LONDON & PROVINCIAL COLLIE CLUB

SATURDAY 23rd AUGUST 2025

I was delighted to be invited to judge BIS at L&PCC’s Open Show 1. The weather was perfect, the ring was a good size, there was a lovely atmosphere and I had some quality dogs to judge - what better way is there to spend a Saturday? Thank you to the committee for their support, the friendly welcome, a delicious lunch and my super judge’s gift. I had a great time.

A pat on the back to the club for scheduling Baby Puppy classes and providing some lovely gifts right down the line. They weren’t among my remit but I enjoyed watching them and there looked to be some gorgeous babies having fun at the same time as learning the ropes.

As far as my judging went, it turned out to be a day for the Smooths with all the top awards going their way. Just in case anyone thinks I might be biased, the last time I judged BIS the majority of the awards went the other way to the Roughs, it just comes down to the dogs on the day and I judged them as I saw them on the day. End of.

BIS went to the classy tri Smooth bitch, Denton’s 5 year old Ch Brackenhaye Heart And Soul. I didn’t know who she was as she wasn’t handled by her usual handler but this bitch was looking and showing at her best. She has a really good head, well proportioned, with good length, flat skull, parallel planes, with a well placed stop and good underjaw, correct eye and ear placement and used her ears constantly. Good length of neck into a well laid shoulder and well angled upper arm. Excellent bone, legs and feet. Mature in body with correct length, depth and spring of rib. Topline flows over the slight rise to loin and gently curves away to neat well angulated quarters and well let down hocks. Tight black jacket with rich tan. She is so well balanced and this shows through on the move where she goes with a lovely rhythm, light on her feet with easy reach and drive, covering the ground and sound as a bell. I awarded her the RCC the last time I judged her and she has since gone on to greater things. A well deserved win today, Congratulations!

RBIS & BOSIS I awarded to the RBOB Smooth, Seager’s Blamorder Magic Maker With Freejack JW, a super young 2 year old s/w male who impresses with his harmonious outline and excellent movement. Super head, clean and well moulded, flat skull, parallel planes, good length and correct underjaw with ears perfectly set and carried. Good length of neck, beautifully put together with a great front, bone, legs and feet, good depth of body, correct topline, totally unexaggerated quarters and a
gentle curve over the croup to a well set and carried tail. Super coat, well fitting and weatherproof and a lovely rich sable. Moves out with lightness, perfect cadence and a super length of stride, covering the ground. Still not the finished picture, he is only going to get better as he matures further and by four or five he’s going to be one impressive male Smooth. One for the top for sure. Congratulations.

The Rough BOB was the delightfully feminine 2 year old b/m, Quince’s Oakley Ice Queen for Karafaye (Imp Che). I loved her outline, she is correctly proportioned height to length. Her head and expression appeals being of good length, a clean wedge with beautiful eye shape and placement, perfectly set and tipped ears used well to give her that lovely expression, although I preferred the stop and underjaw on both Smooths. Length of neck gives a dignified carriage. Front and rear both well angulated and in balance, correct bone, legs and feet, still maturing in body but has depth and a flowing topline with slight rise over the loin, sweeping over the croup to a well set and carried tail. Add to that a correct, fitting coat, of a beautiful blue, well marbled with black and a rich tan and standing she really looked as pretty as a picture. On the move in profile she has pleasing length of stride, fluidity and lightness of feet. She is still a little narrow all through and her rear movement going away was not her fortune and with rear movement being a Breed Watch item I had to take that into account in my decisions, particularly as both Smooths were excellent behind. She is a super type, I admired her sire online during covid and she is one I’d like to see again with full maturity.

Both pups in contention were real babies and have promise. BPIS I awarded to the 7 month old s/w Smooth, Lusty’s Manordeifi Hijacked By Blamorder. This lad has all the essentials construction wise with super angulation, correct length to height proportions, good bone, legs and feet, lovely body shape, a little bum high but that’s to be expected. He needs to mature in head but has good length, a flat skull, good eye shape and he should grow into his ears. Good length of neck and lovely coat and colour. He comes together on the move and when he settles has a super length of stride, good coordination and is very light on his feet. Congratulations.

RBPIS went to the neat 8 month old b/m Rough bitch, Collino’s Imaginist Frozen In Time. This young lady is totally unexaggerated. Pleasing head and expression with enough length, parallel planes, good eye shape and placement and like the Smooth the ears need to settle. I preferred the length of neck on the Smooth but she has a very well made front and rear, good bone, legs and feet, correct length of body and flow over topline with tail well set and carried. In fitted puppy coat of good colour, nicely marbled with black and bright tan completed with picture book collie white markings. She has a little too much ‘body’ at this point in time which did affect her on the move. She is very sound and has a lovely balance and rhythm when she gets going but I felt the Smooth a little more length of stride and was lighter on his feet which swung it his way. I look forward to seeing how this baby matures on.

BVIS I awarded to the classic tri Smooth bitch of 9 years, Cowling’s Koczkodan Serenity. I’ve loved this beautiful bitch’s shape and outline for years and you really don’t need to put hands on her to see how well made she is. Good quality head which feels right in your hands, with length, parallel planes, a clean wedge, with almond eyes, well placed and correctly set and tipped ears. Good length of neck which flows into a super front, bone, legs and feet. A little slacker on her pasterns now but that’s acceptable at her age. Beautiful body shape and flowing topline, which curves gently into a well angulated rear with low set hocks and a well set and carried tail. In tight, weatherproof jacket, classically marked. I have seen her move with more oomph but she did just enough, still holds her outline and is perfectly balanced with smooth, easy, flowing movement. If she doesn’t get her crowning CC it will be a crying shame as she would be such a worthy Champion. Don’t give up hope, I loved her dam and awarded her 2nd CC when she was 9 and a half!

RBVIS went to the masculine 8 year old s/w Rough male, Bartram’s Ambartr King Of The Ring. Good type of dog and I liked his size and length of body. His head is clean with good length, parallel planes, lovely eye shape and placement. Ears well set but slightly reluctant to use them. Good length of neck enhanced with a big white shawl collar. Well angulated front with correct bone, legs and feet. Mature body with good depth and width. Strong loin, a little steeper over the croup than the Smooth and could have a little more length of second thigh but well angulated stifles. Low set hocks, good length of tail. In full weatherproof double coat of a good rich sable. Moves out willingly and smoothly with good reach in front, a touch narrow behind and just lost out to the overall balance and rear drive of the Smooth.

SIMON BURTON (Judge