CRUFTS
Smooth Collies
Judge Steve Hall

I think I need to start by thanking every exhibitor for this marvellous entry of 70 dogs, according to find a judge the best entry of Smooths over the last 10 years was 53. I would also like to thank my stewards for their help.

I was pleasantly surprised at the overall quality of this breed at a time when other breeds are not doing too well with their quality, in general this breed is in an extremely good place at the moment. As I have only minor quirks to pick at, could head length be a fraction longer? As I remember visiting Mrs Ada Bisops (for those who didn’t know Mrs Bisop she was a very successful breeder of Rough’s) house where she invited me in to explain and show me a good collie head, to my amazement they were stuffed and mounted on a plaque on the wall. At the time it was a bit bazaar, but they were beautiful and the length was much longer than we have today. The other thing that I noticed was toplines, where the standard requires a slight rise over the loin, in quite a few this was missing today. As I am being very picky and that is all I could find then the breeders are to be congratulated for their diligence with their breeding program and long may it continue. Maybe other breeds could take a leaf out of your book to improve their breed.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog
Entries: 2 Absentees: 0
1ST 2879 - Coneypark Mattie Brown RL2.Ex (Ms Hazel Acford)
Nicely balanced and in good condition, pleasing head piece with good expression and attentive ears, I thought he was a good honest dog without the frills, good forward reach from this dog, with a strong rear to match, well handled throughout.
2ND 2935 - Blamorder Mischief Maker with Jerdoni (Miss C Rodgers)
Good proportions throughout particularly in head with a delightful expression to view, good body condition, I thought he moved out well but needs to tighten up in front more to gain a higher placing. Presented in good clean order.

Puppy Dog
Entries: 5 Absentees: 0
1ST 2948 - Wynele Ace of Spades (Mrs L Young)
A nice tri youngster that catches your eye for overall balance and substance, I particularly liked his eye both in set and shape, good flat skull, pleasing forehand which he used on the mover, ears today where a little fly away, he still needs to come together, well prepared and presented.
2ND 2915 - Blamorder The Surrealist TAF (Miss C Lee)
Another nice specimen but not the substance of winner today, however many things to like about him, good bone and feet, well-proportioned bodily parts, I thought he was stronger going away than winner possibly could change places in the future, well handled.
3RD 2914 - Lizoni Modry Fantasie (Ms B & Miss A Leavesley & Richardson)
RES 2933 - Coldelee New Kid in Town (Ms C Robertson)
VHC 2947 - Koczkodan in A Quandry (Mr Wf & Mx Ovv Wheeler & Jones)

Junior Dog
Entries: 3 Absentees: 1
1ST 2901 - Breckamore Bobby Dazzler at Swanndale (Ms A & Mrs J French & Swann)
Very well balanced 14-month-old sable with a beautiful shape to view, head maturing nicely with a good eye set, I thought he was an excellent mover in all direction and was good at setting himself up. Only thing he needs now is to fully mature and that will take him to better things. Presented in really good condition.
2ND 2918 - Blamorder Masterpiece (Miss A Lusty)
I was quite took back at this male only being 7 months old in a junior class, so I asked why, however the handler explained she had already had an exhibit in the puppy class, this was a good move as he was my best puppy in breed, this youngster was really nice to go over , good head piece that was quite attractive to view, good body condition and cover in a good blue jacket, very good mover for one so young with plenty to spare, prepared and presented in tip top condition.

Post Graduate Dog
Entries: 5 Absentees: 1
1ST 2879 - Coneypark Mattie Brown RL2.Ex (Ms Hazel Acford)
2ND 2890 - Glencorrie Tyke Vincent (Mr & Mrs S Burton)
Unlucky to meet winner today, this dog was well made with a really deep ribbing, good head qualities and expressive ears but could have had a little more fold to give better effect, good forehand which he used to great effect, good topline with a firm rear. Well prepared.
3RD 2932 - Mcclelland Sergeant Pepper (Miss J Roberts)
RES 2913 - Lizoni Lone Ranger (Ms B Leavesley)

Limit Dog
Entries: 4 Absentees: 0
1ST 2943 - Coldelee Jupiter Rises with Blamorder JW (Miss K & Miss A Warren & Lusty)
This Tri male was in super condition throughout and lacked for very little, however, I would have like a more oval eye, but hey, that’s all I could find that I would change, his balance was of total correct proportions that pleased the eye, prepared and presented in very good order.
2ND 2941 - Blamorder Side Hustle with Mournebrake JW (Miss H L & Ms A Thomas & Lusty)
Another quality dog to view but was not quite the hard condition of winner, had a touch better shaped eye, lovely skull with good alert expression, good body parts and moved out well in both directions. Whilst he was not as hard condition he was presented in first class order.
3RD 2909 - Lizoni The Drifter (Mrs D Howe)
RES 2925 - Koczkodan Well I Never (Mr A & Mrs S Metcalf)

