All Ireland Collie & Sheepdog Society
Breed Championship show 24th August 2008
Judge: Sandra Wigglesworth (Sandiacre)
My thanks go to the officials & committee of the All Ireland Collie& Sheepdog Society for inviting me to judge this lovely show.
It was indeed an honour and privilege to be here in Dublin, as always the welcome and friendliness of everyone was very special, we were fortunate to be blessed by sunny weather in the lovely venue, where the Collies looked their best against the green grass in the sunshine.
The refreshments are quite something else, and I thank Bridget and Henrietta for their splendid efforts, I would certainly add a few kilo’s if I were to enjoy many more of these “goodies”.
I thought the standard of the exhibits was greatly improved since my last visit to Ireland, and I feel that there are some serious breeders that are dedicated to the Rough Collie and their exhibits will be of benefit to the breed in the future.
I was impressed by the presentation in general, although I feel that just one or two need to tidy up the feet and hocks a little bit more, to enhance otherwise very nice exhibits.
My personal Thanks to Ted my Steward, who’s hard work helped things run smoothly.
Baby P D or B most promising , 1. Carr & Colclough’s Bluechip Golden Orchid very nice puppy bitch six months but a day, she has a very nice outline, good neck and shoulder, her movement needs to strengthen a little, she has a lovely head, eye & expression, at the moment her skull needs to flatten which is understandable at this tender age, her feet and hocks would also benefit from trimming.
Puppy Dog
1. Carr & Colclough’s Donohill the Maestro sable, he has a lovely outline, and shown in good coat, he has good turn of stifle and good bone, his movement is a little erratic and needs to strengthen, he has a lovely moulded head, with well placed eye and sweet expression, his ears are a little heavy at the moment, but as he matures and lengthens a little more in head, this should improve. A nicely balanced puppy.
2.Hodsons Edward at Stonetown at Moyhill this boy has excellent body & bone and good coat, he has also a good neck and shoulder, he needs to settle in movement, and did not quite have the eye& expression of 1.
J.DWare’s Call me Dynamite De La Chappelle Aux Andores a 10 mnth Tri who took my eye, he is carrying a wealth of coat, over good bodylines, excellent hindquarters, and v.g.bone he has a beautifully moulded head, with well filled muzzle, good stop & well filled skull, almond eye giving the desired expression, initially he seemed a little unsettled, but responded to my attentions eventually by using his ears, his movement was adequate on the day but could perhaps be more positive, I found out later that his owner had only had the pleasure of owning this boy 8 days previously, therfore considering his imminent arrival, he did very well, in the challenge he was much more settled and responded to his handler, with a little more time to adjust, I feel he will be a great asset to the breed in Ireland. RGS.
Intermediate D.
Conway’s Alwaycon Hip Hop 18months sable with a quality outlook, he has a lovely head ,eye & expression, good stop & ears, he still needs to fill a little more in backskull, he has a good outline and movement, and at eighteen months still needs to develop further in body and I would prefer better hind angulation, also his hocks were rather untidy, with maturity should be a very nice dog.
Adult Dog.
Timmins Kynan Vanilla Sky A 2yr old golden sable of high quality he is a very nice dog, who was shown in full coat, he has an excellent neck & shoulder, clean head with sufficient stop well placed eye giving a sweet expression, neat and well placed ears, and moved out well, I would just prefer him to be a little heavier in body which should come with maturity Green Star Dog and B.O.S..
2.O’ Brien’s Belrah Harry’s Delight at Domlin another 2yr old shaded sable with the most stunning outline, he had a wonderful reach of neck over excellent bodylines, he has a lovely moulded head, with definite stop, well placed eye, and good ear carriage, although he moved out very well, he was somewhat out of coat although he is a dog who will always command attention, unfortunately he is rather proud of his tail.
Well handled.
Champion Dog
1. Seale’s Ch Rowland’s Prince of Belville Another Shaded Sable a very worthy Champion, he has a nice outline and good movement and also possesses a clean moulded head , good ears, and a pleasant eye & expression, he moved very well both in front and behind, with reaching stride in profile, unfortunately he is rather indifferent to the proceedings, and shows little interest, nevertheless an very nice dog.
