Boston 2007

DOGS:

It was a real honour to be invited to judge at this the first championship show for Boston and it was a credit to their hard working committee that everything ran so smoothly. On this basis, I am sure this event will grow and prosper and become a fixture in the calendar. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the dogs and firmly believe we have a better crop at present than in the recent past. Many decisions were close and could change on another occasion.

MP (9,0). 1 Willis’s Jacwilins Willoughby, a very special puppy who surely has a big future, just right for his age, gorgeous head and gentle expression, balanced throughout, excellent angulation both fore and aft, gently sloping topline, rich colour and a super mover for his tender age. Best Puppy in Breed. 2 Waddell’s Riquitta Dylan Thomas, slightly stronger all through than the winner and one who will need more time to develop fully, deep chest and showing enough spring of rib, well of for bone, moved steadily. 3 Ciechonska & Oakley’s Caspains Monty Sunshine, completed a nice trio of youngsters, again most promising but not quite so together as the winner, very good type with lots to like.

P (12,2). 1 Mugford’s Lynwood Field Of Dreams, owns a beautiful well worked headpiece with dark expressive eyes, medium size with lovely outline, true front, well turned stifles with good width of thigh, well set on tail and moving freely. 2 Bott’s Bardonhilll Ginger Whinger, I made him fairly similar in type to the winner, but not so well schooled or cooperative as 1, quality head, clean over neck and shoulders, true front, good shape to hindquarters and striking topline. 3 Naylor & Morrison’s Bardonhill Bardonlino, litter brother to 2, stronger in head than those above but in no way course, also rangier in general make and shape and I feel he will take longer to develop, nice overall shape, rich coat colour and really goes well when moved.

J (13,2) Good class. 1 Barker-Bell’s Balintyne Chances Are, and I think his chances are good, very impressive young man with the desired work in head, kind eye, strong well arched neck setting cleanly in to his shoulders, deep brisket, strong loins, rugged and toned hindquarters which allowed him to move with style and freedom using his tail. 2 Richardson’s Kirkavagh Dalakhani, close up and of really lovely type, balanced throughout, this boy scores in head, Irish expression, neck, clean shoulders, true front, body shape and croup, went well and was turned out in good order. 3 Fryer’s Jonola Starstruck At Redchester, shown in glorious full coat and very eyecatching, handsome fellow with best of heads and flowing topline, not quite so pleasing on the move as 1 & 2.

Y (9,2). 1 Balintyne Chances Are. 2. Milligan Bott & Bott’s Scoteslaw Detroit Spinner By Thendara, reminiscent of his sire in overall make and shape and as usual from this kennel, turned out immaculately. I liked his masculine but kind expression with good finish to foreface and low set ears, clean neck, proportionate body with excellent croup and tailset. 3 Pike’s Redclyst Thomas The Rhymer, from a bigger mould than 2, but pleasing all the same. Impressed with his overall balance and outline, good front ,deep chest and well ribbed up, in good condition.

G (10,2). 1 Smith’s Caskeys Checkmate, new one to me but a cracker. Outstanding for type and balance, very good head and outlook, lovely rich dark coat, correct upper arm and lay back of shoulder, strong, well developed body, good shape to his hindquarters, excellent finish to croup and well set on tail. More schooling should improve his chances as he reaches maturity. 2 Stocker’s Kirkavagh Bikala, what a difference a year has made to this high quality young man. He has bodied up, filled out and grown coat now looks terrific and well balanced. I particularly liked his very good head, arched neck, clean shoulders, true front, proportionate body and free flowing movement. 3 Kniveton’s Burrenmist Hot Shot At Orstone, not quite so forward as the 2 in front, very nice type who impressed a lot when moving, rich dark coat, glorious outline, straight front, deep chest, well ribbed back, well set on tail.

PG (19,3) Strong class. 1 Caskey’s Checkmamte. 2 Swainston’s Glenvarna Sungod, masculine head, kind eye, low set ears, best of neck and shoulders, good front, shown in lovely coat, moved well using his tail correctly. 3 McCulloch’s Cullmadons Celebrity, close up and presented in lovely coat and condition, honest and unexaggerated, so full of quality in most departments, went very well, will always be in the reckoning.

L (9,4) Small class but top quality. 1 Ciechonska’s Caskeys Concept At Aoibheanne, litter brother to winner of previous 2 classes, but rangier all through, superb headpiece so full of work, presents a pleasing overall picture, deep chest, well sprung ribs, lovely finish to his croup, deep rich coat, he moved well. Already stamping his mark as a sire. 2 Fauvrelle’s Shaytell Andante, have always liked this stylish boy and I am sure he will gain his crown soon, pleasing type scores heavily in head and kind expression, neck, body proportions, hindquarters and turned out in good coat and condition. 3 Meadows’s Gwendariff Moet Et Chandon, in no way disgraced here, top quality exhibit with lots to like including his clean skull, masculine but gentle expression, shoulder lay back and overall balance.

O (10,2) Super class. 1 Shaw Rainey & Rainey’s Gwendariff Simply Red Plays Starchelle, the star of the day he completely filled my eye, he was presented in sparkling condition and looked superb from all angles and at only 3, I am sure has a very bright future. He is both rugged and racy and flows from nose to tail, super head raised brows and kind expression, reachy neck, best of shoulders and upper arms, true front, well ribbed body, wide powerful hindquarters and positive movement. He exudes class and quality and demanded to win the CC & BOB. 2 Laidlaw’s Glencarron Macduff, so much to like about this handsome stylish dog, pleasing head and outlook, strong arched neck, the best of front assemblies, deep well ribbed body, good width to the thigh, well set on and carried tail, correct topline and sound flowing movement. RES CC., unlucky to meet the winner in such fabulous form. 3 Holley’s SH CH Danaway Discreet, quite stunning in head with so much work and dark expressive eyes with raised brows, clean over neck and shoulders, good front and feet, beautiful outline, turned out in full shining coat.

