South Of England Irish Setter Club

A privilege to be asked to judge at this friendly well organised show. I thank my stewards who kept things moving smoothly. Just a few words in general about the entry. I was very disappointed with many of the dogs heads, where has the lovely Irish Setter head with fine chiselling around the almond shaped eye gone? Too many of the heads I saw on the day were large and coarse with round eyes and blank stary expression. I also found quite a few suspect bites. On the plus side I was very happy with my final line up of quality dogs, all of whom had many of the attributes I was looking for. MPD. (14). 1. Burke’s, Clachnahar Ami Pierrot. Well grown mature puppy. Well proportioned head, dark expressive eyes. Good length of neck leading to well placed shoulders. Ample forechest. Good length of upper arm. Excellent bone and feet. Moved soundly. 2. Walters and Wilkins’, Margretwoods Magnificat at Deneil. Pleasing puppy overall. Good head proportions. Well developed in rib and depth. Enough forechest, but I would prefer more return of upperarm. Nicely angulated hindquarters. His movement was very erratic on the day but he is still a puppy so gave him the benefit of doubt. 3. Randle’s, Wickenberry Jack’s Lad at Rionore. Very immature as yet, but has all the essentials to make up to a good one. Lovely head and expression. Well proportioned body, good forehand construction. Nice topline and tailset. Enough bone and good feet. Moved ok if a bit loose. PD. (9). 1. Milligan-Bott and Botts’, Scotselaw Detroit Spinner by Thendara. Loved this one. Gorgeous head with quizzical expression. Correct angulation fore and aft. Very well balanced even at this awkward age. Stands on good well boned legs and feet. Moved soundly. BPIS. One to watch. 2. Jones’s, Janter Mannanan Mac Lir. Another well constructed puppy. Typical head and eye. Arched neck leading to very well laid shoulders. Good forechest and upper arm angulation. Ribs carried well back. Wide hindquarters and short from hock to heel. Sound steady mover. 3. Clachnahar Ami Pierot. JD. (10). 1. Martin’s, Silvage, Forst Edition. How this one has come on! Super head, nice length of neck. Good shoulders. Pronounced forechest. Good return of upper arm. Correct length to body. Good width to thighs. Strong well angulated hindquarters. MOved very well once he has settled to the job in hand. 2. Stocker’s, Kirkavagh Bikala. A bigger rangier dog who still needs a bit more time to come together. Typical head of his breeding. Elegant outline, correct in shoulder and front assembly. Good depth and length of rib. Well balanced hindquarters. Movement ok. Would like to see him moving outside on grass. 3. Walsh’s, Janter Moon Magician of Millcroft. Well constructed dog with a lovely head and eye. Very good shoulder angulation. Nice length of body. Strong firm hindquarters. Good bone and substance. Moved ok. Coat a bit too wavy at present. YD. (8). 1. Clechonska’s, Vaskey’s Concept at Aoibheanne JW. Eye catching dog with a lovely head and eye shape. Strong arched neck, well laid shoulder with excellent angulation fore and aft. Gently sloping topline to correctly set on tail which was carried well. Strong muscled up hindquarters giving sound driving movement. Another I would like to see outside on the grass. RCC. 2. Stockton’s, Kespas Infrared JW. Different type to winner being smaller and more elegant. Pleasant head, well angulated both ends. Good legs and feet. Moved soundly. Would just like a slightly higher tailset. 3. Partridge’s, Kerrydown Look at Me. Less mature than first and second but a very promising dog with lots to like. Attractive head. Correct angulation front and rear. Better topline than second but not so positive on the move. SpBEGIN D. (1). 1. Mitchell’s, Polmennor Bonfire. Commended in puppy. Nicely presented puppy. Typical head and expression. Good length to body. Firm topline leading to well angulated hindquarters. Sound going away but very loose in front movement. Needs lots of time. MD. (8). 1. Janter Moon Magician of Millcroft. 2. Edwards’, Henaleas Tuscany. Good outline. Nice bone and feet. Well laid shoulders. Shapely hindquarters. Moved soundly. Not the head for me. 3. Pike’s, Redclyst Thomas the Rymer. Well balanced dog of good type and shape. Excellent shoulders. Pronounced forechest. Moved ok when settled. Again not the head for me. ND. (8). 1. Silvagem First Edition. 2. Kirkavagh Bikala. 3. Henaleas Tuscany. UGD. (9). 1. Kirkavagh Bikala. 2. Kerrydown Look at Me. 3. Pullen and Arkins’, Shanoah Jump to It. Nice type of dog. Well balanced with good head, neck and shoulders. Correct tailset and carriage. Adequate bone and good feet. Moved ok. GD. (13). 1. Frampton’s, The Pearl Fishier of Strathmead JW. Handsome dog. Attractive outline standing. Superb on the move. Correct shoulder and upper arm assembly. Pronounced forechest. Gently sloping topline leading to correct tailset. Excellent bone and feet. Presentation spot on. 2. Harris and Edwin’s, Ixia Tanner with Konakakela. Another well made dog with a good outline. Pleasing head, neck and shoulders. Enough forechest. Good width of thigh. Ample bone. Moved soundly but slightly proud of his tail. Would prefer better feet. 3. Hillock’s, Spirit of the South to Jonola. Finer type. Lovely head and expression. Shorter coupled than first and second. Little to fault, just a bit unsettled on the day. I’m sure he can do better. PGD. (14). 