Manchester Dog Show Society

I thank the committee for their hospitality and invitation to judge, at this the first championship show of the calendar year. Also I need to recognise the contribution of my stewards Colette and Roger Perkins to our day, their calm efficiency was invaluable. Most of all I thank the exhibitors who entered and brought their dogs under me, and their sporting spirit both ringside and within the ring itself. I enjoyed the breed, my overall observations being that with regard to depth of quality, the dogs are closing the gap on the girls, who presently still have the edge. The pipeline of youngsters coming through is encouraging and bodes well for the breed. On the downside, there were a number of level bites and overshot mouths, a few too many for comfort. Though size seems to have levelled off, and fronts improved since I last judged, there remains a worrying variation of heads, and some exhibits were too dark to fit my interpretation of russet gold. To me, the head and coat colour are 2 of the most important components of breed identity, and we need to recognise the risk that these could be lost. Temperaments were excellent. Many classes were so well filled that there were insufficient cards to award to exhibits worthy of recognition, particularly youngsters who had stepped up in class. The limit and open classes were brimming with quality and on another day, on another surface, in different light, the order could change completely.

MPD (14/3) 1st: Harper’s Metropolis Patriarch Nexus By Pitswarren (ai) (Imp) - Super puppy - Just short of 8 months. An excellent colour, this boy pleased in size, shape and bone. Still very much a baby in the head department, which will continue to develop. Presently he has a lovely melting expression on a head of good proportions, a moderate stop and lovely moderately low set ears of the required length. He has a clean strong neck, flowing into an excellent lay of shoulder, is in possession of a prominent sternum with infill of forechest, a nice deep chest and has correct angulation fore and aft, and stands on well-padded feet. Well ribbed back, with a strong loin and a solid top line, he moved with grace and purpose. His left elbow not as tight as the right and tends to kick out when puppy is stacked, am sure this will even up and rectify with time. His future looks rosy - happy to award him BPD and BPIB.

2nd: Ward’s Your Choice Mega Tron - Classy puppy of 8 months. Appealed for colour, size, shape and most of all his quality of bone. Ideal in colour, and with fabulous feet, he has a typical head and good eye. A long, clean neck, flowing into a high well defined wither, strong topline and excellent ribbing. Liked that he had muscle in the 2nd thigh developing and loved his strong pasterns and well padded feet. He has a lovely straight front, sufficient forechest and good infill. He needs to drop in chest to complete the picture. Moved well for his age.

3rd: Shaw’s Your Choice Mega Pixel - Litter brother to the 2nd place holder, and shares many of his attributes. A little rangier in shape, I found him not to have quite the balance of his brother, but he is well angulated with good quality bone and a pleasing head and expression. His chest needs to drop only fractionally, but he was a bit bum high, which made his rear movement look not as precise as that of 1st and 2nd. Again, this will right itself as he levels off, and I thought him a quality puppy.

PD (11/2) 1st: Harper’s Metropolis Patriarch Nexus By Pitswarren (ai) (Imp) - Repeat

2nd: Gloudman’s Shilla Line Oskar - WOW – This 10 month old puppy grabs the eye, and just does not let go. Think him a splendid example of the breed, and that he has the potential to be tomorrow’s superstar. A lovely colour with a super head and eye, he is out of a larger mould than the puppy placed first. He looks a little higher in leg, but this is because he needs to drop in chest, which will develop with maturity. Nicely balanced fore and aft, he has both a good forechest/prominent sternum and infill. Fabulous quality of bone. Lovely straight legs and strong pasterns to the front, his back pasterns need to strengthen, which will come as he fills his frame, and his muscles build and strengthen. Nice to see a lovely width of second thigh. Moved like he was already a champion, with precision and style. A very close decision between 1st and 2nd places, I hope this is not the last I see of him.

