Sussex Spaniel Association

Sussex Spaniel Association Championship Show: 25/09/2021

Thank you to the committee for my invitation, and for the support of the members who voted for me to judge. This engagement fulfilled an ambition I have held over the last 40+ years associated with the breed. It was therefore a complete honour to judge at this well run show and to have such a decent entry in these extraordinary times. Thanks to my efficient stewards Chris Brown and Phillip Majster.

Judging Sussex is rarely straightforward, and very much requires the weighing up the merits and demerits of each exhibit. Dentition remains a challenge but quality of breed type and soundness is far more important in my opinion. The features that make this breed distinct from other spaniels - colour, bone, body proportion, Sussex roll, head and expression – are essentials that we must not lose sight of. I was a bit taken aback at some skulls which were rather unforgiving, leading to a hard, alien expression. I noted that some exhibits had shallow, short ribcages with corresponding long loins, whilst others with deep ribcages carried well back tended to be sturdier and perhaps better suited to carrying out a day of work. Whilst we do well generally for good lay back of shoulder, some upper arms were a bit short, typically leading to restricted movement. The free moving/rolling exhibits really caught my eye. Final observation: some dreadfully flat, loose feet with over-long nails. But I think we all need to get out more, don’t we? Thanks to those newer to the breed for showing here today, please do keep at it, you are the future.

DOGS. VETERAN (1) 1. Graves’ Norriss Northern Wizard. 9 year old, looking well for his age. Typical head and expression, decent bone, level topline and correct tail carriage on the move. His coat was not at its best and I would have preferred more drive behind. To be picky I would prefer him a size larger all round for a male but he could not be denied BEST VETERAN IN SHOW on this form. Well done. MINOR PUPPY (1) 1. Penneman & Wakefield’s Norris Northern Mafia TAF. 6 month baby, small and really raw at this age but shows promise. Nice head and expression. Good bone and feet. Dark coated and very loose all over at this stage as you would expect but moved quite well with some sympathetic handling. I felt he was a bit over angulated behind but perhaps he was just a bit unsure of himself. Hope he grows on. BEST DOG PUPPY. PUPPY (1) 1. N N Mafia. JUNIOR (5, 1) All immature dogs in this class just needing time. 1. Crumbledor Albus Dumbledor. 13m. Wow, my find of the day if a bit of a wriggler. First chance to go over this handsome youngster. Nice body shape and size for a male with outstanding bone and feet. Lovely laid back shoulders with a level topline, resulting in a free, rolling gait typical of the breed. He was a good colour for his age with a correct, straight coat and was put down to perfection. Delighted to award him RESERVE DOG CC, well done. He has a bright future. 2. Moon’s Deanway proper Charlie. Also 13m. Not quite as mature as 1 and needs body and time. Nice head with good bone and front. Moved OK with a roll but just preferred the turn of stifle of the winner. 3. Bannister’s Stormacre The Gambler In Roanhowe. YEARLING (1) 1. Perkins’ Meggamooch The Warrior. 12m of smaller build but nice type. Good head with a dark eye. Decent bone and front, correct straight coat. Good topline on the move but tail carriage was high today and would prefer him to stride out a bit more. NOVICE (1) 1. Clark’s Amarshaw Zero To Hero. 2 years old. I would prefer more of him and more bone for a male. I found his head a little plain. Correct coat though slightly dark for this time of year. He needs some schooling and more body at this age. GRADUATE (5,1) The naughty class. 1. Moon’s Foxhampton Fields Of Gold. 2.5 years in hard condition, nice head, good bone and feet, good shoulders, decent coat colour. He moved true fore and behind, with a good roll. Just needs to mature and then should do well. 2. M The Warrior. 3. Allen-Line’s Marquell Torshca Chaos. POST GRADUATE (4,1) 1. Swietalski’s Fred Siop Ganol Into Bowswizzler. Coming up 2.5 years. Now this chap was more mature, of good size and Sussex type and really impressed. Strong bone, good body in hard condition. Good head and expression, lovely coat colour. Level topline, with good tail set and steady, true mover. Expertly handled to advantage. Delighted to award him the DOG CC and BEST OPPOSITE SEX IN SHOW. Congratulations! 2. F Fields of Gold. 3. M T Chaos. LIMIT (3) Very different types in this class, lots of pros and cons. 1. Mercer & Thomas’ Amur Iz Valley Wins At Stormacre (IMP BLR). 3 years. Of markedly different type to the previous class winner. Decent bone and of excellent size and proportions with good lay back of shoulder and front construction. Excellent, active mover with a decided Sussex roll, keeping his topline on the move. I would prefer a lighter coloured, softer coat but he was very well presented. Could be useful to the breed. 2. Brown’s Saxonbejayz Elliot. 4 years. Preferred his head and expression to 1. A size smaller but has outstanding bone and mature substance. Good neck and shoulders with nice body proportions. Coat a touch dark. I just wish he would move with a bit more verve, as he was just too sluggish on the go-around, but there is a lot to like about this dog for his type and substance. Keep at it. 3. Perkins’ Deanway Storm Petrel At Quintic. OPEN (1,1). SPECIAL BEGINNERS (2,1) 1. Mowbray’s Crumbledor Reubus Hagrid. R in Junior. 13m Litter brother to my RCC. Good bone, size and body proportions. Correct coat and colour. Difficult to assess his mouth as he was so fidgety. Was let down today by moving way too wide in front and a bit close behind. SPECIAL WORKING (0). BRED BY EXHIBITOR (1) 1. C R Hagrid. NOT BRED BY EXHIBITOR (4,1) 1. N N Wizard. 2. S Elliott. 3. Bel Sh Ch/Ned Ch Labry Berry Brezhnev (RUS).

