Firstly, some good news for the breed as, thanks to Marianne Benton, a Rough has achieved a Best In Show All Breeds. A lovely message came through from Marianne to say that on the way home from the SKC, she stopped off at Coventry and attended the Coventry & District Kennel Open show wnd won, BOB and G1 from Lois Wilson (a FCI judge from South Africa who has the Sibra kennel) followed by BIS from Richard Morris, (Lascoed) with Pedro better known as Ch Brooklynson El Dorado  and he was also Best Veteran in Show, so a wonderful way to finish her long weekend and, Marianne also tells me this is Pedro’s second BIS all breeds.

Also, in the cards was Stefani Flower who went to the Royal Welsh with Serenlas Pumpkin Spice JW and won BOB and G3 and continued her good day by taking BPIB and PPG3 with Serenlas Truly Scrumptious under replacement judge Del Richards.

As all roads led to Scotland where there were 6 CC’s on offer quite a few  took the opportunity to take in all 3 shows, namely the SKC May, SKC Oct and Scottish Collie Ch Shows.

This weekend resulted in 3 new champions, one of each colour, an additional CC for one, a first CC for 2 more. All these from a Non-Specialist, First Time Breed Specialist, a replacement judge and an existing established judge, so allow me to try and unravel all these facts

At SKC, although the schedules suggested the order of judging for both shows, it was the October show scheduled first, with well known judge Bev White centre stage. Bev, who has the Maneric affix and had roughs  last judged bitches at EACA in 2021

At the end of the day a very teary and emotional Eleri Bluck along with Julie Edwards had received that elusive 3rd CC with their beloved Ice-Man, better known to all, as Phreelancer Chill Phactor For Elshajo. In case you were not aware, he is a blue merle, bred by Lene Newman to whom both Eleri and Julie are eternally grateful, sired by Ch/Int Ch One Extraordinary Blu di Cambiano out of Ch Phreelancer Phaith Hill (who took the CC & BOB at Crufts this year) and he was born January 2019, so has just celebrated his 5th birthday and today was handled by Julie who wishes to thank everyone for their congratulations and also to Lene and Jake for their help on the day. His other CC wins were from Sigurd Wilberg at Wkg Pastoral Wales, where his dam also won, his 2nd from Steve Hall at Darlington and RCC from both Sue Randall and Josh Blackburn.

The RDCC went to the sable boy, Afterglow Invocation for his owners Angela and Keith Harvey and handled by Jake Walsh and won Limit. What a boost for Angela to actually be present at a show to see this happen. Rune, as he is known at home at Wicani, is a shaded sable, sired by Wicani Invoking Spirit out of Wicani Hot Property for Afterglow and bred by Mike Gadsby and Jason Lynn and returned to the home kennel later and I think his 2nd RDCC

Best Puppy dog was between Sophie Wray-Ramsden’s Takhisis Daggers at Dawn who won Puppy and Junior, and the MP, Melissa Lockyer’s Salsina’s Red Hot Crush with Gataj with the nod going to Sophie.

Other class winners were; Miranda Blake with Corydon The Baron took Yearling; Gemheid Troubleshooter and Miss Hainie won PG, and Marianne Benton won VD with Ch Brooklynson El Dorado ShCEx with Chloe Shorten winning both Special Beginners and Good Citizen with her Thistlewing Andromeda at Bracoisla.
classes.

For the ladies, the following all won their classes: Brenda Welsh and Thistlewing Gold Mist,(MP); Hannah & Simon Walder won Puppy with Hanvale Patsy Stone; Skabona If I saw You In Heaven for Vanessa won Junior; Gill Whittaker took Yearling and Special Beginners with Siluto Blueberry Mist; Duna Jones & Josh Blackburn won PG with Erjon Evolving Beauty; Louise Walker made a telling return to the ring to win Limit with Starlenga Nina Simone and Lene Newman took Open with Ch Phreelancer Phaith Hill. Jo Brooker and Telforth Sweet Dreams to Corisian won Veteran. Lorraine Quince took Good Citizens with Thistlewing Celtic Soul for Karafaye.