3rd: Rutherford’s Kincsem Kylo Ren - Sweet 8 month old, sired by the RDCC. A quality puppy with lovely bone to body mass. Very balanced, He pleased in head, angulation and movement. Unlucky to come up against the 1st and 2nd place holders, were a little ahead of him in maturity and whose overall shape and proportions I preferred.

JD (2 Entries) Abs: 1 1st: Challis’s Vizslanya Aragonia - Smart dog of 15 months. A little dark in colour for my preference, but well built none the less. Pleasing size and has substance. Nice head with sweet expression, he is very balanced, with a nice deep chest and there is a prominent sternum. Used his angles well on the move, showing reach and drive, and held his tail well.

PGD (5 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: Porter-Manning & Porter’s Wallaroo Hawk Eye JW. - 19 month top quality dog, whose build is very similar to that of the Junior dog. A typical head, eye of good shape and colour, I particularly appreciated his muzzle, which for me is of correct length and has neat flews with no excess. A gleaming coat of good colour, and for me, an excellent size, he is balanced, well angulated with a short, strong loin, moderately low set tail and strong pasterns. Nothing overdone, he has a straight front, and was one of the few who had a well muscled 2nd thigh. Moved with accuracy and precision. An elegant exhibit, I liked him a lot.

 2nd: Sweeney’s Redrafi London Bridge – 4.5 year old. Liked him for size and substance, this dog excels in quality of front assembly, which is matched by a moderately angulated rear. He has a well proportioned head, a lovely shaped eye, the colour of which blends with his coat. A nice length of muzzle, but for me there is too much flew, though this does not detract from his expression. He used his angles to show off clean and precise paces, though I found him a little weaker in front pastern than the 1st place holder.

  3rd: Cruikshanks’s - Topaeris Shadow – 2.5 year old dog. Great colour, and of correct size and substance. A typical head, but a lighter than desired eye, for me, detracted from the overall expression. Balanced, he moved with excellent reach and drive, holding his top line, though his tail carriage spoiled the overall picture.

LD (8 Entries) Abs: 1 1st: Elliott’s Aldom Dark N'stormy – Just a few days off his 3rd birthday and refreshingly understated – a compact, medium sized dog, that presented an overall picture of balance and strength. He has a typical head and eye, perhaps a little deep in flew for me, but a good masculine vizsla head none the less. Deep chest, with pronounced sternum and a strong top line, held when static and in motion. On the move, he maintained his shape, driving all the way and carrying his tail on a horizontal plane. A lovely old fashioned type, who lost some of his sparkle in the challenge.

2nd: Miles’s Layways Van Winkle JW - On the day, this 2 year old dog’s movement surpassed all others’ with exception of the Open Dog winner. He is beautifully constructed, and a real show man. Very balanced with correct angulation, and of good colour, he has excellent depth of body, but I would want a little more prominence of sternum and forechest. Though handsome, to me, his head is untypical, being too strong in back skull, and far too steep in stop.

3rd: Allen’s Afanleigh Rumble Red – 4.5 years old. Similar to the 1st placeholder, this is a dog who is understated, and very nicely put together. He has a pleasing head, is of a good size, but I would not want him any darker in coat colour. Not moving his best today.

OD (11 Entries) Abs: 2 An excellent class, and worthy exhibits went cardless. 1st: Payer’s Ch Eur Especial Of Skyrocket CW17 JW - Quite the best vizsla I have ever had the honour of going over. Fully mature 6 year old, at his very best. He pleased in balance, bone to body mass, height, and for me, is the perfect colour. Stunning head and eye, an elegant curve to his neck, flowed into a well muscled wither, short strong back, over his croup to a perfectly set tail. A lovely lay of shoulder and long upper arm avail the desired angulation, matched at the rear. Movement was precise, showing excellent extension and drive, with minimum lift of foot. An absolute pleasure to award him DCC and BoB. He also put in a good performance in the group.

