Birmingham Dog Show Society Ltd

I was presented with an almost complete array of best of breed winners, only the Chesapeake Bay and Curly Coated Retrievers being absent, to assess for the award of Best Gundog.  

Having completed my initial examination of the exhibits present I selected the striking English Setter (Ir Ch Ch & Richecca Breaking Dawn Over Bushbane), the athletic and workmanlike German Shorthaired Pointer (Goosepoint Gloster Grebe (ai) JW) and the impressive Clumber Spaniel (Sh Ch Anbrook Burma Star At Brazenhill Sh.CM JW) together with the four placed exhibits for further consideration.  

Having moved the shortlisted exhibits for a second time I placed them as follows: -  

Group 1 - Sh Ch Veratey Vincenzo At Cassom JW, a superbly presented Cocker Spaniel male of the correct size and proportions, masculine head with good balance of skull and muzzle, pleasing eye placement, colour and expression, strong neck, clean front, good expanse of rib, pleasing couplings and strong loin, good top line, croup and tail set, strong rear quarters with good hock placement, moved with the required gait and style and simply could not be denied his place at the top of the line. Delighted to see him go on to be Reserve Best in Show.  

Group 2 - Gwendariff Thyme Bomb At Jacwilins JW, a cracking Irish Setter male, powerful and athletic in build and appearance and giving the impression of raciness, has a clean head piece with good balance of skull to muzzle and a pleasing eye shape and expression, well balanced construction of front and rear assemblies giving him a balanced and efficient ground covering action.  

Group 3 - Sh Ch Chesterhope Thrill Of T Chase (Imp), a well handled Pointer of good size with an athletic build and clean well boned limbs, good length and spring of rib, strong loin and a well set and carried tail, did all that his handler asked of him on the move.  

Group 4 - Allenie's Athena At Mandursan, appealing female Labrador Retriever, balanced head with appealing eye and expression, soundly built, correct otter tail, not overdone in any way and moves with a steady and economical gait, not quite in full coat otherwise she could have achieved a higher placing.