Blackpool Championship Dog Show 26.06.22

Rough Collie

Thank you to the committee for their kind invitation and hospitality, and to all exhibitors for their quality entry, in some classes being quite spoilt for choice. The weather was a challenge, with gale force winds battering the showground leaving many dogs a little unsettled, which I was prepared to forgive in the conditions. Presentation was on the whole excellent, but there were a couple with far too much ‘substance’ left in the coat, which gave quite a tacky feel and cost them higher placings. My steward, Ian, did a great job in preventing any of the paperwork flying away and kept the ring running smoothly with good humour

MPD (1): 1st Barron & Jenkin’s Rannaleroch Perfect Storm, 8-month blue merle in good coat but I’d prefer a clearer colour. Good length of head with a well-placed eye of good shape, good stop and well-rounded muzzle. A touch wider in back skull which meant his ears, whilst of good size, are a little wider set. Pleasing outline with a good length of neck and length of back. Good, well-rounded bone, with correct front and rear angulation and lovely short rear pasterns. Moved well with good reach.

PD (3,2): 1st Brodie’s Shanaburn Country Road, 9-month sable. Lovely clean head with well-set ears and a nice eye, set correctly. Good flat skull, although I would prefer more moulding in foreface. He really appealed for his outline, with a super neck of good length and good length of back. Good chest of pleasing depth and well sprung rib, well laid shoulder and lovely rear angulation with good bone and neat feet. Rather happy on the move, but when he settled, he moved soundly. BPD

JD (4): 1st Brooker’s Corisian Parisian Magic, 14-month sable who really appealed. He has a balanced head with a sweet, well-placed eye of correct shape, good stop, flat skull and good underjaw, with well-set ears which he used well to give a sweet but masculine expression. His outline is super with a lovely length of neck and back, giving a balanced outline. Good depth of chest and spring of rib with good bone, neat feet and very well angled front and rear, allowing him to move with reach and drive. Very well presented, BJIB. One to watch for the future. 2nd Melvin & Jopson’s Nithview Summer of Rockets, 15-month sable with a lovely eye and a flat skull and good stop, although I’d have preferred slightly tighter ears. Good length of back but shorter in neck than the winner. Good angulation front and rear and moved well. 3rd Fielding’s Lillyway Lemon Crush

YD (5,3): 1st Boyle’s Monsolana Aspire to Inspire over Barrenclough (Imp Rus), 21-month tri in abundant coat which spoilt his outline a bit. A nice eye and expression, although a bit broad in back skull, which gave a wider ear set. Lovely, rounded muzzle of good length. Under the coat he has a good shape with enough neck, well laid shoulder and good upper arm, correct rear angulation with good bend of stifle and hocks well let down, and a good length of tail. Moved very well. 2nd Fielding’s Lillyway Lemon Crush, 13-month sable with a clean head and lovely eye, correct stop and well-set ears. Good length of back but I’d have preferred a bit more neck. Well laid shoulder but a little steep in upper arm. Moved ok when he settled.

PGD (3): Three very nice dogs in this class - 1st Hawkins & Foy’s Beldones Toucher Du Bois, 2-year sable, also in abundant coat which slightly hid his shape. Lovely clean head with a beautifully rounded foreface and flat skull, broken by a clean stop. Super eye, set well, and well-placed ears giving a lovely expression. Good length of back, although I’d prefer a touch more neck. Good depth of chest with well sprung rib. Excellent front and rear angulation which allowed him to move with reach and drive. 2nd Dix’s Barrenclough Diamond Skies, 2-year sable, different in type to the winner but a lot to like. Lovely clean head with a super eye and well-placed stop combined with well-set ears, giving a good expression. I would prefer a bit more moulding to his foreface. Super outline with a good length of neck and back giving balance, good front and rear angulation - just not quite as positive on the move as the winner. 3rd Gautrey’s Lillyway Landwind

MLD (2): 1st Boyle’s Barrenclough Heart of Gold JW, 4-year-old sable dog who won this class on his super head properties; a clean wedge, flat skull, well placed stop, moulded foreface and good underjaw. His eye is super, of good size and shape, set correctly with neat ears which he used well to give a lovely expression. Very good front and rear angulation with excellent bend of stifle and excellent drive from the rear. I would have preferred a bit more length of back to give the outline I was looking for and a slightly longer tail. 2nd Donaldson’s Caronlea Celtic Traveller with Fivannte 2-year sable, a bit wider and deeper in back skull than the winner but he has lovely eye and good length of head and foreface and well-placed stop. A balanced outline with good length of back and neck, well laid shoulders, good depth and spring of rib, super rear angulation with short pasterns which allowed him to move well.

