South West Utility Club

South West Utility Club 

Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge at your wonderfully friendly show. Thank you to my lovely steward for all your help and to the exhibitors for entering your precious dogs. I was thrilled with my overall winners and their performances in the Best in Show ring.

Dalmatian

A fantastic entry for me, temperaments were excellent throughout and all exhibits had the correct bite.

Class 2 Junior (8/7)

This was such a difficult class to judge as they are all at very different stages of development. Some of the older dogs had to make way for their younger competitors as they may be going through the awkward age where they are settling into their adult frames. However I would like to say that every dog in this class was a delight to judge and I am sure they will all exchange places as they mature.

1st 166. Wilkinson’s Gwynmor Lewellyn to Hunacres. Winning this very competitive class was this striking 7 month old black dog. Very mature for his age with a gorgeous, masculine head, dark eyes and well broken ears, used to advantage. Strong neck into good lay of shoulder, excellent front construction with a great forechest. Straight fronts into tight, cat feet with strong pads. Ribs carried well back, good length of loin. Excellent rear angulation and extremely well muscled already with a superb second thigh. Correct tailset and he carries it well. He moved with a ground covering stride but still has that lovely puppy roll. BPIB. Once in the Best in Show ring he really turned on the showmanship and I was so proud to have sent him through and ultimately watch him win Best Puppy in Show.

2nd 55. Evans & Saunders’ Dallydyl My Cousin Rachel. Completely different to my winner, this 6 month old baby is full of raw potential. Outgoing, mischievous and very happy to be spending the day with her handler. Beautiful feminine head, with dark eyes and nice ears. Good length of neck into nice shoulders. Great front construction, not overdone for her age. Good bone and excellent cat feet. Good ribs, level topline, correct tailset and carriage. Can see her underline beginning to tuck up as she grows. Balanced in her angulation at the back with good musculature already. She is very giddy on the move but, at this age, I’d be worried if she wasn’t. When settled you could see her correct footfall and how she covers the ground with ease. Well handled.

3rd 31. Cole’s Keiradal Syrena. Another lovely baby, who earned her place on her beautiful movement. Just not as forward in body as the first two.

Class 3 Post Graduate (8/6)

1st 15. Bridge & Meyer’s Keiradal Moulin Rouge. 2 year old, black bitch. On the smaller end of the standard but not lacking in substance, she makes a shapely outline on the stand. Excellent pigmentation on this pretty girl with the delightfully spotty face and darkest of eyes. Good length of neck and depth of chest, straight fores and tight, well arched feet. Ribs carried well back, strong topline, well muscled loin and excellent tuck up. Balanced in her angulation front and back with a good turn of stifle and strong hocks. Won this class on her movement; such an accurate footfall with perfect tracking on her side gait and when she went out and back. Such a happy showgirl who worked so hard to please her handler. She pushed her older competition hard in the challenge.

2nd 63. Hajee & Tidcombe’s Castletop Summer Breeze. Rising two year old, beautifully spotted black bitch. Larger in build than the winner and very striking to watch. Feminine head with a cheeky expression and attitude to match. Great angulation at the front, with great depth of chest and spring of rib. Good bone and feet. Strong topline, well muscled throughout and great tuck up underneath. Excellent turn of stifle and powerful hocks. She just lost out on movement here as she was a little erratic, with a tendency to pull away from her handler believing that she knew best where she was going.

3rd 54. Evans’ Lucky Prince of Oaks Farm at Troikadal.

Class 4 Open Dog (4/3)

1st 52. Edens’ Dalens Hot Gossip JW ShCM. Full of showmanship, this 7 year old black spotted male has absolutely no idea he’s a veteran. He struts into the ring like he owns the place. Upstanding and elegant, he is the traditional type, making a stunning outline. Masculine head, with a handsome ghost face and gorgeous, dark eyes. Loved the balance of his skull and length of muzzle. Elegant neck into well laid shoulders. His angulation is not overdone anywhere, good bone and tight feet. Deep, capacious chest, ribs carried well back with a well muscled loin and well defined tuck up. His hind angulation is balanced with his front. He is in such hard condition with excellent second thigh. Tail is both set on and carried correctly. His topline is outstanding, he held it so strongly on the move. Head down, making a straight line from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail as he powered around the ring. He tracks up perfectly with such an accurate gait. He did not stop wagging that tail all day long. Pleased to award him Best of Breed. He looked good moving around the breed ring but in the BIS ring, he was stunning. So thrilled to see him shortlisted to the final 8 in such a competitive line up and then taking Reserve Best Veteran in Show.

2nd 64. Hajee & Tidcombe’s Rainbeau of Hope. Another nice headed black male of 6 years old. Masculine and strong with dark eyes and well set ears. Good neck, with nice front angulation. Excellent depth of chest and spring of rib. Shorter coupled than the winner. Good turn of stifle and well muscled. Just not as clean in his movement as the winner but I do feel he would do better in a larger ring.

3rd 32. Cole’s Keiradal Coup De Foudre.

Class 5 Open Bitch (4/3)

1st 33. Cole’s Keiradal Mel’s Destiny. Fantastic personality on this elegant 5 year old liver spotted bitch. Ideal for size, another traditional type. Excellent head and expression with rich amber eyes. Balanced throughout with good front angulation, nicely boned legs and excellent cat feet. Capacious chest with well sprung ribs, carried well back. Level topline, strong loin, excellent tuck up making for a shapely outline. Very nice rear angulation, well muscled and strong hocks. Correct tailset and carriage. Excellent footfall, so accurate as she went around the ring and perfect tracking out and back. A happy showgirl who just lost out in the challenge as she got carried away enjoying herself. RBOB.

2nd 38. Davies’ Maddidalli Embers Glow. 2 year old black spotted girl, another who has personality to spare. Taller and shorter coupled than the winner. Feminine head with a pretty face and dark eyes. Used her ears well to frame her face. Long, elegant neck into good shoulders, nice bone and excellent feet. Lovely, deep chest and good ribbing. Strong topline, correct tailset. Balanced in her rear angulation and well muscled. She just had a tendency to overreach when she moved and I think she would benefit from a larger ring to allow her to settle into her stride.

3rd 53. Edens’ Dalens A Spot of Trouble JW ShCM.

Japanese Shiba Inu

Class 7 Open (2/2)

1st 41. Davies’ We-Sedso Enjoy for Narocka (IMP DEU). This 8 year old Black and Tan had an alert expression from his dark eyes. Nice head, with good depth of muzzle and well pigmented. Muscular neck into slightly sloping shoulders. Nice width of chest, level topline and good length of loin. Nice, tight feet. Moderate turn of stifle and well muscled hinds. Good tailset and carriage. Moved well in the breed ring but, when I watched him in the Best in Show ring, he seemed to enjoy the extra space and looked a real showman. BOB.

2nd 42. Davies’ Ziarica Kin Shi Shi for Narocka. 4 Year old Red Bitch with a pretty, feminine head. Arched neck, straight fores and good feet. Balanced angulation front and back and she moved well she just didn’t have the ring presence of her competitor. RBOB.

Lauran Wheaton (Acinonyx)