Dogs

It was an honor to be invited to judge at the club show, both committee and exhibitors made me most welcome. I had a reasonable sized entry to go over, but have to say I was worried by the lack of quality in the younger dogs. Considering these are the stud dogs of the future, it doesn't bode well for the breed. Movement wasn't good, mainly due to the poor forehand construction, lack of angulation and steep upper arms. I believe I've commented on this problem the past couple of times I've judged the breed. I certainly couldn't see any improvement. Does no-one take what are meant to be constructive comments on board? Remember the future of the breed is in your hands. My best dog had a superb front assembly, correct angulation along with depth and forechest, this is what we as breeders should be aiming for.

SpJ VD 7-10yrs (3) 1. McCarthy's Ch. and Ir Ch Tollwood Lionel At Kilndandy You could almost write the standard from this dog, he fits it in nearly every way, with his overall balanced outline and unexaggerated movement. A lovely liver boy I have always admired but he hardly ever showed himself off to advantage, at nearly 9 years old, he came to life and demanded the red card. Delighted my co judge thought him worthy of reserve BIS, best veteran and best liver spotted. 2. Moseley's Loxleyvale Khandahar Slightly darker coloured liver in good condition. Kind head with dark eye colour, good length of neck. Front construction not as good as 1 but nice all round boy sound from all angles, moved out steadily and with purpose. 3. McMillan's Oneowun Mr. Bojangles at Dalyance

MPD (1) 1. Lewis' Dalpetro D'artagnan Of Hunterswood Stood alone but worthy winner. Very much a baby at present and a bit 'bum high' but has a certain quality about him. Not a flashy pup but really steady and sound in movement with lots of foreward reach. Good strong bone and correct overall construction. BPD, he only lost out to the bitch for BPIS on maturity but time is on his side.

PD (2) 1. Cliff and Hipkiss' Boutonneux Apollo One of two very raw youngsters at differing stages of development, both need time. Apollo had the more attractive spotting, cleaner outline and better turn of stifle. He had a level topline and won the class on his better movement, but is very shallow in body. 2. Lamb's Kalsidoni Dexter By Dalpetro Lovely head with nice dark eye colour. Much better front than 1 with good depth of brisket for a young pup but moved rather erratically and tended to lose his topline.

JD (6) 1. Hoie and Lehmann's Spotniks First Farao For Ormond Almost 18 months and what a stunning dog with a front assembly to die for, near perfection with depth and forechest, correct slope of upper arm and lay of shoulder. He is masculine without any hint of coarseness with a truly beautiful head. Paced a little going away as the ring really wasn't big enough for him to get into his stride, but once he adjusted was absolutely sound coming and going. His profile movement was superb with effortless long strides really covering the ground. For perfection I'd prefer him a fraction shorter in loin but he stood out from the rest by a mile in what was a disappointing class. A quality dog well deserving of the CC and with the agreement of my co-judge BIS. This lady ALWAYS shows dogs with such good fronts, but we have almost lost them in the U.K., why? 2. Beeston's Tyrodal Special Encounter with Sanadal Liver spotted dog of good colour and decoration. Strong bone leading to good cat feet. Deep in chest and brisket with ribbing well back to short loin. Kept his topline on the move driving from well muscled quarters. 3. Whiting's Cibrith Captain Kirk

YD (8) 1. Croft's Doubtwell Show Stopper Spectacularly black spotted dog of 21 months with superb depth of pigmentation, and pure white ground. Pleasing head with dark eye colour and well carried ears. Good width of thigh, lacking in so many others, and correct lay of shoulder making him very sound on the move. Balanced outline both standing and moving, showed himself off to advantage. Very well handled. 2. Dodds and Pearson's Kelevra Hudson Hawk Completely different type from winner and not as positive in hind action, but moved steadily round the ring keeping a level topline. Really in tune with his handler. Good deep brisket, strong bone and good feet. Very kind head with expressive eyes 3. Townson and Pardoe's Buffrey Follow That Star

MD (3,1) 1. Boutonneux Apollo 2. Ingham's Risdonfarm Rocky Young dog who still needs to 'come together'. More settled and in tune with his handler in this class and so moved better. Even black spotting and kind head.

ND (6) 1. Dalpetro D'artagnan Of Hunterswood 2. Buffrey Follow That Star 3. Boutonneux Apollo

GD (3) 1. Williams' Phadante Brighton Rock Liked him as a youngster, now starting to mature nicely. Balanced in body with straight front, strong quarters with good width of thigh. Kept a level topline whilst moving steadily around the ring. 2. Story-Taylor's Major Tornado at Kesteven Didn't move as well as winner but sound in all departments. Kind expression with dark eyes and long clean neck, good decoration throughout. 3. Webster's Tynevale Truly Talented at Dalmarno

PGD (12,2) 1. Christie's Sophtspot Abracadabra Pleasantly surprised by this boy as he didn't have immediate masculine appeal, but his lovely free striding movement won him the class. Just flowed round the ring with long economical stride keeping a good topline. Correct angulation both ends with good turn of stifle, width of second thigh and good tail set. 2. Quayle's Buffrey The Shaded Sun at Cubalibre Dense black spotting on well balanced body. Good head shape and kind expression. Excellent side gait but not quite so positive in front as winner. 3. Precious' Holderness Henry Higgins By Lupiac

LD (14,4) 1. Gates-Raw and Garton's Dalendale Quiet Riot Won a good class where many worthy dogs went cardless. A really sound liver dog with lovely head, nicely broken ears and dark amber eyes. Well off for bone, good angulation on balanced body with correct tail set. Moved steadily and positively around the ring with nice even stride. Very well handled in a quiet unobtrusive manner. 2. Goff-Leggett's Washakie Aslan Another quality liver very similar in type to winner, same remarks apply. Handler struggling to move him to advantage which probably cost him the class. Two super dogs. 3. Todhunter's Takesti Moon Dancer

OD (12) 1. Lewis' Man About Town at Hunterswood Headed another good class where many I admire did not move as well as I know they can and so paid the penalty. Good honest workmanlike dog typical of this kennel with balanced construction and correct angulation, depth and forechest. Sound in movement from every angle with level topline and correct tail carriage. Adequately decorated with kind expression, dark eyes and well carried ears. 2. Goff-Leggett's Washakie Nutcracker Prince Similar type to winner but slightly larger size. Attractive even spotting with good depth of pigmentation on pure white ground. Lovely tight feet on well boned legs. Moved soundly fore and aft and strode out well in profile for co-handler driving from strong quarters. Very well presented. 3. Hoie, Ivarsson and Loken's N Ch Solbos Kayo Lovely type with kind masculine head. Best front assembly in the class but a shade long in loin and tended to lose his topline on the move, never the less super profile movement.

SpBegin D (3) 1. Major Tornado at Kesteven 2. Cibrith Captain Kirk Bold black spotting on body. Clean neck and good shoulder placement. Sound but have seen him move with more zest. 3. Buffrey Follow That Star

Ilex E. Whiting