East Anglian Border Collie Club

EAST ANGLIAN BORDER COLLIE CLUB - OPEN SHOW 3rd JULY 2025

I’d like to thank the committee of East Anglian Border Collie Club for inviting me to judge their Open Show. It is an honour to be offered a Breed Club appointment. I am most grateful to Lawrence Dalby, my very able steward, and Christina Dalby the club secretary, who ran the show like clock-work. The show was held after Boston Championship Show, and some exhibitors were unfortunately not able to show under me as they had to be in the championship group. I had a good entry for a weekday, big enough to fill 22 classes, yet small enough not to make it an overly long day. My grateful thanks to all who stayed on after the champ show.  

VD (1/0) 1st Brierley’s Goytre First Edition P-BEG EX VW 10yrs 11mths b/w He stood alone in his class, lovely kind expression, tapering muzzle, good stop, flat skull of equal proportions to muzzle. Heavier ears but set on well, long neck, well sprung ribs, adequate bone, good length of tail. Moved out well, in excellent condition for his age. RBVIS

MPD (1/0) 1st Oliver’s Smart As A Whip Danger Zone At Tambuzi (IMP ESP) 9mths b/w A striking puppy of a good size for a dog, mature for his age. Dark boy, presenting a lovely shape in profile, excellent turn of stifle. Gorgeous dark pigmentation, lovely up-and-tipped ears, set on well and used well. Long and strong neck, well laid back shoulders, good bone. Parallel legs from the front, strong hocks parallel from rear. This lad looks athletic in build and this proved true in his movement. Free-flowing away and back, and excellent reach and drive on the side gait. BPD BPIS

PD (4/0) Two super puppies of the same age. 1st Oliver’s Smart As A Whip Danger Zone At Tambuzi (IMP ESP) see MPD.   2nd Wells & Mitchell’s Bordabears Move To The Music 9mths b/w Same age as 1st and pushed hard for the win. Another good sized pup in hard muscle. Dark face, dark eye well set erect ears. Neck not quite as long as 1 but good level top line onto smooth sloping croup. Good angulation front and rear, good bone. Lovely neat tidy oval feet with sloping pasterns. Presented in excellent coat and condition, and moved out well. Just preferred the hind angulation of the winner.  3rd Dawkins-Hirst’s KIrkwind Soul Man

JD (1/0) 1st Tunnicliff’s Littlethorn Kona 1yr 2mths b/w Another well muscled dog, finer in bone, glossy coat and lovely long tail. Very attentive to handler. Soft brown eye, good deep stop, good dark pigmentation and lovely scissor bite. A little long in body but nonetheless moved out well.

YD (3/0) First and second are littermates with the same sire as BIS and RBIS. Two outstanding exhibits who could change place.  1st Portman’s Laceway Black Sabbath 1yr 10mths b/w, no mistaking his sex, strong head but not overdone. Muzzle short and strong, skull and fore face equal in length, good stop. Alert dark oval eyes, well placed ears, good pigmentation. Muscular neck, well sprung ribs with deep chest. Well angulated front and rear, movement sound in all directions. 2nd Carley & Fawcett’s Laceway Bite The Bullet With Jupavia JW 1yr 10mths b/w all the attributes of 1 but having slightly less bone and his tail slightly longer than 1. Splitting hairs between 1 and 2, could put a pin between them!  3rd Tandy, Turns & Domotori’s Borderheart Havana Nights

PGD (2/0) 1st Woodrow & Oliver’s Tambuzi Ride The Storm 2yrs 5mths b/w a confident boy, good dentition, deep stop, skull broad with tapering muzzle. Eyes oval shaped. Shorter in neck than I would prefer, but well angulated front and rear. Good body ratios, lovely sloping croup with long tail. Movement away and back ok, and good side gait movement.  2nd Tandy’s Borderbrook Stolen Affair 2yrs 1mth b/w very similar to 1 but slightly finer in bone. Skull fairly broad, ears up and tipped, dark eyes. Good front angulation, lovely soft pasterns. Loins a little long and tucked up, but lovely croup and adequate tail. Preferred the movement of 1 on the day.

