Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society

I should like to extend my sincere thanks to the Officers and Committee for inviting me to judge at this show.  It was a very enjoyable day and I greatly appreciated the opportunity of this appointment to assess some lovely dogs.  

Particularly pleasing was seeing my Clumber Spaniel puppy being awarded Puppy Group 4. 

Bracco Italiano – Open (1)

1ST Goode, Mr & Mrs M, Owispoint King Of Trouble At Brackenvale, JW, Sh.CM: I have judged this dog before and was very pleased to see how well he is maturing – a truly lovely example of the breed. Perfect balance all through almost square, very well muscled. Deep broad chest, correct, clean and complete dentition, very good head with lean cheeks and pronounced occiput, well chiselled below eyes but retaining that soft expression, powerful well rounded neck of moderate length, super shoulder and corresponding return of upper arm, excellent and substantive bone throughout, moved very well despite the restriction of an indoor wet weather ring displaying powerful drive from rear, true both fore and aft and correct head carriage on the move. BOB

Irish Red & White Setter – Puppy (2)

1ST Hart, Mr G J & Mrs G A, Ianbro Mystic Quartz Sines At Gilliegrae: Well-made extremely feminine bitch of just 8 months of age. Very nice head of good proportions to body, lovely soft expression, correct, clean and complete dentition. Good reach of neck into well placed shoulder with corresponding return of upper arm, adequate bone for age, neat feet with short nails, stifle well bent, moved well. BP

2ND Barney, Mrs R E A, Romaunt Carry On Regardless With Verrami: Very raw young bitch of 8 months of age. Pleasing overall type with everything in place ready to be grown into. Pleasing head, expression and eye, correct, clean and complete dentition, well-placed shoulder, forelegs straight, ribs well sprung stifles well bent. Eventually moved well once settled.

Irish Red & White Setter – Open (3)

1ST Barney, Mrs R E A & Mr J A & Howatson Mrs J C, Sh Ch Killary’s Grand Venture With Vanders & Romaunt (Imp) JW: Super example and representative of the breed just reaching his best at 4 years of age. Strong and powerful but athletic and very well balanced with no exaggerations. Well-balanced and proportioned head with good stop, correct, clean and complete mouth and dentition. Excellent shoulder placement and corresponding return of upper arm, deep chest and well sprung ribs, strong hindquarters with good width to second thigh and good turn of stifle, in very good coat, close knit feet with short nails. On the move his gait depicted the breed standard of a long free-striding gait that was effortless and with drive despite the restrictions of a small wet weather ring. BOB 

2ND Hart, Mr G J & Mrs G A, Gilliegrae Swift N’Chic: A very nice bitch of 4 years who I would have been very happy to have awarded BOB on a different day – Unfortunate to meet a superlative example of the breed on the day. Good head with correct width & balance to skull with good stop and kind biddable expression & eye. Correct clean and complete dentition. Strong neck into well-placed shoulders, sufficient spring of rib, strong topline, well placed hocks. Moved very well, again coping majestically with the limited ring size. RBOB

3RD Barcroft, Mrs K A, Ballakinnish Muse

Spaniel (Clumber) – Puppy (3)

1ST Walking, Mr R & Mrs C, Maursett Mycate at Kiswahili: When one accepts Judging appointments in any breed, it is always extremely pleasing to be presented with and award honours to a potential star of the future, today I was fortunate in this breed to be presented with just that in this delightful young bitch of just 8 Months. Beautifully presented and with large square head of correct medium length with clean eyes totally free from haw and heavy brows, correct, clean and complete dentition with strong jaw, vine-shaped clean ears that are correctly placed, powerful neck, adequate bone all through, strong forequarters, moderate body length, hocks low, stifle well bent and set straight, moved well, again, presented in fabulous condition. BP

2ND Sheppard, Mr & Mrs P A & J A, Whissgig Comedy of Errors (ai): Bitch of 11 Months A young Clumber Spaniel that demonstrates good breed type. Well balanced, quality bone all through, correct, clean and complete mouth and dentition, clean ears, large square head that is not overdone in any way, dark full eyes, correct shoulder placement and corresponding return of upper arm, powerful hindquarters, large round feet. On the moved she showed very good movement that was straight both fore and aft.

