8th September 2023

Before  reporting on both Birmingham City and YCC Ch shows, and interesting mail from John Blake (Corydon) containing news of other UK Collies winning at previous World Shows; John Blake (Corydon) writes:
Your latest notes contain details of world Winners. We have probably had more success than any at this show. In 1989 held in Copenhagen. Our dogs won both titles. The overall winner was Int Ch Corydon Be Brave. By Ch Corydon Handsome Hotspur out of Corydon Glory Bee. The bitch winner was a litter sister of Glory Bee DK Ch Symbol of Glory by NU CH Corydon Augustus Caesar out of Ch Corydon Glory Hallelujah, We actually went there to see the show. This double win has never been repeated. Quite a story about this one. In 2002 the bitch winner was Int Ch Corydon La Suprema by Ch Corydon Il Suprema out of Corydon Sudden Fancy. This Bitch became the biggest ever winner in Denmark and she herself was the dam of two world Winners. We won again in 2010 with DK CH Corydon Desire Me. She was by Ch Demelewis Dark Moon Driftin Over Corydon out of Corydon Fancy Me. This year the Open Dog winner was bred by us Corydon Cliquot who is just 2 years of age. He is by Corydon Pol roger out of Mejola Famous Attraction For Corydon. He obviously won a SAC. And Corydon Cliquot was the only GB bred winner at the show. 

Now to Birmingham City, held indoors at Stoneleigh, with one of the most respected judges, Derek Smith in charge. Derek has always been appreciated in whatever breed he judges and has officiated at nearly every Ch and Breed Club show over the years with his previous appointment was in 2019 at Collie Association, where he judged bitches.
His entry of 84 on a Thursday was, on paper very good but again there were a considerable number of absentees, especially in the later bitch classes, which can be expected
Taking Veteran was the tricolour of Vanessa Cronk, Ch Chelborn Story Teller, MP went to John Blake’s new baby boy, Corydon Christopher and standing 2nd to him and winning Puppy was Anne Hassock and her Camanna Cellmate.
I understand that all awards in Junior were with-held and the next class went to another belonging to Vanessa, Chelborn’s Gambling List who won Yearling. Jo White took Graduate with her tricolour, Phreelancer Phederal Agent at Mejola. Brenda Welsh and Thistlewing Smokey Quarts won PG and Limit went Jan Milligan handling her and Nigel’s Alfsden He Lives In You and to complete the line-up, Alison Grainger and Ch Samhaven Ballahanna Banjo took Open.
Winning his 2nd CC in a few days was the blue merle, Alfsden He Lives In You with Ch Samhaven Ballahanna Banjo in reserve. John Blake took BPD. What a day for Jan as her partner, Nigel also annexed a CC in their other breed, Australian Shepherds, so well-deserved celebrations to come.
In bitches, both the first class SBB and Veteran went to Hannah Lyall and her Santaloly’s Sky Amidalas. Vanessa continued winning classes and took MPB with her Skabona If I Saw You In Heaven for Chelborn and alone in Puppy was Roughrigg Red Lagertha for Jim & Morag McCarte but as we are all aware, lives with Hannah Walder who handles for them.
Junior was another class with one entry, the recent rcc winning Serenlas Angel of Casa Tentola for Georgina & Christopher Howard. Yearling went to another for Vanessa Cronk, Chelborn Gambler’s Wish who was also alone. Post Grad had 7 entries with 3 missing and this went to Jo White and her Mejola Main Event JW and Brian and Odile won Limit with Beldones Magical Bliss. Open went to Lene Newman and her tricolour Phreelancer Phaith Hill.
Taking her 3rd and crowning CC was Lene and Jess. Her 1st CC was won at W&PB Wales in 2022, her 2nd from Espen Engh at Southern Counties this year and she also has a few RCC to add to her list of wins. Sired by Beldones Black Illusion out of the late Phreelancer Phond Memories, she was born in March 2017 and a lovely  “Pre-Birthday” surprise to celebrate. The RBCC was Corydon Clarissa, recent CC winner at L&P where her details are listed and she was shown by her breeder, Miranda.
BOB went to Lene and her newly crowned Ch, with BPIB going to Hannah, showing for Morag & Jim McCarte, who, today travelled with Lene.
Other awards were Best Veteran, Ch Chelborn Story Teller, Best Junior, Serenlas Angel of Casatentola and Best Spl Beginner, Hannah Lyall and Santaloly’s Sky Amidalas.
So, both Lene and Hannah, and maybe the others stayed for all the groups and following a phone call from a delighted Lene, she reported that although she and Jess performed well in the group under Albert Wight, she was not included BUT – her travelling companion, and as Lene said, maybe her “Lucky Charm” Hannah piloted Ranna, to Group 4 in the puppy group judged by Barry Day. Ranna, is of course, Roughrigg Red Lagertha and I also received a call from the happy owners, Jim & Morag McCarte. The day for Lene continued as this CC was the icing on a “Pre-Birthday Cake” as the following day, Lene celebrated her birthday and then flew to her home country Norway, to officiate at the Club show, so well done all.

