South Western Tibetan Spaniel Club

SOUTH WESTERN TIBETAN SPANIEL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 2.8.21

Having been caring full time for my mother for the past five years I have taken something of a sabbatical from a busy judging schedule and adapting my lifestyle. However a while back I made the decision to accept the occasional breed club show if it was possible to get to the show and return home in a day and thus I agreed to judge for the South Western Tibetan Spaniel Club.

This is a breed for which I have a special affection, first awarding CCs to the breed in 1979 at the East of England Championship Show when my BOB winner was Ch Amcross Pundit who was winning his second CC on the day. Tibetan Spaniels were the second breed for which I was approved after Pekingese.

My association with the South Western Tibetan Spaniel Club goes back to 1977 when I judged the Club's Open Show, with 112 dogs entered, my BIS winner being the Post Graduate Bitch, Amcross Pe Skee. In 1991 I was invited to judge the South Western's Championship Show when my BIS winner was Ch Langshi Super Ted.

Therefore it gave me special pleasure to “return” to the centre of the ring for a club that has been so kind to me. Having accepted the invitation before the wretched Covid struck, I then felt so sorry for poor Heather Simper who, as secretary, had to cope with various changes of date and venue along with the ever-revising Covid guidelines.

The show was now to be held in conjunction with Bath Championship show and this was rather poignant for me as it was on this self-same Three Shire Field at Bannerdown that I judged my very first Toy Group in 1981 (yes, FORTY years ago!) in the halcyon days of the Waring family who did so much for Bath Canine Society.

An excellent entry of 91 dogs awaited me and of course none of the dogs I had seen before which always makes judging more interesting.

Strangely I found that it was easier to judge to type in the males than the bitches which were rather more varied, and having studied the catalogue I see that the Minor Puppy (Best Puppy in Show), Yearling, Post Graduate, Limit (Reserve Dog CC) and Open (Dog CC & BIS) winners were all sired by Oldcharm Love Me Again who must be a prepotent stud dog. He also sired the Post Graduate Bitch winner.

I won’t insult your intelligence by suggesting that I was unaware of the ultimate BIS winner’s record. Whilst I have seen him several times on live-streaming I was keen to get my hands on him and he didn’t disappoint. Whilst his award may have been predictable, there is nothing clever about robbing a dog when they deserve to win just to be different and so Ch SOUSKA I NEED YOUR LOVE added another CC to his collection along with BIS. Not only is he an excellent Tibetan Spaniel, he was shown in the most wonderful bloom and hard condition and handled himself beautifully on the move.

Reserve to him was his half-brother from Limit, SOUSKA END IN LOVE, very much to type with the CC winner and one who should become a worthy Champion.

In bitches a first CC was won by the Open winner, MALIA EEVEE EVOLVES INTO SAMAR, a really beautiful bitch who appealed for her overall correctness, lack of exaggeration and absolute soundness. She has no undue glamour or drama but impressed me on the day more than any other bitch for her exquisite type and she has such wonderful poise, always throwing out a classic outline.

Reserve to her was the Yearling winner, BALGAY GONG THUK, a beautifully balanced youngster of correct proportions, intrinsically feminine and so poised when something caught her eye. She has exciting potential.

Best Puppy went to the Minor Puppy Dog, LINSDOWN KARIB, who shows amazing promise and, sharing the same sire as the CC & Reserve CC winners, fitted in so perfectly for type.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day and thank the exhibitors who attended for what turned into a rather long day!

The breed is never an easy one to judge; they are companion dogs but not Toys so the Tibetan should have an element of substance whilst never appearing coarse or cloddy. The starting point – as with all breeds – for me has to be the overall picture and outline so I look for a balanced dog that is correctly proportioned, having some daylight underneath without ever appearing “leggy”. Remember the wording of the Standard … “SLIGHTLY longer in body than height at withers”. Heads are always a challenge and I am always critical of those that display Pekingese traits and have wrinkle at the base of the muzzle. I am not a mouth fanatic but do require an undershot bite with good strength and depth of underjaw. Some dentition was a little untidy and I did find a few level or scissor bites which detract so from the true Tibetan expression. Generally speaking eyes were pleasing with just a few that were rather round and full.

Overall construction was very satisfactory with the majority being well angulated front and back; not so many straight rears as in years gone by.

My main winners pleased me and from this entry I would say that the breed seems to be in pretty good shape.

VD (3)

1. Breeze & Styles’ Ch Paralde Little Bredy with Hilsar, 10½ years light red in great form and so sound on the move. Excellent head type with expressive eyes and great strength of underjaw. Well placed ears and correct topskull help towards a classic expression though now missing a few teeth. Very well balanced outline, firmly bodied with optimum angles front and back. Such a steady and stylish mover. Best Veteran.

