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Crufts - Pastoral Day 5th March 2026 - Bearded Collies
Judges Critiques
Dogs
What a privilege and pleasure to judge at this special show. I was honoured to be invited, and to receive such a nice entry. As anticipated, we had a ring of good size to show off the breed's movement to best advantage .My super-efficient stewards Alan and Joanne kept everything flowng smoothly, and made a great team
Temperaments as expected were excellent and overall the standard of handling and presentation was high - a few dirty teeth were a disappintment, and I put my hands on an occasional mat, which suprised me at this level where attention to detail is so important
I was looking for a fit, breed-typical, well-constructed, well-balanced dog, masculine without coarseness, and moving smoothly and freely, and all my winners offered these essentials as a given.
Head type did vary and I found some dogs a little short in foreface, some a little lacking in stop, some slightly weak underjaws, and some failing in breadth of skull under the careful grooming. I do like to be able to see the typical eyes and expression without too much rummaging through excessive head furnishings.
The breed standard calls for 5 to 4 proprtions and nowadays the squarer generally more racy dogs are seen less commonly in favour of a dog which tends to be rather longer in body. However when this is combined with a heavier build, slightly shorter forelegs, a relatively flat croup, and a well-angulated rear, the balance becomes incorrect and this is especially noticeable on the move with dogs tending to fly their tails, kick up and out at the rear, and negotiate the turns clumsily. For its original job of herding this would be a handicap resulting in loss of speed and agility and a higher possibilty of injury.
GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME (5, 0 abs)
1st. Dumbrell's Brodaty Limited Edition at Bethlyntee, all-round nice stamp of a mature brown male genuine dual-purpose dog with enough poise to satisy the show ring without losing sight of the breed origins. He has a super strong head with expressive eyes, deep chest, good bone and substance and a typical harsh weatherproof coat. Moved out with vigour.
2nd. Wood's Pepperjay Bartholomew JW, another mature but fit male carrying a wealth of dark slate coat beautifully presented. He has the most beautiful head with good breadth of skull, dark eyes and excellent pigmentation. Moved out happily but not the stride length of my class winner today.
3rd. Holden's Kiltondale Kenny Rogers, attractive dark slate youngster with lovely head and expression and a quality coat coming. Little erratic moving at times but gave glimpses of what he might do once settled to showing.
MINOR PUPPY (1, 0 abs)
1st. Baker & Van De Hoef's Malandex Xciting Legacy, this well-schooled 8m mid-slate stood alone but was very deserving of his red card. Still a baby, however the essentials are in place and my hands just flowed over him. He moved as his construction suggested he would with a long easy stride and correctly carried tail. I particularly liked his head and expression, his neck and front are ideal and he is all male. No surprise his sire is one of my favorite dogs, he has certainly put his stamp on this pup.
PUPPY (6, 1 abs)
1st. Baker & Van De Hoef's Malandex Xciting Image, darker slate litter brother to the winner of MP and very much the same remarks apply, has the same easy movement and balanced construction, I am sure they will change places many times. Beautifully handled and presented and a very hard decision between the two for Best Puppy Dog, but I thought today Image looked a touch more masculine and awarded him Best Puppy Dog .
2nd. Costello's Calkylona Midnite Shadow, couple of weeks older and pushed my winner all the way, another puppy surely with a bright future. Lots to like about this boy especially his ideal balance and proportions. Held a strong topline and moved out so well, just a little unsettled by the noise today as was
3rd. Burfitt's Breaksea Black is Black, another I liked a lot. Slightly larger and currently looking a little leggy, when he grows into himself he will be some dog. So reachy and supple on the move, I know he will have better days.
JUNIOR (5, 0 abs)
1st. Lewis' Potterdale Prime Legacy 15m slate at the pale stage now and carrying plenty of glamorous coat which enhances his outline. Balanced head, good bite, sweet expression, and reachy neck with that slight arch. He is of ideal size and proportions and appears elegant without weakness. Moved out with energy holding a good topline.
