Crufts 2004
 

I bought my first Smooth Collie 30 years ago and started showing the following year, so Smooths will always be very special to me. The last time I judged the breed was five years ago and at that time I was very upset at the decline in quality. Having completed the judging at Crufts, however, I have to say that the it now seems to be on a much higher level, and the standard of the exhibits entered under me was generally of very high order. This was numerically a very good entry and it was wonderful to watch the BOB in the big ring and listen to the favourable comments around me. For the first time in over 80 years, I believe, a Smooth Collie was placed in the group of the biggest dog show in the world. This was an amazing achievement for a non ‘glamour’ breed in this country, but it demonstrates clearly quite what an outstanding example of the breed is the exhibit from Finland, Int Ch Sandcastle’s Truth or Dare.

VD (5) 1 Noordaa-Meertens & Spiering’s Markylla’s Magic Star of the Screens, stunning s/w, short jacket, lovely head, dark eye, alert expression, incredible natural ears, deep chest, correct shoulder placement, neat feet, happy disposition, fluent free movement. 2 French’s Delbush Crackerjack at Frendet JW., b/m very close up, nicelyarched neck, lovely pattern of head, correct ears, correct front assembly, correct textured jacket, well presented but movement rather slack on the forehand. 3, Randall’s Ch Pelghart Gypsy Prophecy, another smart b/m, well conformed, good front. Moved well but lost topline both standing and on the move.

SpPD (5) 1 Clark’s Glencorrie Beworthy for Astrellita, smart tri dog, happy disposition, lovely head, dark eye & alert ears combining to give a stunning expression. Correct balance, well arched neck, adequate front, enough chest, coat good but a bit wavy, good bend of stifle, tight feet, moved like a dream. 2 Evan’s Mandordeifi Smart Guy at Southcombe, nicely made s/w but rather bum high at the moment, excellent jacket, lovely head, superb ears, front okay, good reach of neck, good bone, deep chest, moved ok. 3 Hinde’s Snuggletooth Fellow at Chicnoir, tri, a bit small, nice head good dark eye, good ears, lovely neck, topline falls away a fraction early, adequate front, deep chest, very smart & well presented.

Sp JD (2) 1 Hinde’s Chicnoir Best Mate, absolutely stunning head which would benefit even more from a little more chin, beautiful dark eye, correct ears. Front could be broader, nice neck, correct topline, superb coat, wonderful shoulder, correct bend of stifle, movement good with reach in front and power from the rear. 2, Evan’s M Smart Guy at S, another smart lad, well proportioned body, good angles but lacked the power on the move of Best Mate.

PGD (6) 1 Davis’ Sharidon Anything Goes at Keenacre, striking tri, stunning outline, correct topline, good neck, superb jacket, lovely head & expression, expression parallel planes, dark eye, tipped ears, adequate front, good depth of chest, well bent stifle, correct length of tail. 2 Wallis’ Norfield Knight Star, tri, not the body or topline of 1, head ok, correct ears, excellent front, deep chest, correct bend of stifle. 3 Benton’s Tentola Smooth Operator of Oakaville, tri, nicely tipped ears, good front, deep chest, tail carried high, nice all though apart from that.

LD (6) 1 Res CC, Norman’s Foxearth Flash Past. s/w with classic outline, beautiful neck, terrific front, good bone, masculine head pattern though eyes for me have a somewhat cold expression, would benefit from slightly more underjaw, good ears, deep chest, movement could be smoother at rear, coat fuller but not open, has a slight tendency to lose his topline, but an excellent prospect for the future. 2 Hinde’s Chicnoir Quartermaster, smart masculine s/w, very well made throughout, correct height to length ratio, balanced head with dark eye and alert expression, nicely arched neck, correct topline, good well textured jacket, moved with drive. 3 Westby’s Lowerpark Pipe Major, tri, lovely head but reluctant to use his ears, smaller than the others, good all through, well made, a real sweetheart.

OD (7) A hell of a class! Would have been happy to give the ticket to any of the first three. 1 C.C. BOB, G3, Asikainen’s Sandcastle’s Truth or Dare, tri. Everything you would want in a male Smooth Collie. Took my breath away when he entered the ring & won the class easily despite being up against real hot competition. Classic headpiece with a breath taking expression, neat dark eyes and well placed alert ears. Balanced well conformed body, firm topline and quarters, tight jacket of the correct texture, moved effortlessly and with such power. Outstanding! 2 Macgregor’s Ch Moon Walker From Misstoff, classy tri who had a tendency to lose his topline occasionally. Masculine head, terrific front, well placed shoulders, movement nowhere near as positive as Truth or Dare’s. 3 Tuck’s Dark Motif from Misstoff, smaller well proportioned tri, not the shoulder of the previous two, but a smart young dog.

