Driffield Championship Dog Show

Many thanks to the committee of this lovely show for the opportunity to judge 2 new breeds within the Pastoral Group, a day I had been looking forward to for some time; the Lancashire Heeler and the Polish Lowland Sheepdog. Thank you so much to my lovely stewards Lianne and Claire who kept the day running so smoothly, you were both extremely efficient. I was desperately sad to see such unkindness and bad sportsmanship in both breeds, is this what our hobby has been reduced to? those exhibitors know who they are and I would ask that you review your behaviour in the ring before you enter another show, this is a hobby and we have a common aim to enjoy our day.

LANCASHIRE HEELER

VD 1(0)

1. Simpson’s Ch. Coppercoat’s Cruiser Among Simonsville JW. 8 year old, masculine head with good ear set and muzzle, flat skull, good bone and nicely proportioned body, good angulation and level top-line, well set tail and carriage, active and purposeful on the move.

PD 2(0)

1. Felstead’s Lankeela You Go Boss at Foveaux. Very smart young liver dog of 7 months, appealing in head with a lovely alert expression, good eye colour toning well with coat, excellent temperament and very confident, lovely make and shape, lovely angulation and correct bone, he moved out with purpose and was very tidy on the move, I’m sure this young man has a very promising future, BP.

2. Griffin’s Simonsville Fenwick. Sadly this young dog of 9 months was very reluctant to be touched making it a difficult job to assess him, he had a lovely head and expression with well set ears and flat skull, he was nicely balanced when he settled on the move and looked pleasing in outline, presented in excellent condition.

JD 1(0)

1. McBride’s Utthanshaven Wolf Moon Man. 18 months old, masculine head and expression with dark eye and good ear set, nicely angulated all through with substance, would have preferred a better tail carriage which I felt spoilt the overall picture but he moved out well with purpose.

SBD 2(0)

1. McBride’s Utthanshaven Wolf Moon Man. 1st in JD. BSpB.

2. Griffin’s Simonsville Fenwick. 2nd in PD.

PGD 2(0
1. Gaskell’s Skipest Yorkshire Pride. Nicely presented male of 22 months, liver, nice outline standing and moving, strong neck and shoulders, good bone, lovely tail set and carriage, he moved out with vigour and purpose, in excellent coat and condition.

2. Simpson’s Animalcompaniets Valpares Cowboy via Simonsville. 4 year old male who didn’t want to cooperate with his handler today, masculine head where I would have preferred a better eye, good ear set, good body proportions and outline standing, not in the best of coats today and was moved too slowly to evaluate his movement properly.

LD 2(0)
1. Swann’s Taigwynion Jonny’s Boy at Swanndale. Very smart young man of just 17 months who I liked very much, he was very masculine in head, bordering on too strong but he had a dark eye, correctly set ears and a flat skull, he was nicely angulated all through and had a sound, level top-line, well ribbed back with a short, strong loin, he was presented in immaculate condition with good muscle tone, he moved out purposely with a brisk stride, delighted to award him the DCC, which I was told was his 3rd, many congratulations.

2. Dawes’ Leyeside Mister Pinhaw at Daweslean. Another nice Heeler of 2 years, less strong in head than 1 and not as tidy on the move today but he had an appealing head, dark eye and well set ears, strong neck and shoulders, had a nice outline standing and moving with good rib and short loin, would like a better tail carriage.

OD 2(0)

1. Fairest’s Ch. Henson Fairest Lad. A dog I judged as a youngster, now nearly 7 years, strongly made and very masculine but lovely to go over, alert, keen expression, dark eye and good ears, he had a nice outline moving and was nicely angulated all through, good rib length and short loin, well muscled throughout, had a tendency to let his top-line go standing but a worthy winner of the RDCC.

2. Dawes’ Leyeside Mister Wilds at Daweslean. 4 years old and a lovely example with rich tan markings, carrying a lot of excess weight on his neck spoiling his outline and not as tidy as 1 on the move, masculine head with lovely expression, would prefer a better eye shape, he had a sound top-line and moved out well with purpose, he was presented in excellent condition.

VB 2(0)

1. Huck’s Ch. Leyeside Miss Bonnie. I loved this veteran of 8 years when she entered the ring, she ticked all the boxes for me as to what a true Heeler should be, loved her, good breed type, very feminine and expressive head, flat skull, good ear set and carriage, lovely dark eye, rich tan markings, she was a lovely outline both standing and moving, she moved with a steady but brisk movement and had a lovely temperament, a beautiful bitch who I think can continue her winning ways despite her advancing years, absolutely delighted to award her the BCC & BOB, on the day richly deserved.

2. Webster’s Millirenn Margarita. This 9 year old bitch wasn’t as good in head or front as my winner and would have liked better angulation overall, she had a very feminine head with dark eye and good muzzle, a sound level top-line and a beautiful temperament, her tail never stopped wagging.

PB 1(0)

1. Cutler’s Lankeela Frosty Knickers. Lovely young bitch of 7 months who was so feminine in head, lovely temperament, dark almond eye and the correct amount of width and depth to her skull at this stage, lovely bone and a really nice outline moving and standing, correct angulation and sound top-line, when she focused she moved out with confidence, today there were too many distractions on the ground, in fabulous coat and condition.

JB 2(0)

1. Davies’ Taigwynion Freya Sadie in Ronleydon. Beautifully balanced bitch of 15 months, feminine head and expression, flat skull, lovely dark eye, liked her proportions, bone and overall angulation, sound top-line, if moved a little faster I think we would see a huge overall performance, she showed some sound movement and has lots of promise.

2. Simpson’s Simonsville Edmee. Not the substance, make or shape of 1 but this bitch of 13 months had a nice feminine head with dark eye, good bone, fair angulation and overall conformation, quite untidy on the move and I would have liked her coat to be in better condition. 

1. Webster’s Brockbrae Bonny In Black. Would have liked better body proportions on this 5 year old bitch, feminine head where I would like a better eye shape, fair angulation in front and rear, top-line could be better, she moved out ok but was presented in lovely coat and condition. 

OB 3(0)

1. Felstead’s Ch. Selestar Salix Lutea with Foveaux. Quality bitch of 3 years with lots of attributes, very feminine expressive head with lovely dark eye, flat skull and lovely ear set, at one with her handler, good pigment, very sound all through with correct angulation, good bone and soundly made, she moved out well, was just carrying a little too much weight today but pleased to award her the RBCC.

2. Simpson’s Princess Polyanna from Simonsville. 4 year old bitch with feminine head and expression, dark eye, strong neck and shoulders with good top-line, good tail set and carriage, would have preferred a better coat as she had a lot of under coat showing through, moved out ok.

3. Davies’ Black Rose in Ronleydon.