3RD Sheppard, Mr & Mrs P A & J A, Whissgig Wintersaga

Spaniel (Clumber) – Open (4)

1ST Charlesworth-Ironside, Mrs I M, Tavirosh Stonewall: As with my Puppy bitch, I consider that this young male of just 2 years is an extremely nice and outstanding specimen of the breed, presented in super condition, showing very clean lines all through. Super large square head, dark amber eye showing no haw, clean, large ears. Complete, clean and correct dentition, strong jaws. Neck thick into excellent front with well placed shoulders and corresponding return of upper arm, body moderately long, deep chest, hindquarters powerful, hocks low, large, round feet with short nails, moved very well, true fore and aft. BOB

2ND Sheppard, Mr & Mrs P A & J A, Whissgig Daddy Cool: Mature dog of 5 years, pleasing overall type but not the lines and quality of my 1ST placed dog. Large typical head, strong jaws, complete, clean and correct dentition, strong neck, well placed shoulders, deep chest, strong hindquarters, moved well.

3RD Sheppard, Mr & Mrs P A & J A, Whissgig The Bristolian

Spaniel (English Springer) – Junior (4-2Abs)

1ST Addoo, Miss J, Reulemill Annie Power: Super quality bitch of just 14 Months of age. Pleasing head of good proportions, foreface of proportionate length to skull, eye of medium size giving kind expression, correct, clean and complete mouth and bite, strong neck leading into well placed shoulder and corresponding return of upper arm, deep chest, muscular loin, broad thighs, stifles and hocks moderately bent. In good coat, moved very well BOB

2ND Thomas, Mr D & Miss G, Tiggerock Super Ted: Pleasing dog of just 12 Months of age showing good proportions, lovely head and expression, good bone, well sprung ribs correct, clean and complete dentition mouth, close straight coat. Moved well. 

Spaniel (English Springer) – Post Graduate (3-2Abs)

1ST Joyce, Mr N J & Mrs S L, Kingsheath Total Diva at Felltops: 21 Month old bitch who presented a lovely outline when standing. Lacked the femininity in head for me and she also shows a correct medium size eye, which is a shade too light for me. Correct, clean and complete mouth, ears that were set in line with the eye, strong muscular neck presented without throatiness, excellent bone all through, deep chest and strong muscular loin, in good coat that was both close and straight. Moved very well with hocks driving well under the body. RBOB

Spaniel (English Springer) – Open (4-3Abs)

1ST Hipgrave, Mrs L, Ternspringer Jazz Singer: This 2½ year old bitch stood alone in the ring today and without her full jacket. Pleasing head and expression, correct, clean and complete dentition and bite, neat front, deep chest, strong hindquarters, moved well

Spaniel (Welsh Springer) – Junior (2)

1ST Perkins, Mr & Mrs R J & C S, Brent Love Me Do: Elegant dog both standing and on the move. Lovely head of correctly proportionate length, soft expression, ears set moderately low, correct, clean and complete mouth and dentition, good lay of shoulder with corresponding return of upper arm, body balanced and proportionate, tight feet with short nails, on the move he showed a ground covering action. BOB 

2ND Ellis, Mrs S, Vannelmead Branwen At Blithbrook: Very typical bitch and well balanced/presented throughout and in a straight and dense coat. Correct head with muzzle of medium length, neck muscular with good length, deep brisket, strong hindquarters. Smooth, powerful movement. 

Spaniel (Welsh Springer) – Post Graduate (2):

1ST Thomas, Mr D & Miss G, Glenbrows Fire Starter: Dog of 3½ years of age, pleasing overall type, good head with lovely eye and exression, correct, clean and complete dentition, strong neck into well placed shoulders, balanced and proportionate body, good bone, strong hindquarters, in good coat. RBOB

2ND Whitfield, Mr M S, Glenbrows Heart To Heart: Very typical bitch throughout and in full straight and dense coat. Correct, clean and complete dentition, pleasing head with muzzle of medium length, neck muscular with good length, good front assembly, deep brisket, strong hindquarters with well let down hocks. Moved well.

Martyn J Rees (Judge)