IRISH COLLIE CLUB BREED CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
Eikon Centre Lisburn N. Ireland 29/9/24
Judge: PAUL BATTIGAN – ROCLYNN
My thanks to ICC for this invitation, as an Irishman it has been my privilege to award Challenge Certificates in England, Scotland, Wales, and now to add Northern Ireland.
I have a very particular aversion to being “Pidgeon holed”, painted or predicated into any one corner. Whether I find it or not I always wish to find a balance of all qualities and I did I must admit find myself challenged somewhat in trying to maintain that middle ground.
I believe that these days Judges may approach an appointment with a degree of anxiety. So much has been said and written on the status of the breed in these current times.
Those of you active at this quite critical juncture for the Rough Collie are carrying quite a weight of responsibility. We find ourselves well beyond “Bells n Whistles” territory and more so in “Belt n Braces” land. I think that everyone knows where the short comings lie but from the sidelines in these times, we ought not forget to support those who continue or offer encouragement to those to whom we have passed a somewhat heavier flag. Its challenging right now but I still have faith in today’s breeders and in their intentions. If I did not, I would not accept a judging appointment.
As a specialist, my instinct post show is to reach for the catalogue and inform myself of what breeding produced each dog, it is the same for each of us no doubt, not because we have one foot in the past but because we have one eye on the future. Here then I might indulge that where I can and reference some of the breeding of the dog’s present.
MINOR PUPPY DOG
- McCartes Roughrigg Rags ‘n’ Riches (by Ch Roughrigg Rag n Bone Man x Beldones Beaute Blonde at Roughrigg. I’ve been over this one’s sire before and based upon this lad and the construction of the pedigree, I think he may well prove useful. This quite glamorous sable moved out happily on nicely boned legs and tight feet. Well grown on and developed in foreface with good well- presented double coat which was not at all swamping him, quite mature and masculine in head with good jaw/lip line, Ears are good for placement and nicely tipped, the dark eye is well set, expression pleasing, to handle skull needs to finish, and don’t want him to finish with any more strength or stop but that’s absolutely fine , he has all the time in the world yet and though I might in fact have considered him for higher honours here I just held out for the finished product but it was close, little closer than his owner might have imagined. One to watch. Best Puppy in Show.
PUPPY DOG
1 – Tippers Tiganlea Turned to Black (by Amalunaque Arcturis Wind at Tiganlea x Tiganlea True Hearts Desire) Well this lad made his dad work hard here, not unhappy, just had other things on his youthful mind, but he can move freely , time will bring him to his best, patience to a sensibility. OK for size, length through, head piece will need to finish cleanly but mum of whom more latter has that so will be interesting to see how everything settles over time here.
YEARLING DOG
- Mitchel/ Jordans Avonfair Aloysius. (by Ch Born to be your Quite Famous Lynmead x Avonfair A Million Love Songs) a nice sweet oblique eye announces his heritage but at an in between stage right now, would like him to fill somewhat in foreface, little more of and blunter on under jaw but still the cheeks are clean, there is nothing otherwise jarring as the hand runs over his head. Little fidgety in these surroundings and in not being totally settled, stepped out with less drive than he may be capable of. Tail carriage good. Refined but ok for bone, enough length of neck.
LIMIT DOG
- Hodges Jopium Love on The Rocks. (by Jopium Danny Boy at Lingwell x Jopium Loves to Sparkle With Meryctin. Been over this lad’s dad too and could see shades of him here I thought. Up to size, has the bone, appreciated the tight well-trimmed feet and hocks, and the manner in which he places his hocks firmly and squarely, has a good black jacket and rich tan, masculine in outlook. At two years old it is perfectly fine for him to look the finished part in the future, he was not lacking in coat, but I feel in full jacket and outdoors he is one who will look the more impressive. Nicely filled in foreface, the eye is dark and well set, couple of the others were a little more one piece in head. This one will be heard of again.
OPEN DOG
1 Walls Daliyhaa Master Craftsman (By Ch Beldones Blue Echo x Daliyhaa Isadorable. I love it when I can see a plan, foresight. Here is one who is the product of an import/outcross line sensibly blended back to more familiarly structured linage.
