London Collie Club Critique
- Jun 14
- 6 min read
LONDON COLLIE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
BEST IN SHOW – 7TH JUNE 2026
I have always enjoyed this show with it’s lovely atmosphere and excellent venue and today was no exception with fair weather and the venue always being easily accessible and plenty of space for all to enjoy a wonderful day. The Committee are always welcoming and a true credit to the Club and the hospitality is second to none. Thank you so much for inviting me to judge Best in Show today, both Rough Collie Judges agreed on their ‘Best of Breed’ decisions so I was not required to referee. Thank you to all the exhibitors who accepted my decisions graciously.
I adore both the Rough Collie and Smooth Collie, not favouring one breed over the other and sharing my life with both breeds, but the Smooth Collies shone through today taking all the top awards.
BEST IN SHOW was awarded to Miss A Lusty’s CH. BLAMORDER ICE CREAM DREAM VW – Blue Merle Smooth Collie bitch of almost 10 years and a well deserved winner who still gives the whole field a run for their money, as she did today. Her overall confirmation and balance speaks volumes with regard to being close to the breed standard, she has a wonderful correct head, nothing exaggerated, a nice strong underjaw, from all angles the head shape is an excellent wedge with well carried ears, good length of neck leading into a well constructed body which shows when she is on the move, there is good drive and she floated around the ring without effort, I preferred her overall balance and movement to the sable Rough Collie BOB Bitch, Mrs V Tame GATAJ TIME AFTER TIME AT RAHLISSA.
RESERVE BEST IN SHOW AND BEST OPPOSITE SEX IN SHOW was awarded to Ms A French & Mrs J Swann’s BRECKAMORE BOBBY DAZZLER AT SWANNDALE – 17 month old Smooth Collie Sable dog who is definitely a ‘Bobby Dazzler’, with excellent substance and conformation, his overall balance is a silhouette of the breed standard and he is very collected and correct on the move, dogs like this put the future of the breed in a good place, he could not be denied the Reserve Best in Show award.
BEST PUPPY IN SHOW was awarded to Miss A Lusty’s BLAMORDER MASTERPIECE Smooth Collie Blue Merle Dog Puppy who at only 11 months of age has the makings of living up to his Kennel name, he is still quite a raw baby mentally (as is expected) but is extremely promising with excellent conformation and substance and another that shows the future of the Smooth Collie is going in the correct direction if puppies of this quality continue to be produced. Again, the overall balance and movement being closer to the breed standard(s) won this young man his Best Puppy in Show placing today over the 8 month old sable rough collie bitch Mrs M Lockyer’s GATAJ MISS SPARKLES
BEST VETERAN IN SHOW was also awarded to Miss A Lusty’s CH. BLAMORDER ICE CREAM DREAM VW (whom I have written about above) over the almost 13 year old Sable Rough Collie bitch, Mrs P, Miss E & Miss J Booker’s TELFORTH SWEET DREAMS TO CORISIAN JW again winning over on movement, construction and overall balance.
Judge – Mrs Cathy Howard
SHANDLMAIN COLLIES
Date: 07/06/2026
Firstly, I must thank the committee for inviting me to judge the females at this well-run show plus my two stewards for their great help. The weather managed to stay dry and warm if a little windy at times upsetting a handful of dogs. I was pleased with my final line up, where I was spoilt for choice.
FEMALES
MPB (3.0)
What a lovely class to start the day, 3 very nice puppies who could change places on another day.
1st. Lockyer’s GATAJ MISS SPARKLES 9mth old quality S/W with a wealth of well-presented golden coat. Sweetest of expression, nicely moulded muzzle no coarseness, good stop, lovely eye, well used ears. Good fore and rear quarters, lovely bone. Moves really well. BP & B.P.B on agreement with my co judge.
2nd. Mccarte’s SWEETMINTS YASMIN AT ROUGHRIGG (IMP NOR) 8mth old S/W puppy. Slightly taller than one but very feminine. A lot to like about this well put together young lady.
3rd. Wray-Ramsden’s TAKHISIS LADY IS A TRAMP. Loved this tri baby and once she gets it all together will trouble the best.
PB (1.0)
Absent
JB (4.0)
1st. Spendelow’s UFFSPRING UNIQUE ESPOIR 16mth old Tri, with a lot to like. Correct size and shape eye. Perfectly placed stop. Lovely rounded muzzle, with flat skull. Good length of back, balanced front and rear. Moves with ease.
2nd. Blackie’s KOURIKA STAY WITH ME. Another nice Tri, just preferred the expression on one. Well balanced, good bone. Presented well. Just needs to settle in rear movement, could have been the wind today.
