Breed Notes 9th June 2024

Southern Counties, held at Newbury Showground had a different feel for many this year as it was un-benched! Like it or not, this may well be a sign of the times due to finances for all concerned.
Prior to judging, there were some changes to the scheduled order for judging as Espen Engh, a very respected judge from Norway, who has officiated very many times here in the UK over many breeds and is also approved for Groups and BIS had drawn more numbers than acceptable to our KC, as it was Roughs followed Afghans in the same ring.
Today he received an entry of 82, with the usual number of absentees marked, which according to Fosse amounted to 18, thus leaving 64 in the ring.
Taking a first UK CC was the blue merle, very well known at home in Sweden and Scandinavia, belonging to Natalia & Bo Skalin, Lt Ch Skabona Stairway to Heaven and he won Open with 5 entries. He has been winning very well recently, especially at the EDS in Denmark where a few of the exhibitors today had also attended.
He was born in April 2021, sired by Sammen’s Night Guy of Tombe out of multi Ch Skabona Knocking on Heavens Door. His sire carries lines to Steadwyn/Steadlyn and further back to Brilyn Touch of Black, with Lynaire and Karava breeding also. His dam is a daughter of Vanessa Cronk’s Ch Chelborn Kiss n Tell, mated to Impressive Lady Fantazija.

Standing 2nd in the same class was the well known Ingledene Fantasy of Blu and he took home the RCC for Val & John Geddes and I am sure we are all aware of his breeding
There were no MP’s entered and only 1 in Puppy, this was Gataj Lightning Flash owned by the Perrot’s. Christine continued her junior wins with Triburle Bluebolero and Sue Hawkins had to get breeder, Stefani Flower to handle her Serenlas Black Magic to his class win in Graduate due to a broken arm.  Although placed VHC in Graduate, Wicani Obsidian Dagger at Rossavon and Roz MacDonald won PG as the only entrant. Jan Milligan’s Alfsden He Lives In You won limit. With no male Special Beginners entries, the next class was Veteran Dog with Gina Stillwell winning with Bellawave Caught In A Dream. Sophie Wray-Ramsden won Good Citizen Bitch with Takhisis Lady of Illusions and Spl Beginners bitch went to Hannah Lyall and her Santaloly’s Sky Amidalas.
Hannah Walder stood alone in MP with Morag & Jim McCarte’s Roughrigg Red Lagertha. Puppy was won by Lene Newman and her Ingledene Crystal Vision of Phreelancer, beating her sister. Rob Shipp handled his and Margaret’s Tremaro Kind of Magic to win Junior whilst Christine Collins piloted Triburle Seren Dlos to win Graduate. Maxine won PG with Demelewis Double Take and Sophie won Limit with Takhisis Lady of Mystery, a daughter of the Good Citizen winner.  Lene Newman took Open with her tricolour, Phreelancer Phaith Hill.
Now to the BCC, her 2nd went to Lene and Jess. She is sired by the late Ch Beldones Black Illusion out of Phreelancer Phond Memories and was born in 2017. Her first CC came at W&PB Wales last year and recently she collected another RCC.
The 2nd in the Open class, Swedish Ch Skabona Heaven Can Wait and Natalia were called for the RCC, she already holds a UK CC, won at WKC from Val Geddes but the RBCC was awarded to Sophie and Takhisis Lady of Mystery, sired by Ch Magical Moon of Lowlands Green Valley for Chantique, out of her own Takhisis Aphrodite and according to Sophie was only entered on a whim as she already had her ASD entered who had also won his GCD class.
In the final challenge BOB went to Lene, with Jess, BPIB also going to Lene with her blue, Ingledene Crystal Vision of Phreelancer. BV was Bellawave Caught In A Dream. Best Junior was Tremaro Kind of Magic, a message from Margaret Shipp  to apologise as Rob was not aware there was a Junior Group and subsequently missed out and this was judged by Francesco Cochetti from Italy and BSpl Beginners to Hannah Lyall and her Santaloly’s Sky Amidalas.
Lene went forward to the group but did not feature under under Patsy Hollings. Jacqui Ward was listed as the Puppy Group and here, as often happens both groups clashed and Hannah Walder took the lead to show Vivien to whom Lene is very grateful.  I do not know if either the Veteran or the Special Beginners group had a rough present and they were judged by Kari Jarvinen and Dr Annukka Palohemo Serersven respectively. Annukka had previously judged Roughs at this same show last year.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)