Ayrshire Collie Club

Ayrshire Collie Club

Breed Championship Show

13/10/12

Always a privilege, never a right to go over another’s dog, and never one I take lightly. With this breed especially, given the work required to maintain them, any judge ought to be hugely appreciative of the opportunity to do so, first and foremost then my appreciation to every exhibitor who allowed me that privilege today.

By way of some general comments from someone who could I guess be considered an “outsider” …

 I believe that if one has a genuine love for their breed; and after thirty one years with them I hope I still have that; then it’s no challenge to recognise in each exhibit before you, the same qualities and virtues that their own owner’s see in them every day. One only has to go back to whatever it was which first attracted one to the breed, not a type or a line -but the breed - and therein will lie the ability to see the positive in each. Of course ultimately it’s a competition and two people only will truly end the day totally satisfied –one’s ticket winner and hopefully one’s self. But win or lose I hope I found those virtues in each even if it was not possible to reward them all today. 

It was a most interesting entry. I found quite some differences, or to use that almost over used of word’s - “types”. However, rather that looking upon that in a negative fashion I choose to view it as a positive. The opportunity to go over an almost micro sample some of what is out there, the differences, virtues and flaws that exist in our breed. I’m not a lover of the labelling of judges as either head fanatics or movement fanatics, of modern versus classic or whatever term is in fashion. Given this then and the variety of dogs I found today, my placing’s at time’s , for me, acknowledged an appreciation of the best in those differences and reflected those difference rather than getting hung up about them. It produced a line up then, not necessarily of totally uniform type but still one which pleased me if various respects. Some lovely males to go over, of course not all is perfect, was it ever ?, and now just for example, correct tail length is difficult to find, fronts, upper arms still need attention..

But my referencing that here is hardly some “eureka” moment and I retain what I have always had – faith in the British breeder and see no real reason why the breed cannot improve in the areas in which it needs to whilst keeping all that is good too.

I wish you much luck in your endeavours with that and many thanks for your presence and efforts here today and trust that my comments are taken in the same lovely sporting manner as my decisions. With the ever growing expense of this game I do understand the ever growing practice of predicting judge’s preferences and the expectation of predicting line ups based on what on paper bears relationship but sometimes we don’t have to be simply predictable, hopefully sometimes we can be thought provoking too.  

MPD. 1. Stewarts. Bronvannin Moon Crusader. Flashy and masculine looking blue of just seven months with reachy neck. Well off for bone, size and substance. Nice length right through, settled into an even stride on neat tight feet. Fairly pleasing in head and eye. Well turned out and nicely handled.

PD. 1. Collins. Triburle Zachary. Really a sweet eyed boy, refined in head, nice stop, clean through cheek and skull, enough depth and spring of rib. Well let down hock. Confident young man and moved out as such also. Nicely boned but retaining that refinement, nice lad. Best Puppy Dog.

2. Smiths Aldermead Alexander. I see sired by the same dog as the first, again nice dark well set eye, balanced in head. Enough reach of neck, enough length of back, good for size, neat hocks. Nothing overdone. Just enough angulation both front and rear on both of them. Moved ok. Well turned out. 

JD . 1. Walkers Starlenga Dizzy Rascal. Head piece on this one handled really well, full rounded muzzle, clean in stop, dark well set eye and neat nicely placed ears which he knows how to use. Another who I found totally masculine but not in any way course. Moved out ok for me on strong well let down hocks. In lovely coat and condition and turned out well.   

2. Coulsons Coarhabeg Rider In The Sky Over Bluechip. Nice make and shape to this boy. Felt he scored well all round. Pleasing in head and eye, again good to see nice size and ample bone. Enough reach in front as he went. A little different to the first but pressed him hard. Two nice dogs.

MD.No entries.

ND. 1 Collins. Triburle Zachary.

GD. 1 Walkers. Starlenga Mungo Jerry. Well moulded in head, supported by good underjaw. Clean and balanced, sweet dark eye and shown here in good bloom. Has the size too and moved ok.

2. Chirray. Kourika Black Jack .nice tri, quite clean through the head, just a little fuller in eye, pleasing body lines. Moved ok. 

PGD. 1 O’Neills Caronlea James Bond. Have previously awarded him a res green star but I have to say he actually looked much better again today and made his presence felt at all times here. Calm sensible dog of the loveliest richly coloured hue, a fraction more of him or just a bit more scope for me would benefit most especially through his front assembly but that aside he is a quality dog. Bred in Derry but showing much of his Devon lineage most especially through his most lovely expression. Again it was that combination of being masculine but totally clean and smooth. Can lift his tail just that bit on the move but never too high and it didn’t distract me from what his feet were doing, enough angulation and strong hocks allow him to drive forward and I have to say both he and his kennel mate were amongst the soundest of the males here and also both presented in the highest order.  

