National Gundog Association

National Gundog Association – 1 August 2021

Judge: Miss Victoria Wilkins

This was my first time awarding challenge certificates in a breed I love and adore and I could not have asked for a better place to judge at as it was where I won my very first CC. I had such a great entry and I can’t thank the exhibitors enough for their sporting, polite and supportive manner on the day, win or lose. It was a day I will never forget. On the dogs themselves, I did find it hard to find a breed type throughout the entries and some exhibits were difficult to assess on the move due to the handling of them. Thank you to my steward Andy Robins who ensured everything ran smoothly and with laughter along the way. Thank you to the National Gundog Committee for a wonderful day.

VETERAN DOG

(3,0)

1 Logie and Braidwood’s Sh Ch Albadhu Paws for Perfection. My handwritten notes have underscored three words and I think they describe this boy so well: a true gent. At 11-years-old he exudes breed type and doesn’t look his age at all which is a real credit to his owner. Handled beautifully to be shown off at exactly the right time, he scores in profile, driving around the ring with reach fore and aft. Correct shaped head and ear set, with a kind, dark eye and a good strong neck and correct in shoulder. I was particularly impressed with this dog’s muscular condition at his age. At one with his handler at all times and held his topline on the move. In the challenge I couldn’t not award him the RCC as he is a real ambassador for the breed.

2 Day’s Raycris Constantin at Alfriston Heavier in head than 1 but a nice dog who has such character and enjoyment for being in the ring. In good coat and condition and on the move, he had a real drive around the ring, reaching out in front and powering from behind. Coming towards he has a tendency o be looser in his movement, but on the stand he is put together well – good earset, strong neck with the correct arch, nice tuck-up and muscled in rear. He truly smiles when he is on the move – a pleasure to see.

3 Jenks’ Sh Ch Kalabagh Lightning

PUPPY DOG

(2,0)

1 Albadhu Walk on the Wildside Lovely youngster who is still very much a baby and in time I am sure he will mature into a nice boy. He reminds me so much of his father who I awarded the RCC to today. Slightly lighter in eye but he has a lovely arch of neck and depth of chest, ribbed back to the correct point and in super muscling for a puppy of his age. On the move he will tighten with time as he has that typical puppy movement, but he is so happy and reaches well fore and aft, moving at one with his handler. Delighted to award him Best Puppy in Breed and look forward to seeing him in the future.

2 Makins’ Tarkanya Sophie’s Snowstorm. What I really liked about this youngster was his attractive and striking markings. Very much a baby in every way and he needs time to settle. Unfortunately he wasn’t shown by his usual handler today and it was difficult to assess his movement and go over him when stood. Looking at him in the line-up he has a making of a good Munsterlander and he had such a lovely head and expression, and I loved his exuberant character which is wonderful to see.

JUNIOR DOG

(2,0)

1 Horton’s Crumpsbrook Jay I really loved this handsome dog and considered him for higher honours today. It was only his owner’s second show and despite being nervous, she showed him extremely well and to his full advantage. He has such attractive markings and was presented in excellent condition and furnishing. He is a nice dog all over – slightly finer in head but all in proportion, good arch of neck and lay of shoulder, leading into a good depth of chest. He is well muscled which allows for driving movement around the ring when he settles. In time and as their confidence grows as a pairing I am sure this boy will be awarded top prizes. Keep going.

2 Makins’ Tarkanya Sophie’s Snowstorm

SPECIAL BEGINNERS (0)

NOVICE DOG

(1,0)

1 Carr’s Quilesta Simply Astounding. Two-and-a-half-year-old male who wasn’t in his best furnishings today and lacked a coat all over. He has the most appealing head for a male – lovely dark and kind eye and masculine in every way, well-set ears and his lack of coat did accentuate his good arch of neck. On the move he tended to get very excited, but he shows great promise when he settles and he just needs time to mature and come into his own.

GRADUATE DOG

(1,0)

1 Jenks’ Albadhu Hidden Potential. Stood alone in this class but he was a deserving winner. Larger in size for a Munsterlander but in proportion where required. Very masculine outline with a very attractive head, kind eye and good earset. He has good forechest and depth of brisket, ribbed well back. In rear he is well muscled, can appear straighter in stiffly on the stand but on the move he has a good free-striding gait and is at one with his handler. Shown in great coat condition.

