, well moulded fore face, correct stop, dark almond eyes, neat well used ears. Good reach of neck, leading into well laid shoulders, straight front with excellent bone and neat hare feet. Level topline with required rise over the loins, excellent turn of stifle. Stood four square and showed like a Veteran. Moved very well. BPB
2. Wells’ Gataj Little Miss Sassy at Terelimon. Litter sister to 1 and many of the same remarks apply. Just preferred the animation of 1 despite the heat.

Junior Bitch (2)

1. Walder’s Hanvale Patsy Stone 13 month sable and white, the fourth member of the litter I’ve seen today. I must congratulate the breeder on the type and consistency of these dogs. Well balanced head with an exquisite expression made up of good fill of foreface, adequate stop, dark eyes, neat ears and the flattest of backskulls. Well angled neck and shoulders, level topline, low set tail which she carried correctly. Exuberant movement, another who could work all day if asked to.
2. Mason’s Elshajo Bold Over for Lynocean. 18 month old sable and white who left her clothes at home. This actually enhanced the appearance of her correct, well angled body shape. Head handled well but needs to soften in expression. I’m sure this will happen when the neck feathering comes back. Moved with drive as her construction suggested.

Yearling Bitch (1)

1. Mills’ Hanvale Edina Monsoon at Lemivee

Graduate Bitch (2)

1. Mills’ Hanvale Edina Monsooon at Lemivee.
2. Rae’s Gataj Majestic Hope  2 year old sable and white. Well balanced head, good fill of foreface, dark eyes, ears a little light. Long neck enhanced by a white shawl collar. Well angulated fore and aft. Moved with drive.

Post-Graduate Bitch (7)

1. Ware’s Millubie Essence of Magic at Wassail (imp Rom)  2 and a half years old, tri colour. Head is beautiful, well filled foreface, good underjaw, dark almond eyes, ears perfectly tipped, richest of tan markings, all combining to give her the melting expression I was looking for. Good reach of neck, well angled front, well laid shoulders, level topline. Good ribbing, with well bent stifles and strong second thigh, correctly set tail which she carried perfectly when moving. In the challenge (with another handler) she just pulled out all the stops. Jet black coat shining in the sun. She just looked at me and I was under her spell. Delighted to award her the CC. Later she gained BOS against a dog in peak form at the moment.
2. Mills’ Hanvale Edina Monsoon at Lemivee.
3. Congdon’s Riverside Song Nebraska at Aaronwell (Imp Rou).

Limit Bitch (4)

1. Ware’s Wassail Call the Midwife. 4 year old sable and white. Have admired this bitch for a while and on handling her was not disappointed. Sweet expression made up of well filled foreface, dark eyes, well used ears and a flat skull. Good length of neck, well angulated fore and aft, short hocks and well bent stifles which gave her the freedom to move freely.
2. Foy/Hankins’ Beldones Just For Fun at Starlenga. 3 and a half year old golden sable. Presentation was outstanding. Well balanced wedge head with a melting expression. Long neck leading into well angulated shoulders. Level topline with the correct rise over the loin. Long low set tail which she carried perfectly on the move.
3. Tame’s Riverside Song Xtra Sweet at Rahlissa.

Open Bitch (4,1)

1. Lockyer’s Gataj Good Time Girl  Almost 4 years old sable and white, an ideal combination of substance and femininity. Head handles well, with a melting expression. Rounded muzzle, good bite with clean teeth, correctly placed stop, dark almond eyes, neat ears which were bang on top, flat backskull. Correct length to height ratio gives her a very attractive shape with straight front legs, neat feet and good bone, well sprung ribs, level topline with the correct rise over the loin, finished off with a good bend of stifle and short which enabled her to move positively both ways and have excellent reach when viewed from the side. Immaculate presentation completed the picture. I was told afterwards that she is newly crowned but today had to give way to the stunning tricolour. RCC.
2. Congdon’s Riverside Song Desiderata at Aaronwell (Imp Rom). 5 year old pale sable. Have not seen this bitch for about three years since I assisted at her whelping. To my delight she recognized me and began wagging her tail furiously which made my judging even more difficult. Impressive silhouette when standing. Well balanced head with the sweetest of expressions, good reach of neck, well angulated shoulders, level topline, good turn of stifle and strong second thigh. Moved very well but could not match the sheer exuberance of the younger bitch.
3. Margett’s Lynmead Lemonade for Collingvale.

Veteran Bitch (2,1)

1. Shipp’s Ch Gillyflower Della Buca Dalle Fate (Imp Italy) Just seven years old, rich golden sable colouring. The essence of femininity, lovely head with almond eyes, small ears which she used when persuaded. Long neck enhanced by a huge white collar, correct angulation fore and aft. Good bend of stifle, short hocks and neat feet which enabled her to move with drive. A lesson in presentation.  In the challenge for BV I preferred the dog’s movement at the end of a very long hot day

Jane Stevens (Judge).