Stoke On Trent & District Gundog Club

Stoke on Trent & District Gundog Club

Many thanks to Graham Hart and his committee for the invitation to judge and to my stewards who helped me keep the ring running efficiently.

Bracco Italiano Junior (5 entries, 2 absent) 1st & BOB Sladden’s Ebano Dell’Oltresavio at Canemamans (Imp Ita) Won this class as I liked his squarer outline. He has the most noble head with divergent planes and muzzle of good depth. A decent lay back of shoulder and good length of upperarm. Deep chest, good spring of ribs and a short loin. Correct topline. He has a well angulated rear with good width of second thigh and his feet are good. Super elastic skin. Just a youngster and recently imported, he still needs a bit more condition to finish the picture but he is a quality boy who moved soundly and accurately, securing himself BOB today and later, BIS 4. 2nd , RBOB & BP Bell & Maddox’s Tolriver Enzo at Owlspoint One I have admired from the ringside but he couldn’t match the maturity of my winner today. I like his head, it has divergence and is lean but he still looks back at you as a baby at the moment. Short, strong neck, good topline, his ribs are well back and his loin is short. Another with good width of second thigh. Good bone and feet. In lovely condition with good skin and coat. This boy moves soundly but at times, lethargically however, he put all in later in the day and did enough to win RBPIS – congratulations. 3rd. Morris’ Defalco Brunno Post Graduate (2 entries, 1 absent) 1st. Bell & Maddox’s Tolriver Enzo at Owlspoint Open (1 entry) 1st. Sladden’s Tyrbechgyn Believe You Will at Canemamans JW A masculine head without coarseness and the softest expression. Good strong neck into decent shoulders. Deep chest with decent width and his ribs are well back. Correct topline and he has a strong, well angulated rear. Good bone and feet. Moved well. I preferred the squarer body proportions of the younger dog in the BOB challenge.

Lagotto Romagnolo Junior (2 entries, 1 absent) 1st, BOB & BP Hamlyn-Sharp & Hamlyn’s Bransbubble Roisin Dubh A really lovely head with eyes of good colour and she looks at you with intelligence. Has a tendency to stand with her front feet out but moving, they are fine. Straight topline, well angulated rear. Good feet. Decent coat with thick curls. Moved well and my notes say “very well schooled”. Open (2 entries, 1 absent) 1st. Hamlyn-Sharp & Hamlyn’s Bransbubble Roisin Dubh

Pointers Post Graduate (4 entries, 1 absent) 1st & BOB Metcalf’s Darkridge Busy Bein Fab’U Lous Won this class and she had the best front angulation in it and thus, was the best mover. She has beautiful poise, looking positively noble. Lovely head with concave muzzle, good length of neck into well laid back shoulders and good return of upperarm. Good topline/tailset and a well muscled, nicely angulated rear. She is beautiful in profile and didn’t disappoint on the move either where she covered the ground impressively and accurately. 2nd. Astbury’s Penwest Photo Finish for Dorbury Not the front of my winner but this is an otherwise a nicely constructed boy presented in tip top condition. Ribs well back and a short loin. I’d prefer a bit more slope to his pasterns. Decent feet with high arched toes. Moved soundly. 3rd. Roberts’ Kanix Othello Open (5 entries, 0 absent) 1st & RBOB Bell & Maddox’s Luneville Dazzling Diamond at Owlspoint JW Beautiful head with dished muzzle. Good length of neck into well laid shoulders. Good bone and feet and a decent slope to her pasterns in a class full of others that were upright in pastern. Good depth of chest, ribs well back and a short loin. Enough angulation behind. I’d prefer less length of croup and it was that which swung the balance in the challenge for BOB. Moved well. 2nd. Weaver’s Anniezu Lovely Day Sh CM Another with a lovely head and eyes of good colour. Impressive in outline and I preferred the tailset of this boy however he was upright in pastern and knuckling over as he was stood. Saying that, he moved well and was in lovely muscular condition. 3rd. Metcalf’s Darkridge Witchy Woman