1. Edwards’, Barleydale Lumiere. Loved the Settery outline on this one. Super head and expression. Very good shoulder and upper arm angulation. Well balanced height to length ratio. Well boned legs and good feet. Moved very well but a bit proud of his tail. 2. Springle Nereus JW Sh CM. Elegant dog, difficult to fault. Very correct conformation. Typical head, sloping topline. Well muscled body. Sound steady mover. Just wish he were a bit more animated. 3. Smith’s, Reddins Tellerman JW. Smaller dog than second. Typical of his breeding. Good head, neck and shoulders. Deep through the ribs which was carried well back to strong loin and firm well angulated hindquarters. Another sound mover, but on the day seemed to lack verve. MinorLD. (6). 1. Willett’s, Caspians Disraeli JW. Haven’t seen him for a while, now coming to his best. Gorgeous head and expression. Excellent front with pronounced forechest and good depth. Correct sloping topline to well set and carried tail. In good coat and hard condition. Moved soundly. 2. Wilkins and Parkinson’s, Margretwood Travlin Light. Different type to winner being a touch more elegant. Very well constructed throughout. Pleasing head and eye. Good straight front. Strong well muscled hindquarters. Well handled and moved nicely. 3. Mortimer’s, Covarney Crusader JW. Similar type to second, but a touch too long in the loin for me spoiling his topline on the move. Pleasant head. Good front angulation. Enough forechest, wide hindquarters. Good tailset and carriage. Sound mover. Presented to perfection. Not all were. MID LD (6). 1. Mugford’s, Scotselaw Jackson of Lynwood JW. Easy winner in this class. Super head carried proudly on strong neck. Good layback of shoulders. Straight front but I would prefer a better return of upper arm. Well angulated hindquarters tending to crouch a little on the day, exaggerating his topline. A pity as this cost him the RCC. Moved well. 2. Sturrock’s, Forfarian Sorcerer. Good head and expression. Very good shoulders. Well boned legs and good feet. Not a big one but well balanced. Good tailset and carriage. Well handled. Moved ok. 2. Graydon’s, Eringold Connlaoi. Lovely head and eye. Very good shoulders and adequate neck which would look better with a bit of judicious trimming. Smallish well balanced dog. Nice wide hindquarters. Moved well. LD. (8). 1. Fry’s, Strathmead April in Paris. Very attractive dog with a beautiful chiselled head. (One of the few here on the day). Loved his outline. Excellent neck and shoulder conformation. Decent length of body. Strong wide hindquarters. Correct topline, tailset and carriage. Well boned legs and feet. Presented in excellent coat and condition. Steady mover. 2. Bailey’s, Covarney Monello JW. Another very well presented dog. Preferred the classic head and eye of winner. Straight front, nice topline. Strong loin and hindquarters. Very good stifle angulation. Moved ok. 3. Pikes’, Scarletti the O’Hara. Different in type to the winners. Lovely thick dark coat which shone with condition. Well balanced with correct angulation both ways. Tending to pull back on the day which spoilt his outline. Moved ok. OD. (2). 1. Richardson’s, Sh Ch. Kirkavagh Fidalgo JW. Gorgeous head with correct quizzical expression. Very good front, well laid shoulders. Sloping topline leading to well set tail of which he was slightly proud of on the day. Well angulated and muscled up hindquarters which enabled him to move soundly and confidently. To be critical I would prefer a touch more length to his body. 2. Holley’s, Sh Ch. Danaway Discreet. Another with a really lovely head with dark expressive eyes. Well angulated fore and aft. Good ribcage. EXcellent well muscled hindquarters. Beautiful dark shining coat. Could not match winner in movement on the day and as with winner. Personally prefer a bit more length in body. VD. (10). 1. Wick’s, Sh Ch. Popeswood Pie in the Sky at Birguma. My star of the day. It’s no secret that I have not always been a fan of this lad and I’m so glad his sporting owner gave me another chance to assess him. He has his faults as they all have, but on the day for me he sparkled. Handsome masculine head with a twinkle in his eyes. Good length of neck leading to well angulated shoulders. Decent length of body. Wide well toned hindquarters. Sweeping bend of stifle and short rear pasterns. Correct topline maintained on the move with perfect tail carriage. CC and BOB. RBIS and BV. 2. Hanby’s, Duncarreg Red Rover of Chanstor. An old favourite of mine. Super head, well made with good angulation fore and aft. Correct topline and tailset. Moved very well. Just not the condition of winner on the day. 3. Milligan-Bott and Bott’s, Sh Ch. Thendara the Tourist. A worthy Champion who has had a wonderful career and I was pleased to see him here on the day. Still has his lovely head and eye. Fantastic coat and condition. Construction is correct throughout. Just looked a little tired on the day and couldn’t match the winners in movement. This was the best class of the day for me!

