Richmond Dog Show Society

It was my absolute pleasure to award my first set of CC to Aussies here at Richmond. Having been around the breed pre CC days and watched it develop, I think breeders have generally done a great job, where depth of quality seems to be high at many shows. I won’t make any general comments on the entry here as it was smallish and a tiny snapshot of the overall breed, suffice to say, in my opinion, there were some world class Aussies on exhibition. Thank you so much for your support and may I say how much I enjoyed my day and the sporting behaviour of the exhibitors. A great credit to the breed.

Puppy Dog (1,0)

1st: Myall’s Altussi Rhythm and Blue. A raw pup. Skull to muzzle ratio good. Skull not too domed. Muzzle tapers gently to nose. Good pigmentation. Eyes were almond in shape and set slightly obliquely. Ears triangular in shape and ok for size and set. Stop moderate. Neck is of decent length and shows a slight arch. Good shoulders and I like the return of upper arm. Firm, level topline. Well turned stifles. Slight slope to pasterns and hocks are well let down. Chest still to drop and develop and will mature in bone. A very sound mover in profile, needs to steady on the out and back.

Junior Dog (1,0)

1st: Raymond, Shaw & Kirtley’s Ch Brighttouch Drift The Line Through Dialynne (Imp Rus). What an exciting young dog. All male, upstanding and handsome. Very good ratio of muzzle to skull. Like his head planes which are almost parallel. Eyes are almond in shape and set obliquely. I like that he is not overdone in stop. Muzzle tapers as required and he has the correct amount of underjaw. Typical alert and keen expression and a real glint in his eyes. Ears triangular, of moderate thickness and set high. Neck is moderate in length with a slight arch and clean. This flows into very well angulated shoulders. His upper arm is of equal length and angles back to set his forelegs well under him. Good depth and enough width of chest. Brisket reaches to elbows. Super for bone. His proportions are ideal, being lightly longer than tall. Topline firm and level. Loins muscular and broad. Stifles are well bent and he has low set, firm hocks. Moderate tuck up and a nice degree of daylight under him which helps retain the essentials of workability that I look for. Coat has correct texture and his colour is beautifully rich. Decent croup and feet are very nice for shape. Profile movement is quite outstanding and he is so strong and positive behind. This is without doubt a top quality show dog but retains the qualities of a dog able to do its job of work. Absolutely top class and loved him. CC & BOB and went Pastoral Group 2

Yearling Dog (1,0)

1st: Milligan & Marley’s Allmark One For The Road With Alfsden. This dog has many qualities I admire. Again, of a nice size and moderate all through. Good skull to muzzle ratio. Medium stop and muzzle tapers gently. Good underjaw. Head planes are parallel. Eyes are almond in shape and set obliquely. Not quite the expression of the junior dog winner, but still alert. Neck is medium in length,

not quite the arch of the CC winner, but ample. Clean neck. Moderate lay of shoulder and upper arm angles back enough to set the forelegs correctly under him. Brisket reaches to elbows. Width of chest ok. Bone slightly lighter than my CC winner. Ribcage long and carried well back. Moderate slope to croup. I would like just a tad more turn of stifle and definition at the hocks. Hocks are low set and firm. Pasters slightly sloping. Moves very soundly in all directions, but not with the scope of my CC winner. Coat texture is correct, and white collar does not extend past withers. In super condition and very well handled and a very easy RCC winner here in my mind.

Post Graduate Dog (2,1)

1st: Rogers’ Razkiah High Flyer. A most attractive dog who was very well presented. For me, his skull is a touch narrow and muzzle is a little too pointed for my preference. He does have good head planes and excellent ratio of skull to muzzle. Eyes were lovely for shape and set and his expression is typical of the breed. Ears are good for shape. Neck looks a little shorter than ideal. Moderate lay to shoulder and upper arm is a tad more upright than my main winners. Looks a tad long in body for height at withers. Brisket reaches to elbows. Pasterns are sloping. Chest could be slightly broader, but rib cage is carried well back. Topline firm and level. Stifles are well turned and he has good definition at the hocks, which are also lovely and firm. Tail set ok. Coat texture, colour and markings are good. Moves very soundly. Just not quite the masculinity, angulation or proportions of my main winners.