2nd. Osborne's Potterdale Prme Edition, equally elegant litter brother to my winner, maturing slightly differently, he has a darker slate and more fitted coat, and is currently tending to look a little higher at rear which suggests he may finish the bigger dog. His head is that touch more masculine too, but today he was outmoved by the relaxed reachy strides of his brother, a close decision.
3rd. Mogford's Monarkshyre Autumnal Guild, completing a nice trio, this strongly made dark slate boy is full of breed type, has an attractive head, plenty of substance and a good harsh weatherproof coat. Presented in excellent fit condition and moved out well.
YEARLING (12, 2 abs)
This was a nice class.
1st. Carter's Memorylane Emotions in Motion for Ravenswyre (Imp Fin) JW, my winner from the first circuit of the ring this slate and white male is a real eye catcher, and did not disappoint on close examination. Quite mature already he is strongly made without any coarseness. Good head well carried on reachy arched neck flowing into neat shoulders well laid back. Well muscled throughout and in superb condition of coat and body, he moved effortlessly every time and pushed so hard for top honours, surely one who will soon gain his title.
2nd. Strzelczyk's Blumaci Vancouver, not the maturity of my winner especially in coat but this is a very classy high quality exhibit again beautifully presented and with a particularly nice head. Moved out so well and the slight lack of coat did not detract from his balanced flowing outline.
3rd. Ryan's Gallus Midas Touch into Razkal JW, very honest brown dog with such a calm kind expression, who again has some finishing off to do, but has excellent breed type and is so sound on the move with plenty of reach and drive.
GRADUATE (3, 0 abs)
1st. Brusin's Memorylane Five Drinks Later Fi Jch, won this class on showmanship and maturity. Well-coated happy brown in super condition, he is a little long for my ideal and I would prefer him more masculine but he showed with confidence to stand out over two rather raw and rangy boys.
2nd. Dumbrell's Cheryshd The Way You Are by Bethlyntee, this brown boy looked a bouncy handful with more than a hint of mischief in his expression. He has a great texture of coat coming, eye tones with coat, and a decent head, just not moving out well today and tending to roach on the stand.
3rd. Johnson's Wildan's Back to The Future, plainly marked dark slate, size and proportions good, topline OK but not in the best coat, this one is going to need time to come to maturity.
POST-GRADUATE (5, 0 abs)
1st. Tomlinson, Miller & Fletcher's Memorylane Flirt with Every Skirt (Imp Fin), another brown, stylish litter brother to my previous class winner and again in super coat and condition, beautifully presented and handled to win this class with ease. I liked his size, proportions and balance. Good head with excellent pigmentation and soft expression. Stood well over himself showing good front and forechest, reachy neck, combined elegance with substance. Really came into his own on the move and another which pushed hard for top honours.
2nd. Bowden's Subessen The Wonder of You JW, blue with correct toning eyes and pigmentation, not the maturity and coat of my winner and would have preferred more of him, but had a good head, correct mouth, and was well muscled and fit, responding so well to his handler.
3rd. Brown's Highglade Reason to Believe, top size handsome slate with a super head and expression, good proportons and excellent coat texture, looked impressive standing, just a little untidy on the move today.
MID LIMIT (9, 1 abs)
1st. Butcher's Sylvabrae Newtons Law, handsome blue dog now coming to his best and moving really well as his construction and muscle tone suggested he would. He is ideal for size and proportions and carries a wealth of correct textured coat. Looked good on the stand holding a firm topline.
2nd. Ayrton's Aoibh Drummer Boy JW, lots to like about this more workmanlike boy and he has a super head and expression. Another in fit hard condition, liked his topline, and strong neat hocks. Moved out very well. I thought a little more coat would enhance his outline to advantage and on another day these two could change places.