Katrina Hall n

BITCHES Thank you to the committee of the South of England Irish Setter Club for a most enjoyable day and to the exhibitors for a lovely entry. I was pleased to see so many pleasing bitches in the lower classes which can only bode well for the breed in future. On the whole movement was good but muscle tone was lacking in quite a few; this does adversely effect the movement. Irish Setters need free exercise every day without fail, even playing with a ball can help to build the muscle. I am increasingly concerned though about level bites. I wrote about this the last time I judged, there were a lot more today. In some cases the teeth were actually quite worn in some quite young exhibits. The trouble is if you breed from two animals with such bites you are just compounding the problem. The standard states ‘a complete scissor bite’. There was quite a lot of winter nose today which I believe was made to look worse by the lights in the hall. I was very pleased with my final line up in fact I was delighted . MPB 17 [6abs] 1st Wilkins Margretswood Kitty Cat Like her type, sweet bitch with good bone and ribcage which is missing in a lot today. Good head neck and eye and nice expression. Nicely muscled quarters from which she moved well but was inclined to lift her tail. 2nd Berry and Morris Brinara Guiletta Close decision between first two Same comments apply as the first. Very nice neat feet. Stop could be slightly better, sure it will come. 3rd Curtiss Wyldfire Colleen PB 16 [4abs] 1st Pikes Redcyst Scottia At 11 months maybe could be a bit taller but her other attributes far outweighed what might be .Everything is neat and tidy everything fitted together.Very nice head with good ear placement maybe eyes could be a better shape. She has a very nice fore chest with good angulation Very well muscled rear and with width. She moved very well for one so young on very neat feet. Best puppy bitch 2nd repeat Kitty Cat 3rd Townsends Follidown Wisteria JB 19 [3abs] A very nice class but quite a few lacked stops which detracts from the finish to the head. 1st Morgans Kerrisienna a Paige in History of Deconara JW She comes as a complete package with very neat feet and very pleasing movement. She was suffering slightly from lack of pigment but it did not detract at all from her nice expression. Good coat and colour. 2nd Pollards Grayrigge Maeve Felt she just had the edge today on her litter sister who was third . Nice head with sweet expression neck fits well into her shoulders. Good body proportions through to strong quarters .Moved well 3rd Grayrigge Mairona YB 21 [2abs] A lovely class of youngsters who could all change places another day 1st Waterton & Dowle Barleydale Honeymoon Have admired this bitch from afar now I know her true qualities and today she was just right for the part. Good coat and condition and well boned. Lovely head with well placed ears sweet eyes but lacked some pigment. Neck shoulders and fore chest all good. Well proportioned body leading to strong rear from which she moved very well on very neat feet carrying her tail correctly 2nd Nevittís Romarne Jessica. Had the pleasure of judging her as a puppy I still feel the same about her she was just unlucky to meet the1st today. A very pleasing bitch in very nice condition. Also has a good forechest which a lot lack today. Moved and presented herself well from well muscled quarters and very neat feet. 3rd Littepea Lady Guineverra at Barnelin SpBegB 1 1st Pine Seatamarisk Moondancer. This bitch has strong quarters with very good muscle she moved fairly well . A little rangy for me and her colour could be darker. She did enjoy herself though she refused to stand at the end unless she had her rosette ‘Why Not?!’ MB 19 [7abs]1st repeat Redclyst Scottia 2nd repeat Margretswood Kitty Cat 3rd repeat Follidown Wisteria NB 13 [6abs] 1st repeat Kitty Cat 2nd Wisteria 3rd Sevenvale Good Heavens its Vanders UB 14[5abs] 1st Condron & King Brenrue Candice Sweet head with lovely expression good ear placement Neck sits well into good shoulders nice ribcage. Moved well from strong quarters keeping her topline.Another pleasing youngster. 2nd Elkins Avacet Christmas Wish Same comments apply as the 1st in class but just thought her shoulder placement was not quite so positive. She also moved very well keeping her topline on the move not exacerated at all 3rd repeat Could it be Magic at Heathclare GB 12[4abs] What a lovely class! 