EAST ANGLIAN COLLIE ASSOCIATION OPEN SHOW 1 - 14TH APRIL 2024

  May I thank the Officers and Committee for my invitation to judge at this friendly, well-organised show. My thanks also to Zoe and Sandy, my hard-working stewards who kept the ring running very smoothly and efficiently and last but not least, the exhibitors who kindly allowed me the privilege of going over their lovely dogs.  In general, the quality of the dogs was very good and sometimes decisions were made based on the weather conditions (it was very windy!) which caused quite a lot of naughtiness and minor faults to come to the fore which might otherwise have been less apparent. All temperaments were very good. Important note for handlers - please remember a triangle has THREE sides!

Rough Dogs Class 1 - Veteran Dog (5/0 absent)
1 Benton’s Ch. Brooklynson El Dorado Shcex 7 year old sable dog who presents a beautiful outline both standing and on the move. Classic head, slight stop, flat skull, clean through the cheeks, lovely expression. Well angulated throughout. Moved correctly and with drive. BVD and very pleased later to award him RBD, BVIB, RBIS. 2. White’s Ch. Mejola Fate & Fortune Shcex 7 year old blue merle with good substance, a pleasing head and well proportioned body. Good bone. Moved very well. Just preferred the expression of (1). Bartram’s Ambartr King Of The Ring

Class 2 - Minor Puppy Dog (1/0 absent) 
1. White’s Mejola Top Gun Nice sable youngster of 9 months. Lovely shape, good coat in excellent condition. Well balanced for his age. Good for bone. Balanced head with good ear carriage. Moved well. BMPD, BPD

Class 3 - Puppy Dog (2/1 absent)
1. Jackson’s Sassari Mister Starman Well grown blue merle puppy of 11 months. Nice head with ears correctly set. Appealing expression. Good for substance. On the move he was a little unsettled and carried his long tail over his back.

Class 4 - Junior Dog (2/1 absent)
1. Skinner’s Ladnar Makeithappen for Nikal Attractive young blue merle male with a balanced head showing sweet expression. Good length of body and well angulated throughout. Moved out well with good length of stride.

Class 5 - Yearling Dog (4/1 absent)
1. Randall’s Ladnar Makemeawinner Lovely blue merle of good colour, kind expression, correctly placed ears and eyes, balanced head. Litter brother of Junior class winner.  Well angulated throughout. Good length of tail. Moved out very well from all angles. Very well presented. 2. Clark’s Riverside Song Unbelievable Guy At Stavods (Imp Rom). Sable dog of very different type to (1) but balanced throughout. Very small in stature for a male. Moved well enough. 3. Walton’s Sassari Smudge

Class 6 - Post Graduate Dog (8/1)
1. Vogan’s Luminous Moon Over Lenosann Well constructed blue merle dog with plenty of substance who was a clear winner in this class. Well balanced head, nice eye, good ears. Good underjaw. Correct length of neck leading to a nicely sloping shoulder and well proportioned body. Rather distracted on the move but moved well enough. 2. Jard’s Ring Presence This handsome shaded sable male has a beautifully constructed head with a flat skull, slight stop, kind expression and neat ears. His body is of good length and overall proportions are good but he lacks substance at present. Moved well. 3. White’s Phreelancer Phederal Agent At Mejola

Class 7 - Limit Dog (5/3)
1. Harvey’s Afterglow Invocation Beautiful shaded sable male whose appearance screams ‘Look At Me!’. His colour alone is a standout- a rich, mahogany sable - and his construction is really well balanced. He has ‘passive dignity’ with his clean head, long elegant neck, well proportioned body and excellent angulation. As you would expect, he moved around the ring effortlessly, in tune with his handler. In good condition and very well presented. Certainly fit for function. Very happy to award him BD and later BOB and ultimately BIS. 2. Phillips’ Essanjay Against All Odds Tricolour boy of substance, with an intelligent expression, correct head, good shoulder and well angulated throughout. Moved ok. 3. Corben & Harvey’s Ambartr Black Knight At Wicani

Class 8 - Open Dog (2/1)
1. Allsopp’s Aqualita Its A Miracle Tricolour male with a good head & expression. Excellent head planes and lower jaw. Good ears (when he chose to use them) and well constructed body with correct angulations, as is evident when he moves. Lovely shape throughout but sadly this is marred by his high tail carriage. Very well presented. Still a very nice dog and unlucky to come up against some stiff opposition later in the competition.

