Three Counties Agricultural Society

Deerhound

Many thanks to the Three Counties Committee for giving me the opportunity to judge Deerhounds at my local showground, only twenty minutes from home. Due to Covid it’s been four years since I judged the breed so I was very much looking forward to it. As a whole, the quality of the hounds was good and I was very pleased with my principal winners. However, I was quite disappointed that some dogs were dirty. When judging it’s usual to get some of the natural oils from the dogs’ coats on one’s hands, but today my hands were black after judging the dog classes. A more serious fault is that many of the hounds are far too close behind, including some whose hocks were almost brushing together as they moved away from me. These hounds certainly wouldn’t be able to do a day’s work. Deerhounds are an untrimmed breed but there were a few today with visible scissor marks in their coats. I know that “tidying” the coat is sometimes necessary, e.g. to remove dead coat, or tidy a male hound’s undercarriage, but there shouldn’t be any visible scissoring lines. Whilst this is not a handling competition, a good handler can make a huge difference. Dogs aren’t expected to be stacked and standing to attention at all times, but handlers should be aware that the judge could be looking at their dog at any time from the moment they walk into the ring. Several handlers seemed oblivious to me watching them when I asked them to move around the edge of the ring to re-join the end of the line. Also, some were chatting to people inside and outside the ring, completely unaware that I was looking at their hounds. You only have a few minutes in that ring so please make sure you use every second to show your dog to its best advantage. I’ve not mentioned teeth / bite in my critiques as all had the correct scissor bite.

PD: (4) 1. Peach’s Kilbourne Oscar Wilde. Very handsome dark dog. Very raw at only seven months old, but showing lots of promise. Typical soft expression. Balanced angulation with good forechest. Straight front with adequate slope to front pasterns. Good length in his ribbing and correct topline with a rise over his loin. Adequate width behind and moved well. 2. Phillips’ Claonaiglen Affric. Another raw baby at just six months old. Typical head and expression. His ears could be smaller but hopefully he will grow into them. Good amount of bone with correct angulation. Topline is good with a rise over his loin but he flattened a little on the move. Moved well with adequate width behind. 3. Cummings’ Claonaiglen Artney. 

JD: (1) 1. Wragg’s Neroche Kielder. Handsome, dark 13 month old dog enjoying his day out today. Presented a balanced outline. Typical head and expression with neatly folded ears. Good amount of bone without any coarseness. Good topline which he held on the move. Good length from hip to hock. Correct slope to front pasterns. Moved very well with adequate width behind. Very well handled. 

PGD: (5) 1. Quinton’s Kirjojax Harris. Handsome, masculine hound presenting a well balanced outline. Typical soft expression with dark eyes. Good front angulation with correct slope to pasterns. Good topline which he held on the moved. Moved straight and true with good width behind. Won this class on his movement and his fit, well-muscled condition. Looks like he could a day’s work. 2. Thom’s Flaxside A Will To Live. A very handsome, dark hound. Very close decision between first and second. This hound also looks like he could do a day’s work. Workmanlike without coarseness. Balanced outline and a good topline which he held on the move. Good width behind. Moved well but not quite as settled on the move as 1. 3. Taylor’s Ormanstar Dark Shadow. 

LD: (6, 2abs) 1. Lewis’ Greyhawks Romanie Mishto of Luckhurst. Handsome dark dog at full maturity. Looks like he could do a day’s work. Presented a balanced outline, not overdone in any way. Typical head and expression with nicely folded ears. Powerful neck into well-angulated front and good sloping pasterns. Good length from hip to hock with powerful wide hind quarters. Moved with a light and easy action. 2. McKinnon’s Claonaiglen Clachfin. Presented a balanced outline with good angulation front and rear. Very workmanlike hound with plenty of bone. Another who looks like he could do the job for which the breed was intended. Moved well with plenty of width and power in his rear quarters. A close decision between first and second in this class. Just preferred the head and expression of first. 3. Aston’s Balgaled Arlan. 

OD: (3) 1& CC. Kilbourne Merak. Rising four year old hound in his prime. Presented a balanced picture with curves in all the right places. Not flashy or overdone in any way. Very typical head and expression with hazel eyes. Good topline which he held on the move. Good front assembly into sloping pasterns and correct feet. Looks like he could easily do a day’s work. Moved straight and true with good width and power behind. Covered the ground effortlessly. Handled well. Very pleased to award him the CC today. I understand that this was his third. Congratulations! 2 & RCC. Nichols & Baker’s Kensteen Laird of Islay at Ballygrand. Another mature hound who seemed to be enjoying himself today. He presented a balanced outline with plenty of bone without any coarseness. Another who looked like he could do a day’s work. Typical head and expression. Good front assembly with good depth of brisket. Great width behind with plenty of drive. Close decision between first and second, but first was more settled on the move today. He was more settled in the challenge and I was pleased to award him the RCC. 3. Pink’s Greyhawks Romanie Chor. 

VD: (1) 1 & Best Veteran. Steele’s Sorimsway Valient Hero. This rising eight year old is in great condition and seemed to be enjoying his day out. Good head and expression with lovely face furnishings. He has a mature silvery coat with a proper shaggy mane. Good muscle tone and moved very well for his age.

PB: (4) 1 & BP. Lewis’ Luckhurst Whitefeatherfal. Almost twelve months old, ending her puppy career well today. Lovely dark, feminine bitch. Presented a balanced outline with curves in all the right places. Typical soft expression with dark eyes and neatly folded ears. Adequate slope to pasterns into good strong feet. Moved very well, covering the ground effortlessly. Very promising. She showed very well in the puppy group but sadly not selected for the shortlist today. 2. Llewellyn’s Kilbourne Ocean Blue of Matahari NAF. At seven months old she is obviously less mature than the winner, but showing lots of promise. Longer cast than one with plenty of length in her ribbing. She has a lovely head and expression but I would prefer a neater ear. She has a good topline which she held on the move. When settled she moved well. 3. McKinnon’s Claonaiglen Tilt. 

JB: (2, 1abs) 1. Peach’s Kilbourne Flora Macdeva. Attractive, dark hound who seemed to be enjoying her day out. Presented a balanced outline with good angulation front and rear. Very typical head and expression. Strong neck with good forechest. Good slope to pasterns into strong feet. Correct topline which she held on the move. Moved effortlessly. 

PGB: (7, 1abs) 1. Quinton’s Kirjojax Pancho. Upstanding hound, but still feminine and not coarse in any way. Balanced angulation, not overdone and looks like she could do a day’s work. Typical head and expression with dark eyes and good folds to her ears. Good slope to pasterns into strong feet. Good topline which she held on the move. Moved well with plenty of width behind. 2. Thom’s Flaxside Against All Odds. Different type to first. Smaller but perfectly in proportion. Attractive dark hound. Balanced outline with good front and rear angulation. Presented in fit, well muscled condition. Good topline which she held on the move. She won this place on her movement which was effortless with plenty of width and power in her hind quarters. 3. Havercroft’s Kilbourne Lyrae at Dragonsisle. 

LB: (8, 1abs) 1 & RCC. