13th September 2024

In the KC Journal is an interesting request at the start of the Health Survey Section which some could participate in as it is Open to All Breeds, the first request may not include Rough Collies as it requests information for understanding of types of back problems affecting different breeds od dog.
However, the second request states that the RVC (Royal Veterinary College) is undertaking a study exploring the impacts of canine loss of vision on dog and owner quality of life
You are eligible to take part in the study if you meet the following criteria:

If you are interested in taking part, please visit: https://www.rvc.ac/research/projects/the-impacts-of-vision-loss-on-dog-and-owner-quality-of-life
The final request is understanding the prevalence and type of heart disease affecting different pedigree dog breeds. There are further contact details as listed in the Journal which is also available on line.
Also, in the Journal, under the Disqualifications section, are names of both owners and dogs, (not in our breed) who have been disqualified. This is  further to my Breed Notes with comment on those missing classes and not being present in following classes, or entering classes when over qualified or not submitting a Judging Critique. So just for the record, the RKC do actually take action!
Before I report on a rather soggy Richmond, I have news for you all concerning Florence, or as her official name is Wicani Butterfly AW Platinum, and some of you may recall she has been taking part in Agility since 2019 and has gained a Platinum Agility Award in both England and Scotland. Now at the age of 10½ although she still enjoys every run in competitions her loving owner, Pamela Kane has decided to retire her and was recently presented with a beautiful personalised rosette to commorate her winning the Scottish Agility League, Grade7. This little lady is a full sister to Wicani Altitude at Imaginist, himself a winner of quite a few Veteran classes and a RCC. Both of these collies are bred by Angela Harvey, who obviously is very proud of their achievements but one note of concern, hopefully by the time you read this Angela should be home having experienced a very long and overdue heart surgery, so feel free  to send her your best during this time.

Richmond, at Loseley Park, a lovely venue on a dry summer’s day turned into an horrendous experience for those who ventured out on a Friday and those who had to endure traffic issues and the M5. The judge was Christina Bailey who has previously judged at Bournemouth in 2016 and had the honour of judging the breed at a recent World Dog Show. As expected, a mid-week show had a smallish entry and, on the day, with absentees, possibly due to the weather which left 16  males and 29 ladies present from the original entry.
Being second in the ring did give some exhibitors time to try and dry off their charges but at the end of the day, 2 kennels did the double with both Chelborn and Gataj taking top honours.
Dog CC, his 5th went to Ch Gataj Turn Back Time and his kennel mate, Salsina’s Red Hot Crush with Gataj took his 3rd RCC and another kennel mate, Gataj Lewis Capaldi won BPD and BPIB, all in the ownership of Melissa Lockyear. 
Other class winners included: Ingledene Spirit is Legend for Fivejays in the ownership of Marion Radford House and Mrs Durrant (MPD). Michelle Mitchell, based in Scotland won Yearling, but alone, with Avonfair Aloysius JW; Trevor Perrot, also alone won Graduate with Gataj Lightning Flash, and Jo Hodges won Limit with her Jopium Love On The Rocks.
For the ladies, Vanessa Cronk won the BCC with Ch Skabona If I Saw You in Heaven for Chelborn (Imp Swe) and her Chelborn Gambler’s Wish won the RBCC. Melissa won PB with Gataj Exotic Girl, Junior with Vichy Vuitton of Dirty Booties at Gataj. Rob & Margaret Shipp took Veteran with Ch Gillyflower Della Buca Delle Fate and as there were no male veterans entered, ended up as BVIB and did stay for the group but to no avail. Other class winners were: Lucy Primmer with Xanthe Angel Silvestre at Colcanis (MP); Debbie Bullock with Ladnar Heartstrings won Yearling; Gataj Little Miss Sassy at Terelimon, although she had been beaten in a previous class was alone and won Novice for Monica Wells. Michelle Mitchell was alone again in Graduate with Avonfair A Million Dreams JW and Norma Larkin, also alone, won PG with Rahlissa Toffee Cake for Denora.
Finally, BOB went to Vanessa and Erica and although they too stayed for the group, only Melissa was short-listed in the Puppy Group and so ended a very very wet day, with some exhibitors hoping to “dry-out” before the next shows of YCC & ND to be held in a few days’ time.

