West Of England Ladies Kennel Society

West of England Ladies Kennel Society April 2026 – Bearded Collies

Rachael Salter – Irisaddition

It was a tremendous honour to be invited to award CCs in Bearded Collies at WELKS. Following my first appointment at Bath in 2024 , I arrived feeling far more settled and able to enjoy every moment of the day, whilst never losing sight of what a privilege it is to judge our wonderful breed at this level. Over the past 11 years I have dedicated myself to learning as much as I possibly could about the Bearded Collie, and each appointment reinforces just how much there still is to appreciate about this beautiful breed.

I would like to sincerely thank everyone who entered under me and entrusted me with their much-loved dogs. I was presented with some lovely exhibits across the classes, making for some difficult but enjoyable decisions. My thanks also go to WELKS for their warm welcome, excellent hospitality and the opportunity to officiate at such a well-run Championship Show

Class 2110 Veteran Dog (1)

1st CH Farmarens Drums Of Spring At Talraz (IMP SWE) JW

A well-balanced 7-year-old male who presented a pleasing overall outline. Masculine without being overdone, with a great head displaying the broad skull and typical breed characteristics I was looking for. Excellent eye and pigment, which combined to give a kind, friendly expression. Correctly proportioned throughout and beautifully presented in excellent coat and condition. He moved confidently around the ring, maintaining his balance and showing the soundness expected of a quality veteran. BVIB

Class 2111 Minor Puppy Dog (0)

Class 2112 Puppy Dog (2) (1)

1st Malandex Xciting Image

A very promising 10-month-old slate male of lovely proportions, presenting an excellent outline. He has a fantastic head with the broad skull and kind expression so typical of the breed. Good eye colour, toning well with his coat colour, and excellent pigment. Beautifully presented in excellent coat and condition. He has the correct depth of chest for his age and is balanced throughout. Moved effortlessly around the ring with good reach and drive, maintaining his outline at all times. A quality youngster with much to admire, and I look forward to watching his future development.

Class 2113 Junior Dog 2) 

1st Potterdale Prime Legacy 

A quality 15 month old slate dog who immediately caught my eye with his excellent breed type and overall balance. He has an excellent head with a beautiful, soft expression, complemented by an eye colour that is toning well to his coat at this stage of his development. Carrying an enormous coat, which was presented to perfection and did not detract from his outline. He moved effortlessly around the ring with excellent balance, displaying the free-flowing, ground-covering movement I have come to expect from this particular kennel. A very promising young male with much to admire.

2nd Talraz Drumbeat For Lyngem

A smart 14 month-old dark slate male, almost black in colour, who presented a lovely outline. He has a super head with a very dark eye, giving the typical soft Beardie expression. Presented immaculately and in excellent coat and condition. He has a strong topline, which he maintained both standing and on the move, together with good front and rear angulation, giving him a balanced profile. He moved well around the ring, but on the day I just preferred the freer, more effortless movement of the class winner.

Class 2114 Yearling Dog (2)

1st Potterdale Prime Legacy 

2nd Talraz Drumbeat For Lyngem

Class 2115 Novice Dog (0)

Class 2116 Post Graduate Dog (4)

1st Full Of The Dickens Winner Takes It All For Kingswud (IMP DEU)

A just-turned 2 year-old slate male who is going through a coat change, as expected at this age. Good proportions throughout, presenting a balanced outline with pleasing breed type. He has a good masculine head, with eyes toning well to his coat colour, giving a typical expression. Presented immaculately and in excellent condition. He moved soundly around the ring, making the most of his construction A quality young male with much to like

2nd Talraz Drumbeat For Lyngem

Class 2117 Limit Dog (6)

1st Sylvabrae Newton’s Law

A quality 4 year-old blue male who impressed me with his overall balance and breed type. Beautifully presented and in excellent hard condition. He has a good masculine head with a kind, typical expression and correct forechest. Well laid-back shoulders, balanced by correct front and rear angulation, giving him the construction to move with ease and efficiency. Correct length of body, maintaining a firm topline both standing and on the move. He covered the ground effortlessly with the free flowing movement called for in the breed and was perfectly in tune with his handler throughout. I was delighted to award him the Reserve Dog CC today.

