Luton Canine Association

LUTON, 30/31st December 2019

I felt honoured to be asked to judge all the groups and best in show at one of the most popular two day shows which takes place just after Christmas. When I arrived at the show, there was a cheerful atmosphere with all eight rings in use. The efficiency of secretary, Ben Reynolds-Frost & his team is plain to see, things moved smoothly and swiftly to group time. Despite an entry of over 1,700, the breed judging was completed in plenty of time to ensure most exhibitors were able to be away in the light – a bonus in the middle of winter. The Association were very lucky, the weather was kind to them and with no rain or snow, travelling to and from the show was a lucky bonus for most.

Three groups on the first day and with no absentees, a full toy group came into the ring. A quality group (as they all were) was topped by a cracking young Pekingese dog, Mezrab Red To Talk to Lizlanmor, put down in beautiful coat & condition, I just loved his head & body proportions, moved & showed so well to beat yet another star, the ETT, Witchstone Unexpected Gift, this bitch is just quality and although still a puppy, I heard she already has a couple of CCs, which doesn’t surprise me for she is so confident & moved so well for one so young, she had come from the not separately classified classes winning a good class to take BOB and BP but I am sure Sheila Jakeman will talk about her too as she went on to win BPIS, well deserved. Group 3 went to the black Pomeranian, Aizens Dream Of Being A Star at Trenarwyn, an import from Spain, who was just lacking coat on the day but could not be denied his place in this quality group. The final place went to a showy Affenpinscher, Ashiblack Double O’Seven, handled to advantage to make the most of his breed points, held his own here but came alive on the move.

The next in was the utility group with just one missing, the French Bulldog. After examining the breeds & watching them move, it was the showmanship of the Shih Tzu, Daltricia Jamie Lee which took the group. This black & white dog was in excellent coat & condition, he is balanced with that beautiful head & expression that catches your attention & dares you to put him down! Group 2 went to the new 9 month old star black Miniature Poodle, Michandy Turn Back Time, presentation of the highest order & this very typy young dog has so much potential, came alive on the move really covering the ground with ease & not rushing & dashing just moving correctly. Lovely head & expression with well set ears of a good length. Group 3 was Boston Terrier, Aprika California Dreamin’, pretty bitch of quality who when set up looked balanced & she moved well, enough bone & good feet but it is her feminine head with good proportions took the place. Group 4 the well coated Keeshond boy, Kichigai Boy Is Back In Town for Watchkees, only just out of puppy but with so much potential, lovely head & expression, good neck & shoulders, moved well & showed with good attitude to win in this lovely group.

The final group of the day was the hounds & here was a real tussle, at least two of my favourite dogs paraded in giving me much to think about but then in came the Deerhound, Greyflax Ruby at Jamalison, she moved with such style & grace, had a beautiful head, so very feminine & in good coat, lovely depth of chest & correct hindquarters, used her tail correctly & in profile her movement just edged her to the group winning position, still a baby at 2 so she has so much more to come. Group 2 to one of my favourite Whippets, Citycroft Sundae with Oxana, now on 2 CCs, his time must come for he is so correct with a masculine head & expression, correct neck & lovely shoulder placement, good depth of chest & well muscled hindquarters, moved correctly up & back & looked a picture in profile movement. Group 3, another from the top drawer that just gets better, Ch Kiromol Midsummer Spirit, the Rhodesian Ridgeback bitch who was looking her best today, showed her socks off, so feminine in outlook, a lovely type put down in excellent coat & condition. Group 4 went to Laakso Canute, the Norwegian Elkhound, again an excellent type with such a masculine head & expression, correct ears & a lovely eye, good neck & shoulders, in excellent coat & condition, showed & moved well to win his place in this strong group.

Day 2 dawned fine & clear, ideal for travelling to the show, when I arrived there was a good buzz around the rings & judging was proceeding at a good pace, enough to say that I was able to judge the terrier group at 10.45! Only 10 in this group but they were all up to a good standard. My eye kept being drawn back to the Norfolk Terrier, Ch Watercroft Gold Dust, so reminiscent of great Norfolks from the past, she is beautiful. Presentation on her coat was top class, excellent head & expression with well set & carried ears, strong topline & well set tail carried correctly. Group 2 Sawheaten Kiss From A Rose, a balanced Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier put down in first class order, she is of a good size with a good feminine head & expression, correct coat of a good texture, held her topline on the move, good profile movement. Into third place came the Welsh Terrier, Perrisblue The Duke, who won through from the not classified classes, again excellent presentation on a dog of good balance & size, nice type of dog who is very masculine in outlook, good head & expression, good bone & feet, moved & showed well. Lenacourt Boogie Nights at Kylini, the puppy Parsons Russell Terrier, who still needs time but shows promise, only born in June but coped well with the noise of the tannoy & the atmosphere, moved ok for one so young but liked his head & expression & forequarters.

