Welsh Kennel Club

I would like to thank my stewards for keeping things moving and helping me to get finished on time for my Best of Breed to get to the group. I would also like to thank the exhibitors on what was obviously a difficult day with the benching so far away and to pass on my apologies if at times I appeared rushed – when starting later there is a constant pressure to ‘get through’ when one is doing both sexes – in places I would have liked the luxury to take a bit more time and study dogs more carefully (particularly when doing my critique) and also to move dogs more at times, it is a shame we still do not appear to be improving movement in our breed neither are we improving heads – where are the raised eyebrows the wistful expressions and the true ‘Irish Character?’ Having said that I had some very close decisions particularly in two or three of the bitch classes.

MPD (3) 1 Lewis Lindenjo Lancelot. compact puppy with ample bone, attractive balanced head with gentle expression. Good reach of neck, true front, deep ribs and good quarters for his age. 2 Wood Reddins Ethan of Lymish. a rangier type of dog, or maybe just at a ‘leggier’ stage, head at the moment a bit finer and not quite the chiselling or eyebrow of the winner. Well angulated in shoulder and quarters – needs to settle on the move. 3 Clayton-Lee Rubratinneh Medicine Man.

PD (13) 1 McLarnon Northamber Just Cause for Glenavna. mature puppy with a pleasing head and expression, low set ears, well arched neck, flowing into well angulated front, deep chest, gently sloping topline and well muscled quarters with good hock placement, steady happy mover – in good coat – was just beaten for best puppy by the bitch on overall maturity and finish. 2 Myers Riverbrue Zanthus by Astrazone. another very nice pup lovely outline and front assembly, good bone and forechest, something getting rare in our breed! Balanced head with good foreface just needs to drop into hind quarters and steady on the move. 3 Brownlie and Mercer Lindalloch Sunset at Apollogunner.

JD (15) 1 North and Holehan Erinade Starwars. what an eye catching youngster, he has a beautifully balanced head with raised brow and refined skull, soft eye and expression, well laid shoulders and firm top line, deep brisket and good turn of stifle presented in lovely coat and condition and moved steadily round the ring. 2 Prangle Heathclare A Chance of Magic. close decision another very stylish dog so many of the same comments apply – clean in outline good reach of neck, firm top line, well muscled quarters, covers the ground well on the move, again one in lovely coat and condition. 3 Willis Jacwillins Willoughby completed a very nice trio.

YD (9) 1 Powis Amberwave Breezer. young dog maturing nicely, long lean head refined skull with low set ears, lovely over neck and shoulders, firm top line, deep chest, good angulation fore and aft giving a pleasing picture as he moves with purpose round the ring. 2 E. Starwars 3 Swainston Glenvarna Himself JW.

Maiden D (7) 1 N. Just cause for Glenavna. 2 Kniveton Serrula Playaround at Orstone. pleasing in outline, straight front, well sprung ribs, strong loin and good quarters, head a little plain at the moment. 3 Drinkwater Brabrook Shockaloza.

ND (10) 1 N. Just cause for G. 2 S. Playaround and O. 3 L. Sunset at A.

Deb D (8) 1 Condron and Symons Corvaney Inca. more mature dog in full coat, pleasant balanced head with gentle expression, good overall confirmation, true front, short loin and good width of thigh, moved steadily though could have had a bit more animation. 2 N. Just Cause for G. 3 S. Playaround at O.

GD (13) 1 Vant Barleydale Hadley. upstanding young dog with good body properties, typical head with raised brow and soft expression, firm top line, well sprung ribs, strong quarters used well on the move. 2 Barker-Bell Ballintyne Take a chance on Me. shorter cast dog built on clean lines, good angulation, lean head with kind expression- free mover. 3 Mazan Haremach Gilpatrick.

PGD (16) 1 Greenan Anlory Quantus of Juleset JW. this dog has a super clean outline, which really draws the eye and on the day made him an easy winner for me – I was surprised when checking my catalogue to see who it was as I did him well as a youngster but his head had refined so much with maturity and that was my reservation before, he really is such an honest sound dog. 2 Sheldon Delsanto Isaac JW. another beautifully presented dog balanced throughout, attractive typey head, true in front, deep chest, firm loin, good bend of stifle and a free happy mover. 3 Millan Landscott Rustic Bracken.

