Bakewell Agricultural & Horticultural Society

My thanks to the society for the opportunity to judge at this well-run show in such a lovely setting, to my very efficient steward, and to the exhibitors for their entries. While the numbers present in both breeds were small there was quality throughout, and I had the pleasure of going over some very nice dogs.

Rough Collies

Puppy (1,0)

1st Mills' Lemivee Connie's Songbird – BOB & BP

Very pretty 11-month-old g/s bitch of lovely size and overall balance, standing naturally foursquare and presenting an attractive outline. She has a good reach of neck flowing into a firm, level topline and graceful sweep over the croup to a very long, low-set tail. Straight front with good bone, flexible pasterns, good depth of chest, well-bent stifles and well let down hocks. Her head is feminine and pleasing, with skull and muzzle of equal length, parallel planes, flat skull, slight stop and nicely rounded muzzle. Dark almond shaped obliquely set eyes and neat ears, which she used on occasion, completed a very sweet expression. She moved well from all angles, covering the ground with excellent reach and drive. In the challenge she was the only one with the coat to complement her construction which was the deciding factor between three lovely exhibits.

Junior (1,0)

1st Congdon's Aaronwell All About Elsa

Sixteen-month-old g/s bitch I have judged before as a puppy and developing nicely. She was completely out of coat, which showed off her lovely outline. She has a very good reach of neck flowing into well-laid shoulders, level topline with a pleasing sweep over the croup to a very long tail. Straight front with good bone, good depth of chest, well-bent stifles and well let down hocks. She has a feminine head with a pleasing expression, good balance of skull to muzzle, slight stop, well filled foreface, enough underjaw, dark almond-shaped obliquely set eyes and neatly tipped ears, well carried and used responsively. She moved true in all directions, showing good reach in profile and positive drive from the rear.

Post Graduate (3,1)

1st Aaronwell All About Elsa

2nd Beardsley's Marjalu Mr Lover Man

Heavily coated tricolour dog, pleasing for size and overall balance and presented in excellent coat and condition. Masculine yet attractive head with good proportions of skull to muzzle, flat skull, slight stop, well filled foreface, and a dark very sweet eye. He was rather reluctant to use his ears which are a little wide set. Good reach of neck, level topline rise over the loin and gentle slope over the croup to a long, low-set tail. His angulation is balanced at both ends and he moved true coming and going but in side gait he lacked the reach and drive of 1st.

Open (3,0)

1st Hawkins' Brilyn Shows The Difference JW – RBOB

Quality g/s bitch just coming back into coat, and what she had was in excellent condition and texture. She has a nicely arched neck of good length, well angulated forequarters, level topline and graceful sweep over the croup to a long, low-set tail, straight front with good bone, flexible pasterns, good depth of chest and spring of rib, good bend of stifle and well let down hocks. She has a charming expression with good balance of skull to muzzle, slight stop, dark almond-shaped obliquely set eyes, and neatly tipped ears. Took this class on her sound ground covering movement.

2nd Howard's GB Ch Serenlas Angel of Casatentola

Very pleasing tricolour bitch of good size and shape with balanced angulation front and rear. Good reach of neck, level topline and graceful sweep over the croup to a long, low-set tail. Straight front, good bone for her size, flexible pasterns, well-bent stifles and well let down hocks. She has a very pleasing head and expression with good proportions of skull to muzzle, flat skull, dark almond-shaped eyes and well placed and used ears. Moved well, just preferred the reach of 1st on the day.

3rd Allsops' Aqualita It's A Miracle

Nearly 7 year old tricolour boy with good overall balance and substance. Another with a pleasing outline although he was not showing himself off to best advantage. He has a neck of good length, level topline, and correct tail set, and is well angulated fore and aft. His head handles well with a flat skull, slight stop, nicely rounded muzzle, dark well placed and shaped eye and nicely tipped ears, giving a soft expression. Shown in lovely coat and condition and moved soundly.

Smooth Collies

Open (3,0)

1st Howe's Lizoni The Drifter – BOB

Nicely balanced tricolour dog presenting an attractive outline. He has a good reach of neck, well laid shoulders and return of upper arm, level topline and gentle slope over the croup to a long, low-set tail. Straight front with enough bone, flexible pasterns, good depth of chest and spring of rib, and balanced angulation at the rear. His head is a clean wedge with skull and muzzle of equal length, slight stop, smooth cheeks, well filled foreface, good underjaw, neatly tipped ears carried alertly, and dark obliquely set eyes, combining to give a pleasing expression. On the move he was sound and accurate, with an efficient profile action.

2nd Howard & Fort's Shulune Imperial Inkheart with Casatentola – RBOB

Quality b/m dog of good colour, well broken. Pleased for shape and substance with a nicely arched neck leading into well laid shoulders, good depth of chest, level topline, rise over the loin and gentle sweep over the croup to a correct tail-set. Well-muscled hindquarters with a good bend of stifle and well let down hocks enabled him to move with good drive from the rear once he settled to the job. Masculine head, a shade stronger than 1st, with flat skull, parallel planes, correct stop, nicely rounded muzzle, dark almond-shaped eyes and neatly tipped well used ears, very attentive to his handler.  

3rd Metcalfs' Koczkodan Well I Never

3 year old tricolour male who has a balanced outline but not quite the substance of the others in the class. He has a good reach of neck, moderately angulated forequarters, level topline and slope over the croup to a low set long enough tail, good depth of chest and spring of rib, well bent and muscled stifles and well let down hocks. His head proportions are correct with a slight stop, nicely rounded muzzle, well placed and used ears, and almond shaped eyes, although they could be darker. Moved true coming and going but not so positive in profile.