Gundogs followed in the early afternoon & two were missing, the English Setter & the Gordon Setter but the group was full of quality. After a full examination I could not walk passed the Hungarian Vizsla, Bitcon Camden, I might have guessed her breeding when I saw her profile movement, it was breathtaking and reminded me so much with her free easy forward movement & strong driving hindquarters of her famous forefather. Beautiful head & expression, excellent neck & soulders, strong topline & well set tail, she is still young but such quality, I shall follow her progress. Group 2, Warringah’s The Bluff, the black Labrador puppy, I never thought I would ever give a group placing to a puppy Labrador but this dog surprised me, in excellent coat & condition, masculine head & expression, excellent movement from his well boned legs & feet & correct from assembly, he is just right for age. Group 3 Annilann Miss Sweetheart at Weyhill, again only a puppy but such potential, beautiful head & expression with well set & carried ears, lovely neck & shoulders & a correct topline & beautiful ribcage, so very feminine & quality. Group 4 Desjiem American Pie, a 7 year old Weimaraner boy who is just coming into his own, masculine in outlook with a good head & expression, his profile movement is correct as was his up & back, good length of back with a well muscled body, showed well to win his place.

Next in was the working with a full group ready to be assessed. I was taken immediately by the Newfoundland, Ir Ch King of Helluland Keep Distance at Larkharbour, this black bitch gave me goosebumps, she is so impressive yet remains feminine, lovely head & expression, excellent neck & shoulders, well boned legs & feet, despite her size she covered the ring so easily yet with purpose, put down in excellent coat & condition, she is quality & thrilled to have a chance to judge her & to give her the group. She was followed by the Siberian Husky, Mysticwolf’s El Unico, this grey & white bitch is very feminine in head & expression with a good eye & well set ears, moved with ease & you could picture her going all day, in excellent coat & muscular condition, good body proportions with just the right amount of weight for perfection. Group 3 went to the Rottweiler, Ch Fantasa Blue Diablo, never seen this dog look better, loved his head & expression, good neck & shoulders, he moves so well & correct footfall in profile with a good head carriage & a well set & carried tail, in lovely coat & condition, he is quality & an excellent type. Group 4 the Leonberger male, Debbollinby Kandyman at Lionsridge, showed with attitude today looking the part, in excellent coat & condition with a good ruff, masculine head & good topline, he is very impressive stacked & moved with purpose to cover the ground.

The final group was the pastoral & again a full group including the import register. The ring had been made bigger, so there was plenty of room to display the virtues of all the dogs. I finally chose the Pembroke Corgi, Twinan Shake The Tree, to win the group, this lovely young bitch just caught my eye, loved her head & expression & well set & carried ears, good neck & strong topline good bone & feet, liked her body proportions, put down in excellent coat & condition, moved strongly with good head carriage, showed her socks off to win this group. Group 2 Saganan Blue Diamond, a cracking Rough Collie bitch, correct head & expression with good ear carriage, lovely neck & shoulders, good topline & well set & carried tail, in full coat which was beautifully prepared, moved so true, she is quality & must do well. Group 3 Roxilyn Take A Bow, this Bearded Collie bitch is not yet a year old but I just loved her profile movement for she kept a correct head carriage & strong topline & good tail carriage, put down in excellent coat & condition, she is so very feminine with a pretty head with a good eye, well boned legs & feet, showed well for one so young. Group 4 Antos via Rivendall at Mybeards, again another puppy, this time a Polish Lowland Sheepdog male who at 11 months has so much potential, he is quality with a correct masculine head & expression, good body proportions with a strong topline, in lovely coat of the correct texture, moved well with good foot placement.

By 3.30 we were on to BIS where I chose the beautiful Hungarian Vizsla, Bitcon Camden, to win the top award. I am obviously harder on my own breeds, so she must be special to come out on top. She was everything I was looking for in an HPR & was pleased to be able to give her the top award. RBIS went to the excellent Pekingese, Mezrab Red To Talk to Lizlanmor from the first day.

Thank you again for two wonderful days with some excellent dogs who next year, when the new season arrives, must have lots of fun in the showring.

PAM BLAY