2. Davey & Vine’s Rhubisk Going For Gold with Samar, pale gold of 7 years with a look of quality and beautifully presented. Well-proportioned head, strong chin, good dentition, well balanced outline but not quite as well filled in front as 1 or as settled in topline but moves smartly and with presence.

3. Rice’s Bruno Bear of Ricox.

MPD (1)

1. Morton’s Linsdown Karib, 7 months fawn sable of top quality and already beautifully schooled. Glorious head and expression with perfect proportions, typical eye, excellent chin and dentition. Well balanced body, already well covered with optimum angulation front and back. Well set and carried tail, firm Topline, moves briskly, soundly and with great drive and style. Despite his tender age already “all of a piece” and a worthy winner of Best Puppy in Show.

PD (2)

1. Quest’s Chenrezi Just You And I, 9 months fawn with a look of refinement. Excellent size and shape, typical head and expression with good strength of underjaw. Solid to go over, well bodied and conditioned with moderate angulation but just needs to drop into his rear. Moved smartly.

2. Ludvig’s Clydum A Little Magic, 10 months pale gold full of character and life! Basically pleasing head type, a little more up on leg than 1 which mightn’t be as noticeable when in full coat and fully matured in body and he looks the type who will take a long time to really come to his best. Moved with great energy.

JD (4)

1. Bevis’ Skyvana Empty Dreams of Starlance, pale gold of 17 months and such a poised performer, beautiful head, masculine yet in no way coarse. Superb outline with excellent proportions all through, well bodied and moves with style and scope but just needs to firm up behind.

2. Moran & Prouve’s Castafiore Romulus, 12½ months so giving away a lot in age and finish but has lots of quality, very pleasing head, solidly bodied and in beautiful coat. Moves true. Slightly preferred proportions of outline in 1.

3. Lilley’s Torfness Edward Bear at Kensing.

YD (4)

1. T. Edward Bear at K., 3rd in such a strong junior class, pale gold rich in quality and very full of himself. Lovely head and expression, well balanced outline, between coats. When he settled, moved true.

2. Monteath-Wilson & Barraclough’s Linsdown Kiput, sable of pleasing overall type, not quite as classical in head as 1 but outline pleases if he could be better let down behind. Moved fairly accurately.

ND (2)

1. C. Just You And I. 2. T. Edward Bear at K.

PGD (7)

1. Ferguson’s Torfness Kissed By Fire, pale gold of top quality beautifully schooled with natural presence. Very pleasing head and expression, excellent construction throughout, sound and steady mover in beautiful condition.

2. Bevis’ Starlance Follow My Way, another gold, slightly heavier in general stamp but in no way coarse. Appeals in overall outline and head and expression, well put together but could be firmer in hock.

3. Davies’ Tsarong Phurbu.

LD (7)

1. Blackshaw & Roberts’ Souska End In Love, striking pale gold of top quality, beautiful head with good ear lift and strong chin. Excellent construction throughout well balanced, beautifully bodied with great poise. Essentially masculine throughout yet still with great class. Excellent coat well presented and moved freely to take the Reserve CC behind his famous half-brother.

2. Hourihane’s Velrok Serafire at Amcross, darker gold of authentic type, free from exaggeration, sound and steady but could carry a fraction more body. Nicely proportioned head with very typical expression.

3. Wallis & Baga’s Amcross Parti Phoenix at Velrok.

OD (9) A strong class and a pleasure to judge.

1. Lemon’s Ch Souska I Need Your Love, the dog of the moment and having judged him at close quarters it is easy to understand why. There is no questioning his sex, he is all dog and yet still has great quality and class. Masculine head with pleasing expression, just enough ear lift and great strength of underjaw. Correct length of neck with noticeable shawl, perfectly proportioned outline with copybook conformation, ample bone and so beautifully conditioned. On the move he is sound and true and he shows so sensibly for his handler who has him in such great bloom. In the entry there was nothing to beat him so he added another CC to his collection along with Best in Show.

2. Davies’ Bowcara Be My Guest, refined gold sable, possibly less overtly masculine but very well balanced with enough coat, good finish of mouth, moved soundly and steadily, holding his tail well.

3. Lilley’s Ch Knattings Riverdance to Kensing.

PHYLLIS MAYHEW MEMORIAL STAKES (2)

1. Breeze & Styles’ Hilsar Is He T’so, red of excellent type, well balanced outline if head is a little full, moved with excellent carriage.

2. Beasley’s Marlyoak Glory Of Love, pale gold, well boned and bodied if a shade long-cast. Basically good head type if a little full in eye. Tail carriage rather loose.

VB (5)

1. Quest’s Ch Chenrezi Troublemaker, 8 years old gold with beautiful outline, so well balanced and moving steadily. Feminine head, moves with youthful enthusiasm.