LD (8) 1 Armstrong Atron Limited Edition. what does one say about this boy – the phrase that I cannot get out of my mind is ‘a bottle of champagne that has just had it’s cork pulled’ he is all fizz! He’s true ‘Irish’ from the top of his masculine well sculpted head with it’s cheeky yet gentle expression through his strong muscular body to the tip of his active tail – viewed from the side he is correctly angulated in shoulder with well sprung ribs, good fore chest and tight elbows, firm top line, good width across his quarters and well bent stifles, a strong powerful mover presented in lovely order, I could not deny him his all important third CC – congratulations. I am sure there will be more – but! Unfortunately the ‘fizz’ got the better of him and he had to give way to the bitch for Best of Breed. 2 Bott and Morgan Ember Gene Simmons Sings Quensha. a different type to the winner but never the less a really nice boy – so honest and sound, lean balanced head with kind expression, good reach of neck, super outline so clean throughout, deep brisket, strong loin, absolutely no exaggerations, moved soundly and steadily in complete unison with his competent handler, presented in lovely order, Res CC, thank you for bringing him. 3 Ciechonska Caskeys Concept at Aoibheanne JW. another lovely boy completing my trio unfortunately all three needing that all important ‘third’. Sadly I only had one to award but I’m sure that both your days will come.

OD (12) 1 Myers ShCh Astrazone Special Brew JW Sh CM. what a worthy champion and what an honour to go over him he is such an honest dog, balanced head with raised brow, good eye and expression and finish to muzzle, strong well arched neck deep chest, good bone and substance, neat tight feet, well bent stifles and neat hocks, presented in full coat and lovely condition, covers the ground with free, sound, stylish movement. 2 Lorimer ShCh Danaway Destiny. beautiful head, refined skull, dark eye with soft gentle expression, clean over neck and shoulders, true in front and has good rib, strong loin and well bent stifles, shown in beautiful coat and condition as one comes to expect from this owner and moving as one with her. 3 Fauvrelle ShCh Shaytell Andante. one of our most recent ShCh’s congratulations.

MPB (5) 1 Gardiner Reddins Esther of Blaysdell. pretty puppy with a really appealing feminine head, raised brows and soft expression – good neck and shoulders balanced throughout she has a lovely dark coat and when she co-operates with her handler she is a nice shape. 2 Morris and Berry Brinara Winter Cherry. a stronger headed girl with a well proportioned body, good angulation fore and aft steady on the move and in super condition. 3 Cayton - Lee and Lee Rubratinneh Pocahontas.

PB (12) 1 Dale Anlory Dreams. mature well finished puppy for her age, I really liked her head and expression, she has work without coarseness and a soft expression, good reach of neck, plenty of angulation in front and in her quarters, deep chested and balanced body, sound steady mover for a baby, BP over the dog on maturity. 2 Powis Amberwave Freckles. not so mature as the winner she’s slightly leggier at the moment, pretty feminine head with gentle expression, elegant throughout her body, firm top line and good finish over the croup, steady on the move but a shade proud of her tail today. 3 Hinslea Northamber Causin a Riot.

J (13) 1 Decoster Vicarys Fancyface aptly named – what a pretty face – refined skull, good finish of muzzle and gentle ‘Irish’ expression, quite a rangy girl at the moment but with time I think she will finish well, true front with good shoulder placement, deep chest and super bend of stifle, happy free mover. 2 Willis Jacwillins Miss Dashwood. pushed hard and could change places another day a beautiful youngster who has a pretty feminine head and a lovely clean outline, firm top line, good front and sternum, deep chest just needs to drop into quarters to complete the picture. 3 Muir Romarna Hayley JW.

