AYRSHIRE COLLIE CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
9th OCTOBER, 2021
ROUGH COLLIE DOG CRITIQUE

It was a great honour to judge dogs at the show today.  Many thanks to all those involved in the organisation of the show at your lovely new venue.  Thanks also to the ring stewards and Committee for looking after me so well on the day.

I was very fortunate to have some lovely dogs in attendance, who were well groomed and presented.
My dogs in the higher classes could have easily changed places and I did not have enough awards to give.  It was the same in the puppy classes.  These showed much promise, which is pleasing for the future of our breed.   

Minor Puppy Dog
1st           Hawkins/Foy’s Beldones Rocket Man – Upstanding, eight month old sable and white puppy with good length of head and sweet but masculine expression.  Well angulated shoulder placement and good depth of chest.  Strong hindquarters enabling good movement which won him the class.  Very attentive to handler.
2nd          Johnston’s Jopium Front Runner – another promising, eight month old puppy who was more compact than the class winner.  Angulation front and rear was good and he moved out well  He was groomed to perfection with neat feet and presented a good overall profile when standing.

Puppy Dog
1st           Lockyer’s Gataj Out of the Woods – For me today this young puppy had the edge over the different puppies I judged.  Golden sable puppy with the sweetest expression, well placed and used ears.  Good reach of neck.  Shoulder placement was good.  Adequate turn of stifle and short hocks.  I found his overall confirmation to be so well balanced. Moved and showed well and I was pleased to award him BPD.
2nd        Tipper’s Twist and Turn – This puppy presented as a more mature sable and white puppy with pleasing head and expression.  Shoulder placement was good into level topline.  Well angulated hind quarters allowing him to move well, moved with drive. Well presented and was very attentive to handler.

Junior Dog
1st           Turner’s Chantique Magical Mystery - Although this young dog stood alone in the class this did not detract from his quality.  Sweet dark eye with nicely rounded foreface.  Neat well used ears.  Good reach of neck and length of back.  He has an abundance of coat which was well groomed and presented.  Good angulation and short hocks enabling him to move well. 

Maiden dog
1st                 Turner’s Paulara No Where Man – Tri colour dog of good stature.  Good length of head, with sweet dark eye of good placement.   Well used ears, strong neck and level topline which he kept on the move.  Good length of upper arm and nicely rounded turn of stifle.  Moved well.  His coat was well groomed and of good colour and texture.

Novice Dog
1st           Houlihan’s Kourika Frosted Ice – A nice sized and upstanding blue merle dog who has a lovely expression.  Sweet almond eye.  Well broken markings and a coat of lovely colour which was well fitted.   Unfortunately, I was unable to go over him as he would not settle enough for me to do so.  His owner reported he had a fright the week before.  Hope he settles down in the future as he has many qualities.

Graduate Dog
1st           Savage’s Peblu Gold Reflection at Savataurus – A Four year old golden sable and white dog who presented well today.  Not a big dog but balanced in confirmation.  Nicely placed eye and pleasing expression.  Confirmation was OK all round, moved well around the ring.  Well presented and very attentive to handler.

Post Graduate Dog
Unfortunately, this handler was unable to make the show in time due to car problems.

Limit Dog
This class contained so many quality dogs I wished I had more cards to award.
1st           McCann’s Oakland Blue  Style Du Clos de Sea-wind at Zolkhan (Imp Fra) – The star of the day for me today.  Soft, sweet yet masculine expression.  His tan markings were well intermingled with sable, in such a lovely combination.  Neat well used ears.  Not a big dog but every inch quality.  Well placed shoulders.  Good arch of neck, level top line with just the right amount of rise over the loin.  His clear silvery blue intermingled with splashes of tri colour coat was well fitting and beautifully groomed.  There is nothing out of balance with this young dog.  Lovely round bone with neat feet.  He moved as his confirmation suggests.  On standing he and his handler presented a picture of unity.  I was delighted to award him the DCC and along with my co-judge BIS.  I was also pleased to learn that this CC was his crowning CC (subject to KC approval)  Well deserved.

2nd          Tipper’s Turning Blue – I had not seen this four year old blue merle before but I was not disappointed on seeing him today.  Another dog of good stature who gave his all.   He had good moulding of foreface.  His dark eye was correctly set.  His ears were well used and he had a pleasing expression.   Very nice reach of neck into level top line.  Good chest and spring of rib.  Hind quarters were strong and he moved with drive.  His coat was of good colour and was well groomed as always from this kennel.   Overall he is a dog of quality and presents well and I was pleased to award him the RDCC today.
3rd           Ware’s Poker Face du Clos de Sea-wind at Wassail (Imp Fra)

Open Dog

1st           Cronk’s Int Ch Skaboma the Gambler at Chelborn (Swed Imp}  - Striking tri-colour dog who commanded attention.  Masculine head with dark eye, well moulded foreface and a very pleasing expression.  You could not deny the quality of this tri-colour dog who has so many virtues.  Well presented as expected, his owner ensured not a hair out of place, as always from this kennel and she succeeded today.  Angulation overall was very good and movement was very sound.

2nd                Johnston’s Sea Dreamer’s One and Only (Imp NLD) – Sable and white dog. I have watched this dog from a young age and have always liked his qualities.  He has the sweetest expression with well rounded muzzle and correctly set eye.  Really good reach of neck and good length of body.  His confirmation is good all round.  He carried his tail higher than most here today, but his qualities still command attention.  Unfortunately he just did not want to perform today and did not show the animation I was looking for.
3rd        Wray-Ramsden’s - Takhisis Dream Weaver

Veteran Dog
1ST        Tipper’s Ch Too Good to be Forgotten -  Now It seems only a short time since I saw this veteran dog as a puppy and followed his show career, it was pleasing to see when he gained his title.  Quite a flashy dog with lovely reach of neck into good length of back.  Angles front and rear were good and he can stride out well with the best of them.  His had good coat today which was well groomed as always and I was pleased to award him BVD.
2nd        Blaikie’s Willowdene Double or Quits at Wassail (IKC) – Eight and a half year old tri colour who does not show his age.   Nice almond shaped dark eye with a sweet expression.   His ears were well set and he used them with effect to show what a handsome dog he is.  Good length of upper arm and reach of neck.  Level topline and his coat was of good colour ant texture.  Moved and showed well and he was well presented.
3rd        Savataurus’s Only the Lonely Vet Ch, CVW19, VW

Margaret Shipp