If I were a photographer I would say of this tri dog that he is always “in frame” ; by that I mean that not only does he naturally align his feet but his handler as always with his exhibits, quietly but consciously removes himself from that frame leaving the dog to inhabit the space and thus make the most of himself. Well-schooled, he knows his job, stands without any fussing or distraction, and shows a cleanness to the outline. That coupled with ample neck and length of back is lending him a somewhat more noble bearing and I had to acknowledge that. Good length of tail, sensible carriage and longer limbs afford him some extension and ground coverage although being a good-sized lad if he gets off on the wrong pace, he can also have the capacity to seem a little ungainly so watch that. In rhythm however its that extension that draws you. No mistaking his sex, well filled in muzzle, the lip line is fine, not too deep through the skull, nor two piece. Ears well used, eye is ok, not necessarily the sweetness I seek but again in bearing - proud and thus it was the balance of things on which he was today awarded the CC. I actually don’t believe him to be finished but he did just about enough for me here today. Best Opposite Sex.
2-Kellys Ballahanna All Bets Off. (by Ch Samhaven Soundtrack – Samhaven From the Top Drawer)
Frustrating! I did think at first this was the class winner. Headpiece is very typical of his breeding, no surprises here at all, clean, no lumps, bumps, no excessive depth, and the eye is more to my liking also. Ears well set on, he has a shape to him, the clean line continues right the way through, but he really would have preferred to be at home and unfortunately that just translated into his movement today but thank you for bringing him.
VETERAN DOG
1 -Ballahanna Bon Jovi at Elshadene (by Geko De Midland Valley x Samhaven From the Top Drawer.
This Golden sable was Half-brother to 2nd in open, same smooth cheeks, nice finish into a nicely filled flat skull (they don’t all have this) A true medium eye, unexaggerated, pleasant gentleman- like expression, he could get his ear higher but didn’t detract too much, enough neck, lay of shoulder, well ribbed, good heart and lung room, fine for length of back and turn of stifle and for me he moved the best in the class and with sensible tail carriage and again held his own in the challenge thus finishing his day with not only Best Veteran but also the Res Dog CC.
2 Jopsons Lillyway Lattimer at Nithview ( by Ch Jopium Stole my Heart at Lingwell x Lillyway Loobyloo). I liked his sire, thought more use could have been made of him, this tri lad (and our well-bred Tri boys are so very important!) was close to the winner (and also headed off a rather well prepared and showy sweet eyed, alert sable who had to settle for third here when not just moving on the back quite as well). My sense of him is of a male who again was checking enough boxes both in head and eye and through to his outline. He feels to me as if he just stopped short in his own skin of the fullness of his potential somehow but one of those dogs solidly bred and always worth a look at. It’s not always about “what is” its often about “what could be” and a pretty daughter to appear later in the day confirmed that notion to me.
MINOR PUPPY BITCH
1 Wrays Takhisis Xtraordinary Lady (by Myriehewe London Calling x Makhisis Lady of Mystery.) As with the lady placed third here, a true ink black fitted jacket adorns this pretty baby, this one took it all in her stride, moved out with confidence, showed me shape, a one-piece unexaggerated head with nice eyes and expression, good front and read angulation, nice long tail too. Interesting puppy.
2Allens Rougrigg Rant ‘n Rave (by Ch Roughrigg Rag n Bone Man x Beldones Beaute Blonde at Roughrigg, in contrast to her litter brother this one a little less mature, refined, petite, very feminine but pretty with it with a dark eye, nice angulation. Nice, sweet temperament, (I found no issue with that today at all)
PUPPY BITCH
1 Roughrigg Rant n Rave.
YEARLING BITCH
1 – Timmins Bonnethrath Oops a Daisy at Kynan. A nicely coated up sable with a dark eye, pleasing in expression and a nicely filled foreface, clean between the eyes, she gets he ears up just enough, nice little depth of chest, ok for length through her back and moved ok.
2 Mitchel Jordans Avonfair a Million Dreams (by Ch Born to be your Quite Famous Lynmead x Avonfair a Million Long Song) sister to yearling dog and similarly the head handles comfortably , she needs to fill in muzzle a little and finish but I like those clean cheeks and the eye set, head planes are good as is eye set and ear, pretty girl who has a little shape to her too, was my class winner if she had known it and moved accordingly but spoiled her chances today, just not loving the hall here.
POST GRADUATE BITCH
1 – Tippers Tiganlea True Hearts Desire (by Lillyway Lattimer at Niteview x Tiganlea True Romance.
Now this one I liked a lot, in fact there is really nothing much to dislike about her at all, feminine, little touch of quality , smooth headpiece to handle , no issues with eye or expression – all good, little length of back to her, not overdone , fitted jacket, a good all round type of bitch who moved I thought better in the class than the challenge but one who should be always there or thereabout. Watch for her again.
LIMIT BITCH – I liked this class.
