Birmingham & District Gundog & Terrier Club

BIRMINGHAM GUNDOG AND TERRIER - 19 OCTOBER

JUDGE: VICTORIA WILKINS

ADULT HANDLING 17-30 (4,0)

This was a really tough handling class. All of the handlers in this class could have easily swapped around on another day. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to judge you. 

1 Megan Oliver handling a Pointer. In my judging book I wrote “really understands and knows how to handle her breed to its absolute best”. Megan presented her dog beautifully in the ring, never detracting away from her dog. The presentation of the teeth was slick and she moved the foot placement back to the correct position calmly. She came to life when she moved her dog, moving at the correct speed to allow her Pointer to really stride out across the ring, keeping her lines straight and her corners tight. She shadowed excellently, moving without me really noticing her to ensure her dog was shown at its best at every opportunity. A well deserved win and a pleasure to award her Best Adult Handler.

2 Rebecca Walls handling a Jack Russell Terrier. What I really loved about Rebecca’s handling is how compassionate and kind she was to her dog. She was always reassuring it and talking to it which was just lovely to see. At times her Jack Russell gave her a real challenge but Rebecca stayed calm and composed and completed what I asked of her. Her table work was smart, showing the teeth well and moving her the foot back to the correct position even when her dog was fidgeting. On the move, she was always encouraging her dog, going at the correct pace and making full use of the ring. On any other day could easily be first place. Well done.

ADULT HANDLING 31-59 YEARS (3,1)

1 Simone Walls handling a Jack Russell Terrier. Simone was calm and composed, completing everything I asked of her with no fuss. She blended perfectly into the background, ensuring her dog was the prime focus of any pattern work and presentation required which was a joy to see. Her shadowing was impeccable, ensuring her cheeky charge remained presented to its full advantage. On the table her teeth presentation was good and the dog was stood correctly and she quickly rectified the foot I had moved. On the move she went at the correct pace for the breed and presented her dog three equal paces away from me to ensure I could see it. She really pushed hard for Best Adult Handler.

2 Miss N Hunt handling a Hungarian Vizsla. Miss Hunt was handling a 10-month-old Hungarian Vizsla which stepped up the challenge of competing in a handling class to the next level. She coped extremely well, always comforting and talking to her dog which I really liked. Just remember to never get between the dog and the judge and to move around your dog to shadow, ensuring the dog is always being presented to the judge. She showed the teeth really well and stood her dog back into the correct position and presentation when I moved its back foot. On the move she ran at the correct pace, but as she did not start her pattern work from my feet it meant that her triangle wasn’t of equal proportion. She has the makings of a good competitor in handling classes and wish her the best for the future.

ADULT HANDLING 60 YEARS AND OVER (2,1)

1 Mary Small handling a Border Terrier. Mary stood alone in this class but was a very worthy winner. She has a real rapport with her veteran Border Terrier who did everything she asked and they looked a real picture going around the ring together. She shadowed my movements well, ensuring the dog was front and centre. On the table, she showed all sides of the mouth excellently and used the correct presentation. Her pattern work had good straight lines and corners, while still using all of the ring to show off her dog to its best advantage. She kept a good distance between myself and the dog on the final presentation and put in a very good performance.

JUNIOR HANDLING

6-11 YEARS HANDLING (2,2)

12-16 YEARS HANDLING (4,1)

1 Grace Brown handling a Dandie Dinmont Terrier. Grace looked a real picture with her Dandie Dinmont and it was a real pleasure to see. Grace did all I asked in a calm and compassionate manner and shadowed my movements flawlessly. On the table, she showed real knowledge of her breed, accurately showing me the mouth and being careful not to detract from her lovely Dandie Dinmont. When I asked her to complete a triangle and straight up and down, Grace started at my feet which is why her pattern work was equal with tight corners, moving at the correct pace for her breed. I would be happy for her to handle my dogs any time - a real pleasure to watch today and one who I am sure will do very well in future. Very deserving of Best Junior Handler, congratulations.

2 Oliwia Dragon handling a Norfolk Terrier. What I loved about Oliwia was how she constantly talked to her dog, always reassuring it - their partnership really put a smile on my face. She was very confident on the table, even when her dog became a little bit fidgety where she kept composed showed me the dog’s teeth. She made full use of the ring, showing off her dogs paces with a good sized triangle and straight line. Presented her terrier well on the final presentation. Unfortunately Oliwia lost out today as she didn’t shadow my movements as well as 1 but a great performance nevertheless, well done.

AUSTRALIAN TERRIER

PUPPY (1)

1 Millvalley Blue Hyasinth at Kestrial. Just six months old and full of attitude. Black and tan bitch with the makings of a lovely dog. Had a lot of fun with her handler in the ring today. Good eye and correct ear placement and strong, slightly arched neck. Good chest and well sprung ribs. Once settled on the move she held her topline with a springy gait, driving from behind with good reach in front. A really nice puppy and one to watch for the future. A pleasure to award BP and BOB.

JUNIOR (0)

POST GRADUATE (0)

OPEN (0)

LARGE MUNSTERLANDER

PUPPY (2,0)

1 Butler’s Toberworry’s Breaking Dawn at Jendellas. Two lovely puppies in this class and difficult to choose. I really liked this young eight-month-old bitch. Of correct size for her age with a dark eye and kind, endearing expression alongside the most feminine of heads. Attractively marked with good spring of rib and well-laid shoulder. In rear she has a good turn of stifle and well let down hocks. She moved well for her handler, showing good reach fore and aft, making good use of the ring to show off her movement. I was pleased to award her Best Puppy in Breed, congratulations and best of luck in the future.

