St Helens & District Canine Society

St Helens & District Canine Society 

22nd February 2020 

Many thanks to the Committee for inviting me to judge at this show. My first time judging in this area and I very much enjoyed my day. Unfortunately, the numerical entries in the working breeds were very poor. 

Bernese Mountain Dog 

Post Graduate D/B (1,0) 

1st: Perks Kernow Festival Buzz ShCM. A handsome dog with very nice symmetrical markings. Head was broad enough and well proportioned. Neck a tad short, but ok for width. Medium angulation fore and aft. Chest ok for depth and breath. Topline firm and rump slightly rounded. Tail set on correctly and carried well on the move. Sound in action, but I wanted more reach and drive. Would have liked just a little more of him. BOB 

Great Dane 

Junior D/B (1,0) 

1st: Mahon’s Ravendale Kizz My Astraldream. Very young and immature and somewhat overawed by the occasion. Head quite elegant. Eyes very loose at present. Neck has some length but needs to develop. Moderate angulation. Topline firm. Bone ok for age. Moved rather erratically. Sympathetically handled. BOB, BP 

Newfoundland 

Post Graduate D/B (1,0) 

1st: Hudson & Bones’ Newfangled Bone Idle. Thought he was of a nice size. Liked his head which showed good size, no sign of wrinkle, slightly perceptible stop and good depth to muzzle which was not over ‘lippy’. Eyes small and widely set and nice to see tight rims. Neck ok for length. Moderate lay to shoulders and decent return to upper arm. Bone ok. Chest to elbows and pretty good width. Felt him a tad square in body and short in rib. Rear angulation didn’t quite balance front. Croup could be slightly more sloped. Sound mover and coped well with the ring. 

Open D/B (2,1) 

1st: Hietschold’s Newfangled Bone Voyage to Chrishelkate. I particularly liked the head on this bitch. Very feminine, but with good size. No wrinkle. Good skull to muzzle ratio. Lovely soft expression. Real teddy bear. Lovely tight eye rims and dark eyes which are well spaced and smallish. Reasonable length of neck into well laid shoulders and good return to upper arm. Nice bone for a bitch of her size. Chest reaches to elbow and is of good breadth and ribs are carried well back. Firm topline. Good croup and tail set. Moderate turn of stifle. Liked her overall shape. Lovely side gait, very flowing when she could get in her stride. A little untidy out and back. BOB 

Boxer 

Junior D/B (1.0) 

1st: Owen’s Saffonies Maggie May. A real baby enjoying her day. Head developing well and showing some good elements of breed type. Neck is nicely arched. Rather straight in angles at present and topline rather flat. Square in outline. Nice Underline. Showed glimpses of a sound gait. BOB, BP. 

AVNSC Working 

Post Graduate (1.0) 

1st: Gavaghan’s Black Recording Angel Mandala At Vaghna (Imp Hung). Russian Black Terrier. Good size and impressive in outline. Broad skull and quite rounded cheekbones. Good flat skull and medium stop. Good parallel head planes. Muzzle and skull ok for proportions. Large black nose and dark tight lips. Very well put together with good angulation fore and aft. Good depth to chest. Firm topline. Tail set high and is thick. Excellent side gait but moves quite close behind. Very well handled. Best AVNSC 

Working Group 

WG1: Shaw & Dandy’s Liareedon The Lieutenant At Andilorn JW ShCM. Siberian Husky. Presented in tip top form. Masculine head. Almond shaped, oblique set eyes. High set ears. Foxy enough in expression. Tight lips. Neck a tad short. Shoulders are little upright. Return to upper arm ok. Chest deep and broad enough with ribs flattened on the sides. Firm topline and slight arch over the loins. Rather more angulated at the rear with very good turn of stifles and low set hocks. Not over done in bone. Good foxbrush. Moved very soundly here in this ring. In excellent coat and stood away from the others here. 

WG2: Hietscholds’ Newfangled Bone Voyage to Chrishelkate. Pushed hard here for the top spot, but she couldn’t really get into het stride on the move in this small ring. Shall watch her progress in the breed rings. 

WG3: Gavaghan’s Black Recording Angel Mandala At Vaghna. BRT. Report as above 

WG4: Perks’ Kernow Festival Buzz ShCM. Report as above. 

