Rough Collies.

I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge Rough Collies with CC’s for the first time and thank the exhibitors for the good entry.
I was looking for exhibits that like the standard calls for, showed “impassive dignity” and “free from cloddiness”, but in some classes this was hard to find. It was said that I was putting up “old fashioned” collies, but as far as I am aware the standard has not changed and they should still have a clean wedge head with a slight but perceptible stop, not a short two piece head with a definite stop. Another thing lacking in many exhibits was length of neck. Without this it is hard to achieve elegance. Many will disagree but this is my interpretation of the standard.
Presentation on the whole was OK, but good handling and use of the ring from many exhibitors was poor. You pay good money to enter and get to a show so please give your selves every chance when you get into the ring.

 

MPD (4 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: HASSOCK Mrs A Camanna Charcoal. Well presented 8 mth Tri who won this class on his movement. Nice dark eye giving sweet expression. Well off for bone. Correct angulations front and rear which allowed him to move with ease.
2nd: BLAKE Miss M J Corydon Spot The Driffrence. Very raw but with good shape. Head needs to develop. Nice size but needs time to mature and settle on the move.
3rd: POINTON Mrs D Aldreen Innuendo
PD (4 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: GEDDES Mr J N & Mrs V Ingledene Legend In Black.  This good sized tri has plenty of quality and was balanced through out. Long clean head, well place eyes of good shape. Flat back skull which was lacking in many. Ears still need to raise a touch to complete the perfect look. Firm neck leading to body of correct proportions, which allowed him to move freely. BPD.
2nd: MUIR Mr R G & Mrs D I Shandlmain Eclipse for Rayawna. Good head, but ears need to settle. Very good front. His movement was OK but could be improved with more training.
3rd: BOYLE Dr L W Danfrebek True Dreams over Barrenclough
JD (8 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: GEDDES Mr J N & Mrs V Ingledene Legend In Black
2nd: WHITE Mrs J Mejola My Blue Harlequin. B/m with lovely shape and balance. Head of good length but still needing to develop. Nice firm neck leading to good shoulders, level topline and correct rear construction. Movement from behind positive but needs to tighten on the front. Handled well.
3rd:  HARTLEY Mr & Mrs G Zolkhan Jazz Singer To Roanburn
324 YD (5 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: KILLEEN Mrs A Kalimera Makka Pakka. This 17 mth S/w has a beautifully balanced head, clean cheeks and well placed dark eye and well set ears all giving the perfect expression. Not over masculine, but there is no doubting his gender. Overall a good shape, but would prefer more bone and not in the best bloom. Movement was steady if a little lethargic.  He is at the worst age but will watch with interest to see how he matures.
2nd: WHITE Mrs J Mejola My Blue Harlequin
3rd:  MILLIGAN Mr A S & Mrs J E Alfsdens Hallelujah
PGD (13 Entries) Abs: 3
1st: HOWARD Mrs C J Corydon Look At Me From Shandlmain. By far the best moving dog in the class. Super clean head with kind eyes and well set, used ears. Firm neck, correct construction throughout with well set tail and nice turn of stifle. Although he is masculine I would have preferred him to be a shade bigger. Another like so many who had left their best coat at home, but could not be denied the class.
2nd: KELLY Mrs J L Pelido Kind Of Magic. 3 yrs good upstanding tri in good coat and condition. Masculine head of good length and super dark eyes. Ear slightly heavy. Well off for bone and substance. Moved and handled well. Tail set acceptable.
3rd: JONES, Mr C L & Mrs E A & JONES Mr D G & Mrs E L Rossavon Tuxedo With Dancol
LD (12 Entries) Abs: 2
A very nice class with some quality exhibits that I am sure would swap places with each other on another day. Not much to separate the first three all having many virtues’ in different areas.
