Scottish Kennel Club May

Date: 14th - 16th May 2004

Given the circumstances I was pleased with the numerical size of the entry. Thank you all for travelling the distances involved. Thanks also to the SKC for the appointment and hospitality. Over all I was pleased with the quality, particularly my bitch line up. Dogs in the later classes pleased however the youngsters were very immature and need time.

P (4) 1 & BP Hydes Foxearth Follow That Dream. Eleven month old Tri bitch mature young lady that reacted very well to her handler. Good head qualities, eyes were rather small and could be set more obliquely. Ears correct and well placed she used them constantly. Good neck leading to correct front and rear angulation. Moved well. 2 Maxwell & Robinson’s Foxearth Flyin Scotsman to Aintshe. Sable dog of good size. Good eye, head developing well, but needs to come up in back skull, ears correct and set well but need to raise. Well constructed neck, front and rear body with good top line. On the move rather erratic going away and returning. He has everything in the right place but needs time and patience to develop and I have a feeling he will not come into his own until his later years. 3 Hindes Chicnoir Twisted Logic.

J (2) 1 Hindes Chicnoir Twisted Logic. Tri dog that is still very much a baby. Won class because he has all the right attributes, but does need to grow on and keep those attributes.

PGD (1) 1 Hindes Foxearth Olivers Footprint to Chicnoir. Sable of good size with correct jacket of lovely shade. Good head pattern, correct wedge shape, two level planes of equal length. Eyes rather light and round. Today his ears were very erratic and pricked most of the time. Correct front and rear but needs more muscle. Moved well in profile but erratically going away and returning.

LD (1) 1 & RCC Hindes Chicnoir Best Mate. Sable that is well balanced through out. Good head with well rounded muzzle, eyes a little light but the correct size and shape, good ears that he used. Correct front and rear angulation, level top line. Well set tail of good length that he carried correctly. Coat slightly loose Moved well.

OD (2) 1, CC & BOB Norman’s Foxearth Flash Past, Sable that I have admired since the first time I saw him as a minor puppy, and many other times from the ring side, pleased to say, as the awards suggest was not disappointed when judging him. In profile he made a lovely picture of a balanced dog at one with his handler. Correct wedge shaped head with parallel planes, and stop correctly placed. This combined with his well placed eyes and ears gave a lovely collie expression. Firm neck of good length and balance with his body. Front angulation could be slightly improved. Firm top line which he held on the move, correct rear construction. Well set tail that could be a little longer. Good jacket. I have seen him move erratically, however on the day he moved well fore and aft and with drive in profile. 2 Hindes Chicnoir Quartermaster, Sable with correct head pattern when viewed from the front, but rather deep through. Nice eye colour and shape, correct ears. Body not of the correct length to height ratio, therefore in profile looks unbalanced and square, also carries extra body weight. Having said that his front and rear angulation are good. Well boned, tail a little short. Moved OK.

PGB (2) 1 Gibsons Pelgarth Private Dancer. Tri with good head patterns, if a little cheeky, eye good colour, but slightly round. Correct ears that she used all the time. Unfortunately expression spoilt by recent scaring, but hopefully this will clear with time. Firm neck leading to good front. Correct body shape with good top line. Correct front and rear angulation. In profile made a lovely picture. However, movement needs to tighten slightly when viewed going away.

LB (3) 1 Hills Devern Dark Mistress. Another tri which made a lovely picture in profile. Nice head with nicely rounded muzzle that was pleasing to handle, slightly flared in cheeks, again good ears which she used to good effect. Well angulated front and rear. Moved well. 2 Forbes Hilltarn Chance. Seven year old blue. Pleasing head, correct stop. but large eye that does not give a feminine expression. Correct front, good body length to height ratio. Jacket loose around the collar area. Moved well.

OB (5) A lovely class of bitches, all of whom could easily change placings, and to whom I would not have worried about awarding the highest of honours. 1 & CC Haywards Foxearth Castles In The Sky. Lovely sable that does not always get it together. However, today she did, hence the awards. Excellent head pattern with lovely length, well rounded muzzle, correct well placed stop, good eye of dark colour correctly placed, nice ears that she used sufficiently to give that lovely, sweet feminine collie expression. Neck of good length and firm. Well angulated front and rear, correct body length with good spring of rib. Tail of good length which carried well. Moved well. Preferred the muscle tone, conditioning and movement of the dog for top honour. 2 & RCC Hydes Ch Foxearth Fondant. Another lovely sable which was in good condition, and is a worthy champion. Very well constructed throughout, she really stood and showed on the day. I just preferred the head pattern, eye and expression of one. 3 Douglas’s Foxearth Speckled Wood

Tony Foulston