LD (5/1) 1st Carley’s Jupavia Phoenix Fire 3yrs 1mth b/w, very dark boy, who ticks all the boxes of our breed standard’s General Appearance criteria - “Well-proportioned, smooth outline showing quality, gracefulness and perfect balance, combined with sufficient substance to give impression of endurance. Any tendency to coarseness or weediness undesirable”. A strong personality, expertly controlled by his handler. Masculine dark head, well set ears, excellent pigmentation, skull to muzzle proportions correct, head not overdone, scissor bite, long arched neck onto well laid back shoulders. Well let down hocks, excellent turn of stifle, well muscled. Good angulation front and rear producing excellent ground covering head-down movement. Presented in full double coat. His breed typical movement gave him the edge on the opposition and I was pleased to award him BD and RBIS.  2nd Tunnicliff’s Littlethorn Ioniq 2yrs 4mths b/w who pushed hard for 1st place. Another dark boy, slightly smaller than 1st but nonetheless of good size and sufficient bone. Dark kind eyes, he looked keen and very alert and responsive to his handler. Good breadth of chest, parallel front with sloping pasterns, tight oval feet. Sound movement away and back and good reach and drive with low head on the side gait. It came down to splitting hairs between the two and I’m sure places could change on another day. I felt 1st had the advantage of better hind angulation, although both moved very well.  3rd Castle’s Jupvia Divine Dream 3yrs 1mth b/w (litter mate to 1st)

OD (2/1) 1st Lee & Green’s Fayken I Am Soul JW 2yrs 8mths b/w boy who I have judged before as a puppy. I liked him then and I like him now, he has matured into a dog who I’m sure will go on to great things. He stood alone in his class but worthy of 1st place. Another dark faced boy, smaller in height but good body ratios and good overall substance. Lovely dark eye of good oval shape, good semi erect ears, strong neck onto level topline finished off with a sloping croup with low-set long tail. Well muscled on well let down hocks, free flowing movement around the ring. Re-read his puppy critique from Thame 2023 and everything still applies! RBD 

CD (1/0) 1st Fawcett’s Sh Ch Laceway Don’t Stop Me Now 4yrs 6mths b/w very masculine dog who I love. I judged him at BCCGB’s Special Awards and he won a strong class. Today he stood alone, but again, he was a worthy winner. Good for size, free-standing in perfect profile. Fabulous temperament, very friendly! Long neck onto well laid-back shoulders, level topline ending in sloping group. Very attentive to handler, soft gentle eyes, good ears which are on the strong side being high tipped, almost erect. Strong parallel front legs and sloping pasterns, neat oval feet. Good rear angulation, love the muscle on this dog. Lovely long tail with white swirl on the end. Movement away and back good, side gait effortless, just pipped at the post on movement today.  

GCD (2/0) 1st Buckley’s Amkamel Half Blood Prince 2yrs 9mths b/w lovely masculine dog of good substance, presenting a smooth outline in profile. Kind brown eyes well set, adequate stop, broad skull. Good height to length ratio, with well sprung ribs. Low set long tail. Shown in full coat. Good steady movement around the ring, with good tail carriage.  2nd Tandy’s Borderbrook Stolen Affair see 2nd PGD

SP AOCD (1/0) 1st Jordan’s Nobite No Tux Required With Jakovall 9mths black tricolour, just a baby with a lot of maturing to do. Head rather narrow and stop could be deeper but very young and head still developing. Gorgeous tan points on legs. Fine boned, long beautifully furnished tail with white swirl on the end. Moved soundly around the ring, very attentive to hander Res Best AOC in Show

VB (2/0) 1st Grant’s Coussiere Dancing Queen 10yrs 1mth b/w ultra feminine bitch, lovely well-used ears, attentive sweet expression, smaller girl, good for bone and correct body proportions. Long neck, good angulation and well let down hocks. Well sprung ribs, neat oval feet. Good length of tail. Moved sounded up and down, good side gait. She is in excellent condition for her age BVIS. 2nd Turn’s Fyglia Mei Titania 9yrs 1mth blue merle well proportioned head with semi erect ears, well placed. Sweet expression, good eye colouring matched by deep pigmentation. Good bone, tight feet, parallel in front. A little happy with her tail on the move.

MPB (3/1) 1st Mercer’s Kirkwind Secret Soul just short of 9mths, b/w pup with the sweetest temperament. Big white blaze on her forehead with good deep stop. Soft well set ears, scissor bite, good dark pigmentation. Good for bone but not overdone, she shows her immaturity on the move and will tighten up in time. Lovely long tail which she carried well on the move. Lots of promise. BPB RBPIS 2nd Carley’s Jupavia Once Upon A Time 8mth puppy having the same sire as my BIS and RBIS! I was told after that she has not shown much, which was evident as confidence was lacking - I’m sure with more experience in the show ring, that will quickly change. There is a lot to like about her, and if she follows in her siblings’ footsteps, she will have a bright future. Well off for bone, but definitely not coarse. At this young age, she presents a pleasing shape. The stifles are already dropping into place. She has good length of leg, and leg to body ratio is perfect. Unsettled on the move, but it will come - she is definitely one to watch.   

