Smooth Collie Club of Great Britain

Open Show August 2021

I had eagerly been looking forward to judging the Smooth Collie Club show. One of my favourite breeds in the Pastoral Group and always a pleasure to judge, the show didn’t disappoint. A great entry no doubt helped by being back to back with the Club Ch show and the enormous effort that was evident the Committee had put in to make the ‘Special Anniversary’ event such a success. Overall, there was quality to be found throughout the entry. Heads were generally good. Nearly all were well proportioned with a well placed, moderate stop. Eye shape seems to have improved and most ear set, size and carriage were ok. General conformation was also pretty even which became evident on the move, particularly from profile, many having a good depth of stride. Couple of things I noted; some lacked body, particularly the youngsters. A couple of factors could be that a number of breeds in our Group are notoriously difficult to keep body on. They are live-wires as adolescents and most don’t mature fully until 3 to 4 years of age. We are also going through quite an intense clump of shows, squeezed together due to the pandemic. This too can take its toll on our dogs. When we would normally leave some youngsters at home to mature fully, so many missed out on valuable socialisation periods, so feel it is more beneficial to get them out. This brings me on to my next point, temperaments, which were absolutely excellent in all. None were shy or retiring and all seemed to enjoy the day as much as their owners! Thanks to the Committee for the invitation and hospitality and to the exhibitors for staying on and entering the afternoon show. A real garden party atmosphere, good dogs, owners and a pleasant lunch with like-minded company. The perfect day!

MPD (1) 1st Blamorder Opulence At Himinnsaga. Approaching 9 month old blue baby. Quite forward for his age. Pleases in head, good wedge with a well placed stop and flat skull. Ears of correct size and tipped. Moderate neck. Good layback of shoulder but a bit steep in upperarm. Excellent body shape and proportions. Good quarters. Colour well broken. Moved freely. BPD.

PD (1) 1st Oakestelle God Of Mischief. Medium sized tri boy. A bit fine all through at present but has plenty of time on his side. Good head, excellent eye shape and expression. Ears well set and used. Good conformation. Moved well in all directions with a well carried tail. Deep black colour with rich tan markings.

JD (2) 1st Brackenhaye Lionheart. Tri of great promise. Only young but already very mature in body and muscletone. Good clean wedge head of pleasing length and proportions. Moderate, well placed stop. Almond eye, nicely placed ears. Good reach of neck. Balanced angulation front and back. Holds a firm topline at all times. Looks like he could do a good day’s work. Well presented double coat. Moved out with a reachy, open stride. 2 nd Stormsett Shadow Dancer Via Capriona. Another young tri of excellent colour and richest of tan markings. Excellent head piece. High set, well used, tipped ears. Moderate reach of neck. A touch straight in front but has good body proportions and a moderately angled rear. Still to mature fully and generally body-up. Sound, easy mover

PG (3) 1st Shandlmain Blu Chief. Well grown, masculine blue merle. Pleasing head, shows strength without any coarseness. Well placed, moderate stop. Good eye shape and colour. Ears well set and used. Good reach and arch of neck, Well laid shoulder and return of upperarm. Firm topline. Short, muscular loin. Good hindquarters. Slightly sloping croup leading to a low set tail. Moved with reach and drive. 2 nd Foxearth Fly Forward. Medium sized sable of excellent type. Equally pleasing in head and expression. Soundly made all through with substance and bone to compliment his frame. Good croup, low set and carried tail. Moved very well once he got into his stride. Well presented double coat.

LD (2) 1st Jack Mack’s Va Buidhinn Of Shandlmain. Masculine tri of good type and height to length proportions. Pleasing enough in head. Excellent eye colour and sweet expression. Medium neck. Balanced angles front and back. Deep, functional chest. Can settle further out and back but has a good length of stride from profile. Well handled and presented.

OD (5) Lovely class, quality right down the line. 1 st Ch Breckamore By Design. Outstanding blue of lovely clear colour and well broken markings. Super head, clean wedge with a well placed stop. Good eye shape and ear set and carriage. Excellent reach and arch of neck, extenuated by a full white collar. Good front and rear angles. Deep chest. Excellent body, good croup, mature and in hard condition. Quality bone and stands on functional feet. Moved well out and back and really covered the ground from profile. Looked a picture on the day and was pleased to award him BD and BIS. 2 nd ESP/PT/GIB/INT Ch. Winter Is Coming To Tentola. Another mature blue. Equally good in outline and appeals for his masculine outlook and strength but not overdone in anyway. Good head, eye and ears. Super body and muscletone. Not quite the length of stride of 1st, but an excellent Ch that is absolutely sound in all directions. Good colour, well broken markings. Keen showman that works well with his handler. RBD.

