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Collie
Club of Victoria inc
mavis
O’Neill Memorial
Championship Show
A Word From our
Judge:
I
would like to thank the Committee of the Collie Club of Victoria for
the opportunity to judge the 2010 Championship Show, particularly in
view of the fact that it was the Mavis O’Neill Memorial Show.
Congratulations
to everyone involved in making the day such a success. The
ring with its two amazing floral displays looked spectacular, as did
the trophy table. Very well done everyone!
My
congratulations also to the owners/handlers of the winning dogs.
I was interested to see that many of my awarded dogs were a
combination of English and American bloodlines. Many of the
exhibits were beautifully presented but some, sadly, were not.
I found this disappointing as I have always considered that as
guardians of the breed it is our responsibility to present and
promote our dogs in the very best possible way.
Whilst
I was pleased to see that movement, on the whole, in the breed has
improved somewhat compared with what it was say, four or five years
ago, I was concerned to find that heads in general have
deteriorated. I found quite a few skulls that receded rather
badly and that is a concern because a wedge shaped head with the
skull and the muzzle forming parallel planes is a fundamental
requirement of the breed and a basis for the desired type. Filled in
stops was another concern with eyes lacking the desired shape and
sweet expression.
In
my experience it has always been a huge challenge to combine the
degree of soundness required in a 9:10 herding dog with the very
detailed head characteristics in order to produce good breed type,
however, it’s what breeding Collies (Rough and Smooth) is all
about. It involves compromise, of course, as does judging of
the breed, and every breeder and judge will have their pet hates and
dislikes which they cannot forgive or compromise upon. The
very basis of the head structure and type, such as the planes of the
head, the moderate stop with blunt muzzle and sweet expression is
not to be compromised upon, in my opinion, and I would urge both new
and established breeders to work to this. I trust you view my
comments in the constructive manner in which they are intended.
Once
again, thank you to everyone who exhibited and contributed to the
success of the show in any way. As well as judging the exhibits I
enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with many people I had not seen
for some time, since my retirement from showing a few years ago.
Best regards
Shelley Bateup
** Smooths ** |
