Breed Notes
17th March 2023

Its over for another year, despite horrendous weather conditions covering much of the country, exhibitors from far and wide descended (eventually) to the NEC at Birmingham. Some only just made it, driving through snow, blizzards, rain and wind but, dog folk are a stoic bunch and despite warnings to stay at home, unless your journey was absolutely necessary (as is a dog show!) many arrived in time for judging
Prior to this, on Wednesday night, members of Midland Collie, namely Michelle Davis and Jake Walsh, along with others, set up our Breed Stand in the Discover Dogs area and throughout the weekend promoted, with the aid of new banners and new photos showing Collies in many versatile action modes. Thank you to all concerned for this effort and I am sure more visitors went away to consider a Rough as a new dog.
Now back to the main event, the Judging. For some dreams were made, new memories added and all accepted their placings, if fortunate enough to be placed in some quite large classes.
Our breed, despite being publicised as one near to the Vulnerable/At Risk numbers, received some good publicity and were featured often on TV  and included in main stream newspapers with photos of a few snow covered collies with “new style (bin liners) as protection against the weather conditions”. Our entry was the 5th highest in the Pastoral Group. Our judges for this year were Val Tame (Rahlissa) for the dogs and Derek Allsopp (Sandmel) who between them had drawn an entry of 178. Comprising of 74 dogs and 104 bitches, including many from the continent, some of whom won classes. Due to the weather conditions, many who had entered both in the UK and abroad were unable to attend as some were snowed in overnight, others set off from miles away with the lure of Crufts foremost. A quick count of absentees shows about 19 males and 36 bitches.  I too was sorry to miss the event for only the second time in far too many years but I would like to thank all who enquired as to Jim’s health and I am pleased to report he is improving. Also very many thanks to those who kept me up to date with class details and winners and foremost, thanks to Fosse Data for adding class results as they happened, it was really appreciated by everyone at home.
Val last judged at London Collie back in 2021 and I also noticed that the grand sire of her winner today was also awarded the CC from Val, back in 2012. Her choice for the CC, came from the Open class with 13 entries, including many champions from home and abroad, and was Magic, owned by Chantal & Andre Scott, but handled by Chantal, and is officially known as Ch Magical Moon of Lowlands Green Valley for Chantique. Now 6 years young, he has not been shown regularly for a few years but annexed his 6th CC today. A sable, bred in France by Laurence Thevenin. His sire is Ch/Luc Ch Chantique Calvin Klein, who left these shores as a 6 week pup and his dam is H’O de Rochas of Lowlands Green Valley. He had actually won the RDCC from Val at Wkg & Pastoral Breeds of Wales in 2019.
The Reserve CC winner, also from the same class was Ch Oakland Blue Style du Clos de Seawind at Zolkhan, who if you recall won BIS at the recent BCC show, the week before where all his details were recorded. Owned by Michelle McCann who handled but moved on the day by Michelle Mitchell. Best Veteran was another that Val had awarded a CC previously, Ch & Fr Ch Jugband Blues du Clos de Sea-Wind via Aaronwell, a blue merle now competing well in Veteran. To remind you, he is owned by John Congdon, sired by Dazzle Blue Legend de la Chapelle aux Arbres out of Eclipse Totale du Clos De Sea-Wind and he was born in August 2014 and has a total of 12 CC’s to his credit. Best Puppy Dog was Very Special Angel Silvestre at Gataj (Imp Bel), owned by Melissa Lockyer who had also won the Puppy Class with Gataj Turn Back Time. Although he was placed 2nd in Junior, he was eligible to compete as he was born in April 2022. Sired by Beldones Toucher Du Bois out of True Dream Angel Silvestre and bred in Belgium by Mrs Inna Van den Venn.
Other class winners were: Takhisis Tom Thumb, who is owned by Ralph Endres but shown by Ute, bred by Sophie Wray Ramsden and is a resident of Germany and a son of the CC winner and he won Junior. Yearling was won by Dare To Love Actis Poland for Miss E Zasun. Brian and Odile won Post Grad with Beldones Rocket Man. Cathy Proctor and Wilmaranna Out of The Blue for Cathbri won Mid Limit but beaten in Good Citizen, where he was placed 2nd, therefore was not in the challenge.
Limit saw breeder Hannah Walder taking the lead for Ellie Fuller when she handled and won with Hanvale Arthur Shelby. Sophie Wray-Ramsden won the Good Citizen class with Takhisis Dream Weaver.
So all the major winners were from abroad, including the puppy and Veteran. The only UK bred class winners were as listed above.

