Eastern Bearded Collie Association

Eastern Bearded Collie Association Open Show 6th April 2026 – Elizabeth Ayrton (Aoibh)

I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge at this well-organized show, I was honoured to be able to judge such an entry of lovely Bearded Collies. Also, thanks go to my very efficient stewards, Alan Hards and Alice Gray for running the ring seamlessly with great efficiency and very little rest. I would also like to thank the exhibitors for their entries; there were many lovely Beardies in the ring and not all can be rewarded on the day and it often comes down to minor differences. However, when I asked myself what was that special quality all my main winners had, it was the fact that they really had a rapport with their handlers which made them give their best and sparkle in the ring compared with some of my lesser placings.

Class 1 – Minor Puppy Dog (1,0)

1. Stead’s Clovabrae Romeo – just six and a half months old and at his first show but he coped so well and did himself justice. Good head proportions. Eyes toning with coat. Lovely shape on the stand with good arch of neck and correct proportions with length coming from the rib. Excellent layback of shoulder and good length of upper arm balanced with his rear angulation. He moved out with reach and drive but always balanced, a bright prospect for the future.

Class 2 – Puppy Dog (2,0)

1. Baker and Van de Hoef – Malandex Xciting Legacy – More mature puppy, masculine boy with good bone structure. Broad flat skull of correct proportions with strong underjaw. Well angulated both fore and rear and moved round the ring covering the ground efficiently.

2. Stead’s Clovabrae Romeo

Class 3 – Veteran Dog (8,1)

1. Salmon’s CH Potterdale Piper – A dog I have watched from the ringside and admired so it was nice to get my hands on him and he doesn’t disappoint. A masculine dog with good head proportions and pleasing expression. He is very balanced fore and rear with good angulation and length of rib. Well-presented and his handler really got the best out of him. Moved with reach and drive. (RBD, BVD, BOSV)

2. Burscough’s CH Talraz Light up the Sky for Kilfinan. Another masculine dog with good head and lovely expression. Well angulated and good length of rib just felt my winner had the edge on movement today.

3. Maher and Richardson’s Snowmead Simply Brilliant at Nadene. Completed a trio of nicely proportioned masculine dogs in this lovely class. Good head with strong under jaw and dark eyes giving lovely expression. Not quite the angulation of my first two but balanced and moved well.

Class 4 – Junior Dog (3,0)

1. Burgon’s Talraz Drumbeat for Lyngem – a trio of lovely dogs in this class who all moved well, I just felt this boy had the slight edge on reach and drive. He has a nicely proportioned head and lovely expression. Well angulated and moved well.

2. Osbourne’s Potterdale Prime Edition – This boy pushed my winner hard and indeed on the stand would have won, just felt my winner had a little more reach on the move but it was close. Lovely head with darkest of eyes. Nice arch of neck and good layback of shoulder. Still has some maturing to do but he has excellent proportions and moved well. I’m sure he has a bright future ahead.

3. Baker and Van de Hoef’s Malandex Xciting Image – the baby of this trio who was giving away a lot in maturity to the first two places. Excellent masculine head with lovely expression. Good proportions and stood well over himself with excellent length of rib. Was a little unsettled at times on the move but he can cover the ground, a bright prospect for the future. (BPD, BPIS)

Class 5 – Special Yearling Dog

1. Carter’s Memorylane Emotions in Motion for Ravenswyre JW (IMP FIN) A very mature dog for his age with profuse coat. He has a good masculine head of right proportions and the darkest of eyes, good strong underjaw. A very balanced dog with good length of rib.

2. Buswell’s Chelsasa Private eye on Scotesham. A slower maturing dog than my first with a pleasing head of good proportions and eyes toning with coat. Good proportions overall but not quite the length of rib of my first dog and less front reach.

Class 6 – Maiden Dog (0)

Class 7 – Novice Dog (0)

Class 8 – Graduate Dog (5,1)

1. Collins’ Full of the Dickens Winner takes it all for Kingswud JW (IMP DEU). A dog I have judged before and liked. He is a slower maturing dog than some but is right for his age, excellent head with correct proportions and dark eye giving lovely expression. Balanced angulation which enabled him to move out well, always in balance. Beautifully presented.

2. Burgon’s Talraz Drumbeat for Lyngem

3. Nolan’s Breaksea Flash Harry in Bricliath. Fabulous head of correct proportions on this boy with dark eye and lovely expression. Balanced angulation and good length coming from the rib. Moved out well round the ring and should have been higher placed but just spoiled it today by being rather proud of his tail.

