I was thrilled with my main winners and felt both challenges were very strong with 4 dogs in each being of CC quality and worthy champions not making it to the challenge. My overall impressions – some dogs  lack of neck, have poor shoulders, many are too big, too narrow, and have poor movement. The top winning males should be an asset to the breed if used judiciously. Front and rear angulation on the whole was good as was length of tail. Most temperaments were fabulous. Although I thought overall this was a better quality entry than for some time, there was still a great separation between the main winners and the rest. MPD  (1) 1 West’s Alopex Oysterman – well grown tri with a lovely head and expression, enhanced by well placed and used ears. A little tall at the moment to balance his length of back but this might improve as he ages. Could have more length of neck and a better lay of shoulder. Similarly he could do with more bend of stifle.  His movement was sloppy but he is a baby so can’t expect too much yet. PD (4) 1 Norman & Ratcliffe’s Easy Listening at Seanua, BP, BPIS – stunning youngster with a great future ahead of him. Well grown but  a little bum high today but this will settle as he reaches maturity. Super balanced head, clean with correctly placed stop and lovely moulded foreface.  His backskull is flat and his ear placement spot on.  His eye is well shaped and placed.  Darker eye rims would enhance but he is a golden sable so you can’t have everything. Super reach of neck, well used, good length of back, good shoulder and length of upper arm, good depth of brisket for a youngster with plenty of heartroom. Well boned legs with neat feet. Tail correctly set, good rear angulation and hocks well let down enabling him to move with drive.  Handled well.  Close to the RCC today. 2 A Oysterman 3 Foreman’s Dawcher Dawn’s Spirit JD (4,1) 1 McKenna & Bardill’s MacGee’s Street Spirit at Plaisance – imported tri who at 15 months is very much at that in-between stage. I think he has great potential and should finish a very useful dog.  In some respects he is similar to the eventual CC winner but lacks the maturity and finish at the moment. This of course will change with time but what won’t change is his very good conformation. He appeals for his overall balance with his super reach of neck and length of back. His front and rear angulation is very good and this is reflected in his movement which is smooth, covering the ground with ease. His head is clean and balanced with correct stop and planes. His eye could be darker and more almond shaped but his expression is pleasing nevertheless and enhanced by correctly placed and used ears. 2 D Dawn’s Spirit. Pleasing head and expression on this well grown youngster but ears a little light. Lacks neck and moved poorly. 3 Page’s Norfield Oh What a Knight PGD (2,1) 1 Stilgoe’s Manordeifi Storm Shadow of Yeldus.  Just out of junior and needing a lot of time. Too tall without the length of back to balance. Needs to drop in brisket and develop chest and spring of rib but he needs much more body to help him do this.  His head is clean but is affected by his general lack of body as he needs to fill in backskull.  Moved too close in front and behind again because of his lack of body. LD (4,1) 1 Hyde’s Foxearth Following On,  RCC. Lovely dog who excels in shape and balance.  Super reach of neck and length of back giving the correct collie outline.  Well angulated front and rear with well let down hocks enabling him to move truly and with drive. Good size and well off for bone completing the overall picture.  His head is pleasing, balanced with clean stop and correct backskull. To be critical, his cheeks could be a little more refined but seen as a whole his head and expression are very pleasing. His eye is dark and well shaped, his ears are correctly placed and well used. Handled quietly and sympathetically, handler getting the best from the dog. Very pleasing. 2 Griffiths’ Alopex Skymaster Blue – smaller blue merle of lovely colour. Not the world’s most enthusiastic showman, he tends to put his neck into his shoulders making him look stuffy.  His head is clean with good foreface and his expression pleasing but he doesn’t pull his ears as tight as he needs to to give him that wow factor expression. Well angulated fore and aft and moved well if rather diffidently.  Preferred his head and expression to 3. 3 Moores’ Manordeifi Storm Breaker OD (5,2) 1 Asikainen & Lahtinen’s Ch Sandcastle’s True Topic, CC, RBOB,  RBIS – the dog of the moment and deservedly so. Instantly appeals for his correct collie outline which is the result of good size, correct front angulation leading to a super crested neck (a rarity these days).  Correct length of back with the desired rise over the loin –again something of a rarity – most toplines being as flat as a table (not too many dippy toplines today). Super bend of stifle and well let down hock. Covered the ground well, reaching  out in front and driving from behind.  His head is well balanced with flat backskull of correct length, lovely moulded foreface with well placed stop. His expression is super thanks to his well placed and shaped dark eye and well placed and used ears. He reminds me of the late great Draught Guiness and I imagine he must be in his pedigree somewhere.  If he gets stock like the great Guiness he will be an asset to the breed during his short stay here. 2 Forbes’ Ch Ir & Int Ch Pelghart Paint it Black – worthy champion whose owners are to be congratulated for campaigning him and promoting  our vulnerable breed. A bigger stamp of dog but he retains balance.  Well balanced with good reach of neck, good angulations, good length of back and well off for bone, presenting a pleasing picture. His head is clean but too strong for me. Well shaped, dark eye and well placed and used ears giving  a pleasing expression.  Well muscled and moved very well. 3  Wallis’ Freejack First Knight at Norfield Vet D  (5,2) 1 Howe’s Ch Rowvale Rainbow Warrior – headed a class of grand old gentlemen enjoying their day out.  Correct outline thanks to his good reach of neck and length of back. Well angulated and well boned.  Head hasn’t lost its qualities but still recedes, eye a little large. Moved as you’d expect a 12 year old – a little stiffly but nevertheless with enthusiasm. Shown in excellent condition. 