1st: ARROWSMITH Ms C E Saganan Aristotle. Tri presented to perfection and handled equally. I would have preferred a cleaner head but apart from that there was not much to dislike about this tri boy. Long strong neck leading to correct front and firm level top line, well ribbed and well muscled rear quarters. Coat jet black and gleaming. His handler made full use of the ring to enable her exhibit to have every chance of winning the class.
I was told later she is was a top handler in other breeds and it showed and should be used as an example to newcomers on how to get the most from their exhibits.
2nd: BEARDSWORTH Mr D & Mrs M Maysinder Pride Of Athens. I really liked this nearly 6 yrs blue who continued to catch my eye. He has the most beautiful lean, clean head with eyes the give a very soft expression. He has the length and balance throughout that I was looking for and a long arched neck to complete the picture. Profuse coat of clear silvery blue colour. Handled well but could be more positive on the move which just cost him first place.
3rd: HARVEY Mr K J & Mrs A Wicani What's New Pussycat
OD (13 Entries) Abs: 4
Another class filled with quality giving me the honour to judge some of the top winnings Rough males in the country.
1st: BARRETT Mr S V & Mrs A J Ch Brooklynson From Rio. This s/w when viewed in profile presents the perfect silhouette of the breed standard. He displays balance throughout and is all male. Long lean head, beautifully rounded muzzle with darkest of eyes with that willing to please expression. Flat in back skull with ears well set and used. Fantastic reach of neck that he uses to his advantage. When viewed from the front, legs strong and straight with ample bone. Body of correct length to height ratio’s and correctly angulated shoulders and rear. Tail well set. Presented to perfection, handled and moved very well. Today probably looking as good as I have ever seen him. CC.
2nd: GEDDES Mr J N & Mrs V Ch & Ir Ch Ingledene Late Nite Legend JW. This shaded s/w is not as flashy as 1, but has quality throughout. Clean well balanced head of good length. Correct eye shape, but could be darker. Well used neat ears. Not the reach of neck as Rio, but fits his overall shape and balance. Well off for bone, great spring of rib.
As with most dogs I have judged from this kennel he is so well put together which showed in his effortless movement round the ring. In good coat that was equally well groomed. Res. CC.
3rd: BLAKE Mr J & Mrs B J Ch Demelewis Dark Moon Driftin Over Corydon JW
MPB (11 Entries) Abs: 2
 A very nice class of young babies with not much to separate the first 3.
1st: STEVENS Mrs M A Boughlee Winter Blues. Very mature and eye catching blue of 8 months but belying her age for showmanship. Correct length all over from her lean head to her long well set tail. Eyes not as sweet as 2, but should sweeten as her head develops.
Once again a lovely arch of neck. Handled well. Movement good, just needs to tighten on the rear. BP 
2nd: BARRETT Mr S V & Mrs A J Brooklynson Martini. Close up was this very pretty s/w of similar age as 1, but not quite as mature. Beautifully moulded muzzle and good shaped sweet eye. Well place ears. Well off for bone and substance. Shown in super coat and condition. Moved well when she put her mind to it.
3rd: NEWMAN Mrs L Corydon La Caprita
PB (4 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: DUFFIELD, Mr G & GRAINGER, Miss A & BEADEN Miss Samhaven Champers.  For Angelfield. Very flashy s/w with profuse coat, which did not enhance her outline. Pretty eye and expression, nicely rounded muzzle and good well used ears. Moved ok considering the handler was feeling unwell, but I am sure she felt better after this win gave her points to complete her JW. Congratulations.
2nd: BOYLE, Dr L W & EVANS Mrs C Carristina Celestial Dawn. Another pretty s/w, good neck, adequate angulations, good turn of stifle. Move ok.
3rd: MAKEPEACE Mr & Mrs B Lynaire Dancing On Ice
JB (8 Entries) Abs: 2
