COLLIES (SMOOTH) JUDGING CRITIQUE BY MIRANDA BLAKE

I thoroughly enjoyed my first CC appointment in this breed, and I feel I must say several thankyous. First of all to my intrepid stewards, Mr & Mrs Sewell, who worked tirelessly and efficiently in spite of the difficult windy conditions. Next to the exhibitors, who gave me a lovely entry of 39, of whom only 2 bitches were absent. They gamely ran round the less than flat ring and accepted all my placings with good grace. Finally to the committee of NW&PBS for their invitation and hospitality on the day.

I have always found judging smooths very enjoyable; because they do not have a huge coat to hide anatomical problems behind, they are in the main far sounder than their rough counterparts. The same applies to head qualities – without the excess coat around the skull that hides a multitude of sins in roughs, the smooths need to have a clean head with no depth of skull. This was the norm rather than the exception – the complete opposite of roughs these days.

I was really pleased with my line ups for the CCs – the majority of the exhibits were under 3 years old, and the quality of these dogs was very promising indeed for this breed’s future.

Puppy Dog (2,0)
1st: Moores’ MANORDEIFI SHADOW CHASER. What a promising 10 month tri. He had a wonderful eye shape and placement giving an excellent expression, with his alert ears. His head was balanced, with a well-moulded foreface. He needs to flatten in skull yet, but time is on his side. He was of a good size and bone, with strong legs, well angulated shoulder and good spring of rib. He had a good length of back, with a firm loin, good bend of stifle and well let down hocks. He moved very soundly and had a delightful character. To be picky I would like his coat a little blacker, but that could improve as he matures. Was delighted to award him BPIB and I shall watch his future keenly.
2nd: Henderson’s NORCIS AIR OF MYSTERY. Another really promising tri puppy. Again, of good size and substance, with a better black coat than the winner. His head was balanced, but not as well moulded in foreface. He had a lovely reach of neck, but a slightly steep upper arm. His rear was well angulated and very well muscled, but the slight lack of angulation at the front caused him to crab slightly on the move. However he is still growing, so this should just be a phase he is going through. He was excellently trained and showed his heart out.

Junior Dog (2,0)
1st: Hutchings’ COLLIDACH MOLLONEY TA TU YOU. 12 months tri with a lovely head. So well-balanced and well moulded, with a flat skull and slight but perceptible stop. His well-shaped and placed dark eyes and alert ears gave him a wonderful expression. Another well put together boy, with correct bone and in good body condition. Well angulated fore and aft, he powered round the ring with ease. I wish his coat was a touch blacker, but that may come with time.
2nd: West’s ALOPEX OYSTERMAN. Yet another promising young tri. It is so good for the breed, as tris are the most important for maintaining good tones in all the three colours. This lad’s head needs to settle, as he was quite high above the eyes. He was a better black than the winner, but his coat was a little dull and he could have been in better body condition. But he was well made and very sound.

Post Graduate Dog (4,0)
1st: Norman & Ratcliffe’s EASY LISTENING AT SEANUA. This sable really is from the top drawer. I don’t think I will ever see a better head on a sable smooth male. He was quite a big boy, and his head fitted his body well. There was absolutely no depth in skull, and he was so clean through the cheeks with super moulding of foreface, a flat skull and slight but perceptible stop. His obliquely set dark almond eyes, when combined with all of the above plus his tight, alert ears, gave him such a noble yet intelligent expression. His front angulation was correct, with a forechest and good wither, as well as a super reach of neck. He had a good length of back and rear angulation and moved with drive. He now needs to settle in himself, plus have plenty of opportunities for galloping to firm up his topline, and then he could be one of the greats. I was very pleased to award him the RCC in a super line up.
2nd: Page’s NORFIELD OH WHAT A KNIGHT.  Another super type of sable. So elegant yet masculine. Again, a super clean head, which just needs time to finish developing. He had a wonderful outgoing temperament – sometimes a little too outgoing! He was well constructed and when he was sensible he moved with purpose and drive around the ring.
3rd: Evans’ SOUTHCOMBE STARMAN.

Limit Dog (5,0)
1st: McKenna & Bardill’s MACGEES STREET SPIRIT AT PLAISANCE (IMP). A really lovely tri dog, with a quality head. I liked its balance, correct planes, excellent eyes and ears, giving a very intelligent expression. I would prefer a touch more refinement in back skull and a richer tan. He was a good size and well constructed, with correct angulation fore and aft. He moved with drive round the ring, and I seriously considered him for top honours.
2nd: Woodstock’s SHULUNE IMPERIAL GUARD AT HYLAIRD. A very imposing 13 month sable – a super size and type. He had a clean, balanced head, correct eyes and alert ears. He had a super reach of neck, and a well-balanced body shape. He was very full of himself, and needs to settle down on the move to fulfil his potential.
3rd: French’s DEVERN FIRST PRIME.

