Basenji Owners & Breeders Association

Basenji Owners & Breeders Association Championship Show Weedon Bec Village Hall – 7th October 2018. 

Judge: Sharon Sargent (Keriquel) 

It was an honour to be asked to judge the Basenji Owners & Breeders Association Championship Show. Many thanks to the committee, my excellent steward Julie and to those who brought along their Basenjis for me to judge. Being no longer active in the breed I first started showing 33 years ago meant that almost every dog was new to me, and I can certainly see some changes since I was showing the breed but made similar observations last time I judged 5 years ago. Judging dogs is always about compromising, and on this occasion my ability to compromise was called upon in a lot of classes. 

Unfortunately the size and layout of the ring meant that some dogs never really got into their stride, but in the village hall venues commonly used for breed club shows this is often going to be an issue and can’t really be helped, although it is a shame for a breed like the Basenji that can really move out in a decent sized ring. In view of this I felt that I had to be somewhat forgiving when viewing movement in profile, although some dogs coped better than others.  

Coat colour was mainly very good, with many of the red and whites showing that lovely bright orange-red colour and the tris being jet-black with clearly defined markings. A handful of nicely marked brindles were present. I was also pleased that presentation was generally very good with only a couple of dogs that felt/looked less than sparkling clean! Tails were mainly correctly set on with double or single curls, not many low set tails. I also saw very few with short legs or long backs, most had a nice square outline. Feet were mixed and ranged from the correct oval feet with nice deep pads to flat feet with splayed toes and long nails.  

The biggest change I notice has to be in the heads, I was looking for the unique and typical Basenji head which is not often seen at the present time. I am sad to say that wide set ears seem to be commonplace and the dark almond shaped eyes now seem to be rare. I found some heads that were too broad in the skull, muzzles that were too narrow although not necessarily long, and sadly there were few heads with enough wrinkle, in some cases hardly any at all. In a breed with such unique head characteristics it is quite sad to see them becoming less common as the years go by. 

PUPPY DOG (2) 

1. Young & Steele’s LUTRA’S ACTION MAN BPD/BOSP 

R/W 11 months. Rather an “old fashioned” type with a little more substance than some. Pleasing head with wrinkle, good expression & earset, well-pigmented with darker eyes than the 2nd. Square in outline, well balanced, level topline, nicely arched neck, pleasing front, good tailset and curl. Sound movement, would like to see him in a bigger ring. 

2. Kalnina’s FREDERICK FANTASTIC DESTINY 

Bright colour, pliant skin, fine coat, sufficient wrinkle, square outline, good tailset and curl, a little loose in movement coming and going which should improve as he matures. 

JUNIOR DOG (1) 

1. Stewart’s KINGWANA’S VINCENT VAN BOOF OF JENBASI 

R/W Bright colour, good pigment, square outline, good feet and pasterns, moved soundly with a nice stride. Slightly longer in muzzle than some and tail could be higher set. 

POST GRADUATE DOG (5, 2 absent) 

1. Knowles’ TOKAJI KLASSIC TRICKSTER AT SARAWANA 

Tri youngster, masculine, excellent condition, well balanced with good angulation, level topline, good pasterns, would prefer a little more wrinkle. Moved very well, coping with the ring better than many and was a contender in the challenge. 

2. Gostynska’s BUBAS APACHE 

R/W Lighter in colour than I prefer and a little fine for a dog. Correct short muzzle but needs more wrinkle and ears were slightly wide-set. Tailset and movement OK. 

3. Holloway’s AKSAIFLEET RED RASCAL 

R/W. Bright colour, fine coat, nice wrinkle. Eyes could be darker and I was unable to assess his movement. 

LIMIT DOG (7, 3) 

1. Young’s VESTOID ROMULUS 

R/W. Masculine with nice wrinkle, dark eyes, good head shape and proportions, crested neck, level topline, balanced outline, tidy mover. 

2. Hannah’s AKMAR MAN OF STEELE FOR MILUKRIS 

R/W. Masculine, dark eyes, good wrinkle and earset, good feet and pasterns. Higher set tail than the 1st, moved well when settled. 

3. Stewart’s WAZIN BRI MASTER OF JENBASI 

Br/W. Elegant and slightly finer than 1st and 2nd. Square outline with good balance, level topline, slightly wide set ears, moved OK. 

OPEN DOG (8, 1) 

1. Grayson & Rowland’s CH. EMBEAU SUNSEEKER CC BOS 

R/W Masculine yet elegant, bright colour, fine coat with pliant skin, good pigment,  dark almond shaped eyes, well-chiselled skull, correct old-fashioned expression, well set ears, level topline, good balance and angulation, good tailset, high on leg and short back, moved well viewed from all angles. 

2. Clinton’s CH. WESTLAWN DIABLO ShCM RCC 

Tri, lovely condition, head of good proportions and shape but would like more wrinkle. Excellent front, level topline, short back, pleasing tailset and curl, tidy mover. 

3. Hannah’s CH. KISSANGANI CAUGHT IN THE ACT FOR MILUKRIS ShCM 

R/W Masculine, good outline and balance, correct feet, good front, level topline, moved OK. 

