29th September 2023

Firstly, an apology to both Lene Newman and John & Miranda Blake concerning their collies. Silly me,  as I listed the sire of Lene’s CC winner, Phreelancer Phormal Dress incorrectly, she is in fact, sired by Ch Corydon The Ringleader, known to all as Taz. It was his son, Corydon The Ringmaster who sired Corydon Clarissa winner of the CC at N&D. Clarissa, is also the dam of Corydon Christopher, who is also sired by Taz – apologies to all concerned
A very busy weekend for some, also involving ferry trips and overnight stays, then a quick visit to the West Country awaited. More of that later!
Firstly, a short show report on the Rough Collie Club of Ireland club show held last weekend where Steve Barrett, Brooklynson, was judging! Steve has a few busy weeks having judged both roughs and smooths recently
From a good entry for this show, BOB and winning another Green Star was Tom Wall’s tricolour boy, Daliyhaa Master Craftsman. He won Open. Reserve GS went to Sharon Drewery and her Ir Ch Evalane Memory of Monty who also won the male Ch class.
GS Bitch and RBOB was Sharon Nealon with Ezzmare Cradle With Love who won the Ch bitch class and RGS bitch went to Mary McNally and her Fridens Touch Time with Copamage. Best Puppy was Bonnettsrath Bright Blue Ivy owned by Abby Sweeny.
I could not find a listing for Veteran Dog but Veteran Bitch was Ch Rowlands Abbie The Beautiful Lass at Evalane in the ownership of Mrs A Kelly.
Now to Irish Collie, held in conjunction with Belfast Ch show, with Pastoral being judged Sunday, which left Saturday free for the ICC show. The entry was slightly lower than usual, perhaps due to the rising cost of living, ferry prices and other issues which affected both ICC and Belfast entries. Many many thanks to Secretary, Grenville Francis for letting me have the show information so promptly.
Held inside the Logan Hall at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Balmoral Park, Lisburn, Sue Hawkins (Brilyn) was the judge with 29 entries, mainly from the UK mainland.
Sue last judged in 2021 at Blackpool and before that at Crufts in 2017. Her choice for the DCC, his 4th was Ch Takhisis Dream Weaver, having been recently made up at East England by Tracy Wilkinson at East of England. He is sired by Honky Tonk Man of River Tweed out of Beldones Duchesse of Dreams and he won from Veteran and is, of course, owned and bred by Sophie Wray Ramsden
Adding a new name to our list of winners, are Theon and Hazel. Allow me to elaborate, Hazel is the daughter in law of Joan Jopson and Theon is Lillyway Lattimer at Nithview. A tricolour bred by Julie Growcott and now owned by Hazel but in the past has been shown by Mae Melvin.
Sired by Ch Jopium Stole My Heart at Lingwell out of Lillyway Loobylou and born in May 2017 and he won the Open Class and the Reserve Dog CC. There were no male puppies entered.
The bitch CC, her 2nd, after winning a 1st at Paignton from Rod Oldham recently was won from Open and Gataj Good Time Girl, a sable owned and bred by Melissa Lockyer. Sired by Perfect Timing du Clos de Sea-Wind out of Nasty Girl du Clos de Sea-Wind as she was born in December 2020 and I am sure that when the news reached home, it was a great boost for husband, Graham, who is now waiting his op on the NHS
RBCC went to the Veteran, Ch Tiganlea Tinkerbelle at Revdvicki and by now you should all be aware of her details. Best Puppy bitch, from Junior went to Ezzmare Westside Pearl, owned / bred and shown by Suzie Nealon, she is sired by Ballahanna Let Battle Begin out their own Ezzmare Get Out of My Way and was born Nov 2022. In the final awards, sent over very quickly by Secretary Grenville Francis, were BIS to Melissa and her bitch, RBIS to Ch Tinkerbelle.  BPIS also to the bitch puppy and a clean sweep for the ladies resulted in the awarding of BVIS to Ch Tinkerbelle.
After a few celebratory drinks and meals, an early night called as judging at Belfast was the following morning.
We had another non-specialist for us to show under and another awarding CC’s to Roughs for the first time. Sally Duffin, who has the Longdorham Old English, but is perhaps better known as the Secretary of Bournemouth Ch Show had received an entry of 13 males and 19 females.
From the 11 males present, (as shown by Fosse Data) the Dog CC, his first from the Graduate class was the shaded sable, Monsolana Franz Von Assisi mit Peblu owned by Grenville Francis. Sired by Riverside Song Voice of Fate, (who is son of Riverside Song Rock My World out of Salsina Shared Promises) out of Monsolana Make My Day (Monsolana Sunford ex Starlenga Songbird to Aaronwell). Bred by Olga Buldakova and celebrates a birthday at the end of this month.
Taking the RDCC, from Open, another new name was Ballahanna Bon Jovi at Elshadene owned by Sharon Drewery and he was the in only entrant in Veteran Dog. Bred by Liam Kelly, sired by Geko de Midland Valley  out of Samhaven From The Top Drawer and born in Aug 2016.
The remaining winners were: Melissa Lockyer and Gataj Turn Back Time (Junior); Ms C & Dr D Vescan who won Novice with Phreelancer Phinal Salute; John Tipper handled their own Limit with Tiganlea True Hero; and Open went to Hazel and Theon, Lillyway Lattimer at Nithview.
Now to the ladies, Puppy bitch went to Melissa and Gataj All That Sparkles; Sophie was alone in PG with Takhisis Lady of Mystery, and then changed leads to win Limit with the mother, Takhisis Lady of Illusions. Veteran went to Ch Tinkerbelle.
Winning Open and a first UK CC, although I understand she already holds her Irish Ch title, which was won at Bangor & North Down CC, judged very recently by Robin Newhouse, and also won G3 at the same show, was the blue merle, Skabona What A Lady at Joshren, handled by young Alan Walsh who is a joint owner with mum and dad, John & Mary Walsh. Bred in Sweden by Natalia and Bo Skalin she was born in March 2020 and sired by Nor/Swed/Ch Gatefields Hot or What out of Int Ch Skabona Heaven Can Wait (who already has a CC from Val Geddes won in 2018).
Taking the RBCC was Gataj All That Sparkles, a sable owned and bred by Melissa. Born in December 2022 she is sired by Gataj Out of The Woods ex Gataj Girls Best Friend and she was also BPIB.
Best of Breed went to Alan and his blue bitch, BPIB to Melissa and BVIB to John and Tinkerbelle. Best Veteran again went to Ch Tinkerbelle.
Although John Walsh piloted Skabona What A Lady at Joshren in the group under Richard Kinsey, she was not placed; however, a wonderful G3 was gained by our “Tinks” in the Veteran Group under Frank Borg from Malta – good to see the profile of our breed being considered. I think we will all sympathise with Melissa, who decided to get an earlier ferry home to get back to husband Graham, so, with co-driver Christine Collins, they enquired about the group timings and sadly made the decision to give it a miss – quite understandable in the circumstances.
A rather short message from committee member, Margaret Scamp giving very brief details of the West of England Open Show, also held today. Until I have more information, like a catalogue, I can only let you know the following winners from Judge Shelley Skinner
BOB – Serenlas Black Magic, RBOB/BPB & BB – Ladnar Inaheartbeat; BPD Doone from Angelspath bok Atirakin RBDand BVD  Aaronwell Aybeecee at Marketdene; RBB Gataj Majestic Hope. The entry was missing quite a few on the day. More details later.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

email: ca.antoc@btinternet.com