Firstly, I would like to thank all the exhibitors for the entry, especially for a Monday and considering the recent weather conditions. To those stranded by the floods, who were unable to attend, having been flooded, please accept my sympathies. Secondly, in the 3 years since last judging this lovely breed, I have seen some faults creeping in and without careful breeding, they can only get worse; I refer especially to shoulder angulations and subsequently to the lack of correct and positive front movement. Each dog was moved in an identical manner, therefore, each dog was judged on a level playing field – (although the ring itself was not level) but my judgement was made accordingly.

PD (5,1) 1 Griffiths Alopex Skymaster Blue. young merle of good colour, Very pleasing, balanced head of good proportions. Well placed ears which he used well and showed steadily in harmony with handler. Good chest and ample bone for age. Nice outline, just needs to tighten in movement, but this should come with maturity. Carried his tail well. BPIB. 2 Wallis Freejack First Knight At Norfield. Well grown youngster but not as settled in outlook as winner but still has many virtues. Pleasing head, but I would prefer more stop and a slightly better ear placing. Needs time to grow into his body as he appears quite "leggy" at this stage. Good neck and outline. Moved well. 3 Thomson Londer Moonrock. J (3,0) 1 Freejack First Knight At Norfield. 2 Londer Moonrock. another youngster who needs time to mature and body up. Good length of head and foreface but I would prefer more definition in stop. Well placed ears, but not settled. Nice size with good bone. I would like to see more shoulder angulations and a little more muscle. Moved quite well.

PG (2,0) 1 Fulwood Darsign Minstrel Blue. quite mature merle with a good coloured open coat. He has a pleasing outline with a good depth of chest. Although he has a well placed eye and used his ears well, his head, which is slightly shorter in skull and foreface when viewed in profile, is deeper than I prefer Well formed bone and neat feet. Showed and moved well. 2 Arksey Norfield Checkmate. Pleasing head of good proportions, well moulded foreface with a nice eye set. Good ear carriage and nice length of neck. Good body and coat. Nice outline but failed in tail carriage.

L (5,2) 1 Macgregor Rowvale River Gambler. this lad took my eye for his elegance and movement as he moved so easily around the ring with correct tail carriage. Nicely balanced head with good foreface and under-jaw. Well placed stop giving balance. Good clean wedge and a flat skull. Well placed ears which he used well. Nice neck and good shoulders. Ample bone and nice length of back. Very pleasing in outline. Good coat texture, in good condition. Well deserved RCC, in good company. 2 Wallis Norfield Soul Mate. sable of much heavier type. Lovely head which is well balanced with a good stop and correct ear placement. Nice body and length, I would prefer more front angulations as he was not at all positive on the ground today.

O (9,2) A lovely class to judge and I was spoilt for choice but I was looking for a dog who could actually perform a days work. 1 Tuck Dark Motif From Misstoff A.W. Mature tricolour who is in such super hard condition and hard to believe this lad is now a Veteran as his movement and showmanship is a credit to his owner/handler. Good balanced head with correctly placed stop, dark well placed eye, slightly full, but this is due to age and today, he had full control over his well placed ears which enhanced his expression. Nice reach of neck with good shoulder angulation, very well muscled. Good top line with strong hindquarters. Very positive in rear movement and covered the ground easily. Settled down to take this class and a very well deserved CC in strong competition. I understand this gives him his title which he well deserves. Thank you for allowing me to judge him again. 2 Lister Ch Eridor I’m Blue At Newarp (imp). Well known young blue merle of good size and colour. Head is a fraction shorter and deeper through than I would prefer and I would like to see more definition of stop. Good length of back and a level top-line. However, today, insisted on both moving and standing incorrectly in front. Perhaps this is just a habit he has obtained. Overall he is a good shape with good bone and feet, on the move just lacked the elegance and positive movement of winner. 3 Norman & Ratcliffe Ch Foxearth Blue Jeans Forever. not disgraced in this class as he has many virtues. I admired him as a baby and am pleased to see how he has matured.

PB (2,1) 1 Naylor Freejack Sweet Magic. although alone, deserved her placing, good coat texture and a nice size for age. Well balanced head with a dark eye. Nice foreface and good ear carriage.  Good chest for age, and she was quite settled showing and moving.

J (2,1) Repeat.

PG (4,0) 1 Griffiths Alopex Fine Preovenance. what a lovely character this bitch has. Fine, clean head of balanced proportions, good foreface, and flat skull with well placed stop. Alert expression enhanced by correct ear placing. Good neck and shoulders, nice rib and chest. Harsh coat of correct texture. Good tan markings. Nice outline, with length of back. Good bone, legs and feet. Well deserved RCC in this entry. One I shall watch with interest for the future. 2 Burgess Lilymead Appanchi. slightly heavier built tri of good proportions. Good head and nice eye. Good proportions and although quite positive in movement her feet do need attention.

L (3,1) 1 Hills Devern Fait A Compli. another tricolour who appealed for her overall type. Pleasing head with a well placed stop giving good head planes. Nice dark eye and used her ears well. Good outline with good legs and feet. Just lacked the drive and positive movement today but this may be due to a change of handler on the move. A nice bitch. 2 Evans Soutcombe She’s The One. sable lady who has a well balanced head of good proportions. Nice flat skull with a clean foreface. Good neck and shoulders. Tight coat of good texture. Slightly heavier in type than winner but moved well.

O (4,0) Four nice ladies but only one winner: 1 Sewells Ch Foxearth Farris Via Lewarne. Well deserving of her title, this bitch  came, saw and conquered  Her coat is nice and tight, well fitted and gleamed with condition. Lovely head well placed stop. Nicely moulded foreface with clean lines from nose to cheeks. Good length of neck fitting into well placed shoulders. Correct length of back and good tail carriage. Moved very easily and covered the ground well. She  had her own idea about  showing today and did not make life easy for her handler but when she settled down and showed off, the combination of well placed, dark eye, head balance and correct ear carriage won her not only this class, the CC and BOB. I understand that due to the torrid weather conditions, although she stayed, she was unable to compete in the group and please accept apologies on behalf of her owner/handler. 2 Hayward’s Foxearth Fire Of Love At Lilymead. Tri bitch who is really her own worst enemy as she  such a happy soul, never stopped wagging her tail but loathe to concentrate on the job in hand. Once she settled down and stood correctly, a very pleasing outline with good length of back, good bone and moved quite well. Lovely clean head and super expression from a well placed dark eye, if only she would become alert and use her pretty ears she will trouble the best. 3 Hills Ch Devern Blue Silhouette. quality blue of nice size and shape, due to a change in handler was not settled in her movement

Carole A Smedley