English Springer Spaniel Club

ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL CLUB (OPEN) CENTENARY SHOW – 05/12/2021

My thanks to the ESSC for the invite to judge for a breed I have had an affiliation with in one way or another since 1998 thanks to the Feorlig kennel of Jenny Miller. The breed has changed significantly since those days, and in some ways some features have been improved, but sadly the typical expression of the ESS seems to have almost disappeared. Whilst some of my winners may not be typical of the ESS in some people’s eyes today movement and proportions of the body was a significant decision point for me when it came to challenges of unbeaten dog/bitches. I have thoroughly enjoyed my day, and grateful to every single person who entered under me. I am always pleased to be around the ESS world, and thanks to my kennel partner that continues regularly. Full credit goes to Kath Holt and Yvonne Billows for keeping the show running, thanks to Julie and Jennie for stewarding.

MPB (3,0) 1. Corbetts Trimere Turn Back Time. A very well made bitch one her first outing. She has a beautifully developed and shaped head, with a soft melting expression that drags you in. Granted she takes a while to settle on the move she is a minor puppy after all, despite this she is a very well made bitch in forequarters and rear quarters a beautifully spring of ribs and good length of loin. Well let down hocks. She screams moderation throughout to me. I truly believe this bitch has a bright future. 2 Kibbys Trimere Taylor Maid at Pinhays. Lovely expression and workings in the head, good eye and expression. Nice front quarters, with very little between 1 & 2. Good rib, length of loin and tailset. Just to settle a little more on the move. 3, Reynold’s Clentonian Picturesque

PB (2,0) 1 Corbetts Trimere Time Flys. 8 month old bitch. Nice head and expression, could maybe do with a little more width in foreface, but not drastic. Good lay of shoulder, depth of chest and rib. Good length of loin, nice rear quarters. Moves sounds and well, and won the class on her movement today. 2 Calverts Calvdale Flutter, I prefer the head and expression of this bitch compared to the winner. However today her inability to settle on the move, and giving her handler a tough time was why she lost this class. She is however a well made bitch on the stack, good rib, beautiful neck, good loin length, moderate rear quarters and a good well set tail. I did give her a second chance to try and put in a performance, but winner just edged over her.

JB (4,1) 1 Hill’s Peasblosson Tupelo Honey with Teignvalley. A nice black and tan with a nice eye and expression, a little stronger in head for a bitch than I would probably like, but not coarse. Beautiful outline and a good lay of shoulder, good rib and loin. Moderate rear quarters, and moves soundly on the move. I seriously considered her for top honours today. 2, Topliss Sandylands Send My Love. Not necessarily my type of head, but a well made bitch in body, good rib and loin, well laid shoulders, good rear quarters. Move’s sound. 3 Keeley’s Alhambian Amy Winehouse.

SYB (1,0) Chandlers Sh Ch Elazlan Right of Reply. 23 month black and white. Lovely expression, Good working in the head, albeit could do with a bit more width in muzzle for me today. Lovely expressive eye. Good lay of shoulder and leading into a nice spring of rib, and good depth of chest. Good tailset, and moves OK though a little erratic at times. She still managed to sweep the Best Black and White of the day.

NB (5,1) 1 Casey & Janes Sandylands Send the Roses. Beautiful soft expression and good workings in the head. Nice neck length leading into a well laid shoulder. Good spring of rib, good length of loin and middle piece. Moves sound, presented beautifully. Reserve Best Bitch today. 2, Kibby’s Trimere Taylor Maid at Pinhays. 3, Unwin’s Allenie The Other Side.

GB (5,1) 1 Taubman’s Meltarose Madeline at Meonstoke. A 2 year old live white bitch. Moves well in front and rear quarters, and with purpose. Good rib cage and nice head and expression in her head piece. Well boned, carries herself well on the move. 2, Simmon’s Dexbenella Frivolity. Lovely head and expression., beautiful soft eye which drags you in. Good lay of shoulder, very close between these two, she was settled on the move. 3, Unwin’s Allenie The Other Side.

PGB (4,0) 1 Ainsley & Nicklins Daenerys Song of Ice and Fire. Liver and White bitch that took my eye the minute she walked in the ring. Lovely working in the head and expression. Beautiful length of neck into well laid shoulders, and leading into beautifully sprung rib and depth of chest, good loin, well covered and muscled. Moves sound with a good tailset, another I considered for top honours. Bitches were strong competition today!. 2, Reynold’s Clentonian Picture Perfect Nice expression, good rib and loin, well made proporitons. Expression moves well. 3 Lillie Freeway Fortune.

LB (4,0) 1. Weymans Spuffing Molly’s Secret. An easy winner in the class, she stood out and moved well. She could have better workings in her head, but her body was nice and proportioned well. I liked a lot about her, and today she was a worthy winner of this class. 2 West’s Grobreuil Abricot Regal. Nice expression, moves well and proportioned nicely. 3, Unwin’s Allenie’s The Other Side.

