Setter & Pointer Club

I would like to thank exhibitors for a very nice entry and the society for inviting me to judge. I, like everyone, have a picture in my mind of what the perfect English Setter should look like and today was pleasing as there were a number of quality exhibits.

A complete and regular scissor bite is required in our standard. Unfortunately, I did find a number of exhibits with incorrect dentition. Some were overshot, some undershot, along with a wry mouth and misplaced teeth. A number were a little long in loin with ribs not going well back.

Movement was generally good and, overall, I was pleased with my winners.

I was very disappointed in the behaviour of two exhibitors who left the ring without their prize cards in an apparent fit of peak, We should always expect decisions to be taken in a sporting way.

Minor Puppy Dog (2 entries) - 1st Res CC Res BOB & BP McKiernan’s Bushbane Celtic Rant. What a start to the day! If someone had said I would give a Minor Puppy a Res CC, I would not have believed them! I fell in love with this boy as he walked into the ring and going over him did not disappoint. 8 months old orange belton, he is balanced with great conformation, a handsome head and pleasing expression. He has correct angulation fore and aft, a level topline, deep chest, straight front and tight feet. He moved well with drive. I was delighted to see him go on to be awarded BPIS. 2nd Horne’s Pewterspeare Porter 6 months old blue belton, who was still very much a baby. Sweet head and expression, straight front short coupled and moved well. He was a little proud of his tail today, which detracted from his outline on the move.

Puppy Dog (2 entries 1 abs) 1st McDowell’s Ravensett Italian Job for Byedales. 10 months old pale orange. A handsome boy, short coupled and decent reach of neck. Angulation fore and aft is correct, as is his tail set. He has a deep chest, level topline, combined with good conformation.

Junior Dog (1 entry 1abs)

Yearling Dog (4 entries 0 abs) 1st Wood’s Juldeane Prime Suspect. Pale orange boy, masculine head without being overdone. Dark eyes give him a soft expression. Angulation fore and aft is correct. He has a level topline which he maintained on the move. Moved with drive. 2nd Bennet’s Goldbirch Swashbuckler. Tri, with plenty of coat. He has a masculine head, with a soft expression. Good reach of neck and level topline, presented in good condition and moved with drive. 3rd White & Dunwel’s Paduan Rememberance.

Novice Dog (2 entries 0 Abs) 1st Catton & Cook’s Valsett Starlite Sky Storm with Ferngate Tri dog who was out of coat, but coat is always the icing on the cake, rather than the content. Scissor bite, pleasing head and expression. A well muscled dog, he was in rock hard condition and moved with drive. 2nd Smith’s Bournehouse Secret Sunset of Meadowrush Orange in good coat, handsome head and soft expression, scissor bite, dark eyes, well turned stifles.

Graduate Dog (2 entries 0 entries) 1st Catton and Cooke’s Valsett Starlite Sky Storm with Ferngate. 2nd Kelly’s Dreams Edge of at Archenset Mature well coated tri, well boned with well turned stifles.

Post Graduate Dog (6 entries 0 Abs) - 1st CC & BOB Ridsdill’s Sharnyx Glacier Ice. This blue boy caught my eye as he entered the ring. Not the biggest of dogs, but balanced and his construction is just great. Handsome head, soft expression, good reach of neck, shoulders well laid back, deep chest, level topline, tight feet, well-turned stifles and short coupled. He moved with reach and drive. Judging by the ringside applause and cheers, he was obviously a popular choice. 2nd Wilson’s Ravensett Giovanni. Pale orange, with pleasing head and expression. Masculine without being overdone, he has dark expressive eyes and reach of neck. He is well-off for bone and has well-turned stifles. Moved well. 3rd Mortimer’s Phlerdor Heart of the Storm.

Limit Dog (8 entries 0Abs) – 1st Phillips Bryant & Watkins’ Glenmaurangi Star Man JW. A mature and balanced blue dog. Well presented, masculine head, good reach of neck, deep chest, level topline, short coupled with ribs going well back and in a full coat. He moved with drive, covering the ground effortlessly with a lashing tail action. 2nd Lawson’s Wansleydale Dorian Grey. Close run thing between him and the winner. A tri dog with pleasing masculine head and soft expression. He has a good reach of neck with correct angulation, deep chest, tight feet. He has settled down since I last judged him and is in super hard condition. He moved with enthusiasm and drive. 3rd Taylor and Atyeo’s Samelen Come Back Special.

Open Dog (5 entries 2 Abs) - 1st Thompsett’s Radbrooks Sloop Johns A tri dog who won this class on his overall balance and conformation. Not overdone in head, scissor bite, and typical soft expression. Good reach of neck, well laid-back shoulders, deep chest, well sprung ribs. 2nd Cole’s Sorbus Storm Ryder JW. Mature orange dog that gave 1 a run for his money. Again, pleasing head and expression, good dentition, correct angulation in front, well sprung ribs and good rear angulation. Moved with drive. 3rd Kelly’s Alolfrana Memphis Rock

Special Working Gundog Dog or Bitch (1 entry) 1st Seaman’s Ch Mariglen Mercedes JW A favourite of mine who had to give way to youth today. Quality blue bitch with sweet head and expression, her construction means that she moves round the ring with ease even as a veteran. Deep chest, well sprung ribs, short coupled with ribs going well back. She was well presented and in good coat.

