Midlands Irish Setter Society

Midland Irish Setter Society Championship Show.

23rd February 2013.

I would like to thank the society for inviting me to judge this well run show. It is particularly poignant as it was third time lucky as on the previous occasions I was rushed into hospital just days prior to the show. I would like to thank my two ring stewards Julie Greenan and Graham Hart for the professional way they ran the ring and David Hemmings for the photographs.

I was extremely pleased with my entry, however of concern was the number of suspect mouths in the lower classes, also the number of bad fronts, a number of exhibits had either very narrow fronts with weak pasterns or out at elbow. The breed standard call for a level sloping top line, there is a horrible trait creeping into the breed for level top lines, some exhibits had toplines more in kin to an English Setter, also dipping top lines are clearly seen which detracts from an elegant racy appearance

Minor Puppy Bitch 6 (2)

1. Muir’s

Romarne Elouise

A very elegant 7 month old puppy, which shows a tremendous amount of potential. Lovely head with a beautiful soft expression and dark eye. Striking outline and a beautiful overall shape. Good rear angulation and straight front. Loved the movement in her coat which was in excellent condition.

2. Mutch’s

Astletyview Evangelina

Very feminine pretty girl loved her head and expression. Correct shoulder placement, nice straight front. Gently sloping topline with correct tailset. Handled well and moved well.

3. Catling’s

Quensha Family Portrait For Teleri

Outline balanced. Feminine lean head well chiselled with that dark eye, she has a lovely flow to her neck and topline, taller on the leg than 1 or 2.

Puppy Bitch 11 (2)

1. Tapper’s

Lynwood Merry Mayden At Kedalita.

This 9 month quality bitch oozed quality. Oval skull from ear to ear without any coarseness, good foreface and skull in equal measure. Correct dark almond shape eye. Strong neck into well placed shoulders, with a pleasing gentle sloping topline and correct tail set. She has a lovely rich dark coat. Moved well. Please to award her Best Puppy in show in agreement with my co-judge. I will watch her progress with interest in the future.

2. Muir’s

Gwendariff Up To Something

Another promising puppy elegant feminine head well balanced. soft gentle melting expression. Correct upper arm angulation, with a strong reach of neck into well laid shoulders, with a nice straight front, small firm catlike feet. Move well.

3. Evan’s

4. Twoacres Double Bubble

Very feminine with a pretty head with a sweet gentle soft expression. Good length of neck moved well.

Veteran Bitch 8 (1)

1. Hunter & Brown

SH Ch Int CH Lady Louise Mountbatten At Braidmount

9 ½ year old bitch. Lovely head and expression dark almond shape eye with a defined stop and no coarseness, ears set low. Strong arched neck flowing into well laid shoulder Moved with ease covering the ground effortlessly with drive.

2. Mugford’s

Ch Lynwood Happy as a Lark JW

Elegant 8 ½ year old bitch. Well well-balanced, correct head and expression. In hard muscular condition, with correct front angulation, deep well sprung ribs, strong loin and good finish to croup, correct topline held on the move, well turned stifles and short hocks. On the move she showed reach and drive.

3. Bott, Allen & Morgan’s

Sh Ch Bardonhill Please Don’t Tease Quensha.

I have always liked this bitch since she was a puppy and was pleased to have the opportunity to go over her today. Shown in full bloom; she showed style and real quality. Making the most of herself on the move with a lovely tail-set and carriage.

Junior Bitch 9 (7)

1. Bell’s

Balantyne Let It Be Me

This 14 month old bitch has the most delightful head and expression, with good amount of stop giving correct eye position and shape, showing raised brows. Well angulated front assembly, standing on good bone and nice tight feet, deep well sprung rib carried nicely back to strong loin. Wide hindquarters with moderate amount of bend of stifle, good length to croup.

2. Borthwick’s

Lotushill Scot and Wry.

A slightly heavier bitch but everything in the right place, lovely head full of character, good forechest and depth, good rear angulation and strong through stifle down to good tight feet, moved out with confidence and drive.

3. Box’s

Fernstart Angel’s Kiss

Pleasing head and expression, I would have preferred more slope on her topline and better tail set.

Yearling Bitch 8

1. Holly’s

Gwendariff Look At This Way To Wynjill.

Lovely head although with a defined stop and soft expression. She has a good reach of neck which flows smoothly into well laid shoulders. Good depth in the chest and loin. She has a nice turn of stifle. A good croup and small neat feet and a lovely rich dark coat and moved well.

2. Bott;s

Bardonhill Love of My Life

A very close decision between 1 & 2. Beautiful, correct proportions, her head has finish to muzzle, dark well shaped eye with the correct amount of stop. Correct front angulation with enough pro-sternum, deep ribs carried well back to loin, good finish to croup and tail set, Moved freely.

3. Blackshaw’s

Lanstara Ruby Slippers

A very feminine bitch in very good condition, nothing overdone here, pleasing head, with good bone and neat feet,

Maiden Bitch 7 (2)

1. Tapper’s

Lynwood Merry Mayden At Kedalita

2. Evan’s

Twoacres Double Bubble

3. Bridgwater’s

Bridgella’s Don’t Push It

Good shape and size. Lovely head and neck into a well-made front with well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm. Today this bitch was not showing to her full advantage.

Novice Bitch 6

1. Tapper’s

Lynwood Merry Mayden At Kedalita

2. Evan’s

Twoacres Double Bubble

1. Borthwick’s

Lotushill Scot and Wry.

