My thanks to Steve Hall and the committee for inviting me to judge this well organised and excellently run show. I must also thank the exhibitors for their welcome entry both in terms of numbers and quality. Your support is appreciated. On the whole the exhibits were well presented; nails were generally short albeit that in some cases feet were tending towards being square rather than the required oval shape. I thought that there were a few examples of shallow stops spoiling the head profiles. There were no problems with dentition. I was pleased to see that exhibitors were taking extra care of the dogs in the extremely hot weather. Our hardy breed showed true resilience.
VD/B (1) 1. Franchi’s Whitebarn Samuel Whiskers at Saniaquinto. R/W dog 7years. Very well presented as is the norm for this kennel. Correct head shape and proportions with good earset. Dark eye blending into coat colour. Good angulation front and rear. Well sprung ribs with a broad well let down chest. Plenty of bone and substance. Top line was generally level but starting to dip slightly towards the croup. Moved well with drive in all directions.
PD (2) A nice class with two promising pups. 1. Irvings’ Twinan Life’s a Blast. R/W 8 mths. Strong masculine head with correct proportions and earset. Masses of substance and bone throughout with a good spring of rib and depth of chest. Level top line standing and on the move. Correct angles front and rear leading to good movement in all directions. Dark eye blending into coat. Would have preferred a more oval foot. 2. Weedall and Bogues’ Bronabay Illuminations. There is a lot to like about this R/W 9 mth old. Foxy shaped head with correct proportions and earset. Dark eye blending into coat colour. Not as much substance as 1 but nonetheless ample bone in all areas and good ribbing and chest. Correct front and rear angles resulting in excellent movement. Top line was a little soft but there is time for this to firm up. Preferred his correct oval feet over 1. Just lost out on topline.
JD (0)
PGD (2) 1. Aleaxander and Davies’ Ermyn Knight of the Realm. A well presented and handled exhibit as I would expect from this kennel. Correct triangular shaped masculine head/ ear set with good proportions skull to muzzle. Dark eye blending with coat. Front angulation OK and rear angles good. Liked his reach of neck. Good depth of chest with well sprung ribs. Level top line standing and on the move. Moved very well in all directions. Correct double coat. Correct tail set. Won on his movement, substance and reach of neck. Gave a very good account of himself in the challenge for BD. 2. Bruce’s Whitepoint Dodging Daggers via Manto. R/W 3yrs. Well presented. Little less substance than 1 but still OK. Correct head proportions with good triangular earset. Level top line. Front and rear angulation OK however he wasn’t too keen to move for his handler so it was difficult to see how this translated into movement. If anything he was towing in a little too much at the rear.
LD (1) 1. Irvings’ Born to be Your Salt Dog at Twinan (Imp. Hun). R/W 20 mths. Perhaps the epitome of substance and stamina in a small space. Masculine head with correct proportions and triangular earset. Dark eye blending into coat colour. Correct front and rear angulation with a good topline leading into correctly set and carried tail. Pleasing reach of neck, correct double coat. Plenty of bone carried down to the feet. Well sprung ribs and let down chest. Moved very well in all directions and looked like he could keep going all day despite the heat. BD
OD (3/1) 1. Maddox’s Redfordhill Magic Moments to Salvenik JW. 2 ½ yr old R/W. Correct head proportions and earset with good reach of neck. Good angulation especially to the front. Good eye pigmentation blending into coat. Plenty of substance with well sprung ribs and let down chest. Level topline at all times. Moved correctly and effortlessly in all directions. Correct double coat immaculately presented. Won his class on overall movement and substance and went on to push very hard for BD. RBD. 2. Cuthbert’s Salvenik Share the Wish with Triella JW. R/W 6yrs. Foxy head with correct proportions and triangular earset. Good front and rear angulation. Good spring of rib and well let down chest. Not quite the substance and bone of 1. but still OK. Level topline leading into correct tailset. Not in the best of coats but still well presented.
PB (3) 1. Maddox’s Salvenik Summer Rosebud. 10 mths R/W. An absolute standout and daughter to winner of OD with many of his qualities. Not the biggest of bitches but very feminine, compact and correctly proportioned. Lovely correctly proportioned foxy head and correct earset. Nice dark eye blending into coat. Good angulation especially the front which was amply illustrated in her effortless movement. Spirit level topline at all times. Correct oval feet. Double coat and just as well presented as her father. Won on head qualities, topline and movement. I am sure that she will have a bright future. I was pleased to award her BP and to see that she went PG4. 2. Sneddens’ Nesden Stob Dearg. 10mths R/W. Correct ear set and width between the ears however I felt that her stop could be more defined. Plenty of substance and good front and rear angulation. I liked her reach of neck. Correct coat. Topline was rising towards the croup but there is time for this to settle. Moved quite well but not with the fluidity of 1. 3. Stewarts’ Blazerae Royal Inspiration.
JB 5(1) 1. Alexander and Davies’ Ermyn Dreams Allowed. R/W 14 mths. Another well presented and handled exhibit. Super head qualities with correct earset and proportions plus foxy appearance. Dark eye blending into coat. Very good front angulation leading to a good reach of neck and free forward movement. Rear angles good with plenty of drive on the move. Well sprung ribs and let down chest. Right amount of substance for a young bitch. Level topline at all times. Correct double coat. Won on her head qualities, movement and reach of neck. BJ and RBB. 2. Cuthbert’s Star Magic with Triella. R/W 18 mths. Another quality young lady. Daughter of OD winner and sharing many of his attributes. Correctly proportioned head and earset. Dark eye blending with coat. Good front and rear angulation but not quite the reach and drive of 1. A little softer in topline than winner. Correct double coat well presented. 3. Stewarts’ Blazerae Eternally Mine.
PGB 2. 1. Cuthbert’s Star Magic with Triella. 2. Stewarts’ Blazerae Royal Legacy. R/W 23 mths. Nice head with good proportions and correct ears. Adequate substance and bone throughout. Well let down chest. Topline ran down a little towards the croup. Reasonable reach of neck. Correct double coat.2. Franchis’ Ermyn Moonlight Flyer at Saniaquinto. Tri 3 years. Correct earset although I would have preferred a flatter skull. Dark eye with very good pigmentation. Plenty of substance but perhaps a little heavy today. Front and rear angulation OK leading to free flowing movement. Strong level topline. Well sprung ribs and nicely let down chest. Correct oval feet and well presented double coat.
OB 2 1. Down’s Ellessar Designer Cover. R/W 3 years. An eye catcher. A very feminine bitch but with plenty of required substance in all departments, not overdone. Correct head and ear set. Dark eye with good pigmentation blending into coat. Good front and rear angulation giving her an excellent reach of neck and effortless free flowing movement. Spirit level top line. Good depth of chest and spring of ribs. Neat oval feet. Strong red coloured correct coat which was starting to blow, this however could not detract from her overall underlying quality. Her effortless movement, neck length, front reach and strong rear drive assured her the top award. BB and BoB. 2. Cuthbert’s Salvenik Star and a Prayer with Triella. R/W 11 years. A beautiful old lady of smaller type than 1. She belies her age and is one to be proud of. Correct head and earset with feminine foxy expression. Dark eye blending into coat. Correct front and rear angulation and can still move with ease. Her topline was one of the best to be seen. Well sprung ribs and good depth of chest. Nice oval feet. Correct double coat so well presented, a credit to her owner.
Judge: Dave Asbridge