Smooth Collies Crufts 9 March 2025.

I would like to thank the exhibitors from home and abroad for what was a fantastic entry. Also to my ring stewards for keeping everything flowing. Such a quality entry made for some difficult decisions and I thank the exhibitors for showing sportsmanship and creating what felt like a lovely atmosphere. The Smooth collie can be a slow developing breed which was evident by the quality in the veteran classes. From the results there was one dominant kennel where movement was on the whole was excellent. Conditioning plays a big part in winning. Sometimes you only get out what you put in.

Veteran Dog Entries: 5 Absentees: 0
1ST Mrs N Lundakova, Ch Cib Eukleides In-Situ. 7 yrs tri colour . Upstanding male who appealed for his overall balance and head pattern. Would prefer a better shaped eye, but did not distract. Ears well set and correctly tipped. Well let down hocks that enabled him to move with plenty of drive. Shown in excellent condition 2ND  Mrs H Bjoernstad,  Int/n/dk Ch Callips Christian Grey. 9 yrs tri who was also shown in good condition. Body of good balance, with a beautiful neck and classic head pattern. Ears well set, but today slightly light. Good angulation both front and rear. Moved well from behind, but just starting to weaken coming towards. 3RD  Ms D Bell, Koczkodan Nostromo.

Puppy 2 Absentees: 0
Two tri brothers coming up to 10 months. Both have similar qualities, but just preferring the leaner head of 1. Sired by the CC winner.
1ST Miss H L &; Ms A Thomas & Lusty, Blamorder Side Hustle with Mournebrake. Appealed for his head pattern which is of good length and already quite clean. Lovely expression with a dark expressive eye. Ears well set and tipped. Body of good balance and adequate front angulation for his age. Good level top line which he held well on the move. Excellent rear angulation with short hocks. Correct double coat of good texture, but needing to moult, but this is just an age thing. Where he really appealed was on the move. Very steady and composed for his age and with plenty of drive from the rear. Pleased to award him Res CC and BPIB. 2ND - Mr S D & Mrs C L Atherton, Blamorder The Con Is On at Casiat . A slightly stronger head pattern than his brother, but also clean with a really flat backskull, and nicely rounded muzzle. Well boned and with a good chest and width of ribbing. Balanced in length with a strong loin. Nice short hocks, but not quite as settled on the move as 1.

Junior Dog 1 Absentees: 0
1ST Mr T &; Mrs B Hayward, Wynele Double Trouble at Foxearth. 15 mth S/W. A really shapely dog and excelling in neck that gives him a look of elegance. A nice head pattern of good length and good eye shape and soft expression.  Ears well placed and tipped and used well. Nice length of back, good croup and tail set. He is at that very teenage stage where he needs to widen and drop into himself. Moved steadily.

Post Graduate Dog  7 Absentees: 1
A nice class with some very promising dogs.
1ST  Miss C Rodgers, Blamorder Mischief Maker with Jerdoni. 2 ½ yrs S/W who really appealed for his overall shape and balance. His head is very clean and smooth. Decent dark eye. Well set ears that he knows how to use. Lovely long neck, deep chest and strong in loin. Excellent in croup and good tail set, presenting a lovely balanced outline. Moved very well in profile covering the ground well, but just needs to tighten on the front to complete the picture. 2ND Ms B Leavesley, Lizoni Lone Ranger. Nicely made 2 yrs Tri dog who pushed hard for 1st place.  Nice length of head, with a nicely rounded muzzle and flat in backskull. Would prefer a darker eye. Good coat of excellent colour. Good length of back, good croup and tail set. Moved very well from the rear, but still needs to tighten in front. 3RD  Ms Hazel Acford, Coneypark Mattie Brown.

Limit Dog 6 Absentees: 0
1ST Miss K & Miss A Warren & Lusty, Coldelee Jupiter Rises with Blamorder JW. 2 yrs tri dog. Appealed for his head and expression, although maybe a tad strong in backskull. Adequate angulations fore and aft.  Strong hocks that showed in his strong rear movement. This boy is improving well and hopefully has a bright future. 2ND Mrs E & Mr L Seager,  Blamorder Magic Maker with Freejack JW. 2 yrs S/W. Litter brother to PGD winner and the best of breed. Once again he presents a lovely balanced outline of nobility. Head of nice length and balance. Still needing to round off in muzzle. Excellent underjaw. Nice dark eye and kind expression. Flat back skull, good ear placement and well tipped. Well angulated shoulder and upper arm. Double coat of correct texture. Plenty of strength in loin. Moved well from behind, but needs to tighten in front. Another that is relatively young when it comes to maturity. A very close 2nd.  3RD Ms C Robertson,  Wynele Strike One.

