Many thanks to the Committee for the invitation to judge Rough Collies at one of my favourite shows, also to my stewards Alex and Nikki, and not least to the exhibitors who brought some beautiful dogs under me. I was pleased to see some quality youngsters coming up through the ranks which is always good news for the breed, and more than pleased with my main winners. I was originally invited back in 2017 to judge this show in 2021, before Covid made its appearance and shows were cancelled, so had been looking forward to this show for several years. I had considered withdrawing from the appointment due to my own and family health issues, but having looked forward to it for so long was persuaded to go ahead. So although not at my best on the day, my thanks for accepting my placings with good grace.
MPD (2) 1 Collino’s Imaginist A Griffin’s Mark. Promising 8mths tri presenting a good overall shape and outline. Balanced head developing well with nice dark almond eye and neat well placed ears, just needs to clear in stop. Good neck and level topline into correct tail set and carriage, very good front angulation and forechest matched by well angulated hindquarters. Confident on the move with an easy stride. 2 Gatt’s Imaginist Superior Sun, s/w litter mate of first, with many similar attributes regarding head, expression and topline, but not quite the front or body condition of his brother as yet. Movement ok, if a little proud of his tail.
PD (2) 1 White’s Mejola Top Gun. 11mths who immediately takes your eye, with his clean, balanced outline, arched neck, good length of body with rounded croup giving correct tail set and carriage, all enhanced by his rich s/w fitted jacket. Clean smooth head with correct stop, dreamy yet intelligent eye/expression and neat well carried ears. Correct, balanced front and rear conformation which was evident in his gait. Should have a great future ahead. BP. 2 Spendelow’s Uffspring Undeniable, 10mths b/m in good coat which just needs to clear in colour. Decent head, which initially appeared deep through in skull, but on handling felt this was due to excess puppy coat. Pleasing head and expression. Moved ok, if a little erratic. Just needs time.
JD (3,1) 1 Wray-Ramsden’s Takhisis Daggers at Dawn. Another quality youngster just out of Puppy and quite mature for his age. Well constructed throughout, in good muscular condition, with a harsh fitted jacket and clean outline. Smooth, balanced skull with well carried ears and kind, dark eyes. Easy, ground covering action on the move. Another with a promising future. 2 Skinner’s Ladnar Makeithappen for Nikal. 16mths lad showing promise, with an attractive head/expression, but at that awkward in between teenager stage, lacking coat and body which made him appear gangly and loose on the move. Just needs time to mature.
GD (9,2) 1 Vogan’s Luminous Moon over Lenosann. This masculine b/m took my eye as he entered the ring. Something had caught his eye and he stood like a statue, up on his toes, head held high, his long arched neck stretched, ears bang on top, showing off his many virtues. On going over him he lived up to my hopes and expectations. His colour is the clearest silvery blue, not yet in full coat but of the correct texture, and it fitted his outline, hiding nothing. His head is balanced, clean and moulded, with flattest of skulls, clean through the cheeks, well defined underjaw, obliquely set eyes and perfectly set and carried ears. His white shawl collar set off his impressive reach of neck into well laid shoulders, good front and depth of chest. In hard condition, his movement confirmed his conformation with great extension and drive both in profile and to and fro. At just 2.5yrs old he is still maturing so look forward to seeing the finished product. DCC. 2nd Hanson’s Jards Ring Presence. Rich s/w, another no doubting his sex, stronger in head than 1st, but fitting him. Balanced throughout, with a good front, topline and angles. Excelled on the move. 3 Collins Triburle Bluebolero.
LD (11,3) 1 Newton’s Fiorcara Brave Explorer. Loved this s/w lad’s classic style, with clean flowing lines throughout, soundly made with no exaggerations. Pleasing wedge head, balanced, with flat skull, nicely moulded muzzle, kind eye and neat well used ears. Clean outline, with firm topline, depth of chest and excellent forechest, good angles, finished with a well presented fitted jacket. Moved well, keeping his topline, and correct tail carriage. 2 Harvey’s Afterglow Invocation. Torn here, as this mature rich shaded s/w is different in type, but has so many outstanding qualities. Masculine head, with parallel planes, defined underjaw, dark oblique eye and expression. Top size, in full coat, another with excellent forechest and angles. Good depth of chest and hard body condition. He upped the stakes on movement, with his handler getting the best from him showing a free ground covering gait. 3 White’s Phreelancer Phederal Agent at Mejola.
OD (4, 3) 1 Allsopp’s Aqualita it’s a Miracle. Mature jet black tri in good coat and overall condition. Clean through the head and cheeks, with well placed stop, dark eye and well set and carried ears giving a gentle intelligent expression. Decent angles, firm topline and correct tail set and carriage. Sound on the move.
VD (3) 1 White’s Ch. Mejola Fate and Fortune ShCEx. Handsome b/m just approaching his 8th birthday but still in his prime. Classic head properties with beautiful melting expression from combination of nice eye shape and placement with perfect ear carriage. Harsh, fitted coat, sound on the move with good drive and extension. Beautifully presented, in good body condition RDCC & BV. 2 Collino’s Wicani Altitude at Imaginist. 10yrs tri, another shown in lovely condition and aging well. Well bodied with good muscle tone enabled sound movement and firm topline. 3 Spendelow’s Uffspring Unmistakable AW(S).
