Driffield Championship Dog Show

DRIFFIELD CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 23 September 2018

KING CHARLES SPANIELS

My thanks to the committee for inviting me to award CCs for the first time and to my two very capable stewards who kept me on track and entertained on a chilly morning. The entry was pleasing in number, about average for this year, with only a few absentees. I was grateful to all the exhibitors for their entries, especially those who had travelled very long distances. Overall quality was decidedly mixed as ever. I have to mention my bugbear: the King Charles Spaniel is traditionally shown free-standing on a loose lead and never to my mind looks quite right stacked. Also, as with any small breed, they may not show to their best advantage on a cold day but nevertheless I was dismayed at how many were quaking in their boots and needing to be propped up. I was looking for good breed type, a typical, large head, correct, cobby construction and true movement at both ends. I’m pleased to say I found all of these features in my top winners, all of whom I would have gladly taken home. MPD (3,1) 1. Melville’s Sarasota Chenin Blanc. 6m tri. Nicely schooled for such a baby. Good dome and nice cushioning for his age. Correct size but with good bone and substance, moving smartly with a level topline. Shows much promise. Happy to award him Best Puppy. 2. Maddison’s Downsbank No Strings, 7m Blenheim. A raw baby who has many qualities. Lovely head and dome for a Blenheim, with good pigment. Good bone and nice topline but wouldn’t stand properly on the table or really co-operate at all on the move. Needs time and some calm schooling and then could do well. PD (1,1). JD (1) 1.Wood’s Tudorhurst Guardian. A flashy 12m tri. Beautiful head with immaculate, clear markings and bright tans. Adequate body and good bone, a little lacking in furnishings at this stage. He moved stylishly, if a bit cocky in tail carriage and rather close behind. He would have been close up in the challenge but I was disappointed that he took such offence to being handled on the table, which is unacceptable. This needs to be sorted. PGD (10,2) A typically challenging Charlie class. 1. Salguero’s Rivermoor Minstrel. 4 yrs tri, full coated with a slight wave, mature male. He has an attractive, typey head with bright tans and a decent dome, though would prefer more rise of skull. Good bone and body, would prefer a more level tailset. Strode out well around the ring, fully deserving this class. 2. Smith’s Justacharma One So Magic. 2.5 yrs, well bodied, heavier marked male, with a better topline but was a bit out of sorts today, quite hesitant on the table and erratic on the move, preferred the head of 1. 3. Baker’s Cofton Jack Daniels. LD (7,1) 1. Singleton’s Lichen’s All About Edward Celxo. My surprise find of the day. 7 yr old Blenheim obviously coming to his mature best. Attractive domed head with good rise of skull, broad lower jaw, ample cushioning and dark pigment. Good shoulders, well bodied with a good rib. Full coated and correctly marked, he strode out around the ring very accurately both ends carrying a strong, level topline. Cleanly presented. Very interesting. 2. Mallows’ X-Jewel Od Dvou Orechu Binglui (Imp) 2.5 yrs B&T. I love a wholecolour and this one’s a cracker. Attractive male head with dark eyes, good cushioning and enough dome. Ultra cobby with great ribs, broad chest between the legs, lovely bone and bright tans. He moved busily around the ring, unfortunately carrying a lot of excess weight over his shoulders, which made him appear stuffy in neck. Really liked him. 3. R Minstrel. OD (6,1) 1. Jackson’s Ch Amantra Regal Duke. A pleasure to go over this dog. Mature tri, typical of this kennel. Best of heads, great dome and plush cushioning with large, dark eyes. Great bone and substance, nicely marked, well coated, though lacking some furnishings behind. Moved well and was put down in immaculate condition. Could not be denied the CC for his lovely breed type and quality. Just couldn’t match the sheer pizazz of his kennel mate in the challenge. 2. Stewart’s Ch Kasamanda Just A Dream For Marchog. Absolutely immaculate tri, lovely male head, though not quite the rise of skull and dome of 1. Good width of chest and rib with a cobby, solid body and good topline. Glistening, pearly, dead straight coat, an object lesson in presentation. Just not moving as well as 1 today, a deserving champion. 