Class 9 – Postgraduate Dog (3,1)

1. Tomlinson, Miller and Fletcher’s Memorylane Flirt with every Skirt (IMP FIN). Masculine dark brown boy with eyes toning with coat. His harsh jacket enhanced his shape without obscuring it. Good head of correct proportions and strong underjaw. Stood well over himself and had good length coming from rib. Moved out easily around the ring with reach and drive and was a worthy winner of this class.

2. Burgon’s Talraz Drumbeat for Lyngem

Class 10 – Limit Dog (4,0)

1. Bramley and Moore’s Coalacre do the Hokey Cokey. This young man was free stood to good effect showing a strong topline and an excellent profile on the stand. He has a masculine broad head of correct proportions and is well balanced fore and rear, on the move he showed reach and drive and a real rapport with his handler which made him stand out in the ring.

2. Butcher’s Sylvabrae Newtons Law. Another quality dog who I have no doubt will change places with my first. He has a masculine broad head and good proportions with excellent length of rib. Moved out well but today, he just didn’t sparkle in the ring.

3. Axford’s Bramblemead Bollinger Boy JW. A nicely proportioned masculine boy well-presented and well handled. Balanced head. Overall, his front and rear angulation is balanced and he produces a lovely profile on the stand with his coat enhancing his shape. Just lacking in reach on the move today.

Class 11 – Open Dog (3,1)

1. Pickup’s Kiltondale Heat of the Night JW. This dog has such a strong rapport with his handler and produces a stunning well-proportioned profile on the stand. He has a good head with dark eye and beautiful expression. Well angulated fore and rear and good length of rib with quality coat enhancing his shape. On the move he is so easy and balanced that he looks as if he could work all day. Pleased to award him BD and RBIS.

2. Handley’s Bargemon Brigadoon at Barkenbear JW SHCEX OSW. A slightly smaller boy but with a broad masculine head, dark eye and bright expression. He is well balanced overall and moved well but not quite with the ease and fluidity of my winner.

Class 12 – Minor Puppy bitch (2,0)

1. Butler’s Clovabrae Echo at Baxilby. A raw young 6-month-old puppy but had a good profile on the stand with a strong topline. Good broad flat head of correct proportions and balanced angulation. Good length of rib. Moved out well and was nicely balanced.

2. Jenkinson’s Tybury’s Arya’s legend for Ellishar. Another young puppy with more mature coat than my first. She has a good head which is correctly proportioned and the sweetest of expressions. She is well balanced but was at first unsettled on the move, in later classes she settled and showed her balanced movement better.

Class 13 – Puppy Bitch

1. Gill and Hosie’s Calkylona Midnite Melody. A nicely proportioned self-assured young lady with a feminine head and dark eye with pleasing expression. Good length of rib and so balanced and light on her feet on the move. (BPB, BOSP)

2. Butler’s Clovabrae Echo at Baxilby.

Class 14 – Veteran bitch

1. Burscough’s CH Kilfinan Ladybird JW. Nicely balanced totally unexaggerated Beardie. Lovely profile on the stand with just the right amount of coat to enhance her shape. Broad flat skull of correct proportions with lovely expression. Good layback of shoulder and return of upper arm balanced with her rear angulation and length coming from the rib. Another one with good rapport with her handler who got the best out of her, showing her free-flowing effortless movement with reach and drive. (BB, BVB, BIS)

2. Edward’s CH Nellbrook Pure Imagination JW, VW. Another lovely girl who I have judged before and liked. She also has an excellent rapport with her handler and was free stood to show a balanced profile with excellent topline. Well presented. Good length coming from the rib. Also moved well just felt my first had the edge on movement today. (RBB)

3. Glasgow’s CH Malandex Xpat’s Gem at Gallus. Completing a lovely trio of girls who all moved well today. Nice head with dark eye and lovely expression. Well proportioned and balanced just felt my first two slightly out moved her today but they could all change places as they are all quality girls who can move.

Class 15 – Junior Bitch (3,0)

1. Jay’s Talraz Midnight Lady. A very self-assured young lady who has balanced proportions. Good head with dark eye and lovely expression. Well proportioned with good layback of shoulder and good length of rib. Easy effortless movement around the ring.

2. Lewis and Moreland’s Potterdale Prime Rose JW. Another lovely young lady producing a balanced profile on the stand. Good head, dark eye and good expression. Balanced angulation and movement, just felt my first was more settled on the move but I am sure they will change places many times.

