Midland Basset Hound Club

The Midland Basset Hound Club Open Show

17th February 2007

I thank the committee for their invitation and kind hospitality; and the exhibitors for both the quality and quantity of my entry. I was concerned about the amount of eyes missing the characteristic lozenge shape which detracts from the appealing expression of the Basset; short leathers also seem to creeping in, and I feel care should also be taken over mouths as the standard calls for a scissors bite. However, all hounds were well presented in excellent condition, with the exception of only one or two all could do a days work and all displayed good temperaments. My principal winners I would quite happily take home and many were placed further down the line, not because they were unworthy but because of the overall quality.

Puppy (4)

1 Newman’s Woferlow Samuel Pickwick. What a little star in the 1st class of the day. Well balanced R/w, nice foreface, lovely dark eyes with correct shape would prefer more definition to back skull. Lovely deep lip, low set leathers of good length. Calm expression Muscular neck, sternum developing nicely, sound even front and well laid shoulders. Strong level topline and long well rounded ribs. Super rear angulation, standing on well knuckled tight feet. Deep body with massive bone throughout, and correct tailset. Moved true, freely and parallel fore and aft. Well balanced for his age, given time I’m sure this young fellow will trouble the best! BPD, RBD & BPIS

2 Isted & Melbourne’s Dearduenna Charles Trenet. R/w. Larger frame than 1 and well up to size. Not the head qualities or expression of winner. Well developed sternum, good front assembly, strong topline and read angulation. Massive bone throughout, standing on large tight feet. Correct tailset. Sound even front movement with driving rear. Another Nice boy

3 Clinkard’s Tatullah Black Jack. Black blanket lovely head qualities with good eye shape and colour pleasing expression and low set long leathers. Arched neck. Sternum still developing, front needs to tighten hence still a little elbowy. Ribs rounded and reaching well back. Quarters used to advantage on the move.

Junior (2)

1 Storton’s Dereheath Don Toro. Attractive tri of good size and well balanced. masculine head, pronounced occiput, lovely dark eye with low set leathers, and deep lip. Well developed sternum. Would prefer a little more length to neck, gives impression of upright shoulder, tight elbows. Nice ribbing carried well back, level topline and good tailset. Good rear angulation, tight well bunched feet. Moved well although slightly uneven in front.

2 Clinkards Tatullah After Eight. Black blanket, masculine head, lovely dark eyes and correct shape, long, low set curling leathers and good depth of lip. Well arched neck front developing nicely and like his brother needs to tighten. Rounded ribcage and strong topline and correct tailset Not the rear angulation of 1. Moved well.

Post Graduate Dog (2)

1 Mitchell’s Chrizbee Rumpole. R/w Mature with masculine head, eye in keeping with colour with correct shape. Long, low set, curling leathers. Strong neck well developed sternum and good front assembly. Well laid shoulders with tight elbows. Level topline, would prefer a little more length to ribbing and back. Well angulated quarters standing on well knuckled tight feet. Moved well.

2 Feetham’s Kimbleholme Magic Wizard. R/w of just 18 months, Good head qualities and lovely expression, correct eye shape and colour. Leathers low set, long and curling. Nice neck and shoulder placement, front still developing. Ribs rounded and carried well back, strong level topline of good length, correct tailset. Would prefer a little more bend of stifle. Tight, well knuckled feet. Movement strong and purposeful.