Now to the ladies, with Derek centre stage, I know he was honoured to be asked to replace the original nominated Judge, Chrissie Casling, who sensibly withdrew long before entries opened due to health issues, and watching this at home must have been a bitter-sweet moment for her and we all hope things are improving.
Derek is well known around the shows, now with his wife Hazel and daughter Isabelle last judged in 2021 at Nat Wkg Breeds and is well known for favouring a good tricolour and today was no exception.
Taking a 4th CC was the veteran, Ch Ladnar Inkheart owned by Dave & Sue Randall and shown by Sue who gladly let me know of her wonderful day. Known at home as Eve, she has had an interesting show career, having won a 1st CC in 2016 and did not return to the winners rostrum until her 2nd & 3rd CC’s were won last year. Two points of interest, last years CC winner was also from Veteran and Eve has a interesting pedigree, as she is sired by Ladnar Harvey Moon, who is a Grandson of the Crufts CC & BOB winner, Ch Ladnar Kingfisher, and her dam, Ladnar Full Circle is Grand-daughter of Ch Ladnar Maid Sweet, who not only is the dame of Ch Kingfisher, but she also won the BCC the same year at Crufts back in 2009. Well done.
Winning Open and the RCC was Ch Saganan Blue Diamond, Nellie to her friends, to whom Derek awarded a 2nd CC to in 2021. Nellie is daughter of Ch Ingledene Spirits Arise out of Saganan Lady True Blue, bred by Kate Arrowsmith, who is now in Australia but is a joint owner along with Gwen Beadon who always shows her. Best Puppy was Serenlas Angel of Casatentola, bred by Stefani Flower’s daughter Karla, and owned by Georgina Howard. She is a tricolour sired by Ch Boodrooklynson El Dorado out of Serenlas Eve St  Laurent and she was born in March last year.
Other class winners included: Miranda Blake and her tri, Corydon Agatha Cristal, who won Junior. Lara Croft of Emiber won Yearling for Miss E D’Ippolioto from Italy.  Liz Patman and Riverside Song Ice Cream Girl won PG; Gataj Good Time Girl won Mid Limit for Melissa Lockyear and Alexis Swain had the pleasure of winning Limit with her blue, Aaronwell Azena for Lexcol and Sophie Wray Ramsden completed the double of taking both Good Citizen classes, having won the GCD, she then won GCB with Takhisis Lady of Illusions.
Both judges, having examined each exhibit could not agree, so, again, the rough collie ring awaited the arrival of the Referee, Renee Sporre-Willes from Sweden but it was quite a long wait until she arrived. On her decision BOB went to the tricolour bitch, Ch Ladnar Inkheart. Then both judges had to determine BPIB and this went, to the sable puppy dog of Melissa.
Although we did not feature in the group, there was a collie connection winning the Working Group. Mandy Everley is the daughter of the late Doris Mortiboy, who many will recall with fondness. Doris had the popular and well known Silvermoor’s kennel, and although Mandy still holds this affix, her venture into Dobermans is under the Manzart affix.
Finally, as many collie folk were unable to attend, a big thanks to everyone who has posted so many wonderful photos of the judging and also for keeping us all up to date during the day. It was very much appreciated, especially by me and interesting to see, not just the dogs but in the background, so many friends and dogs enjoying their day out. Nice to see some familiar faces in the photos, including the President of Lancashire and Cheshire, Gael Wilcox from Australia, and, did I notice John Ritchie of the famous Dykebar Border Collies, actually in the show ring?  Word has it that he hopes to return to the collie ring showing one of Michelle Mitchell’s collies. Many of you may recall he campaigned the lovely blue merle, Ch Hit Parade Blu di Cambiano to her title some years back.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

From Sophie Wray-Ramsden, Treasurer and Show Secretary of Midland Collie Club
'Midland Collie Club would like to thank the Discover Dogs volunteers for giving up their time to represent the breed at Crufts this year. Thursday was covered by Nick and Anne Smith with Miley and Charlie. As Friday was also show day, cover was split between Sophie Wray-Ramsden and Elizabeth Wray with Lily, Mischief and Dexter, then Kelly Crawford with Rodney and finally Stacey Steven with Brodie, Bella and Brooke. On Saturday, Sophie and Elizabeth returned with Lily, Mischief and Dexter, with support from Brian Hawkins in the afternoon. Michelle David and Jake Walsh not only decorated the stand on Wednesday, and packed away, but also brought their Cindy and Babe, again with support from Brian.

Discover Dogs is a real opportunity to showcase our lovely breed to the general public at Crufts. As expected, there was additional attention this year, especially from the media. Many people we asking about breed suitability and characteristics and our volunteers were able to dispel many myths about the Rough Collie. So a big thank you to all involved.'