I was disappointed with quality in the younger classes, quite a few had narrow fronts and sadly lacked upper arm angulation, this restricts freedom of movement. A fault creeping in that must be watched is a narrow muzzle and lack of underjaw. I also saw a few with pricked ears. I was surprised to find my hands filthy... there is no excuse for a dirty Smooth Collie. Many of the exhibits showed poor movement, if the breed is to survive, it is up to you all to get together take on board the standard of the Smooth Collie and read it in depth. There have been many good seminars on the breed outlining the important features of breeding to type, and most of all remembering what the Smooth Collie was actually bred for. The later classes in both sexes were more pleasing and I was spoilt for choice.

MPD(2, 1) 1 Leach's Manordeifi Dionysus At Hilltarn. Blue merle, coat of good colour and texture, well grown, very nice clean head and good expression, ears set well and used. For his age he is nicely muscled showing good hindquarters, good front, deep chest, just needs to tighten up on the move, but overall a very useful dog.

PD(4) 1 Williams' McClelland Hotter Than Hell. Well balanced tricolour dog showing correct length to height ratio, clean head and kind, intelligent expression, neat ears well used. For a youngster, he has a good front, well sprung ribs, good depth of chest and sound hindquarters, showing good second thigh, moved out well. 2 Leach's Manordeifi Dionysus At Hilltarn. 3 Ruston &Growcott's McClelland Hot Shot To Rusforth.

JD(2, 1) 1 Evans' Neytiri Tsu'tay Warrior. Stood alone, a very masculine tricolour who is well up to size, looking tall and rangy at the moment, but he has a decent head although a trifle strong, good ears, used well, very deep chest and well sprung ribs, he did, however, move out rather well.

PGD(6, 2) 1 Bardill's Plaisance Fenton Le Beau. Liked this very smart tricolour dog shown in sparkling form. Clean head, lovely expression and neat well used ears, his coat is really black and of correct texture, strong, well muscled hindquarters, good hocks, good turn of stifle, he moves out really well, but overall picture spoilt by his tail. 2 Howe's Dawcher Dawn's Sunrise. Well grown s/w, really strong neck and shoulder set in good lay back of shoulder, ribs well sprung, good depth of chest with plenty of heart room, clean head with good expression, but tends to drop off over the loin and carried his tail high. 3 Lusty's Plaisance Family Man At Blamorder.

LD(2, 1) 1 Moores' Manordeifi Shadow Chaser. Good overall. Dog with lots to like about him. Well muscled throughout, he shows a good front, well sprung ribs and a good depth of chest, shown in excellent coat and condition, he moves out giving good ground cover, he has a lovely kind expression and uses his ears well, to be critical, would like to see a more moulded muzzle.

OD(5) A class of quality dogs. 1 White's Ch Foxearth Frappuccino. Took command of the ring immediately. There is no mistaking his sex as he is masculine but with no sign of coarseness, so evenly balanced throughout, he makes a lovely picture standing and on the move. Shown and presented in immaculate show condition. Head handles well and he has a king, intelligent expression coming from the correct eye and ear placement. Well muscled hindquarters, short, strong hocks, correct bend of stifle and neat well padded feet (this is an important factor in the breed). One of the few who covered the ground with an easy gait. Was pleased to see him shortlisted in the group. CC and BOB. 2 Williams' Foxearth Forward Thinking For McClelland. S/w, half brother to above, has many qualities going for him. Very smart youngster with lovely clean head and nice expression, neat ears well used, good reach of neck and lay of shoulder coming into a good topline. He has a superb coat both in colour and texture, another who gave good cover on the move. Had to be happy with the Res CC today. 3 Norman &Ratcliffe's Easy Listening At Seauna.

VD(2) 1 Evans' Ch Manordeifi Smart Guy At Southcombe. I have always admired this dog and at 8 years is still looking a picture. He has balance throughout, clean head, correct stop, lovely expression coming from correct ear and eye placement, super reach of neck and one of the few dogs here to show a lovely crest behind the ears (something lacking in the breed), he has a good lay back of shoulder, well sprung ribs, strong well muscled hindquarters, going well. 2 Wallis' Norfield Soul Mate. Another lovely s/w, he has a beautiful head pattern and lovely dark eye. In good coat and condition but his movement let him down. Nevertheless he is still overall a well balanced, true Smooth Collie.

GCD(1) 1 Trundley's Juniperwood King Of Kings. He could be if he pulled his socks up and tried to make the best of himself. I would be so frustrated with this dog, who really does have so much going for him, he has a lovely clean head, good expression, his ears are well set but he refuses to use them. Really was among the better dogs of the day, he even moved out well. If only...

