Devon County Agricultural Association

Devon County Show 17/05/2018

Firstly I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge at this lovely agricultural show, made even better by the glorious weather. Many thanks to the exhibitors for your entries and the sporting way you accepted my decisions. However please be aware when you are exhibiting your dogs’ be mindful not to overstretch your dogs; this could cost you placings under another judge. I had to adjust the feet the majority of the exhibits on the day. When you need to adjust the feet please use your hands; the use of your knee to move legs back is just not acceptable!

Golden Retriever Dogs

PD (1,0) 1st Walaszkowski-Caines’ Somerset Gold Jonagold, 11 month old cream, kind head with dark eye, good length of neck, deep throughout, correct angles, good topline & moved well. Owner tended to overstretch the dog in the stack making him look long, which he is not. Stood alone but none the less a worthy winner. BPD. JD (0,0). PGD (6,0) 1st Giltsoffs’ Endellion Spinnaker, Mid gold balanced boy, lovely head & length of neck, correct angulation & lovely bend of stifle, correct tailset & length, moved well. 2nd Bissells’ Warrentor Tribute For Bisskids, darker boy with a slightly smaller frame but has all the merits of the winner, lovely outgoing boy with an ever wagging tail, thought this boy was my winner but it was difficult to access his front movement as he gave his handler a hard time. 3rd Maces’ Steval Choir Master at Telanjan. LD (3,0) 1st RBD Nicholls’ Largymore You’re My World JW ShCM, short coupled mid gold dog with the best of outlines, just loved his chiseled head & melting expression with the darkest of pigment, good length of neck, correct angles not overdone & best of toplines, well let down hocks with the neatest of feet, moved well carrying his tail level. Pushed the OD hard for top honors, RBD. 2nd Maces’ Harry The Magician at Telanjan, another shorter coupled boy, not quite the shoulders of 1 & didn’t move as well behind, still a lovely boy. 3rd Royles’ Lamyate Lord Of The Manor. OD (3,0) 1st Mains’ Gwyngala Group Captain, 4 year old mid gold boy just coming up to his prime, good head with a kind eye, adequate length of neck leading into a superb front assembly, lovely spring of rib, correct topline, tidy feet, a little longer in the loin than I like, but on the move he came into his own & powered around the ring with lovely reach & drive, all topped off with first class presentation. Best mover of the day, BD & RBOB well done. 2nd Bissells’ Warrentor Wesley For Bisskids, 7 ½ year old who could teach the younger ones a thing or two, short coupled darker lad of lovely balance, cheeky expression & just beginning to show his age facially with a sprinkling of grey, similar attributes as one; but had to give way to the younger lad today, another lovely boy. 3rd Walaszkowski-Caines’ Muprila Star Witness.

Welsh Springer Spaniels

GD/B A very mixed type class. 1st Attwoods’ Kylowen Demelza, 3 year old pretty feminine bitch, good lay of shoulder, spring of rib & correct bend of stifle, flowed around the ring with purpose. 2nd Mercers’ Amblelight Cassiopeia, 12½ months & out of a smaller mould, he has the best of heads & a lovely dark eye, when settled moved well. 3rd Sweetlands’ Jedi Du Domaine De Kerarzic Vilin. OD/B Another class of varying types. 1st Attwoods’ Kylowen Drym ShCM, one I’ve judged before, very mature 3 year old male, very typy welsh, super head, good angulation throughout, sporting a beautiful rich red coat, lovely bend of stifle, correct rise over the loin, lovely outline. Moved well but just wish he’d make more use of his tail on the move, but done enough here to win the class & BOB. 2nd Blackfords’ Amblelight Sunglow, very pretty bitch, short coupled with correct angulation fore & aft, lovely spring of rib, good bend of stifle, moved well when settled. 3rd Attwoods’ Ir Sh Ch Moorash Lady Ygraine Of Kylowen.

Judge: Vicky McIlwaine (nee Reynolds)