Bath Canine Society

Afghan Hound – Bath Canine Society 2nd August 2021

Thank you to the Society for their very kind invitation to judge this wonderful breed which I thoroughly enjoyed, thanks also to my two hard working and friendly stewards. We were allocated a lovely sized ring allowing ample space for the exhibits to show off their paces. The entry was definitely one of quality and some decisions were undoubtedly difficult, I very much appreciated the time and effort made by everyone in presenting their afghans so beautifully after months of lockdown, hopefully shows are now back on the map for us all.

Veteran Dog (3 Entries) Abs: 0

Three nice males

1) Cullen’s Syrdarya Toffy Pop At Eweyisska classically built well-constructed and nicely sized brindle male who displayed a good clean outline and moved out well with strong use of hocks. Nicely presented and showing all the breed characteristics.

2) French’s Palamedees Taboo At Zalmeerah lovely type b/m gold, super head & expression, again of good size and shape, a tad overweight here and not extending as well as 1

3) McLay’s Garamond Tayberry

Minor Puppy (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1) Davies Rhajikhan Adrastus TAF b/m dark brindle, lovely head & expression, dark eye, nicely conditioned, a little unsettled at times but a promising baby, houndy construction. Handler was very gentle with him which is good to see.

Puppy Dog (5 Entries) Abs: 0

1) Newton’s Shimalma Jagermeister, raw self-masked cream baby headed a trio from the same litter. Has promise of a stunning head, very male in look with lean & keen expression, decent profile outline but still has a way to go to develop in body but showed good spring and reach in his movement. All three are quite similar and it will be interesting to see how they develop.

2) Drage’s Shimalma Drambuie, tallish sh/masked cream very similar in shape and look to 1, the handler coped well with him as he is wilful, showed good strength from his hindquarters.

3) Dunstan and Waterhouse’s Shimalma Disaronno At Tazkindi (AAF)

Junior Dog NO ENTRIES

Yearling Dog (5 Entries) Abs: 1

Small but strong class of young hopefuls

1) James Syrdarya Darjeeling Chai of Simkhan handsome young sh/m red, has a stunning head, good keen look with almost rare roman nose, strong underjaw, very well constructed throughout, balanced and nicely angled, good depth of brisket, short loin, scored here with his very strong body. Bit of a handful but really covers the ground, like to see him settle and calm, maybe go a little slower, silky coat well presented, a good prospect.

2) Parsell & Beanland’s Gezancol Never Say Never at Harlextan, b/m golden, loved the look and shape of this handsome boy, very male in head, good strong front, large feet level back & short loin, nicely angled and uses those sweeping quarters well, huge coat, another good prospect. Also very much liked his litter brother who was standing 3rd here today.

3) Bartram’s Gezancol Utter Chaos At Chardara

ND (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1) Harrison’s Syrdarya Oolong Chai al Kabir sh/m red of super type not often seen now, at his first show and was very excited about it. Balanced fore & aft, level backline. Was presented in beautiful condition and well deserved his win in this class.

2) Dunstan/Waterhouse’s Shimalma Disaronno At Tazkindi (AAF) nicely shaped s/m cream giving a lot away in age and development in this class, pleasing in head & overall profile, ringed tail, settled down here to show off some spring in his movement at times.

3) Davies Calamus Duke Of Oxland

Graduate Dog (5 Entries) Abs: 0

Very mixed class

1) Hurl, Nisbet & Forrester’s Zandahar Xcuse Me Mister, masked dark silver/brindle, very masculine in head, dark eye, nicely constructed forehand, feet well down, good depth to body with level topline, well angled quarters, nicely muscled, nicely set ringed tail all added up to a good clean outline. Handled well and covered the ground well enough to win.

2) Gardner’s Drishaun Said Tiger To Lily, beautifully presented brindle with huge coat, liked his lean head, good eye shape, another nicely constructed throughout with good depth and body, great condition, moved out well, should have some good days ahead of him.

3) French’s Trust Queen Budda At Zalmeerah

Post Graduate Dog (6 Entries) Abs: 0

Super class

1) Thompson’s Drishaun The Vampire Lily Via Gothika JW b/m golden very male in look, absolutely loved his outline, pure afghan hound, masculine with good expression that says look at me. Nicely angled forehand, straight front, broad feet well down, springy pasterns, good depth, prominent hipbones to nicely angled fallaway, sweeping quarters, ringed tail. Just eases off on the move and glides, good ground coverage, very nicely handled without being overdone. Beautifully presented coat that was fit for a King which he was today; was so very pleased to be able to award him the Dog CC with BOB. Today he gained his title and at just 3 years old I feel sure he will have many more wins to come.

2) Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Drishaun Pictures Of Lily self-masked golden, when I saw him come into the ring his presence was jaw-dropping; he has such a look of arrogance, impressive without a doubt and so well constructed, litter brother to 1. Doesn’t make the best of himself on the move but couldn’t get past him; presented in outstanding condition, just loved him.

3) Anderson’s Zandahar Tartan Xplorer JW

LD (5 Entries) Abs: 1

Nice class

1) Bovey’s Sitana Barisa Toofan Karianca, such a lovely type, b/m golden with such a lot of detail to his very male head, lean & expressive, dark well shaped eye, powerful jawline, fore & rear angulation of balance, springy off the pasterns, nice ribcage, strong loin, slightly overweight for me, well set tail, silky coat & presented well. Took off with easy springy action around the ring.

2) McCormack’s Tulak Despicable Me, loved the look of this dog, a self-masked pale red, super shape and overall he was constructed very well, nicely angled throughout, super coat and condition, liked him very much and really wish he had just made more of himself on the move.

3) French’s Sitana Bijali Toofan At Zalmeerah

OD (7 Entries) Abs: 0

Lovely class

1) Nisbet & Forrester’s Ch Saxonmill Rebel Rebel at Finix JW, gorgeous bl/silver, coal black well shaped eyes and one who is very male, beautifully constructed, good in front & rear, good body and displays a super clean outline, heavily coated, excels on the move, so very steady but covers so much ground with light flowing strides. Judged him as a young puppy and really pleased to see how he has developed. Handled beautifully to Res. Dog CC.

2) James Sitana Aag Toofan, cream litter brother to the winner of Limit, and is well constructed throughout, has a very detailed head, lean in backskull, nice eye, good length to muzzle, complementing angles, good in body and displays good outline, not a big dog but scores with his easy free striding movement. Very nicely presented and in good coat and hard condition.

3) Shaw & Holmes Ch Shimalma Italian Sunset

Special Beginners D/B (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1) Davies Calamus Duke of Oxland upstanding pale cream stood alone here, has a good length of muzzle, slightly more upright in front than preferred, he had a straight front & level topline although a tad longer in back, tended to carry his tail a little high, decent angulation to quarters, quite heavily coated & was sympathetically handled here, showed well.

Veteran Bitch (3 Entries) Abs: 2

1) Adams Ch Zandahar Just Tiger Lily, first time I have handled this dark brindle and what a lovely bitch she is, very feminine, liked her head, reachy in neck to well-placed shoulder & nice return of upper arm, good in front & body, well angled quarters, lovely silky coat with natural saddle. Was so very kindly and beautifully handled, she moved out so well over the ground, a worthy Champion and was Best Veteran.

Minor Puppy (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1) Edwards Rhajikhan Aurora very attractive dark brindle, ultra-feminine & very together for her age, balanced front & rear and moved out very well showing her lovely ringed tail. She really didn’t put a foot wrong, handled so well, should have a good future.

2) Gunn & Cannon’s Karagez Kartina Maslom at Zushkhan (Imp) bl/silver and completely different in type to 1 being smaller and more compact throughout. Feminine and has a delightful personality, once she settled down you could see her outline improving, has plenty of time on her side.

Puppy Bitch (3 Entries) Abs: 1

1) Fisher’s Shimalma Campari Goes To Ifmaraf, bl/m cream and another who was ultra feminine, she has a really beautiful head, dark well shaped eye, lovely balance of angulation fore & aft, needs to develop in body but comes into her own on the move and has the most easy lifting and far reaching springy action that really is unique to an afghan hound. Good prospect and was Best Puppy in Breed.

2) Curtin & McLelland’s Jazzmeenah Star Attraction bl/silver very pretty and feminine, she was very confident, was nicely bodied with good ribcage and was handled well. Her movement was true over the ground but I preferred the natural ease and lift of 1 on this occasion.

Junior Bitch (2 Entries) Abs: 1

1) Gilbert’s Altside Hot As Hell At Affietar very appealing oyster brindle, she has a beautiful strong but very feminine head with good eye shape, loved her expression, strong neck good in front, nicely bodied, good first & second thigh, angled well, ringed tail. Moved off at some pace thoroughly enjoying herself, nicely handled, should do well.