3. Smith’s Ch Headra’s Truly Magic is Justacharma. Mature, quality male, a bit out of condition and lacking enthusiasm today. SBD (0). GCD (1) 1. Melville’s Amantra Choral. Smart 3 yr tri, sire of my BP. Correct for size and type. Classy head, with large, dark eye, good rise of skull, and dome. Well coated with a slight wave, square outline. Slightly lacking in body today. Moved out really well, steady and accurate both ends, hence a well deserved RCC. MPB (3,1) 1. Bowles-Robinson’s Baldragon Bling It On. What a tornado. Very heavily marked, exuberant 8m tri testing her handler’s patience today. Pretty head with nice rise of skull, though tans could be more visible. Cobby body, good spring of rib and bone, promising. 2. Mochrie’s Downsbank Sweet Charity. 7m lighter framed Blenheim baby, lightly marked with a very pretty head with good rise of skull. Rather in awe and unwilling to stand today in the cold. Not moving well yet, needs time but has promise. PB (3,1) 1. B Bling It On. 2. Stewart’s Marchog Minta Buckle. Prettily headed 10m, finer built brightly marked B&T. Would prefer more rise to skull from the stop but may develop with time. Square body shape, though would prefer more lay back of shoulder. Glossy, flat coat again from this expert exhibitor. Another that needs time. JB (1) 1. Constable’s Mitapip High Hopes Holly. 13m B&T. Pretty head with nice cushioning and adequate dome. Would prefer brighter tans. Nicely off for bone with superb depth of brisket. Flat topline and correct tailset. A little hesitant, needs time again. PGB (4,2) 1. Bowles-Robinson’s Baldragon Hold That Thought. 22m lightly marked Blenheim. Pretty head, Excellent spring of rib and chest, good bone, well coated and correct topline, moved out well. 2. Singleton’s Celxo Theodora. More mature 5 yr tri in full coat. Sweet head with good tans leading into well placed shoulders. Again, lovely rib and bone. Just not as accurate on the move as 1. LB (4,1) 1. Baker’s Cofton Fairy Tale. 2.5 yrs. Sweet headed, correctly marked tri with bright tans. Compact, cobby body typical of this kennel with good ribcage, substance and bone, yet clearly feminine. Great topline and tailset, drove out well from the rear and expertly handled. Considered her seriously for top honours. 2. Singleton’s Celxo Enchantress Morgana. 6 yrs. A new one to me. She carries a heavy tan mask across her face but looking beyond that, I was very taken with this exquisitely headed B&T mature bitch who has a great rise of skull and full dome. Best of the wholecolour heads today. Well bodied and cobby, nicely coated and presented. Moving better than 3 but just not as cleanly as 1 today. I really loved her. 3. Mochrie’s Downsbank Tiger Lilly JW. OB (7,1) This is the kind of class you wish for. Every bitch in this class was quality. 1. Jackson’s Ch Amantra Truffle. I saw this b at this show last year and was very taken with her from a distance, so I was delighted to get my hands on her at last. Wow, what a little pocket rocket she is! Stunning, sweet headed Blenheim with an impressive rise of skull and full dome, with beautiful, round, dark eyes. She is small, cobby, solid, well boned and squarely built. Great body and rib with well laid back shoulders. Her movement was just outstanding, striding out around the ring with vigour and style, maintaining a spirit-level topline and correct tailset. She is just adorable. I could not see past her for the CC & BOB over her handsome kennel mate. I was delighted that she was later shortlisted in the group. 2. Bowles-Robinson’s Ch Baldragon She Demands JW. Well known record holding tri with clear markings. A size larger than the winner, she has a beautiful head and arched neck into perfectly laid back shoulders. So correctly constructed all through in ribcage, bone and topline. She drove out soundly from behind on the move but was quite wide in front today, so had to settle for the RCC. I’m not keen on the stacked handling style but a worthy champion, thanks to her owner for bringing her. 3. Willey & Siddle’s Ch Penemma Misty For Me JW. SBB (0). GCB (0). 

JUDGE: John Goodwin (Diggle/Serendel)