Limit Dog (1,0)

1st Barr’s Allmark Yogi Bear. A smaller than medium dog. I feel he displays typical head planes. Muzzle is slightly shorter than length of skull. Stop is perhaps a little too defined for my preference. Muzzle tapers to tip. His eyes are almond in shape, but for me they are too level set and this diminishes the essential keen and alert expression – so others scored over him here. Ears are set high and of good triangular shape. Neck looks a tad short and shoulders were more upright that I prefer. Upper arm also a little upright. Pasterns slightly sloping. Feet good for shape. Presents a rather more square outline than others here. Stifles require more turn and there could be more definition at the hock. All in all, this leaves him well balanced, but not with the freedom and scope in movement of my main winners. Again, beautifully presented and such a happy boy to go over.

Open Dog (3,0)

1st: Virgo’s Sh Ch Aoiristar Supernova (IKC). I really like the expression on this chap. Gorgeous almond shaped eyes which are set obliquely. Beautiful head planes and ratio of muzzle to skull. Muzzle tapers gently to a rounded tip. Little lazy with ears, which look a tad lower set than some but are of a good triangular shape. Neck a tad short and slightly lacking in arch. Moderate lay of shoulder and upper arm. Chest deep and wide. Bone medium. Just off square in outline. Topline firm and level. Well turned stifles and low set hocks which could be slightly more defined. Croup ok. Very solidly built. Covers the ground well in profile, but somewhat untidy out and back compared to my main winners. Lovely rich markings and has coat of correct texture.

2nd: Miligan & Marley’s Jotars Lies and Deceit With Alfsden. An attractive dog, longer in proportions than the winner, and not quite so typical in expression. Skull to muzzle ratio ok. I would prefer a

slightly stronger underjaw and just a fraction more stop. Eyes almond shaped and obliquely set giving a nice keen expression. Ears larger but correct for shape. Pretty well balanced in construction. Level topline. Slightly long through the loins. Coat texture is good. Very sound mover and so well handled.

Puppy Bitch (2,0)

1st: Newell’s Altussi Rhapsody Over Kristalriver: Quite a robust bitch. Just about feminine enough. Liked her for make and shape. Eyes ok for shape and set. Muzzle to skull ratio ok. Thought her cheeks were a tad full, and I hope this will fine down as she grows and matures. Neck ok for length. Very nice lay to shoulder and her upper arm angles back to set the forelegs correctly. Chest is quite deep and broad. Firm topline. Good turn of stifles. Moves typically in profile. BP

2nd: Wright’s Razkiah Femme Fatale. Very immature little girl. Very attractive. Head still narrow at this stage of her development and needs to strengthen, but she displays good ratio of skull to muzzle and nice head planes. Eyes are almond in shape and set obliquely. Front is very well angulated but rear less so and this slightly ruins the balance and, at this time, made her stride a little uneven. Will mature on. Lovely rich colour and well presented. Maturity will see her come on.

Junior Bitch (1,0)

1st Gibbon’s Wispafete Belongs to Music. A very attractive bitch with beautiful rich colour and clear markings. She is feminine and displays good parallel head planes and correct ratio of muzzle to skull. Skull still to broaden slightly. Her muzzle tapers gently and she has a good underjaw to balance. Eyes a little fuller in shape and could perhaps be set slightly more obliquely. When she uses her ears, they are set high. Elegant clean neck with slight arch. Very good lay of shoulders and pleasing return of upper arm. I liked her bone calibre for her size and age. Pasterns slightly sloping. You have to look somewhat past the tail as it makes her look longer than she is, I actually found her to be ideally proportioned. Chest is developing nicely. Topline is firm and level. Stifles are well bent and she displays good definition at the hocks. Nice coat texture. Super effortless mover. One to watch for the future.

Yearling Bitch (2,0)

1st: Milligan & Marley’s Allmark On One Hand With Alfsden. A bigger bitch, but so very nicely put together. Head is quite broad and perhaps she could be a tad more feminine. Her eyes are of a lovely almond shape and set obliquely. Skull to muzzle ratio are correct. Good underjaw. Head planes just off parallel. Ears highest and she has an alert expression. Balanced angles all through. Chest reaches to brisket and is of good width. Correct proportions. Pasterns slightly sloping and hocks are low to ground. Sound mover in profile. Steady out and back. Shows promise.