In the challenge the BCC, her 5th went to Ch Phreelancer Phaith Hill, who won at Crufts and she is also the dam of the DCC winner. A tricolour, she is sired by Ch Beldones Black Illusion out of  Phreelancer Phond Memories and believe it or not, is actually now a Veteran, being born in March 2017 and she is homebred and won from Open. Taking back the RBCC was Skabona If I saw You In Heaven for Chelborn, owned by Vanessa Cronk but handled by her breeder, Natalia Skalin.

In the challenge there were more emotional moments as Julie, who had handled Ice took BOB over his mother to represent us in the group under John Purnell.
Lene took Best Veteran In Breed and was short listed by Group judge Liz Stannard. Sophie won BPIB with her sable boy. Gill Whittaker also won Best Spl Beginners with her blue girl.

Now to the judging debut for Michelle Mitchell, Avonfair, who was handing out CC’s for the first time, and so nice to have your first appointment so close to home. Having received an entry of 63, again with absentees,

Her class winners were: Chantal & Andre Scott with Chantique Kingdom of Heaven (MP); Charlene Turner’s Paulara Blaze of Glory, handled by Luis (PD); Lynmead Royal Lover for Caz won Junior; Melissa was alone in Yearling with Gataj Turn Back Time; Vanessa won PG with Chelborn’s Gambling List; Caz then re-entered the ring with Lynmead Famous Lover to take Limit, Rob Shipp won Open with No More Heroes du Clos de Sea-Wind and Veteran went to Marianne and her Ch boy.

The first CC awarded by Michelle made the Open winner into a Champion, as Flash, as he is known at home gained his crown. Owned by Rob & Margaret Shipp, I had  a message from Margaret to say she received a phone call from Rob confirming this as she was at home looking after a litter. Now, Ch No More Heroes du Clos de Sea-Wind (Imp Fra) has been in the cards frequently with a 1st CC won at Ayrshire from Robin Newhouse, a 2nd from Alan Jones at the recent Midland and many RCC wins in between
The RDCC, his 4th, went to Lynmead Famous Lover from Limit for Caz

The win of the RDCC set the tone for the ladies, as Collingvale Chin Chin Lynmead won her 3rd CC. Owned by Caz Waterhouse and bred by Jane Margetts, this news certainly was a boost for all at Collingvale and although Jane has had Champions, Darcy is her 3rd homebred collie to gain a Ch title for Jane. Darcy is  a tricolour, who won her 1st at 3 Cos last year from Sheila Hall, followed this up with a 2nd from Pat Brooker at National Working Breeds and a RBCC from Louise Walker at WECS. Sired by Fridens Xtra Chance for Salsina out of Lynmead Lemonade at Collingvale.

The RBCC went to Chantal and Andre Scott who had been placed 2nd in Limit with their Chantique Déjà vu.

Other class winners included: Karen Johnson, handled I think by Nikita Buchannan and Geosamka Loves Kiss who was alone in MP. Charlene & Luis won Puppy with Paulara Born to Be My Baby. Vanessa took Junior with her Skabona blue lady. Veronica Haslam-Craib won Yearling with Roughrigg Ragga. Gee McEntee’s Lynway Sun Blossom Through Gerian annexed PG and Melissa won Open with Gataj Good Time Girl with Rob Shipp taking Veteran with Ch Gillyflower.

In the challenge BOB went to Caz and Darcy, BPIB to Luis and Charlene with Paulara Blaze of Glory and BVIB to Rob and Gillyflower and Diane took Best Special Beginners.

A night of celebrations for some, although not all who had entered at both SKC shows came to attend Scottish Collie Ch Show and the following day turned up at the same venue for judges Lesley Chalmers (Aintshe) and Caz Waterhouse (Lynmead) with Fran Kaye officiating for BOB etc.  June Fort had been approved for the dog entry but had to with draw, hence the replacement by Lesley who last judged the males at Sc Collie in 2022 and prior to that at Driffield in 2019

It is thanks to Secretary, Alyson Carmichael that I have a fully marked catalogue of the event, which is very much appreciated.