Spanish Water Dog Junior (2 entries) 1st, BOB & BP Hodgkinson-Rutherford & Rutherford’s Chanderhill Top Totty Won this class and indeed, BOB as I found her the most balanced. She is well proportioned, nicely constructed and in good coat. Good bone and feet and moved beautifully. 2nd. Martinez’ Calima Brook Lovely headed girl with a sweet expression. Much shorter on the leg than my winner. Ribs well back and short loin and she had a lovely coat. Moved well in front was but close behind. Nicely handled. Post Graduate (2 entries) 1st. Hodgkinson-Rutherford & Rutherford’s Chanderhill Top Totty 2nd. & RBOB Martinez’ Tramontania Girl Litter sister of second in my previous class and again, I found her a little short on the leg which made her look unbalanced compared to 1. Super head of good proportions and dark eyes. Good dentition and lovely big teeth. I liked her angles front and rear. She moves well in all directions and has a good coat.

Import Register Open (5 entries, 3 absent) 1st BOB & BP Blair & Spencer’s Fidelix High Fidelity Really pretty Korthals Griffon. She has a lovely head with an intelligent expression. Lovely front with shoulders well back and lots of upperarm. Good topline & tailset and a well angulated rear. Harsh coat with undercoat visible. Moved well. 2nd. Sladden’s Khyannes Triton at Canemamans (Imp Hun) This young Braque D’Auvergne was having a ball here! Such a happy boy. He has a lovely head, eyes of good colour and correct dentition. Level topline, good tailset and he is in super condition. Unfortunately, such was his happiness, while he was moving soundly enough he was a bit erratic and thus had to stand second today.

AV Gundog Veteran (7 entries, 2 absent) 1st. Roberts’ Kanix Dante’s Inferno Pointer. A shapely boy who is in excellent condition. Lovely head. Moved so much better in this class than he did in the previous one. 2nd. Phillipson’s Sh Ch Menstonia Marksman ShCM Quality WSS. Nicely put together and in lovely, fit condition. I was splitting hairs between 1 and 2 but just preferred the movement of my winner coming towards. 3rd. Bell’s Crookrise The Medlar at Owlspoint JW ShCM

Minor Puppy (9 entries, 6 absent) 1st. Nelson’s Cadwst Eternal Flame Golden Retriever. Lovely head with good teeth. Level topline and good tailset. Tends to stand a little ten to two. Good rear angulation. In good condition. Moved erratically but happily. 2nd. Brannan’s Mycalley’s Moondancer On the initial stack I thought this boy was going to be my winner. I really liked him. He has a super head, excellent front, decent topline and tailset and a well angulated rear. He just wasn’t cooperating today and thus had to stand second. A real shame. 3rd. Strevens’ Tollelkin Caife Gaelach at Tollisty

Puppy (10 entries, 5 absent) 1st. Pocock’s Fayemm Sea the Stars Really smart GSP in excellent condition. He is squarely built, well angulated fore and aft and has a good topline/tailset. His handler has a tendency to overstretch him which spoils his outline but on the move, he goes beautifully with reach and drive. 2nd. Muir’s Gwendariff’s Up to Somthin My notes say “quality Irish Setter” and now I have my catalogue, I see why! The sweetest of expressions. She is beautifully constructed and moved well just a little raw at the moment which is why she came second behind the more mature GSP. 3rd. Salt’s Levelmoor Blackadder

Junior (15 entries, 6 absent) 1st. Short’s Ferndel Fire Gem at Toftwood Won this class on showmanship. Smart WSS with a lovely head and expression. Lots of upperarm, good depth of chest, ribs well back and a nice short loin. In super condition and moved beautifully. 2nd. Mason’s Mavistan Rambling Rose through Nosam Really super Golden Retriever youngster who is balanced, well constructed and in lovely condition. Had she’d had a bit more animation on the move, she’d have won this class as I really liked her but she was looking a bit bored. 3rd. Kelly’s Cornsett The Wise One