3. Knock’s Tamjenta Baby One more Time. Another nice girl with good head and eye toning with coat. Balanced angulation fore and rear but not quite the reach and drive of my first two.

Class 16 – Special Yearling Bitch (11,1)

1. Brookes’ Brookles Barkarole. A nicely proportioned bitch who is maturing nicely with just the right amount of coat to enhance her shape. Good head of correct proportions with dark eye. Well laid shoulder and good return of upper arm balanced with rear angulation and good length of rib. Moved out well with reach and drive to win this lovely class.

2. Pedder’s Nobility sent with Love to Caldermist JW (IMP DEU). Another lovely young lady of correct proportions with a good head, eye toning with coat colour. Balanced angulation and good rib. Moved well but unfortunate to meet my first today.

3. Edward’s Breaksea It’s time at Nellbrook JW. Another nicely proportioned young lady who was just less mature than my first two today. Lovely head and expression and nice length of rib. Moved well.

Class 17- Maiden Bitch (2,0)

1. Jenkinson’s Tybury’s Arya’s legend for Ellishar

2. Knock’s Tamjenta Baby One more Time

Class 18 (5,0)

1. Gill and Hosie’s Calkylona Midnite Melody

2. Lewis and Moreland’s Potterdale Prime Rose JW

3. Jenkinson’s Tybury’s Arya’s legend for Ellishar

Class 19 – Graduate Bitch (8,2)

1. Horne’s Potterdale Solitaire of Mintaria. This girl stood out for her balance both on the stand and on the move. She is very feminine with correct head proportions. Good layback of shoulder and balanced rear angulation. On the move she was effortless and so balanced.

2. Savage and McLean’s Strufingill Penny Benjamin at Canaich. A bigger girl than my first with a pleasing head and dark eye with good expression. Free stood to produce a good profile and moved well. Coat developing well with correct texture.

3. Wood’s Osmart Tzara’s Midnight Aria. A slow maturing girl with a nice head of good proportions. Had a nice profile on the stand. Nothing exaggerated about her but everything in the right place. Well angulated and moved out well apart from being distracted by her companion who was in the next ring in the junior handling class.

Class 20 – Postgraduate bitch (5,1)

1. Robertson’s Quothquan Aylyth. This girl had a lovely profile on the stand. She has a good head although I would prefer a darker eye. She is well angulated fore and rear and has a really nice length of rib. Moved out well with reach and drive.

2. Dobrowolski’s Highglade Moonchild at Trileada. A nicely proportioned girl on the stand with good length of rib. Good head proportions and eye toning with her coat. Was very balanced on the move just not quite the reach of my first.

3. Abbott’s Clanwillow Crown of Hearts. A feminine girl with mature coat. Good head and balanced overall but not quite the length of rib of my first two and more unsettled on the move.

Class 21 – Limit Bitch (9,3)

1. Jay’s Matamata Lorien Lady at Talraz. This girl had a beautiful profile and well-proportioned head with dark eyes giving good expression. She is so much mature and confident than when I first judged her. She has a well laid-back shoulder and good return of upper arm, excellent length of rib and good angulation behind. She moved out well to win this class with ease but sadly had lost some of her sparkle in the bitch challenge.

2. Robertson’s Heather Mist Miss Tillietudlem at Quothquan. Another girl that has matured since I last judged her. Rangier than my first placed she has a good head, is well proportioned and has balanced angulation and good length of rib. Moved well but not as well as my first.

3. O’Brien’s Another Posh Frock at Sammara JW. This girl has a good head, dark eye and lovely expression. She is well presented and well handled. On the stand she produced a balanced profile and is well angulated just didn’t move out as well today as I know she can.

Class 22 – Open Bitch (6,1)

1. Bett’s Winterlyn Heaven Can Wait with Pipadene. A nicely proportioned bitch in tune with her handler who really got the best out of her. Good head with dark eye, good pigment and melting expression. Well balanced throughout and good length of rib and strong topline. Moved well with animation to win this class.

2. Glasgow’s Basnikova Muza Od Plzenskeho Lotra Gallus JW. A pleasing well balanced brown girl who pushed my first all the way for first place. Lovely head with eyes toning with coat. Balanced movement just felt my first was the more mature and settled.

3. Brooks and Grundy’s Fraglestone Familiarity. A smaller bitch than my first two who is just coming into her own. She has a good head with pleasing expression and a nice balanced profile on the stand. Just lacked the reach of my first two on the move.