Limit Dog (8. 1a)

1 Kelsey’s Malacante Bay of Silence. Tri my notes say super – everything together and in the right place! Quality masculine head, lovely dark eye of correct shape, prominent occiput, low set and long leathers, curling and fine, with good depth of lip. Pleasing calm expression. Strong arched neck of good length, clean well laid shoulders, tight elbows. Prominent sternum. Good depth of body and bone throughout. Sound even front with long rounded ribs giving strong level topline. Well angulated rear and terrific bend of stifle. Well let down hocks and correct tailset. Tight knuckled up feet and a beautiful apple bottom. Move soundly fore and aft with correct reach in front and driving from behind. Would take a day in the field in his stride. Gave his all and wasn’t troubled by stand in handler BD & BIS

2 Archer’s Bertie Black to Roamanbay. Tri, from a smaller mould than 1 with masculine head, nice dark eye and appealing expression, well set long leathers and deep lip. Good front assembly and sternum well rounded ribs extending back to correct tailset and rear angulation. Tight knuckled up feet and good bone and depth throughout. Lovely chap just would prefer a little more length overall.

3 Luxmoore Ball’s Tanneron Guinness. Black blanket I have judged before and one who I still believe has much to offer. Super head qualities, dark eye of correct shape, prominent occiput, low set fine curling leathers, strong arched neck, well laid shoulders, developed sternum, long rounded ribbing carried well back. Strong level topline nicely angulated and muscled rear. Massive bone and depth throughout, feet could be tighter. Moved well, sadly not carrying enough weight for me today.

Open Dog (5. 1a)

1 Feetham’s Kimbleholme Secret Chamber. Large boned tri, I have admired for some time. Masculine head, dark eye, low set fine leathers with curl. Strong neck, clean shoulders and tight elbows. Would prefer a little more sternum. Rounded ribs carried well back, strong level topline correct tailset. Good depth to body. Muscled quarters used to advantage. Large feet and well let down hocks. Moves a little wide in front but even and driving from rear.

2 Allen’s Fivevalleys Forester. Substantial r/w not the head shape of 1, lovely dark eyes of correct shape with kind, calm expression. Strong neck, good shoulders and tight elbows. Well developed sternum front movement a little uneven. Ribs reaching well back giving a strong level topline held on the move. Correct tailset. Muscled quarters, standing on tight knuckled up feet. Moves well although didn’t like carpet having a tendency to bunny hop.

3 Storton’s Dereheath Gustav. R/w from a smaller mould. Many of the same attributes as 1 &2 just would have preferred him a size bigger

Veteran Dog (2. 1a)

1 Kelsey’s Malacante Hudson Bay. What a super lad, hard to believe his age - 9½ except for a little grey around his eyes and cheeks. Has everything in the right place, covers the ground easily with free movement. A worthy winner. BVIS.

Puppy Bitch (9 2a)

1 Allen’s Fivevalleys Pollyanna. Tri Lovely head qualities with feminine soft expression. Eyes of good colour and shape, long well set curling leathers. reachy length of neck, well developed sternum and well laid shoulders, sound even front. Nice length to ribs and strong back. Stifle well bent, with tight feet and good bone. Moved well although rear end still needing a little time to settle. BPB

2 Isted & Melbourne’s Dearduenna Lucienne Delye. R/w larger girl, very feminine but not the head or expression of 1. Well developed sternum with good shoulder placement and length to ribs, would prefer a little more bend to stifle. backend used to advantage with tight feet, good bone throughout, would have preferred a little more length overall.

3 Archer’s Dereheath Chica at Roamanbay Another super little tri bitch, barely 6 months and a shame she had to meet these older puppies today. Nice head and expression Good eye colour and shape. Correct ear set, and well developed crook although still needs to fill, strong topline and well shaped rear with good angulation.

Junior Bitch (8 2a)

1 Mitchell’s Rakefoot Miss Saigon. R/w another with good head qualities, very feminine with dark eyes of good shape, long curling low set leathers. Reachy neck, well laid shoulders, with tight elbows. Prominent sternum, front sound and even. Well rounded ribs of good length. Topline strong and level, well angulated rear. Tight feet and nice bone throughout. Movement parallel and true.

2 Fivevalleys Pollyanna

3 Cartwright’s Chrizbee October Breeze to Longmynd. Tri from smaller mould. Nice had qualities and Dark eyes of correct shape with melting feminine expression. Neat front assembly with sternum developing nicely, Shoulders well placed, good spring to rib. Well angulated quarters and tight feet. Needs to build in confidence.

