Cheshire Agricultural Society

Critique for

Royal Cheshire County Show

21-06-21

Firstly I must thank the officers and committee for the invitation to judge at their lovely show, with the COVID-19 restrictions being relaxed slightly and extra safety measures in place the New normal prevailed, everyone felt safe and secure because of the hard work that the Committee had put in. Fantastic hospitality and friendly atmosphere, the weather was kind to us which made the day very enjoyable indeed. Secondly I thank you the exhibitors for a fantastic entry, and who entrusted my judgement with their lovely dogs.

Irish Setters.

Puppy Dog(2) – 1. Richardson’s-Gwendariff Tullys Red Arrows. Substantive young dog with a good firm build, overall outline looking good for his age, with a nice to type head, kind dark well shaped eye, correct ear set, good well set shoulder to gentle sloping topline finished off with correct tail set. Good front assembly, sound spring of rib, deep strong chest, rear angulation of good proportions, good bend of stifle, well muscled 1st and 2nd thigh giving strong sound movement, coat in very good condition and presented well. 2. Danks-Kemish Wenflaen Lets Get Serious for Alolfana. Younger boy with a lovely expressive face, nice eye and correct ear set. Nice neck line into well laid shoulder,  through into good topline and correct tail set. Good amount of rib, nice construction at front and plenty of correct angulation at the rear. In good condition and of a nice colour, moved confidently and with drive.

Junior Dog(3) – 1. Hemmings- Orlanset Mandolin. A young substantive dog nice eye plenty of expression, correct ear set, good shape and strength to neck, good lay into shoulder, smooth gentle slope to topline, correct tail set, good front angulation finishing off a nice front assembly, good spring of rib carried on a nice deep chest, well toned muscle to 1st and 2nd thigh, neatly finished with clean tight feet, moved and handled well. 2. Cordon’s- Follybrook Firestorm. A dog with a little more ring craft to learn, but had a little fun with the handler, Not as substantive in build as 1, but giving an overall pleasing outline, strong boyish head with a gentle expression and kind eye, nice across the withers through topline to correct tail set, nice front, nice deep chest with plenty of sprung rib, rear construction was good, nicely muscled thighs, was a little loose on the move compared to 1st but still had a good reach.

Post Graduate Dog (7,2) 1. Mesdames C R & A & D Longbottom & Stewart-Ritchie- Gwendariff Smart Red Jacket JW. Excellent mature boy with a lot to like, typical head all in good proportion, almond shaped dark eye, and correct ear set. Strong neck with the slight arch leading to good lay of shoulder and upper arm, following through the withers to a good sound topline ending in correct tail set. Sound front through to plenty of sprung rib, nice and deep,  nice couplings not too long, strength and shape at the croup, good rear angulation and correct bend to stifle, very impressive muscle tone to 1st and 2nd thigh, good clean tight feet, all combining to give an effortless glide on the move, handled and presented well. 2. Cohen’s Lynwood Merry May King with Shushana, A happy boy of good type, and lovely expression, nice dark eye, correct ear set, nicely constructed at front with equal lay of shoulder and upper arm, good amount of rib, clean tight feet, pleasing overall silhouette,  rear angulation in proportion to front, substance to 1st and 2nd thighs which made movement easy and flowing for the handler.

Limit Dog (2) 1. Hughes- Gwendariff Plays the Flute. Well defined head with good eye and correct set on ears, nice arch to strong neck through to good shoulder flowing down nice topline to correct tail set, well constructed front, plenty of sprung rib in deep chest, well toned muscle in 1st and 2nd thighs, good angulation at rear, moved well with a positive gate with a nice straight drive, coat in really good condition. 2. Stevens- Follybrook Millennium Star. Older dog still good to look at and like, good head proportions, nice eye with expression and correct ear set, gently sloping topline through to correct tail set, nicely angled front and rear, clean tight feet, moved positively with drive but just a little off straight.

Open Dog (6,3) 1.  Messrs D R & G A Alcorn & Ingram- Gwendariff Red Light Show Farnfield. Having gone over this boy a few years ago I must say the improvement in all aspects of him is outstanding. I applaud the work that has gone into him. Good to type head and characteristics with a handsome chiselled expression, strong across the topline no dipping or deviation around the withers which you sometimes see on the bigger dogs, the topline flows from the strong neck through the  withers gently sloping to correct tail set, good well angulated front with good lay back to the shoulder , sound chest and rib construction, croup is sound, rounded and with substance, nicely muscled thighs at rear, giving strength on the move with the look of power and determination, well kept tight arched feet , colour and coat condition was good, very well presented and handled. BOB, Gundog Gp 1 and RBIS 2. Danks-Kemish- Sh Ch Alolfrana Hotter Than U’Know JW. Lovely mature boy with a good outline definitely a strong contender to 1st, well proportioned plains to head, good dark eye full of expression, true topline gently sloping to correct tail set, good angulation at rear, moved well with drive, neat, powerful and straight on the move away.