J Alister Watt

I was very pleased to be invited to judge at this first championship show for the Society whose very successful Open shows I have enjoyed for many years. Although perhaps there were a few hitches in the planning in the quantum leap from Open to Championship Show I am sure that they will have learnt valuable lessons for next years show. I was however delighted with the overall quality of the bitches shown under me and had little trouble in selecting the prize winners in each class.

MPB (15) 1 Muirs’s Romarne Hayley. Very mature promising baby. Pleasing head with good expression, nice eye. Good reach of neck, ample spring of rib, super topline. Well angulated front and rear. Beautifully presented. Moved very soundly and happily around the ring. 2 Gibb’s Willowglows Red Silhouette. Not quite the maturity of winner. Appealing head and kind expression. Nice forechest. Good topline, good angulation. Correct tailset. Very elegant balanced profile. 3 Oakley’s Caspians Melisande.

PB (14) 1 Mugford’s Lynwood Follow Your Dreams. Promising upstanding youngster. Nice head. Good straight front with well placed shoulders. Ample depth of chest. Good quarters. Excellent in profile with nice sloping topline. In good coat and condition. 2 Muir’s Romarne Hayley. 3 Bott’s Bardonhill Blonde Moment. Super type. Excellent head proportions with correct planes nice dark correctly shaped eye. Well arched neck set well into laid back shoulders. Good angulation front and rear. Well coated. Perhaps not so steady on the move.

JB (16) 1 Heron’s Caskeys Happy Hour. Superb head and soft quizzical expression, nice dark eye. Well constructed throughout with an elegant outline. Nice straight front and deep chest. Good quarters and nice short hocks. Moved soundly with drive around the ring. Presented in excellent coat. Very promising. 2 Chorley-Newton and Chorley’s Outfoxed by Kerryfair J.W. Just preferring the refinement in head and maturity of winner. Will no doubt change places with a little more time on her side. Kind expression, nice dark well shaped eye. Good in profile, straight front. Good angulation, strong hindquarters, nice tight feet. Moved well. 3 Durant’s Kirkavagh Perola.

YB (15) 1 Wilkin’s Margretwoods Kitty Cat. J.W. Very close decision between first and second. Appealing head and kind expression. Well constructed throughout with an elegant outline. Nice straight front and deep well ribbed chest. Good quarters and short hocks. Moved soundly with drive around the ring. 2 McDonald’s Delsanto Martinique. Not one I have noticed before. Very similar type just preferring the head of winner. Soft expression, nice dark correctly shaped eye. Balanced profile, straight front. Good angulation, strong hindquarters. Moved well in harmony with her handler. 3 Quinn’s Wickenberry Joanna.

GB (6)1 Pollard’s Grayrigge Mairona JW. Easy winner here despite this being a very strong class. Refined head with correct planes and kind soft expression. Excellent reach of neck, deep brisket. True front, firm sloping topline which she held on the move. Well angulated front and rear. Balanced profile. Shown in excellent coat. Pushed hard in the Challenge just losing out on maturity. Must have a very bright future. 2 Hall’s Glenarra Klipspringer JW. Another nice type, but just preferred the head of the winner. Good body proportions, well angulated shoulders, correct tailset. Nice neat feet. Perhaps not quite as good behind as the winner. Moved well. 3 Nevitts’ Romarne Jessica JW.

PGB (13) 1 Pollard’s Grayrigge Maeve JW. Super head and soft melting expression, nice low earset. Good reach of neck. Good front, well ribbed, correct topline, excellent balanced profile. Nice tight feet. Moved very soundly with style. No exaggeration of any form. Just not in her best coat for further honours. 2 Meadows and Ritchie’s Clonageera Rhapsody. Pressed hard, just loosing out on overall balance. Good refined head Good reach of neck flowing into well laid back shoulders. Good spring of rib, nice firm topline. Adequate angulation, moved well. 3 Hillock’s Jonola Liberty X JW.

LB (11) 1 King’s Kirkavagh Jumilla J.W. Another very strong class. Have never really appreciated the qualities of this bitch from the ringside before. Balanced head with the sweetest of expressions, good reach of neck, nice deep chest, excellent angulation. Well off for bone. Good powerful quarters, which she used to advantage to move around the ring. Shown in fabulous condition. Could not deny her the Reserve CC. 2 Waterton’s Lynwood Strands Of Silk At Sandstream J.W. Another pushing very hard. Refined head with the kindest of expressions. Well laid back shoulders, nice deep chest with good spring of rib. Excellent firm sloping topline and elegant profile. Well constructed and balanced throughout. Could not quite the coat and condition of the winner. Moved well. 3 Vallance’s Braidmount Georgie Girl.

OB (7) 1 Kavanagh’s Sh. Ch. Withersdale Ivy. Classic well chiseled head with raised brows and soft quizical expression. Solidly constructed throughout. Good reach of neck, well sprung ribs, nice deep chest. Firm topline which she maintained on the move. Strong loin and quarters. Moved effortlessly around the ring with style and drive. Show and presented in beautiful coat and condition. Delighted to be able to award her the CC. 2 Mugford’s Promises Promises To Gimaroch. One I have done well for before but on the day could not quite match the overall ring presence of the winner. Decent head and expression. Excellent well balanced outline, good croup and tailset. Coat not quite the condition of winner. Moved steadily around the ring, but could not match the animation of the winner. 3 Townsend’s Sh. Ch. Follidown Red Hot Poker JW.

Peter Armstrong

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