Collie Club of Wales Champ Show (no CCs), 18th August 2024

Huge thanks to the Collie Club of Wales for the honour of judging the In-Show awards at today’s show. Such a lovely atmosphere around the rings and it was good to catch up with so many folks.

I was asked to step in to referee in a couple of the Rough Collie decisions before stepping up to judge the final awards. All three judges, Messrs Staniland and Iley and Mrs Russell, sent through some very pleasing collies, and it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to decide between them.

Best in Show: Hawkins and Foy’s Beldones Just for Fun at Starlenga
Reserve Best in Show: Beeney’s Coneypark Golden Brown
Best Opposite Sex in Show: Hassock’s Cammana Cellmate
Best Puppy in Show: Lockyer’s Gataj Lewis Capaldi
Best Veteran in Show: Lusty’s Ch Blamorder Ice Cream Dream

The contest for Best in Show was between the rough collie, Hawkins and Foy’s Beldones Just for Fun at Starlenga, recently returned to the home kennel and how fortuitous was that? I awarded her BoB over the young male rough collie Hassock’s Camanna Cellmate. For me it was her elegant outline and free and easy movement that swung that award her way. When it came to BIS, she was up against a favourite smooth collie, Beeney’s Coneypark Golden Brown. In construction, they are both very similar: both have the sweeping collie lines I look for – the rough girl’s coat was groomed so it enhanced her outline rather than hiding it, lovely reach of neck, correct length of back and well ribbed. Both had super front construction and good bend of stifle. Both were strong on their rear quarters and neither cow hocked. Tails on both were long. When I asked them to move, they went equally as well as each other, positive movement, covering the ground easily holding their toplines. So, the final decision was made on head and expression and the rough scored here. Her head is clean with a defined not deep stop, ears correctly placed, beautifully moulded foreface and good underjaw. Her expression is exquisite thanks to her dark, obliquely set eyes and it was this factor that tipped it in her favour.

Reserve Best in Show was the smooth collie who out moved the rough collie, Cellmate, who took Best Opposite Sex in Show.

Best Puppy in Show was the rough collie, Lockyer’s Gataj Lewis Capaldi. Having been called in to decide between him and his litter sister, G Exotic Girl, for best puppy in breed, I was smitten by these very promising pups who must surely have a bright future – like two peas in a pod. Both well-constructed and put down to perfection as usual from the kennel. It was difficult to split them in the breed ring, but I felt that Lewis had the better length of head today, giving greater elegance and his eye was also more obliquely set. Both moved well. When it came to the best puppy in show contest, the smooth collie was one I have judged recently at Lancashire & Cheshire CC, Lusty’s Blamorder Dare to Dream, who has now entered the teenage stage I feel and on the day was rather on the leg and flying her ears. No doubt she will settle in time and regain her balance. The nod therefore went to Lewis who was the more complete picture today.

The contest for Best Veteran in Show was between two old favourites – although neither really showing signs of being a veteran. Shipp’s Ch Gillyflower Della Buca Delle Fate retains all the qualities that deservedly gave her that champion title however, she could not match the movement of Lusty’s Ch Blamorder Ice Cream Dream, to whom I recently awarded a CC and who continues to take top awards at championship level, and deservedly so. When I last judged her, I believe I said the only thing that could be improved was her colour which has darkened with age, but that is such a minor, cosmetic point and this is a collie who has working capabilities in spades.

Congratulations to all the winners today.
Bev White (judge)

Smooth Collies

Special Yearling Dog (3,0)

A trio of boys that still need time to mature but have plenty of potential.

1^st Kinsey & Martin’s Sturtmoor Arceus’s Legacy JW 14 month Sable & White male.  Good head with balanced proportions and a good underjaw, lovely dark eye, well placed, tipped and used ears.  Decent length of neck leading into good topline.  Angulations fore and behind are balanced, moved with good reach and drive once settled to win the class.

2^nd Rodger’s Blamorder Mischief Maker with Jerdoni 22 month Sable & White male.  Good rich colour, head is pleasing though slightly cheekier than 1. Nice dark eye, well placed ears.  Topline good, not quite the front angulation of 1, giving slightly less reach on the move though had plenty of drive.

3^rd Howe’s Lizoni The Drifter

Limit Dog (3,0)

1^st Robertson’s Wynele Strike One 22 month Tricolour dog.  Lovely balanced masculine head, ear set and tip good, good depth of chest and front angulation, leading into good topline with good spring of ribs too. Slightly long in second thigh which showed in his movement but won the class on overall balance and maturity today.