BITCHES. VETERAN (3) 1. Davey’s Sh Ch/Lux/Int Ch Norriss Northern Charm At Eald ShCM. 8.5 years. Lovely type of Sussex, good body shape and proportions. Nice head, dark eye and correct bite. Good bone, coat and colour. Moved freely with a good roll. Just lost a bit of energy in the challenge for best veteran to the dog. 2. Swietalski’s Quintic Vogue Of Bowswizzler. 11.5 year old lady in remarkable form. Very different type to 1, being quite high on the leg. However, she has a very typical head, dark eye and good expression. Great coat and colour. She has remarkable movement for her age, very free and agile. Just preferred the size and shape of 1. 3. Majster’s Pindani Honeysuckle. 8 years. MINOR PUPPY (1) 1. Allen-Line’s Deckham Amber Sunrise. 8m. Fully up to size for her age with decent bone and mustn’t grow on. Immature at this age as you would expect, head and coat colour need to develop. Didn’t move correctly with a tendency to pace. PUPPY (3) 1. Alderson & Ashcroft’s Varya Velikolepnaya Iz Valley Wins. 9m imported pup of very nice type, with correct coat and good colour for her age. Nice head for her age and length of neck, clean shoulders, good bone and correct body shape and good tail carriage. Moved nicely with a developing roll. Should do well. BEST PUPPY IN SHOW. 2. Munday’s Euphoria Cova Da Iria NAF another imported puppy of 9m. Different type to 1 being not quite as chunky, although nice for shape and size. Not quite the head of 1 yet. Nice coat and colour and moved well with a nice roll. 3. D A Sunrise. JUNIOR (8, 1) Biggest class of the day, although varying ages and degrees of “teenage” with most exhibits very loose in front. There were some rather upright shoulders and a few short forearms in this class. 1. V Velikolepnaya I V W stand-out winner of this class. 2. Roberts’ Deanway Fairy Dust 13m giving away a lot in maturity even to the younger winner. Smaller frame though with nice shape and proportions. Correct coat and nice colour . Needs to mature and body up. Perhaps some ringcraft practice too. 3. E C Da Iria. YEARLING (1) 1. Alderson’s Meggamooch Winterfell. 20m of good size and substance. Nice type with typical head and dark eye. Good layback of shoulder. Well boned. Correct coat and lovely colour. Slightly up at the rear when standing. Moved well. NOVICE (6,2) 1. Bradbury’s Harasteorra Aurora At Shoaloak. 2.5 years. Smaller type of bitch, though of nice breed type. Good head and eye, with fair coat and colour, well presented. I would just prefer a size larger. 2. D F Dust. 3. Short & Bull’s Foxhampton Femme Fatale At Bakerscroft. GRADUATE (9,3) 1. Bennett’s Sovaroma Clarrie Brown. 