London & Provincial Collie Club Championship Show – August 28th 2022
Smooth Collies
Thank you to the committee for your kind invitation to judge Smooth Collies at your show and to the exhibitors for the lovely quality entry. As a breed you must be applauded for your friendly and good spirited attitude towards other exhibitors and it is clear to see that you are welcoming and encouraging folk new to the breed.
Puppy D/B
- Bemelmans’ Moseliqa Proudfoot
Promising young tri dog with a lovely disposition. He has enough bone and a really nicely proportioned frame at this age, good neck, nice rear angulation, good length of tail and a solid topline. His head is elegant and clean, his ears a good size and set creating a pleasing expression. Very much a baby but I was quite taken with him and once everything drops into place I think you will have much fun with him.
Junior D/B
- Lusty’s Blamorder The Hustler
Beautifully handled extremely flashy blue lady, up to size but very elegant and feminine with it – she excels in her sweeping neck and outline on the stack. Excellent rear angulation and tail placement and she moves out with good reach and drive. Appealing softness in her expression, and although I’d like a cleaner stop, overall I find her a lovely bitch and she had the maturity today to take 1st in this class.
2. Wensley’s Constella Hazy Cosmic Jive
I judged this young tricolour junior only a few months ago as a puppy and I have to confess I have rather a soft spot for him and his outgoing personality. He has matured since I saw him last and as I said then, I feel he is full of promise. His head is developing nicely with no lumps or bumps and clean parallel planes. He remains a well proportioned and balanced young dog and has learned some more ring etiquette to show off his sound movement coming towards and in profile although today he was slightly closer behind. Sympathetically handled, I wish you both well for the future.
3. Moore’s Blamorder High Hopes for Manordeifi
Post Graduate D/B
- Wensley’s Constella Hazy Cosmic Jive (as 2 in Junior)
- Bemelmans’ Oakestelle Asteria
Graceful and well balanced tricolour lady, who is quite slight of frame but of lovely type. She has a most appealing expression with a well proportioned head that handles nicely; flat skull, parallel lines and nice ear set. Today although she performed like a true professional, she wasn’t in a gleaming jacket and to me looked slightly older than her actual years but I appreciated her refinement and elegance.
Open Dog
- Smith’s CH/Multi CH Winter is Coming to Tentola
I judged this dog’s dam some years ago, and all I can say is the apple does not fall far from the tree! She has certainly passed on many of her attributes and type. This dog is quite well known here now and today in the ring he casts an impressive and muscular form when standing in profile. He is full of dignity as he looks along his foreface at you and gives an overall impression of workmanlike strength coupled with the spirit of a court jester. His expression I find thoroughly masculine yet he maintains a certain softness and he has a head that I feel one could easily use as an anatomical drawing with everything just as it should be. On the move, in profile he has lovely reach at the front as well as outstanding drive and full powerful extension through his hind limbs but I think that today he didn’t like the prickly grass and long weeds and his foot placement could have been better at the rear when going away. BD & RBOB.
2. Moore’s Manordeifi Bow Regard
Sable gentleman who isn’t a natural showman but who has the kindest of eyes and a nice expression when using his ears. His overall construction is quite sound but he was moving slightly out at elbow today.
3. Lusty’s Blamorder Bring Him Home
Open Bitch
- Benton’s Brackenhaye Queen of Hearts of Oakestelle
Gleaming elegant tricolour bitch, lovely strong front pasterns which made my eyes light up! She is shown in really beautiful condition, and although isn’t the most flashily marked with a ‘look at me’ personality, she is handled so sympathetically to show her overall balance and many qualities. Her head is clean, elegant and refined, I love her type. Her expression is just lovely coming from that optimal balance and proportion in head and backskull, correct earset, an eye that is dark, well shaped and set that exudes an enquiring kindness. Her height to length ratio pleased my eye and she moved with understated soundness, style and grace around the ring; I couldn’t fault her from any angle on construction or movement. BB, BOB and on the decision of the BIS judge on the day, BIS.
2. Moore’s Blamorder Ridin’ on a Rainbow to Manordeifi
There is always one you could sit and cuddle after the judging is finished and this lovely lady had the most beautiful temperament. I could barely see her eyes as she was so busy smiling at me. Underneath a few too many pounds, which did affect her movement, especially at the front, is a very nicely proportioned bitch of good type, with a refined and elegant head and good flat skull.
Veteran D/B
- Benton’s CH Oakestelle Venus de Milo VW
9 y/o blue lady, and belying her years still. She is elegant and lithe and her movement is effortless in profile, she holds her topline beautifully as she glides around the ring.
Absolutely at one with her handler and making for a lovely picture. Lovely ear carriage and expression, yes I would like more moulding to her foreface but this does not stop her being fit for function or detract from her overall appeal. RBB, BVB, BVIB & on the decision of the BIS judge, BVIS.
2. AM GR CH/CAN GR CH Cardross Red Dirt Road to Blamorder
Well there is no denying that this rich sable dog is a dog, he has masculinity oozing from his very being. He is an athlete, a powerhouse, and was shown beautifully and in outstanding muscular condition. He glides around the ring with reach and drive and just draws your eye again and again as he is so perfectly balanced and in proportion but for me, you can have a little too much of a good thing. I will be honest, I was surprised how much I liked this dog’s head, but again, for me it was just a little too much hands on, and I would prefer a more (slightly) perceptible stop and almond eye. All of that said, I am glad to have had the chance to go over him and think he has plenty to offer. RBD, BVD, RBVIB.
3. Moore’s Tomalca Buttons ‘n’ Bows at Manordeifi
Hannah Walder (Hanvale)
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