26th July 2024

As promised news from the All Ireland Collie & Sheepdog Society (AICSS) who held their Ch show last weekend  at the National Show Centre, Dublin, in conjunction with the Irish Ladies Kennel Association.
The judge for this event was Lesley Chalmers (Aintshe) and although there were absentees, an original entry of 41 waited for her decisions
Marie Delaney won PD with Bonnettsrath Raindance; then won Intermediate Dog with Bonnettsrath Leonardo Da Vinci; Open Dog went to Sharon Drewery and Ballahanna Bon Jovi with Suzi Nealon winning Champion dog with Ch Ezzmare King of Hearts. GSD was the puppy with the RGS to Suzi and her Ch boy. For the ladies, there was a Baby Puppy Bitch class, won by the only entrant, Afterhero Avantasia owned by Jolanta and Tomasz Data; MPB was Meghan Allen and her new baby, Roughrigg Rant’n’Rave; Puppy saw Marie Delaney and Bonnettsrath Heather Breeze winning; Junior was won by Dermot & Maureen Timmins with Bonnettsrath Oops A Daisy at Kynan; Suzi Nealon won Intermediate with Ezzmare Westside Pearl whilst Sean O’Briain won Adult with his Nyitramenti My Lady de Winter at Seanchrois. Suzi returned to the ring in Open bitch to win with Rowlands Love From Maddie. Champion Bitch was a win for Grenville Francis and his homebred UK Ch Peblu Gold Desire.
GSB was Grenville, RGSB to Suzi and her Open winner, BPB to Marie Delaney and in the final challenges, Grenville took BOB and BIS, RBIS & BPIS to Bonnettsrath Raindance. This win of BIS for Grenville follows on from a good win at the recent Banbridge show where he annexed G3 in the Ch stakes class.
Having spoken directly with Grenville, with his “other hat on” he would like to remind all that if you are considering an entry for the Irish Collie Ch Show and /or Belfast (to be held 26th/27th September) there are discount codes available for ferry crossings and car parking should be booked for both shows at the same time. More news on this later.
With no major general Championship shows this weekend, time to catch up on a little bit of news. At Boston, Jane Spendelow has finally recovered and let me that to her total surprise and excitement she won the RDCC with her blue merle boy Uffspring Undeniable, (by Uffspring the Understudy ex Riverside Son Narayana at Uffspring) at 10 months old, which I thought I had covered but as Valerie Geddes also asked about the show, as she too had a good day winning a 4th CC with Wanda, now Ch Ingledene Sno Wanda and along with it BOB. I am sure Jan Milligan is still up in the clouds with her boy having taking the final CC for his title and the RBCC, was Charlene and her Paulara Born to Be My Baby and Luis handled. Val would also like to remind us that she was short-listed in the group with Wanda.
So far this year, and very many thanks on behalf of the breed, we have annexed some good results for Collies, with a couple of BIS all breeds at Open Level,  some BVIS, BPIS and RBIS but at Ch show level our breed has Achieved a few group places and has also been selected to the final 6-8 in many of the groups we have been present in, including Puppy, Junior, Adults, Veterans and Special Beginners, keep up the good work as it appears if we are present, we are/maybe being given a second look at in the group rings. Well done to all
However, may I politely remind all of you collecting Junior Warrant points, your dog is often still a puppy and according to the RKC you have until your puppy is 18 months old. My comment concerns some I have both seen and heard of who are so busy attending shows. 2 people I know of have been to 4 separate shows in 2 days! These are immature babies and as such need time to rest and mature. I have seen far too many “burnt out” collies, at 12 months onward now hating the show ring. Please just take your time. Yes, a JW will give you a KCSB and a lifetime qualification for Crufts but please do think of your charges a good collie will always make the grade, and many of our Champions never collected a JW!
Back to Jane Spendelow, she also let me know that  her homebred “Henry” Uffspring Unmistakable AW(S) went to Grade 7, Agility a few months back, and for those unaware, G7 is the top grade and as far as Jane is aware, he is only the 2nd rough, now aged 11 years young to make this grade. Henry has won 2 “finals” in Agility and been runner-up in another 2. He qualified for the Olympia Horse Show (not Olympia according to Jane) KC ABC (anything but collie) semi finals for 2 years running and having got his KCGC Gold award spends his spare time being a PAT dog along with winning well in Veteran classes. Jane’s other charge includes Uffspring Undreamed Of and in the same week as Henry went to G7 she qualified at RLEx2, which means rally level 2 excellent which equates to 3 excellent scores at L1 and then L2 by 3 different judges, She is now having a rest and is hoping to fill the whelping box shortly but intends to return and will compete at L3.
Midland Collie held an Open show at Edingale Village Hall, Tamworth.  I was sorry to read that one of the club’s Patrons was unable to attend, due to a prior hospital appointment and I do know that Jean would rather had been here but all was well in the end. A very nice touch from husband and wife, Gwen Beadon and Geoff Duffield who donated, to MCC, cash prizes for BIS/RBIS/BPIS and BVIS.  Also, for those who did not or were unable to attend, Assistant Show Manager, Jake Walsh was kept busy all day and there is a selection of photos of the class and main winners for all to see.
It was an early start for some as both CCW and MCC held a joint Hands On Assessment for new judges prior to the show, involving both dogs and handlers, with the main show opening at 10am.
The judge for this show was Wilma Brodie, based in Scotland and who has the Shanaburn kennel. Many thanks to Show Secretary, Sophie Wray-Ramsden who sent me the marked pages for the show.
With an original entry of 48, which included 20 second entries for the SAC classes, judged by Doug Bedford, (Chateaunewf) and he found his winners in the following: Gataj Exotic Girl; Essenjay Against All Odds and Gataj  Good Time Girl.
MCC were one of the first clubs to schedule Baby Puppy Classes, but there were no entries here today. Even with a Free Entry offered for Veteran classes, all 4 entries in dogs stayed home so the first judged class was the single entrant in PD, Salsina’s Red Hot Crush with Gataj and Melissa. Starlenga All About Majic for Corisian won Junior for the Brooker family; Novice went to Tiganlea Remember The Days and Miss S Edwards. Riverside Song Unbelievable Guy at Stavods won Graduate for Mrs S Clark, Jackie Dix won PG with Barrenclough Diamond Skies, handled on the day by Sophie Gelder, who also won the Junior Handling (judged by Secretary, Hannah Walder) and this was just her second time in the show ring! Jopium Love On The Rocks won Limit for Jo Hodges whilst the only entry in Open was absent. BD went to Jo Hodges, Reserve BD to Starlenga All About Majic for Corisian. BPD to Melissa. There were some Veteran ladies on show and winning VB was another nice win for Alex Mills and her Lynmack Sweet Amber, who went BVIS. Gataj Exotic Girl and Melissa won MP. Julie Growcott won PB with Chantique Sent From Heaven for Lillyway. Junior, Graduate and Post Graduate were won by Jo Hodges and her blue, Unusual Beauty des Conquetes de Don Juan at Jopium; Novice went to Midnight Talker and Mr & Mrs Simpson; Limit went to Lillyway Lemon Breeze and Julie Growcott whilst Open was won by Corisian French Tease from Shulune now in the hands of Julie Edwards. BB went to Julie Edwards and RBB to Julie Growcott and her tri, Lillyway Lemon Breeze. BPB was Gataj Exotic Girl and Melissa. In the final awards, BIS went to Julie Edwards and Corisian French Tease from Shulune,  RBIS to Jo Hodges and Jopium Love On The Rocks and BPIS to Melissa and her dog puppy, Salsina’s Red Hot Crush with Gataj. I understand a very friendly and enjoyable day was had by all and according to the catalogue a Free Picnic Lunch for both Exhibitors and Members closed the day.

