12th June 2026

So nice to hear that many collie folk made their way to the World Dog Show, held in Bologna,  Italy. On 3rd – 7th June in conjunction with the ENCI. The judges officiating here included Maria-Teresa Garabelli,  Jadranka Mijatovic from Hungary, Udit Koroz-Papp also from Hungary, and  Rachlin Doron from Israel who all judged our breed at the various competitions held over the period.
A few came with their own dogs and travelled down to Bologna, stayed on site and showed. Some just went for the weekend to socialise, and others, who had sold UK bred stock arrived to handle for the owners.
The weekend consisted of a few Club shows along with the World Dog Show, where, to the amazement of owner/breeder/handler, our own Tom Wall (although Tom & Hugo live in Dublin) and Int Ch/UK Ch Daliyhaa Master Craftsman  flew in for the events. Hugo, as we know him here at home and in Dublin, topped the Champions class on the final day,  under the very well known and experienced judge/breeder, Maria-Teresa Garabelli of the most famous “di Cambiano” collies. With this win in the final challenge Hugo and tom came away with a world winners title, trophies and very much more including going home with a new Italian Ch title, for winning the Ch class at the ENCI show.
Just to refresh your memory, this young tri boy took the RDCC at Crufts in 2024, won 2 CC’s in the same year, annexed his title, along with 6 CC’s in 2025 along with a few more RDCC wins. Sired by Ch Beldones Blue Echo, he is out Int Ch Daliyhaa Izadorable. (int Ch Hawkfield’s Return to Sender to Joshren at Daliyhaa ex Daliyhaa Chique) and Hugo was born in March 2022.
In the same class, Miranda Blake who too had travelled down took a most creditable 2nd place and ended up as RBOB with Ch Corydon Christopher.  Smudge is one of Dad, John Blake’s ,favourite boys he was sired by Ch Corydon The Ringleader out of Ch Corydon Clarissa. After a promising start, an accident occurred and Smudge ended up in being “crated” for some time whilst the injury to his hock healed. He was so lucky it was away from the growth plates! Smudge collected a few RCC & CC’s on his way to his UK title and at his show collected his reward of a Reserve CACIB to Hugo, and a CAC along with trophies, certificates and many memories.
Another win to report, on behalf of the UK, was that of Madeleine Port, who has a small kennel called Medley Of Fame. In Germany.  If the name sounds familiar to you, allow me to refresh your memory. Last year, in April, a litter was born at Hanvale by Simon & Hannah Walder, using one of Madeleine’s boys. (Medley of Fame Disco Dave)   A few of this litter entered our UK show ring, the dam being Roughrigg Red Lagertha. However, one returned to the Medley Of Fame kennel, Hanvale Katherine Hepburn, as she grew up, was shown and campaigned by Madeleine to a few Junior Titles and carries Junior Champion titles in both  Dt and Belgium Champions. At the ENCI Club show, this little lady annexed another Junior Champion title, but this time she was handled by her co-breeder, Hannah, who piloted her not only to a class win but also annexed another Junior Ch title for Madeleine and also managed and Exc in her class at the other show.

Now to the main event in the UK, as usual the London Collie managed to keep the weather gods at bay and the day was overcast but dry at the Doberman Training Ground where some gathered to give, on paper, an entry of 32 males and 49 ladies for judges Tracey Goodwin (Saheltra) and Wendy Musty (Hills) Buebezi but sadly, possibly due to the previous day’s weather conditions there were some  absentees around 9 from each sex from the original entry.
Tracey last judged at Midland Collie in  2023 (bitches) and prior to that at Bath in 2018 for both sexes.
The following all won their classes: Fivefirs Sparkle Crackle (MP) for the joint owners, Radford & Durrant.; As Desas du Domaine des Emeruades for Brian and Odile; Gataj Just Like Jesse James for Melissa; Kourika Dancing On Ice for Robin won Novice; Gataj I Got You Babe took Graduate for Melissa; Jim McCarte won PG with Roughrigg Rags’n’Riches, whilst Ann Page won ML with her Lynmead Prince Charming; Robin then won Limit with Kourika The Gigolo and Open was won by Charlene, with Luis handling and Paulara Blaze of Glory. The Champions class had just Ch Beldones Toucher des Bois entered and there were no entries for Veteran.
Tracey’s choice for the DCC, his 5th, I think, went to Odile and Woody, Ch Beldones Toucher du Bois whilst Robin won the RCC with his blue, Kourika The Gigolo.  Toucher du Bois is a sable, sired by Honky Tonk Man of River Tweed, out of Beldones Enable whilst Robin’s blue is sired by Kourika King Pin out of Kourika Dressed to Thrill and he was born in July 2023 and already has 2 CC’s and a few reserves to his collection. BPD went to Brian and Odile with their tri boy
Wendy, last judged at Ayrshire in 2024, and previously at CCW in 2012 and on each occasion had judged the males. Today her entry was also depleted by absentees,
Her class winners included MP and Gataj Miss Sparkles for Melissa; PB was absent, so Junior went to the tri, Uffspring Unique Espoir for Jane Spendelow; Lynmead Dream Design for Rayvel won Novice for Glenys Plank; Monica Wells won Graduate with her Gataj Little Miss Sassy at Terelimon; PG went to Brilyn Make Me Smile at Garbh for Sue Pearson.  Andre and Chan took ML with their blue girl, Torrino Renesmee for Chantique; Val Tame and Gataj Time After Time at Rahlissa won Limit. Di Ware and her new Champion tricolour, the first for her kennel, won Open with now Ch Millubie Essence of Magic at Wassail. John Congdon’s Ch Aaronwell Abel Mabel took the Ch class and our ever-young veteran, Telforth Sweet Dreams to Corisian won her class.
The CC, her 3rd went to Daisy and Val, with Gataj Time After Time at Rahlissa, who is also a full littler sister to Ch Gataj Turn Back Time. Her other CC’s were won from Tracey Wilkinson (Altricia), her 2nd at British CC this year from Michael Wirth (Dirty Boötes) and also has a good collection of smaller green cards.
The RBCC was awarded to Ch Aaronwell Abel Mabel, BPB to Gataj Miss Sparkles and BVB to Dreamy. BOB went to Val and Daisy, BPIB to Melissa and her new puppy on her show debut and BVIB to Dreamy.
Cathy Howard was appointed for BIS, and the smooth fraternity annexed all the awards, having been previously judged by Lene Newman.
Finally, on a sad note, perhaps if you were to look into some your pedigrees, you may come across the name Ch Arranbrook Mr Chips of Aberhill. This was in the time when show entries were averaging 150-200 per show and class entries were normally in double figures for each class!
Mr Chips was sired by one of the most influential dogs of the time, Sangreat Sirocco of Arranbook, he was bred by Sandra and Stuart Grassby. I was so sorry to learn that Stuart, who had recently celebrated his 85th birthday had recently died having spent time at Linsey Lodge Hospice. His funeral will be held Friday 26th June, at 1.20pm at Woodlands Crematorium and afterwards at Heslam Park Rugby Club. During their time in the show ring, the Sangreat kennel produced many winners along with Champions in all three colours.  To name but a few they include: Ch Sangreat Sandra, Satteen, Snow Sapphire of Rubec, Softly Sentimental, and Something Special who was the sire of our own Ch Antoc Academy Award. The contribution by this small kennel, based in Brigg, North Lincolnshire cannot be overlooked.

Carole Smedley
(Antoc)

email: ca.antoc@btinternet.com