Western Afghan Hound Club

Western Afghan Hound Club Open Show

6th October 2019

I was delighted to be invited to judge the Western Afghan Hound Club back to back Open show at this, their wonderful new venue. Plenty of light and space, - exactly what you need to see sighthounds at their very best. My stewards Sam and Silvia were most efficient and helped to ensure that the atmosphere in the ring was very pleasant. I was so fortunate to have such a lovely entry both in quantity and depth of quality and there are some very exciting youngsters on their way into the bright lights. I shall watch their progress with interest.

Minor Puppy Dog (0 Entries)

Puppy Dog (0 Entries)

Veteran Dog (4) 2abs

1st Res Best Dog & BVIS Parsons Ch Syrdarya Hazelnut Hobnob at Shukriya JW ShCM

I really loved the type and quality of this 7 ½ year old shaded mask gold boy. In his prime! Well balanced and beautifully made all through. Lovely head shape with excellent triangular eye and low set ears. Good neck let into well laid shoulders. Strong bone. Short coupled. Excellent level topline which he maintained on the move. Correct fallaway and a super ring in his tail. Moved with extension and drive. Well-presented and in first-rate coat and condition. Delighted to be able to award him Reserve Best Dog. A lovely rapport between him and his handler – a credit to his owners.

2nd Hurls Javidan Kiss the Sky Over Tarakhi

At almost 8 years old this lad was dripping in a silky, beautifully presented coat. Correct saddle. Good angulation front and rear and, although a little taller than the winner, he was nice and short from hock to foot. Masculine head with correct eye shape and strong underjaw. Good spring of rib and depth of chest. Prominent pin bones. Just lost his topline a little. Finished off with a ringed tail.

Junior Dog (6 Entries) - 2abs

1st Gardners Drishaun Said Tiger to Lily

Very attractive, masculine brindle boy with everything in the right place. Huge coat which hides some of his qualities until you get your hands on him. Excellent angulation front and rear. Good depth and spring of rib. Plenty of length from hip to hock. Topline was super, both static and on the move, and he can move! Finished off with a well set on ringed tail. One destined for future honours I’m sure.

2nd Finch & Hoppers Zandahar Xtraordinary Me at Zinzani JW

Slightly smaller and stronger than the winner, this black and tan boy was top quality too. Well balanced front and rear angulation, with a lovely fallaway and set on to his ringed tail. Good length through the shoulder and good return of upper arm. Excellent topline. Moved very sound and with excellent drive. Another one destined for the bright lights!

3rd Lancashire & O’Donnells Drishaun Star Among Lilies JW

Yearling Dog (5 Entries) - 2 abs

1st Lancashire & O’Donnells Drishaun Star Among Lilies JW

This brindle boy was not disgraced to be 3rd in the previous class. Very attractive head with lovely triangular eye shape. Plenty of underjaw. Good angulation front and rear. Excellent bone. Good fallaway. Well set on ringed tail. Short hocks. Moved well.

2nd Lancashire & O’Donnells Drishaun Fair As A Lily JW

Self masked cream boy with a beautiful refined well balanced head. Lovely expression. Good depth of chest and spring of rib. Good fill in to his front. Excellent saddle. Short hocks. Sparsely feathered ringed tail. Prominent pinbones. Moved with drive.

3rd Messrs Hurl, Nisbit & Forresters Zandahar Xcuse Me Mister

Graduate Dog (5 Entries) - 2 abs

1st Lancashire & O’Donnells Drishaun Star Among Lilies JW

2nd Parsons Joneca Fire Cracker by Shukriya JW

Shaded mask gold dog. Stronger in head than the winner with a shade more fullness to his eye. Good neck let into well laid shoulders with correct return of upper arm. Plenty of length from hip to hock. Prominent pinbones. Relaxed his tail when static, but put his ‘ring’ back in when on the move. Good feet. Short hocks. Moved very sound and with drive.

3rd Lancashire & O’Donnells Drishaun Fair As A Lily JW

Post Graduate Dog (3 Entries) - 1 abs

1st Drages Gilari Rosso Corsa

Handsome self masked gold boy with lovely lines to his head. Excellent eye shape. Long ears. Well sprung through the ribcage. Short loin. Prominent pinbones and good fallaway. Short hocks. In good coat.

2nd Cullens Khamis Aequitas at Eweyisska

Self masked cream.A little too refined in the head for me. Short coupled. Good rear angulation. Short hocks. Prominent pin bones. Ringed tail.

Limit Dog (4 Entries) - 1 abs

1st Best Dog & BIS James’ Sitana AagToofan

This quality, beautifully balanced boy just filled my eye. Masculine with no trace of coarseness, lovely expression and eye shape. Super outline. Excellent neck let into well laid shoulders. Good spring of rib and depth of chest. Short loin. Well angulated rear quarters, plenty of length from hip to his short hocks. Excellent topline leading into correct fallaway and set on to his tail. Moved as an Afghan Hound should. Smooth and springy with his ringed tail completing the picture. Loved him and was delighted to have the opportunity to award him Best Dog and later BIS.

2nd Greenings Zilbec Zanthus

Self masked cream boy, a little larger than the winner but well made throughout. Good head and expression. Correct angulation front and rear. Well sprung ribcage and short loin. Good rear angulation. Level topline. Prominent pinbones and well set on tail. Lovely, well presented coat. Moved well.

