Very many thanks to the officers and committee for the invitation to
judge and the hospitality on the day. I don't think the hall we were
in was conducive to creating a good atmosphere as it is too large
for a single breed club of our clubs size, I do appreciate the
secretary had to change venues at relatively short notice. It did
however afford a good size ring which enabled the collies to be
moved sufficiently. A big thank you to each of the exhibitors for
the high entry, there are few shows recently that have managed over
60+ dogs. It is some time since I was last around the Smooth Collie
ring and I have to say that I was disappointed there was no quality
in depth, although very pleased with my top winners and most of
class winners. I am amazed that with the cost of entries and petrol,
some exhibitors chose not to prepare their dogs for exhibition,
presenting them dirty. I also noticed that a number of exhibitors
brought their dogs into the ring with substances on their ears.
These dogs were placed last in their class, where there were more
than one in a class the worst offender was given the lower place.
Ear carriage is a fault like any other and I judge it in that way, I
will not however reward dogs who are not prepared within the rules
under which we all compete. I also feel it may serve the breed well
if more thought was put into breeding, may be the club can help with
a seminar in this area that may help to improve the overall quality
of the breed. Having said that, temperaments were fantastic, every
entry was happy to move on the floor and, when left to place
themselves, would go into a good natural stance. Please check when
placing feet that you are not over stretching and producing an
outline more akin to a rocking horse! JD (4,2) 1
Gay's Yagnae's Blue Mist. B/M, correct length to height body shape,
wedge shaped head, well placed eyes, ears on the heavy side, need to
lift and pull up more. Good hocks, moved ok. 2 Bell's Koczkodan Nos
Blyth. Tri, Little heavy in head and over shoulder, not as settled
as 1st and did not move as well. ND (1) 1
Trundley's Juniperwood Kinda Smart B/M Head is wedge shape, stop not
clean, failed to use ears. Like the tan marking and body shape was
ok. PGD (6) Good class. 1 Kennedy's Ryecombe Deb'n
Air. S/W has correct body shape and is good size. Lovely tight coat
of good texture. Head good wedge shape with correctly placed stop.
Pleasing expression enhanced by his constant showing and use of
ears. In very good condition and moved well. 2 Bott's McClelland Hot
Shot S/w, lighter build than 1st,has a good turn of stifle, head is
wedge shape but not as clean as 1st, does have a pleasing
expression. Topline not quite firm, but time is on his side. Good
coat colour and texture. 3 Leach's Manordeifi Dionysus at Hilltarn.
LD (5,1) 1 Forbes Natalain Veni Vidi Vici at
Willowhurst (Imp Rus) S/W, with correct length to height body , this
still needs to mature and drop in chest. Head is in proportion to
body and is wedge shape, but lacks a little in underjaw. Dark eye,
well placed and ears on top which he used to give pleasing
expression, moved ok. 2 Giddings Ryecome Discovered Gold S/W has
slightly more mature body than 1st but a little shorter in neck.
Head ok but stop is not as clean as 1st. Moved ok. 3 Woodstock's
Shulune Imperial Guard at Hylaird. OD (7,1)
Excellent class of quality dogs. 1st Dog CC, BD, RBOB, RBIS,
Haywards Ch Foxearth Flintab, B/M lovely colour coat of good texture
and length. He is the correct shape which provides overall balance,
has the right amount of bone without being heavy. When viewed from
the rear his hocks are strong and straight, when he moves he has the
drive this promises. His movement is correct. Very pleasing head of
correct wedge shape and has clean lines in parallel and profile. Eye
of good shape and placed well, ears on top and used give good
expression. For me he is not yet mature and when viewed against the
BOB this shows. This is a dog who still has his best yet to come
when he is fully matured. 2nd & RCC Norman and Ratcliffe Easy
Listening at Seanua, S/W with good body shape and pleasing head.
