WORKING & PASTORAL BREEDS ASSOCIATION OF WALES
SATURDAY 20th APRIL 2024
ROUGH COLLIE

Wales had put on a fabulous show for me with perfect spring weather, wall to wall sunshine and some quality dogs. With judging delayed and being third in the ring it was the afternoon before we got in the ring. It was certainly cooler in the sheds but the ring was a good size and I’d been looking forward to judging Roughs again and enjoyed putting them through their paces. I was looking for a dog of the correct balance and proportions, that conforms to the standard and exhibits the construction and movement I expect to see in a herding/droving breed. Finding all the above with the much desired beautiful head and sweet expression is always a challenge but my main winners were top notch. Thank you to the committee for their invite and all exhibitors for their entries, I thoroughly enjoyed my day.

PD (1,0a)
1. Wray-Ramsden’s Takhisis Dagger At Dawn. This smart s/w 10 month old male was well schooled and put on a good show. Good length of head with level planes, clean through the cheeks and well placed almond eye, wouldn’t want any more stop, ears well tipped and used, could be a little tighter but lovely expression. Good length of neck flows into a well angulated front, correct bone and neat feet. Just enough length of body, still to mature in ribbing as you’d expect, correct topline with slight rise to loin and easy flow over the croup into well angulated rear, balancing his front. Correct harsh outer coat and soft undercoat, lovely rich sable and classic white markings, in great condition. Moves out soundly with lightness of foot and lovely balance. Has quality and should mature into a useful adult. BPD & RBD.

OD (2,0)
1. Bluck’s Phreelancer Chill Factor for Elshajo. Super 5 years b/m male, well made and correctly proportioned and one who has matured slowly like a fine wine and is now at his best. Masculine head which is a clean wedge, good planes, flattish skull, correct stop, almond eyes and well set ears used to his advantage, all combining to give him a dignified yet sweet expression. Good length of neck, excellent front, well angulated, straight forelegs with correct bone, slight slope to pasterns and oval feet. Good body shape with the correct topline and super flow of outline from head to tail. Good breadth and depth of chest, ribs well sprung. Super rear end with well bent stifles and straight from hock to ground. In fitted coat of the correct texture, beautifully coloured and marked merle with rich tan and the super white shawl collar of a mature male, in fabulous condition. Impressive on the move and as balanced as you’d expect from his construction, putting his super angulation to good effect, purposeful, easy and sound, covering the ground as a herding dog should. Has that look of dignity and nobility in his carriage which I love to see in a Rough. He was an easy choice for BD and just edged out the bitch in the challenge with his more youthful vigour on the move and sheer presence, to take BOB. At the time he was sitting on 2 CCs and as I said after judging to his owner, on this form his 3rd can’t be far away and I was so pleased to see that indeed it wasn’t and he is now a well deserved Ch. Congratulations! 2. Cronk’s Chelborn That’ll Do. Sweet headed tri male of 4 years. More compact type than 1 with less length of muzzle and body but still balanced. Wedge shaped head, clean through the cheeks and lovely well placed almond eye giving a really sweet expression for a tri. Preferred the ear set of 1. Carries a full mane which masks his length of neck. His general construction and angulation is good front and rear, straight front with lovely bone and feet are ok. Has good breadth and depth of chest, well sprung ribs and the correct topline. In full profuse coat, well presented and classically marked. Could stand a little straighter behind but is balanced and sound on the move with fair length of stride and easy action.

PB (2,1)
1. Flower’s Serenlas Truly Scrumptious. Delightful 7 months s/w baby with a wonderful, outgoing temperament, very much all of a piece and well proportioned. A true little wedge head that still needs to finish but she has level planes, is clean through the cheeks, has a sweet dark eye, well set ears that just need to settle a little but when she uses them she has the most engaging expression. Good length of neck, well angulated front and rear, stands on good legs and feet, in good body with depth of chest, plenty of fill, correct topline with slight rise over the loins, and gentle flow over the croup to a lovely long, well set tail. Has a fitted rich gold puppy coat in super bloom. Moves out so lightly and freely once she settles, using her angulation, so sound up and down with lovely balance and rhythm. BPB and even though she’s just a baby, I preferred her exceptional earset and her height to length proportions and couldn’t resist her for BP. A very promising baby and I look forward to watching her progress, particularly as she flies the flag as an example of how Smooth bloodlines can help the Roughs, being sired by a Smooth x Smooth bred Rough. A bold but clever move on behalf of her breeder which looks to have paid off handsomely and can only be good for the Rough variety and help widen the genepool. Well done.

