1st September 2023

Just before the reports on both L&P and Driffield, I have some good show news to bring you about 2 shows, miles apart and held under very different conditions! So here goes
Many of you may well have been aware that over last few days the World Dog Show was held in Geneva in very warm, sunny conditions. An entry of approx. 110 collies greeted the judge, Christina Bailey. Christina has awarded CC’s to our breed back in 2018 where her 2 winners were Ch/Int Ch One Extraordinary Blu di Cambiano and now Ch Antoc Soul Diva.
Today topping the entry was a very well-known lady both here in the UK and abroad, having collected quite a few European titles. This is Int/Hung Ch Tiganlea Make Good Time JW, she is already a UK Champion, owned by Monika Bardos and bred by John & Caroline Tipper. Sired by Tiganlea Too Good To Be Forgotten out of the excellent brood bitch Hazelnut des Vergers de Iacchos (Imp Fra). She was campaigned by John throughout 2021 and returned home to Hungary and her family. She won BOB and a WW title to add to her many wins and to make the day a bit special, both John & Caroline travelled over not only to see this but actually John handled her through to this award and to all who are aware, this must be such a boost to them both considering some of issues they have recently had, so well done to all
Ariel, as she is known is, I think just the 3rd ever UK bred rough to gain such an award, although we have had a few youngsters taking Puppy awards. Nellie, now Ch Saganan Blue Diamond took BPIB at 8 months (along with BPIB & G1  at the speciality shows held at the same time). At the WDS in Amsterdam Best Junior went to Aerial from Judge Judith Koraz Papp, who was also the Group judge here in Geneva. Other winner were, Ch Chelborn Kiss n Tell for Vanessa Cronk and before that, if memory serves, when Joan Sykes judged, Tiganlea Man About Town won at the WDS back in 2002 when he was owned by the Bosche family from the Netherlands. This boy was sired by Ch Lynmead Lust In The Dust out of Tiganlea Soft Touch and is in fact a brother to Tiganlea Thrilling who appears in Ariel’s pedigree. Also, in the entry, as a Veteran was Piaf, Christina’s winner in 2018. He was declared BOB Veteran and in the main veteran group was 5th, owned by Gianpaulo Falletto, bred in Italy by Maria Teresa Garabelli and campaigned here in the UK on his behalf by Valerie Geddes and won a total of 12CC’s, G1, G2 and G4 along with a few club BIS awards. Today he was handled by Daniele Tabarrini.
Now to the complete opposite, in a wet field at Merioneth Agricultural Show, in the Dog section, breed judge Abby Lusty officiated but sad to report there was just one entry. That being Phreelancer Chill Phactor at Elshajo, owned by Eleri Bluck but handled by mum, Julie Edwards and he took BOB. The later in the day, Stephen Proctor was judging the Pastoral Group and he took G1.
Now to catch up on our 2 Ch shows covering the weekend the first of which was on  Saturday and saw the last CC allocations given to London & Provincial, under the guidance of Di Collino (Imaginist). Having moved their winter Ch show to Bradfield Village Hall, which is a good outdoor venue with plenty of parking but should it rain, indoors can become cramped but the weather stayed fine with all judging outside on the grass until Limit bitch forced everyone under cover for a short break until it passed
The judges were Derek Allsopp for dogs and Steve Barrett (Brooklynson) for bitches, the smooths had a great entry of 37 for Bridgette Bodle with CC’s although the catalogue stated No CC’s!  and finally referee and BIS Stella Clark.
However even the choice of these judges it did little to increase the entry, which was poor. Only 30 males and 36 females entered and with the expected, and unexpected absentees, left very few in both sexes to be judged.
Derek Allsopp last judged the bitches at Crufts early this year and recently won the DCC at Bournemouth with the family owned tri boy, handled by wife Hazel,  from Marianne Benton
I must thank Jo White, who eventually made the show having been stuck in traffic on the M1 for sending over all results despite the signal from the showground being poor. I am sure that between us, Jo and Julie Growcott, who was at home appreciate your efforts, so thank you so much.
In dogs, the biggest class of the day was Limit, with 6 entries but 2 absent; Open had 5 with 3 absent, Veteran had all 3 present; Junior had 3 with 1 absent and all other classes were either 1 or 2 present
At the end of Derek’s judging, the Dog CC, his 6th went to the Open winner, Marianne Benton’s’ Ch Brooklynson El Dorado, whose details I am sure we are all aware, but to refresh your memories, he is by Shep’s Moondance with Jaysur, owned by Tony Foster out of Ch Brooklynson Miley Cyrus who was owned by jointly with Steve & Alison Barret along with Nick & Anne Smith. Nick & Anne were also joint owners in “Pedro” as he is known at home, until he gained his UK title when he was transferred to Marianne as a thankyou from Nick & Anne.
The RDCC went to the winner of Veteran, owned by Secretary Di Collino, in the form of Wicani Altitude at Imaginist. A tricolour, by Wicani Poetry and Prose out of Wicani Petticoats A’Flyin, bred by Angela & Keith Harvey he was born in May 2014.
Minor Puppy dog was a win for Oakley Imagine Dragons at Corydon, an import from Switzerland for Miranda who was also BPD and BPIB, Shelley Skinner won Puppy with her Ladnar Makemeawinner for Nikal and he also won Novice. Junior went to Kelekona Hearts of Gold for Mrs Cooper, Yearling went to Abby Lusty and Mr & Mrs Holmes with  Blamorder Gold Plated, who is a rough, sired by Abby’s Ch smooth Cardross Red Dirt Road to Blamorder (Imp Can) out of another smooth, imported from Sweden, Straightlines Universal Lady at Blamorder. Janine Hanson won Graduate with her Jards Ring Presence; Takhisis Lysander, alone won his PG class for Michelle Chaplin and ML went to Tina May with her Camanna Careerchanging for Maqueeba. Jan Milligan continued her wins in Limit with Alfsden He Lives In You. BPD went to Miranda. The RDCC was automatically best veteran.
