National Gundog Association

National Gundog - Judge: Shula M Shipton  

I would like to thank National Gundog for inviting me to judge Field Spaniels and for providing the ramp, making it very easy for me to go over the dogs. Many thanks also to the exhibitors for their entry and taking the ramp in their stride. It would be lovely if in the near future we could become a ramp breed.  

My overall view of the dogs under me was that heads were especially good and that scissor bites were the norm throughout. A few were carrying excess weight over the shoulders which distorts the outline and affects the movement. The ring surface wasn’t the best standing or moving but the ramp helped with the former but it was more difficult to assess and be 100% sure dogs were sound, especially as many decided to have fun with their handlers on the move.  

Veteran – Dog 

Entries: 4 Absentees: 1,

1st, Fowkes’ Sh Ch Sonnetend Finishing Touch at Shirmal. Black dog of 7 years that I have judged before and has matured well. Excellent Field head with gentle expression and good chiselling. Good topline with fore and aft angulations. Well feathered and moved with drive.

2nd, Holgate’s Sh Ch Nadavin Rothesey JW. 9-year-old liver male, looking a little naked on the day, but nothing is hidden. Lovely head and expression and strong neck, pronounced prosternum, good topline moved well.

3rd, Sanderson’s Nl Ch Thandiwe Arthur Sixpence Bwnl'18 Loved the outline of this 7-year-old liver dog. Good head and expression. Good front, well balanced fore and aft good topline. Standing I thought this was going to be my class winner but just didn’t move as well as he could on the day.

Entries: 3 Absentees: 1,

Two lovely young male Fields of good size and substance to watch for the future.

1st, Moss’ Fecimus Chase the Dream to Ewtor Liver 12-month dog, good head, correct chiselling, strong neck, pronounced prosternum. Correct rib to loin ratio, good topline, correct angulations. Moved well

2nd, Holgate & Baumann’s Prince Arthur Vom Belauer See at Nadavin (Imp Deu) 13-month liver dog who was a handful on the day. Good head and expression. Good topline and good angulations fore and aft. Played handler up on the move in this class but was more settled in the second one.

Graduate – Dog

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0,

1st, Griffiths, Sonnetend Too Funky 2 ½ year old black dog with lovely head, dark eye and correct chiselling. Good topline and good angulations. Good flat bone, good length of rib and short loin. Another who was playful on the move with his handler, but overall maturity won the class.

2nd, Holgate & Baumann’s Prince Arthur Vom Belauer See at Nadavin (Imp Deu)

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0,

1st, Johnson’s Sonnetend Fastlove at Sylviidae Litter brother to Graduate dog this 2 ½ year old black dog was more mature and heavier over the shoulder. Good head and expression, kind dark eye. Good front, good topline, good length of rib to loin ratio. Weight affected the dog on the move.

Entries: 7 Absentees: 3,

Nice class of males, but a couple were let down by movement on the day, giving their handlers a hard time.

1st, Harris’ Kingsmist Panther 3-year-old black dog with stunning outline, well balanced throughout. Masculine head but not overdone, kind eye and expression with correct chiselling. Good front, pronounced prosternum, flat bone. Good rib to loin ratio, giving a strong back and rock solid topline. Good fore and aft angulations. Still needs feathering to complete the picture, but this well-muscled dog moved with drive. Delighted to award the CC. His stamina in the challenge won him BOB.

2nd, Gallen’s Woodsong Lexington (Imp Fra) Liver 4-year-old dog, not as big as 1 but still a lot to like. Kind eye and expression. Just a tad shorter in muzzle than 1. Good front strong neck and shoulders. Good angulations, level topline. Good rib length, strong loin. Moved well.

3rd, Murray’s Nadavin Wallace 2 ½ year old liver dog. Lots to like with this dog, Good head, kind eyes, plenty of bone and substance, good fore and aft angulations. Unfortunately gave his handler a hard time on the move.

Res, Fowkes & Mills’ Sonnetend Moonlight Drive

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0,

1st, Murray’s Sh Ch Nadavin Quinlan. 10-year-old liver dog, presenting a good outline. In great condition for his age. Good head and expression, good front, strong back maintaining topline on the move. Good fore and aft angulations. Well-muscled dog moved with steady controlled gait. RCC

2nd, Griffiths Sh Ch Sonnetend Tic Tac Toe WW'18  6-year-old black dog I have admired from afar. Played handler up and didn't move as well as the first dog. Still much to like, with good head, kind expression and correct chiselling. Good front, deep chest, correct rib to loin ratio. Moderate stifles, beautifully furnishings throughout. Stood best on ramp.   

Entries: 3 Absentees: 1,

1st, Griffiths, Sonnetend Too Funky

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0,

1st, Ford’s Sh Ch Sonnetend In Touch with Coverwell.  Cannot believe this bitch is a veteran. Elegant and noble, she just oozes Field spaniel qualities. Beautiful head, dark eye giving grave expression. Strong neck, good front with pronounced prosternum. Good depth of chest, correct rib to loin ration, strong rear. In excellent condition and moved steady and true. Could not be denied CC but was beaten by the younger dog for BOB.  

2nd, Orzel’s Esp Ch Tayowen Touch of Ecstasy at Braxton

8-year-old liver bitch that is longer overall than 1. It didn’t help that she made life difficult for their handler. Good head, kind eye and expression, good front. Correct fore and aft angulations. A little longer in the loin than I would like which affected her topline a little on the move.

