My thanks to the committee for their kind invitation to judge Rough Collies for the second time, the breed in which I have been so deeply involved in for over 50 years, ….. I regard this as a great honour!.

Quality, I have to say was very mixed, there were some absolutely superb classes, notably Open, which was fantastic, but some classes I can only describe as mediocre.

Notable changes in the past few years are the return of gay tails, not a feature I like to see on any Collie, but particularly in bitches, also some of the exhibitors when asked to do a triangle, set off running at top speed around the ring, which does not improve the movement at all.

Just a little practice at home, to get the correct pace for the dog to move at would certainly be a great advantage.

Veteran: 14 (5) 1. Harvey 's Ch. Wincani Darling Buds of May

A most lovely type of merle in superb condition, lovely head type, sweet expression, neat ears which she used continually, she is beautifully balanced with correct angulation, and this really showed when she was asked to move. I can never recall an 11 year old move with such grace and freedom.

2. Bedford 's Ch. Sachenda Strawberree Rose JW

Another top class exhibit, this lovely sable was a pleasure to go over, correct head with parallel planes, good stop, flat skull, and she has an especially sweet expression, she covers the ground with great style, just unlucky to meet the winner in such form.

3. Golds Lositana Rosie Prospect JW

Not quite in the same coat and condition as 1 & 2 but nevertheless a quality bitch, she appeals in head type. Correct dark eye, giving a sweet expression, very good well placed ears and the loveliest reach of neck and overall body shape, well turned stifle and moved with real purpose, well deserving of her placing.

 

Special Puppy Bitch 18 (3) 1. Grainger's Samhaven Moet

A most beautiful bright golden sable puppy of 11months with all the glamour, has all the qualities one could ask for at this age, good for size, well bodied, good spring of rib, correct in height to length ratio, well turned stifle and correctly carried tail & moved with ease. Her head type is pleasing with a rounded foreface and well placed stop combining with her well placed eye dark almond eye gave a beautiful expression. Presentation as always from this exhibitor was quite superb. BEST PUPPY IN BREED.

2. Grainger's Samhaven Crystal

No surprise to find this was litter sister to the winner as they are almost identical with the same virtues, she is slightly smaller and just not quite as good when moving, but a pair of puppies any breeder would be proud to own.

3. Llewllyn's Roanburn Blush at Salasina

Yet another quality puppy, not quite the coat of the two above but certainly deserved her placing in this strong class, she is good in head which was well balanced, clean stop, well placed an used ears, good reach of neck, excellent turn of stifle and correctly carried tail, another who was well presented.

 

Special Junior Bitch 15 (2) 1. Oliver's Camanna Chit Chat

Tricolour with rich tan markings shown in very good coat and condition, well developed body and good bone, I especially liked her head type, she has beautiful dark almond eye this together with flat skull & well placed ears which she used constantly, gave a very sweet outlook, perhaps her movement could have been more positive at times, and her coat is showing rust overtones over her hindquarters, but this did not take anything away from her overall quality, and was the deserving winner of this class.

2. Grainger's Samhaven True Colours

Sable in full coat which was beautifully presented, good body and bone and she has a lovely sweet dark eye, skull is flat but I would like to see a little more length in head, showed her well placed ears all the time, as all from this kennel do, today I found her a little loose in movement but she is full of collie type and quality.

3. South's Carristina Femme Fatale Del Uffspring JW

Not the same type as the two above her but she is pleasing overall and has the same quality, good head pattern, nice eye and expression, moved quite well covering some ground. Deserved her placing in this class.

 

Yearling B. 18 (4) 1. Smiths Aldermeade Kirsten Dunst

A very high quality young bitch, r/s with superb confirmation, I really liked her head type, with beautifully moulded foreface, well filled flat skull, correctly shaped and placed dark eye, she has a good reach of neck, level topline and very good hind angulation, moved well carrying her tail down, today she did not try as hard as I have seen her previously. should have a bright future.