MPB(4, 1) 1 Moores' Manordeifi Silver Dazzler. Well marked blue bitch of lovely colour, so feminine, she has a lovely head type with sweet expression, she has all the credentials to make up into a very nice bitch, at the moment carrying too much weight and this just spoils the outline, her feet need to tighten up to complete the picture. 2 Robinson's Southcombe Summer Special At Dawcher. Very pretty head and expression, still rather raw at the moment but should mature well, good bone, good bend of stifle, good harsh coat of excellent texture, moved ok. 3 Forbes' Willowhurst Vienna.

PB(5) 1 Beeney's Kingrock Bathsheba At Coneypark. Rather nice youngster, she has good bodylines, good reach of neck and correct layback of shoulder. Head is clean although maybe a little plain, but she has the desired expression coming from good ears and dark well shaped eyes, body shaping up well at this stage of development, correct bend of stifle, neat well padded feet. She moved out really well. BP. 2 Baker's Manordeifi Dolly Daydream At Tomalca. Very pretty tricolour presented and handled so well, liked her outline, clean head and sweet expression, neat ears, used well. She has a good topline, sound hindquarters showing good second thigh for one so young. Her feet are well padded with short nails giving a lovely finish to the whole picture. Should mature into a very nice bitch. 3 Forbes' Willowhurst Vienna.

JB(5, 1) 1 Baker's Manorfeidi Dolly Daydream At Tomalca. 2 Trundley's Juniperwood Jubilation. Very nice bitch, lovely head pattern, dark eyes of correct shape giving out a lovely expression, good reach of neck, deep chest, good turn of stifle, strong hocks, moves well, more animation would complete the picture. 3 Lusty's Juniperwood Just A Dream.

PGB(6) 1 Sewell's Foxearth Dressed To Frill. Very elegant tricolour, she oozed quality and style, so well schooled, never putting a foot wrong and so in harmony with her handler who got the very best out of her on the move. Clean head and desired expression coming from correct eye and ear placement, she used her ears to advantage showing a bright, alert outlook. Excellent front, good depth of chest with plenty of heart room, well sprung ribs, very sound hindquarters, good hocks, neat well padded feet. Shown in superb condition to take the Res CC. One for the future. 2 McKenna &Bardill's Plaisance Betty La Belle. Another very nice tricolour bitch who impressed with her overall quality of head and outline, very feminine yet looking like she could do a days work. Constructed so well with excellent neck and shoulder, sound hindquarters, good feet, coat of good texture, one to watch. 3 Baker's Manordeifi Satin N Lace At Tomalca.

LB(3) 1 Fort's Mighty Spring Meadow Gift For Shulune (Imp). Fantastic outline on this tricolour bitch. One I could have taken home with me given the chance. I will start with the coat that is gleaming with health and of correct texture, her head is clean with correctly placed stop, lovely rounded muzzle and good underjaw. Ears that were correctly placed and used to advantage, along with a lovely expression, showed a bright, alert bitch ready for anything asked of her. She was in perfect harmony with her handler and never put a foot wrong moving out giving good ground cover with a free and easy effortless gait, showed her socks off to take CC. I think this was her third, so well dong. 2 Giddings' All That Jazz At Rycombe. Very smart tricolour, pleasing head and expression, correct ears used to advantage, good neck and shoulder, good topline, constructed well, moved out well side view but handler needs to watch her front. 3 Russell's Manordeifi Satin Doll Of Koczodan.

OB(9, 3) Lovely class of quality bitches. 1 Norman &Ratcliffe's Ch Foxearth Fashioned In Black. Lovely tricolour bitch I have admired since a puppy. Love her head and expression, super outline, excellent front, deep chest and well sprung ribs, coat of good texture and presented so well, good legs and neat well padded feet complete the picture. Thought she would be my overall winner but in the challenge did not give her best. 2 Fort's Ch Shulune Imperial Legacy JW. Another lovely bitch, this time a beautiful coloured s/w, her coat texture is outstanding. Fantastic bodylines, super front and depth of chest, plenty of heart room here, lovely rounded bone and perfect shaped feet. Strong crested neck and good shoulder placement flowing into a good topline, shows off her lovely virtues non stop. 3 Hartley's Foxearth Silver Jimjack ShCM.

GCB(3, 1) 1 Giddings' All That Jazz At Rycombe. 2 Baker's Manordeifi Satin N Lace At Tomalca. Nicely made tricolour, pleasing head and expression, good front, well sprung ribs, sound hindquarters.