3rd, Young & Nunn’s Thandiwe Sweet Truffle

7-year-old liver bitch presented in full coat and good condition. Good head and expression, a little heavy over the shoulder. Good fore and aft angulations. Gave her handler a hard time when moving.

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0,

1st, Channon’s Thandiwe Serendipity

10-month liver bitch who was a joy to have in the ring. Well balanced in outline and on the move. Pretty head and expression, good front, pronounced prosternum. Correct rib to loin ratio. A little naked but to be expected at this age. Nice angulations, good topline. Very sound and happy on the move. BP

Entries: 5 Absentees: 1,

Lovely class of young bitches, at differing stages in their development but will be interesting to watch them mature.

1st, Reece’s Kingsmist Phryne Fischer at Broomeece 14 month liver bitch with pretty head and expression. Good front, good prosternum, correct depth of chest for age. Good length of rib to loin, maintaining a level topline. Dog and handler moved round the ring effortlessly. B Special Beginner

2nd, Harding’s Kingsmist Miss Marple JW. Black Bitch litter sister tor 1 but a little taller and with a little more air between body and ground, but will fill out in time. Lovely head, dark eye, and low set ears. Well off for bone, good fore and aft angulations. A little tucked up in loin at the moment. Moved well around the ring.

3rd, Porter’s Kingsmist Agatha Christie at Winsbrook Another from the same litter this black bitch was a little less mature than her siblings, but there is still a lot to like. Pretty head, soft expression, good front. Well balanced, steady but was a little naughty on the move.

Res, Smith’s Fecimus Living the Dream at Flyenpyg

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0,

1st, Reece’s Kingsmist Phryne Fischer at Broomeece

2nd, Porter’s Kingsmist Agatha Christie at Winsbrook

Novice – Bitch 

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0,

1st, Reece’s Kingsmist Phryne Fischer at Broomeece

2nd, Porter’s Kingsmist Agatha Christie at Winsbrook

Post Graduate – Bitch 

Entries: 4 Absentees: 1,  

1st, Ward’s Elgert Lady Marmalade at Simbarra. 2 year old well-presented liver bitch. Good head, kind eye. Good front, flat bone, good depth of chest. A little throaty in neck, Rock solid topline well-muscled rear. Moved round the ring with drive

2nd, Stone’s Sonnetend Flawless. 2 year old nicely built black bitch. Pretty head, good front, neck and angulations. Level topline, not as polished overall as 1. Movement was a little erratic a times but enough to see steady gait around the ring

3rd, Spence’s Sonnetend Picture This at Cabharan. 2 year old black litter sister to 2. Was best viewed stacked on the ramp. Lovely head and expression, well off for bone. Longer in the loin than I would like which impacted her movement. Handler tended to overstretch her on ground, which didn’t help.

Limit – Bitch 

Entries: 10 Absentees: 2,

Lovely large class of bitches to go over. There is quite a difference in sizes and substance, which we need to be careful off.

1st, Mcvitty’s Sonnetend Faith Well balanced liver bitch that looked more mature than her 3 years. Typical Field head and expression, kind dark eye, good length of muzzle. Good front, flat bone, pronounced prosternum. Strong neck, level topline. Correct Depth of chest and length of loin. Well-muscled which enabled her to power round the ring. Even had the furnishings to complete the picture RCC.

2nd, Harding’s Kingsmist Lady in Black. 3 year old black bitch, less mature that winner at this time. Still has correct size and substance for a field bitch but lacks the furnishings. Pretty head with correct chiselling, dark eye, good front. Good fore and aft angulations, correct ratio for rib and loin. Still a little tucked up, well-muscled rear to enable her to move well round the ring.

3rd, Ward’s Elgert Lady Marmalade at Simbarra

Res, Ford & Stone’s Coverwell Back to Black with Sonnetend

Vhc, Hazell’s Ewtor Must Have Been Crazy for Vraibleu

Open – Bitch 

Entries: 5 Absentees: 0,

This class was a hard one to judge. Most had a lot to like, but handling errors in stacking and moving affected the placing.

1st, Bebb-Sutton’s Cochen Calypso very pretty 4 ½ year old bitch, presented a nice outline overall. Lovely head and expression, moderate stop, correct chiselling. Good front, good fore and aft angulations and well-muscled rear. Well balanced bitch that moved well round the ring.

2nd, Holgate’s Sh Ch Nadavin Wenhaver JW 3 year old liver bitch, a little rawer than the winner. Pretty head and expression. Good front, well off for bone. A little longer than winner, exacerbated more by lack of coat. To be picky I would like a little more muscle in the rear, but still a lot to like.

3rd, Osborn’s Elgert Lady Sta'dust JW 3 ½ year old black bitch with pretty head and dark eye. A little heavier on the shoulders which spoilt the overall outline. Strong back, holding topline well. Glistening black coat, moved well.

Res, Smith’s Ewtor Affinity for Flyenpyg JW ShCM

Vhc, Harris’s Thandiwe Lady of The Knight

Entries: 4 Absentees: 0,

1st, Mcvitty’s Sonnetend Faith

2nd, Bowen’s Kingsmist Rose at Clandrift Liver 3 year old bitch, with lovely head, dark eye, well chiselled. Nicely balanced overall with good front and rear. Short loin, well-muscled rear. Did play handler up, but definitely one to watch.

3rd, Reece’s Kingsmist Phryne Fischer at Broomeece