PB (0)

JB (5/2) 1st Murfet & Oliver’s Tambuzi Guess Who’s Back 1yr 1mth b/w balanced girl only just out of puppy but maturing well. Lovely outline in profile, feminine head, dark oval eyes, good stop and well set ears. Neither coarse nor weedy, proportions are all correct, well furnished tail, good front and rear angulation giving her an athletic appearance, moved freely with tail held low.   2nd Castle’s Jupavia Funny How Love Is 1yr 3mths b/w taller girl with finer bone, in the middle of her junior malt so she was shown in her bikini, nothing to hide! Still some maturing to do, but very promising. Dark pigmentation with matching dark eyes, good stop. Muzzle and skull of equal proportions, semi erect ears, well placed and well used. Level topline, sloping croup with low set long tail. Excellent hind angulation, she moved out steady with tail held low. Sired by BD/RBIS she is definitely one to watch.  3rd Spurr’s Dreamwork Notorious

YB (1/0) 1st Fawcett’s Laceway Breaking Waves 1yr 10mth b/w bitch. My notes start with ‘Perfection!’ She stood alone in her class but she totally commanded the ring with her “look at me” pose, standing proud on her own making the perfect profile of long arched neck, level topline, and sloping croup. Her eyes are a good brown, well placed ears, good pigmentation, skull not broad and in perfect balance with muzzle. Good dentition and strong pigmentation. Font legs parallel from the fore with matching parallel hocks from the rear. Body height to length ratio pleasing, full double coat immaculately presented. Sloping pastern and lovely oval shaped feet, tail set on low, carried low on the move. Sufficient bone, not overdone, not weedy. Well angulated in front and rear which showed in her side gait, eye-catching free-flowing low movement with extended reach and drive and head held low, exactly what I was looking for. This girl is one of 3 dogs who came under me today from the same litter - what a litter! (see Yearling dog). Still very young with good things to come, I’m sure! Very happy to award her BB & BIS

PGB (5/1) 1st Grant’s Simmovon Among The Stars Avec Coussiere JW 2yrs b/w Feminine face with fairly broad skull, kind eyes, lovely ear set, good reach of neck onto level topline which was held on the move. Good for bone, legs parallel front and rear. Showed off well in profile. In full coat with long tail.  2nd Oliver’s Tambuzi The Heat Is On 2yrs 5mths b/w dark girl, shorter and heavier than 1. Dark feminine girl with a keen expression. Lovely brown oval eyes and semi erect ears. Presents a smooth outline in profile with correct height to length proportions. Moved out well with low tail carriage. Unfortunate to meet 1 today, they could easily have changed places.  3rd Berry’s Sianworth Rustic Love

LB (5/4) 1st Well’s Amkamel Chamber Of Secrets 2yrs 9mths b/w litter mate to winner of GCD, classically marked girl presenting a good shape with correct body proportions in profile. Lovely colour eye, good read of neck and well laid-back shoulders. Well boned giving athletic appearance. I thought she was a little close behind going away, but good reach and sound movement on side gait. 

OB (1/0) 1st Kinton’s Kinaway Dreams With Fire JW 4yrs 2mths b/w Excellent head, she is a good size and well off for bone. Skull and muzzle equal in size and on level plane, good stop. Dark eyes, sensitive ears, long neck onto well angulated front. Parallel legs from the fore, good breadth of chest and well sprung ribs. Sloping croup to low onset of tail, good turn of stifle, strong parallel hocks from the rear. She is built for movement and didn’t disappoint, moving out and back soundly with free flowing breed typical side gait, all this for a handler who, I was told, had never held her lead before! RBB

CB (1/1)

GCB (3/2) 1st Dodd’s Bordabears Be My Surprise At Molumiki AWS 6yrs 8mths blue/white no surprise that this girl is well muscled as her agility title indicates she has done a lot of hard athletic work. She is fine in bone, with light eyes complimenting her coat colour, attentive to handler using her well set ears. Good clean teeth and scissor bite. Good reach of neck, well sprung ribs. Sloping croup with long well furnished tail which she was rather proud of on the move.

SP AOCB (6/1) 1st Dodd’s Molumiki Down In Upendi 3yrs 5mths blue/tricolour tan points showing most strongly on her hind legs. Very attentive, good head proportions with deep stop. Eye colour complimenting her coat colour as does her pigmentation. Soft semi erect, well set ears, good length of neck. Lovely furnished tail, starting to shed her undercoat, but sufficient to still look good. Low tail carriage and she held her topline on the move. Best AOC In Show.  2nd Berry’s Sianworth Rustic Love 3yrs 9mths sable, 3rd in PGB. Fine in bone, but exceptionally well muscled, athletic girl. So attentive to handler. Muzzle long with adequate stop, eyes deep brown with good pigmentation. Good scissor bite, long strong neck, good angulation front and rear, level topline. Low set long tail, which on occasion lifted when moving, but expertly settled to get the best out of her.   3rd Spurr’s Dreamwork Collateral Beauty

Judge: Valerie Hawker

3rd July 2025