• Show Date: 22/04/2022
  • Show Type: Championship Show
  • Judged by: Becky Johnson Contact Judge
  • Published Date: 28/07/2023

West Of England Ladies Kennel Society

Breed: Gundog Group

My sincerest thanks to the Ladies of WELKS for extending me the invitation to judge the Gundog Group at one of my favourite shows and on my favourite show ground. I had a wonderful day and the hospitality was second to none.


From an almost full group I shortlisted the following. English Setter (Sh Ch Gemsett Ice Cold in Alex at Mariglen JW) German Shorthaired Pointer (Sh Ch Barleyarch Pringle JW), Hungarian Vizsla (Sh Ch Layways Van Winkle) Italian Spinone (Sh Ch Affilato All About Me JW), Lagotto Romagnolo, (Mizani Dioro over Savio) Field Spaniel (Sh Ch Nadavin Wenhaver JW) Irish Water Spaniel (Ir Sh Ch Foulby Niamh at Leonardston) Welsh Springer Spaniel (Glenbrows Paramour) and from AVNSC the German Wirehaired Pointer (Bareve Burra Burra Lake).


Group 1 - Hungarian Vizsla Sh Ch Layways Van Winkle JW (Miss E J Miles)

A really sound, well made dog. Beautifully balanced all through. Lean head with moderate stop. Strong, muscular neck leading to well laid shoulder and corresponding length of upper arm. Elbows close to the body. Short back with level topline. Moderate tuck up. Strong, well muscled hindquarters. On the move he is both accurate fore and aft with excellent length of stride when viewed in profile. Handled to advantage - the more I asked the more he gave.


Group 2 - German Shorthaired Pointer. Sh Ch Barleyarch Pringle JW,(Mrs S Harris)

Very well balanced all through. Short backed and standing over a lot of ground as the standard requires. Clean in skull with high set ears. Good length of neck leading to well sloped shoulders. Good depth of chest and well ribbed back. Strong hindquarters with good width of second thigh. Movement out and back totally parallel and good length of stride when viewed in profile.  


Group 3 - English Setter. Sh Ch Gemsett Ice Cold in Alex at Mariglen JW,(Mesdames J, L & D Dennis, Harris & Morgan)

A truly lovely bitch who ticked all the boxes for me. Beautifully balanced all through. Her head is so true to type - lean with well pronounced eyebrows and good depth of muzzle. Long elegant neck, leading to well laid shoulders and equal length of upper arm. Forelegs set well under the body. Well sprung rib with strong loin. Hindquarters long from hip to hock. Straight rear cannons. On the move - the more she went the better she got - really drove round the ring using her tail to advantage.


Group 4 - Italian Spinone. Sh Ch Affilato All About Me JW (Mr L & Mrs C Sharp)

Completed a very good quartet. The first thing you notice about this bitch is her totally correct balance and outline. No mistaking her square profile. Super head with correct planes equal in length from occiput to stop and stop to nose. Moderately short neck leading to well laid shoulder and correct angulation of the upper arm. Good depth of chest. Correct topline. Well made hindquarters with good bend of stifle. Super sound on the move - showing excellent length of stride when viewed in profile and a really good tick tock tail action.


Becky A Johnson