Maiden Bitch (3)

1 Mease’ Tanneron Ladybird Johnstone. Low to the ground, tri baby, classic head, dark eyes of correct shape appealing expression with long lowset curling leathers. Good reach of neck, sternum developing. Nice lay of shoulder. Ribs reaching well back, level topline and correct rear angulation. Moved well with good bone throughout.

2 Mitchell’s Rakefoot Simply Unique. More mature than the winner and sister to winner of previous class has many of the same attributes, would prefer slightly longer ribs. Sound front and rear moved well

3 Tilstone’s Bromwylva Golden Wonder. R/w very feminine with nice head and expression. Well developed sternum, sadly quite uneven front, but lovely length to ribcage with long level topline. Well angulated quarters.

Post Graduate Bitch (2)

1 Newman’s Marabis Queens Council for Woferlow. Broken tri, with very attractive ticking. Super head qualities, prominent occiput, dark eyes with correct shape, nice depth of lip, long leathers low set and curling. Well arched neck, well laid shoulders, and sound front with plenty of sternum. Ribs rounded and carried well back. Good hind angulation. Nice feet, and bone. Carrying a little too much weight.

2 Beale’s Fivevalleys Tiger Lily. R/w Smaller and plainer than 1 but sound as a pound. Good head plains, lovely dark eyes of correct shape. Low set leathers, supple and curling. Well developed sternum and good shoulders, tight elbows. Ribs well sprung and carried well back. Strong topline held on the move. Well muscled quarters with good angulation. Good tailset. Well bunched feet and ample bone throughout. Moved well, with good reach, parallel and driving from behind

Limit Bitch (12 5a)

1 Danel’s Brackenacre Trinket of Widgerleydown. Tri bitch I have judged before and won this class easily. Super feminine head qualities and eye colour, good length and set to leathers and lovely arched neck. Well-laid shoulders with tight elbows and well developed sternum with good depth to chest. Level topline and long ribbing leading to well angulated quarters, standing on tight well knuckled feet with good bone throughout, and correct tailset. Moved freely and parallel, true fore and aft. BB & RBIS

2 Daykin’s Moralach Polly Pastilles for Barratini. Tri Pleasing head qualities, not the expression of 1, nice length to leathers and low set. Well arched neck, ribs reaching well back giving good length to body and nicely angulated fore and aft. Tight feet, would prefer just a little more bone for her size.

3 Luxmoore Ball’s Tanneron Treacle Toffee Super feminine with a lovely head, soft expression, dark eye and supple curling leathers. Arched neck, well laid shoulders, tight elbows sternum, correct front assembly. Level topline, well angulated quarters with good bone. Moved well. Would have preferred just a little more weight

Open Bitch (5 1a)

1 Feetham’s Kimblehome Make a Wish r/w. Lovely head and expression, darkest of eyes and correct shapre, good depth of lip and well low set leathers. Arched neck of length, shoulders laid well back, tight elbows plenty of sternum and sound even front. Ribs long and deep. Level topline. Good quarters and angulation, nice feet and massive bone. Good tail set. She moves well with drive and purpose. Very feminine. RBB

2 Isted & Melbourne’s Dereheath Catherine mottled r/w would like her head a size or two larger to compliment her overall size, well arched neck and good shoulders, well developed sternum with even sound front. Good length to ribbing and strong topline. Nicely angulated quarters standing on tight well knuckled feet. Moved effortlessly

3 Allen’s Fivevalleys Rum Punch. Tri Good head qualities dark eye and kind expression. Leathers low set. Strong neck of length well developed sternum, slightly uneven in front movement. Ribs carried well back, pity she’s a little long in upper thigh throwing her topline up. Moved well although still needs to come together behind.

Tina Watkins (Judge)