1st Kings Kirkavagh Jumilla. I have not changed my opinion on this bitch since the first time I judged her. She has so much going for her, nothing shouts at you, everything fits. The head is appealing with the sweetest expression. She moved across the ring with ease using her tail to advantage on her very neat feet Well presented in very good order 2nd Hillocks Jonola Liberty X Pressed the 1st very hard. A very nice bitch from any angle .She is equally as good in the head as the winner and moved very well also using her tail to advantage keeping her topline .Just felt she was not quite as mature in body 3rd Gracewood True Magic JW PGB 19 [8abs] 1st Watertonís Lynwood Strands of Silk at Sandstream Looking her best in very good condition just lacked a touch of colour on her nose. Sweet head with nice eyes . Good front with angulation well set shoulders good ribs. Just about the right amount of weight. Moved well and strong from good feet using her tail well. 2nd Naylor & Morrisons Anlory Valpolicella Nice colour and coat just wish there was a bit more of it to finish the picture .She has very good qualities everything is neat and fits together well. Good movement. 3rd Harris & Edwins Coppersheen Cantilena Sh Cm MinorLB 5 1st Tuiteís Rua Primavera Lovely bitch from any angle with a very nice head and expression. Good shoulders compact body strong quarters from which she drove round the ring using her tail. Coat in very good condition and colour. 2nd repeat Coppersheen Cantilena Sh Cm Nice lines to her body with a good ribcage. Strong quarters from which she moved well.Has a good head with sweet eyes nice neck and shoulder 3rd Roberts Polmennor Village Gossip MLB 11 [3abs] 1st Naylor & Morrison Anlory Smarty. Very aptly named. Not a big one but so well put together with a pleasing head & eye and can she move. Very nice colour coat in good condition just wish there was a bit more of it to finish her off .2nd Wiliamsons Caskeys Vermillion at Bluesprings Typical pretty bitch from this kennel. Has very appealing head and gentle eye Good reach of neck with pleasing shoulders nice body moved well, neat feet. Would like slightly darker coat . 3rd Creganís Wishing Tree Golden Legacy LB 11[1abs] 1st Milligan & Bott Lunaline Lady Maddona by Thendara. So much to like about this bitch .She has good confirmation with a good head neck and eye in fact a typical Irish expression .Strong quarters from which she moved well. Neat feet Good coat and colour 2nd Martins Glennara Moonlight Shadow@ Silvagem JW My notes say ëI bet she is fun to live withíShe really enjoyed herself and thatís how it should be .Very nice head neck & shoulders leading to nice body and strong back end. She moved very well using her tail to advantage. Good feet 3rd Pollards Grayrigge Grace OíMalley OB 10 [4abs] 1st Powis Sh Ch Amberwave Spangle JW. A bitch I have admired from afar now I have had the pleasure of judging her I certainly was not disappointed Very nice confirmation with the sweetest of heads typical Irish expression.Nothing exaggerated a very pleasing picture. She covers the ground with ease when moving from very well muscled quarters. She obviously has a lot of her famous sire’s attributes . Delighted to award her the CC today and best of breed on the referee’s decision Congratulations. 2nd Townsend SH CH Follidown Red Hot Poker Have done well for this bitch in the past I still like her. Not a flashy bitch but is very well made. Very sweet head with good expression. Moved very well from strong quarters. Felt today that she has not quite recovered from her maternal duties 3rd Mugford’s Lynwoods Promises Promises to Gimaroch VB 10 [6abs] I always feel it is such an honour to judge the veterans they always look so happy and pleased to still be exhibited .The 3rd is 12 years old & enjoyed every minute of it.1st Stevenson’s Lochlorian Sunrise This is a case of never giving up on a good bitch. She just gets better. She has matured slowly over the years and at 9 years looks great. Very pleasing confirmation Not exaggerated in any way the sweetest of expressions good ear placement.My goodness can she move from well muscled quarters keeping her topline using her tail . Her owner is to be congratulated on her excellent condition. Well deserved res CC.2nd King’s Sh Ch Kirkavagh Kooyonga A very well deserving Sh Ch turned out to perfection as always from this kennel .Very well made bitch with a good head neck and shoulders well proportioned body. Moved very well. 3rd Lynwood Castsaspell over Polmennor

Pauline Perriam

free hit counter >