Driffield Championship Dog Show

I would like to express my gratitude to the committee of Driffield Championship Show for inviting me to judge Havanese at their very well run and organised show. I would also like to thank all exhibitors for their entries and for their fantastic sportsmanship and comradery. The overall standard of the dogs presented to me was very high indeed. Some lovely puppies were placed lower down the line than I would have liked because they were thoroughly enjoying their day out, and sadly, it was not possible for me to accurately assess their movement. However they handled so well on the table, I’m sure they will be ones to watch once they settle down a little bit more.

VD (3,1) 1st STEVENSON, Ms A E & STEVENSON Miss S E Sheneva's Homeward Bound At Jeminai Sh.CM VW. A very typey boy, who presents the cleanest of outlines both stood and on the move. He is perfectly balanced, with correct slightly longer than taller proportions. He is sound to handle on the table, with the straightest of legs and correct topline and tailset. His almond eyes are perfectly placed, giving a soft and kind expression. He is very sound on the move, with a typical jaunty spring to his step, holding his topline all the while. He is shown in excellent condition, his gleaming coat presented naturally. He is a credit to his owner and I was delighted to award him Reserve Best Dog. 2nd GROCOCK Mr P Aust Carnwath Coolangatta Gold For Havalag (Imp). A larger boy to 1, but well within the standard. This gold boy was very sound to handle on the table, with a very kind and soft expression and correct scissor bite. He has correct proportions and also has a strong topline, with slight rise over the loin – which he held on the move. Unfortunately today, he was distracted by the interesting smells on the grass, so not showing to his best advantage, but he is a very nice boy nonetheless.

PD (6,2) 1st MORRIS Mr W & Mrs G Rothermere Black Jack. This young man caught my eye my first look around this class with his clean outline and balanced silhouette. He has the most beautiful head, perfectly balanced from skull to foreface, well placed, almond eyes and correct scissor bite. He has correct folds in his well-placed ears. Correct topline, tailset and carriage, all held well on the move. He excelled in his rear movement. Today, unfortunate to come up against a very exciting puppy bitch on top form in the Best Puppy in Breed Challenge, but he is certainly one for the future! 2nd YOUNG Mrs J & Mr R Newpark Petit Indien Rouge. A lot to like about this young man -he scored well on his lovely size and shape. Although he is masculine, he is very refined, which I appreciated. He is very balanced, with a correct topline and tailset. He has a lovely lay of shoulder and return of upper arm, straight legs and correct, moderate rear angulation. He is quite attractive on the move - he carries himself well and moves very confidently and soundly with a typical spring to his step. 3rd MOTTRAM Mrs D Mybeards Pinocchio

JD (4,3) 1st GROCOCK Mr P Havalag Karaginski. Nicely balanced boy, who has a lovely straight front and correct level topline with slight rise over his loin. His almond eyes give a very kind expression, with a mischievous glint. His happy disposition is evident on the move; he carries himself very well and has lovely width to his rear action.

YD (1,0) SMITH Mrs S El Perrito Master Showman. Another very balanced young man, who has a lovely straight front and good length to his front legs. He has a very balanced head, with correct length of muzzle – not too long, not too short. He has a correct topline with a slight rise over his short strong loin. He carries his tail very nicely on the move, not too tight, which gives him a lovely outline in profile. His profuse coat was presented in immaculate condition.

OD (3,0) 1st MORRIS Mr W & Mrs G The Sandman. First impressions, he displays a beautiful outline – perfectly balanced proportions, he is just slightly longer than taller, with lovely head carriage and loose tail, carried over his back in a beautiful plume. He is a pleasure to handle on the table – not only is he sound to go over, but also has all those characteristics that sets the Havanese apart from other toy breeds. He has a beautifully balanced head, with well-placed ears, with correct folds. His almond eyes are well placed, giving him a kind and sweet expression. He has a correct, moderate length of neck, leading into well placed shoulders. Straight front legs, of correct length. His ribs are well sprung and his topline strong, with a slight over his loin. He is so stylish on the move, demonstrating that springy, jaunty movement that is so typical of the breed. Everything about this boy is moderate, no exaggerations. I was delighted to award him Best of Breed amongst a quality entry. 2nd THORNE Mrs S L Jamboree Lee Coeur De Masai Avec Blevwil. A smaller boy than 1, I liked his refinement and overall breed type. He has the most beautifully balanced head, with well-placed almond eyes, giving him a typical expression. His ears are well placed, with correct folds, and he has enough neck leading into well placed shoulders. He was shown in excellent condition, his coat light and silky to touch. His topline is strong with the correct rise over the loin, which he held well on the move. He moved soundly and confidently and it was nice to see his tail wagging whilst he moved – something we do not see enough of in the ring. 3rd YOUNG Mrs J & Mr R Newpark Pretty Boy Floyd