Open Dog (3,0)
1st: Lister’s CH ERIDOR IM MR BLU AT NEWARP (IMP). Mature 5 year old blue with the substance I was looking for. He had the best forechest and spring of rib – so important for heart and lung room. I loved his superb oblique eye set, flat skull, moulded foreface and correct slight but perceptible stop. He was well angulated and constructed all through, and moved with an excellent forward reach. Top this off with perfect blue colour and glamorous markings and there was the dog CC winner. In the challenge for BOB he was a little sluggish on the move and the bitch won out.
2nd: Griffiths’ ALOPEX MATT FINISH. Very sound tri lad of a lighter type. He was well constructed, with a good lay of shoulder, reach of neck, wither, length of back and bend of stifle. He moved with excellent reach and drive, maintaining his level topline. His head was balanced, with a well moulded foreface. I found him to be a tad deep in stop.
3rd: Trundley’s LILYMEAD AGAMENNON.

Puppy Bitch (3, 0)
1st:  Moores’ MANORDEIFI SILVER SPARKLE. 10 month blue with a lovely feminine head – so clean, without any depth. She was the correct size, with super bone and firm front pasterns. Her front and hind angulation were good, she had correct length of back and moved with forward reach and rear drive around the bumpy ring. Her blue colour was the only disappointment, and I hope it clears as she matures.
2nd: Baker’s MANORDEIFI SATIN ‘N’ LACE AT TOMALCA. Tri sister of winner, of a very similar feminine size and type. Her foreface was not as well moulded as her sister’s, but she moved beautifully and was at one with her handler.
3rd: Moore’s MANORDEIFI SAPPHIRE DAWN.

Junior Bitch (8, 1)
1st: Norman & Ratcliffe’s FOXEARTH FASHIONED IN BLACK. A very smart upstanding tri in excellent condition – certainly the best presented on the day. At just 13 months she has some maturing to do – I would prefer more forechest, which a litter could provide. However, her balanced head, with excellent eyes, ears and expression, plus her balanced body shape and sound movement meant that she pushed hard in the challenge.
2nd: Fort’s SHULUNE IMPERIAL LEGACY. A very smart sable of a lighter type, who needs time to develop in body and head. She had absolutely no depth in head, and I loved the clean lines. Another well constructed and sound youngster – with so much potential for the breed.
3rd: Coates’ ALOPEX BLUE MOON.

Post Graduate Bitch (4, 0)
1st: Giddings ALL THAT JAZZ AT RYECOMBE. A lovely tri with a super reach of neck. Her conformation was excellent, and she moved with forward reach and rear drive, maintaining a super level topline – so nice to see. Her head was balanced with a nicely moulded foreface, but not quite the refinement in skull as the top winners in the challenge.
2nd: Burton’s GLENCORRIE SUNSATIONELLE.  Another really lovely bitch – this time a sable with a blaze that did not detract from her expression. Her head was balanced, with well placed and shaped dark eyes and alert ears giving an inquisitive expression. Not quite as elegant as the winner, but still very well put together and so sound.
3rd: Purvey’s FREEJACK A TOUCH OF MAGIC.

Limit (4,0)
1st: Hartley’s FOXEARTH SILVER DREAM AT JIMJACK ShCM. Very elegant and feminine blue, of good colour and well broken markings. Her head was balanced, with clean lines, no depth, flat back skull and correct stop. Her eye could be a shade more obliquely set, but her alert ears and keenness to show made up for that. Her conformation was excellent, with a good lay of shoulder ensuring good front reach while moving. I would not want her any lighter in body or bone, but she was balanced throughout. Pleased to award her the RCC in an excellent line up. With maturity, I’m sure she will go all the way.
2nd: McKenna’s SHULUNE IMPERIAL; FLOWER OF PLAISANCE. Very smart upstanding sable with a super reach of neck. However, I found her upper arm a little short and steep which resulted in a lack of forechest and front reach on the move. Her head was delightful – so clean and free of depth or coarseness, with a correctly shaped and placed dark eye, giving an alert yet feminine expression. Another top quality bitch.
3rd: Moores’ MANORDEIFI SILVADORA.

Open (4, 1)
1st: Giddings’ FOXEARTH GOLD FILLIGREE. Almost 4 year old rich red sable who took my eye as she entered the ring. I loved her size and substance, her excellent construction and angulation, with a super forechest and depth of chest. She had a super reach of neck, a good wither, firm back and well defined loin muscles. A good bend of stifle and well let down hocks completed the picture. Her head was wonderful – so nice to see a text book example of the standard – no depth or coarseness, parallel planes, clean lines, good underjaw and well moulded throughout. Excellent dark eyes, well set and alert ears combined to give a sweet, feminine expression. In the class she was unsettled on the move, yet in the bitch challenge she got herself together and moved with grace and agility and I was thrilled to award her the CC – which I later discovered to be her third – well done! In the BOB challenge, her showmanship and sprightliness won through, and I was so happy to hear that she was deservedly shortlisted in the Group.
2nd: Gay’s MANORDEIFI SAPPHIRE MIST AT YAGANE. Very sound blue with a wonderful rich tan – quite rare to find on a blue. Another really well put together bitch, balanced all through and so sound on the move – a pleasure to see. Her head was balanced and well moulded, but a little broader and deeper  in skull than I’d like.
3rd: Burton’s CH GLENCORRIE BEGORGEOUS.

MIRANDA BLAKE