National Gundog Association

NATIONAL GUNDOG

6th August 2017

Irish Setter Bitches

My grateful thanks to the Societies who voted for me to get this appointment and to my steward Pauline Smith. I thoroughly enjoyed my day judging a quality entry so thanks must go to the exhibitors for giving me the opportunity to go over their lovely girls.

Veteran - Bitch

Entries: 4 Absentees: 1. A lovely trio; all giving their best.

1ST LOCHLORIEN PRIME SUSPECT FOR ANDLEY JW SHCM (MR G & MRS C STEVENSON). At 10 ½ years old she is looking absolutely stunning. She is very well made with excellent front angulation, good depth, strong quarters and has beautiful head planes with fine chiselling under her unshelled almond shaped eye. Her rich chestnut coat gleams in the sun and her condition throughout is outstanding. She most certainly demonstrates what lasters this breed can be and is an absolute credit to her owner/breeders; they must be very proud indeed. She was unlucky to come up against a veteran dog who was also in tip top condition.

2ND BRACKENFIELD FORGETME-NOT (MRS S A SHEPHERD). Out of a bigger mould and a tad strong in skull for me she has very well laid shoulders, excellent spring of rib and moves so very well with a lashing tail. Doesn’t have the coat or condition of the winner.

3RD BRABROOK STARSTRUCK OF KERRYDOWN (MRS G R PARTRIDGE)

Minor Puppy - Bitch

Entries: 5 Absentees: 0

1ST ZAKHAN'S DEMELZA (MRS J C RORKE). At first glance, she wasn’t for me but then I looked at her head and that was it! So pretty and feminine with beautifully raised brows and a good squarish finish to her foreface. As the class progressed she settled into herself and I could see her true qualities. She has substance and elegance and moves so very well indeed with tremendous forward reach. I preferred her for size over the winner of PB and she had the better movement. BPB.

2ND DEVACOTT ROSE CREEK (MRS S COLEMAN). Not as well ribbed back as the winner but she has a very pretty, well balanced head with a lovely crest to her neck, good spring of rib and wide quarters. She has substance throughout but couldn’t match the forward reach of the winner.

3RD STRATHMEAD NOELLA (MRS J FRAMPTON)

RES SWIFTLARK SECOND NATURE (MRS S S CORLESS)

VHC CORRIEBRAN COTTON CANDY (MR T R & MRS G J GRIFFIN)

Puppy - Bitch

Entries: 7 Absentees: 2

1ST GWENDARIFF GUESS WHO'S COMIN TO NORTHAMBER (MR B F & MRS E HINSLEA). A tall girl but balanced. Well off for bone and substance she has an attractive head with a strong muzzle and good square finish. Plenty of heart and lung room with a nice spring of rib. I preferred her width in front to that of 2. Not as clean over neck and shoulders as the MPB.

2ND SAMETSUZ ON REFLECTION (AI) (MS M J HENDERSON). Of good type. I found her coat colour very attractive it being a lovely shade of rich chestnut. Typical sinewy bone, plenty of depth and terrific bend of stifle. Moves well.

3RD FORFARIAN VICTORIA'S SECRET (MRS S & MISSES N & J STURROCK)

RES DEVACOTT ROSE CREEK (MRS S COLEMAN)

VHC SWIFTLARK SECOND NATURE (MRS S S CORLESS)

Junior - Bitch

Entries: 11 Absentees: 0

1ST HEATHCLARE FANCY TIME AT VANDERS (MRS J C HOWATSON). Built on flowing lines she presents a striking outline. Her head is lovely with raised brows and dark eyes, her ears well set and her strong neck fits so cleanly into her shoulders. She is straight in front with the right width and her legs are well under her body. She has a very good spring of rib, strong loin and great sweep of stifle. In excellent coat and condition. Very animated on the move with a lashing tail and fantastic forward reach.

2ND HEATHCLARE LIBERTY AT CROSSWEST (MRS C PETTIFER) I now see this is litter sister to the winner and so very similar. She has strong sinewy bone, a flowing topline with gentle slope and a good driving action. I preferred the head of the winner.

