25th August 2023

With just a few days apart, between Bournemouth and WKC, many collie folk took a short holiday and found themselves, on Thursday ready for the Joint shows of WKC and CCW, held at the Royal Welsh Showground where collie folk gathered, indoors for the 2 shows.
Starting first was the WKC show with a good entry of 73 from 65 greeted judge Eleanor Kitchen, one of our more established and respected judges who has judged quite a few times, including Crufts, with her last appointment as a replacement judge at the CA Ch show held in conjunction with Birmingham National back in 2021.
Taking the DCC, from Junior, was the well-known Gataj Turn Back Time, or Kipps to his friends. Owned and bred by Melissa Lockyer, he really has been collecting awards ever since his show debut and already has 2 Reserve CC wins and a Pastoral Puppy Group 2. Sired by Perfect Timing du Clos de Sea-Wind at Gataj out of Nasty Girl du Clos de Sea-Wind at Gataj and he was born in May 2022.
A first RCC went to the winner of Limit, Nigel Marley & Jan Milligan’s Alfden He Lives in You, a blue merle who has been consistently winning his classes this year. Homebred he is sired by Ch Ladnar Mustriharder out of Ladnar Trust In Me for Alfsden and he will be just 3 years old at the end of the year.
Best Puppy dog was between Sue Hawkins Brilyn Worth The wait and Shelley Skinner and her Ladnar Makeithappen for Nikal. Veteran dog had just the one entrant, Dee & Samantha Vogan and Lenosann Midnight Rascal. Other class winners were: Lillyway Lemon and Lime for Suzanne Hogg; Kourika You Will Do For Me and Robin Blaikie. Beldones Rocket Man took Open for Brian and Odile.
Once the Dog judging had been completed, CCW secretary was able to start the CCW Ch show in the adjacent ring, more on this later, so back to the ladies and taking a 5th CC, from Open was Ch Gillyflower Della Bua Delle Fate )Imp Ita for Rob & Margaret Shipp. Born in 2017, she is sired by More and More Della Buca Della Fate out of Rather Be Della Buca Delle Fate and bred by Lisa Ricciardi. Also, in the same class was the RBCC winner, in the form of Samhaven Sister Sara for Ballahanna, her sire is Honky Tonk Man of River Tweed out of Samhaven From The Top Draw for Ballana and she is a half-sister to Ch Samhaven Ballahana Banjo and is owned by Liam Kelly who made the trip over from Limavardy.
Veteran bitch was Sue Beare and her Jemspark Maid in Secret, with Melissa Lockyer winning MP with Gataj All That Sparkles, with Sue Hawkins taking PB with Brilyn Shows The Difference. Junior was Tremaro Kind of Magic for Rob & Margaret Shipp. Sheila Hall, who had been 2nd in MP won Novice with her Lynmead Royal Beauty of Sambreeze.  Paul Ross won Graduate with his Most Majestic Timeless Touch at Samshernik. Liz Patman was alone in PG with Riverside Song Ice Cream Girl and Lillyway Lemon Breeze won Limit for Julie Growcott.
BOB went to Gillyflower, Best Puppy to Melissa and her Gataj All That Sparkles and Best Veteran was Ch Takhis Dream Weaver, although not in Veteran was allowed to compete according to the show schedule and just days into Veteran for Sophie Wray Ramsden.
I understand all participants were present in their respective groups, in a large ring which allowed all to move freely. Both the puppies and veterans were pre-judged in another ring and came back into the main ring for the final selection. Sadly, we, as a breed were not selected, BUT, we did have some success in the YKC Stakes class where Essenjay Fields of Gold for Firesaga took 1st place with his young handler Henry Leese. This now qualifies him for the relevant age section at Crufts and I am sure we all wish Henry, and his mother Joanne a great day.
Back to Collie Club of Wales, where some super organisation had taken place between Club Secretary, Marina McLaughlin and Noel Collins. Having acquired both catalogues, a short list was drawn up to show where exhibitors who had entered both shows could be required in different classes at the same time. This was really appreciated by all the judges, stewards but especially exhibitors who were kept up to date. This resulted in a very relaxed atmosphere for all concerned as when required, the judges at both shows waited.
The entry for CCW was 82 roughs and 20 smooths, (No CC allocation for smooths and judged by Debbie Bell.
The dogs were judged by Sue Randall (Ladnar) who last judged in 2021 at EACA where she officiated over the dogs. Her choice from Limit, Alfsden He Lives In Me for Nigel Marley and Jan Milligan, fresh from his RCC win earlier in the morning. His details are given at WKC. The RDCC was from Open, a lovely class of 8, with just 1 absent. This was “Ice” better known by his show name of Phreelancer Chill Phactor for Elshajo, bred by Lene Newman and owned and handled by Eleri Bluck. He is another blue merle, sired by Ch One Extraordinary Blu di Cambiano out of Phreelancer Phaith Hill. He was born January 2019 and already has a CC and a few RCC’s to his credit.
Best Puppy Dog was Brilyn Worth The Wait, repeating his class win, handled by John Congdon, for Sue Hawkins who also won Novice. Best Veteran Dog was Ch Mejola Fate and Fortune ShCEx for Jo White. The remaining class winners, and in the challenge were: Gataj Turn Back Time (Junior) for Melissa Lockyer; Luminous Moon Over Lenosann for Dee & Samantha Vogan won Yearling;  Janine Hanson and her Jards Ring Presence took Graduate. There were no entries in PG. Mid Limit was won by Starlenga All That Jazz from Aaronwell TAF, now in the joint ownership of Gary, Margo and Louise Walker, along with John Congdon and I understand he has now moved back to Scotland.
The bitches followed on judged by Lene Newman (Phreelancer) who last judged Dogs at Midland Collie in 2022.
Her choice for the BCC came from Graduate, in the form of the Crufts RBCC winner, Mejola Main Event JW, owned by Jo White. She is sired by Corydon Winning Factor out of Mejola Main Attraction and she was born in June 2021.
The RBCC went to the winner of Open, Brian and Odile with Beldones Touch of Class, a sable, sired by Honky Tonk Man of River Tweed out of Beldones Corradina and already has 1 CC to her name.
Best Puppy Bitch went to a new girl on the block, a blue merle, Skabona If I Saw You In Heaven for Chelborn (Imp Swe), owned by both Natalia Skalin and Vanessa Cronk who handled her.
Other ladies in the challenge were: Brilyn Shows The Difference for Sue Hawkins who won puppy. Georgina Howard won junior with Serenlas Angel of Casatentola, beating her l/s, Serenlas Chloe. Ingledene Powdered Sugar and Mrs Gee……
Although 2nd in MP, Gataj All That Sparkles won Novice for Melissa Lockyer. Paulara Lucy In The Sky for Elshajo won PG for owner Julie Edwards. Mid Limit went to Sophie and Takhisis Lady of Mystery and Beldones Magical Bliss won Limit for Brian and Odile. Sue Beare had the honour of winning Veteran with her CC winning Jemspark Maid In Secret. Best Veteran Bitch was won by Ingledene LaceNGrace bought in from another class.
BOB went to the dog, Alfsden He Lives In You, RBOB to Mejola Main Event JW; BPIB to the blue of Natalia and Vanessa .
BIS was judged by Wendy Musty, (Buebezi) and with the BOB Smooth, Blamorder Do Quite Nicely taking this, RBIS was another smooth, Ch Blamorder Ice Cream Dream. BOSIS was the rough, and BPIS also went to the Rough puppy.