2. Coulson's Bluechip Secret Skye JW

Very pleasing sable not carrying quite the wealth of coat of the winner, she has many of the virtues of 1, good head type, well filled foreface nice dark eye, good neck and shoulder, moved with some style. Well presented.

3. Tame's Rahlissa Aint Misbehavin

Completed a trio of attractive bitches, pleasing head, flat skull, moulded forface, pleasant eye, giving an attractive expression, she has good length of neck and rear angulation, moved freely.

 

Undergraduate Bitch 12 (5) 1. Blake's Corydon Copperita

Was a stand out winner in what was a rather weak class.

G/S Very pleasing overall profile, good in body, bone, and she certainly could show off the style when moving, she is not really my type in head and expression, but a nice quality bitch who was very well presented.

2. Little & Hills Buebezi Belle Mystique De Catthyja

Pretty merle not quite in full coat, she had a pleasing head type, and good dark eye, moved quite soundly, but I would have just liked a little more of her.

3. Scott' Eilroy Silver Locket with Aniesh

Another merle, who again was not in full coat, and as a consequence showed quite a lot of daylight underneath her, she has a decent head type and nice well shaped dark eye, good ears and showed quite well, movement was a little erratic at times, but overall deserved her placing.

 

Graduate B. 8 1. Franks Danfrebeck Truly Mady Deeply with Alanite

Top Quality sable who stood away from the competition in this class, possesses all the virtues one could expect, lovely head type, flat skull, correct dark eye giving a beautiful expression, good underjaw, the body outline is first class, wonderful reach of neck, good front & body length, well angulated behind, allowing her to move with great freedom, she was very well presented and permanently responded to her handler. In the challenge she took a richly deserved Reserve CC and should certainly go on and take her title.

2. Coben's Amathus Forget Me Not via Caprioara

Merle not quite in full coat, fairly good in head, good body and bone, she was not as sweet in eye as I would prefer, her movement was reasonable, unfortunately for her, she was up against a real star.

3. Blackburns Emryks Loviing Livin Doll

Sable that had a pleasing expression, good body and bone, again, one who lacked the quality in head of the winner, her movement left something to be desired and the handler struggled to make the most of her.

 

Post Graduate B. 15 (2). 1. Gridley's Lanrue Pollyana JW

Golden Sable bitch who has a great deal of class, good in head, well filled forface, flat skull, nice dark eye, which together with her well placed and used ears, gave the desired expression, she has a very good reach of neck and length of body, emphasised by grooming her fitted coat down over her neck, rather than being brushed forward which tends to be the fashion, good rear angulation, and was expertly presented as always from this kennel, she moved soundly, but tends to be a little happy with her tail at times, overall a very nice bitch.

2. Forrests Eskimuir Sweet Chardonney

Sable shown in top condition, lovely head type moulded forface. Correct stop, lovely sweet dark eye giving a very pleasing expression, she can be a little lazy with her ears, but this did not detract, very good body lines and angulation, moved with drive, a nice type of bitch who should do well.

3. Leverton's Rhodabern Rose Royce

Tricolour with rich tan markings shown in very good coat and condition, good head type with good clean stop, lovely eye, forface and underjaw, showed very well, sufficient neck, good body and bone, good turn of stifle allowing her to move with ease, to be hyper critical I would just like to see a little more length of body, but a good type of bitch.

 

Mid Limit B 14 (4) 1. Graingers Gifted Charm from Samhaven

Another quality bitch from this kennel, has all the virtues one would expect, pleasing in head eye and expression, good underjaw, well placed ears, when she used them, but seemed a little reluctant to do so at times, well sprung ribs, good hindquarters, and well carried tail and sound mover, when viewing her profile I would just prefer to see a little more reach of neck, beautifully groomed.