3RD DELSANTO MISS FREYA (MRS D E MCDONALD)

RES COLANME MAYBE BABY (MR C W & MRS J C ROBERTS)

Yearling - Bitch

Entries: 11 Absentees: 3

1ST RAPPATTY STAR LIGHT OVER ALOLFRANA JW (MISS O P DANKS-KEMISH). As I turned round to look at her on the stack I was overwhelmed by her tremendous breed type; racy, balanced and full of quality, most handsome and refined in looks; she has it all. In outline she simply flows with every bit of her fitting smoothly into the next. Her head is quite exquisite with a soft, dark eye that has the most beautiful chiselling under it. Her neck is muscular with a slight arch and she has a very well developed prosternum. I held my breath as I asked her to move but I need not have worried; her excellent conformation and condition took her smoothly round the ring with a precise footfall. She brought a lump to my throat and I admit to shedding a tear as I handed her the Res. C.C. I wish her and her young owner/handler all the luck in the world.

2ND SHENANAGIN SWEET SIXTEEN JW (MR J A WATT). This super young bitch was unlucky to come up against the winner. She is racy in outline, elegant and has bone and substance. I loved her very pretty head with its raised brows and chiselling.

3RD DELSANTO MISS FREYA (MRS D E MCDONALD)

RES GWENDARIFF RAINBOW GODDESS AT LOCHINDORB (MR R S & MRS M I NICOLSON)

VHC ORLANSET READY FOR LOVE (MS R & MISS L RICHARDSON)

Novice - Bitch

Entries: 13 Absentees: 5

1ST HEATHCLARE FANCY TIME AT VANDERS (MRS J C HOWATSON)

2ND HEATHCLARE LIBERTY AT CROSSWEST (MRS C PETTIFER)

3RD GWENDARIFF GUESS WHO'S COMIN TO NORTHAMBER (MR B F & MRS E HINSLEA)

RES COLANME MAYBE BABY (MR C W & MRS J C ROBERTS)

VHC TWOACRES PROMISE OF SPRING WITH AVACET (MRS M ELKINS)

Graduate - Bitch

Entries: 12 Absentees: 5

1ST MELMARA GEORGIA JW (MR M L C RUSSELL). Built on very clean lines with no lumps, bumps or breaks. Every bit of her fits so very well into the next. She has a splendid outline and for me, is of an ideal size. She has a good prosternum and is well let down in front. Loins are strong and slightly arched and she has a nice big bum. Moved with verve but just needs her coat to complete the picture.

2ND GWENDARIFF D'YA LIKEME BEST JW (MR F R & MRS A M MEADOWS) Taller girl with a gorgeous head, beautifully shaped eye, great chiselling and a strong muzzle. I particularly liked the square finish to her foreface. Good angulation throughout with a well set on tail.

3RD SANDSTREAM SUMMER BREEZE JW (MISS S WATERTON)

RES GWENDARIFF WE'LL REMEMBERU JW ( MR P & MRS D MILBY & STEWART-RITCHIE)

VHC COLRAINE V D WESTER-HUY (MRS W DUYNKERKE)

Post Graduate - Bitch

Entries: 16 Absentees: 2

1ST ANLORY CORBIERES JW (MR N & MISS J NAYLOR & MORRISON). So elegant and refined she is very well put together and certainly gives the impression of speed without loss of substance. Deep shoulders sloping well back, good length and return of upper arm, wide and muscular hindquarters. She moves well but is another one that needs the finishing touches of coat nevertheless I like her very much.

2ND LANSTARA SPRING STAR JW (MRS V BLACKSHAW). This is another very nice bitch whose flowing lines took my eye. Her head is long and lean with oval skull and raised brows, strong muscular neck and well ribbed up. She has long and muscular hindlegs with short strong hocks. Not as positive in hind action as the winner but I loved her ever wagging tail which to me says demonstrably affectionate.