MPB (4,2) 1 Flower’s Serenlas Truly Scrumptious. Well named 8 mths s/w showing lots of promise. Soft dark eye giving gentle expression, well set and carried ears, balanced length of head. Good body proportions with correctly set and carried tail. Well schooled youngster, she was sound and collected on the move. Should have a bright future. 2 Well’s Gataj Little Miss Sassy at Terelimon. 7 mths s/w with the sweetest nature and a reasonable coat for her age, but rather fine all through and lacking body condition at the moment. Needs time.
PB (1) Hanson’s Mejola the Special One with Jards. Very attractive 10mths s/w with an elegant shape from a good length of neck and body, balanced angulation with a good front, well set and carried tail. Her head is very feminine with nicely moulded foreface, dark almond eye and correctly placed stop. Sound on the move.
JB (4,1) 1 Cronk’s Skabona if I Saw You in Heaven for Chelborn (Imp Swe). Eye catching 17mths b/m of well broken clear blue colour with a full white collar showing off her lovely reach of neck. Good body length and topline giving a balanced and elegant outline, correct tail set and carriage. Balanced feminine head and sweet expression from dark, obliquely set almond eyes, smooth lines and correct stop, with neat ears. Moved soundly with drive. 2 Geddes’ Ingledene Connie Mcblack. 15 mths tri with a fitted jet black jacket that showed off her feminine outline. Decent neck and topline, well developed front with good angles fore and aft, well muscled, which was apparent when moving. Clean head which handles well, with lots to like about her. 3 Radford-House & Durrent’s Kiss Me Kate di Cambiano at Fivejays.
GB (3) 1st Beardsworth’s Maysinder Sapphire Reign. Well broken b/m with good body shape and overall outline. Good reach of neck from well angulated front, firm topline, well set tail and tail carriage. Smooth balanced head with flat skull and neat well used ears, dark eyes. Sound on the move. 2 Harvey’s Wicani Blue Myrabella. Stunning b/m of well broken clear silver blue and full white collar, shown in full glamorous coat. I thought she might be my class winner, but she was obviously not settled today. Beautifully presented and constructed, with a well developed forechest, arched neck and angulation, plus the sweetest of heads, but she refused to show off her assets, or move for her handler as well as her construction suggested so had to make do with 2nd place. 3 Collins Triburle Seren Dlos.
PGB (4,2)1 Cronk’s Chelborn Tell Me Your Wish. Feminine s/w with balanced head, well set ears, dark almond eye giving soft, appealing expression. Another with good angles, front, tail set and carriage, giving light easy movement. 2 Perrott’s Gataj One Moment in Time. S/w, longer cast than above, finer in head and not quite so clean through as 1st. Not as positive on the move.
LB (6,3)1 Newman’s Phreelancer Phormal Dress. Eye catching mature s/w with that nice length of body giving elegance and excellent flowing lines, arched neck, firm topline, well set and carried tail. Very feminine in expression, clean wedge head, enough stop, neat well used ears, dark almond eye. Positive mover with light easy action. RBCC. 2 Flower’s Serenlas Pumpkin Spice. Well made s/w shown in good coat and body condition, nothing about her is exaggerated, but everything fits to give balance with a clean outline and fitted jacket of good texture. Very sound on the move. 3 White’s Mejola Special Reserve.
OB (6,1) 1 White’s Mejola Main Event JW. Headed a class of quality bitches, but this girl just demanded my attention. Loved her smooth balanced head with slight stop, neat ears, dark expressive eyes. Has a stunning shape and rich mahogany fitted jacket, excellent reach of neck and body length, with correct angulation fore and aft, ending with a long well set tail all combine to produce a perfect illustration of the breed standard. Movement was light, effortless and ground covering with balanced reach and extension. BCC & BOB. 2 Walsh’s Skabona What a Lady at Joshren. Beautiful b/m in full coat, but still fitting her outline. Lovely shape with good neck, blending into firm topline with good length of body. Nice wedge head with kind, intelligent expression, good underjaw, neat mobile ears. Showed power and balance on the move. 3 Geddes Ingledene Sno Wanda. Made up a trio of beautiful bitches.
VB. (4,1) 1 Benton’s Ch. Brooklynson Jane Russell of Oakestelle. 12yr old s/w, maybe not in her best bib and tucker today, but her construction and movement could surpass many dogs half her age. Still well muscled and retaining an excellent set of clean teeth with correct scissor bite, possibly due to her strong underjaw. Gave way to the Dog for BV who was in full coat and giving away a few years. 2 Newton’s Corydon Victoria Rose at Fiorcara JW. At 8yrs the youngest in the class, and not really looking like a veteran. In good coat and body condition, feminine in head and expression, moved well. 3 Lyall’s Santaloly’s Sky Amidalas.
