13th February 2026

Before the report on the recent Midland Collie Ch Show, where, by now, you will know the major results, I would like to draw your attention to another aspect of our versatile collies.
Sheila Carlton has let me know that another of her Sambreeze collies (and Finnish Lapphunds) have achieved yet another accolade, as Jasmine (Lynmead Dresses The Stars of Sambreeze) at just 15 months has passed her Pets As Therapy (PAT Dogs) assessment and is now qualified for visits. She is the 3rd of Sheila’s collies who have continued involvement to helping others. The only issue is, finding another venue for visits!  Jasmine is sired by Chantique Star Dust out of Timeless Twilights Sent With Love to Lynmead and bred by Caz Waterhouse. Sheila’s other PAT dogs have included Lynmead Amalie Aim for Love Over Sambreeze who also acquired her Belgium Ch title; Sambreeze Whispers Of Love and Lynmead Royal Beauty of Sambreeze along with 4 Finnish Lapphunds. Well done to all concerned.
Now to Midland Collie, under the leadership of husband and wife team of Simon & Hannah Walder organised their Ch show in the Kennel Club Building at Stoneleigh. With a slightly depleted committee, with members either away showing or unable to attend  then, what every Secretary dreads, notification from the appointed judge Derek Smith (Clickam) that he was unwell and therefore unable to officiate. A quick Committee meeting was held and a substitute judge was appointed as Trevor Hayward (Foxearth).
From Derek’s original entry of 81, which also included 3 NFC, there were some absentees, amounting to around 20+ for Trevor to assess with judging starting at 10am.
Trevor is one of our established judges who last judged the breed at Crufts 2020 but as we all are aware was always connected to the Smooth Collies although he has had Roughs and shown them in the past.
The first class was Baby Puppy D/B but this entry was absent. Veteran followed with the only entrant being  Ambartr King of The Ring for Colin Bartram, who also won Spl Beginners Dog class. 2 Minor puppies then followed and taking this was Chelborn Look At Me for Mrs Thorne who beat Christine & Noel’s Triburle The Spellmaster. Puppy winner was Mejola Endeavour for Jo Williams. Melissa and Gataj I Got You Babe were alone in Junior. The next class was Special yearling and Dave & Sue Randall won this with Ladnar Call My Name JW whose brother Ladnar Call Me Maybe won Novice which followed Maiden with no entries. Melissa was alone again in Graduate with Gataj I Am Maximus. PG followed with a full entry of 4 and winning this was John & Caroline Tipper with Tiganlea Turned to Black. Siluto Blue Wizzard at Amberwish, although alone won Mid Limit for Yvonne Ross and was followed by another single entry of Geosamka Loves To Love at Ithilien for Sue Harris. Open had an original entry of 6 but only 2 arrived with Ch Mejola Top Gun taking this over Fiorcara Brave Explorer.
In the challenge for the CC, this went to Jo and Maverick, Ch Mejola Top Gun. This is his 4th CC, interesting to note that all his tickets, so far, have been awarded by male judges. Sired by Corydon The Ringmaster out of Mejola Special Reserve and he was born in July 2023.
A lovely phone call from John Tipper confirmed that the RDCC was awarded to their tri boy, Tiganlea Turned To Black. He won from PG and sired by Amalunaque Arcturis Wind at Tiganlea (who is sired by Tiganlea Turning Blue ex Rashel Fairy Dust) ) out of Tiganlea True Hearts Desire and he was born Nov 2023.  This was a lovely boost for John & Caroline as they are currently undergoing building work on their new property and with the current weather conditions makes keeping dogs clean and in show condition difficult.
BVD and Best Spl Beginners was Colin Bartram and BPD to Chelborn Look At Me.
Now to the ladies, with a slightly bigger entry, the first class was Veteran and the only exhibit to arrive was John & Sandra Newton’s Corydon Victoria Rose at Fiocara. MP went to the jointly owned by Vanessa Cronk and Isaac Preddy with Chelborn You Blue Me Away. John Congdon’s Aaronwell All About Elsa won PB with 6 present and also Novice. Junior went to Beldones Rich Velvet and Julie Edwards, with whom she now lives.
Then they stopped for lunch! I understand that this took about an hour but congratulations to Hannah, who had spent previous days cooking up various delicious items for all to buy and, being slightly short staffed, I understand that many willingly helped out where needed, such is the popularity of MCC. Another innovation was the use of an electronic card reader, so useful for payments etc and during the day, apart from a few hiccups, all show results were to be uploaded by Simon.
Back to the judging and  Jo Hodges and Jopium Follow My Heart JW took Spl Yearling. There were no arrivals in Graduate bitch, so PG followed with Duna Jones & Josh Blackburn winning with Erjon Eyes On Me. Val Tame won Mid Limit with Gataj Time After Time at Rahlissa with Limit going to Jo Hodges and her blue, Unusual Beauty Des Conquettes de Don Juan at Jopium JW. Open bitch had 11 entries, with 2 absent, with Ingledene Crystal Vision at Phreelancer, known as Miss was Vivien, handled by her breeder, Val Geddes, as her owner, Lene Newman is on MCC committee. The final class of the day was Spl Beginners won by Colin Bartram and Ambartr’s Dignity & Pride JW.

The BCC, her 2nd went to Ingledene Crystal Vision at Phreelancer for Lene Newman and although called in from standing 2nd in Open, Jayne & Carl Llewellyn’s Artziak Strawberry Rose for Salsina (imp Sp), the RBCC was awarded to Jo Hodges and her blue. BPB and eventual BPIS was Chelborn You Blue Me Away.
BOB / BIS went to Valerie, handling for Lene, RBIS & BOSIS to Jo and Maverick, BPIS  to Chelborn You Blue me Away, BVIS to Colin and his Ambartr King of The Ring.
Also, I would like to thank Sophie Wray-Ramsden for sending over the show results on a regular basis, as this is time consuming, and along with her other duties, it is very much appreciated and I hope to receive, at some time, a fully marked catalogue of the show, as yet nothing has been received.
However, with falling entries, affecting many breeds, and Roughs included, I note that Midland have changed the date of their next Open Show. This will be held on 19th September, the day before Darlington  Ch Show and Northumberland & Durham Ch show, this, I am informed was due to the change of date of Leeds Ch show. I only hope that this will not impact any possible entry, although the show venues are some way apart.

Some lovely news received from Jane Uffspring to confirm that our wonderful Obreedience Team, Diamonds In The Rough, were on another outing this year and managed a good 5th place, missing out by only 0.75 points.
A gentle reminder, to those who can, could you please come to the Obedience Ring at Cruftys on Thursday 5th March and lend your support to those who have spent so much time to qualify and need a little more support
Also, if anyone out there is interested in joining in with the Team, please contact Jane DIRECT, she can be contacted on Janespendelow@googlemail.com or direct on  07751172666 – Many thanks
Other show news, to add to her recent BP & Pastoral Puppy Group Wins and placements, more news from Din Ware with her Millubie Parachute Into Wassail as she collected a few more at the recent Ilfracombe show where Josh Henderson judged and brought home another BP & BOB all this before she celebrates her birthday later this month and having only recently arrived from Serbia.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

email: ca.antoc@btinternet.com