Puppy Bitch (6,1). 1. Jones- Gwedariff Dazzling Diva. Lovely young bitch with an eye catching outline, nothing over exaggerated, kind feminine expression made all the more appealing with a lovely dark eye, plains to head symmetrical, nicely following through to a good neck into well set shoulders/withers, smooth correct slightly sloping topline into good tail set, nicely angled at front, equal lengths in the shoulder and upper arm, sound spring of rib, couplings not too long, good muscle tone to 1st and 2nd thigh, neat feet, moved smoothly and presented well. BPIB, P Gp 3. 2. Childs- Redclyst Floras Secret. Very feminine youngster, nicely proportioned head with a lovely eye, correctly set ears, well constructed front, sound scope to the chest with good growing room in well sprung ribs, just enough angulation at the rear, nice clean hocks and pasterns of good length, gentle topline and correct tail set, moved eagerly for the handler, in good condition and presented well.

Junior Bitch (9,2) 1. Evans- Alolfrana Anna Stesia of Tytarva. Nice looking youngster with a good shape to the head, eyes nicely shaped and dark with plenty of expression, good neck falling into neat shoulders that follow through on a gently sloping topline to correct tail set, good spring of rib, nice angulation at rear which showed she had power with drive for a clear and straight movement, coat condition good, presented and handled well. 2. Mesdames C R & A & D Longbottom & Stewart-Ritchie- Gwendariff We’ll Be Phame Us. Strong contender to 1st lovely outline and a very quizzical expression, good eye, correct ear set, nicely flowing through a strong well shaped neck to withers, nicely laid back shoulder, upper arm of equal length to the lay of shoulder which gave the front the angulation desired, good spring of rib, nice proportion to the couplings, gentle slope to topline and correct tail set, good bend of stifle giving correct rear angulation not over exaggerated in length to pasterns, well toned 1st and 2nd thighs, neat tight feet,  in very good condition, movement was positive and straight.

Post Graduate Bitch(11,4). 1. Henderson’s- Sametsuz Believe in Me. Maturing girl in excellent condition, expressive face that could melt you, with a meaningful dark eyes, good neat plains to the head and all in proportion, slight arch to a sound neck falling without falter through a set of well laid shoulders/withers, carrying on through a gentle topline to good onset tail, plenty of front and rear angulation gave the handler an easy job on the move which allowed the dog to flow around the ring, this dog would of pushed hard if there had been a best of bitches 2. Sloane’s- Gwendariff the Purple Star. Younger in appearance than 1st, but still a quality bitch in fabulous condition, nice expression to the face with a good dark eye, correct ear set, nice flow down neck through the shoulders to a good topline finishing at a correct tail set, good angulation to both front and rear quarters, clean tight and well shaped feet, sound spring of rib and short couplings, a little wobbly at the start on the move, but pulled it back once settled.

Limit Bitch (5,1). 1. Hughes- Alolfrana U’are a Diamond. Nice looking Bitch with a lovely outline, good features and expression, nice shape to eye with a good colour, fine arch to neck flowing through shoulders to a good topline correct tail set, angulation at both front and rear is good, well sprung ribbed chest and neat couplings, good width and rounding to croup, muscle tone to 1st and 2nd thigh good, neat pasterns to clean and tight feet, moved well for the handler who presented the dog to a good standard. 2. Sloane’s- Ferasheen Jindea. Different to 1st in appearance with a more feminine head and softer features, all good in proportion and to type with a pleasing soft expression, good well lay to shoulder with an equal length to upper arm giving correct front angulation, nice slight slope to top line flowing to good tail set, well toned thighs which on the move provided the strength to push with ease around the ring, in fabulous condition and presented well.

Open Bitch (4,2). 1. Danks-Kemish- Rappatty Star Light Over Alolfrana JW. This is the 3rd time that I have had the honour of going over this fabulous girl, over the years since she was a puppy she has developed and improved just like a fine wine, her outline is unfaltering, good strong topline, still as sturdy as ever at the rear, still good angulation at both front and rear, well kept excellent feet, good around the croup and well tucked up at the couplings, tone to 1st and 2nd thighs is still strong, movement as before was good and flowed effortlessly , marvellous overall condition was only beaten to BOB by the power and exuberance of the open dog, very close call. RBOB. 2. Stevens- Follybrook Manhattan Star. With a typical Irish Setter face full of expression and glinting eye, plains equal and in proportion with correct ear set, nicely constructed at the front, plenty of well sprung rib, good tail set from a gently sloping topline, rear assembly is sound but could have probably done with being a little more stretched out to get the full effect for a good outline, strength and toning in 1st and 2nd thighs, coat and overall condition was good, little disappointing on the move (lots of smells on the ground) shorter lead  may be the answer.

Judge Graham Hart (Gilliegrae).