22nd August 2025

It has been quite a difficult time at both Lillyway and Nithview, as both kennels have recently lost one of their dogs.  Joan & Mae lost Starlenga Street Fighter at Nithview, known at home as Blaze. Bred by the Walker family, he was an upstanding sable who made his mark especially at some of the local Scottish shows and then started to win at general Ch Shows as well including gaining his Show Certificate of Merit (ShCm) which is to be commended especially considering where he lived.  Sired by Starlenga Austin Powers out of Starlenga Street Walker, he passed to the rainbow bridge at a good age  as he was born in July 2011 making him a good 14 years young

More heart breaking was the sudden loss of Radley, better known as Lillyway Legacy, an upstanding tri boy who was just reaching his prime and took the Dog CC, his first, at London Collie from Anita Fox. Having fallen ill, suddenly, a visit to the vets was involved but sad to report he did not return. Sired by Samhaven Name That Tune at Breckamore out of Nithview Country Dreams at Nithview, (who is a daughter of the late Starlenga Street Fighter) bred by Mae & Joan, he was the only tri boy currently owned by Julie Growcott.

All roads led to Royal Welsh Showground this weekend where both Welsh Kennel Club and Collie Club of Wales held their Championship Shows . As we know, often travel in this area can be difficult and sometimes takes much longer but hats off to those who made it in time for both shows. Both shows had very similar entries, some choosing CCW over WKC and vice versa, often some made entries with different dogs but overall the entry ranged from 55 to 63 with few absentees at both.
What a day it turned out to be for the Beldones kennel of Brian and Odile, this will become clear later.
Starting at CCW, this small committee, headed by Christine Collins made tremendous efforts to promote their show and some of the tables groaned with weight of raffle prizes,  Welsh Dragons, rosettes and food and on behalf of all the Committee, Christine would like to thank all concerned for their generosity  which made the raffle a bit special and to all who contributed to the great atmosphere around the ring

Collie Club of Wales scheduled classes for Smooths, along with having a CC Allocation for Roughs with the following judges selected:  Dogs had Josh Blackburn (Erjon) and Louise Walker (Starlenga), Caroline Friend-Rees (Amical) had a non-cc entry for Smooths, whilst the Referee and BIS judge was Sheila Telford (Glenbowdene)

With both rings side by side, there really was no reason for anyone missing a class, and being a Club show, the committee, although small in number, made sure all were kept up to date and if needed, advised that if   required , classes would be held to accommodate all.

Maths was never my strong point but a quick count up showed there were, at the start of the day, 25 males and 29 ladies. Smooths were scheduled in the ring first  as Judging at WKC did not start until 9.30 and the same judge, Peter Farrell was awarding CC to both roughs and smooths.

Josh, who has a joint interest in the Erjon kennel, along with Duna Jones, last judged at Northumberland & Durham over the ladies in 2023 , and prior to that males at Scottish Collie in the same year. Louise Walker, recently returned from a judging stint for Dora Richter in Belgium last judged at Lancs & Cheshire earlier this year and prior to that, also at Northumberland & Durham, along with Josh where she too judged males.

MP was another win for Melissa and Gataj Strike It Lucky and the PD class went to Jake Walsh handling for Gianpaulo Falletto’s Very Superblak di Cambiano,  Miranda Blake won Junior and Novice with Corydon The Baronet. Julie Edwards and Eleri Bluck took Yearling with the first of the “Beldones Winners”, who was Beldones Mojito. Graduate was a nice win for Hanvale Ralph Lauren JW owned and handled by Steve Toogood. Mid Limit went to Sue Harris and her Geosamka Loves to Love at Ithilien and Sophie Wray-Ramsden took Limit with Monty (Takhisis Daggers at Dawn)  Open had 9 entered and winning this was Ch/Ir Ch Daliyhaa Master Craftsman and Tom Wall who had travelled over to attend both shows.
The CC, his  7th UK award. And Hugo has won CC’s in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, including the RCC at Crufts.  Sired by Ch Beldones Blue Echo out of Daliyhaa Izadorable. The RDCC went to the winner of Junior (and Novice) for Miranda with Corydon The Baronet. He is a tricolour, sired by Corydon The Baron out of Corydon Agatha Cristal and he celebrated his 1st birthday last May. BPD went to Melissa and there were no Veteran Males entered in Veteran.

Now to Louise and her classes started with Melissa nd Gataj Struck By Love, followed by Brilyn’s Breckamore Crimson Embers and Sue Hawkins winning PB. Sophie brought her Takhisis Xtraodinary Lady BWJ24 Bel Junior Ch out to win Junior.  Yearling went to Beldones Summer Dreams for Julie Edwards. Yearling saw Beldones Classic Touch (Chloe) winning and Novice went to Beldones Smart Touch. Jane Llewellyn handled her and Carl’s Salsina Blushing Rose to win Graduate. Lynmead Waiting For Love won PG for Caz Waterhouse. Lene Newman and Phreelancer Pheel It Still took Mid Limit and Margaret Harrison and Cambrogan Lady of  Loch’aber won Limit. Chantal Scott piloted her and Andre’s dual CC winning Chantique Déjà vu to win Open. And Jo Brooker won with Dreamy to another Veteran class win.
The BCC, her 2nd in as many shows fell to Lene at Phreelancer Pheel It Still and she is sired by Phreelancer Phinal Salute out of Phreelancer Phiifty Shades. The RBCC went to Brian and Odile with their Beldones Classic Touch. She is a sable, sired by Ch Gataj Struck By Lightning out of Beldones Touch of Class and won from  Yearling. BPB was a win for Melissa