1 – Mitchell / Jordans Avonfair a Millon Love Songs JW (by Ch Magical Moon of Lowlands Valley x Salsina Secret Lovesong at Avonfair. Perhaps I shouldn’t tell the owner how close this one was to the ticket!, mind you the fact that once the ticket had been awarded, I thought not to recall a 2nd placed nor thereafter select as default the dog for Res Best in Show instead giving the nod in this direction says it all I suppose. She’s nice and she had to be because the 2nd here was too and a rather shapely blue in third also gave both a run for their money. This Glamorous sable has a pretty, refined, clean and feminine head, but critically she has a shape with it, not overdone, but ample neck and angulation is good fore and aft and she moved out nicely in all directions for me, steady, true, no distractions. Keep her going now. Good Luck!
2 – McCartes Roughrigg One of a Kind (by Ch Gataj Struck By Lightning x Roughrigg Remember Me) another good looking shapely and glamorous sable lady who has quality to that head piece and was collected on the move, enough neck, shoulder is fine, good turn of stifle and well let down hocks, in excellent coat, condition and well prepared as were her kennel mates. Nice bitch.
OPEN BITCH
Now in an entry such as this its difficult to offer too much in terms of general remarks and commentary on where we are at, and yet having said that I am perhaps about to contradict myself because in this class of 8 ladies I actually felt I was getting a cross section of all, there was a little bit of everything here, an interesting class for sure.
1 Geddes Ch Ingledene Sno Wanda. (by Ch One extraordinary Blu Di Cambiano x Ch Ingledene Spirit of Esctasy ) Ok so one word here would pretty much sum it all up really and that word would surely be “silhouette”. In profile – head – correct – planes separated but that required slight but perceptible stop. Clearly no excessive depth, clearly no flaring, clearly breed typical. Head on, is she everything in sweetness I would ideally wish for, not quite and its ok to say that, if this were an easy breed there would be many many more of them in the ring!, She is not the most enthusiastic showgirl either, she seemed to look at me like “there – that’s the expression – you’ve seen it – move on oe wait for the trump card!” and then she goes and plays that trump card – she moves, and no its not all about that, I have to have the mix - but the structure, that silhouette in motion, she begins not to race but simply to grace and she is effortlessly light and true with extension and unforced drive, a blue flash brightening up these grey halls. Job done – Bitch CC and Best in Show.
2 – Nealons Ezzmare Cradle with Love. (by Ezzmare Let Battle Begin x Ezzmare Too Sassy for You) A precocious lady whose reputation precedes her. This one’s sire I have seen only once but very much in the same mould as his better-known brother he struck a chord with me. A dog who given the chance I felt could have value and so it was interesting today, some years later to go over his two champion daughters here in this class, two ladies of quality each of which perhaps has what the other needs for completeness. There is an honesty to this girl which if it’s not too presumptuous suggest a good brood prospect, she is sound right through, I feel a confidence about her when she moves, and this is a good partnership. Her head is fine for length and balance, those little touches of finesse I would like through the skull, in the eye placement and ear tip, well almost there I would say, and it feels to me like they are in her DNA and waiting to be unlocked. The Challenge now will be to hold onto the positives draw forth that finesse. Good Luck.
Here I feel I need to also mention those other ladies placed…
3rd the nice tri girl Samhaven The Dark Side of Ballahanna (Ch Beldones Black Illusion x Ladnar Memories – pretty, balanced, feminine, again her breeding no surprise, the 4th the sable Takhisis Lady of Mystery (Ch Magical Moon of Lowlands Green Valley x Takhissis Lady of Illusions – relatively naked yet by nothing to hide, super clean in head and in body lines one I’d like to see again and then finally the other “Let Battle Begin “ daughter (x Ezzmare get outta My Way) - Ezzmare Westside Pearl - pretty, sweet in head and eye with well-rounded quarters, useful bitch. Each different but each had something different to offer (again - look for the positives)
VETERAN BITCH
1 Nithview Country Bumpkin( by Starlenga Street Fighter at Niteview x Lillyway Lovin' You at Nithview.) A shaded sable with refined foreface, neat ears, enough neck and nice legs and feet who moved out the better of the two here.
2 Cariadhaf Cookies and Cream for Cambrogan (by Moonpromises Aver After x Ch Cariadhaf Candy Kisses, Filled in muzzle, shapely, good for neck , in good black coat and all the exhibits from this kennel clean in dentition.
As ever a huge thank you to all who brought their hopes to the ring. Appreciated!
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