Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

So good to see clear improvements since Bassets were placed on the KC Breed Watch schedule and now pleasingly are in Category 2. Such progress cannot take place overnight but I found healthier skin and coat, feet far better than last time I judged the breed, also bites. Lacking the usual introduction to shows due to lockdown, a few younger hounds need to gain more confidence and a couple could benefit from strengthening of topline; but overall quality was evident.

Dogs

VD (0)

PD (2, 1)

1 Ellrich’s Malrich Living Legend At 10mths old, a striking, typey, masculine tri. Good planes on well-shaped head, dark eye, prominent occiput, supple leathers. Good reach of neck and nicely formed sternum, tight elbows and well-placed shoulders. Sound, good length ribbing. Well boned and with tight feet. Sufficient ground clearance. Held topline on move and stood well on strong, well angulated hindquarters.

JD (4, 1)

1 Freer’s Switherland Blueberry Pie R/w with pleasing head, dark eye, fine leathers, good strong front assembly with prominent sternum. Well balanced with nice overall shape, good ribbing, level topline. When settled moved well with muscled hindquarters put to good use.

2 Freudenreich’s Lockolea Rocket Man Strongly made r/w with pleasing head properties. Dark, well-shaped eye, good depth to flews and supple leathers curling inwards. Tight elbows, good ribbing and level topline. Tight feet. Moved happily and true.

3 Seddon’s Sedonia Imperial Commander

PGD (2)

1 King’s Zawadi Stand By Me A quality r/w dog, a tad on the large size for me but his soundness cannot be denied. Slightly longer cast but all in proportion to size with good length, ample ribbing. Pleasing head properties with prominent occiput. Nice shape to eye and leathers folding inwards. Well-shaped, tight front with forechest fitting neatly into crook. Strong front and quarters. Tight, neat feet. With encouragement, needed time to settle on move.

2 Shadbolt’s Sedonia's Ram Raider with Akura Slightly shorter-backed r/w. Some excess of wrinkle on neck and back did not detract from pleasing overall size and shape. Masculine head with well-shaped eye and calm expression, leathers in proportion to length of foreface. Good bone and ribbing, needs to tighten in front. Neat, muscled and well-shaped quarters. Scored on strong hind movement.

LD (3, 1)

1 Shadbolt’s Sedonia's Ambassador of Akura A lot to like about this smart, tidy tri, not overdone in any way. Pleasing outline, sound front and good shoulders, prominent sternum. Tight feet and hocks well let down. Moved happily with good tail carriage and holding level topline on the move.

2 Wood’s Marada The Cheviot Smart, predominantly black tri displaying a calm temperament. Good head with dark eye and well-set leathers. Sound front and well boned with ribbing carried well back. Neat quarters with good bend of stifle. Settled into true movement.

OD (5, 1)

1 Allchorne’s Nelgus Thyme Bomb JW ShCEx My choice to head a class of quality dogs. Clean, balanced outline on this black blanket tri. Lovely head, dark eye, supple, correct length leathers and ear set. Good head planes and developed occiput. Prominent forechest, tight front, well ribbed. Moved effortlessly and true on muscled quarters with strong back, level topline and well-set tail carried happily. I awarded him the RDCC 4yrs ago and he is now a mature, impressive 5yr old. I had no hesitation today in awarding him the CC, which I understand made him up, also BOB. Thrilled he placed G4.

2 Freer’s Ch Switherland Smart Image Superb 8yr old r/w, in excellent condition. Pleasing, masculine domed head with good occiput, excellent eye, deep flews and well-turned leathers. Clean and muscular neck leading into strong topline with well sprung ribs carried well back. Well angulated front and rear. Kept level topline and tail carried well on move. Moved true with good front extension and displaying strong hind movement. RDCC, BV and Hound Veteran G1.

3 Woodworth’s Armardio Firestarter

VB (2, 1)

1 Allchorne’s Ch Diheath Guns N' Roses JW An old favourite of mine to whom I awarded a CC and BOB in 2013. Now 10yrs old and greying around the muzzle but carrying her age well. Feminine head with calm expression. Well set, correct length leathers. Good sternum. Strong, tight front, ribcage carried well back. Neat, tight, well knuckled up feet. Muscled rear and correct angulation. Moved purposefully and true with well carried tail.

PB (5,3)

1 Coultas’ Perfect Peach V Grunsven (imp Nld) Promising 9mth r/w, full of quality. Loved her head, eye and expression. Good nose pigmentation. Sturdily built with excellent front construction and well-made, feminine body. Level topline with strong back leading into muscled quarters. Moved correctly. BP

2 Ellrich’s Malrich Last Tango In Paris Calm expression on this almost 11mth old r/w. Good shape to eye and strong facial features with set and length of leathers complementing overall appearance. Sternum carried by nicely shaped front. Well ribbed. Movement improved when settled.

JB (5, 2)

1 Freer’s Switherland Cranberry Pie Most promising 17mth r/w very typical of this kennel. Well made all through with pleasing head, correct eye and leathers, good head planes and nice depth to flews. Lovely neck, good proud sternum, excellent front assembly with tight elbows and good, clean shoulders. Tight feet. Tail well set on. Held topline on move, strode out and stood well on strong, well angulated hindquarters. BCC

2 Freudenreich’s Lockolea Circle of Life Another 17mth old. Most attractive, well bodied and feminine r/w. Excellent head properties with dark eye and correct length leathers. Good sternum, tight elbows and well-placed shoulders. Correct, good length ribbing. Nice level topline. Stood well on strong, well angulated hindquarters. Moved soundly on strong quarters. Considered for RCC.

3 Murray, Melbourne & Fitzpatrick-Odahamier’s Diheath Elvis

PGB (5, 3)

1 Hards’ Mellow Molly V Grunsven at Braemoray (Imp Nld) At nearly 11mths old, another slightly longer cast l/w with a nice eye and placid, feminine expression. Good depth to flews and well-turned leathers. Good head planes with correct stop and prominent occiput. White coat complements reach of neck. Proud sternum, excellent front assembly with tight elbows and good, clean shoulders. Well sprung, deep ribcage carried well back. Tight feet. Held topline on move, strode out and stood well on strong, well angulated hindquarters.

2 Allchorne’s Nelgus Spring Thyme Slightly smaller and lower to ground 19mth r/w. Good shaped, feminine head with dark eye, good set to leathers though preferred turn of ear on 1. Pleasing sternum and front construction. Tight feet, short nails, strong ribbing and level topline. Underskirt marred outline slightly but so sound throughout, with nicely angulated hindquarters. Effortless and true movement.

LB (3, 3)

OB (6, 2)

1 Freer’s Switherland Frosty Nickers Well bodied, nicely sized 2yr old tri. Pleasing head with good depth to muzzle. Correct head planes, good occiput, dark eye and low set, narrow ears with inward curl. Tight front, good length of leg and well knuckled feet. Correct front construction with prominent sternum, depth to chest and tight elbows. Nicely shaped and sprung ribcage carried well back. Strong quarters with stifles well bent. Overall a promising, sound bitch with easy movement with correct tail carriage. RBCC

2 Armstrong’s Ch Lauralee A Kind Of Magic Quality, well balanced r/w. Pleasing head. Good shaped skull, prominent occiput, nicely shaped eye and good leathers though would prefer slightly more depth to muzzle. Good sternum and front, tight all through. Well sprung ribbing carried well back and strong topline. Muscled quarters with good hind angulation with well bent stifles. Moved soundly with tail carried well.

3 Pearson & Jones’ Armardio Im On Fire JW