Yearling Bitch (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1) Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Syrdarya Ceylon Chai Drishaun shaded red of classic look, liked her disdainful expression, good eye, strong neck, strength of bone & matching angles front and rear, terrific spring of rib and very good depth, strong in loin, nicely muscled without detracting from her femininity, moving well enough here. This exhibit and her kennel mates were presented in the most wonderful condition; she had a lovely silky coat & saddle, should do well once mature.

2) Callard’s Cloudside Basauri(AI) pretty black/cream at her very first show and slightly overawed by everything but she did settle and displayed some decent movement. Attractive head, leggier and slightly longer in appearance than 1, quite nicely angled fore and aft. Coat presented well.

Novice Bitch (4 Entries) Abs: 1

1) Syrdarya Ceylon Chai Drishaun

2) Cloudside Basauri(ai)

3) Jazzmeenah Star Attraction

Graduate Bitch (3 Entries) Abs: 0

A nice class of three very different bitches

1) Syrdarya Ceylon Chai Drishaun

2) Karagez Curtain Call Zhaqqari, delicate and ultra-feminine black, lovely lean head & dark eye, nicely angled, straight front & large broad feet, decent depth to brisket, level topline, prominent hipbones & sweeping quarters, presented to the last hair and moving nicely here.

3) Hedge’s Unstoppable Happy Go Lucky IMP SWE AI

Post Graduate Bitch (5 Entries) Abs: 0

Again, a difficult class as they were so very different but so appealing in different ways

1) Lancashire/O’Donnell’s Drishaun Don't Gild The Lily JW, classic self-masked gold shown in rock hard condition, feminine and lean in head, there was an air about her, her expression was absolutely going right through me. Nicely laid shoulder into good return, bones of good equal length, good depth & spring of rib, level topline, falling away to nicely angled quarters, ringed tail set well, coat in immaculate condition, could have made more of herself moving however she looked every inch the afghan and covered plenty of ground economically and hocks used nicely.

2) Nisbet & Forrester’s Pramya Hot But Not Blonde at Finix (AW1) (Fin Imp) very appealing black/cream with the most lovely head & dark eye, liked her very much, slightly smaller in stature than 1, liked her strength of body, she felt good under the hands, moving nicely, lovely coat & condition. With luck both could take higher honours.

3) Sanghera’s Tulak Driving Miss Daisy to Sitana

Limit Bitch (5 Entries) Abs: 0

Another good class of quality

1) O’Donnell’s Drishaun Faith Is Like A Lily For Javidan JW, lovely feminine brindle with great appeal from her lean feminine head, dark eye, strong neck, straight front, level back, good ribbing & depth, matching angles front & rear, nicely set tail, shown in rock hard condition and just the right amount of pure silk coat. A beautiful bitch and another who will surely gain top honours.

2) Nisbet & Forrester’s Zandahar Xclusively for Finix JW, nicely balanced black/tan of super overall shape, slightly heavier than 1 she had a good expression, well laid shoulder and good front, nice depth, level topline, well angled hindquarters, nicely coated she moved very well, a nice bitch.

3) McCormack’s Tulak Never Been Kissed

Open Bitch (8 Entries) Abs: 1

Super quality in this class and so difficult to separate them

1) Hitch & Barley’s Ch Zhivias Sunrise Surprise Of Zendushkas classic ultra-feminine red that I have done well previously. Even though she is petite, she is hardy and strong, has her own joie de vivre in absolute spades and moves like a dream, no wonder she has done so well. Style of high order personified here, shown in wonderful bloom she is now 6 years old and could be mistaken for a two-year old. Beautifully feminine head, well-constructed throughout, can really move without effort, she was light, springy & free. Delighted to be able to award her the Bitch CC which I understand was her 17th well done.

2) Moore’s Ch Cloudside Sunflower JW, most attractive self-masked pale gold, feminine without a doubt, she was slightly taller and rangier than 1, she had the look of a real hunter and stared me down with her gaze. Nicely constructed throughout there is nothing not to like, she really powered across the ring without any effort at all and again had that very unique gait, light, elastic and lifting, pleased to be able to award her the Res. Bitch CC.

3) Barber, Henry & Sampson’s Tianze Melt My Heart At Normarand AI (Imp Aus)

Jill Cross (Gilari)