PB (3) 1st Shandlmain’s Sofistikate. Pretty, feminine tri. Lovely type and appeals greatly in head, dark almond eye giving a sweet expression and overall outline. Well bodied and in good double coat that was beautifully put down and a good colour. Moved out well, once settled, with reach and drive. Well set and carried tail. Should have a good future. BPB & BPIS. 2 nd Shandlimain’s Shuri With Sturtmoor. Litter sister to 1st and quite similar in many aspects. Slightly larger built overall but still feminine. Equally appealing in head and eye but ears need to settle further. Good conformation and a sound mover.

JB (3) 1st Brackenhaye Heart And Soul. Really beautiful young tri that took my eye when she entered the ring. Lovely, feminine size with good bone. Still to mature fully in body but gives off a balanced outline. Loved her clean, wedge shaped head. Excellent eye. Well placed tipped ears, used at all times to enhance her expression. Good conformation which was reflected on the move, covers the ground with an effortless stride. One for the future. RBB. 2 nd Brackenhaye Heartbreaker At Shandlmain. Litter sister to 1st. Liked her overall type and size. Excellent bone and feet. Good wedge head with a moderate well placed stop. Good neck leading to a sound front. More mature in body than 1st, and uses her rear well to drive around the ring. Close-up but not quite the length of stride from profile

YB (1) 1st Brackenhaye Queen Of Hearts Of Oakestelle. Yet another tri from, what must have been, a super litter. Similar all through to her siblings. Equally appealing, feminine size. Liked her head, eye, ear set and carriage. Good neck. Well balanced angles. Free mover with a low carried tail. In good double coat and condition.

PGB (2) 1st Cownbred Northern Xclusive. Strongly-built tri but still no mistaking her gender. Liked her head. Ear set a touch wide but tipped and a good size and shape. Good proportions with a moderate stop. Almond, dark eye. Pleasing in body and muscle. Free, easy mover covering the ground well. LB (6) 1st Blamorder Sunny Sky. Pretty sable that excels in head properties. Good length, stop and a good underjaw. Lovely dark eye giving a melting expression. Ears used to advantage. Moderate neck. Well laid shoulder and upperarm with corresponding rear. Carrying a bit too much weight but appealing for type and proportions. Moved soundly but could be a touch more animated. Thick, double coat. 2 nd Coneypark Golden Brown. Another pleasing sable that ran the winner close. Liked her sound breed type and is good to go over on the stack, particularly pleasing in reach of neck giving some elegance to her outline. Excellent head and outlook and no mistaking her gender. Moved very well from profile but can firm-up a bit going away. Well presented coat and handled to best advantage.

OB (4) 1st Wynele Alice Blue Gown With Breckamore. Super blue merle. So well balanced and of great type. Bang-on for size with quality bone and plenty of substance but no mistaking her gender. Excellent head. Good wedge, stop and moulded muzzle. Almond shape eye. Excellent ear set, size and carriage. Long, reachy neck. Deep, functional chest. Well angled both ends giving her the ability to extend and drive around the ring. Super colour and markings. Pushed her kennel mate all the way for the top spot…close decision for BIS. Thought they looked a great pair in the challenge. Gather she has recently gained her title. Congratulations! BB. RBIS & BOS. 2 nd Ir Ch. Blamorder Jelly Bean Queen For Slievemac. Another quality blue. Slightly smaller and finer built than 1st. Feminine, shapely head. Good ear set and carriage. Reachy neck. Handles well on the stack with her sound conformation. Easy mover. SP.

Veteran B (7) 1st Oakestelle Venus De Milo. 8 year old finer-built blue merle. Pleases in head. Clean wedge. Excellent almond eye. High set tipped ears. Good neck. Moderately angled both ends. Typical outline. In hard condition. Moved very well, particularly from profile with a good open stride. Excellent colour, a clear, silvery blue and well broken markings. She always shows so well for her handler and they make a great team. BVB & BVIS. Well done. 2 nd Jack Mack’s Hefin Hew. Another lovely veteran. 9 years old and gave a pleasing account of herself, just carrying a bit too much weight now. Stronger in head than 1st. Good ear and eye. Typical expression. Soundly made. Good bone. Moved well. Sp.

Vintage B (3) 1st Ch. Manordeifi Satin Doll Of Koczkodan. 12 year old tri still looking well and in lovely condition. Excellent head, eye, ear set and carriage. Still so good to go over on the stack. Understandably, at her age, now losing her topline at times and a touch loose on the move but what a great ambassador and shows how well the breed can mature into later years. Thank you for bringing her. 2 nd Multi Ch. Kangasvuokon Venice. Sable girl of 11 years and another super veteran. Loved her head and expression. Well bodied. Excellent colour. Moved ok. Enjoying her day in the ring.

Darren Clarke (Judge