LD (7,2): 1st Lockyer’s Gataj Struck by Lightning, 3-year sable who had everything I was looking for. On first look he has elegance and balance throughout. A lovely head, clean with a good flat skull, well placed stop, moulded foreface and good underjaw. His eye is lovely, of good size, shape and set, which combined with well-set ears to give a sweet but masculine expression. Lovely length of neck, well arched, into a well laid shoulder and good return of upper arm. Nice length of back which was firm, strong loin and croup with low set tail, good bend of stifle, hocks well let down, and good feet. He moved very soundly with reach and drive, keeping his topline well. A dog I’ve admired since I first saw him as a pup, today he presented the full picture and I was delighted to award him the DCC, his 3rd, and then BOB. 2nd Brown & Jopson’s Nithview This is Me, 4-year sable with a lovely head, well balanced with a good stop, super eye shape and set and nice ears, giving a lovely expression. Excellent front and rear angulation with a super neck. Just a tad long in loin, which makes him look a bit too long in back. 3rd Mills’ Lynmack Starman

OD (8,3): 1st McCarte’s Roughrigg Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, 3-year shaded sable of glorious colour in full coat with a fabulous, masculine expression - he just seemed to know when I was looking at him and looked right back! Clean head with a lovely eye and well-set ears which he used non-stop. Flat skull and beautifully moulded foreface broken by a well-placed stop. Decent neck with good length of back, nice depth and spring of rib, correct front and rear angulation, super rounded bone, and excellent feet. He moved with reach and drive. When it came to the challenge, I was splitting hairs between the two main winners, but preferred the overall elegance of the Limit winner. Worthy RCC winner, thank you for bringing him.  2nd Brown & Jopson’s Lillyway Lattimer at Nithview, 5-year jet black tri of different type but a lot to like, especially his lovely clean head with flat skull and well-rounded foreface, a lovely eye, well placed with good ear carriage and a super expression. Slightly longer in outline than the winner but balanced throughout. Good angulation front and rear and moved very well. Again, a close decision but I preferred the expression of the winner. 3rd Grainger’s Ch Samhaven Ballahanna Banjo

VD (5,1): 1st Vogan’s Lenosann Midnight Rascal, 9-year tri who didn’t show his age at all. The first thing that struck me was his gleaming, jet-black coat with no trace of rust or grey. Head of different type to other winners but very correct with a good stop, super eye and well-placed ears. Super length of back - I would have preferred a touch more neck, but he had a well laid shoulder, good return of upper arm, firm topline, gently sloping croup and good bend of stifle. Moved beautifully, pleased to award him BVIB. 2nd Boyle’s Barrenclough Moonglow JW ShCM, 9-year sable who I believe is grandsire to others from this kennel here today which shows in his head and expression, super eye with lovely ear set, flat skull and beautifully moulded foreface. Good outline with good neck and length of back, good front and rear angulation. He moved well, but not with quite the drive of the winner. 3rd Steven’s Cariadhaf Crazy Dream

MPB (2,1): 1st Scott’s Torrino Renesmee for Chantique (Imp Ita) 8-month blue merle of a lovely clear colour, lovely, dark eye with very neat ears, flat skull and good foreface, lovely neck and good length of back, well laid shoulder, good chest, good rear angulation and super, short hocks. Moved very well.

PB (5): 1st Walker, Walker & Ritchie’s Starlenga Nina Simone, 11-month blue merle in super coat of lovely silver colour and sparkling white legs and collar. There’s so much to like about her - her head is lovely, very clean and balanced, of good length with a correct stop and well-rounded foreface. Her eye is lovely, of excellent shape, size and set and when she used her ears, which were bang on top, she had a lovely expression. Beautifully arched neck of good length, ample forechest, well laid shoulder and correct return of upper arm, good length of back, which was firm with slight rise over the loin, nice croup and well-set tail reaching the hock, good bend of stifle and lovely low hocks, with very neat feet. All this enabled her to move soundly with reach and drive, keeping her topline well. I’d admired her since I first saw her and, having gone over her today, she really did captivate me and so I was delighted to award her the BCC and BPIB, best of luck with her in the future.  2nd Hawkins & Foy’s Beldones Sound Gold, 9-month golden sable also with so much to like. I loved her shape and outline; it really is everything you would want at this age. Her head is clean and of good length, with a super eye and ear set. I would prefer a bit more moulding in foreface but that will come with maturity, I’m sure. Her neck is lovely with a good length of back, super angulation front and rear and strong low hocks which allowed her to move well.  3rd Hawkins’ Breckamore Welsh Honey for Brilyn

