Breed Notes 14th July 2023

Another very busy weekend for some with 2 Championship shows following each other.
The first was on the Rutland Show Ground, Oakham for the last East of England Ch Show. I have good memories of attending “Peterborough” as we called it and now sad to see it will be no longer! As it was always a pleasure to take in the Food Halls and other Agricultural features, but time change and we progress!
Tracey Wilkinson (Altricia) had drawn an entry of 39 dogs and 45 bitches and started in Ring 1
As you may know, Tracey is the daughter of Pat Wilkinson and has a good background in Roughs but nowadays concentrates on their other breed, Border Collies. She last judged the breed at CA in 2021 over bitches, and prior to this at Richmond in 2017.
Firstly, I must thank all of you who kept me up to date with copies of the catalogue and results of classes. You know who you are and without your input these notes would be a little less informative
The day started in good weather but it was not to stay as Thunder, Lightning and heavy rain kept many under cover. The rings were a good size for our breed and at the end of the day we have another new Champion to add to our ever-growing list and new RCC wins for others along with the awarding of a 4th CC to an existing Champion.
Dog CC, I understand this is his 3rd, but owner/breeder Sophie Wray-Ramsden has yet to contact me – perhaps she is still up on Cloud 9. Now to be known as Ch Takhisis Dream Weaver, this sable boy was born in Aug 2016 and will be a Veteran in a few weeks. Sired by Honky Tonk Man of River Tweed (a son of Ch Samhaven Toastmarster) out of Beldones Duchess of Dreams. His other CC wins were, Morag McCarte at Midland Cos in 2019 and recently at Three Counties from Sheila Hall (Sambreeze) and in between has collected quite a few RCC wins, he is, I think the first sable male Champion for Sophie and he took an Open class of 5.
Camanna Chasingclouds Over Mejola, a blue merle, bred by Anne Hassock and owned by Jo White won Limit with 13 entered. He is sired by Ch Erjon Joker out of Camanna Coolrain and celebrates a birthday in August and took home the RDCC.
Other class winners were: John Congdon handling Sue Hawkin’s Brilyn Worth The Wait (MP); Andre Scott won PD with Chantique Abracadabra; Vanessa Cronk won Junior with Chelborn’s Gambling List; Brenda Welsh took Graduate with Thistlewing Smokey Quarts; Michelle Chaplin won PG and Spl Beginners with Takhisis Lysander; Veteran went to Jan Scott and her Aniesh Touch of Black
Now to the ladies and taking a 4th CC from Open and handled by the late Meg-Purnell Carpenter’s grandson, Isaac, was Ch Chelborn Wish List. She gained her title recently at W&PB Wales. Sired by Chelborn Decision out of Ch Chelborn Kiss and Desire and she won Open with 7 entered.
Second in Open, Ch Beldones La Vita Bella for Hanvale came back in to challenge but lost out to the Post Graduate winner, Anne French and her Breckamore Pitch Dark. As her name suggests, a tricolour sired by Ingledene Well Sooted out of Brilyn Swirls and Curls and she was born July 2021 and it was she who won the RBCC.
Other class winners were: Brilyn Shows the Difference for Sue Hawkins but handled by John won MP; Puppy was Chelborn Tell Me Your Wish, who stood alone; Junior was another win for Chelborn, with C. Gambler’s Wish. Jo White won Graduate with Mejola Main Event.  Limit was won by Andre and his RCC winner from Windsor, O’De Lancome of Lowlands Green Valley for Chantique. Gill Whitaker won Veteran with Aniesh Misty Blue Moon of Siluto whilst Lynda Gautrey won Spl Beginners with Carristina Summer Rhapsody who also had a good 3rd in Limit.
The final awards went to the bitch for BOB and she put up a good show under Jill Peak. John Congdon had to have a handler in Sue Beare as he challenged for BPIB with both of Sue Hawkins youngsters. A message from owner breeder Sue let me know all this was happening as she was at Centre Court with her daughter on the same day! According to Sue, John did not stay for the for the group under Graham Godfrey as he had heard reports of localised flooding near to her home. Gill Whittaker took BVIB with her blue bitch and stayed for Phil Freer’s decision, as did Linda Gautrey who won Best Spl Beginners with Carristina Summer Rhapsody and this group was judged by Mark Walshaw.

Just before I report on WECS, I have to let you all know of the recent passing of Anita Stanley, one-time Secretary to WECS, along with partner, Joan Fryer-Clarke. Together these ladies promoted WECS and their Ch shows always received excellent entries until the enforced move from the Hand Equestrian Centre to their current venue at Bridgewater.
Anita had not been in the best of health for a few years and had received a transplant just 10 years ago from youngest son Darren which enabled her to continue with their much-loved collies and enjoy life. Having been in the Services, not long after, she and Joan met up and a few breeds of dog were to be found in the family home but latterly it was the Rough collie that brought them both to our attention. Anita was an excellent handler and Joan, often referred to as the “back room boy” was found organizing and grooming various collies and both were Championship Show judges in their own right
Their small Vonarkle kennel produced 3 champions that I recall, Ch Vonarkle Gold Dust, Ch Vonarkle Viceroy and Ch Vonarkle Heaven Sent to Highnol. Interesting to note, based at that time in the Midlands, some of their breeding included Bhyllsacre lines along with outcross lines to Karava and others before a move to Shropshire.