2nd Kiltondale Heat of The Night JW

A well-made 2½ year old dark slate male, slightly larger in type than the class winner but still presenting a balanced and pleasing outline. He has a good masculine head with a dark eye, giving a typical Beardie expression. Well balanced throughout, with good front and rear angulation, enabling him to move freely around the ring. Today he chose to carry his tail a little higher than I would have liked, which slightly detracted from his overall outline on the move.

Class 2118 Open Dog (3) (2)

1st Potterdale Gorgeous George

A quality 5-year-old slate male who is every inch the masculine Bearded Collie. He has a broad head, lovely dark eye and very dark pigment, giving him the typical soft yet masculine expression. Beautifully presented and expertly handled, he was shown in excellent coat and hard condition. He moved effortlessly around the ring with the easy, free-flowing, ground-covering gait called for in the breed, maintaining his balance and outline throughout. It was particularly pleasing to see him perform so well, having awarded him the Reserve Dog CC at Bath two years previously. Today, I was delighted to award him the Dog CC.

Class 2119 Veteran Bitch (4) (1)

1st Subessen Heart of Hearts

Just 7 years old and only just qualifying as a veteran, she certainly wasn't showing her age today. A lovely feminine bitch balanced throughout and displaying the typical sweet Bearded Collie expression. She has a good head, pleasing eye and correct pigment, all combining to give a lovely breed-typical appearance. Expertly handled, she came into a natural free stand, allowing her many virtues to be appreciated. Her construction enables her to move with effortless economy, covering the ground with ease while maintaining her outline. She was very much in tune with her handler throughout, making for an excellent partnership.

2nd Ch Nellbrook Pure imagination

A balanced and very feminine 7 year old slate bitch, expertly handled and beautifully presented in excellent coat and condition. She has a pleasing outline and maintained a good topline both standing and on the move. Moved soundly around the ring, covering the ground well, although today she just lacked the freedom and effortless movement of the class winner.

Class 2120 Minor Puppy Bitch (3) (1)

1st Tybury’s Arya’s Legend For Ellishar

A very promising 7 month old blue bitch, presented in good coat with the correct texture and density for her age. Very feminine throughout, with a pleasing eye and correct pigment for a blue. She is such a dark shade of blue that I can appreciate how she could easily be mistaken for a slate. After taking a little time to settle following our first circuit of the ring, she really began to show her quality. Her correct front assembly allowed her to extend well in front, and she moved with the free flowing, effortless gait so characteristic of the breed. A lovely youngster with much promise for the future.

2nd Briarsfield Fizzy Lizzy

A pretty, very feminine 7 month old slate bitch of slightly finer type than the class winner. Handled well and presented in a good jacket. She has correct front and rear angulation, giving her a balanced outline. She moved soundly around the ring, although I just felt she could have been moved at a slightly faster pace today to allow her natural, free flowing movement to be fully appreciated. Nevertheless, a quality youngster. 

Class 2121 Puppy Bitch (3) 

1st Calkylona Midnight Melody

A stunning 11 month old slate bitch who immediately appealed for her beautiful shape and overall balance. Expertly handled and turned out immaculately, she was completely in tune with her handler throughout. Feminine, yet with sufficient substance, she has a good forechest, correct depth of chest and well balanced front and rear angulation. Her construction enabled her to move around the ring with a free flowing, effortless gait, maintaining her outline at all times. A quality young bitch with much to admire BPIB

2nd Malandex Xquisityly So At Wigglebrooke

A lovely 10 month old brown bitch of pleasing breed type. Presented in a heavy coat for her age, she nevertheless retained a balanced outline with lovely proportions. Correct front and rear angulation, together with a pleasing forehand, gave her a sound overall construction. Slightly heavier set than the class winner, but still feminine throughout. Lovely pigment, with eye colour toning well to her coat at this stage of her development. Handled well and presented in excellent condition. Another quality youngster with much to like.

Class 2122 Junior Bitch (4) (1)

1st Potterdale Prime Rose JW 

A lovely slate bitch who immediately appealed for her balance and breed type. Beautifully handled and well presented, she has a strong yet feminine head with a pleasing eye colour and correct dentition. Good depth of chest and correct forechest, together with excellent front and rear angulation, gave her a well balanced outline. On the move she showed plenty of drive from the rear, combined with good reach in front, allowing her to move freely and effortlessly around the ring. A quality bitch who was shown to advantage by her handler. Sister to the Junior dog class winner.

