Basset Griffon Vendeen Club

Basset Griffon Vendeen Club Open Show 06.04.19

After 23 years involvement with the breed my thanks must go to the officers and committee of the BGV club for this invitation to judge the Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand).

Thanks also to Chris and Tina my stewards for the day and to the exhibitors for their entries and the sportsmanlike way they accepted my decisions on the day. I would like to point out that there were some very difficult decisions to be made where I had to nit pick, however on another day at another show these decisions could easily change.

A note of caution, I notice the size is creeping up again, especially in the lower classes, according to the breed standard the very maximum size at the withers should be no more than 45cm in males and 44cm in females, please observe, this is centimetres not inches! I was disappointed to note a few exhibits were well over these sizes.

PD (1)

1st Cooper & Smith Jayanel Ambiorix. 9 m/o tri-colour male. Handsome, masculine dog, maturing steadily. Noble head, dark eye, correct ear set, scissor bite. Good length of back, good tail set, deep chest. Coarse coat. Would prefer more bend of stifle. Covered the ground well. Like him a lot looking forward to see how he matures. BPD.

JD (2)

1st Jackson & Marks Duntech Georges. Beautifully presented 16 m/o tri-colour male. Masculine noble head, with a dark eye, scissor bite, correct ear set with a lovely length of leather. Great substance of bone including prominent sternum, which sadly is lacking in some today. Coarse coat. Good tail set, carried correctly. Lovely relaxed gait on the move. Like the puppy, still quite raw, will watch him with interest.

2nd Kobutas Duntech Gilbert. 16 m/o O/W male. Litter brother to 1st. Much of the same as above applies to this youngster. Although his coat has a softer texture. He too covered the ground well on the move.

PGD (2)

1st Knowles Reggaedog Frodo 21 m/o tri-colour male. Love his type. Handsome masculine noble head. Scissor bite, dark pigment and dark eye. Correct ear set and lovely long length of ear. Well off for bone with prominent sternum, ribbing well back with nicely rounded ribcage. Coarse textured coat. Good tail set and carriage. Gave his handler a hard time on the move, but moved well when he concentrated.RBD.

2nd Bayliss Arapelo Darude 20 m/o O/W male. Different type to 1st. Finer in bone. Nice head, good ear length and set, scissor bite, dark pigment and eye. Good tail set, carried well. Moved well. At a different stage of maturity from 1 but has time.

OD (1)

1st Makeys Ch/Bel Ch Gairside Good Lord JW ShCM. Rising 4 year old dark S/W stallion hound. He has matured beautifully, a real credit to his breeders. Perfect Grand head, lovely long ears, big black nostrils, scissor bite, roman nose, pronounced occiput, strong neck, well laid shoulders, straight front, prominent sternum, strong level topline, good bend of stifle and correct tail carriage. He is a stunning balanced male who once again owned the ring. BD,BOB. I have given him BOB before where I was pleased to see he went on to be RBIS but today he went one better by going BIS! Congratulations.

VD (2)

1st Makeys IR Ch Gairside Ferdinand JW ShCM 7 y/o tri-colour male. Another lovely male from this kennel with a beautiful masculine head sporting all the required Grand features. Coarse coat, strong neck, well laid shoulders, straight front, prominent sternum, ribbing well back, moderate bend of stifle. Moved out well.

2nd Knowles Haut De Gamme De L’Empyree Avec Braillement (IMP FRA) 7 y/o O/W male. Really lovely chap with a noble head, good ear length and set, dark eye, scissor bite, long strong neck, good length to back and depth of chest with prominent sternum. Good tail set and carriage. Lovely movement, what a pity he was carrying extra weight today.

MPB (1)

1st Roberts Tioga Opihr 7 m/o tri-colour bitch. .A lovely feminine girl with a typy Grand head. Coarse coat, strong neck going into well placed shoulders, moderately rounded ribs of good length, prominent sternum, nice moderate bend of stifle, dark pigment, correct dentition, good length to ears and set on correctly, moved out well. Hoping she has done the majority of her growing. BP, BPiB.

JB (2,1)

1st Jackson & Marks Duntech Giselle 16 m/o S/W bitch. Very sweet feminine girl. Coarse coat. Good pigment, dentition and ear set and length. Nice head shape, level topline, rounded ribs, moved well, would just prefer her a fraction bigger all over.

PGB (1)

1st Phillips Debucher Letitia 18 m/o tri-colour bitch. Lovely feminine bitch with a soft expression. Well off for bone, deep chest, prominent sternum, well rounded ribs, good length to back. Coarse textured coat. Beautiful head shape, with a roman nose, dark pigment, scissor bite, correct ear set and good length. Moved well once settled.RBB

OB (1)

1st Makeys Ch/Bel Ch Gairside Good Gracious Rising 4 y/o S/W bitch. Litter sister to BIS! A lovely bitch, the feminine version of her brother. She too has a lovely head, with a scissor bite, dark pigment, good length to ears and set on correctly. Good length to back, well rounded ribs, prominent sternum, correct tail set and carriage. Has a lovely rapport with her handler, which is evident whilst on the move. BB,RBOB.

VB (2)

1st O’Days Ch Silvamoon Sweet Sapphire ShCM 10 y/o tri-colour very fit bitch who belies her age, who could give some of the youngsters a run for their money! Well off for bone, nice shaped head, excellent pigmentation, scissor bite, good ear set and length, long strong neck, deep chest, rounded ribs, good length to back. Moved with drive and enthusiasm. BV

2nd Coopers Ch Debucher Xfactor 8.5 y/o O/W bitch. I liked the shape of this girl. Feminine head, scissor bite, dark eye, ears of good length and set. Ribbing rounded and going well back, back of good length, level topline, moderate bend of stifle. Moved well with enthusiasm.

Sue Marshall (Judge).