13th October 2023

Before reporting on the main event over last weekend, due to some “Gremlins” a message from Shelly Skinner is now included. As we know she now has a new blue merle boy, known at home as “Neo”, he is in fact Ladnar Makeithappen for Nikal and is a son of Gwen’s tri boy, Marvalan Spirit of Rock out of Ladnar Izadorable and bred by Dave & Sue Randall.
Neo has been attending a few local open shows and has come home with a few rosettes, mainly for his BOB & BPIB at Kington Agricultural Show where he gained these awards from Lisa Pettitt although Shelley quickly admits he was the only one present but then took PPG1. He followed this up at West Bromwich and Wednesbury Open where Jenny Shiorer Wheeler Was judging and won BOB, BP and Puppy Group 4.
Now to a big celebration for Ayrshire Collie as they celebrated, in style, their 65th Anniversary with a Ch show held on the Geilsland Estate, Beith, near Glasgow. Having received a marked catalogue from Secretary Morag McCarte, one very interesting fact is contained in the catalogue, was a summary of their first Ch show held in 1977.
Here, my mother, Aileen Speding (Antoc) judged both sexes at Dam Park, Ayr, a venue many may recall. There was a terrific entry (normal in those times) of 138  from 87 exhibitors with good class entries including Limit bitch which had 21 entered which is the same number of males entered in 2023
Not only were entries good, ACC also offered prize money of £2,£1, 50p and 25p. ACC do not have a copy of the show schedule but records show Membership was 75p Single and £1.25 for joint membership, entry fees were not recorded but I would imagine they were possibly 75% less than those of today.
The winners here were Tom Purvis and the blue merle, Ch Danvis Ladyvale Blue Mist winning his 6th CC and  who was subsequently used in my own Antoc Blue family) and Terry Taylor and her Cathanbrae Verily Verily, with the reserves going to Piphoney Keynote and Ir Ch Cregagh Lynrith Limelight with Sandiacre Sweet Valentine taking BPIS for Sandra Wigglesworth. Also attending and listed as winners, either a 1st/2nd or 3rd were names who are still in attendance today, including Val Geddes, Geoff Duffield, Pat Corney, Derek Smith to name but a few.
So today, the entry for the show was a mere 47, with two judges officiating and says much about our shows, dogs in general and the sign of the current times.
Along with a celebration cake, , there were numerous specials available including BIS & BPIS rosettes donated by the All Ireland Collie and Sheepdog Society, Lead Crystal glasses and a bottle of whisky along with a commemorative rose-bowl. Cash prizes and each exhibitor received an ACC mug and every class winning dog came home with a bag of dog food supplied by one of the many sponsors, Burns Pet Nutrition and I hear, during the interval some Highland Dancing by Georgie and Freya to keep the spirits flowing. Of course, the Memorial ACC coats, for the main winners (in memory of a previous secretary, Bill McIntyre) were available for the final photo session
The judges were Robin Newhouse (Annecy) for the dogs and Rod Slater (Stanlox) for the bitches and the Referee was Lyn Maxwell (Aintshe)

Robin last judged the breed on the mainland  in 2019 at Birmingham City but had also been officiating recently at Bangor & North Down CC, recently where he was awarding Green Stars.
From the 21 males entered, 4 were absent, leaving just 17 on show and from the biggest class of the day (6), although not all were present, winning this and the CC was No More Heroes du Clos de Sea-Wind (Imp Fra) handled by Rob Shipp and owned with wife Margaret who stayed home. Rob and Paul Ross made the long journey up from Swindon. He is sired by Fr Ch Desperado du Clos de Sea-Wind out of I’m A Barbie Girl du Bois des Amazones and is now approaching 6 years young as his birthday is 18th October and is bred by Mr & Mrs Mervant and adds this to his previous RCC win at Windsor, earlier this year
I am not sure if the 2nd in the same class, Phreelancer Chill Phactor for Elshajo was called in to challenge but the Reserve CC went to Brenda Welsh who had won Post Grad with Thistlewing Smoky Quarts. Sired by Ch Karafaye Scotch Blend at Thistlewing out of Thistlewing Spell On You and he is just 2 years old and adds this to his previous  2 RCC wins.
Local exhibitor, Jo Hodges won Puppy Dog with Jopium Love On The Rocks, Camanna Cellmate, who had been 2nd in Puppy won Maiden and Novice being the only entrant in both classes. Yearling went to Stregato Foolish Guy and Kelly Crawford. Crawford Taylor won Graduate with Thistlewing Fire Dancer at Bryany. Limit went to Wilmaranna Out of The Blue for Cathbri and Cathy Proctor. Both entries in Veteran were absent   