2 Garnett’s Knipes Golden Supremo, beautiful head and eye on this younger sable. Super neck, good length of back but spoilt by his croup dropping off. Moved very well. 3 Tuck’s Ch Dark Motif from Misstoff AW MPB (2) 1 Benton’s Alopex Marionette at Oakestelle, BMP, BMPIS – two litter sisters and very little to separate them. Both are exquisitely coloured blue merles. Both are feminine if a little small but time is on their side.  Both could do with a touch more neck. Heads are still to finish especially in backskull but again, this should come.  Sweetest of expressions with lovely dark, well shaped and placed eyes.  Ears on top and well used. Today 1 moved the better but it really was splitting hairs. 2 Coates’ Alopex Blue Moon.  PB  (2) 1 Giddings All That Jazz at Ryecombe, BPB – bigger tri bitch who is up to size and a little square at the moment.  Hopefully she will finish with the desired length to height ration. Sweetest of expressions thanks to her super dark, almond shaped eyes , good stop and well placed and used ears. Backskull needs to finish yet but she has time.  Movement a little untidy. Overall presents a pleasing picture and should finish well. Litter sister to BPIS. 2  Wallis’ Norfield Scarlet Rose – a pity this youngster lacks confidence and clearly would rather be anywhere but the show ring. She is fairly pleasing but is too narrow all through. Decent reach of neck and angulations Clean head and pleasing expression, not moving very well probably because she was rather unsettled. JB  (3) 1 Williams’ Shulune Imperial Moonlite at McCelland, more litter sisters and again little to separate them. Both pleasing in outline, having good reach of neck, sufficient length of back and nice bone. Heads are clean and balanced, pleasing eye shape and placement but could be darker to advantage.  1 is a consummate show girl and so attentive to her handler tending to get a bit over enthusiastic on the move, 2 moved well. The only thing separating them was 1 had a better rise over the loin and had a greater ring presence than 2. 2 McKenna & Bardill’s Shulune Imperial Flower at Plaisance 3  N Scarlet Rose NB (2) 1 A Marionette at Alopex 2 Howarth’s Cownbred Rambling Rose – fairly nice bitch who could do with losing a little weight to advantage.  Handler and bitch could also do with some ring craft practice to increase coordination and confidence.  Lovely head and eye on this bitch, could have a better length of neck , topline poor due to excess weight. Angulations OK, movement difficult to assess due to her exuberance but as she went through her classes she did settle and improve. PGB  (5, 1) 1 Hartley’s Foxearth Silver Dream at Jimjack – lovely bitch with much potential.  I see she is litter sister to the res dog CC winner.  Appeals for her lovely outline, with good reach of neck, correct length of back and super front and rear angulation.  Very feminine eye and expression with balanced, clean head and well used ears. A little dark in colour. Moved very well.Should be a useful winner for her owner. 2 Neff’s Hightri Until – a better colour than 1 but not her reach of neck or positive, collected movement. Well constructed with good angulation, good length of back and depth of chest. Very nice head, clean and balanced with super expression. 3 C Rambling Rose LB  (8, 4) 1  Giddings Foxearth Gold Filligree –Well made s/w bitch, an easy winner in this class.  Stacks of personality to match her good conformation. Lovely reach of neck and length of back.  Well angulated with good bone but still retaining femininity. Super head and expression thanks to her well shaped and placed dark eye, clean stop, moulded foreface and well placed and used ears. Front movement a little loose but strong driving action from the rear.  Still carrying a little excess weight following her recent litter but once this comes off, she should do some useful winning. 2 C Rambling Rose 3 Stilgoe’s Foxearth Fatal Beauty at Yeldust OB (6, 1) 1Hayward’s Ch Sandcastle’s As You Like it at Foxearth, RCC, superb depth of quality in this the strongest class of the day headed up by a real stunner. Excelling in outline thanks to her excellent reach of neck and good length of back, this bitch presents a most pleasing picture. Her head is balanced and clean, with moulded foreface, well placed stop, well set, almond shaped eyes and well used ears giving a most pleasing expression. She is well angulated with ample bone. Moved so well with driving action, covering the ground easily and truly. A bubbly personality giving her that all important ring presence that will always command attention. Close between her and 2. 2 Sewell’s Ch Foxearth Farris at Lewarne – another bitch with personality plus. Beautiful outline with super reach of neck, length of back and front and rear angulation. Head is clean and well balanced with good foreface.  Lovely expression thanks to her well placed  sweet, dark almond shaped eye, clean, correctly placed stop and well used ears.  Moved so well, covering the ground with ease. Preferred her eye shape to 3. 3 Hutchings' Ch Foxearth Fluorescence at Molloney Vet B  (5, 3) 1  Hyde’s Ch Foxearth Fondant, CC, BOB.  The star of the show for me.  When she walked in the ring she instantly appealed for her ultra femininity and overall balance.  Certainly in the league of the greats of 20 years ago such as Moonbeam, Blue Movie and Flourish.  Her head is so pleasing to handle. Flat backskull, well placed stop and lovely moulded foreface.  Her eyes are dark, almond shaped and correctly placed. Her ears are correctly placed and well used.  She has a super reach of neck which is crested and leads to well angulated shoulders and correct length of upper arm. Excellent length of back which has a slight rise over the loin. Well angulated hind quarters with well let down hocks. Spot on for size and bone. Focused on her handler and exudes an air of class and elegance. Moved beautifully, matching the dog CC winner for soundness and side extension and pulling out all the stops for BOB.  I just loved her. 2  Garnett’s Ch Sharidon Miss American Pie at Knipes. Hard to believe this bitch is 12 years old – she could pass for 6 or 7. Eye-catching  outline with that lovely reach of neck.  Still retains excellent head qualities with keen expression. Moved so well thanks to her very good conformation. Could not match 1 for femininity. Brace (4, 2) 1 Griffiths – well matched, moving well together and overall better quality than 2 2  Coates Breeders 1  Hayward – quality through and through