2nd Seager’s Blamorder Magic Maker with Freejack JW 22 month Sable & White dog.  Well balanced blunted wedge head, good underjaw, nice dark eye and ears set and used well. Nice length of neck leading into good topline.  Preferred spring of ribs of 1 and he was elbowing out slightly today when stood – time is on his side though as he’s at a tricky age.  Good tail length and set correctly. Moved out well for his handler with good drive.

3^rd Howe’s Lizoni The Drifter

Open Dog (3,1)

1^st Wensley’s Ch Constella Hazy Cosmic Jive JW BD Almost 3 year old Tricolour male.  Well balanced head with parallel planes. Lovely, well set eye and ears of good size and set, used well.  Good length of neck into good topline with balanced angulations front and rear.  Well handled and shown, moved out with good reach and drive looking like he could work all day.

2^nd Sewell’s Ch Wynele Strike It Rich to Lewarne JW RBD 22 month old Tricolour male. Balanced, masculine head, clean lines and good back skull.  Ears set well and tipped nicely. Lovely chest and front, good bone, topline fair and set of tail good.  Preferred rear angulation of 1.  Moved slightly erratically in the class but strode out well in the challenge to gain RBD.

Veteran Dog or Bitch (3,1)

1^st Lusty’s Ch Blamorder Ice Cream Dream BViB 8 year old b/m bitch, very much the showgirl.  Beautiful clean wedge-shaped head with lovely almond shaped eyes, fabulous ear set and tip, giving a lovely typey expression.  Great length of neck giving way to good topline and tail set.  Front and rear angulations very good and giving a picture of perfect balance when stood.  Very attentive to her handler, just lost out on movement today for RBB but thrilled to see her go BViS later in the day.

2^nd Moores’ Manordeifi Bow Regard 8 year old s/w dog.  Head handles well, great balance and good planes, good underjaw, lovely expressive eyes.  Ear set good and properly tipped but reluctant to use them today.  Good neck leading to well balanced body – angulations fore and aft are good.  Lovely thick coat of rich colour.  Moved out okay.

Special Yearling Bitch (4,0)

1^st Lusty’s Blamorder Dare To Dream BPiB 8 month old tricolour bitch, nice head with good underjaw, dark eyes and well set and used ears.  Good topline with slight rise over loin, tailset good.  Needs to drop in chest a little still but she’s a baby and that will come I’m sure. Very good front and rear angulations which showed in her effortless movement with super reach and drive for one so young.

2^nd Cole & Fort’s Shulune Imperial Rum Punch 8 Month old tricolour bitch, beautiful feminine head with dark eyes and the sweetest expression.  Good neck and topline with decent rise over loin but not the front of 1, currently a little steep in upper arm which showed in her front movement. 

3^rd Richardson’s Lizoni Que Sera Sera

Limit Bitch (6,2)

1^st Beeney’s Coneypark Golden Brown BB, BoB, RBiS 6 year old sable & white bitch.  Caught my eye as she come into the ring for her balance and movement.  Head handles well, eye set and shape good, would prefer slightly darker.  Ears set and tipped well.  Good length of neck into level topline with good rise over the loin and good tail set and length.  Angulation fore and aft is good and this shows in the balance of her movement, looking like she could work all day effortlessly. 

2^nd Jerrett’s Coldelee Eternal Sunshine JW 2 year old s/w bitch, lovely head with good proportion, eye placement and shape good, combined with good ears, well tipped and used to give the sweetest expression.  Has improved in body since I last judged her, angulations more balanced and has dropped nicely in chest.  Good topline and tail set, tail of good length.  Very attentive to her handler, moved well. 

3^rd Caulfield’s Constella Vega Luminosa

Open Bitch (4,0)

1^st Sweeney & Lusty’s Ch Blamorder Do Quite Nicely AW(B) RBB, RBoB 5 year old blue merle bitch.  Lovely clean wedge shaped head, well set and shaped eyes though would prefer slightly darker.  Good back skull and head planes.  Ear set and tip good.  Nice reach of neck leading to good topline with correct rise over the loin.  Front and rear angulations good, good depth of chest and spring of ribs.  Moved with effortless reach and drive, another who could work all day.

2^nd Moores’ Blamorder Ridin On A Rainbow to Manordeifi 6 year old tricolour bitch.  Lovely typey head with good planes and the correct blunted wedge.  Nice dark, correctly shaped and set eyes. Ears set well, though not used to advantage.  Great length of neck, fabulous balance in body with matching, correct angulations front and rear.  Good depth of chest and spring of rib.  Good length of back, tail set good and tail of good length.  Good reach and drive on the move but not as effortless as some today.

3^rd Richardson’s Lizoni Va Va Voom

Kirsty Russell (Koczkodan)