VETERAN DOG (1,1) 

SPECIAL BRED BY EXHIBITOR DOG (3,2) 

1. Matthews’ FLUGELBERRY FREE CUBA 

Br/W Square outline with good tailset and curl, nicely shaped head with correct short muzzle, eyes could be darker. 

2. Addis’ SAVANNASTORM BORN TO BE WILD 

R/W Good wrinkle. Well muscled, fine coat, pliant skin, slightly shorter in leg than I would prefer and let himself down a little on the move in this class. 

SPECIAL NOT BRED BY EXHIBITOR DOG (2) 

1. TOKAJI KLASSIC TRICKSTER AT SARAWANA 

2. KINGWANA’S VINCENT VAN BOOF OF JENBASI 

PUPPY BITCH (3) 

1. Richardson & Wood’s MOMBATONGA EMPRESS EUGENIE OF COOPERLAND 

Tri, 9 months, very elegant and feminine, dark eyes, lovely expression, pliant skin, fine jet black coat. Lovely tailset and curl, smart mover, she strode out well showing off her angulation and balance. 

2. Falcus’ MARSALA MYSTERIOUS TALISMAN PHAREAL 

Another elegant and feminine tri, lovely coat, pleasing outline, good feet, moved smoothly, eyes slightly lighter than 1st but overall a very nice youngster. 

3. McCarthy’s WESTLAWN RUBY SLIPPERS 

R/W. Bright colour, fine coat, pliant skin, level topline, square outline, eyes slightly light. 

JUNIOR BITCH (1) 

1. Stewart’s KINGWANAS VIVA LAS VEGAS OF JENBASI 

Br/W Elegant, feminine, nice outline, moved smartly with a good stride, well balanced, good feet. Head shape OK but ears slightly wide set. 

POST GRADUATE BITCH (4, 1) 

1. Holloway’s AKSAIFLEET RUSSKY ROSE 

R/W. Feminine, bright colour, good pigment, level topline, lovely tailset and curl, moved OK. 

2. Gostynska’s BUBAS MAIWAND 

R/W. Feminine, dark eyes, good head shape but ears a little wide set, square outline, level topline. Tail loosely curled but set on OK, moved wide viewed from the front. 

3. Casentieri’s LAMBADA MYSTERIOUS TALISMAN 

R/W. Good pigment, dark eyes, good coat colour, wrinkle OK, somewhat erratic on the move. 

LIMIT BITCH (6, 1 A, 1 transferred to Open) 

1. Hardy & Hallam’s TOKAJI KLASSIC TRINITY JW 

Tri. Excellent condition, jet black coat, lovely pigment, would like more wrinkle but has good head shape. Beautifully balanced, level topline, moved true with a good stride. 

2. Holloway’s AKSAIFLEET I’M CHEETAH 

R/W Bright colour, feminine, eyes slightly light but head shape good with short muzzle, earset OK. Looked better on the move than on the stand. 

3. Banton’s EMBEAU SUN TREASURE 

R/W. Tall, elegant, good feet, level topline, square outline, good tailset. 

OPEN BITCH (6, 2) 

1. Steele’s CH/LUX. CH. AKMAR EMPRESS OF EGYPT JW CC/BIS 

R/W. Elegant, feminine, lovely square outline, excellent angulation and balance. Good feet and pasterns, in lovely condition, fine coat of good colour, pliant skin, wrinkled head with pleasing expression, level topline, lovely tailset and curl, strode out very well. 

2. Dunsdon’s AUS. CH. ZANDEENA GETN CORT IN THE ACT RCC/RBIS 

R/W. Lovely colour, good head shape with dark eyes although ears slightly wider set than 1st. Lovely angulation and balance, good feet, level topline, short back, excellent tailset and curl, moved out smartly. 

3. Falcus’ LA BOMBA MYSTERIOUS TALISMAN PHAREAL 

R/W. Feminine, bright colour, good balance, tailset and curl, would prefer a darker eye. 

VETERAN BITCH (2, 1) 

1. Hardy & Hallam’s CH. TOKAJI CALIFORNIA DREAMING BV 

R/W 7 years, Feminine and well balanced, good feet, super front, level topline, good tailset and curl, moved well. 

SPECIAL BRED BY EXHIBITOR BITCH (2, 1) 

1. Gaskell’s MEMETUKA RIZE’N SHINE  

R/W Nicely balanced with good front, correct feet, level topline, super tailset, tidy mover. 

2. AKSAIFLEET I’M CHEETAH 

SPECIAL NOT BRED BY EXHIBITOR BITCH (3) 

1. WESTLAWN RUBY SLIPPERS 

2. KINGWANAS VIVA LAS VEGAS OF JENBASI 

3. Palubicki’s NGANGA’S PRINCESS SNOW-WHITE 

R/W Nicely balanced, square outline, ears a little wide set. 

BRACE 

1. Addis’ pair of R/Ws. Well matched, moving in unison and both giving a better performance than in their respective classes. 

TEAM 

1. Addis’ R/Ws. Same comments apply as in Brace.