Lovely dark eye and ears well set leading to sweet expression. Body
not quite as balanced as 1st but still on right lines. Loses out on
movement to first, worth CC winner who will I am sure go on to do
well. 3 WhiteCh Foxearth Frappuccino. MPB (1)1st
BMP & BPIB Hayward's Foxearth Flisa'bet, B/M good colour coat of
correct texture. She is the correct shape with sufficient bone, neat
feet, head is wedge shape but not yet as clean as it needs to be.
PB (3,2) 1 Griffiths Foxearth Furore, B/M slightly
up on the leg at the moment so looking a little less balanced, which
will I am sure change as she grows. Has a sweet expression, produced
by well placed eyes and ears, head is correct shape. Moved ok, again
I feel this is just related to her current development. Although
alone a worthy winner. JB (7,2) 1 Gay's Yagane's
Lavender Mist, B/M. I have to say her colour is not her best
attribute. However, she has the correct body shape and a balanced
head. Eyes well placed and good shape, ears on top, used well. Liked
her a lot but not the colour. Please think hard if you decide to
breed her about what dog you use to try to eradicate the poor
colour, however do not lose the good movement. 2 Bell's Koczkodan
Nos Blyth, S/W with good tight coat of good colour and texture.
Correct length to height body and wedge shaped head. Has pleasing
expression, but stop appears to be breaking a little low, move ok. 3
Griffiths Foxearth Furore. NB (1) 1 Rice's Kevranna
Theras Yonder Gaze, S/W Has correct length to height body shape, but
could do with more body. Neck is correct and held well when showing,
not all of them do, due to over baiting. Has no spring of rib at the
moment but is still very young. Feet need to tighten up. PGB
(8,3) 1 Campbell's Ryecome Dolly Mixture, S/W Who is
correct shape with really good shoulder placement, nice spring of
rib, good bone, correct shape of feet and not splayed out. Head is
balanced and she has a sweet expression which is the result of well
placed, dark, eye together with neat ears which she uses. Moved ok.
2 Pointer's Kingrock Claudia, S/W, Good reach of neck, onto correct
body. Needs to fill in foreface and eye could be darker. Moved ok. 3
French's Finnish Touch for Breckamore. LB (11,3) 1
Williams McClelland Some Like it Hot S/W. Really liked this quality,
well balanced bitch, in good body, she moved well. Very pleasing
head, which is a wedge shape, she has a lovely dark eye. Ears are
well set, but disappointment of the day was the pricked ear which
she can get over long enough to win the class but not top honours
today. Good neck on to body of correct shape. Please keep working on
that ear. 2 Lusty's Juniperwood Just a Dream, Tri, length to height
ok. Head flares slightly, nice dark eye which is well placed, ears
pulled up on top. Moved ok. 3 Beeney's Kingrock Bathsheba at
Coneypark. OB (5,1) Very good class. 1 BCC - BOB -
BIS Haywards Ch Kiiramanna She Makes My Day at Foxearth. B/M who
made my day! Outstanding for balance of body, with correct placed
shoulder and good turn of stifle. Good top line with the slight rise
over the loins. Tail well set and carried. Hocks straight and strong
producing good drive. If you watch her go into a free stand you will
see that it is near perfect. As expected her movement was really
good. She has a clean head which handles well, lovely expression and
shows to order without looking fedup. When judging for BOB it is
clear she is a mature bitch whose body has reached maturity and this
put her above the dog on the day. 2 RCC Hutchings Collidach Molloney
Fay Mouse B/m. Another bitch with a correct body shape which has
good angulation front and back, moved well. She lost out to 1st on
head and expression, which is not quite as good but still pleasing.
Does not make the best use of her neck. 3 Forbes Multi Ch
Kangasvuokon Venice (Imp Fin). VB 1 Trundley's
Lilymead Alicia B/M good shape but on the big side for me. 8 year
old, which for a Smooth is not that old, however she looked fed up
on the day, lacking any drive in movement.
Maria Foulston