YB (11) 1 Chorley – Newton and Chorley Outfoxed by Kerryfair JW. elegant well made bitch, nicely put together throughout she has a pretty feminine head with dark eye and soft expression, good reach of neck and upper arm, gently sloping top line, good width across her thighs, neat hocks, sound stylish mover covering the ground well. 2 Boutell Ixia Genevieve. another sound stylish girl who also covered the ground well on the move, she has a pretty head and an elegant body with a super outline, good angulation fore and aft – was close up to winner. 3 Swainston Glenvarna The Wow Factor.

Maiden B (12) 1 Anlory Dreams. 2 Amberwave Freckles. 3 Hopewell Davset Bonne de Fleur.

NB (12) 1 J. Miss Dashwood. 2 Swainston Glenvarna The Wow Factor. a taller rangier bitch lean typy head with a dark eye and pleasing expression, good bone and substance, nice front, deep brisket and strong quarters. 3 Anlory Dreams.

Deb B (10) 1 Budgell Choakfords Megan with Robbieline. nicely proportioned bitch with a pretty head and sweet expression, clean outline, well ribbed up, good width across her quarters, sound steady mover. 2 Hopewell Davset Bonne de Fleur. a smaller neater bitch well put together, feminine head, good reach of neck and gently sloping topline not so mature as the winner. 3 Roberts Polmenor for Pleasure.

GB (10) 1 Townsend Follidown Wisteria. lovely type of bitch built on clean lines quite reminiscent of her mother, super outline from her pretty head through her good reach of neck and gently sloping topline to well finished croup, nicely angulated in front and behind and presented in good coat – happy on the move. 2 Macdonalds Delsanto Martinique. another beautiful bitch, long lean head with dark eye and soft gentle expression, well off for bone but no coarseness, good fore and rear angulation with well sprung ribs that were just a little too well covered! strong firm mover in beautiful coat – with a little less weight will regain her elegance. 3 Hopewell Davset Little Eva.

PGB (17) 1 Pollard Grayrigge Maeve. what a sweetie a really pretty bitch, balanced head with plenty of work and foreface and a soft gentle expression, clean over neck and shoulders, good front assembly with forechest and well sprung ribs, muscular quarters and neat hocks, steady on the move. 2 Hirons Loskeron Larch. the more I looked at this girl the more I liked her, not a flashy one and maybe a little stronger in skull than the winner but her unexaggerated body properties are to be admired, she has clean lines, good angulation and depth and was shown in good coat and condtion. 3 Crocker and Hammick Brabrook Fantasy Believer with Riverbrue.

LB (14) 1 Naylor and Morrison Anlory Valpolicella JW. compact balanced bitch, pretty well chiselled head with clean skull and good length of muzzle, well arched neck and clean line into shoulders and topline, good front and feet, ample spring of rib, strong loin and good width across her quarters. I was hair splitting between her and number two and they could easily change places another time – both had their own strong points. 2 Pollard Grayrigge Mairona. litter sister to my PG winner and very similar so many of the same comments apply – I loved her head and her overall soundness, her good angulation and strength in quarters also her strong movement, unfortunately she was just pulling her neck back into her shoulders and spoiling her clean line and that cost her first place. 3 Vallance Braidmount Georgie Girl Sh CM. made up a very pleasing trio she would benefit from a shade less weight to enhance her lovely body properties.

OB (7) What a privilege to judge these lovely girls - thank you. 1 CC BOB Townsend ShCh Follidown Red Hot Poker. I did this girl well as a baby so nice to judge her again as an adult and see she has fulfilled her potential she has a typy ‘Irish’ head with soft gentle expression, well proportioned body with good depth and sound confirmation throughout, presented in full coat and lovely condition I was pleased to give her the CC. Her body properties coupled with her more mature outlook to behaviour won her BOB. I was so pleased to see her and my second place winner going round the ring together, I felt they had similar outlines and construction and made a lovely sight. 2 Hunter and Brown Sh Ch Braidmount Geisha Girl. feminine head, dark eye, good reach of neck and flowing topline, good bone and depth of chest, strong loin and muscular quarters with correct hock placement, used well in powerful free striding movement, presented and handled well she fully deserved the Res CC. 3 Powis Sh Ch Amberwave Spangle completed the trio – a pretty elegant bitch who is another worthy champion from this kennel.

Carolyn Hogsflesh

 

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