Kent County Canine Association

My thanks to the Officers and Committee for their kind invitation to judge at their well-run and friendly Open Show, and to the exhibitors who brought their dogs for my opinion. There were a number of excellent examples of several Gundog breeds present on the day.

AVNSC GUNDOG

JUNIOR (10 ENTRIES, 2 ABSENT)

What a terrific class, I needed either the proverbial but impossible "more red cards" or ideally a Puppy class to reward more of the quality exhibits on parade here.

1st - Gosnell's Katmistsky's Ann Again, 14 months NSDTR bitch, clean & compact outline, feminine yet strong throughout, pretty wedge-shaped head with moderate stop & tapering muzzle, delightful alert & kind expression with eye colour harmonising with coat colour, good length of neck fitting smoothly into well-laid shoulders, appreciated her depth of body & leg length, her straight front & sound construction showed in her natural well-balanced stance, broad muscled thigh, long well-feathered tail which she raised & used properly on the move, light & economical stride with good reach in front, Res Best AVNSC Gundog

2nd - Gatfield's Heinaaron Tofana Di Rozes (Imp Fin), 16 months Bracco Italiano dog, eye-catching sheen & rich colour to coat, powerful & strong outline, very slightly longer than tall giving that "almost square" look, beautiful well-balanced angular head with so many distinctive breed traits, well-chiselled below eyes, deep muzzle, soft expression with good eye colour, moderately short & well-muscled neck with dewlap, straight well-boned forelegs & strong feet, strong & deep throughout body, big ribs, topline sloping slightly from withers, rise over broad loin, moved easily, but thought he could carry just a fraction less weight

3rd - Hutchison's Waverton Illusion, Flat Coated Retriever, Best AVNSC Gundog Puppy

1st - Katmistsky's Ann Again

2nd - Delamere's Gamerights Deep River Blues, 3 years black Flat Coated Retriever bitch, powerfully-built throughout, long & clean in head with typical wedge shape, pleasing bright kind expression, well-set ears, sufficiently long well-muscled neck, strong front excelling in forechest, deep & strong in chest, well-ribbed back with gradual spring, strong & deep through couplings, firm in topline, moderate bend of stifle, well-muscled thigh, carried & used tail well, friendly happy temperament was obvious, moved steadily with good reach in front, just a little close behind today, in excellent coat & condition

3rd  - Gronow's Cazooska Lilys Gin Fizz, Large Munsterlander

1st - Moon's Deanway Storm in a Teacup, 4 years Sussex Spaniel bitch, sturdily built & attractive profile, feminine head with good width & moderate curve to her skull, the most charming of expressions & a lovely "frown" framed by well-set ears of good width & length, strong neck of reasonable length, good bone, well-angulated front & rear, strong & muscular in body with good ribbing, good width all through coming from her construction as there wasn't an ounce of excess fat on her, well developed hindquarters, moved with distinctive "roll", her determination and true driving movement were a joy to see, Best AVNSC Gundog

AV GUNDOG VETERAN (7 ENTRIES, 3 ABSENT)

All four exhibits in this class were fabulous to go over and an absolute credit to their owners, such a hard decision to place them in order of preference on the day

1st - Welch's SH CH / IR SH CH Moolou Minstrel at Hookwood JW ShCM, 9 years B/W Pointer, masculine & lithe in appearance with a firmness belying his age, classically-shaped head with dark eye & kind expression, long enough clean & strong in neck, correct amount of bone, straight forelegs standing on well-knit feet, well-laid shoulder & corresponding length of upper arm, deep chest, body well ribbed back, powerful muscular hindquarters, nicely bent stifle, correctly held tail, he showed smooth symmetry & power in motion, loved him & not surprised to find later that he holds so many "titles" both before & after his name

2nd - Hutchison's Casblaidd Queen Bee at Waverton JW, 7 years liver Flat Coated Retriever, racy yet powerful in outline, feminine & clean in head which had the desired wedge shape, slight stop & tapering muzzle, good eye colour befitting her coat colour, intelligent expression indicating her lively & happy disposition, strong neck of good length, well balanced & angulated front & rear, deep chest, well ribbed back, strong in loin & hindquarters with moderate bend of stifle, well boned without being heavy, moved with enthusiasm, tail never stopped wagging, in lovely coat & condition