3rd. Rudd's Lubin's London Calling, this dark slate has the sweetest and softest expression coming from dark eyes and excellent pigmentation, good stop and balance to his head. He is put together without any exaggerations and carries a decent coat. Steady on the move.
LIMIT (3, 0 abs)
1st. Pickup's Kiltondale Heat of The Night JW, this happy dark slate caught my eye as soon as he walked into the ring with his look of quality and great ring presence. He is of good size and masculine without any coarseness and was an absolute pleasure to judge. Strong head with alert yet soft expression, ears well placed and mobile communicating the whole time with his handler. Correct conformation, typy and so sound he showed today with that extra elegance and sparkle all the best dogs have and was groomed and handled to perfection, I wished I had more than one CC on offer as today he had to settle for the reserve but on this form his title cannot be far away.
2nd. Bramley & Moore's Coalacre Do The Hokey Cokey, another nice honest dog with much to like. Strongly made with good proportions, has all the essentials and super texture of coat. Moved out smoothly showing good reach and drive.
3rd. Carter & Palmer's Burnhock Perfect Diamond of Woodacre, a more elegant type and such an attractive dog with his rich dark brown colouring and warm eye colour. He is constructed to move well and this he did but then insisted on fidgeting at the stand not doing himself any favours, I'm sure he will have better days.
OPEN (22, 5 abs)
This big class was the best I have ever judged in my career and I hated having to be so ruthess and send so many excellent quality dogs out of the ring cardless, but at this level of showing there was no room for hander error, or for any dog to be having an off day!
1st. Harcourt-Brown's Ch Orora's Himself, brown dog in good harsh coat, not an instant eyecatcher but the more I studied him the more I felt he was the one I was looking for to top this great class. He has a strong head with a sweet dreamy expression and warm eye colour. His neck has that slight arch and flows so smoothly down to shoulders well laid back without coarseness, and that ideal return of upper arm brings his forelegs well under his body suggesting he is capable of effortless front reach . Ribcage is deep and long, and loin is short and strong, leading to a smooth flow over the croup. Hind angulation perfectly balances the forequarters so that his movement just has to be good, I loved him in all directions but especially from behind with the plume of his long tail floating just above his hocks. CC, and with my co-judge Best of Breed, one we were delighted to send through to represent our breed in the Group.
2nd. Pain & Garcia's Fr/Int Ch Victory Wind's Supertramp, easy to see why this smart dog has done so much winning as he is so fit, sound and well constructed and he works so well with his talented owner/handler. Ideal proportions, masculine yet elegant, beautifully presented with not a hair out of place, he caught my eye again and again, never looking anything other than alert and showy, a dog which loves his job and puts his heart into it, hard to resist, but I preferred the understated and more rustic charm of my winner.
3rd. Brooks & Grundy's Ch Fraglestone Family Affair, another top quality dog of the type I love. Ideal head and expression, good reach of neck, good length of back and correct proportions. He moved so well today pushing the winners hard and I wished I had more red cards, a very worthy Champion.
VETERAN (15, 5 abs)
Another great class with quality in depth and once again some super dogs left the ring cardless.
1st. Sandberg's Ch/Int/Nordic/Se/Dk/Fi/No(u) Ch Farmarens All In , nine year old slate in great condition, very nice to go over, I appreciated his combination of substance and eleganc,e and his head and expression were captivating. A very honest boy with that lovely old fashioned slight wave to his coat, looking a picture standing and sound on the move, perfectly handled and presented. Best Veteran Dog.
2nd. Strzelczyk's Ch/Int Ch/Multi Ch Corimist The Sun King,a young veteran at just 7 and still in his prime. Quality slate and white in good coat and condition, has a beautiful head and is very well presented and handled, eye catching on the move.
3rd. Salmon's Ch Potterdale Piper, dark slate somewhat heavier type in full coat, not as eye catching as 1 and 2 but a nice honest dog, all male, and a worthy Champion.
Liz Jay (Mrs) (Judge)
Bitch critiques to follow