Now to Yorkshire Collie, who held their Ch show outside at the Sheffield Transport Sports Club Ground and had CC’s for Roughs and classes for Smooths.
The Rough entry was a good 116 which included just 1 NFC but, adding  up all the absentees, there were 16 from the original 55 and in bitches, 23 of the original 60 missing so a total of 39.
Yorkshire Collie appointed another first-time judge, Phillip Sargeant, who prefers to be known as Captain Sargent but is listed on both the show schedule & catalogue as just Mr P Sargeant. Phillip, along with Fern have the small Coarhabeg kennel of collies and although they have not been around for a while, Phillip has been attending some more recent shows. Our other judge was Daphne Iley, wife of Tony Iley who have the Ileyda collies and this was her 3rd appointment having judged both sexes at WKC in 2015 and in 2017 did bitches at Ayrshire CC.
Judging for the ladies started first with Veteran, going to Hannah piloting their own, Ch Beldones La Vita Bella for Hanvale to take a nice class of 10, with 4 missing. MP went to Skabona If I Saw You In Heaven for Chelborn, her import from Natalia Skalin in Sweden. Hannah again graced the ring and won both Puppy and Maiden with the McCartes, Roughrigg Red Lagertha but in the challenge, handled by John Tipper. Junior went to Georgina Howard’s Serenlas Angel of Casatentola; Paul Ross travelled up from Swindon and took Graduate with Most Majestic Timeless Touch at Samshernik; PG was won by Starlyn Amazing Grace for Kate & Tony Hollinshead; Vanessa Cronk returned to take Limit with Chelborn Gambler’s Wish whilst Open was won by Beldones Touch of Class for Brian & Odile.
Phillip’s first class was again Veteran with Jo White winning this with Ch Mejola Fate and Fortune ShCex; MP went to Miranda and her Oakley Imagine Dragons at Corydon (Imp Che); Ladnar Makemeawinner won Puppy for Dave & Sue Randall; Kelekona Hearts of Gold won another Junior class and Maiden for Mrs Cooper; Jo White returned to the ring to win Graduate with her Phreelancer Phederal Agent at Mejola; Gemheid Troubleshooter won PG for Miss Hainie and Limit went to Miranda and Corydon Ringmaster. Open was won by Dave & Sue Randall with Ch Ladnar Mustriharder who then returned to the ring, to take the CC, his 5th and the RDCC went to Jo and her blue merle veteran and BPD to Ladnar Makemeawinner.
After a lunch break, Daphne decided on her BCC,  a 2nd went to the winner of Open Beldones Touch of Class, sired by Honky Tonk Man of River Tweed out of Beldones Corradina and she adds this to her 1st, from Louise Walker at the recent WECS and owned by Brian and Odile. Taking another RCC was Serenlas Angel of Tentola and Georgina Howard. BPB went to Hannah and Ranna with Hannah also BVB with Ch Beldones La Vita Bella for Hanvale.
BOB rough went to the tri boy of Dave & Sue, Ch Ladnar Mustriharder, RBOB and BOS to Beldones Touch of Class BPIB to McCarte’s Roughrigg Red Lagertha;
In the final awards, BIS to the rough; RBIS to the smooth, BOSIS to Brian & Odile; BPIS to smooth who was also BMPIS and BVIS also went to the smooth.
Sadly, I end this set of notes with news that Pat Lister is currently in hospital with a broken hip, sustained by falling over husband Ken’s walking frame. I am sure we wish her all the best and maybe a card to her home, or even to Stella Clark would help her recovery

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

email: ca.antoc@btinternet.com