2nd: Townsend’s Sh Ch Daxpack Risk Taker Rainscote - 4 year old dog, whom I have admired since I first set eyes on him as a puppy. Combines strength with elegance, this boy slightly departs from the “type” of the other place holders, in that he is a larger framed dog, and proportionately, has a slightly longer leg. Very typical head, with an expressive eye, and large quivering nostrils, he was constantly taking in his surroundings. Very balanced, with lovely bone, I particularly like his wonderful straight front, ample forechest, and substance. A sound mover, with good reach and drive. A top quality dog, a pleasure to award him RDCC.

3rd: Morton, Milicevic & Burns’s Sh Ch & Ir Ch Andronja's Stradale Lux Jch Ir J Ch - Super dog. Appreciated his size, shape and substance. For me a little strong in head, and he is very proud of his correctly set on tail when moving. Won his place above the top quality Reserve and VHC placeholders on his accurate and animated movement, displaying superior reach where his paces were long and low.

VD (2 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: Griffiths & Scott’s Ch Ulurudawn Cardinal Marker - 9 year old dog, sire of the RDCC winner, who wears his age well. His head, for me, so very typical with a perfect length of muzzle to length of skull ratio. Lovely expression, and correct shape and shade of eye. A long, clean, reachy neck, flows into a body that is still solid with muscle. He has depth, and is well proportioned, length to height. Stands on strong legs and well padded feet. I disregarded i.e. did not fault the lack of recently removed testicles, as he is a senior, and was a proven producer of quality progeny. A credit to the breed and his owner.

2nd: Golby Sh Ch Ciboney Fagan at Shadymoore - 8 year old quality dog, who is very similar to the dog placed 1st, and this was a very close decision. I preferred the size and depth of the winner, who is also fractionally more compact, as well as the plane of his muzzle. That said, I think this exhibit has the edge on angulation. Up to size, with a pleasing shape and colour, he is a worthy champion, and has more muscle than many exhibits here today. Moved with purpose and style. Another excellent ambassador for our breed, and a credit to his owner.

MPB (10 Entries) Abs: 1 1st: Shooter’s Nevedith Nyari Gail - Beautiful 7 month old puppy, with a very bright future ahead. Sweetest of expressions, her eye colour already in harmony with her coat. She has a long reachy neck, ideal lay of shoulder, a prominent sternum, developing forechest and good infill. A lovely long upper arm gives her enviable front angulation. She stands on well boned front legs, strong pasterns and very neat, well padded feet. She is quite compact in body, well ribbed back, and has a short, strong loin. Rear angulation replicates that of the front, well let down hocks and a tail that is well set complete a picture of flowing curves and balance. Moves steadily with accuracy and purpose. Lost out on in the challenge for best puppy, as she was a little unsettled. BPB

2nd: Ward’s Your Choice Mega Success – 9 month old. Taller and longer in cast with a more lustrous coat, this quality baby was handled to advantage. She has a lovely head and her eye is also in harmony with her coat. She has good quality of bone, is very balanced, possesses a prominent sternum, and has forechest with infill. She has depth, is well ribbed back and is strong in loin. Stands on well boned legs with good feet. Well schooled she presented a lovely, typical silhouette, and did not disappoint on the move.

3rd: Gregory’s Nevedith Nyari Breeze – Another top quality puppy, litter sister to the first place holder. Lost out on 2nd place on maturity and confidence. Stacked, this puppy is a lovely shape, she has substance and excels in front angulation, sternum and forechest. She has a lovely head, is balanced, stands on good legs and lovely neat cat feet. Her movement, once settled, is accurate and stylish. Think she has all the attributes to trouble the very best in the future.

PB (5 Entries) Abs: 2 1st: Challis’s Vizslanya Zsa Zsa Gabor – Unplaced in the previous class, this sweet faced 6 month old puppy is still very much a baby. She has a compact build and is a lovely colour. She has good depth, and the front assembly I am looking for. Her proportions are fine, and she has attributes that suggest she will end a nice example of the breed. That said she currently has a little too much spring of rib for me, is down on her pasterns and is bum high. All this suggests she is in a growth phase, which one would expect from puppies this age, especially one so immature. Moved ok.