JB (1,0)
1. Cronk’s Skabona If I Saw You In Heaven for Chelborn (Imp Swe). Feminine b/m of 15 months. Good length of head which is a clean wedge, parallel planes although skull can still flatten, sweet almond eye, neat ears which she could’ve held tighter but it was very noisy in the shed. Good length of neck, well laid shoulder, front and rear angulation in balance, correct bone, stands well on good legs and feet ok. Still very much a junior in body, liked her length, needs to fill in chest and develop in ribbing which is to be expected. Correct in topline with level back, slight rise to loin and gentle curve over the croup to a well set tail. Good turn of stifle, straight from hocks to ground. In fitted double coat of the correct texture, lovely colour blue, well marked merle, rich tan and classic white markings. Moves out really well with good length of stride, light on her feet, effortless and sound. Just needs to mature and I’m sure will go on to do well.

PGB (3,0)
1. Beardsworth’s Maysinder Sapphire Reign. Quality b/m who instantly appealed for her super proportions and construction. It needs to be said first that this lovely bitch needs more confidence but I was able to assess her and she is a beautiful type with a lovely outline. Good length of head, a clean wedge with parallel planes, a correct stop, one of the few with a flat skull. Beautiful almond eye and well placed, correctly tipped ears give her a lovely expression when she can be persuaded to use them. Super length of neck, superb front and rear angulation, totally in balance and a delight to see, lovely bone, excellent feet. Good middle piece with correct topline, her outline just flows from head to her well set long tail. Classically marked with the prettiest blue, marbled and splashed with black, rich tan and pearly white. Moved out so well with beautiful coordination, extension and drive, totally sound, all she needs is a little more confidence to show off how good she really is. Interesting to note she is related to both my BOB and BB. I loved her and could not deny her RBB on the day. Keep up the good work, she is so worth it. 2. Edwards’ Camanna Paulara Cissy Spacek. Brightly coloured g/s bitch of four years who is a different type to 1 with less length of head and body. Parallel planes but a deeper stop than 1, beautiful eye, correctly set, skull can flatten and ears a little wider set but correctly tipped and used so well to show off her sweet expression. Good length of neck which she uses, Well laid shoulder but preferred the upper arm of 1. Good bone, ribs well sprung, has depth of chest and breadth of back, slight rise to the loin and lovely flow over the croup to a well set tail. Moves out willingly and easily going round the ring, just not the exceptional balance of 1 who I also preferred going away. In super double coat well presented and a good showgirl who makes the best of her virtues. 3. Radford-House & Durrant’s Chelborn’s Betting List for Fivejays.

OB (3,0)
1. Geddes’ Ingledene Lace N’Grace. Beautiful s/w dignified, well proportioned lady of 8 years. Super head type with length, cleanness, the correct wedge shape, head planes, stop and flattish skull and a sweet, gentle expression from perfectly placed almond eyes and well set and carried ears, perfectly tipped. Like the BD this bitch has harmony of outline with every piece fitting and flowing together. Super neck, well arched, well constructed front and rear with correct angulation of shoulder and upperarm and turn of stifle giving that lovely balance. Good bone and super feet, mature in body and ribbing with the correct topline and gentle curve over the croup to a well set tail. In full fitting double coat of the correct texture. Moves out on a lovely length of stride, fluid and effortless, unhurried as befits her mature years and totally sound. Just lacked the energy and showmanship of the younger BD in the challenge but an easy BB & BOS for me here today. Congratulations. 2. Flower’s Serenlas Pumpkin Spice. Attractive, feminine s/w bitch not yet 3 years and looking immature still against 1. Correct length of head, level planes, good stop and lovely almond eyes, well placed giving a sweet, enquiring expression. Preferred the underjaw of 1 who also had the tighter ears. Good length of neck and excellent angulation front and rear, bone in keeping with her size and neat oval feet. Good depth of chest, well knit together with enough length of body and correct topline with slight rise over the loin before sloping away to a well set tail. In fitted coat of the correct texture. Moves out with energy and drive but light on her feet covering the ground and sound up and down. Should do well with maturity. 3. Radford-House & Durrant’s Ingledene Midnight Skye with Fivejays.

SIMON BURTON (Judge)