3rd - Pounds-Longhurst's SH CH Mossburn Eva Mindfool JW ShCM, Golden Retriever

GUNDOG GROUP

All scheduled breeds were well represented here

G1 - Welch's Pytchley Chasing The Dream for Hookwood JW ShCM ShCEx, B/W Pointer, no apologies for "putting up" another Pointer today, this one combined strength with grace & symmetry in outline, he had the most attractive masculine & balanced head typical of his breed, long & clean in neck, straight forelegs with strong pasterns & well knit feet, strong & deep in body with excellent front & rear angulation, firm topline, well ribbed & short-coupled, well muscled throughout, moved as he was built - with power & accuracy, no denying him the Group & delighted that he went on to RBIS, congratulations

G2 - Digweed's Marlyford Valentino at Willokin, black Labrador Retriever, this young dog had an impressive outline & plenty of substance, balanced masculine head with intelligent expression, liked his strong clean neck leading into well-laid back shoulders, stood foursquare on strongly boned legs and round feet, excelled in body being of good width & depth all through, well-sprung ribs, short-coupled, nicely-developed thighs, strong level topline, thick well set-on tail of medium length, in lovely coat & condition, moved true & very steadily, his good nature very evident in his wagging tail & attention to his handler

G3 - Deanway Storm in a Teacup, Sussex Spaniel

G4 - Clifford's Serci After Dark at Shadow Amor of Chamford (Imp SRB), Bl/Roan Cocker Spaniel, realised later from catalogue that I had judged this dog before as a Yearling, but didn't recognise him "all grown up", sturdy in appearance, well-proportioned overall with good height to length ratio, masculine head with well-developed skull, dark eye with gentle expression, low-set ears of good length, strong & moderately long neck, plenty of forechest, has good bone & straight forelegs, well-angulated front & rear, deep in brisket, short-coupled, firm level topline, good bend of stifle, positive & active mover

GUNDOG PUPPY GROUP

A delightful selection of puppies

PG1 - Smith & Hill's Serendipity Dog Viejo Duende Sabio con Rosgar (Imp Esp), 10 months Golden Retriever dog, my eye was caught by his well-balanced & symmetrical outline, well-proportioned masculine head with broad skull, such a kind expression typical of the breed, strong neck leading to well-laid shoulders, plenty of forechest, strong straight forelegs placed well under body, round compact feet, showing good development in body for his age, well-sprung ribs of good depth & length, short couplings, particularly liked his width of thigh & well-bent stifle, good coat & undercoat, moved soundly on a good length of stride

PG 2 - Smith's Lypal Well I Never, 10 months O/W Pointer dog, very attractive & graceful outline, showing good strength for age, well-balanced masculine head with right amount of stop, kind expression, long & clean in neck which was muscular with slight arch, particularly liked his ample forechest & front angulation, correct oval bone, straight forelegs with long slightly sloping pasterns, good length & depth of body, well-ribbed back, strongly coupled, well-let down & muscled behind with good width of thigh, covered the ground well on the move, close decision between 1st & 2nd here

PG 3 - Waverton Illusion, 6 months black Flat Coated Retriever, real baby at her first show who exuded confidence & never stopped showing herself off with an ever wagging tail, already showing good balance in outline, prettiest of heads which was long & well moulded with correct wedge shape, intelligent expression with a hint of mischief, good length of neck, plenty of forechest, excellent front angulation, deep brisket, well ribbed back, short & square in loin, good bone, developing a pleasing degree of width & strength in hindquarters, moderate bend of stifle, stood & moved true when she wasn't being a playful pup

PG 4 - Clarke's Harbethol Look Magic Melody, 11 months Bl/Roan Cocker Spaniel bitch, what a sweetheart she was, obviously merry temperament, sturdily built throughout, well-proportioned & pretty head with dark eye & soft expression, low-set long ears, strong muscular neck of medium length leading into a well-angulated front, good width & depth of chest, well-boned, stands on strong legs & feet, compact & deep in body with big ribs, short-coupled, level topline, good bend of stifle, moved positively & happily carrying & using her tail well