Open Dog 10 Absentees: 0
What a lovely class, but with a variation of types who all had different merits.
1ST  Miss A Lusty, Ch Blamorder Audacity. This 4 ½ tri is not the flashiest, but he is so well balanced. He excels in his movement which has power and drive. To be picky I would prefer a better fill of muzzle, but it is nicely rounded. He has dark expressive eyes, flat back skull and well placed and used ears. He is lower to the ground and has excellent angulation both ends and well let down, powerful hocks that allow him to drive and power round the ring. He was today shown in fabulous condition, well-muscled and strength in thigh that a 100 metre athlete would be proud of.  This boy could definitely do a day’s work. CC. 2ND Mrs H Bjoernstad, Int/n/dk/fin/nord Ch Merryville My Kind of Star. Nice sized 4 ½ s/w who presents a well balanced picture. Masculine head with good bite and underjaw. Flat in back skull. Good ear set and strong muscular neck leading to good shoulders and upper arm. Deep well sprung rib cage and good top line. Nicely rounded croup and good tail set. Move and handled well. 3RD Miss J Sewell, Ch Wynele Strike It Rich to Lewarne JW . Another worthy champion. Lovely rounded muzzle and a good shaped eye. Flat in back skull. Ears well tipped, but would prefer them tighter. Good neck flowing to excellent angulation. Deep chest. Nicely rounded croup and tail set. Double coat of good texture. Not quite as positive on the move today.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog  5 Absentees: 1
1ST Miss K & Miss A Warren & Lusty Coldelee Jupiter Rises with Blamorder JW 2ND  Miss C Rodgers Blamorder Mischief Maker with Jerdoni 3RD Ms B Leavesley Lizoni Lone Ranger

Veteran Bitch  8 Absentees: 1
Wow what another great class that just shows that Smooths get better with age!!
1ST Miss A Lusty, Ch Blamorder Ice Cream Dream . 8 ½ yrs B/M One of only a few in the entry that I had previously judged, and on that day as a junior there were no major honours. So here we are 7 years later and she shows why you sometimes have to wait for the best. She has come into her own in the last few years. Her head is the perfect length with lovely rounded muzzle, slight well placed stop and such a sweet expression. Flat back skull and well placed ears which uses to her advantage. Good firm neck leading to balanced front angulation. Excellent topline, deep chest and well rounded croup and tail set. She went round the ring showing many of the younger girls how to do it. RCC. 2ND Ms E Cowling, Koczkodan Serenity. Another that has come into her own in the last few years. A very classic type, being well balanced in all aspects. Correct head with nicely rounded muzzle, slight stop and good ear set when she wants to use them. She has a stubborn expression and will show on her terms! Today she was in acceptance and did everything that was asked. She has lovely balance to her body which is nicely rounded. She also moved very well today. 3RD  Miss B De Feijter, Lux/bel/nld/int Ch Gallant Darya Happy Magic Star JW Njk. What a credit to her owners and the breed this girl is. 13 ½ years old and looking fabulous. She has a beautiful head and still in good body condition. Her movement was outstanding for her age. Yes I did say 13 ½!

Puppy Bitch 5 Absentees: 0
1ST Miss M K & Ms E Benton & Bemelmans, Blamorder Double or Quits of Oakestelle. Sister to the puppy dogs and what a litter this could turn out to be. 9 mth B/M who has such an eye catching shape. As always handled to perfection. A head is of nice length and clean with a very feminine expression. Perfectly placed and used ears. Flowing neck to what is already a well developed front. Balanced body of good length, rounded croup and well set tail. Neat feet and nice bone. Double coat of good texture. Movement was flowing , but just needs to tighten. 2ND Mrs V Geddes, Texforrier The Whole Shebang at Ingledene (Imp Fin). 9 mth Tri of slightly bigger build. Head of good length. Pleasing expression. Excellent ear set and nicely tipped. Good shoulder angulation, just needs to develop in chest, but as expected for her age. Good bone and nice top line. Moved well from the rear. 3RD  Mr G & Mrs M Davies-Brown, Blamorder I Dreamed A Dream at Wystry.