2nd Potterdale Prime Example At Malandex

Litter sister to the class winner and many of the same qualities are evident. She has lovely length to height proportions, giving a balanced and pleasing outline. Good eye colour, excellent pigment and correct dentition complete a feminine, breed-typical expression. Correct depth of chest with well balanced construction throughout, enabling her to move with good reach and drive. Handled well and presented immaculately. A quality young bitch who simply had to give way to her sister on the day.

Class 2123 Yearling Bitch (4) (1)

1st Talraz Midnight Lady 

A well-made 14 month old slate bitch who appeared much more settled in this class, allowing her many virtues to be fully appreciated. She has a lovely head with a dark eye, giving a typical feminine Bearded Collie expression, whilst still possessing good strength throughout. Beautifully presented and handled, she maintained a lovely topline both standing and on the move. She moved freely around the ring with lovely reach and drive, covering the ground effortlessly. A quality young bitch with much to admire.

2nd Breaksea It's Time At Nellbrook

Just 2 years old, this brown bitch is very feminine throughout and was presented in excellent condition. Expertly handled and beautifully schooled, she made the most of her many virtues. She has well balanced front and rear angulation, a firm topline, correct eye colour, excellent pigment and correct dentition. While she lacked the forechest of the class winner, which in turn restricted her reach on the move, she nevertheless moved soundly with good drive from the rear. A quality young bitch with much to admire.

Class 2124 Novice Bitch (0) 

Class 2125 Post Graduate Bitch (5) 

1st Moonhill Blissful Dream

A very feminine 4 year old slate bitch of lovely breed type. Honest and unexaggerated, she was presented in excellent condition without being over coated, allowing her natural virtues to shine through. I have admired this bitch from the ringside on many occasions, but today I had the opportunity to get my hands beneath the coat and truly appreciate her construction. She has a good, strong head whilst retaining a beautiful feminine expression, together with correct front and rear angulation and an excellent length to height ratio, giving her a balanced outline. She was completely in tune with her handler, who undoubtedly gets the very best from her. Today she was foot perfect on the move, covering the ground with effortless reach and drive, and I found myself smiling as I watched her perform. A truly deserving winner. Awarded the RCC today.

2nd Clanwillow Crown Princess at Gilcharma

An almost 3 year old slate bitch of lovely shape and pleasing breed type. Beautifully handled and presented in excellent condition, she has balanced proportions with all the correct ratios, giving a very attractive outline. Her front assembly is well constructed, enabling her to move out with purpose and cover the ground freely. She was shown in good coat and condition, although I personally felt she would benefit from carrying a little less weight to further enhance both her outline and freedom of movement. Nevertheless, a quality bitch with many pleasing attributes

Class 2126 Limit Bitch (6) 

1st Corimist Caissa At Lyngem

A quality 4-year-old slate bitch who epitomises the breed. She is such a genuine, honest exhibit with nothing exaggerated, presenting a beautifully balanced outline. Expertly presented and completely in tune with her handler, the pair moved around the ring in complete harmony. She has a lovely feminine head with a beautiful, typical expression, correct eye colour for her coat, excellent dark pigment and correct dentition. Her excellent forechest, balanced by correct front and rear angulation, enabled her to move with effortless reach and drive, covering the ground with ease and seemingly devouring the ring. I have admired this bitch on previous occasions, but today she truly excelled and left no doubt in my mind. I was delighted to award her the Bitch CC, her third, making her up to Champion.

2nd Matamata Lorian Lady at Talraz

A lovely 5 year old slate bitch of beautiful breed type and another quality exhibit in this class. She has a feminine head with correct eye colour, excellent pigment and correct dentition, all contributing to her typical Bearded Collie expression. Beautifully presented and handled, she maintained a balanced outline throughout. On the move she covered the ground with a real sense of purpose, displaying good reach and drive while remaining completely sound. A pleasure to watch and a worthy second in a particularly strong class.

Class 2127 Open Bitch (1)

1st CH Orora's French Silk At Merrimak JW ScCEx OSW

A quality 4 year old slate bitch of excellent breed type. Presented in a beautiful jacket and hard muscular condition, she was expertly handled and completely in tune with her handler throughout. Her correct proportions and balanced front and rear angulation enabled her to move with the effortless, free flowing gait so characteristic of the breed, making her a pleasure to watch and appreciate on the move. Very feminine throughout, yet with sufficient strength, she has a good, strong head, correct dentition and lovely dark pigment, all combining to give the typical soft Bearded Collie expression. A quality exhibit.