3rd. Ship’s TREMARO FANTASY
NB (1.0)
1st. Plank’s LYNMEAD DREAM DESIGN FOR RAYVEL Pretty S/W, on her own but worthy of her first place. Finer in head, but still well rounded in muzzle and flat in back skull. Obliquely set dark eye. Slightly shorter coupled in back but this didn’t affect her movement.
GB (8.6)
1st. Wells’ GATAJ LITTLE MISS SASSY AT TERELIMON Lots to like about this 2yr old S/W. She just sparkles happiness! Lovely head with correct eye, stop and flat back skull. Uses ears to her advantage. Nice neck, length of back, and good angulation. Tidy feet, low hocks, moves well.
2nd. Lockyer’s GATAJ STRUCK BY LOVE 19mth old S/W Much of a muchness with one. I’m sure they will change places many times. Today this young lady was a little unsettled on the move. The wind??
PGB (7.1)
1st. Pearson’s BRILYN MAKE ME SMILE AT GARBH Well balanced Tri with a fabulous, well-presented coat. On first glance, her stop looks to be deep but once handled this is all coat! Rounded muzzle, good underjaw. Correct eye, dark and almond shape. Small neat ears. Dreamy expression. Fantastic mover.
2nd. Ship’s TREMARO MILLION DOLLAR BABY Another that was very well presented, very attentive to her handler. Nice shaded sable, has a sweet expression, clean parallel lines, broken with a well-placed stop. For me a shade more underjaw would complete the picture. Lovely mover that come from her well put together frame.
3rd. Daley’s GATAJ SOMEONE YOU LOVED TO MELAYLA
MLB (9.3)
1st. Scott’s TORRINO RENESMEE FOR CHANTIQUE B/M with a look at me attitude. Very pretty head of a good length, broken with a well-placed stop. Nice eye & ears carried well. Excellent front, starting at a long neck, leading into well placed shoulders. Excellent angulation front and rear, super topline. Moves well. One that was in my consideration for top honours.
2nd. Lockyer’s GATAJ ALL THAT GLITTERS S/W with a more fitted type of coat and smaller all over. Moulded head with sweet eye. Well put together, moved well.
3rd. Larkin’s RAHLISSA TOFFEE CAKE FOR DENORA
LB(8.3)
1st. Tame’s GATAJ TIME AFTER TIME AT RAHLISSA My notes say Wow! This S/W took my eye on my first look around. She never once stopped showing. She has that breath taking expression, which only comes from perfect eye shape and placement, correct stop and length of head. Good dentation and good underjaw. Not a massive coat but what she has, fits her to a tee! This enhances her perfect conformation. When she moved it was true and effortless. She just stood and asked for the CC. I found out after this was her third, well done, every inch a Champion. CC & BOB
2nd. Hawkins +Foy’s BELDONES FANTASY Another sweet S/W a little heavier in type but very eye catching. The wind made her a bit fidgety today but I’m sure her day will come.
3rd. Hollinshead’s MILLUBIE ENCHANTRESS (IMP SRB)
OB (5.2)
1st. Ware’s MILLUBIE ESSENCE OF MAGIC AT WASSAIL (IMP SRB) Eye catching Tri. Sweetest of expressions. Lovely moulded muzzle, good underjaw, correct stop. Obliquely set almond shape eye. Topped off with well used properly tipped ears. Long neck, good shoulder placement, balanced front and rear giving that true collie shape. Good mover making the most of the ring. Another in consideration for top honours.
2nd. Congdon’s RIVERSIDE SONG NEBRASKA AT AARRONWELL (IMP ROM) Another pretty Tri, similar to one just finer in head and bone. She wasn’t happy with the wind today but did enough to show of her virtues.
3rd. Wray-Ramsden’s BEL. CH TAKHISIS LADY OF MYSTERY BW 25/25
CH.B (1.0)
1st. Congdon’s CH AARRONWELL ABLE MABLE JW Every inch a champion. Her shape catches your eye straight off. Long neck, good topline with correct length, excellent lay back of shoulder, good depth of chest. Ideal bone, perfect well let down hocks. Did not see her standing wrong once. Her dreamy expression comes from an almond shape eye of the right size, the right amount of stop, head of equal plains all finished with very neat ears. Moves so freely with little effort. Gave way to my cc winner today due to coat on the blow. Res CC
VB (2.0)
1st. Brooker’s TELFORTH SWEET DREAM TO CORISIAN JW This 13-yr old S/W lady still shows like a youngster. Balanced head with correct stop and sweet almond shaped eye. Ears bang on top. Good neck flowing into a well laid-back shoulder. She is so well put together, this shows in her excellent movement, which is effortless. BVIB
2nd. Philpin’s TUDORLYN A KIND OF MAGIC. A finer type than first. This 8-yr old Tri has a nice outline if not quite the neck of one. Well groomed and presented. Moved ok.
Judge Wendy Musty.
