Hawick & District Canine Society

Gundog Group and BIS

 Thanks to the club and the exhibitors for the opportunity to judge my first Open Show BIS. Can I also thanks the other judges for sending through such lovely animals and making the choice for BIS and BPIS very hard. In the final run off - BIS went to a smart Rhodesian Ridgeback, who has a little more maturing to do but still shone here, especially with such typical and precise movement. BPIS was a super little Jack Russell Terrier who was so typical and had great attitude. BVIS was eventually won by a super Sussex Spaniel who held off some other lovely veterans to take the award.

The heat was unbelievable and in addition to contributing to the absentee level, there were many nicely made animals that simply did not show to their advantage. I am sure they can show much better than they did today but judging is about "the dog on the day".

Gundog Group:

I thought this was a really strong group and it was a real pleasure to judge. The competition for the placings were close with a particularly nice Irish Setter and a Golden Retriever also in contention.

Gp1 - Cocker Spaniel

Gp2 - English Setter: This is a really super example of the breed who has won classes and a RCC from me at championship shows and a dog that should carry his title (imho). Thanks to the breed judge for sending him through.

Gp3 - Pointer

Gp4 - Portuguese Pointer

Gundog Breeds:

AV Import Register

1st - Mr. T Gorrian & Mrs. C Henry Ir Sh Ch PERDIZYCO ANDRES

Portuguese Pointer. 2 1/y yo male of correct size and colour. He was shown in very good condition and when mature will be a lovely specimen of this breed. He was in close contention in the final group and a little more strength in topline when he moved in the final run-off may have secured even a slightly higher placing. Good to see this breed being shown in the UK. (Group 4)

Flat Coated Retriever

Graduate

1st Mr. & Mrs. J R & Aa McConnell KAZVAL LUGANO AT TORRWEAVING

11mo male of nice type. Love his moulded head and he has nice angles. A very promising youngster. BOB

Open

1st - Mr. & Mrs. J R & Aa McConnell FELDKIRK FEARGHAL AT TORRWEAVING

3yo (today - happy birthday) with nice make and shape, but was a little lazy in movement today. His make suggests this is probably more to do with the intense heat.

Hungarian Viszla

Post Graduate & Open

1st - Mr. & Mrs. John & Donna Bain DUNNYDALS HAJNA IS GRACIOUS

9mo bitch who is not in best coat (no wonder with this heat) but what she had was of correct quality. Balanced both front and rear and a steady mover. BOB

Golden Retriever

A nice entry on paper that was affected by absentees, with only the 4 here in the breed classes and the lovely veteran in the AV Veteran class in attendance.

Post Graduate

1st - Mr. & Mrs. A & J Ewart BEAUPIPPIN DUSKY LILAC

3 1/2 yo mid gold bitch. Has a nice outline and balances front and rear. Lovely movement, especially in profile, where she goes with a nice economical action and holds a nice topline.

2nd - P. Trotter BARICIA LET IT SHINE

16mo paler dog who is very handsome and has a great expression. Another who is nicely balanced although not as clean in front action when going out and back. This will improve as he matures and he will be a contender.

3rd - Mr. T. Gorrian and Mt T Gorrian & Mrs. C Henry RATHCLOON COOKIES N CREAM

Open

1st - Mr. & Mrs. A & J Ewart BEAUPIPPIN DIAMOND DAWN

3 1/2 yo bitch of lovely type. She presented a super outline. Correct feminine head with a kind eye and typical expression. She moves well off a particularity good back end. She was in the final shortlist for the group placings and was in contention.

Field Spaniel

Open

1st - Mr. & Mrs. Catriona and Charles Lowe DIPTONIA DREAM MERCHANT

2nd - Mr. & Mrs. Catriona and Charles Lowe RISEKAR ROSE BUNTING

1st and 2nd - the winner was an 8yo male and second was a 10yo female. Both from the same owner and their condition and tone are a credit to her. Both are correctly made and show good angles fore and aft. They both move correctly and good legs and feet. The "youngster" just having the edge in profile movement. They were a pleasure to judge.

Pointer

Open

1st - Mrs. M. Gerrard CARMANDINE CALL MY BUFF

2nd - Mrs. M. Gerrard CARMANDINE COUNT ON ME

3rd - M. McDougall WYNDHEAD VILLAGE GOSSIP

This was perhaps the strongest breed of the day in terms of depth of quality all the way down the line (although the Cockers were also a strong breed today). I think the breed in generally strong in the UK at the moment and felt that all the dogs shown today had merit. A good class to judge.