1st: MACDONALD Mrs R Rossavon Dream Come Blue. Really liked this 12 mth b/m. Completely balanced throughout and shown to perfection, which further enhanced her many qualities. Good length of head, clean well rounded muzzle and the required amount of stop. Nice eye and expression. Ears still need to tighten slightly. Strong neck and shoulders, ample bone, good level topline that she held well on the move, which was effortless. Should have a very bright future.
2nd: DREWERY Miss S M Demelewis Fable Moon Over Elshadene. 17 mth Tri with much to like about her. Body of good length and shape with plenty of substance. Well angulated fore and aft. Not quite the head of 1. Another good mover.
3rd: BEARDSWORTH Mr D & Mrs M Wicani New Dreams To Hold For Maysinder
YB (6 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: MACDONALD Mrs R Rossavon Dream Come Blue
2nd: MELLISH Miss M Demelewis Mooncatcher. Litter sister to 2nd in previous class and very similar in shape and make and head. Needs to tighten on the front.
3rd: HARVEY Mr K J & Mrs A Wicani Love On Blue Fridays
PGB (11 Entries) Abs: 3
A very difficult class as the first three all had quality 2 & 3 refused to show it off.
1st: JESSOP Miss C Mysticteam Winter Skies. Just edged the class on her eagerness to show herself off. 2 yrs Tri. Not the biggest but very well balanced throughout. Sweet head and eye and well used ears. Very well constructed quarters that enabled her to move freely, handled well.
2nd: POINTON Mrs D Aldreen Now I'm Here. Another very balance tri, of correct body length and once again well angulated. Moved extremely well but refused to make the most of herself and was unsettled.
3rd: HOFFMAN Mrs T Londer Sweet Love
LB (13 Entries) Abs: 2
I have been reading a forum lately on whether or whether to not show dogs out of coat. My view is that the coat does not change the dog, but can enhance it or indeed too much or incorrect coat can ruin the appearance and make the dogs look stuffy.
I am so glad that exhibitors in this class chose to bring dogs without coat as my first three had all decided to leave it at home, but their quality was enough to gain their places.
1st: HARVEY, Mr K & Mrs A & MCGRATH Miss Y Seryphina Dance Of The Raven Moon. Very feminine but not too small tri. Clean lean head with sweet eye and an eager to please expression. Good neck leading to firm shoulders with adequate front construction. Very level topline of good length,  perfect balance between rib and loin.
Nice croup and rear assembly. One of the best movers of the day and handled equally as well. If she had been in coat then who knows…
2nd: STEVENS Mrs M A Boughlee Wannabe a Star. Daughter of third in Open & Very similar in type to 1, but this time a blue. 2 yrs old but still has maturing to do. Eye catching silvery blue colour which will only enhance her when back in coat. Like 1, moved very well round the ring.
3rd: MACDONALD Mrs R Rossavon Angel In Disguise
OB (18 Entries) Abs: 8
1st: GEDDES Mr J N & Mrs V Ch & Ir Ch Black Gary La Dame Chere at Ingledene.
What can I say other than absolutely stunning. I could not take my eyes of this elegant lady who oozed quality throughout. A clean head so well balance and with the sweetest, gentle expression. Neat well set and used ears. Beautifully arched neck leading to a body of perfect size and balance. Correct angulations all round and well set tail.
Her movement was equally as pleasing on the eye, so light and effortless. She already had a reputation and I can see why. CC & BOB, and an absolute thrill on my first CC appointment to see her win a very strong group.
2nd: MILLIGAN Mr A S & Mrs J E Alfsden Hakuna Matata Sh.CM. I have always liked this 5 yrs Tri from the first time I watched her win her first, but hopefully not her last CC. Nice size and shape. Balanced head, with just the right amount of stop and chiselling under the eye. Super dark eyes giving a look at me expression. Ample strong neck and very good quarters. Good spring of rib and well set tail. In good bloom and showing well. She comes alive on the move with great reach and drive. So unlucky to have to come up against 1, but hopefully her day will come. RCC.
3rd: STEVENS Mrs M A Boughlee After Midnight

 

Nick Smith
Judge