OB (7,1) 1 Corbetts Trimere Taylor Swift. This was my toughest class of the day, and most competition. She is a 3 year old liver white and tan. She has a beautiful expression so telling of her heritage from this kennel. Beautiful soft eye and expression, she has beautiful working in the heads. She has a stunning front proportions which carry on into her rear quarters and middle piece. She moves effortlessly, and for me today she took my breath away. She was my best bitch, and best in show. I understand she also took BCC and RBIS in the Champ show as well. 2 Topliss’ Sh Ch Beresford Night Class. Lovely expression, good eye shape and soft. Lovely coat furnishings a beautifully proportioned body. I really liked her on the move, and she is another high calibre bitch from this kennel. 3 Nicklin & Ainsley’s Daerneys Winds of Winter.

VB (2,1) 1 Richardsons & Terry-Richardsons Cherishym Chara. 9 year old liver and white bitch. Nice head, little narrow in muzzle. Fair body proportions and spring. Lacking in coat, but she is a bitch. Tends to carry tail a little high, and a little erratic at times.

MPD (1,0) 1 Reynold’s Clentonian Pitch Perfect So this is a 7 month old liver and white dog, who when he first came in the ring I thought he may not be what I subsequently discovered. A true to style and typical ESS, he has a light nose and slightly light eye which I’m sure will both darken with age. But he has a beautifully crafted head, a well substance and structured body. He moves sound when he settles, and I actually like this dog a lot. I believe he could have a bright future. Sadly he met the Puppy Dog for BPD, but he is one I want to watch with interest.

PD (2,1) 1 Calverts Calvdale Scaramouch Jones. This dog reminds me of many dogs in his pedigree the heritage in this kennel. He has a beautifully crafted head, nice dark expression, he has a good lay and balance of front quarters, he is well sprung in his middle piece and nicely proportioned there also. Good strong rear quarters which he uses to advantage on the go. He was a testing child for his handler, but once he got his act together he was a worthy BPIS winner. Another I’ll watch with interest.

JD (1,0) 1 Casey & Jayes Sandylands Xpress Delivery. So I start by saying this boy has been in my eye since his puppy career, and has always captured it in one way or another. He has many qualities I like, and carrying some of the virtues of his grandfather in terms of body proportions and movement this boy I am sure must have a bright future. His head is an OK head for me, and still maturing, he has a good expression however. His body and movement are his strengths and he puts them all to his advantage on the move, despite being a challenge for his handler at first. He got over this in challenge, and pushed closely with one of his pedigree relatives who I also like for many reasons, this boy just took my heart today and was my Best Dog and RBIS.

SYD (1,0) 1 Richardson’s Cherishym Dofida. Black and White, lovely head and expression. Nice depth of forechest, but today he wanted to play around for his handler(s) and was not putting in what I am sure could’ve been his best performance.

GD (1,0) 1 Richardson’s Cherishym Draconis 23 month old dog, he is not my type in his head and his markings certainly do not help him neither. He has an OK body, but a sloping topline also disadvantages him in my opinion. He moves OK, though erratic at times.

PGD (1,1) 1 Absent

LD (4,1) 1 Jenkinson’s Eastriding Royal Mayfair JW. This boy is another I’ve always had an eye for, whilst he is similar heritage to my junior dog, there are differences between the two dogs, but this boy is yet another who for me has similarities in proportions of body and his movement. This is where I found it close between this dog and Junior Dog for competing for the top honours today. This boys head is a strong head, but not coarse, he has a deep expression. I like his movement and he gives strong reach and drive from powerful quarters. He is reserve best dog today, but could swap at anytime between the two. 2 Nicklin & Ainsley’s Daenerys Blood of the Dragon. Slightly stronger in head and longer in loin than winner. Good shoulder and moves with reach and drive once he settled, he certainly tested his handler today. 3, Walker’s Dexbenella Fitzgerald.

OD (5,0) 1 Topliss Sh Ch Beresford Night Train. I can see why this dog has done some winning, he is a sound dog, well made, a little longer in the cast than some of my winners, but he has a lot to like. He is a sound moving dog, and goes with reach and drive. Considered for top honours, but just beaten today by the other two. I like him a lot however. 2, Topliss Sh Ch Beresford As Good As It Gets. Another quality dog from this kennel, and he certainly also put in a good performance and has many virtues to admire. 3, Walkers Sh Ch Dexbenella Atticus Finch ShCEX.

VD (1,0) 1 Tracz’s Melverley Desert Strike Over Acregate JW ShCM. A well made veteran boy, who has a good well built body and one that can still move well for his age. Liked him a lot, and my Best Veteran in Show today.