POST GRADUATE DOG

(2,0)

1 Davis-Green’s Abdecker Dancer. What an absolute find – this dog took my breath away as soon as I saw him enter the ring and I was delighted to hear that the day before he was working out on the grouse moor – a truly dual-purpose dog. He exudes everything it means to be a Munsterlander and at just two-years-old I am certain he will have a bright future. He has the most appealing head, correct length of ear leather and good, dark and kind eye. His outline is square and he has an excellent depth of chest, leading into good shoulders, topline slightly sloped and good turn of stifle,  springy pasterns leading into tight feet. On the move he has a gorgeous springy gait, reaching in front and driving behind, totally devoted to his owner. I was delighted to award him the CC and when he challenged for BOB I thought he really shone and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Congratulations.

2 Makins’ Tarkanya Bonnie’s Brandy Mit Munset I adored the markings on this male – striking and demanding attention. He was difficult to assess on the stand and the move today, but I did see promise when his handler managed to gait him into a trot. Shown in great condition, he has a lovely head and kind eye, good arch of neck leading into a good shoulder. Good pasterns and tight feet. Good bend of stifle and held his tail lovely when he moved into a trot. With a bit more confidence he will be a lovely dog.

LIMIT DOG

(5,0) One of my toughest classes of the day as all lovely males who could interchange frequently. They all had desirable qualities that I liked. 

1 Davis’ Tralale Chunky Monkey A lovely strong dog with a delightful outline which is correct in every way. On the stand he is square and in proportion, and although he doesn’t carry the coat of some other males, this will come with time and still accentuates his shape. He had good forechest and depth of brisket, is well ribbed back and has the correct proportions of loin. Good bent of stifle and correct in croup. On the move I feel he could give so much more as he is built correctly, but he needs to be moved quicker and at a longer striding pace and I am certain it would accentuate his lovely movement even more.

2 Day’s Waldo Vom Busshof Mit Alfriston (Imp). Another quality male who scores in profile and exudes breed type. Just love his shape and he is a typical example of the breed. Could have swapped places with 1st place today. Has a beautiful head and such a happy nature, lovely dark eye and length of neck with slight curve, good shoulders, deep chest and strong topline. He has the correct bend of stifle which is good to see. Strode out around the ring with reach fore and aft. Carries his tail well on the move and moves with a good springy gait.

OPEN DOG

(4,2)

1 Macgregor’s Ekkolander Snowstorm. He really stood out in the line-up today from the moment he entered. An attractively mark dog with angles in all the right places. At times he has a tendency to lean on the stand but his construction is sound and of great quality. He has a much lighter eye than I would prefer but his expression is kind and warm. He had muscles in all the right places – strong neck leading into good shoulders with plenty of heart and lung room to do a day’s work. Good springy pasterns and turn of stifle. On the move he strides out with correct reach and drive, his topline is held steady at all times. A worthy winner of this class.

2 James’ Darkensky Prometheus. Lighter in colour and heavier in coat than my winner but still a good example of the breed. He has such an endearing expression with correct earset. Good in neck with slight curve, leading it a beautiful deep chest and good forechest. Ribbed back well, slightly longer in loin than 1. On the move he moves with the drive required for the breed, covering the ground in equal paces and really driving from behind and although at times he can have a higher tail  carriage, it doesn’t detract from his outline. He moves at one with his handler and it was a pleasure to watch.

GCDS DOG

(1,)

1 Davis Green’s Abdecker Dancer.

VETERAN BITCH

(1,0)

1 Darby’s Sh Ch Brockchime Besta Both to Incadar VW RL2. This bitch is an absolute credit to our breed. She does not look her age in the slightest and never, ever tires of showing, going above and beyond everything her handler asks her to do. She was handled so well. Her construction is sound and feminine in every way. She has a lovely dark eye, good strong neck leading into well-laid shoulders. I loved her spring of rib and croup, with good bend of stifle and well let down hocks. She moves as if she has a smile on her face and I couldn’t help but have one on mine.