Firstly, I am sure I may speak for many, and not just those who attended the 2 Ch shows held last weekend. Both YCC & N&D are to be praised for tackling this event. Maybe, if at all possible, but I am not exactly sure how the RKC would react, but surely with entries falling, costs rising, to hold 2 Club Ch shows on the same day would be beneficial to all and with careful planning could be advantageous to many. The RKC already approves of Clubs joining up with a Gen Ch show, but often the knowledge of the judge selected by the Gen Show is not compatible with those chosen by a Breed Club. Although, looking to the future, this could also occur with the 2 breed clubs but surely, if possible, I can think of a few Breed Clubs who could possibly consider this as an option
At the end of this, quite long day, the result was 3 New Champions, two exhibits taking BPIS and BVIS at both shows and good entries for both shows,  99 & 100. Celebration cakes for previous winners and special birthdays and a good entry and atmosphere and although the weather held, to a degree, not too many were absent
At this new venue, Hillsborough Park Arena, Hillsborough, Sheffield, YCC, under the guidance of Secretary, Christine Biggs, YCC started the day off with judges, Jo Hodges (Jopium for males) and Duna Jones (Erjon for females) and Georgina Howard for Smooths and Brenda Cooney, Lingwell for Referee.
Jo Hodges last judged at Ayrshire in 2022 and prior to that at N&D. Her first class, Veteran was a lovely win for Stacy Steven and her sable boy, Cariadhaf Crazy Dream, or known to us all as Brodie and is now just 10 years young. MP followed with Melissa and Gataj Perfect Timing and followed this with a win in Puppy with Gataj Lewis Capaldi. The Brooker family annexed Junior with Starlenga All About Majic for Corisian. With no entries in Maiden, the next class was Graduate and Siluto Blue Wizzard at Amberwish won this. Christine & Noel Collins won PG with their sable, Triburle The Joker and followed this by winning Limit with the blue, Triburle Bluebolero. Brian & Odile won Open with Beldones Rocket Man.  The CC, his 3rd went to a delighted Odile and Brian with Beldones Rocket Man. He is a sable, sired by Ch Roughrigg Rag’n’Bone Man out of Beldones Corradina. His 1st came at London Collie from Karen Colman-Smith, last year, followed by a 2nd at Lancs & Cheshire from Morag McCarte and also annexed a few RCC’s on the way to the upper house. The RDCC went to Triburle Bluebolero. BPD was Gataj Lewis Capaldi
Duna Jones, who last judged at  Border Union started her day with the mixed Baby Puppy class which had 5 youngsters out learning the ropes and this went to Roughrigg The Life of Riley at Hanvale. Veteran followed with Telforth Sweet Dreams to Corisian JW winning for the Brooker family. Brian & Odile won MP with Beldones Classic Touch and Melissa won PB with Gataj Exotic Girl. Sue Hawkins & John Congdon  won Junior with Aaronwell Able Mabel, Maiden had Brilyn Make Me Smile at Garbh winning but she could be in the challenge, having lost out in an earlier class but then went on to win her next class, Graduate. John & Caroline won PG with Tiganlea True Hearts Desire and Limit went to Riverside Song Nebraska at Aaronwell for Sue & John. Corydon Clarissa  won Open with Miranda and in the challenge, the second of our new Champions emerged as now, Ch Corydon Clarissa, a sable, sired by  Ch Corydon The Ringmaster out of Corydon Moonflower, and, if memory serves me correctly she is the first sable bitch Champion at Corydon for a few years. She won her 1st CC. from Steve Barratt in 2023, quickly followed by a RBCC from Derek Smith and a 2nd CC from Josh Blackburn at N&D  The RBCC went to Vanessa and her blue, Erica, Ch Skabona If I Saw You In Heaven for Chelborn and BPB was Beldones Classic Touch. Although placed in the Open class, Margaret & Rob Shipp’s Ch Gillyflower Della Buca Delle Fate was awarded BVB