Junior Bitch 6 Absentees: 0
1ST  Mrs D A & Miss J M Cole & Fort, Shulune Imperial Rum Punch JW . 16 mth tri colour who appeals for her elegance and shape. Beautifully rounded muzzle, well placed stop and sweet enough expression with dark eyes. Perfect ear set which she uses non stop. Elegant neck leading to well angulated front. Nicely rounded body giving her balance and a lovely rounded croup and tail set. Jet black coat and rich tan marking enhance the picture. Tight feet and short hocks. Move well in profile. I did consider her for top honours, I am sure she has a bright future. 2ND  Mr J Rundle, Shulune Imperial Bonny Blu. B/M litter sister to 1, also a very shapely girl who was presented in top condition and a credit to her owner.  Although she has heavy black markings, her blue is a good colour and secondary to her excellent conformation. A feminine head of nice length, stop developing. Ears carried well. Excellent neck flowing into a well-balanced body. Strong hocks. She was handled well and was very free flowing and true on the move. 3RD Mrs V Geddes, Texforrier The Whole Shebang at Ingledene (Imp Fin).

Post Graduate Bitch 2 Absentees: 0
1ST Miss A Richardson, Lizoni Que Sera Sera. Well balanced tri colour, who is maturing nicely. She has a nice length of head and well placed stop. Pleasing expression. Well placed ears and good tips. Nice bone. Balanced body of good length. Good tail set. Presented in good condition. A little unsetted on the move today. 2ND Ms L Watkins, Blamorder Unlucky for Some. 9 mth tri of good type. Nice head pattern and soft expression. Good balance to her body which will continue to develop. Shown in excellent condition. Just a little erratic on the move, but still a baby and this will come with time.

Limit Bitch 6 Absentees: 0
This was probably the most difficult class of the day as there a couple of really nice girls that just didn’t want to move as their construction suggested!
1ST Miss A Richardson, Koczkodan Sweet Dreams of Lizoni.  A well presented 4 yrs tri. Appealed for her balanced head and overall shape and balance. Pleasing expression, ears well place and used. Good length of rib and strong loin. Needs to firm up in topline. Well set tail. Angulation balanced fore and aft.  Moved well going away, but needs to tighten in front. 2ND  Miss A Lusty, Blamorder Dare to Dream.  17 mth Tri who appealed for her head and expression, being clean and of good length. Nicely rounded muzzle, slight but perceptible stop. Kind eye and flat in back skull. Ears well placed but could be better tipped. Good body proportions and when settled moved well. 3RD  Miss J M Fort, Shulune Imperial Seduce Me.

Open Bitch 11 Absentees: 1
Another fabulous class full of quality.
1ST  Mr D & Mrs T & Miss AG Holmes & Holmes & Lusty,  Ch Blamorder Makers Mark JW . This 2 yrs s/w is so balanced and has lines of strength, but still retains a femininity and elegance. Her head handles so well. Beautifully moulded, perfect stop and a soft kind expression. Flattest of back skulls and ample under jaw. Well placed ears which are just tipped enough. A strong firm neck leading to good shoulder placement and adequate angulation. Deep well sprung ribs and strong loin. Nice rise over the loin and well set tail. Double coat of rich colour and correct texture. Her movement was true, especially from the rear, and it got better as the class progress and she pulled out all the stops in the challenge. So pleased to award her CC and BOB and feel that she represented the breed so well in the group. 2ND  Mrs J, Mr D & Miss A Sweeney & Lusty, Ch Blamorder Do Quite Nicely Aw(b). Another shapely B/M of almost 6 yrs. There is nothing out of proportion with this worthy Ch. Her head handles well, with a nicely rounded muzzle. Clean cut jaw, well placed stop. Gentle expression. Ears could be tighter, but well tipped. Firm neck of good length leading to well angulated front. Firm topline and deep chest. Good strong loin. Shown in good hard condition and moved well and true around the ring. 3RD Miss J M Fort, Shulune Imperial Inkspell. This 2 ½ yr B/M has so much quality. The white on her muzzle can distract from what is a lovely balanced head, with a well placed stop and the sweetest of expressions. Well set and used ears. Lovely flowing lines. Excellent angulation and strong straight hocks. Today she was unsettled on the move due to an unfamiliar handler.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch 1 absent.

Judge

Nick Smith