East Anglian Collie Ass Open Show April 2018

Judge Pat Hutchinson

Best of Breed BENTON Oakestelle Artemis

Best Dog BENTON Oakestelle Vivaldi

Res Best Dog

Best Bitch BENTON Oakestelle Artemis

Res Best Bitch BENTON Oakestelle Asteria

Best Veteran LUSTY BENTON Alopex Marionette of Oakestelle

Best Puppy - BENTON Oakestelle Artemis & Reserve Best Puppy in Show

Junior Dog/Bitch (1,0)

1st BENTON Oakestelle Asteria

Post Graduate Dog/Bitch (2,0)

1st BENTON Oakestelle Artemis

2nd HOWARD Summer Shadows Shandlmain

Limit Dog

No Entries

Open Dog (2,1)

1st 1st BENTON Ch Oakestelle Vivaldi

Open Bitch (5,2)

1st BENTON Oakestelle Venus de Milo
+2nd BENTON Alopex Marionette of Oakestelle
3rd LISTER Manordeifi Miss Daisy at Newarp JW

I enjoyed a great day at the EACA's Open Show, as always. It was good to be outside despite the sneaky cold wind! One must not forget that, apart from the coat, Rough and Smooth Collies are varieties of the same breed and should therefore equate in terms of sufficiency of bone and substance, spring of rib and depth of chest which provide plenty of heart room for the endurance required for doing the job they were originally bred for. Although in proportion and balanced, most of the Smooth exhibits were of similar type but I just wish they had more bone and substance, and better developed forechests.*JD/B* (1) 1. Benton & Bemelman's Oakestelle Asteria.10 month tri b. Confident puppy, showing off her virtues steadily. Good harsh black coat, head of good proportions with sweet dark eye and neat ears. Stop needs to clean as yet and I would prefer more fill of foreface though this should come with maturity. Fair angulation but would prefer a tad more bone. Showed and moved well holding her topline level and tail low. RBOB. *PD/B* (2) 1. Benton's Oakestelle Artemis. Eyecatching and stylish b/m puppy, sister to Junior winner. Coat is harsh with excellent clear blue but rather an excess of white markings. Fair angulation and ample length of back, good reach of neck and well proportioned head with neat expressive ears and sweet expression. Would prefer more bone and substance even at her young age. She showed steadily and just had the edge on movement over her sister. BP & BOB. 2. Howard's Summer Shadows Shandlmain. Tri b of better breed type with good proportions, ample bone and substance and depth of chest. Rather light in eye which spoiled her expression and she was a tad 'doggy' for me. Unsettled today so would not show and difficult to assess her movement. *OD* (2,1) 1. Benton's Ch Oakestelle Vivaldi. Upstanding and balanced tri d of good height/length ratio with sufficient substance and depth of chest, fair reach of neck. Head of correct proportions but expression did not please. Covered the ground quite well with drive from well angulated hindquarters though lacked a little reach in front as he is slightly steep in forequarters. Little unsettled today so did not make the most of himself. BOS. *OB* (4,1) 1. Benton's Oakestelle Venus de Milo. Elegant b/m b, daughter of 2 in this class. Harsh coat with well broken clear colours, a well-proportioned girl with balanced head and flat skull but would prefer a sweeter eye. She moved freely and was more collected at the rear than her dam who stood second. 2. Benton's Alopex Marionette Of Oakestelle. B/m granddam of the main winners. I have judged this b several times but now she is sadly beginning to show her age. An elegant and well-proportioned b with balanced head, super ears and a sweet expression, she shows non-stop. Fair angulation fore and aft, she covers the ground easily holding her topline level.