2nd: FOX’s Amarantos Aureas Filia - A very attractive, balanced puppy of 11 months, that received 2nd place as she was in season and did not want to be gone over. Finally managed to get my hands on her, but proper assessment was challenging. Bred along the same lines as 1st and 3rd in MPB, this puppy shares many of their attributes. She has a beautiful head and eye, has a lovely shape, quality bone and balanced angles. There is a prominent sternum, and her forechest has infill. She slipped down only one place, as her movement is excellent for one so young.

3rd: Maiden & Richards’ Vizvale Golden Empress – Another that was unplaced in the previous class. . 8 months old, she has a sweet head, is of good colour, presently has an ok shape, but lacks in forechest and is also bum high. Moved ok

JB (3 Entries) Abs: 1 1st: Upton - Nagyalfoldi-vadasz Boris At Temeraire nearly 13 month old bitch. Lovely size, and a shape of good proportions, she is of an ideal colour and has very good quality of bone. A feminine head piece, framed by correctly set ears, her eye, not too dark, harmonised well with her coat. Strong neck into a very good lay of shoulder and good length of upper arm translates into the front assembly I looked for. A nice underline flowed through to a lovely sweep of stifle, as rear angles corresponded to that at the front. Moved steadily, with precision. An exciting youngster.

2nd: Govier’s Goviz Autumnal Glow - 15 months. A very different type to the 1st placeholder. She is longer in cast, of a correct size and is a shade or two darker in coat. I preferred the 1st placeholder’s neck and lay of shoulder. She has forechest and infill, is balanced, and stands on good feed, but I would like a little more bone. In profile, her head is well proportioned, but I was looking for a more squared off muzzle. On the move, her reach and drive did not match that of the winner.

PGB (16 Entries) Abs: 3 1st: Parker & Murray’s Menta Of Skyrocket At Szelkiraly (Imp) – Cracking 21 month old bitch, sired by the Best of Breed. Combines strength with elegance and femininity. Up to size, with a shade of coat a little darker than her sire, she is quite long in cast, with a very correct front assembly and corresponding rear. Has the same flow from occiput to tip of tail as her sire, and is of a similar shape and balance. On the move she showed excellent reach and drive, carrying her tail on a horizontal plane. Considered for top awards, but think another year will add the maturity required to see her trouble the very best.

2nd: McDonalds’ Donurie's Storm – 20 months. Another really lovely bitch, smaller, but similar in build to the winner. She has a very feminine head and a lovely shape and shade of eye. In particular I admired her length and shape of muzzle, dead straight, nicely squared off with an optimum covering of flew, and a lovely big nose with wide nostrils. Excellent bone to body mass, she is beautifully balanced, stands on sturdy legs supported by neat, tight feet. Very, very close up to the winner, this bitch moved every bit as well, but carried her tail a lot higher, even though her tail set is correct. Handled to advantage.

3rd: Fishlock’s Afanleigh Anna – 18 month typey bitch whose coat is a little dark for my personal taste. This is a robust, well built bitch of considerable quality. She is balanced and used her angles to move round the ring with accuracy and vigour. I preferred the more elegance lines of 1st and 2nd.

  LB (13 Entries) Abs: 3 1st: Wallington’s Nicael Blue Diamond Among Ohanava – Daughter to the RBCC winner, and sister to 3rd in OB. One I have admired from the ringside. Just short of 3 years old - Understated with nothing overdone, this 3 year old bitch has a lovely bone to body mass, she is balanced with prominence of sternum and a good infill of forechest. Nicely angulated fore and aft, for me, this bitch shows that workmanlike can be elegant. Gorgeous head with correct eye, and a melting expression. Really well muscled, which stood her in good stead as she moved precisely around the ring, holding her shape and displaying great reach and drive. For me, she was today, of all the bitches assessed, the most representative of my interpretation of the breed standard, and I was delighted to award her the BCC, her first.