Open Dog
Entries: 12 Absentees: 0
1ST 2904 - Ch Wynele Double Trouble at Foxearth (Mr T & Mrs B & Ms C Hayward & Hayward & Norman)
The complete package that this sable dog exhumed breed type and to compliment this he had such a good length to his skull which adds advantage to his expression, excellent forehand, good mature body without being overdone, excellent topline, which is sadly disappearing these days, first class rear assembly which produced his ease gait to propel him to top male in this entry, prepared and presented in exceptional condition.
2ND 2924 - Ch Sturtmoor Arceus's Legacy JW (Mrs K & Mr M Martin)
Another exceptional sable male which was unlucky to meet winner today in such hard condition, however, splitting these two was not easy, as he was in most departments on a par with the winner, arguably I thought maybe the winner had a fraction longer skull, which rather appealed to me, but everything else was of equal merit, once again prepared and presented in immaculate condition.
3RD 2937 - Blamorder Magic Maker with Freejack JW (Mrs E & Mr L Seager)
RES 2889 - Int/nor/dk/fin/nord Ch Merryville My Kind of Star (Mrs H Bjoernstad)
VHC 2927 - Int/multi Ch Fraxinus Wide Park (Miss M Muschler)

Veteran Dog
Entries: 4 Absentees: 0
1ST 2907 - Ch/multi Ch Winter Is Coming to Tentola (Mr N & Mrs A Smith)
Good blue dog not showing his age and was a true male of the breed, he was pleasing to view from every angle, good bone and feet, good clean head piece , good eye, would have liked a slightly stronger underjaw, strong neck and forehand, nicely bodied with a good loin, good positive move fore and aft, presented in very good condition.
2ND 2923 - Shandlmain Blu Chief (Mrs K & Mr M Martin)
Very similar to winner in many ways but not quite the topline of winner, however this did not detract too much from his overall qualities, good head piece with an alert expression, good front assembly with a good reach, good body parts but not quite the rise over the loin as winner, handled and prepared in very good order.
3RD 2887 - Int/nor/dk Ch Callip's Christian Grey (Mrs H Bjoernstad)
RES 2884 - Koczkodan Nostromo (Ms D Bell)

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch
Entries: 1 Absentees: 0
1ST 2886 - Ch Brackenhaye Queen of Hearts of Oakestelle (Miss M K Benton)
Nice Tri bitch that was a bit shaky to start but recovered into a very good specimen, I thought she had a good head piece with excellent ears,, good front assembly, very good balanced body with a correct topline, good gaiter with plenty to spare , presented in good condition.

Puppy Bitch
Entries: 3 Absentees: 0
1ST 2911 - Coldelee Busy Bein Fabulous (Mrs D L Jerrett)
11 months old sable full of quality and very feminine to view, nicely proportioned head with excellent ears giving a sweet expression, quite advanced for her age, good bodily proportions throughout giving her a good shape, good read quarters which produced her good performance on the move, prepared and presented first class.
2ND 2931 - Koczkodan in My Heart (Mrs Kj & Mr Rd Russell)
I can understand if the handler was annoyed by the Tannoy which did not help this youngsters confidence and this did affect her performance , however, she did recover, a sweet sable bitch with style to display, very feminine head piece with a good expression, good front assembly, plenty of bone with good feet, good body parts with a good topline, prepared in first class condition.
3RD 2919 - Blamorder The Con Artist (Miss A Lusty)

Junior Bitch
Entries: 4 Absentees: 0
1ST 2945 - Blamorder Starstruck by Versatilis (Mr M & Mrs R Wensley)
A rather vocal sable bitch with a lot to say, good quality throughout with a bit to spare, good strong head for a bitch, excellent body in both proportions and condition, the thing which I liked she sets herself up really well, which is the sign of a correctly made animal. Good strong mover in both direction, well-handled on such a strong bitch
2ND 2910 - Breckamore's Eye Catcher for Wizzizz (Mrs S & Mrs S Jefford & Rixon)
A lovey tri bitch which is attractively marked which was pleasing to the eye, she was strong throughout and looks the part when viewed, good head piece with good ears and a good expression, very good balanced with plenty to spare, very good strong mover, presented in good hard condition.
3RD 2883 - Merryville Star Spell (Mrs A Bácskai)
RES 2897 - Kingswillow Greelay (Mrs S. Dressen-Irskens)