3rd Stevens & Crafts Ayoubkhan Firethorn

Open Dog (4 Entries)

1st Cullens Syrdarya Toffy Pop at Eweyisska

Dark brindle boy with a very attractive head, eye and expression. I liked the way his neck was set into his shoulders. Well made throughout with correct lines. Level topline with a good fallaway. Ringed tail. Not heavily coated, but this just showed his attractive outline at it’s best. Moved with drive from behind and good extension in front.

2nd Buttles Gilari Redwood Earl at Zarankhan JW

Shaded masked gold boy who was both stronger and taller than the winner. Well balanced angulation front and rear. Excellent topline with correct fallaway. Good spring of rib and depth to his chest. Ringed tail. Moved well.

3rd Finch & Hoppers Arushkhan Born to be Wild at Zinzani

Minor Puppy Bitch (4 Entries) - 1 abs

1st BPIS Moores Cloudside Flamenco (AI)

At 6 months this brindle baby was sooo composed. Beautifully balanced, with everything in the right place and using it all to best advantage!! Gorgeous head shape and she still has all of her monkey whiskers hiding her excellent eye and expression! A little up on her toes at the moment but she has a good spring to her ribs, excellent depth and a cracking topline. Her ringed tail completed the picture. A great start and a bright future for this baby.

2nd Cullens Cloudside Sevillana at Eweyisska (AI)

Black and brindle litter sister to the above with most of her attributes but a much more typical Afghan baby! She’s got all the right stuff, but she’s not sure how to use it all yet! Well balanced with good spring of rib and depth for her age. Excellent topline and short loin. Moved well, just needs time! She has that!

3rd Hedges Unstoppable Happy Go Lucky (imp) NAF TAF

Puppy Bitch (3 Entries) 1 abs

1st Moores Cloudside Flamenco (AI)

2nd Hedges Unstoppable Happy Go Lucky (imp) NAF TAF

Black and cream who is also still just a baby needing to coordinate her conformation and her brain! Very pretty head with lovely eye shape and expression. She is well angulated with good balance front and rear. Good topline and fallaway. Great future.

Veteran Bitch (1) Entry 1 abs

Junior Bitch (4 Entries) 2 abs

1st Lancashire & O’Donnells Drishaun Consider the Lily

Litter sister to the Junior Dog winner. WHAT a litter! This young lady epitomises true Afghan expression, She gave me goosebumps! She was beautifully made throughout with correct angulation, long sloping shoulders and upper arm. Good bone and a strength about her which took away none of her femininity. Short strong loin . Excellent topline. Ringed tail. Super coat. Moved very well as I knew she would. Top drawer!

2nd Lancashire & O’Donnells Drishaun Don't Gild the Lily JW

Litter sister to above. A little bigger than her sister, but just as beautifully made with exquisite head and expression. Moved with a true style of high order! Both these 2 bitches were outstanding quality and I could have taken either of them home.

Yearling Bitch (2 Entries)

1st Lancashire & O’Donnells Drishaun Consider the Lily

2nd Lancashire & O’Donnells Drishaun Say She Ain't Gazon (AI) JW

Another quality girl from this kennel who was taller and a little more rangy than the winner. Lovely head and expression. Good neck let into well laid shoulders. Good spring of rib and short loin. Plenty of length from hip to her short hocks. Moved very well.

Graduate Bitch (7 Entries) 1 abs

1st Lancashire & O’Donnells Drishaun Don't Gild the Lily JW

2nd Lancashire & O’Donnells Drishaun Say She Ain't Gazon (AI) JW

3rd O’Donnells Drishaun Faith Is Like A Lily for Javidan JW

Post Graduate Bitch (0 Entries)

Limit Bitch (4 Entries)

1st Best Bitch & Res BIS Coates’ Gilari Silken Flame at Bukhara

Shaded mask gold bitch with lovely eye shape and expression. Classic outline and of a nice size. Long neck let into well laid shoulders and excellent return of upper arm. Strong bone. Well sprung rib with good depth. Short, straight loin. Excellent topline which she maintained on the move. Good rear angulation with plenty of length from hip to hock. Prominent pinbones and excellent fallaway. Well set ringed tail. Moved very well and sound. Beautifully presented in fabulous coat. Couldn’t deny her this class and later Best Bitch.

2nd Lockett-Davies Rhazmakh Tyme N Tyde JW

Shapely brindle girl who was also well made all through, although a little fuller in the eye than the winner. Good head shape and low set ears. Well balanced with good angles. Excellent topline and fallaway. Short hocks. Moved well with drive.

3rd Stevens & Craft Ayoubkhan Jasmine

Open Bitch (3 Entries)

1st Res Best Bitch Adams’ Ch Zandahar Just Tiger Lily JW

Quality dark brindle girl who is without doubt a worthy champion. Good head, eye shape and expression with punishing jaw. Strong but still feminine. Good neck let into well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm. Good spring of rib. Excellent loin. Good rear quarters with well turned stifles. Short hocks. Moved with drive and soundness. Can still trouble those younger girls!

2nd Lawson-Balls Andizhan Charisma with Zarcar JW

Heavily coated girl who was a little stronger and longer than the winner and could probably (like most of us) look a little better with a shade less weight. Good depth of chest and spring of rib and excellent rear quarters. Ringed tail. Moved well.

3rd Gunn & Cannons Lux Ch Amal Salang Hey I'm the Star at Zushkhan (imp)

Ann Beckett-Bradshaw (Judge)