Now to the ladies, judged by Steve Barrett, who last officiated over the breed in 2019 when he judged at Manchester. Steve’s class numbers were similar to Derek but with a few more absentees. Veteran went to Hannah Lyall and her Santaloly’s Sky Amidalas, Both MP & Puppy went to Ladnar Heartstrings for Mrs Bullock, from Kent. Junior went to Serenlas Angel of Casatentola for Georgina Howard and in the challenge was handled Marianne Benton. as Georgina was on work duty with Our Dogs in Geneva at the World Show. Yearling, the single entrant was won by Chelborn Gambler’s Wish and Vanessa Cronk; Both Novice and Graduate went to Ambartr Troubled Gold for Colin Bartram; Ladnar Izadorable won PG for Sue & Dave Randall.  Di Collino’s Imaginist Perfect Pitch won ML and Demelewis Double Take took Limit for Maxine Mellish. Corydon Clarissa, owned by John Blake but handled by Miranda won Open.  
The bitch CC, her first went to Claire, Corydon Clarissa, a sable bred by Miranda, born in May 2020, sired by Corydon The Ringmaster out of Corydon Moonflower and owned by John Blake. Although 2nd in Open was called for the RBCC, this went to the Junior, Serenlas Angel of Casatentola, handled by Marianne. She is a full sister to the RBCC at Bournemouth and is sired by Ch Brooklynson El Dorado out of Serenlas Yves Saint Laurent and bred by Stefani’s daughter, Karla who now has 2 from the same litter with a RCC each – well done. BPB went to Ladnar Heartstrings and BVB to Hannah and her sable.
Just a short message from Miranda, who took the BCC to acknowledge that at the first L&P Ch  with CC’s their Corydon Hippolyta took her 3rd CC back in 1975 and today a Corydon lady won a 1st CC , which is the first bitch CC winner from Corydon since 2016, and to note that Claire, is actually 11 generations, tail female from Ch C. Hippolyta.
BOB rough was judged by Stella Clark went to Marianne & Pedro who then went on to take BIS, BPIS was Miranda and her tri baby with BVIS to Di Collino and her Wicani Altitude at Imaginist who I understand was handled by Stefani Flower. I am informed that all other awards in roughs were judged jointly by Derek & Steve, with the reason for Stella doing BOB was that obviously, Steve as the breeder of Pedro had an interest.
However, a point has been raised, and it was just not only here, but also at another show, in another breed, concerning the moving of 2 dogs together. Although not actually a KC Rule, it is not to be accepted as our understanding states that dogs must be judged against the breed standard, and from the Code of Best Practice for Breed Judges, “ 6.11 – Judges should adopt a system which examines and moves every dog in the same manner. Each exhibit should be seen to be considered equally for placings. You are judging against the Breed Standard not dog against dog. (This of course excludes any exhibits in a brace class!)
Now to finish this report with Driffield, now back on CC status and a good entry greeted our judge Fran Kaye (Danfrebek). Fran last judged the breed at Crufts in 2018 when she judged the males.
Taking his 14th CC was the well-known sable, Ch Samhaven Ballahanna Banjo and Alison Grainger. He won from Open and winning PG and taking another RDCC was Caz Waterhouse and her sable, Lynmead Famous Lover. BPD was a lovely win for Camanna Cellmate, for Anne Hassock who won both Puppy and Junior. Veteran went to another well-known blue boy, Jive, Ch/Fr Ch Jugband Blues du Clos de Sea-Wind via Aaronwell. Also, in the line-up was Grenville Francis and his Monsolana Franz Von Assissi mit Peblu who was alone in Yearling. Andre Scott and his tri boy, Sherlock Holmes of Moon River for Chantique won Limit  and although Cathy Proctor and her Wilmaranna Out of of the Blue for Cathbri won GCD, he had been beaten in a previous class so was not present.
A first CC in bitches went to Jayne Llewellyn with Avonfair Secret Love Letter to Salsina who won from Yearling. She is a sable, bred by Michelle Mitchell from  Scotland. Sired by Ch Magical Moon of Lowlands Green Valley of Chantique out of Salsina Secret Love Song at Avonfair and she is just 20 months old. Winning the RBCC, from Open was Ch Starlenga All About Me, a tricolour in the ownership of the Walker family, also from Scotland. Her details are as follows: she is a daughter of the Veteran dog winner, Jive out of Nelinka De Remember  Our Love for Starlenga and handled by Louise. BPB was Sue Hawkins handling her own Brilyn Shows The Difference. Also, in the line-up and in the rain, were Jo Hodges and her Ch Jopium Love Heart who won Veteran, Chantique Tooth Fairy for Starlenga, handled, I think by Chantal Scott as Andre was handling their own Chantique Ooh La La who had won PG. Limit was a nice win for Caz Waterhouse and her tricolour Collingvale Chin Chin Lynmead.
As the weather deteriorated, the final awards were judged under canvas, with BOB going to the sable boy, BPIB to Sue Hawkins, BV to Jo Hodges and BSB to Kim Ablett and her Siluto Misteriously Blue. Group judges were Alyson King, Puppies were judged by Sandra Marshall and Veterans by Dave Chapman and although we were represented, we did not feature.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

email: ca.antoc@btinternet.com