2nd: Blyton’s Wispafete Light My Fire. Incredibly attractive young bitch. Very feminine, but a little narrow through the skull for me at present. Eyes great for shape and set. Ratio of muzzle to skull is ideal. Ears are high set and triangular and of moderate thickness. Really good angulation all through. Chest reaches to brisket, but a little narrow all through. Appearing somewhat long in body compared to height. Slightly sloping pasterns and low set hocks. Lacking in coat today, but extremely well presented. Displays a very free flowing gait.

Post Graduate Bitch (1,0)

1st: Gillingham’s Silverdream Aussies Your Destiny at Parkgrove. I felt this bitch was rather narrow in skull and her muzzle was rather too pointed for my particular preference. Her eyes are of almond shape and are set obliquely. Neck a tad short. Moderate in angulation all through. Seems to dip slightly behind the withers, but she could do with losing a little bit of weight, which would improve her. Ok for proportions. Bone is just about medium. Pasterns sloping. Needs more definition at the hocks. Clear markings and good colour. Did everything to play her mum up on the move, but when settled, she moved quite soundly around the ring. Did not quite have the degree of elegance I was looking for.

Limit Bitch (4,0)

1st: Harlow’s Birkcross Reign Of Fire. What an absolute cracker that was so well handled. The standard calls for masculinity and femininity to be well defined, and here was a totally feminine package in powerhouse of a body. Her head was beautiful for her correct parallel planes, ratio of skull to muzzle, degree of underjaw and I like that she is not overdone in stop. Her eyes are gorgeous with a great almond shape and the all-important oblique set that brings the expression to life. That twinkle in her eyes just kept looking at me. Ears are good for shape and ok for set. Neck is medium in length with a slight arch. Her shoulders are set well and her upper arm is of equal length and angles back perfectly to bring those forelegs right under her. Brisket reaches to elbows and she has enough width for her age. Ribs carried well back. Topline is firm and level and loins are broad for her size and muscular. Her bone is ideal for her size. Her croup slopes to the correct degree and her stifles are well bent. Many lacked in any definition at the hocks, but hers are excellent and are also set nice and low and are firm. Ideal proportions for me. She has the elegance I look for whilst retaining that essential essence of a breed that was created to work. Her movement is breath taking – unexaggerated reach and drive and so free and easy. A world class bitch who can still mature on more to even further advantage. CC.

2nd: Gibbon’s Wispafete Once Upon A Dream. Another super bitch. Didn’t have quite the femininity of 1st, but still has many good head qualities. Preferred the shape of the skull of the winner. Very well balanced skull to muzzle and again not overdone in stop. Slightly bolder in eyes than the winner. Ears are nice and high set, of moderate thickness and super shape. Beautiful neck. Most excellent construction with great angulation all through. Firm topline and broad, muscular loins. Brisket reaches to elbows. Chest has good width and her ribs are carried well back. I appreciate the daylight under her. Bone good for size. Pasterns are slightly sloping and hocks are well defined, low to ground and firm. Nice texture to coat. Really well muscled and presented in the highest order by an excellent handler. Powerful mover in profile, but on the day, didn’t quite match the scope of 1st and was not quite so precise out and back. High quality and I’m sure she’ll make up. Easy RCC.

3rd: Burt’s Villanyda Flaming Hot With Aussiame (Imp Esp)

Open Bitch (1,0)

1st: Wilson’s Wispafete Dream Come True For Clynalwin. An attractive bitch. Muzzle to skull ratio is good. Stop ok. Felt her muzzle was a tad square at the end. Reasonably feminine. Eyes are almond in

shape and are set obliquely. Ears are high set. Pretty good expression. Neck a little short but does have a slight arch. Shoulders a little straighter than my main winners. Upper arm angles back very nicely and is of correct length. Brisket reaches to elbows and she has good width to chest. Stands just a little square in outline for me. Topline is firm. Ribcage could extend back more which would give her just that fraction more length. Well turned stifles and good well defined, low set hocks. Good medium bone. Moves very soundly indeed but could cover a tad more ground. Very well handled.