Boston & District Canine Society

My first time judging at a championship show (albeit without tickets) and a very enjoyable experience it was too. Thank you to the society, both for the invite and for the hospitality on the day. Thank you also to the two very efficient stewards who kept the ring moving smoothly. Final thanks go to the most important people on the day, who are, of course, the exhibitors. Without their support and good sportsmanship this wouldn’t have been such a good day for me. I was pleased to find no faults with the toplines or head planes in all the exhibits today – both very key and unique features of the breed.

PUPPY DOG (3 entries, 2 absent) 1st & BPD KNOWLES & GLEN’s BESSALONE PEAKY BLINDERS A nice ten month old puppy with a very typical spinone gait and showing good rear extension. Good depth of chest, short loin, a coarse coat with thick skin. Particularly well-muscled. A promising boy.

JUNIOR DOG (2 entries, 0 absent) 1st & RBD CULLING’s LUCORU HERE COMES SUMMER This was a close class to judge and both dogs moved well in profile. This dog has a head with the correct planes and proportions. A good length of upperarm (which showed on the move) and a harsh coat. 2nd BOVIO’s INOSTRICANI MASAI AT ILSOLO Another nice dog who is a good shade of brown. Lacking in maturity compared to first. He was enjoying his day but carrying his tail too high for me which spoilt an otherwise good outline.

POST GRAD DOG (1 entry, 1 absent)

OPEN DOG (4 entries, 2 absent) 1st & BD DEWAR’s MACARICA HARRYS ROCK JW This two and half year old has a lovely head and expression, good depth of chest and good rear angulation. He moved very well – with lots of forward extension and powered around the ring. Easily BD today. 2nd ODDIE’s ILSOLO WHEN DOVES CRY A heavier built dog who is nice and square and has a good textured coat of good colour. Missed out on 1st (and RBD) because I would have preferred a touch better turn of stifles and more positive rear movement.

SPECIAL BEGINNERS DOG (0 entries)

PUPPY BITCH (2 entries, 0 absent) 1st, BB, BOB & BP BOVIO’s ILSOLO FIORELLO This bitch is only 6 and half months old but unusually for a larger breed like our Spinoni she moved without the “looseness” of a puppy and kept her topline. A beautiful head and expression, excellent square shape, good length of upper arm and a nice deep chest. Very balanced. She had a very strong ring “presence” and showed her socks off – she knows how good she looks! 2nd KNOWLES, GLEN & MALCOLM’s BESSALONE WORLD ON FIRE This is another very nice puppy and like her brother in the puppy dog class she was presented with excellent muscle and condition. Good outline, good rear angulation and a really good coat. Wasn’t enjoying her day so much and was a little skittish on the move.

JUNIOR BITCH (0 entries)

POST GRAD BITCH (3 entries, 1 absent) 1st HODGSON’s OSULF SUGAR COOKIE I liked her head and she has a good coat. Well muscled and plenty of bone. Good rear angulation but would have preferred a bit more angulation at the front. Moved well in profile. 2nd BOTTOM’s LUCORU PACHAMAMA Good head and dentition, with correct ear set and length. Preferred the front of this bitch to the winner but would have liked more body and substance to her. Enough angulation behind. Moved nicely.

OPEN BITCH (3 entries, 1 absent) 1st & RBB JAMES’s SH CH INOSTRICANI FIORELLA JW SHCM SHCEX Good head. Strong neck. Correct underline mirroring the topline though I would prefer her to be shorter in length. Good depth of chest, good thick skin and coarse coat. She moved soundly though a bit close behind. Missed out on BB because of the squarer outline and sheer enthusiasm of the puppy. 2nd HODGSON’s OSULF PEANUT CHUNKY KIT KAT Another good head, correct scissor bite but some spacing between bottom teeth. She is a nice shape but was moving erratically today but was enjoying herself which was nice to see. Good bone and feet.

SPECIAL BEGINNERS BITCH (0 entries)