Rod Slater was not the original choice by ACC but was appointed when the original judge from Germany withdrew but did advise ACC he would not be available. Rod last judged in 2019 at N&D and prior to that at CA in 2014. His original entry was 26 and of these there were 7 marked absent.
Winning a 5th CC, and adding to the Beldones quest for Top Breeder this year was another who had made a fairly long journey from Gamlingay Cambridge were Hannah & Simon Walder and Ch Hanvale Polly Shelby. Handled in the challenge by Simon, she is sired by Ch Beldones Double Diamond out of Ch Beldones La Vita Bella from Hanvale, to whom Rod awarded the CC to last time he judged. Now 5 years young she won Open. Second in Open was Call Me A Dreamer in Blue for Ileyda Della Verde Scozia for Daphne Iley. Bred in Italy by Davide Lassini, she is sired by Guarda Che Blue di Blue Della Verde Scozia out of Ultimate Result of Buddy In Black Verde Scozia and she adds this to her 2CC’s and numerous RCC wins.
Minor Puppy went to Lorraine Quince and her import Oakley Ice Queen for Karafaye. Morag & Jim McCarte’s Roughrigg Red Lagertha won Puppy, handled as usual by Hannah, Brilyn Look At Me, who gained 3rd in puppy was alone to win Junior. Stephen Proctor and Leanda Forbes won Yearling with Opernball at Intermittent Lake; Roughrigg Ragnfid and Joan Barr won Maiden and Novice, she is a l/s to Red Lagertha and had been 4th in Puppy. Riverside Song Flor d’Luna at Scottyre won Graduate for Isobel Hutching’s from Falkirk; Paul Ross who had travelled up with Rob Shipp won another PG class with his sable Most Majestic Timeless Touch at Samshernik. Another fairly local exhibitor, Michelle Mitchell took Limit with her Salsina Secret Love Song at Avonfair whilst Jo Hodges stood alone in Veteran with Ch Jopium Love Heart JW ShCm.
The “In show” awards, plus numerous specials found their way back to Hanvale as Polly was declared BIS jointly with no need for the Referee, Lyn Maxwell. RBIS and BOSIS was the dog, BPIS went to the tri boy of Jo Hodges, who also annexed BVIS with her Ch bitch
Now to a brief report on Lancs & Cheshire Open Show, held on Sunday, at Whiston Town Hall, Whiston with Alan Grindley (Lanrue) for Roughs, Kirsty Russell (Koczkodan) for Smooths, Ray Wilkinson, Secretary was down for BIS and a change of judge for the SAC classes, as the original judge Stephen Proctor withdrew on health grounds and Lorraine Quince (Karafaye) stepped in.
This show has had quite a few teething problems, not only a change of judge but then the venue advised that L&C Committee would not be able to start at the agreed time. Many thanks to Julie Edwards, for keeping everyone up to date via the club pages, and after a long journey to ACC the previous day was no doubt a little tired but the show went ahead a little Later than planned
Alan, is of course, the husband of committee member, Marianne and is a KC Approved judge in English Setters and is B listed on the L&C list of judges dated May 2019.
From the 14 males entered, his choice for best dog went to Eleri Bluck and her Phreelancer Chill Phactor for Elshajo, known to all as Ice. RBD was Joanne Leese wither Essenjay Fields of Gold for Firesaga, handled as usual by Henry. BPD was Brilyn Worth The Wait
There were originally 26 ladies on parade, BB was Telforth Sweet Dreams to Corisian for Jo Brooker, who won from Veteran, RBB was Uffspring Ultravox for Coloratura and Elspeth Rose, BPB went to Brilyn Shows The Difference.
The In show awards resulted in a “walk over” for the smooths, judged by Kirsty Russell. The SAC classes were won by Siluto Silvary Blue Moon; Maysinder Sapphire Reign and Phreelancer Chill Phactor.
Whilst these 2 shows were attended, over in Gibraltar, Georgina Howard (along with Nick & Anne Smith) spent a few days away in Spain and attended the 2 shows held in Gibraltar, winning very very well with her tri bitch, Serenlas Angel of Casatentola and gained 2 CACIB, I am not sure if she now has her Gibraltar title to add to her name but well done to Charlie and Georgie.
Closer to home, Ann Page took her Lynmead Prince Charming to Portsmouth & Southsea Open show and came home with BPIB, RBOB and later in the day took AV Puppy followed by PPG1 from breed and AV Group judge, Peter Young (Lotsmoor)
A meeting of the RCBC was also held last week with a full house (bar1) of member clubs. Topics covered included Health Issues, Judges and Show Venues. Some very outstanding items are still waiting confirmation / reply from our RKC and these include the changes to Breed Watch and the Breed Standard. Once any information is received, all clubs will be notified. Finally the Breed Specific Film is currently nearing final completion but as yet, we do not have a “release” date

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

email: ca.antoc@btinternet.com