"How thoughtful of the MCC Secretary, to send me,  via Royal Mai, a small package containg a selection of cakes etc that where on offer at the show held the previous weekend! which arrived mid-week. Your thoughtfulness was noted"
West of England Collie Society were also celebrating their Anniversary, one of our younger clubs being founded in 1949, celebrated their 75th show with great success. Thanks to Secretary Margaret Scamp, who sent down a full listing of all the winners, as WECS also had an allocation for Smooth CC’s.
The judges for this prestigious event were John Catliff (Mallicot) who judged the males, Geoff Duffield (Angelfield) for the ladies, Delia Moores (Manordeifi) for smooths and BIS was Roz MacDonald (Rossavon)
Held at the usual venue, indoors at the Sedgemoor Auction Centre, Bridgewater this attracted just 23 males (2 absent); 35 females (8 absent) and 27 smooths.
Margaret Scamp writes: “We hope everyone had an enjoyable day. To celebrate our 75th Anniversary show, all entrants were given a Goody bag consisting of bag, a keyring, pen all printed with our logo and some treats for each dog (donated by Natural Treats) and, of course, all enjoyed  a delicious Celebration Cake. Anne Hollywood presented a Crystal gift she had donated to the BIS winner, along with the cash prize of £75 generously donated by Tony and Barbara Leverton.  All class and award winners had vouchers from Royal Canin and many won prizes donated by Lickimat.”

Winning a 2nd CC from Mid Limit was Triburle Bluebolero,owned by Noel and Christine Collins. His first came recently at WELKS from Billy Henderson. A blue, he is sired by Fridens Xtra Chance at Salsina out of Rowlands Blaithin Deas at Triburle (who is a daughter of Caronlea Black Jack at Rowlands ex Rowlands Blaithin Beag) and he was born in April 2022. However a sad note, as on the same day, Joe Seale passed away. Along with his late wife Eileen they bred/owned the Rowlands kennel in Ireland and he would have been so proud to know of this win. Taking the RDCC, was the dual CC winning Beldones Rocket Man for Brian and Odile and he won Open. BPD was another win for Melissa and her sable Salsina Red Hot Crush with Gataj and the winner of Veteran was Chantique Star Dust for Chantal and Andre.
For the females, although quite entitled to claim her Ch title under the new RKC scheme, this was not needed as Erica, now Ch Skabona If I Saw You In Heaven for Chelborn annexed her 3rd CC from Limit. I am sure by now, you must all be aware of her breeding. Gataj Good |Time Girl added yet another RCC to her wins for Melissa as she won Open. BPB was another win for Melissa, and Gataj Exotic Girl and BVB went to Brooklynson Jolene at Rifflesee for Jo Denton.
In the challenge for BOB, Chris and Rio won this (along with some very nice specials) RBOB went to Erica and Vanessa, BPIB to Melissa and her dog puppy and BVIB to Chantique Star Dust.
With BIS being decided by Roz, this, along with more “Special specials” and a cash prize of £75 fell to Christine, RBIS to Erica, BPIS to Melissa, and both BVIS and RBPIS went to the smooths.
Away from the major shows, Stefani Flower popped into a local show for her, Oswestry & District and came home with some good results as she won BOB with Serenlas Pumpkin Spice followed by G3 and BPIB and PPG2 with Serenlas Truly Scrumptious. The judges were Gill Whittaker (Breed) and Kris Kingsley (Group)

Edit - Apologies to all, the correct date for ICC is the 29th September - schedules available on Fosse HERE

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

email: ca.antoc@btinternet.com