2. Kayes.Danfrebek Truly A Double. I would love to see this one again, another day in better form but I saw enough to like about him to secure his place. Nice head eye and expression. Clean and balanced, no exaggerations, refined, well let down on rear, moved ok. Just about did enough but pressed hard by the third.  

LD. 1. And here those differences were kicking in for sure. Interesting class. 1 Shipps Mystic Touch of Tremaro. Quite torn between the first two. If I were to be critical I may prefer just that bit more of him all round and perhaps a little more in reach of neck but having said that I had quite a lot of regard for this one. True refined wedged shape headpiece, clean though the cheeks and flat in skull. His dark correct almond shaped eyes convey a softness and the whole in this department for me had some echoes of his heritage and that I could not ignore. Nice length of back, neat short hock, moved out well in class, I prefer him at a slower pace, just a very pleasing all round dog that could be a bit of a dark horse in any company.

2 Welshs Ladnar Perfect Timing at Thistlewing. Upstanding blue with nice reach of neck and pleasing outline, I also liked this one a lot as I felt he was scoring well all round, good for head properties, pleasant in expression but the shape was there too, moved ok for me and also well presented and handled. Another not to be ignored and would like to see him in another year, but as I said an interesting class and I shall not be at all surprised to see several of these boys switching places and good luck to each of them.

OD. And this was certainly an interesting class. 1 Hollywood & Waterhouse .Lynmead Amalie Loves a Lover. Here was the beautifully filled clean rounded full foreface I was looking for, blending into clean cheek and through flat well filled skull topped with neat, correctly placed ears. Into this headpiece, eyes set so well which are perfectly dark and as expressive as one could wish for. Not always projecting himself but the hands are there to either confirm what the eye sees or sometimes to reveal what is really there and I found enough reach of neck to please . Enough depth and spring in rib, neither too narrow nor to broad in front. Went ok on the move , was pressed by a number of his peers, he did not have it all his own way but he gave me enough extension and drive to keep in the frame in this regard going steadily at all times but then he also does something a bit special.. would not be true to say that this boy gives his all, he gives what he chooses , he gives moments and through sympathetic handling he is correctly allowed to do so and those moments are like little flashes of brilliance for they reveal what is a melting expression and I never use that word “ melting” unless it is truly deserved. Dog CC & BIS. 

2. Edwards , Elshajo Armani Moon. Yes, presents a somewhat different outlook than the first. Is it possible to admire both – yes absolutely, they for me in certain way’s, in their own right offer something good and positive and worth reward and respect. No lack of size in this handsome upstanding tri shown here in lovely black coat and groomed right through and shining, it fitting his outline which is elegant. Head carried up and forward of the front assembly, showing away steadily and drawing the eye back continually. Went well enough on the move, maybe lifted tail marginally at times but not too much and he showed me reach and drive. Head handles well, just that bit longer, no criticism of that but whilst I do like him in expression and would not fault him here, he was up against some class competition. That said, I rate him as one that should not be ignored, deserved his place in this varied but strong class where some other worthy males were placed lower and left the ring card less but of whom I have no doubt more will be heard of in the future and I wish them well.

VD. Love the veteran class and this one was again a really interesting one to be the judge of. Three champions – a British, an Irish and a Russian champion and again all a little different but all with something to offer.

1. McCanns Ch. Roanburn Black is Back at Zolkhan. And it was, true black tri with gorgeous rich tan, his whites gleaming and at 9 years of age giving nothing away at all in terms of age. Wondered at first if he might be a shade deeper through than I’d ideally prefer but his head really handled well, loved his moulding, clean between the eyes, flat through skull, dark eyes full of character. Enough reach of neck here, holding his top line well, again another if I were critical at times lifting his tail out but not too highly and not to distract from his footfall. He extended well and really drove round the ring. Liked him in the class but by the challenge he had moved it up a gear and was the one asking for my attention, he got it, he deserved it – Res Dog CC and Best Veteran.

2. Walls Ire Ch. Countrys Dream King For A King , old favourite, can still hold his own in any company, retains his clean head, has desired outline, good neck, firm top line, nicely angulated on the rear, moved freely with drive more positively so on the back. As always in coat and looking the part, a handsome gentleman who has left his mark and whose owner and connections may be justly proud of that. I have to add here that there is nothing in this game that, apart of course from good dogs, commands my respect more than good sportsmanship, good grace and good humour. The lovely genuine reaction of the owner of the veteran class winner here today will be one of my abiding memories of a lovely day, if Ayrshire Collie Club could have a “look” – an “expression” this would be it! I will take this opportunity then to extend my grateful thanks to the club, its officers and members for the invitation and for the hospitality. My thanks also to fellow judge Alan Jones with whom I agreed on all joint decisions.

Thank you

Paul D Battigan