PUPPY BITCH

(1,0)

1 Powell and Murrell’s Tureagh Crystal Cider. It was wonderful to be able to judge a puppy after so long in lockdown and as expected for both a baby and a knock-on effect of the pandemic, this sweet girl was difficult to assess on the initial presentation. With patience she grew in confidence and on the hands on she felt in fantastic condition, with super muscling for a baby. She has lovely tight feet, is well ribbed back and has a good width of loin. She moved exuberantly with a typical puppy roll and I was very grateful that her handler in the line-up was able to show me her teeth. Thank you. Best of luck in the future.

JUNIOR BITCH

(0)

SPECIAL BEGINNERS BITCH

(0)

NOVICE BITCH

(1,0)

1 Huggins-Davis’ Tralale Cuddle Monkey. Stood alone in this class. She has such striking markings which accentuate her balance in the right places. Smaller than my ideal bitch size but still square in  outline. She has good front construction with correct upper arm and shoulder, well ribbed back and good in croup. I would prefer tighter feet but she has good springy pasterns. Her handler told me she has been shown lightly and she did give her a challenge today. She shows promise on the move if she could be moved slightly faster and I am sure with time she will settle and become more confident.

GRADUATE BITCH (0)

POST GRADUATE BITCH

(2,1)

1 Butler’s Toberworry Breaking Dawn at Jendellas. My notes specifically mention how this bitch was handled to show her off at every point, moving so I could see all aspects of her construction and encouraged with kindness and compassion. She presents a really pleasing outline, with furnishings in all the right places and presented in excellent condition. Her head is feminine with good earset and she has the correct curve of neck, ribbed back well, short coupled and good turn of stifle. On the move she holds her topline and shows good reach fore and aft. Considered for higher honours today.

2 Ward’s Braccpoint Song of the Wind for Gemlorien. I really loved this bitch too and I thought this class was a lovely class to judge. She is slightly narrower in head than my winner but still presents a feminine outline and expression. She was shown in fantastic condition. Slightly straighter in shoulder than 1 but she has excellent construction in the rear, specifically in the croup and additionally with well let down hocks. Good heart and lung room. On the move she has the desired driving movement, giving me confidence she could do a hard days work. Will watch her in the future.

LIMIT BITCH

(5,3)

1 Bargman’s Crumpsbrook Kerria. This girl was so happy to be in the showring and focused on her handler at all times. She has such a good outline – dark roan in colour with curves and angles in all the right places. She has a lovely feminine head and good length of ear leather. She has good depth of brisket which leads into a slight tuck up. Good return of upper arm and springy pasterns, with the most pleasing turn of stifle. On the move she drove with ease and held her topline well.

2 Caile’s Kamaze Cosmic Diamond. Although lacking slightly in confidence today, I was pleased to be able to assess her hands on. She has a feminine expression, good curve of neck and ear set. Slightly straighter in shoulder than 1 and longer in body but she has very attractive markings and has good muscling in the rear. Hocks are well let down and she moved well around the ring. With time and confidence I wish her the best of luck.

OPEN BITCH

(6,1)

1 Ogle and Suchett-Kaye’s Raycris The Temptress. I really loved this girl and she oozes quality in all the right places and she is only just two years old. She had her moments in the ring, giving her handler a hard time but I just fell in love with her. She has the most beautiful head and the kindest of dark eyes – she has good depth of chest and good forechest, with plenty of heart and lung room to do a day’s work in the field. She has the correct return of upper arm and good springy pasterns. She has a good bend of stifle and her muscling is to die for. On the move she came to life and propelled from behind and looked as if she was floating around the ring. It was my pleasure to award her the CC, her second.

2 Black’s Seahaven Limited Edition. She is totally different to my first place but they are both equal in proportion. I just love this bitch and everything about her. Oozing quality in every way, she has a beautiful head and lovely dark eye, slight curve of neck and scores in forechest and depth of chest. Ribbed well back with food turn of stifle and well muscled in rear. She had excellent reach fore and aft, and when she came back into challenge for the RCC I couldn’t take my eyes off her. RBCC.

GCDS BITCH

(3,1)

1 Black’s Seahaven Limited Edition.

2 Ward’s Braccpoint Song of the Wind for Gemlorien.