2. Allman’s Andor Tilly Mint for Shantess, almost 10 and in such great form, so feminine, prettiest of heads, balanced outline and still a free mover.

3. Quest’s Ch Chenrezi Summer Breeze.

MPB (1)

1. Whitfield-Roberts’ Talason Cheveski, 6 months black & tan baby, very well bodied for age, great overall construction sweet head with strong chin but at the moment she is flying her ears a little but this is just an age thing I’m sure. Moved soundly and shows a lot of promise.

PB (5)

1. Croucher’s Bruesown Jonsai, 10 months shaded gold free from exaggeration and so very sound. Excellent head type and expressive eye, good mouth with strong chin, correct proportions and angles, firm topline, well carried tail, Best Puppy Bitch.

2. Cooper’s Malia Pumpkin Pie by Susu, 10 months pale gold of such interesting colour. Charming head with good finish of mouth but not the earset of 1, sound and stylish on the move, well angulated, nicely bodied.

3. Short’s Malia Harvest Flower.

JB (3)

1. Moran & Prouve’s Castafiore Riddhima, 12 months gold sable so very feminine throughout, well-proportioned head, with great strength of underjaw, super sound on the move being so well balanced with optimum angulation and a firm topline.

2. Langdon’s Skyvana Eternal Dreams, 16 months, somewhat more matronly as 1 which is no bad thing and not quite as collected on move. Excellent head type with satisfying basic construction and ample substance. The sort of bitch that should breed something.

3. 59

YB (3)

1. Moran & Prouve’s Balgay Gong Thuk, gold sable & white who is such a little poser, poised and with such an eye-catching outline and perfectly set and carried tail. Delightful head with enough chin, totally feminine throughout and perfectly proportioned. Noticeably correct feet (unlike some) and she moved with style and accuracy. When she gets her shawl and fully matures should look something special. Happy to award her the Reserve CC.

2. Davey & Vine’s Samsar Flareon, black & tan of very good basic type, well bodied with a basically typical head, rather tense on the table but eventually settled to show sound movement.

3. Borrett’s Rosanley Harmonia with Tibama.

NB (3)

1. Hourihane’s Bruesown Kyi Mo at Amcross, dark gold so very correct structurally and what she may lack in “glamour” she makes up for in Type. So well bodied, ultra-sound and is so very well constructed. Not being in full coat proves she has nothing to hide.

2. Short’s M. Harvest Flower, 3rd in Puppy but more settled now, lovely quality head, great angles and she now displayed satisfactory movement; promising.

3. Quest’s Chenrezi Ti Amo.

PGB (6)

1. Smith’s Parloueve Lady Sassi, very typical gold, loved her overall shape and balance, so well bodied with optimum angulation throughout, quality head and expression, took a little time to settle on the move but her overall type and quality could not be denied.

2. Smith’s Torfness Fire And Blood, pale gold, a bit longer cast than 1 but she has excellent angles, a gorgeous head and moves steadily.

3. Croucher’s Bruesown Amatsen.

LB (7)

1. Davies’ Bowcara Rose Gold, glamorous gold with feminine head and good chin, correct overall proportions but rear could be bit better let down. Nonetheless makes the best of herself on the move.

2. Croucher’s Bruesown Kashvi, red of classic type with very correct head and expression and the most fabulous mouth! Topline runs up a little but very balanced and unexaggerated outline and angles, sound mover.

3. Osborn’s Quailmoor Guinevere.

OPEN B (12)

1. Davey & Vine’s Malia Eevee Evolves Into Samar, gold sable who caught my eye the moment she came into the ring being so poised and together, and I couldn’t wait to get her on the table. Nothing disappointed on close inspection. She has a glorious head and expression and whilst I generally dislike the expression “old fashioned”, she is - in the nicest possible way. So well bodied, excellent construction, firm topline, ideal angulation, well set and carried tail and she was in beautiful condition. She moved soundly and with style and nothing pleased me more in Bitches so she won her first CC which should be the first of many if there is any justice in this world. Never again will her handler need to shriek excitedly “Oh, we got a Stud Book” !!!!!!

2. Moran’s Buus Hi-Ra Hayley, pale gold of good overall shape with optimum angulation throughout. Very feminine head with plenty of strength of underjaw. Sound and steady mover, just not as finished in her middle piece as 1.

3. Lemon’s Gianni Its Darling at Parloueve.

PHYLLIS MAYHEW MEMORIAL STAKES (3)

1. Hourihane’s Amcross Pandita, typical old fashioned red with no drama or undue glamour, just a very pleasing head type, solid body and so very sound.

2. Q. Guinevere, sable with slightly different head type but still basically correct, pleasing overall proportions, moving well.

ANDREW H. BRACE (Judge)