Ch Vonarkle Gold Dust was sired by Ch Rially Famous at Bhyllsacre out of a Bhyllsacre bitch and he won 3 CC’s.  His son, Ch Vonarkle Viceroy, another sable was out of a homebred Vonarkle bitch and won 4 CC’s including 1 at British collie in 2003.  Ch V Heaven Sent to Hignol left the home kennel to live at Highnol for the Flint family and she was out of a Gold Dust daughter by their own upstanding tri boy, Vonarkle Lyonheart who, I think collected a few RCC wins before deciding the show ring was not for him! Heaven Sent annexed Group1 at Blackpool. Vonarkle Victoria went to the late Rene Cozens and annexed 2 CC’s. Nearly all of the roughs, who were shown gained the KCSB numbers and even won well at Crufts.
Anita was an excellent administrator and record keeper, so her position at WECS as Secretary was an asset and as a “Thankyou” for her services to the WECS, Anita, already a proven judge, was offered her first set of CC’s to bitches at WECS in 2016 at their new venue at Bridgewater. To Joan, Daughter Sally and brothers Mark and Darren and other family members we send our sympathy
Now to West of England Collie Society held at the Sedgemoor Auction Centre at Bridgewater where Dave Gordon Chynoweth had an entry of 21 males and Louise Walker (Starlenga) on her first appointment had drawn an entry of 41 ladies. Mike Vines was allocated the Smooth classes, but there were no CC; s allocated and BIS/Referee was Doreen Clarke (Lynway) A note on the schedule confirmed that this was to be held indoors, with fully carpeted rings.
This was Dave’s 3rd appointment, following a first set at Nat Wkg & Pastoral Breeds in 2016, followed by Driffield in 2021. A quick count showed just 1 absent from the original entry of 21
Judging started at 10am with Dave in charge and with an entry of 2 Veterans, and the winner of this was Brookynut Storms Legacy for Mrs Hogg from Stonehouse Gloucester. Andre Scott took the next class (Puppy) with Chantique Abracadabra. Junior went to Melissa and one of her 8 entries with Gataj Turn Back Time. No entries in Spl Yearling, Maiden or Novice but Graduate went to Rachell Tilley and her Ingledene Dark Moon Risin’ who was beaten in his next classes. Gataj Out of The Woods won Limit for Melissa and taking Open was Beldones Toucher Du Bois for Brian and Odile.
Dog CC, his first following some good class wins and a RCC was Gataj Out of The Woods and Melissa. Sired by Perfect Timing du Clos de Sea-Wind out of Nasty Girl du Clos de Sea-Wind and he was born December 2020 and also holds a JW and is a very special boy to Mellissa and Graham.
Taking the RDCC, and I received a lovely message from Chantal, who was on her way home with Andre, to say that from Puppy, their Chantique Abracadabra, by Starlenga Curious George out of O’De Lancôme of Lowlands Green Valley for Chantique and he was born 20th August last year and was also BPD
Louise Walker travelled in style down from Scotland, accompanied by mum Margo, now looking so much better, by plane, so making this first appointment particularly memorable, as how many of us can say we flew down for our first show?
A few absent from her entry but there were no veteran ladies and alone in MP was Gataj All That Sparkles for Melissa who also won Maiden. Another new addition to Gataj was Sweetmint’s Uptown Girl at Gataj, originating in Norway and she won Puppy. Val Brown won Junior with Riverside Song Thumbelina with Mertrisa, originating from Romania and good friend Olivia Cruscov. Another class win, Special Yearling for Val Brown followed with her Riverside Song Violet for Mertrisa, also from Romania. The 3rd of Val Brown’s entries then won Novice. This was Riverside Song Wear My Kiss Mertrisa. Aaronwell Allure In Black, who had been Reserve in Junior, then won Graduate for local exhibitor Margaret Scamp. Andre Scott took Post Grad with Chantique Ooh La La; Caz Waterhouse won Mid Limit with her tricolour, Collingvale Chin Chin Lynmead. Limit went to Beldones Touch of Class for Brian and Odile with Julie Growcott taking Open with Lillyway Lemonade Blush.
The BCC, her first was Beldones Touch of Class, another by Honky Tonk Man of River Tweed and out of Beldones Corradina, born in August 2019. The Reserve BCC went to Caz and her Collingvale Chin Chin Lynmead. BPB was the MP, Gataj All That Sparkles, who is a daughter of the Dog CC winner.
Best of Breed went to the Bitch, with RBOB also to the bitch, BPIB to Andre and his RCC winning bitch puppy and BVIB to the only one present.
Doreen Clarke was the BIS judge and her choice for eventual BIS was Brian & Odile; RBIS to Caz Waterhouse and her tri lady; BPIS to Andre but Best Veteran In Show to the Smooth, judged by Mike Vines, Abby Lusty and her Ch/Am Ch Cardross Red Dirt Road to Blamorder.