Undergraduate Bitch 8

1. Heather’s

Sixoaks Leading Lady

This bitch really stood out in this class exceptionally well presented quality from head to tail. Superb head nicely balance not course in any way with soft gentle expression. Correct reach of neck with good lay of shoulders and well let down elbows with a nice straight front. Powerful hind quarters with short hocks which she used to her advantage when covering the ground.

2. Byrne Edwards & Howlett

Konakakela Just Meant To Be Siochanna

Her profile when stood is so balanced and unexaggerated, but also shapely and feminine. She has a quality head piece, balanced and proportionate, lovely oval backskull, expressive eye brows, Elegant neck smoothly flowing into a strong topline. Good depth to the ribs, and carried well back, firm over the loin. Nicely angulated hindquarters.

3. Berry and Morris’

Quensha What A Girl Wants Via Brinara.

An elegant and racy bitch, balanced all through. Pretty head, good neck into excellent front construction, nice depth of chest, good forechest, correct topline and strong quarters. In lovely coat and condition.

Graduate Bitch 14 (2)

1. Hunter & Brown’s

Braidmount In My Life.

A very elegant and powerful bitch, superb head and expression, strong topline and tailset. Balanced, excellent body and substance moved with excellent drive and strength enough reach in front, glorious coat and condition, a very pleasant overall balanced bitch to look at.

2. Heather’s

Sixoaks Leading Lady.

3. Kennedy-Sloane’s

Twoacres Destiny

So feminine and elegant in her profile. Pretty head with a lovely dark eye. Well proportioned. Long slightly arched neck, good depth to the brisket and spring of ribs. Strong in her hindquarters.

Post Graduate Bitch 16 (3)

1. Boutell’s

Ixia Rainbow Brite

Superb head and expression, pleasing head with lovely finish to foreface, enough stop correct almond shaped dark eye and raised eyebrows, low set ears, strong powerful neck, good layback to shoulders, would just like a little more return to upper arm, deep well sprung ribs. Correct topline, wide hindquarters to well bent stifles and strong rear pasterns.

2. Evan’s

Twoacres Spring Blossom

Lovely head with lovely raised brows which gives her a typical melting setter expression, strong powerful arched neck. Correct front angulation. Moved with drive.

3. McDonald’s

Delsanto Miss Freya.

A quality bitch with good head proportions just a little plainer in foreface than 1 and 2, raised brows eye shape and colour, strong crested neck into well-made front, Strong through her loin and wide well angulated hindquarter and croup, I would have liked more coat to complete the picture.

Mid-Limit Bitch 11 (3)

1. Andrew’s

Millcroft Scarlet Moon

This bitch is so typical of this kennel. Gorgeous head with a soft quizzical expression, good stop and correct almond shape eye, muscular arched neck into good lay of shoulder, good fore-chest. Gently sloping topline, Good powerful hind quarters used to advantage on the move. Was pleased to award her the Res CC.

2. Partridge’s

Kerrydown Octavia.

A slightly heavier bitch but full of quality and everything in the right place and so light on her feet on the move, covering the ground with ease, In full coat, pleasing head, with a defined stop correct eye shape. Good forechest and depth, good rear angulation and strong through stifle down to good tight feet.

3. Price’s

Lynwood Abracadabra JW

Lovely type, shape and balance. Feminine head and expression. Excellent fore chest, angulations front and back. Moved really well, strong and extended front and back and straight forwards.

Limit Bitch 9 (5)

1. Nicholson’s

Gwendariff Rainbow Goddess At Lochindorb

Beautiful well shaped bitch with lovely outline, Pleasing head with a kind expression, well arched neck, solid topline, correct tail-set, Well angulated both front and rear, deep in body with excellent spring of rib, glorious coat and condition, moved with powerful reach and drive.

2. Evan & Crocker’s

Riverbrue Keepsake

A lot to like about this lovely bitch who has a pleasing head and expression with plenty of work through her foreface. Well balanced throughout and angulations fore and aft. Well held sloping topline standing and on the move, moved well with drive.

3. Blackshaw’s

Lanstara Spring Star JW

Lovely bitch presented in excellent condition. Lovely type, a little more short coupled in proportion. Excellent feminine head and expression. Nice angulations, bone and feet. Gently sloping topline. Powerful driving movement, happy correct tail action.

Open Bitch 8 (1)

1. Donnelly’s

INT & IR CH Millcroft Whispering Moon

The most beautiful feminine head, good stop giving the correct eye position dark almond shaped eyes, giving that quizzical Irish expression. Lovely reach of neck into correctly angulated front assembly. Gently sloping topline. Good bend of stifle and width of thigh. In good muscular condition. Very sound on the move, covering the ground with such ease. I was pleased to have had the opportunity to go over this bitch and award her the CC and in agreement with my co judge BVIS.

2. Bott, Allen and Morgan

Sh Ch Quensha Tumble and Twirl JW

A really beautiful feminine head and a true Irish expression. Low set ears of good length, nice depth to chest and a true straight front with good rear angulation. Perfect topline which she held well on the move. Moved well with drive and animation.

3. Waterton’s

Sandstream Welcome Breeze JW

A lot of good qualities about this very feminine bitch. She is so very pretty and free from any exaggerations, lovely flowing lines and is so sound. Her neck flows cleanly into well laid shoulders leading to a striking topline culminating in a strong croup and good tail set. She is racy in her build with a deep chest.

David Pike Judge