3RD LOCHLORIEN TRUE DETECTIVE IS ANDLEY (MR G & MRS C STEVENSON)

RES SANDSTREAM WELCOME BREEZE JW (MISS S WATERTON)

VHC TWOACRES GRAND COCOTTE (MRS G KENNEDY-SLOANE)

Mid Limit - Bitch

Entries: 7 Absentees: 1

1ST SUTERESETT ONCE UPON A DREAM (MRS T & MISS G GISBY). This girl has terrific length and return of upper arm with a very gently sloping topline, deep chest, short well muscled loin and wide, powerful quarters. Feminine head with low set ears but I would like more strength in muzzle. Moves with an open side gait.

2ND CLONAGEERA LOVE IS REAL (MRS P, MR R & MR & MRS J RUTHERFORD, JUDGE & LIPPETT). Bigger girl who is in lovely bloom with a gleaming coat and just the right amount of feathering. Her dark eyes show a kind expression and she is very clean in backskull. Moves well but a bit proud of her tail.

3RD BARDONHILL AFTERNOON D'LITE AT FERNSTART (MISS R BOX)

RES KERRYDOWN OCTAVIA (MRS G R PARTRIDGE)

VHC DANAWAY LOVE SONG FOR CORRIEBRAN JW (MR T R & MRS G J GRIFFIN)

Limit - Bitch

Entries: 10 Absentees: 3

1ST SAMETSUZ MAK'N HONEY JW (MS M J HENDERSON). I like her for her size and style. She certainly knows how to pull out the stops on the move with her fabulous lashing tail action. Her head is so well balanced with a kind dark eye, oval skull and wide nostrils. She has a typical gently sloping topline and is in lovely coat and condition. Seriously considered for top honours.

2ND REDCLYST AURA (MR D G & MRS P A PIKE). I found her very similar in profile to the winner with the same elegant lines. Her front angulation is super and she has a wonderful reach of neck. With plenty of heart and lung room and wide quarters she moves well but not with the panache and enthusiasm of the winner.

3RD LOCHLORIEN SCULLY FOXES ANDLEY (MR G & MRS C STEVENSON)

RES CATALUNA BETCHA BY GOLLY WOW ( MRS D & MR K BROADGATE)

VHC SHENANAGIN SCRUMPTIOUS (MR J A WATT)

Open - Bitch

Entries: 5 Absentees: 0. It was a pleasure and an honour to judge such beautiful girls as these.

1ST SH CH BARDONHILL PLEASE DONT TEASE QUENSHA JW (MR R P, MR A C & MRS A H BOTT, ALLEN & MORGAN). Well, what do they say about judging from the ringside; don’t do it? I have seen her many times and she has never ‘done it’ for me but what a different story it is when in there with her. She is an absolute class act; so refined with ample bone and substance and has the most gorgeous head and melting expression, the very best neck and shoulders, plenty of heart and lung room, well ribbed back, strong loin and a gentle slope to her topline. Her quarters are wide and powerful and she stands on small, firm feet. Her rich chestnut coat is silky and flat and she carries good feathering. There is a phrase in the breed standard that says ‘tremendously active with untiring readiness to range and hunt under any conditions’ and she demonstrates exactly this. She has an open side gait with plenty of reach and drive and is perfectly coordinated. Her gait is effortless and her tail action superb. At the end of a very long day she was still raring to go and made the cut in the group. I don’t know who was more surprised, me or her handler, when I awarded her the CC. My co-judge was in complete agreement that she should be BOB.

2ND CARRUE SHOWER OF RAIN AT CATALUNA (MRS R E A ROSE-HAY). If memory serves me right I judged this one as a puppy and found her quite exquisite then. She fulfils her early promise and has grown into a fine example of the breed. She is built on flowing lines, is racy in outlook and stands over plenty of ground. I particularly liked her size. As always from this breeder she excels in movement.

3RD SH CH THENDARA JOCASTA JW (MISS T GARDNER)

RES SH CH GWENDARIFF COCO NUT CREAM (AR1) (MRS D M ARMITAGE)

VHC SH CH FORFARIAN HEY SEXY LADY JW (MRS S & MISSES N & J STURROCK)

Christine Morgan