JB (7,2): Lovely class with two sets of sisters - 1st Growcott’s Lillyway Lemon Breeze, 13-month tri with a clean head, flat skull with a well-placed stop and good underjaw. Lovely dark eye, set well and balanced with well-set ears. Lovely outline with nice neck, good depth of chest and length of back. Well angulated with super rear angulation, which allowed her to move well with drive. 2nd Melvin & Jopson’s Lillyway Lemon Sparkle at Nithview, 13-month sable and litter sister to the winner, so similar comments apply - I preferred the ear set of the winner. 3rd Scott’s Chantique Strawberry Moon

YB (1): 1st Hobkirk’s Chantique Sugar Moon, 12-month sable, 4th and sister to 3rd in the previous class with a lot to like. Nice head and expression with a very sweet, well-placed eye. A touch wider in back skull and wider set ears. Super shape with a lovely neck and length of back, good front and rear angulation. I feel she would benefit from being moved a bit faster to show off her full potential.

PGB (9,1): 1st Davis’ Samhaven Sapphire for Beldones, 4-year blue merle who caught my eye immediately in the class, appealing for her super colour and outline. Head of good length with well moulded foreface, good stop and lovely eye. I would have preferred a slightly tighter ear set. Super neck with excellent front and rear angulation, good short hocks and a nice length of tail. Excellent reach on the move, keeping her topline well. In lovely, fitted coat which was well presented. 2nd Walker, Walker & Ritchie’s Starlenga All About Me, 3-year tri in full bloom who also appealed for outline. A lovely eye, flat skull, good stop and a very well moulded foreface. Again, I would have preferred tighter ears, but she has a super expression. Good neck and length of back, with correct angulation front and rear, moved very well. I just preferred the expression of the winner. 3rd Scott’s Chantique Deja Vu

MLB (2): 1st Iley’s Call Me Dreamer in Blue for Ileyda Della Verde Scozia JW (Imp Ita), 4-year blue merle of excellent colour. She is very feminine with a clean head, flat skull, well moulded foreface of good length, lovely eye and neat ears. Super neck with a well laid shoulder and good return of upper arm, good depth of chest with well sprung ribs, good bend of stifle and hocks well let down. Moved with drive. 2nd Clare & Pointon’s Aldreen Silver Trinket. 3-year blue merle with a very clean head, flat skull, good stop and good eye. Good outline with a good length of neck and back. I preferred the expression and front assembly of the winner.

LB (10,1): A super class, full of quality, 1st Lockyer’s Gataj Girl’s Best Friend – there is nothing exaggerated about this 4-year golden sable, who is mother to the DCC winner. Lovely clean head of good length, well balanced with a flat skull, moulded foreface and well-placed stop. Lovely eye, well set, combined with well-set ears to give a lovely expression. Super neck and good length of back with good forechest, well laid shoulder and good return of upper arm, well sprung rib and super hind angulation, moved very well, holding her topline. In excellent coat, pushed hard for top honours, but ultimately, I preferred the expression of the Open winner. 2nd Scott’s O’de Lancome of Lowlands Green Valley for Chantique, 4-year sable who appealed for her outline. In full, fitted coat with super featherings, presenting a very feminine picture. Slightly shorter in head than the winner, but it is clean with a flat skull, good stop and well-rounded muzzle. Lovely eye and excellent ear set, giving her a very sweet expression. Lovely neck and length of back, super front and rear angulation, moved very well with drive from the rear. 3rd Iley’s Arklethill Delilah at Ileyda JW

OB (2,1): 1st Hawkins & Foy’s Beldones Looks Like Fun, 5-year shaded sable of the most glorious colour, in full bloom with a fitted coat and glamorous featherings. She has a lovely head with a flat skull, well placed stop and a beautifully moulded foreface. A gorgeous eye of good shape, and when she used her ears, she has such a melting expression. Super neck and length of back, good depth of chest and spring of rib, with excellent front and rear angulation. Moved with reach and drive, keeping her topline well. In the challenge, I preferred the length of head of the puppy, but this girl scored in expression over the limit winner to win the RCC - thank you for bringing her.

VB (1): 1st Boyle’s Monsolana Butterfly Blue over Barrenclough JW ShCM (Imp Rus) 8-year blue merle whose colour is a little spoilt by enjoying the sunny spot! A lovely head and expression with a very sweet eye, super ears and well moulded foreface. Super shape with good neck and length of back, with good front and rear angulation. Not quite as positive on the move as the Veteran male.

JUDGE SOPHIE WRAY-RAMSDEN