BOB was Lene and her sable lady, BOS to Tom and Hugo, Gataj Strike It Lucky won BPIB and BVIB went to Jo and Dreamy.
BIS was selected by Sheila Telford with Lene taking this award, along with a “coveted Welsh Dragon amongst other great awards. Reserve BIS to Hugo and Tom, who was also BOSIS. BPIS went to Melissa but BVIS went to the Veteran Smooth, Abby Lusty and Blamorder Ice Cream Dream VW.

WKC had Peter Farrell (Belrah) centre stage, who last judged at  Ayrshire Collie (Dogs) in 2019 and prior to that Dogs also at London Collie in 2017.

Lovely to see Alison Grainger back in the ring with Ch Samhaven Ballahanna Banjo and he took the first class, Veteran.
Melissa won both Puppy classes with Gataj Strike It Lucky (alone) and Gataj Time Will Tell who took PD.
Junior went to Miranda and her tri boy, Corydon The Baronet who also took the Novice class. Sue Harris stood alone in Yearling with Geosamka Loves To Love at Ithilien, as did Jo Brooker with Starlenga All About Majic for Corisian JW who took Graduate. Hanvale Ralph Lauren won PG  handled by Steve Toogood  Caz Waterhouse won Limit with Eddie, Lynmead Royal Lover whilst Melissa and Very Special Angel Silvestre at Gataj (Imp Bel) won a full Open class of 6. This sable is bred by Inna Van De Van, born April 2022 and sired by Ch Beldones Toucher du Bois out of True Dreams Angel Silvestre.
Special Beginners Dog or Bitch went to Valerie Clare and Bluchip Syrah of Skyeshelm.

The CC, his 2nd, went to Caz and Eddie with Melissa and her Open winner in Reserve.
Eddie is sired by Born To Be Quite Famous Lynmead in November 2022 out of Timeless Twilights Sent with Love to Lynmead and adds this to his previous wins at Scottish Breeds when Christine Collins (Triburle) judged where he won the RDCC and at Bath where he won his 1st CC from Margaret Shipp (Tremaro)

For the ladies, a 2nd CC went to Beldones Just For Fun at Starlenga, this must be a lucky venue as she won her 1st at CCW in 2024 from Alan Staniland.  A daughter of the late Honky Tonk Man of River Tweed out of Ch Beldones Looks Like Fun and is owned by Brian and Odile.

The RBCC went to Jo Hodges and her blue, Unusual Beauty Des Conquetes De Don Juan at Jopium JW, who won Limit class of 7. Sired by Monsolana Piece of Beauty out of Torrino I Love You and she was born in June 2023.

Other class winners were: Dreamy (Telforth Sweet Dreams to Corisian JW) with another Veteran class win; Melissa won MPB with Gataj Struck By Love and Michelle and Jake took Puppy with Wicani Bellissima Rosschell. Brian and Odile took Junior with Beldones Classic Touch. Rob & Margaret Shipp won Yearling with Tremaro Million Dollar Baby. With no entries in Novice or Graduate, alone in PG was Hanvale Patsy Stone for Simon & Hannah.

BOB was awarded to Brian & Odile and the Group judge was Keith Baldwin and was handled by Julie Edwards.  BPIB to Melissa and Gataj Time Will Tell with Hans Stigi from Holland judging. Veteran was Alison & Ch Samhaven Ballahanna Banjo and the group judge here was Bill Browne-Cole. Ken Andrews judged the Spl Beginner Group where Valerie Clare was the designated entrant.

Checking the Stakes classes I noticed Colin Bartram won a VHC from Tony Allcock in the Spl Beginner Stakes and Henry Leese gained 3rd in the YKC classes judged by Rebecca Ellrich. If you were placed in other classes and not mentioned, apologies.

So, to sum up  at both shows, and regardless of ownership, the Beldones kennel had  exhibits wining and/or placed. Ch Daliyhaa Master Craftsman is sired by Ch Beldones Blue Echo. They won the RBCC with Beldones Classic Touch, at CCW and a class win at WKC;  class win with Beldones Smart Touch;  placing with Beldones Summer Dreams, CC win at WKC, with Beldones Just For Fun at Starlenga. The RDCC, Very Special Angel Silvestre at Gataj is sired by  Ch Beldones Toucher du Bois; Class places with Beldones Mojito and Beldones Summer Dream and Ch Beldones Ivory Star gained 2nd in Open – so a very good day in the “Beldones Office”

Just a final reminder, should anyone wishing to attend the dual shows in Ireland, there is a special code for the Ferry – see the Belfast schedule and remember, there is always a warm welcome from Grenville Francis at the ICC Ch show, so make a weekend of it.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

email: ca.antoc@btinternet.com