Puppy Bitch
Farrells Amelie Surprise at Belrah she is so very typical of this affix, she is a lovely sable puppy of 11months, shown in full coat, she is most appealing in head with a very sweet outlook, she has a lovely eye & expression, good stop and superb ears, she has tremendous depth & spring of rib, and moved very well, I feel she is perhaps a little short in body profile for the moment and at this age can give this impression, this is only a minor critism, as most likely as she matures she will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with. Best Pup In Show
2.Roy’s Sachenda Simply Bliss ultra feminine pale sable with excellent overall profile with good length of back super neck and shoulder, and she moved well, she has the most lovely eye & expression, and very well placed neat ears, she just needs to fill up in forface, and mature on in body, as she had not quite the depth in profile of the winner, one should mature well..
Junior Bitch.
1.Petersons Tringsfield Goldfinger at Wassail this was another very feminine bitch she is a lovely size with a very nice head eye & expression, her ears could be a little bit tighter, but she has lovely bodylines and v.g. movement, overall a very nice bitch.
2. Nicholsons Lomondvale Love Bug she is very mature for her fifteen months, she has this superb reach of neck that takes the eye, unfortunately she has lost some of her coat in the middle, moves well, and has excellent depth & spring of rib, most lovely ears, she was not quite as sweet in eye & expression as 1.
IntermediateBitch
1.Hodsons Moyhill Ruby Tuesday this too is a feminine bitch, she has a beautiful neck and outline good hindquarters, nicely moulded head, very good ears showing herself well, she also has a very nice eye & expression and moved out very well.
2 Mc Nally’s Copamage Make it Magic This bitch has a super outline with excellent neck & shoulder, and shown in full coat and showed herself well with good ears, she has very good depth & spring of rib, and moved round the ring with ease she was just not quite as sweet as 1,nevetheless she is a striking bitch who was well handled.
Adult B.
This class was a really lovely class, where it was no disgrace to be unplaced as there were some really high quality bitches on view.
1. Kelly’s Samhaven Suzie’s Affair with Ballahanna this bitch made an instant impact upon me as she entered the ring, she is quality, fully mature,and shown in full coat, which was in excellent condition and possessed all the featherings of a mature bitch.
She has a superb outline, and has all that I like to see in a bitch, she has a superb neck and shoulder excellent hindquarters and good movement, she has a beautiful clean head with correct stop, and lovely eye & expression, and neat well placed ears, which she used to advantage. I was stunned to learn that this is her first green star, in my opinion I feel she is worthy of her Champion title. Green Star & B.I.S.
2.Wall’s Sole Survivor at Dalliyhaa this merle was very similar in profile to the winner, she too is a top quality bitch who is completely finished, she is carrying a wealth of coat over a super outline, excels in neck & shoulder and hind angulation, and moved round the ring with effortless drive, she has a lovely moulded head with correct stop, good eye & expression and good ears, she was most unlucky to meet such outstanding competition today, as I feel she too is worthy of her Champion title.
I would like to comment and congratulate this exhibitor on his attire, he was extremely smart, and complimented his bitch very well, which gave an excellent overall impression.
Champion Bitch.
1..Ch. GBCh & Int Ch. Belrah Casual Surprise there is no doubt that this bitch is an outstanding champion in anyone’s book, and I too can be added to her most ardent admirers, she is so feminine and a lovely size , she has a beautiful head profile with parallel planes and lovely eye & expression good neck & shoulder, excellent depth & spring of rib, and superb hindquarters and moved so soundly and beautifully presented, she is a very worthy Champion and a credit to the breed, it was a very difficult decision for me NOT to award her the GS, it was only my personal preference of the overall length of Suzie’s affair. Res.Green Star
I wish to thank all the exhibitors for the sporting way in which my decisions were accepted. I wish the All Ireland Collie & Sheepdog Club every success in the future.
and may I say as a final note, how nice it was to see Maureen attend the show, we all wish her Good health and Good luck in the future.
Sandra Wigglesworth (Judge)