2nd: Di Cesare’s Highforce I Want It All – 3 year old. Another one from the top drawer. Although I found her a little loaded over the shoulder, she appealed for the excellence of her front assembly, her colour and clean & precise movement. She has a typical head, lovely long neck that flows into a high wither and strong topline. Rear angulation matches the front, and as with the winner, she is really well muscled. Unlucky to be up against the winner of this class, whose size and substance I preferred.

  3rd: Wall’s Piroseg Mandarin Of Perllanside JW – 2.5 years old. On first viewing of the class exhibits, I thought this bitch may be my winner. She is quality, of good size, colour and balance, has a typical head and is a stylish mover. However, though she has a well laid shoulder, and length to her upper arm, along with prominence of sternum, she did not match 1st and 2nd for infill. A very nice bitch, none the less.

OB (10 Entries) Abs: 1 First and second in this class are very closely matched and it was very challenging to choose between them. They could change places on another day. 1st: Cule’s J Alsziv Mischief Maker Of Mordax – Super 4 year old bitch. Lovely head and eye, clean neck into good lay of shoulder, and good length of upper arm, has forechest, prominent sternum and infill. She is well ribbed back, with a short strong loin. Rear angulation matches the front, her tail set is correct and her hocks well let down. Has strong pasterns and the most beautiful cat feet. Moved round the ring with a length of stride that belied her size, accurate, showing excellent reach and drive. Stacked, she presents a balanced silhouette. I just wish there were a little more of her.

2nd: Bradley’s Sh Ch Vizslanya Vivmany By Highforce JW Sh.CM ShCEx - Another bitch of exceptional quality. This 5 year old pleased in head, colour, angulation and balance. Has depth, forechest and holds her well proportioned shape when in motion. PersonaI preference would be for a little more of her. If anything, I felt this exhibit needed a bigger ring. Another well muscled pocket rocket, she has a long stride, which she executed with excellent reach and drive. Though her feet are neat, they are not as tight as those of the class winner. This, along with fit of flew decided the places.

3rd: Wilk’s Nicael Blue Mist at Alsziv - Sister to BCC and daughter of RBCC. A bitch that was aligned with the size, type and substance I was looking for. Beautiful head and eye, she is balanced, moved well carrying her tail horizontally, but lacking the animation/showmanship of 1st and 2nd.

VB (4 Entries) Abs: 0 1st: Wilks Nicael Flora – 9 year old bitch who is dam to the BCC and 3rd in OB winners. Last time I judged, I awarded this exhibit the RBCC. Some years on, she wears her age well. She has a typical head, has retained her pleasing bone to body mass and correct angulation fore and aft. She has a level and strong top line, maintained when moving, holding her tail on the level. Moved true. Delighted to award her the RBCC.

2nd: Cruikshank’s Mrs L Topaeris Lady Marmalade - Smart 8 year old bitch of good colour and hardly a grey hair, who has a lovely head and eye. I like her length of muzzle, squared off at the end, the fit of flew and her large nose with wide nostrils. Well off for bone, she is a nice size and is very balanced. Has forechest with infill. Stands on strong legs with well padded feet. Presented in excellent condition, she moved true, executing an even stride pattern.

3rd: Morton& Milicevic & Burns Multi Ch Andronja's Thirteen Tears JW Sh.CM – 7 old bitch, who is starting to look her age, but has lost none of her charm. Beautiful ethereal head with a clear, dark intelligent eye. She still has an excellent forechest and lovely infill. Still holds a typical shape and retains the balance and angles that saw her win so much in yesteryear. Clearly spoiled and enjoying her retirement she is starting to show a little bit of matronly spread, she still has great strength in her rear assembly, moving true, with animation, if not with quite the extension and drive of her youth. So good to see her back in the ring, a credit to the breed and her owner. Thank you so much for bringing her.

Rubina Da Silva - Judge