SBD (1,0) 1st GROCOCK Mr P Havalag Karaginski

VB (3,1) 1st THORNE Mrs S L Chazard Beckie Lou At Dyffrynsands. A classic beauty, who oozes breed type. She is feminine and refined. She has a beautiful head of correct proportions. Lovely kind, almond eye, lined with dark ‘eyeliner’. She is beautifully balanced throughout, with excellent length to width proportions, fantastic tail set and carriage. She is presented in lovely coat of correct texture. One the move, she is sound coming and going and moves with style and purpose. She presents a beautiful outline in profile, holding her firm topline with correct rise over the loin on the move. I was pleased to learn that the Best Bitch and BPIB was her daughter. It is lovely to see that her many qualities have been passed on to her daughter. I was delighted to award her Best Veteran in Breed. 2nd MORRIS Mr W & Mrs G Classy Cleo Sh.CM. Another beautiful and typey girl, who is of a slightly larger frame than 1. Another very typical example of the breed. On the table, she is very sound to handle, with a good lay of shoulder and return of upper arm. Her head is well balanced, with correct length of muzzle in proportion to her skull and her almond eyes are well placed and expressive. Lovely straight front and correct topline with slight rise over the loin. Her high set tail, carried in a plume over her back creates a lovely silhouette. She is a sound mover, moving with a typical spring to her step. Her well maintained coat of correct texture completes the picture.

  PB (4,0) 1st RUSSELL Mrs C Dyffrynsands Destinys Day To Claravi. She has the most beautiful of heads, perfectly balanced and refined. Her large, dark, almond eyes are perfectly positioned, giving her a typical, kind expression. They are framed with dark ‘eyeliner’. Lovely ear placement, with correct folds. She has a lovely reach of neck – not too long, not too short, which leads into well placed shoulders. She has a lovely forechest and straight front legs, of good length. She has a correct topline, firm and strong, with a slight rise over her loin. She is short coupled and has correct tail set and carriage. Her rear angulation is moderate - perfectly balanced with her front angulation - leading into short, straight hocks. She is so confident and self-assured on the move, yet still has plenty of character and charm. Indeed, in the challenge, she moved with such style to her springy, jaunty action, I simply could not deny awarding this exciting youngster Best Bitch and Best Puppy in Breed. 2nd YOUNG Mrs J & Mr R Newpark Velour Rouge. Another very promising young lady, and litter sister to 2nd place in the puppy dog class. Like her brother, she scored well on her size and shape. She has a fantastic head that is feminine and refined. She is very sound and moderate throughout, straight front, correct topline with slight rise over the loin. Today, she was not quite as confident as 1, however she is very positive on the move, with lovely free and easy action, all the while presenting a very balanced outline. 3rd BERRINGTON Mrs T K Altina's Tillytrotter TAF JB (2,0)

1st SMITH Mrs S Tiggafield Ebony Eyes. There is a lot to like about this young black and white girl, who very much my cup of tea in terms of size and shape – not too big and not too long. She is beautifully balanced and has a very appealing head and expression. I particularly liked her strong topline, with short and strong loin – with correct rise. Her front and rear angulation is balanced and moderate. On the move, she is very stylish, demonstrating a typical spring to her step. Her correct tail set and carriage, coupled with her high head carriage presents a beautiful outline. She was shown in beautiful coat of correct texture. Reserve Best Bitch in a quality bitch line up. 2nd GROCOCK Mr P Havalag Eziyra. Not quite the coat of 1, however this sable girl is very nice to handle on the table. She is a refined girl, who is well balanced and has fantastic pigmentation. On the move, she is happy and confident, all the while holding her correct topline well and is very positive both coming and going. Unfortunately she left her coat at home today, but otherwise she is a very nice example of the breed.

YB (1,0) 1st SMITH Mrs S El Perrito Step In Time. A litter sister to 1st place in yearling dog, this black girl is very similar in terms of type and size. Like her brother, she has a very attractive and balanced head with correct eye and ear placement –eyes of almond shape and ears with correct folds. She has a straight front and correct topline and tailset. She moved very well, and like her brother, her profuse coat was presented immaculately. They are a credit to their owners.

PGB (2,0) 1st ROWELL Misses S & A Sassena Perfect Harmony At Suanity. This girl scored on size and refinement. I particularly liked her length of leg and shorter loin. She has a pretty head that is well balanced. Correct topline, with slight rise over the loin. She moved well and was presented particularly well by her handler in the Special Beginners Challenge. Pleased to award them Best Special Beginner in Breed. 2nd THORNE Mrs S L Dyffrynsands Tilly Tinker. A slightly longer girl than 1, this young lady has a very pretty head and expression, with correct dark, almond eyes. She is well pigmented, with eye liner around her eyes and dark black nose. Correct topline with a lovely tailset and carriage. She moved soundly and confidently.

OB (3,2) SMITH Mrs S Tiggafield Isn't She Lovely. A very attractive girl, who was not only presented to me in pristine condition but she was handled to perfection. She has a very attractive head, with dark almond eyes and a kind and soft expression. Her ears are also well placed, with correct folds to complete the picture. She has a straight front and a good lay of shoulder and return of upper arm. She has very sound and stylish movement, proudly shown off by her handler making use of the full ring. She is one that I gave serious consideration to a very strong bitch line up, full of quality, but just preferred the slightly smaller frames of my two winners. A quality girl, nonetheless.

  Olivia Carty-Parge