Graduate (6 entries, 2 absent) 1st. Sewell’s Kerriglow Dream Again for Quattrozampe Cocker boy with a lovely head. Decent front assembly, ribs well back and a well angulated rear. In lovely coat. Best mover in the class. 2nd. Salt’s Levelmoor Blackadder FCR who is lacking maturity at the moment but who makes a lovely shape. Well handled and in excellent condition, just a bit erratic coming towards. 3rd. Corless’ Swiftlark Second Nature

Open (7 entries, 5 absent) 1st. Barker’s Eusanit Silvr Dream Machine NSDTR with a textbook front – shoulders well back and super return of upperarm. Level topline, good rear. He is so balanced. My notes says “moved very accurately” and I’ve underlined “very”!! He didn’t put a foot wrong. In lovely condition. 2nd. Corless’ Swiftlark First Knight Lovely headed Irish Setter with the kindest expression. A bit upright in shoulder and needs his nails cutting. Correct topline & tailset and a well angulated rear. Moved well behind.

RBOB competition 1st. Whiting’s Annilann Mister Allsorts A truly cockery cocker. I loved his head. He is so well constructed, in excellent condition and moved beautifully. Presented immaculately. 2nd. Bell & Maddox’ Tolriver Enzo at Owlspoint As prev. 3rd. Donnelly’s Kimmax Who Kares Wins JW

Puppy Stakes (12 entries, 7 absent) 1st. Pocock’s Fayemm Sea the Stars As prev. 2nd. Whiting’s Annilann Miss Bea Another real quality cocker pup from this exhibitor. She has a good head with ears correctly set on. Super construction all through and moved well. Good bone and feet. Just couldn’t match my winner for maturity. 3rd. Salt’s Levelmoor Blackadder

Open Stakes (11 entries, 7 entries) 1st. Donnelly’s Sh Ch Kimmax Knock Yourself Out JW ShCM An easy win for this handsome GWP. Classic head without being over furnished. He has a good front, correct topline and a strong, well angulated rear. I liked his body proportions as some of this breed seem to be getting a bit too short. Excellent harsh coat. He moved well, covering the ground with reach and drive. 2nd. Sewell’s Wintonia Hidden Gem at Quattrozampe A pretty cocker who had decent angles front and rear, I’d just prefer a bit more width to her. Impressive muscle tone. Moved well in profile. 3rd. Corless’ Swiftlark First Knight

BEST IN SHOW

1 – NSDTR – Barker’s Eusanit Silvr Dream Machine

Already critiqued in the AV open class but I’ll add, it would have been criminal not to give this boy BIS here today. He thoroughly deserved it. I heard afterwards that he’d got his title at Manchester Champ show? I’m really not surprised. A worth champion.

2 – Retriever (Chesapeake Bay) – Mahon, Hunns & Newton’s Arnac Bay Huron at Bergelle JW My notes say “one of the best Chessies I’ve ever seen” and he really is. He is so handsome and masculine without a trace of coarseness. He is balanced, correct and moves superbly. Excellent coat – it was pouring with rain outside and the water was still sitting on top of his coat.

3 - GWP – McCullough’s Sh Ch Kimmax Koz I Kan Another quality GWP from this kennel. Lovely head, correct topline, in excellent fit condition and moved beautifully. Excellent coat.

4 – Bracco Italiano – Sladden’s Ebano Dell’ Oltresavio at Canemamans (Imp Ita) As prev.

BEST PUPPY IN SHOW

1 – Cocker Spaniel – Whiting’s Annilann Mister Allsorts

As previous.

2 – Bracco Italiano – Bell & Maddox’s Tolriver Enzo at Owlspoint

As previous

3 – Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla – Byrne’s Enryb Simply Red

What an exciting youngster this is! He is beautifully constructed and has an excellent harsh coat. Still very much a baby but thoroughly deserved a place in the top four.

4 – Spanish Water Dog – Hodgkinson-Rutherford & Rutherford’s Chanderhill Top Totty

As previous