From the 5 smooths entered, 4 were present and BOB went to Ch Constella Hazy Cosmic Jive
In the final results for YCC, with a detailed results sheet available on their web site, BIS , was judged by Brenda Cooney, and this went to Brian & Odile with Ch Beldones Rocket Man, RBIS to Miranda and Ch Corydon Clairissa,  BPIS to Gataj Lewis Capaldi. RBPIS to Tiganlea Turned to Black; BVIS to Gillyflower and RBVIS to the smooth Koczkodan Serenity.
Now, having re-scheduled their Ch Show from Driffield, the N&D under guidance of Josh Blackburn started, not an easy task and some exhibitors had queries concerning classes. Allow me to confirm, that if a show is re-scheduled with certain time parameters (as laid down by the RKC) the catalogue for the day still stands – regardless of the actual age of your exhibit on the day of the show.
Penny Sewell has the Lewarne affix and she last judged Roughs in 2021 at CA and prior to that at Birmingham
Her first class was MPD and this went to Roughrigg Rags’n’Riches with Tiganlea Turned to Black winning puppy. Junior went to Gataj Lewis Capaldi, Yearling was won by Triburle The Joker. Libanel Erebus Eternl Love won Graduate and Camanna Cellmate took the next class, Post Graduate. Limit was won by Triburle Bluebolero and the Open winner was Beldones Toucher des Bois with Barrenclough Diamond Days winning Veteran.
Taking his 3rd CC, and making Christine’s day was now, Ch Triburle Bluebolero. He is the 6th Ch at Triburle and the first blue. Interestingly bred, he is sired by Fridens Xtra Chance for Salsina out of Rowlands Blaithin Deas at Triburle and was born in April 2022, so just a youngster. His first CC came at WELKS from Billy Henderson, his 2nd from John Catliff at WECS, followed by the RCC at YCC, a few hours previously. Winning another RDCC was Beldones Toucher des Bois for Brian and Odile.
For the ladies, Beldones Smart Touch took MP, followed by another class win for Gataj Exotic Girl. Aaronwell Abel Mabel won Junior and Hanvale Edina Monsoon at Lemivee took Yearling and with this win, according to her owner she now holds a JW. With no Novice bitches, the next class was Graduate and Brilyn Shows The Difference. Tiganlea True Hearts Desire won PG and Chelborn Gambler’s Wish won Limit. Open went to Riverside Song Desiderata at Aaronwell  and Veteran went to Ch Gillyflower Della Buca Delle Fate.
The BCC, her 6th fell to the Veteran winner, Gillyflower, with the Open winner, Riverside Song Desiderata taking home the RBCC.
BOB and BVIB went to Gillyflower, RBIS to Riverside Song Desiderata at Aaronwell and BPIS to Gataj Lewis Capaldi.
I have some sad news to finish this report with, firstly, some may recall The Rhonehill Rough Collies, based in Ireland. A Message from ICC Secretary, Grenville Francis brought news that Bill McDowell had passed away on 6th September. More details later
On an extremely sad note, Marianne Benton has let me know that her beloved Pedro, Ch Brooklynson El Dorado has passed to the Rainbow Bridge. Pedro went ill following their trip to Richmond but  to save further suffering, Marianne had to make that fateful decision. A true ambassador for our breed, not only was he a Champion, the number of BVIB, BVIS awards and minor Group placings he attained during his illustrious show career were numerous.
A Sable, bred by Steve & Alison Barrett in 2016, he was sired by Shep’s Moondance with Jaysur out of Ch Brooklynson Miley Cyrus. In his show career he gained 8 CC’s, the last of which he gained    this year at Birmingham National but it was often at the local and breed club open shows where he gained his admirers and often took the Veteran Group and, if memory serves me, often won not just BVIS but also BIS All Breeds. A true gentleman of the collie world and I am sure you will sympathise with Marianne over his loss but also, she has the memory of a lovely collie.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

email: ca.antoc@btinternet.com