2 Lloyd and Smith’s Crumpsbrook Galangal von Rulander. All male and a real powerhouse when you put your hands on him with excellent muscling in the rear. On the heavier end in head but with a dark eye and good earset. Good depth of chest and brisket, well-sprung in ribs and well-ribbed back with plenty of bone. Shown in a really good condition. I felt he was a little exuberant on the move today which made his movement difficult to assess but when he settled he had good reach and drive. In fact, I thought he showed better when he came in to the junior dog class of which he stood alone in, but well-deserving of first place nonetheless. Best of luck with him in the future.

JUNIOR (1,0)

1 Lloyd and Smith’s Crumpsbrook Galangal von Rulander.

POST GRADUATE (1,0)

1 Dorman’s Solstars Blue Velvet. A really sweet girl who showed well for her owner. Attractively marked with kind, endearing eye. She has a very sweet, feminine head and good earset with the correct feathering. Good arch of neck leading into well-laid shoulder and good depth of chest. Slightly longer in body but good in rear, well-muscled, nice turn of stifle and well let down hocks. On the move she has good reach in front, tends to be slightly close behind when going away and wasn’t driving as well behind today. A nice girl - best of luck with her in the future.

OPEN DOG (2,0)

1 James’ Darkensky Prometheus JW. The last time I judged this handsome dog he was a little apprehensive on the hands-on assessment. Today he was a different dog and a pleasure to judge. A lighter coloured male oozing with lovely qualities. He has a kind, endearing expression and is devoted to his owner. He has a strong, slightly curved neck, good depth of chest and brisket, ribbed will back with muscles in all the right places. On the move he goes with drive, covering the ground with ease, with reach fore and aft, holding his topline at all times. A really happy boy and he came to life even more in the challenge for BOB. A pleasure to award him BOB today. Congratulations.

2 Carter’s Kamaze Firecracker. Two-year-old male with attractive markings handled very compassionately by his handler today. Not as in as good coat as the winner but very attractively marked to accentuate his features and outline. Good angulation in front and rear with plenty of heart and lung room to do a day’s work. Good turn of stifle and tight feet.A little loose on the move today and not as forward or driving as I would have liked but presents a nice outline. I feel he would’ve moved better if we were outside.

OPEN BITCH (1,1)

1 Darby’s Sh Ch Brockchime Besta Both to Incadar. Her owner told me it was this lovely girl’s eighth birthday the day before the show and I couldn’t believe it! She does not look her age in the slightest and is a real credit to her owners. She is such a biddable, happy dog with real devotion to her handler. She is a lovely example of the breed and could happily do a day’s work. Kind expression with muscled neck and strong shoulders. Good depth of chest and well-sprung ribs. Strong in rear with muscled thighs. On the move she is forward, driving with reach fore and aft - she looks a picture and always wears a smile on her face. In the challenge she put in a spotless performance and it was a pleasure to award her RBOB today.

SPANISH WATER DOG

PUPPY (3,2)

1 Hodgkinson-Rutherford and Rutherford’s Ferrylands Hunting High and Low for Chanderhill. Stood alone in this class today but a lovely puppy who really owned the ring today. Attractively marked with beautiful outline with equal lengths of coat coverage with a good texture. Correct in head with expressive eyes, leading into a strong neck and well-placed shoulders. Lovely tight feet. Well balanced throughout with good breed type. Moved with reach and drive both fore and aft with the correct bold, athletic gait for the breed. A pleasure to award this lovely girl BP and RBOB and congratulations on being shortlisted in the Gundog puppy group - fantastic.

JUNIOR (4,2)

1 Hodgkinson-Rutherford and Rutherford’s Ferrylands Hunting High and Low for Chanderhill.

2 Overton’s Chanderhill Cash The Check at Donjenki. Really nice brown boy with good breed type. Thicker texture of coat than the winner. I thought his head to be exquisite, of correct proportion for the breed and with a lovely expression and good earset. He has a well-placed shoulder, good body length and depth of chest and tuck up. Good in rear with well-muscled thighs. On the move I felt he was holding back a little and not driving out as well in rear or reaching out in as much as I would have liked in front to show the breed’s athletic and brisk gait. When he came in to the ring a second time I thought he did settle into the task at hand. A nice boy nevertheless and a pleasure to judge.

POST GRADUATE (4,2)

1 Egginton’s Zorrazo Gone Wild at Valentisimo. I really fell in love with this boy - his character, confirmation and attitude made him a lovely dog to judge on the day and ultimately best of breed. He showed true loyalty to his owner, performing at all times for him. On the smaller end of the scale for males, he is soundly constructed to do a day’s work. Super in head with all the expression and characteristics you would look for in the breed. Lovely strong neck, well-placed in shoulder, good depth of brisket and plenty of heart and lung room. He has a strong topline both stood and on the move with great muscle tone and presented in great condition. On the move he was a picture - reaching out and covering the ground with drive and athleticism. Good going away and coming toward, and in profile. He had a different handler in the challenge but he still impressed to win Best of Breed today. Congratulations.

2 Overton’s Chanderhill Cash The Check at Donjenki.

OPEN (4,3)

1 Egginton’s Zorrazo In A Nutshell with Valentisimo. Stood alone in this class today but another very worthy winner of first place. Very exuberant and excitable today and took some time to settle but she oozes quality and is a great ambassador for the breed. She has this lovely rustic outline, maintaining the strength and muscling required for the breed, but with a feminine quality. Lovely head and most beautiful of expression. Balanced in the body, front and rear. Good width of thigh and angles in all the right places. Strong in topline and shown in very good condition. Difficult to assess on the move today as she was like a bag of jumping beans but she has such an endearing nature about her. When she did settle she had excellent movement in profile with brisk, reaching action out in front and powering from behind. Strongly contested for BOB and reserve today. Lovely girl to judge.