1st and 2nd - A mother and son combination. The mother a lovely O/W of correct size. Presents a lovely typical outline and moved well. She did make her handler work hard in this class as she was a little boisterous to start, but eventually settled and strutted her stuff. She also then behaved even better in the challenge for the group placings and moved very positively to take Group 3.

The son is 14mo and imho will finish as a better pointer than the mother (I think this is as it should be). He is correctly masculine without any hint of coarseness, has good size for a male and a lovely pointer head. He moved out steadily. He is full of promise and one I would like to see as a mature dog.

Cocker Spaniels

As with the Pointers, this was another strong breed today with quality down the line in both classes and every place was well contended. It was so nice to see "merry" animals of correct size. I really enjoyed judging this breed today.

Graduate

1st - D & M D Todd, Rahman MARQUELL MIJAS BREEZE

2nd - Miss Audrey P Coltart BARTONHOLM CROSSSTICH AT BRANNIFFMHOR

3rd - Mrs. S. MacFarlane COOLEELA RUBY TUESDAY

1st - 1yo of lovely type. Correct size and nicely made all through. Good angles front and rear and correct length of back. Held a good topline as she went around.

2nd - Another typical cocker and with a little more maturity (which is expected as she is only just over 1yo) will be another strong representative of this breed. She moved steadily but not as positively as the class winner and that separated the places.

Open

1st - D & M D Todd, Rahman Sh Ch GLENNTREE TRADITION

2nd - Mr. G Peterson and Anne Peterson CASSOM MOONBEAM

This was one of the closest decisions of the day and, with the winner of this class eventually going on to win the Gundog Group, the 2nd placed bitch should know I also thought she was a star. Simply unfortunate to meet the dog on such sparkling form.

1st Black male of such typical cocker type. Correct make and shape, nice size, balanced whilst standing and moved with such a great action. A merry cocker at its best. He didn’t appear to be bothered by the heat in the Gundog Group which he won over some really lovely other animals. Group 1 Not quite showing with the same style at the end of the day for BIS, but still a real pleasure to judge.

2nd - Top quality bitch and another who has everything I like. Feminine correct head, great outline. She has a lovely topline and tailset which she also holds on the move and she shows well. I really liked her a lot.

3rd - Mrs. S. MacFarlane LOCHRANZA ONE FROM THE HEART

AVNSC Gundog Open

1st - Mr. & Mrs. F. McCallum WEEMAES WONDERFUL REMARK Spaniel (Irish Water)

9mo and I hope he will grow on a little more as he matures. Nice shape, good angles, and correct coat. He moved well to win this class.

2nd - Mrs. C. Huggan HAYGANWIRE ERISKAY Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla

3yo of really good type. Correct in head, excellent coat and nicely made all through. She simply did not move anything like she is made and this was one who really suffered in the heat. I have judged some very nice examples of this breed and have given a group to one (who then went BIS) and it’s a breed I like. I think this bitch is very typical and I would like to judge her again.

AV Gundog Special Puppy

1st - Mrs. A. Blair RICHTIG RAXANO German Shorthaired Pointer

6mo who has a lot of promise. Balanced for her age and moved out so well for a baby. She was loving her day and I think she is very smart.

2nd - Mrs. S. Graham PEASBLOSSOM VALENTINO Spaniel (English Springer)

ESS who was a little naughty (as I think puppies should be) but again has all the essentials. Moved steadily on great legs and feet and another that I think has promise.

3rd - D & M D Todd, Rahman CHATAWAY HIJACKED Spaniel (Cocker)

AV Gundog Special Veteran

Since I moved to Canada I have discovered they refer to the older generation of people as "seniors". I like it think it should also apply to dogs. I thought this class of seniors were all in great order and a credit to their owners. I probably enjoy judging this class the most as it is wonderful to see these lovely animals still showing their stuff.

1st - Mr. & Mrs. G J & L A Nesbitt YORKHAM FRED BEAR FROM CHABROUILLE Sh Cm

7yo Sussex Spaniel with correct size and shape. Nice head and expression and a super mover. Won over some really lovely other breeds. He was also BVIS at the end of the day, where he was still going strong.

2nd - P. Gray BIRNIEHILL HIGH RIVER

8yo Gordon Setter bitch of nice type. Correct for size and balanced. She drives off a nice rear and another one who can still show how it’s done.