The overall entry was 59, not as good as normal but everyone who attended, and there were a few absentees really enjoyed the “Club Show” atmosphere even if it was held at the SKC.

Starting with the gentlemen, MP went to Melissa and Salsina’s Red Hot Crush with Gataj; Robin Blaikie “returned home” to win Puppy with his blue Kourika The Gigolo; Junior went to Michelle Mitchell and Avonfair Aloysius but he was not in the challenge as he had been beaten in a previous class. The single entry in Maiden dog Starlenga All About Majic for Corisian was transferred to Yearling as it  would appear that some class transfers were made, due to  “over-qualification and ages”, as Yearling was then won by Starlenga All About Magic for Corisian, but looking up the requirements for this, as his date of birth is given in the catalogue as 15th June 2023 and I understood the requirements for this class to be: YEARLING: For dogs of 12 and not exceeding 24 calendar months of age on the first day of the show. '  No doubt I may have the incorrect details but !

Novice dog went toi Stregato My Highland Dance who was alone with owner Jane Milne. Crawford Taylor was also alone in Graduate with Thistlewing Fire Dancer at Bryany. Nancy Houlihan won PG with Kourika Frosted Ice and Grenville Francis made the trip over from N Ireland with his Monsolana Franz Von Assisi mit Peblu to win Limit.  Robin won Open with his Ch Kourika You’ll Do For Me and Veteran went to Wilmaranna Out of the Blue for Cathbri for Cathy Proctor.

Taking the CC, from Puppy, handled by Gill Blaikie was Kourika The Gigolo. Sired by Kourika King Pin out of Kourika Dressed To Thrill. The RCC was Kourika Frosted Ice, a full brother to the sire of the CC winner. He is sired by Moondance de Cabrenysset for Brihow out of Ch Kourika Karrizma and he was bred by Robin, so a wonderful morning for Kourika.

Now to the ladies, fresh from her exhibiting the previous day and making up a new Champion was Caz Waterhouse, who last judged both sexes at Windsor in 2022.

Geosamka Loves Kiss repeated her win in MP for Karen Johnston; Puppy, a well filled class was won by Jo Hodges and her Unusual Beauty des Conquetes de Don Juan at Jopium; Sue Hawkins and Aaronwell Able Mabel took Junior; Yearling went to Didek Moonshine for Cathbri who had been placed in Junior;  Novice went to Jo Hodges and her blue; Alone in Graduate was Chantique Sugar Moon for Mary Hobkirk; Post Grad went to Michelle Mitchell and Avonfair A Million Lovesong; Paulara Keep The Faith won Limit for Charlene & Luis; Andre & Chantal won Open with Chantique Déjà vu and Veteran was Telforth Sweet Dreams to Corisian for the Brooker family.

The CC, her first following many smaller green cards went to Chantal and Andre, who sent me a message saying although very tired after the weekend, so nice to have the CC with her. Sired by Mr Burberry of Lowlands Green Valley for Chantique out of Chantique Fairy Dust and this sable was born in April 2019.
The RBCC was awarded to winner of Junior, Aaronwell Abel Mabel with BPB going to Jo Hodges.

Fran Kaye was called for BIS and this went to Chantique Déjà vu, RBIS to Aaronwell Abel Mabel, BOSIS to Kourika The Gigolo and BPIS to the bitch puppy, Unusual Beauty des Conquetes de Don Juan at Jopium and the Brooker family won another BVIS with Dreamy.

It would appear to me, that recently, far too many entries are being made by owners who are not aware of the show definitions according to those printed in the show schedule and are having to makes changes on the day, which can cause issues to other exhibitors. On line entries are great but please do read the actual class definitions as these often-state special requirements for Veterans, Puppies and Special Beginners. To win a class at any show is great but if you contravene these rules then a disqualification could follow

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

email: ca.antoc@btinternet.com