Breed Notes
4th February

I was sad to read news posted on social media of the death of Flora Denning, Baylands. As yet details are not yet available but she was a lovely lady, very well known in the West Country and a supporter of the West of England Collie Society.
Flora was a Championship show judge and actually judged her last show for the WECS in 2012, awarding the Dog CC and his title to Designed With Love at Slatestone for Chantique (Emryks Designed to Love ex Zent from Heaven at Slatestone) and the reserve to Chelborn Decision.
Flora’s Baylands kennel was quite influential on the small Emryks kennel of the late Brian and Pauline Skyrme but she produced some winners for her own kennel, namely B. Fancy Nancy (a Ch Brilyn Super tramp daughter) along with her sister, B Lucy Lastic at Emryks but probably the most influential was B Musthava Guinness. He gained his KCSB No and was sired by Ch Mybern’s Mandane out of Emryks Dolly Mixture. (Dolly Mixture was by Brettonpark Country Tweed ex a Ch Arranbrook Mr Chips daughter)
When mated to Kynan Déjà vu, he produced Kynan C’est Moi for Dermot & Maureen Timmins in Ireland, where her stock was well appreciated winning many IKC titles and also Flora got to judge in Ireland too.
Another litter produced Sprucewood Peggy Sue at Crosfield, another big winner here in the UK and behind Ch Sprucewood Anna-Mae at Dalgarven.
To her family and friends we extend our condolences.
Now to report on the British Collie Rough Collie of The Year Event, held at its usual venue, near Nottingham, under the guidance of the new Secretary, Margaret Shipp, ably supported by the Chairman, husband Rob Shipp and newer members of the Committee but the RCOTY event is organised by Treasurer Jo Hodges. Jo has had the unenviable task of recording winners throughout the year in adults, puppies/junior and veterans and subsequently sending out invites to all who qualified.  However, RCOTY had a good entry of 41 collies over various sections for judges, but unfortunately there were more than usual quite a few absentees. The Judges were Marina McLaughlin (Brihow); Dianna Spavin (Dialynne) and Robin Blaikie (Kourika) to assess and the event was kindly sponsored by Royal Canin.
On offer were Sashes for Rough Collie of The Year, Veteran Collie of the Year and Junior of the year, along with named rosettes for each competitor. Also presented were rosettes for those members who gained the title of Champion with their dogs during the previous year and these included:  Grenville Francis and Ch Peblu Gold Desire; Jo Hodges with Ch Jopium Love Heart ShCm; Melissa Lockyer with both Ch Takhisis Hopes and Dreams with Gataj and Ch Paradise Girl du Clos de Sea-Wind for Gataj; Hannah & Simon Walder with Ch Hanvale Polly Shelby and Jo White with Ch Mejola Fate and Fortune ShCm.
The first competition was for Junior of the year, there were originally 8 entries with the winner going to No1, Miranda Blake and Corydon The Grandmaster. Born in May 2020, he is sired by Corydon The Ringmaster out of Corydon Moonflower. In 2nd, was Duna Jones and Josh Blackburn Erjon Ebony Jewels, out of Erjon Esmay by Erjon Euraser born 1st November 2020.
Taking 3rd was Ladnar Izadorable, for Dave & Sue Randall. Born in May 2021, she is by Ch Ladnar Mustriharder out of Fata Turchina Ladnar di Cambiano (Imp It)
4th place went to Melissa Lockyer and Gataj Good Time Girl, another born in December 2020 and by Perfect Timing du Clos de Sea-Wind for Gataj out of Nasty Girl du Clos De Sea-Wind at Gataj.
Now to the Veterans, 13 were listed, but again with absentees. Taking the title was non other than Sophie Wray-Ramsden with her sable lady, Beldones Duchess of Dreams, who, if memory serves me well was actually Junior of the Year back in 2016. Bred by Brian and Odile, she was born November 2014 and sired by Geko de Midland Valley (Imp Fra) out of Beldones Diamonds n Pearls. In runner up spot was John & Caroline Tipper, in the form of Ch Tiganlea Too Good To Be Forgotten (Foggy to his friends). Home bred is is by Ch Chantique Huggy Bear for Tiganlea JW out of Tiganlea Girl Talk and he was born March 2014. In 3rd place was Jane Margetts, with another sable, Collingvale Chardonnay, another homebred, by Ch Danfrebek Gold Dust at Rantara out of Lynmead Look Gracefully Over Collingvale and she was born May 2013. Finally, a great thrill for Shelley Skinner as she won with her tricolour, Samhaven Time Is Money with Nikal. Bred by Alison Grainger, she is sired by Ch Samhaven Time Will Tell out of Samhaven On The Money and she was born in March 2014.
Now to Adult Males, only 6 entered and winning this was Think of Me Prince of Sunlight at Gataj JW Bred in Hungary by Josef Szalcinger and sired by Prince of Sunlight Sweet Smile out of Prince of Sunlight Just For Me. Jean Singh’s Tiganlea Taskmaster at Trenic was second, handled by co-breeder John Tipper. By Ch Tiganlea Tone Down out of Tiganlea Twinkling Star and he was born in Nov 2019.
In 3rd place was Jo White and her blue merle, Ch Mejola Fate and Fortune ShCEx, homebred by Ch Corydon Once In A Blue Moon out of Corydon Femme Fatale at Mejola and he was born in June 2016. Finally in 4th was Hanvale Arthur Shelby at Damos, owned by Ellie Fuller. Sired by Ch Beldones Double Diamond out of Ch Beldones La Vita Bella for Hanvale.
Now to the ladies, 14 were entered but not all appeared with some 7 missing and taking 1st place, handled by Rob Shipp was his and Margaret’s Gillyflower Della Bucca Delle Fate (Imp Ita). Bred by Lisa Ricciardi her sire is In Ch More and More Della Buca Delle Fate out of Rather Be Della Buca Delle Fate and was actually born on 1st January 2016.
Runner-Up was Ch Hanvale Polly Shelby, a litter sister to the 4th place in males, and owned and bred by Simon & Hannah Walder.
3rd went to Dave & Sue Randall with Ladnar Inkspot, home bred she is sired by Ch Beldones Blue Echo out of Ladnar Inkheart JW and she will be 2 years old in March this year.
Finally, in 4th was Tinks, Ch Tiganlea Tinkerbelle at Revdvicki, bred by John & Caroline and owned by Rev Vicki Burrows. She is sired by Ch Chantique Huggy Bear for Tiganlea out of Hazelnut des Vergers de Iacchos and although now a Veteran, chose to compete in the adult bitch classes.
I did notice that the format for this competition had changed as a choice had to be made between a Veteran or Adult class, despite qualifying in either. Maybe this could be the reasoning behind the lack of entries.
With all the winners assembled, the title of Rough Collie of The Year went to Margaret & Rob Shipp and Gillyflower. After the presentations and photographs many retired to their rooms to change prior to the annual buffet and disco and a great evening was had by all.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)