Horley & District Show Society

Horley & District Canine Society – 25 August 2019 Judge Lee Sharp Thank you to the committee for inviting me to what turned out to be a very well organised and smooth-running show. In this country we shouldn’t complain about sunshine but it really was a scorcher and you could see some dogs literally wilting in the heat – I am sure that many couldn’t give their best and movement tended towards the lethargic. Retriever (Flat Coated) Puppy (2 entries) 1st & BP Hutchison’s Waverton Illusion Reading my notes from the day I have said of 1 and 2 “like two peas in a pod” so I was pleased to read in the catalogue that they are out of the same litter! A bitch presented in very good condition with a lovely glossy coat. Correct head proportions with small ears. Nice deep chest. Correct proportions and outline but slightly “bum” high on the move which I am sure is down to age and will improve with maturity. Moved well – straight as a die coming and going. 2nd Young’s Waverton I Wish I could Fly Very similar to 1st but was close behind. It is difficult to assess a dog that was this fidgety but she was certainly enjoying her day with lots of puppy “enthusiasm”. Junior (3 entries) 1st & BOB Strudwick’s Flatcharm Miss Lotsa Love for Burpham Another bitch with excellent presentation. Deep chest with straight forelegs and a good length of upperarm which coupled with the rear angulation and short loin meant she moved powerfully and yet with that flowing elegance that this breed is renowned for. Kept her correct outline on the move. Good bone and nice tight feet. Overall a quality bitch that easily achieved BOB. 2nd. Taite’s Gamerights Troyte A nice dog with a good head – slight stop, small ears and correct dentition. Better shoulder angulation than 1st but had a slightly sloping topline. Didn’t have the drive or freedom of movement of 1st. 3rd. Hutchison’s Waverton Illusion Open (2 entries) 1st & RBOB Hutchison’s Quills Mint Julep with Waverton JW (Ai) (Imp Swe) This was a bitch with a good deep chest, plenty of forearm and a short loin. I really liked her sweet expression. Would have preferred more body length overall. Wasn’t moving her best today which cost her BOB to the Junior. 2nd. Hill’s Joya Tonggreen De La Chasse des Ballastieres A very typical example of the breed with a deep glossy coat, plenty of feathering. Looked better standing than 1st with a good outline, and good rear angulation without being overdone. Was let down by her movement which was close front and back and lacked energy – in her defence it was extremely hot and this was affecting the dogs. Gordon Setter Junior (2 entries, 1 absent) 1st. Matthewson’s Graylacier Classic Design This male was well presented and well handled. Correct dentition. Good length of upper arm. Would have liked to see more muscle and substance on a male. Another dog whose movement suffered from the heat. Post Graduate (3 entries) 1st & RBOB Horler’s Hernwood Jack O’Lantern by Rackens JW This was most definitely a male and was impressive when stacked. Really strong head with a well-defined stop, correct length of muzzle and correct dentition. Well muscled. Good driving movement behind when seen in profile. 2nd. Powell’s Kimgilee Maori Secret This bitch had good shoulder angulation and length of upper arm. Her head was not as well defined as 1st and I would have preferred her ribs to be further back. 3rd. Matthewson’s Graylacier Portreath Open (2 entries, 1 absent) 1st & BOB Ashton’s Yennadon Renaissance with Gadieburn Another male with a pleasing strong head in all the correct proportions. Good length of upper arm, ribs well back and short loin. Would have preferred slightly more rear angulation. Kept his topline on the move. It was a very close run thing for BOB but he won because he managed to keep his powerful driving movement in the challenge despite the heat. Irish Setters I was impressed with the condition of all the entry of this breed. Junior (4 entries) 1st Williamson’s Bluesprings Sunday Girl This bitch was similar to the 2nd placed dog and again I have found from the catalogue that they were litter mates. I have written “racy” and underlined it in my notes for this girl. Lean head with a pretty expression. Good shoulder and rear angulation and well muscled. Moved very well with good drive and made her handler work hard to keep up! 2nd. Williamson’s Bluesprings Picture This Similar to 1st but obviously a male. Very well muscled. Deep chest with well sprung ribs. Moved as nicely as his sister in profile. Lost out to her on his top line. 3rd & BP Randle’s Alolfrana Lady Million at Rionore (AI) A quality girl with loads to like about her. She just really looked a baby in this class. Post Graduate (3 entries, 1 absent) 1st Kourea’s Cloonmanna Cassia This bitch had a deep but narrow chest and good length of upper arm. Short loin and correct topline. Well bent stifles. Plenty of muscle. Moved really well in profile with a driving action. Considered closely for RBOB. 2nd. Williams’ Kirkavagh Final Decision A male with a good profile but I would have preferred a deeper chest. Slightly wider in front but with good shoulder angulation and rear angulation. Lost out to 1st on movement. Open (4 entries, 2 absent) 1st & BOB Williamson’s Caskeys Solar Eclipse at Bluesprings It was a close decision for this class and BOB with this male just beating 2nd on movement going away. This was a particularly well muscled dog and presented very well. Lean head. Good depth of chest, plenty of upper arm, ribs well back and a short loin. 2nd & RBOB Williams’ Kirkavagh Wayward Lad Another male with a nice lean head with well pronounced occiput and correct proportions of muzzle to skull. Good dentition. Striking in profile with straight but sloping top line. Lots of drive on the move. Weimaraner Junior (2 entries) 1st, RBOB & BP Tranquada’s Stormdancer Cherry Chip at Castanho (AI) This puppy bitch shows great promise and it was a very close decision for BOB. Head in correct proportions with moderate stop, high set ears and prominent occiput. Good length of upper arm. Deep chest, ribs well back to a short loin. Straight level top line and overall correct proportion. A very balanced bitch and handled to good effect. Lost out to BOB on maturity alone. 2nd. Finch’s Silberliss Solitaire In no way a bad bitch but was very immature compared to 1st – as her age would suggest. Her movement was very loose but I would expect that to change as she ages. Open (3 entries, 1 absent) 1st & BOB Finch’s Silberliss Summer of Love A bitch oozing breed type. Good deep chest down to the elbows and correct shoulder angulation. Regal expression and correct scissor bite. Good rear angulation without being overdone. Moved effortlessly well keeping her topline. Disappointed that she didn’t stay for the group. 2nd. Wood’s Stormdancer Do Something Another bitch presented well. Would have preferred slightly more length of body. Moved very well viewed from all angles.