Southern Counties Canine Association

It was an honour to judge this super native breed at the first championship show for over 18 months. Nobody could have predicted the hiatus in our sport so today it was especially good to see Norwich back in the ring. However, the recent pandemic continues to alter plans, and this was in fact Kimmo Mustonen’s entry. He must have been disappointed not to have been able to complete his assignment and I’m sure he will be back in the UK soon. Thank you to Angela and her hard working committee for asking me to take over and to all the exhibitors who accepted me as a replacement judge and were, as always, very sporting. A small entry in number but overall the quality was very good and clearly type with soundness continues to be at the forefront of breeding programmes. I wouldn’t like to generalise on a limited number of dogs however I was pleased that I had no incorrect mouths or dentition and no recurring faults.

Puppy Dog: Martin’s Ragus Oh Boy. Quality red puppy. Very raw. Pleasing head and expression. Good broad skull and correct head proportions with good strong muzzle. Correct ear placement and carriage. Good neck of correct length into well-placed shoulders. Enough bone for his age and correct tight feet. Level top line but needs to shorten up and drop into himself which should come with time. Pleasing hind angulation, not overdone in any way, but he needs to muscle up in the hindquarters. Otherwise a very pleasing young specimen. Moved well. Correct coat. One for the future.

Limit Dog. 1. Tate’s Ragus Comedy King. Very nice red dog of quality. Nice size and overall shape. Lovely head and expression with a lovely small dark keen eye. Not overdone in any way. Good front and tight in the elbow with enough bone and good feet. Nice short muscular loin. In good hard condition with super hind quarter angulation and muscle. Unfortunately, his coat has blown at the present time, although it was evident it is of good texture. Not particularly enjoying his day and slightly overawed with the occasion which is not surprising bearing in mind the lack of opportunities. A new jacket and with a little bit more confidence this dog will be very interesting to watch in the future.

Open Dog: Best class of the day and an interesting one to judge. I was faced with four quality dogs all very different and all with their merits and demerits. 1. Ackling and Dingle’s Kreatin Extra Factor. A new one to me. Pleased for his overall size, make and shape. He has a real quality head and expression coming from correct proportions and correct ear and eye. Very typy, he reminds me in head and expression very much of his sire who I awarded top honours to at Manchester a few years ago. Good length of neck into well placed shoulders. Compact dog with short level top line with correct tail set and carriage. Plenty behind the tail. He has a correct front assembly and is well off for bone. Correct spring of rib, good short well developed loin. Put down in good coat of correct texture. Moved well. Was a very happy to award him what I learnt was his and his owners first CC. With fair play he should attain his crown, I wish him well. 2. Thompson-Morgan’s Belleville Total Eclipse. Another super quality red dog who I have much admired in the past from ringside. He handles as well as he looks. Slightly less masculine in head than the first placed dog he has nevertheless a beautiful expression and correct head proportions. Lovely ears well placed and of correct size and super dark keen eye. Correct good reach of neck into excellent laid shoulders and with super front assembly, which is very evident when he moves around the ring. His foot fall is spot on and effortless. Correct level top line with good spring of rib. Good bone and feet. Tends to over stretch himself on the stack, however he does have absolutely correct hindquarter angulation and is not over done. Unfortunately, not in the best of jackets today which cost him higher honours. With a new jacket this dog should quite rightly annex his crowning CC. 3. Lazenvy’s Tinkave Im The Man. Not belittled by standing third this is a very nice dog of good make and shape. Pleasing head, good neck and shoulder, and in such good hard condition. Well put down and moved well in both directions.

Special Beginners Dog 1. Haye’s Ragus Fabulous Clown SHCM. A seven year old dog. Good for size. Pleasing head although to be hypercritical would like a little bit more breadth to the skull. Good bone and feet. Slightly longer cast than I would prefer. Good topline. Moved well. Put down well in good jacket.

Veteran D/B. 1. Hitchen’s Ch Kreatin Hidden Gem. Black and tan bitch. I really liked this bitch, she compact and strong yet very feminine. Lovely size. Super head and expression. Very feminine without losing any strength in foreface. Well made throughout. Move well in both directions with good drive from behind. good harsh coat. Often one simply sees critiques on veterans describing them ‘simply enjoying their day out’, sadly for me Hidden Gem wasn’t, and was not particularly happy in the challenge. With a bit more enthusiasm would have been in contention for the reserve CC. 2. Haye’s Ragus Fabulous Clown SHCM.

Good Citizen D/B. 1. Haye’s Ragus Seven Jumps. Pleasing bitch good time. Pleasing head although to be slightly hypercritical would like to like her little shorter in muzzle. Good front. Good bone and feet. Good solid top line with plenty behind the tail. Could do with a fraction more hind angulation. 2. Haye’s Ragus Fabulous Clown SHCM

Special Beginners Bitch.1 1. Haye’s Ragus Seven Jumps.

Puppy Bitch. This was a nice class with two very nice red bitches both of which are quality and will do well in the future. 1. Crawley’s Ragus Clouded Silver Moth. Beautiful bitch of quality type. This bitch is out of a dam that I awarded best bitch to from minor puppy some years ago. She has certainly inherited her mother’s head and expression and joie de vivre. Very typy head. Good front. Good neck and shoulder. Level top line. Still very much a puppy and needs to drop into herself and tighten up. Full of herself. Moved well. Correct tail set and good carriage. Her overall type and quality gained her the reserve CC. I think she will do well. 2. Lazenby’s Belleville Vintage Vibe at Tinkave. Another quality red bitch unlucky to meet 1. Very pretty head in expression, correct proportions without any loss of strength. Slightly longer cast than the first placed bitch but has time on her side to shorten up overall. Well constructed front and rear. A very raw bitch that needs time. Lost out on her relative immaturity today. Well handled. Another to watch.

Post Graduate Bitch. Watkin’s Trutillian Perfect Life. Red bitch. Nice for type. Good head proportions. Lovely dark eye and correct ear size and shape. If I were being hypercritical, I would prefer a little more fill under the eye. Good front. Well ribbed up with good short loin. Excellent coat. Put down well. Could be a fraction tighter in front action. Good hind action with good drive.

Limit Bitch. 1. Haye’s Ragus Seven Jumps.

Open Bitch. 1. 1. Crawley’s Ragus True Love Ways. Red bitch. If you are looking for a classic very typy, keen, compact and solid yet totally feminine Norwich Terrier, then this bitch is an real pleasure for a terrier connoisseur to go over. Super head and expression. Beautiful keen dark eye of correct shape. Correct head proportions. Good strong muzzle. Super neck and shoulder into strong solid topline with short loin. Good depth, well angulated hindquarters, all in a correct jacket of correct texture. Did not let her handler down at any point. Clean in front action with good drive behind. It was a pleasure to award her what I subsequently learnt is her crowning CC, a very worthy champion indeed. CC and BOB. Was unlucky not to be placed in the terrier group.

Dr Ian H Gabriel