Rough Bitches Class 9 - Veteran Bitch (8/1) 
1. Stillwell’s Bellawave Caught In a Dream 9 year old Tricolour bitch, gleaming with condition. Correct head with sweet expression, good underjaw, ears on top and used constantly. Lovely length of neck. Well proportioned in body with correct angulations. Moved very well. BVB 2. Benton’s Ch. Brooklynson Jane Russell of Oakestelle Vw Another beautiful veteran bitch who is a long time favourite of mine. Everything in proportion and exceptional mover. Very well presented. Beaten on the day by another bitch in absolutely sparkling form but that does nothing to detract from this lovely girl. 3. Vogan’s Lenosann Black Cherry

Class 10 - Minor Puppy Bitch (2/0)
1. Hanson’s Mejola The Special One with Jards Sable bitch puppy with a pretty head, sweet expression and presenting a very promising outline. Moved well for a youngster. Well presented. 2. White’s Mejola Federal Reserve Light sable bitch puppy, very similar in type to (1) but a little smaller in stature. Moved ok.

Class 11 - Puppy Bitch (4/0)
1. Stillwell’s Wicani That’s Amore With Bellawave This 10 month old youngster stood out in a class of very nice puppies. Well balanced head with sweet expression. Classically constructed with good head planes, neat ears and a gentle, sweet expression. Body correct, good angulations throughout. Moved easily around the ring. Very well presented. BPB, RBB and pleased to award her also BPiB and ultimately BPiS 2. Gallagher’s Stregato My Silver Tassie With Gemheid Pretty blue merle bitch puppy. Well constructed throughout. Lovely head with appealing, alert expression, well placed eyes and ears. Good underjaw. Body construction excellent. Well presented and moved very well. Unlucky to meet (1) today. 3. Walder’s Hanvale Patsy Stone

Class 12 - Junior Bitch ((7/0)
1. Cronk’s Skabona If I Saw You In Heaven for Chelborn (Swed Imp) Attractive blue merle with good head and pleasing expression. Good length of neck into a correctly sloping shoulder. Stood and showed well. Moved fluidly and with good reach. In excellent condition and well presented.  2. Walder’s Hanvale Patsy Stone Loved the sweet expression on this pretty sable girl. Balanced head although slightly too much stop. Overall shape and build excellent with good angulations throughout. Moved well. In very good condition and presented a lovely picture. 3. Radford-House & Durrant’s Kiss Me Kate Di Cambiano At Fivejays (Imp Ita)

Class 13 - Yearling Bitch (2/0)
1. Whitaker’s Siluto Blueberry Mist Pretty blue merle who makes a nice shape but is currently a little light in frame which will hopefully fill in as she ages. Good head and expression although her ears are a little light, not helped by the windy conditions. Moved well. 2. Corben’s Wisewyn For Eternity Via Caprioara (Imp Port) Tricolour bitch with a pretty head but a little short in back skull. Rather narrow in front. Moved ok but seemed to lack confidence on the move

Class 14 - Post Graduate Bitch (10/1)
1. Beardsworth’s Maysinder Sapphire Reign Well presented, silvery blue merle with correct head, flat skull with slight stop and sweet expression. Well constructed body with good sloping shoulder and correct angulations. Moved around the ring confidently with her handler. 2. Bartram’s Ambartr Winds of Change Tricolour bitch with correct head planes of equal length, well placed eyes and neat ears although she was a little reluctant to show them. Well constructed body with good angulations. Well balanced throughout. Moved very well. 3. Jackson’s Samhaven Saving Grace To Sassari

Class 15 - Limit Bitch (6/2)
1. Randall’s Ladnar Izadorable Attractive blue merle bitch, beautifully presented in excellent condition. This girl shows like a pro! Lovely expression, good body shape and construction. Strong hindquarters and a very good length of tail. A picture of elegance. Moved out very well. BB 2. Cronk’s Chelborn Gambler’s Wish 2 year old sable girl with well moulded head and sweet expression. Well angulated throughout producing a good balanced outline. Moved out well and with drive. Very well presented. 3. Whitaker’s Siluto Mysterious Girl

Class 16 - Open Bitch (5/3)
1. Radford-House & Durrant’s Ingledene Midnite Skye with Fivejays Pretty tricolour bitch, with a correct head, and lovely overall shape. Would prefer a slightly rounder ribcage. Moved straight and freely. Neat feet. Well presented. 2. Gentry’s Tudorlyn Dusty Moon Heart Light sable bitch who was beginning to feel the heat at the end of a long day. Nice head with correct flat skull. She carries a huge coat which ideally would have a little more undercoat removed. A little reluctant to be assessed. Moved quite well.

Di Collino Judge