2. Sibbald's Lynmead Love Me Too at Telforth

One of the very few in today's entry I had seen before, I have always liked her type, clean head correct stop, her eye while well placed could be slightly more almond shaped, but this is a small detail, from an otherwise beautiful bitch, she has the most lovely reach of neck, which together with her correct length of body and excellent rear angulation, gave a true Collie outline, normally I have seen her move freely , but today was reluctant to move out, I am sure she will obtain the recognition of top awards she deserves.

3. Mc Gowans Roughbrigg Red Velvet at Westoak

Red sable, nice quality bitch, good in head, and she has a pleasing eye, shown in profuse coat and good condition

As is usual from this kennel, very well presented good depth of body and rounded bone, using her good neck to show her, good turn of stifle, moving out well.

 

Limit B. 25 (7) 1. Margetts Pellismere Popcorn with Collingvale JW

Really attractive, very pleasing to go over, really has all the essentials, good head, underjaw, a beautifully shaped and placed dark eye, good ears which she used, she is a bitch who responds well to her handler, well developed body and good bone, superb hindquarters with well angulated hocks, good tail carriage and sound moving, I feel she is one who could be destined to go further.

2. Hawkins Brilyn See The Difference

Nice Type, sable perhaps just lacking a little in coat, and slightly finer than the class winner, pleasing head type, good eye and expression, ears are just a little wide set, very good body and overall balance, moved freely. Presentation excellent..

3. Telfords Rixown Ribbons & Bows with Glenbowdene

Good solid type of bitch, pleases in most aspects, her head is good, well filled up under the eyes, with flat skull, good forface lipline and underjaw, pleasant eye and expression, her ears could perhaps have been a little higher and another inch of neck would help the outline, she has a very good body with good depth and spring of rib enhanced by a wealth of coat, which was well put down, Moved with ease

 

Open B. 19 (5) 1. What an absolutely outstanding class this was, with 9 champions present and numerous CC winners, I considered it to be the best class I have ever had the pleasure of judging, and to the exhibitors who did not get a place, can I say, I liked virtually every collie in the class, and there was no disgrace being unplaced in this company, as on another occasion they could take top honours. Just the type of class one hopes to judge at Crufts.

1. Harris's Ch. Carriswillow Legacy

Stunning g/sable right out of the top draw, has everything I could hope to see, when I walked round the ring, as I approached her my heart missed a beat, she has a head like velvet, such a beautifully smooth and moulded wedge, her stop is just in the right place, giving the balance of parallel planes, eyes that give the expression all collie breeders strive for, very good well placed ears, which she uses all the time. She was in superb coat, which was expertly presented and not a hair out of place, good topline neck & shoulder, presenting a lovely overall profile, excellent hind angulation moving soundly with correct tail carriage… Superb!! CC.

2. Grainger's Ch. Samhaven Toast of the Isles at Ribans

Another one of absolute top quality, this sable has an outstanding outline, good head, eye and expression, ears bang on top, and she used them all the time she was in the ring, perhaps not just in quite the same coat as the winner, and is just a shade finer in foreface, moved very well, and handled to enhance the overall picture.

3. Hassocks Ch. Camanna Cindy Crawford

Most beautiful shaded sable, who has lovely dark pigmentation, she is very pleasing in head, good stop, correct dark eye, well filled flat skull, moulded foreface and well placed ears, she has ample neck and very good body covered by a wealth of coat which was well groomed, moved with great confidence and kept her tail down this completed a trio of wonderful bitches.

 

Good Citizens 9 1. South's Carristina Femme Fatale del Uffspring J.W. 3 rd in Special Junior

2. Lists Jonrose Call Me Madam at Jenset

Merle who today was rather out of coat, and I would like to see a clearer colour, has a reasonable head, flat skull showed quite well

3. Boyle's Lanlin Just Fab at Stokedale

Sable who has a good reach of neck and a pleasing outline, unfortunately not in her best coat, quite good in head and sweet expression, moved fairly well.

 

Jack Wigglesworth (Judge)