Working Puppy Group 

WPG1: Winter & Unwins’ Icebex Crusader At Snowtrekka. A very tall boy but showing quality. Handsome masculine head. Foxy expression. Eyes good for shape and set. Ears a tad low set. Neck of good length and slight arch. Good angulation fore and aft. Chest ok for depth, still to broaden. Topline firm. Tail set on and carried correctly. Moved very well in profile.  

WPG2: Mahon’s Ravendale Kizz My Astraldream. Great Dane. Report as above 

WPG3: Owen’s Saffonies Maggie May. Boxer. Report as above. 

Hounds 

I took over these Hound classes from John Scanlan. I hope he is feeling better soon. 

AVNSC Hound 

Puppy D/B (1,0) 

1st: Smith’s Kilbourne Valor At Julam. Deerhound. Head long. Skull quite flat. Dark eyes with black rims. Ears set on high. Good length and arch to neck. Moderate angulation fore and aft. Chest developing. Loins well arched. Long tail which was thick at root and carried well on the move. Lots of scope and very sound mover. Coat ok for texture. BP 

Junior D/B (1,0) 

1st: Ince’s Indianna Byrlince. Saluki. Head long and narrow and ultra-attractive. Gorgeous eyes and expression. Ears good for set and length. Moderate angles. Topline typical. Underline has typical tuck up. Tail set well. Pasterns slightly sloping. Moderate length to feet which had well arched toes. Moved soundly in profile but not very precise out and back.  

Open (1,0) 

1st: Bendle & Blevins’ Ch Blevwil Nick Nack ShCM. Glad to see this dog was a Champion when I looked in the catalogue after. Top class hound. Oozes quality. Medium length to head which is well balanced. Occiput well defined. Medium stop. Strong in underjaw. Good open nostrils. Slightly oval eyes. Ears set level with eye and of correct length. Neck correct in length for breed. Very good construction all through. Tail set on high and typically thick at base and tapering to end. Lovely stride round the ring. Super quality. Excellent jacket. BOB 

Hound Group 

HG1: Bendle & Blevins’ Ch Blevwil Nick Nack ShCM. Stand out winner here and so pleased he went on to RBIS. Super Hound.  

HG2: Watson’s Stoneroll Love In Motion. Whippet. Up to size and stands over good ground. Head is long enough, but could perhaps be slightly leaner for my preference. Wide between eyes. Oval eyes. Neck is long and muscular. Shoulders well laid and good turn of stifles to balance. Chest deep with ribs well sprung and carried well back. Typical arch over loins. Tails reaches to hocks. Sound mover from all angles. 

HG3: Smith’s Ryazan Joshua at Julam ShCM. Borzoi. A breed I really like and this one looked quite good here. Typical head with lovely expression and is in proportion to body. Well put together and in very good condition. Moved very soundly though seemed to pull his neck at the end. 

HG4: House’s Ambiesque Attain At Gleadsbury. Min Smooth Dasch. Upstanding, confident and showing himself off well. Typical head and quite well put together in body. Chest deep. Well ribbed. Topline firm. Tail set correct. Great profile gait. 

Hound Puppy Group 

HPG1: Hardisty’s Blunderhall Miss Bee Hayvin. Beagle. This one really caught my eye for shape and that beautiful head and expression. Skull is slightly domed and stop is well defined. No signs of frown or wrinkle. Equal skull to muzzle ratios. Good lips. Wide nostrils. Dark brown eyes which are quite large and wide set. Soft expression. Slightly arched neck. Well laid shoulders and upper arm angles back well. Short pasterns. Straight, firm topline. Chest to elbow. Well bent stifles. Tail set on high and typical of the breed, Excellent mover from all angles. Shall watch her progress with interest. Very pleased to see her go RBPIS. 

HPG2: Smith’s Kilbourne Valor At Julam. Deerhound. Report as above. 

HPG3: Gleaves’ Stargang Lord Dashington. Min Smooth Dachs. I though he was quite dashing. Displays really good breed type and put together well. Excellent profile gait. Very eye catching. Not the easiest to handle on the table at present. Just needs to gain in confidence. 

HPG4: Jones’ Shalfleet News Flash. Whippet. A nice size, but a little too heavy all through for my preference. Head needs more length to balance. Eyes of nice shape and set. Moves ok in profile. Well handled.  

Krystyan Greenland