2.5 years bitch of ideal size and proportions. Great head on her with a nice eye, though could darken yet. Good bone, excellent correct coat and great colour. Good length of neck and layback of shoulder. Moved very well with a typical roll. Another youngster with much promise. Delighted to award her RBCC AND RESERVE BEST IN SHOW. 2. Mowbray’s Gainsmill Lilly Luna Potter At Crumbledor. 2 year, similar to 1 for type and size. Not quite as developed in the head as 1. In good coat and of fair colour, well presented. 3. Brown’s Rangatira Lovely Lady. POST GRADUATE (3) 1. G L Luna Potter at C. 2. Davey’s Eald Village Urchin. 2 year. Lost out to 1 on head qualities. Would like more bone and her coat was slightly dark. Moved OK. 3. F F Fatale at B. LIMIT (7,1) 1. Matthews’ Foxhampton Fly By Night JW. Good type of bitch with a lovely head and dark eye. Correct proportions and size with good bone. Moved well with a roll. 2. Burnett & Hall’s Springcurl Claret At Zuffenhausen. Amazingly an 8 year-old veteran. Smaller type and coat quite dark. Lost out to 1 on head qualities mainly but she was a remarkably free mover for her age. 3. Brown’s Rangatira Keepsake Kath. OPEN (4) 1. Bennett’s Sh Ch Sovaroma Winter Gem. Gorgeous type, superb coat and colour with a lovely, typical head. Good bone and substance, moved very freely with a roll, although was close both in front and behind today. There is just too much of her for my taste but she is a quality bitch. 2. Davey’s Eald Village Scandal JW. Different but lovely old-fashioned type. A mature bitch of some substance. Would prefer a more feminine head. Has good coat and colour. Would prefer an inch more on the leg. 3. Ashcroft’s Marquell Xclamation Mark After Torshca. SPECIAL BEGINNERS (1) 1. Harris’s Deanway Fairy Tale. 13m, was 4th in Novice. Not really destined for showring success but enjoying her day out today. SPECIAL WORKING (0). BRED BY EXHIBITOR (4,1). 1.S Clarrie B. 2. Alderson’s Sh Ch Meggamooch Tango. Mature, docked bitch of excellent quality that I have done well for previously. Lovely, typical head with decent coat and colour. Good bone, with the desirable reach of neck into well laid back shoulders. Today she was carrying a bit too much weight, so had to give way to 1 on this occasion. Quality bitch. Put down to perfection. 3. Mowbray’s Crumbledor Bella Lestrange. NOT BRED BY EXHIBITOR (5) 1. Ashcroft’s Marquell You Know You Know Torshca. Quality bitch now at her mature best that I have not really taken note of before today. Ideal size and proportions, beautiful feminine head. Good bone, with good reach of neck into well laid back shoulders. Level topline, which she held on the move, moving freely and accurately with a decided roll. Well presented and handled. I thought she was top notch quality and was delighted to award her BCC and BEST IN SHOW. I wish her well for her title. 2. G L Luna P at C. 3. P Honeysuckle.

JUDGE: JOHN GOODWIN (Serendel)