Veteran Bitch (2 entries 0 abs) 1st &BV Seaman’s Ch Mariglen Mercedes JW 2nd Hartle & Stone’s Hartsett All My Lovin Pretty orange girl, sweet head and expression, slightly longer cast than 1, but great movement, deep chest and spring of rib, well coated and presented well. She certainly moves with drive and enthusiasm.

Minor Puppy Bitch (3 entries 0 abs) Three very sweet puppies and could have awarded them all a first. 1st BPB Seaman’s Mariglen Indigo 8 months old blue, sweet head and expression, dark eyes and scissor bite (this applies to all 3). Short coupled, correct angulation front and rear. Moved well.

2nd Loakes’ Goldbirch Hearts Desire 7 months old tri, all of the above comments apply, but she is a tad longer cast than 1. 3rd Dykes’ Caleydene Connextion.

Puppy Bitch (2 entries) – 1st Wale’s Chanina Golder Rose 10 months old orange. Feminine head and soft expression, dark eyes, scissor bite and short coupled. Not much between her and 2nd, just preferred her head and movement. 2nd Hutchinson’s Monaysbridge Iris. Mature blue girl, scissor bite, level topline, with well-turned stifle. In good coat and well presented.

Junior Bitch (2 entries) – 1st Hilditch’s Barleymoats Summer Breeze. A very pretty, quality dark blue bitch. Sweet head and expression, short coupled, her front and rear angulation is correct, with a decent depth of chest and well sprung ribs. She was in really good hard condition, which showed when she moved enthusiastically around the ring. 2nd Smith’s Gold Mercury Beauty Style of Meadowrush (Imp Rus). Smaller blue bitch, tight feet, short coupled, level topline. Moved well.

Yearling Bitch (4 Entries 1 abs) Felton’s Wansleydale Sky Angel at Felsett. A blue bitch with the sweetest of head. Dark eyes, good reach of neck and layback of shoulder. Deep chest and well turned stifles. Overall, she is balanced, moving with drive and enthusiasm. 2nd Tompsett’s Leilasett Northern Lights Over Radbrooks Orange girl with feminine head and melting expression. Tight feet, level topline, well-turned stifles and moved well. 3rd Smith’s Gold Mercury Beauty Style of Meadowrush

Graduate Bitch (6 entries 2 abs) 1st McCabe’s Rachdale Ribbons of Pearls Light orange girl, very feminine, with dark eyes and well sprung ribs. Not in the best of coats, but won on overall balance. 2nd Darley’s Severnsett Dark Angel dark blue girl, sweet head and expression, plenty of coat, good reach of neck, and level topline. Close decision between 1 and 2. 3rd Jones’s Alolfrana N’ All That Jazz

Post Graduate Bitch (3 entries 1 abs) – 1st Hartle & Stone’s Hartsett Lady in Grey. Gave this flashy tri girl a 3rd last time I judged and she has certainly matured into a very nice bitch. Presented well in glorious coat; everything is in the right place and she has a sweet head and expression with dark eyes and deep chest, well sprung ribs, along with well-turned stifles. Moved okay. 2nd Beasley’s Wansleydale Amaretto Tri bitch. A little bigger all round than 1, short couped, well angulated fore and aft and level topline. Moved well.

Limit Bitch (6 entries 0 abs) 1st Sharples’ Mariglen Serendipity at Kanietter JW. Orange girl, so feminine, with a sweet head, good reach of neck into well laid shoulders, well sprung ribs and deep chest. She has tight feet, is short coupled and was the best mover in the class, moving effortlessly round the ring. In good hard condition and presentation was excellent. She was in the mix for top honours. 2nd Buckley & Stubbington’s Tattersett Cool Roxy at Fishwick. An orange bitch, very close decision between 1 and 2. Again, another example of an exhibit that is well balanced. She has all the attributes of 1. She was just pipped to the post today by 1 having the better movement. 3rd Watkins’ Valsett Starlite Night Sky.

Open Bitch (6 entries, 1 abs) – 1st BCC Dennis, Harris & Morgan’s Sh Ch Gemsett Ice Cold in Alex at Mariglen. I understand that this was her sixth CC. She is a mature orange girl and fulfils what the breed standard calls for. A beautiful head and expression, with clean neck leading into well laid-back shoulders. She has correct angulation front and rear, well sprung ribs and correct topline which she kept on the move. She moved with drive and enthusiasm. 2nd & Res CC McKiernan’s Bushbane Celtic Prayer. Flashy, quality blue bitch with a sweet head and expression. She has many positive merits, including depth of chest, front and rear angulation and a level topline. She was in good coat and was balanced throughout. Well presented, she moved around the ring with drive and enthusiasm. 3rd McCabe’s Sh Ch Rachdale Elegance.

Maureen Taylor

(Maursett)

Judge