VB (6) Very emotional seeing these old ladies that I last saw as youngsters. 1 Lister’s Ch Newarp Jesena Moonlight Sonata, quality b/m. Good conformation which would be improved even more with slightly longer upper arm, free effortless movement. Head properties are still good with an alert expression. Well presented as always. 2 White’s Dancerwood Dollar Girl, s/w so beautifully made but tending to lose her topline. A real smooth collie bitch with a thick tight coat of correct texture, adorable head with an alert yet gentle expression. 3 Gibson’s Ch Newton’s Guinivere from Foxearth. tri, beautiful head, very nice all through, plenty of substance, good front excellent angulation a pleasure to judge.

SpPB (4) 1 C.C. B.P., Burton’s Glencorrie Begorgeous, tri easy winner, absolutely stunning, sensational youngster; this one is going to make up no problem, always had to be in contention for the ticket. outstanding outline, good head, wonderful alert expression, ears placed and carried well, gleaming jacket of correct texture, so well conformed throughout. Floated around the ring like an absolute dream. 2 Taylor’s Snuggletooth Filly’s Nuggletooth Filly’s Among Trageeda. 2 Tri well made all through, not quite as feminine as Begorgeous but good head with correct pattern, good jacket 3 Robinson’s Hilltarn Valentine, unfortunately went lame but a promising puppy.

Sp JB (3) 1 S Filly’s Fancy Among T. 2 Sewell’s Foxearth Farris Via Lewarne, smart, little bit bigger that 1, very feminine expression, would prefer a more elegant line from the neck through the shoulder, movement all over the place and she needs to strengthen in topline. 3 French’s Chicnoir Sanretta at Frendet, different, nice old fashioned type, good front, well made, let down by movement.

PGB 1 Moore’s Manordeifi Silver Dawn, stylish b/m of sensational colour, stunning outline, excellent front, topline could be a bit firmer, happy, nice head, correct planes, dark eyes, alert expression, moved well on super tight feet. 2 Gibson’s Pelghart Private Dancer, tri, head okay & expression pleasing, a fraction short in body but outline nice enough, good front, good breath of chest, deep well sprung ribs. 3 French’s Chicnoir Eternal Star at Frendet, very similar to 2, movement not as fluent, but overall a very nice bitch.

LB (14) 1 Gay’s Hilltarn Kiri at Yagane, b/m, nice head & correct planes, good ears, classic shape tho topline sags a little, good front, deep chest, movement is free and effortless, good coat of correct texture and colour. 2 Douglas’ Foxearth Speckled Wood. Tri that I thought was going to be the winner but let down on movement, ultra short jacket, (looking almost trimmed), stunning silhouette, super ears, lovely dark eye, lovely head pattern. 3 Hayward’s Foxearth Fanfare To Oh La La, s/w nice outline, tends to fall away just a little early, nice neck, would prefer a more elegant line from the neck through the shoulder, head nice enough but bit plain, expression a tad hard, well carried ears, moved truly.

OB (10) 1 R.C.C., Asikainen & Rautiainen’s Sancastle’s Sweet Valentine, Sensational s/w always going be the winner of this class. Stunning reach of neck, correct topline, good front, lovely alert expression, head of good length with correct parallel planes, ears on top, dark eye, deep brisket, most impressive on the move. 2 Hyde’s Ch Foxearth Fondant, feminine s/w, not quite the balance of Sweet Valentine or the strength of topline, generally well made tho, correct front and shoulder angulation, beautiful expression, super ears, faultless presentation. 3 Hayward’s Foxearth Castles In The Sky, s/w, pleasing enough bitch but lacking the sheer quality of Sweet Valentine and Fondant, not quite the alertness of expression I like to see. Adequate shoulders but a slight looseness in topline & let down by movement.

GD CIT B (5) 1 Burton’s Astrellita Beloved of Glencorrie, dam of my bitch CC winner, b/m well conformed, coat a bit wavy, head of good pattern, nice eye and expression, moved freely. 2, Purvey’s Chicnoir Hors-La-Loi-III, smart little tri dog, well made all through. 3 Gibson’s Knipes Shades of Gold for Pelghart, s/w, bum high, nice expression, good ears, dark eye.

Mike Vincent