Post Graduate Bitch
Entries: 6 Absentees: 1
1ST 2902 - Texforrier The Whole Shebang at Ingledene (Imp Fin) (Mr J N & Mrs V Geddes)
A nice quality tri bitch with the best of toplines today, also she has such positive movement which was a pleasure to watch, really good forehand assembly, really good body parts, good firm rear assembly to match the front, prepared and presented in very good order, my only criticism was she could have been more positive on the move today.
2ND 2926 - Lizoni Qué Sera Sera (Miss E Morgan)
Very similar quality to winner today really hard to spilt, this bitch also had a good topline to convey to anyone watching, really good deportment, good should, maturing bodily, firm rear quarters, good mover and was presented and prepared in very good condition.
3RD 2883 - Merryville Star Spell (Mrs A Bácskai)
RES 2939 - Glencorrie Stella Bark at Bracoisla (Miss C Shorten)
VHC 2944 - Blamorder Unlucky for Some (Ms L Watkins)

Limit Bitch
Entries: 7 Absentees: 1
1ST 2936 - Shulune Imperial Bonny Blu (Mr J Rundle)
A blue bitch with a classic outline of strength yet elegant, good head piece that was pleasing to the eye, good bodily parts that was held together with good muscles, good quality coat, arguably was the large black marking on the rump a fault? Would this stop her working ability, NO, taking this into consideration, it was heavily out weighed by her many other qualities, prepared and presented in pristine condition.
2ND 2896 - Blamorder I Dreamed A Dream at Wystry JW (Mr G & Mrs M Davies-Brown)
I loved this tri bitch of similar quality to winner and pushed hard, very feminine to view, good head and expression, she was rather too erect with her ears at times which in turn spoilt her, however, this was the only thing for me that separated these two bitches, very well balance throughout and gave a really good performance on the move. Prepared in very good order.
3RD 2934 - Blamorder High Brow with Jerdoni (Miss C Rodgers)
RES 2892 - Shulune Imperial Rum Punch JW (Mrs D A & Miss J M Cole & Fort)
VHC 2929 - Celeste Uta Anyaru of Lizoni (Imp Cze) (Miss A Richardson)

Open Bitch
Entries: 13 Absentees: 0
1ST 2921 - Aus Ch Talcott Tiffany Stalker of Blamorder (Imp Aus) (Miss A Lusty)
What a most beautiful blue bitch, so elegant yet she conveys total strength and from her looks, I think without doubt she could do a days work without breaking into a sweat, I am not going to tell you how good she is as you can all see that for yourself, what I can say is the only thing I rightly or wrongly would have like is a for her to be a fraction longer cast, I know the standard says slightly longer, but were does slightly start and finish, to her advantage in the challenge for best of breed the handler stretched her out a touch more and I thought that made her perfect, in the challenge for best of breed she was firmer in movement that clinched top spot.
2ND 2905 - Ch Blamorder Makers Mark JW (Mr D & Mrs T & Miss Ag Holmes & Holmes & Lusty)
A good all-round sable bitch full of quality which was a touch longer cast than winner, really good head piece that exhumed quality throughout, strong well arched neck, good forehand, very well covered body of balanced parts excellent topline and rear quarters, really pulled out all the stops to secure runner up to overall winner on the day, prepared and presented in pristine condition.
3RD 2882 - Int/multi Ch/gch Merryville Seren Song (Mrs A Bácskai)
RES 2920 - Am Gr Ch Sugarnspice There Ain’t No Getting over Meep (Imp Usa) (Miss A Lusty)
VHC 2900 - Int/bel/fr/nld/lux/ger Ch Indigo Aura Agree to Disagree with Breckamore (Imp Ltu) (Ms A French)

Veteran Bitch
Entries: 4 Absentees: 0
1ST 2880 - Int/multi Ch/gch Blamorder Supa Fun Surprise (Mrs A Bácskai)
This handler as shown a few dogs today and I have got to admit that what she did show drew me to the same quality these dogs had, I was please to be able to award this bitch veteran bitch as this did the same she drew my eye to her qualities and I was not disappointed that this sable bitch was so feminine to view, she has many attributes to admire although I would have like a slightly more define rise over loin, good mover in both dirrections and prepared and presented in very good order.
2ND 2898 - Ch Breckamore Butterfingers ShCM ShCEx (Miss S Flower)
Another quality bitch that has many qualities to admire, tri in colour with a good head length which was very feminine and good expressive ears, good strong neck and forequarters, firm in body and moved out well, prepared and presented in very good order.
3RD 2917 - Ch Blamorder Ice Cream Dream VW (Miss A Lusty)
RES 2893 - Stormsett Snow Crystal (Mrs P & Mr R Corben & Glover)