LKA Smooth Collies

My thanks to the ladies of the LKA for the invite to judge, and many thanks also for accommodating us in the Margaret Everton Pavilion, which was a great bonus for all dogs and exhibitors. With the large, carpeted ring, there was no excuse for any dog not to move. There was a great atmosphere and camaraderie between both rough and smooth exhibitors.

I was pleased with the quality of the entry in both breeds, except for one or two. It was also gratifying, and I was immensely pleased, to see both my Best of Breeds being shortlisted in a strong Pastoral Group. Congratulations.

I found the smooths immensely improved.

Puppy Dog
1st Denton - Coldelee Take It To The Limit – Upstanding 9-month sable/white put down in lovely condition.  Good body, nice bone on this youngster, classically marked, head handled well, good foreface and underjaw, with a lovely dark eye and neat ears used well, and he moved soundly fore and aft.
2nd Leavesley and Richardson – Lizoni Modry Fantsie – 9 months nicely marked blue with good confirmation.  Pleasing head eye and expression, ample neck, good in front, length of back, well let down at the back, moved well, just preferred expression of first.
3rd Lusty – Manordeifi Hijacked by Blamorder

Junior Dog
no entries

Post Graduate Dog
1st Leavesley - Lizoni Lone Ranger – Mature tri colour, well presented, and in good hard condition.   Well constructed with a pleasing head eye and expression. Neat ears, used well, good front, nicely let down at the rear, and ample bone and neat feet, which enabled him to move with purpose and drive.

Limit Dog
1st Howe - Lizoni The Drifter – Tri litter brother to Lone Ranger, and similar remarks apply, and another who could move with purpose and drive.
2nd Metcalf - Koczkodan Well I Never – A two-and-a-half-year tri colour, who could do with some ringcraft.   Not a bad dog, I just preferred the head on the first – work on him.

Open Dog
1st Sewell - Ch Wynele Strike It Rich To Lewarne – Well what can I say, I have long admired this lovely tri colour smooth, and watched him go from strength to strength since he entered the ring as a puppy, and I recall giving his sire BOB at Crufts, he carries so many of his attributes, from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail.   His head is beautifully refined with the desired stop and lovely dark eye.   Ears nicely tipped with the sweetest expression.   Long neck on good shoulders with a good front.  Good topline which he kept on the move and nicely let down at the rear.  Ample bone and neat feet enabled him to power around the ring and could easily work all day.  CC and BOB, I was so thrilled to see him shortlisted in a strong pastoral group, well done.
2nd Thomas and Lusty - Blamorder Side Hustle with Mournebrake JW – another good-looking tri colour put down to the nines, and in good hard condition and sound on the move.   At only 18 months his time will come. RCC

Veteran Dog/Bitch
1st Lusty - Ch Blamorder Ice Cream Dream – This was such a lovely surprise seeing this blue bitch again.   I awarded her BP at a breed championship show 9 years ago and so gratifying to see how well she has done for herself.  The years have been kind to her as she does not even look half her age and could put many a youngster to shame.   She was well presented in pristine and hard condition and moved soundly around the ring enjoying herself in doing so.   What more can I say that has not been said about her.  Long may you continue – Best Veteran
2nd Smith - UK Port Esp Gib Ch Winter Is Coming To Tentola – Another lovely blue gentleman who was again presented in good hard condition and looks so well for his age.  Today he was just unlucky to come up against Ice Cream Dream, and he too is still sound on the move.
3rd Benton - Oakestelle Artemis ShCex VW

Puppy Bitch
1st Wensley -  Blamorder Starstruck – A very promising sable/white of ten months, so feminine and nicely balanced all over with a lovely, refined head, eye and sweet expression and quite elegant.   So attentive to her handler, she moved well keeping a lovely topline.   BP and BPIB
2nd Jerrett – Coldelee Busy Bein Fabulous – 8 months sable/white again very feminine with a sweet expression, coming from her two dark eyes and ears on top.   Good body shape and quarters and moved soundly around the ring.

Junior Bitch
no entries

Post Graduate
no entries

Limit bitch
1st Benton - Blamorder Double or Quits of Oakestelle JW – I have watched this lovely blue young lady from the ringside and was not surprised to be told after that this win gave her top bitch, Congratulations.   At only 18 months a great achievement, she was turned out beautifully and is a good colour blue and balanced all over, refined, and elegant, head handles well, nicely filled in foreface ample stop, dark eyes, and ears on top which she used all the time.   Good neck and lovely body shape with a level topline.  Good quarters fore and aft, and she moved soundly.   I had no hesitation in awarding her the CC.
2nd Cole and Fort – Shulune Imperial Rum Punch – Another lovely tri bitch of a lovely make and shape, in good well-presented coat, head handled well with a lovely expression.   She also covered the ground with ease, so unlucky to come up against 1st RCC
3rd Proctor – Mighty’s Spring Meadow Yeva Yuna at Stiosan

Open Bitch
1st Holmes and Lusty - Ch Blamorder Makers Mark JW – A lovely feminine sable/white out of the top drawer.   Not surprised to see that she carries a title, beautifully presented and in good hard condition, balanced all over with good quarters, ample bone and neat feet, her head is elegant and refined with a lovely expression.
2nd Beeney – Ch Coldelee Golden Brown – Another feminine sable/white but different to first.  She too carries her title with grace and was beautifully presented.  Again, in good hard condition and balanced all over.   Head handled well with a sweet expression and she also moved soundly.   Just unlucky to come up against the first.
3rd – Lusty - Ch Blamorder The Hustler

Good Citizen
no entries

Special Beginners
no entries

Judge Eleanor Kitchen (Seriema)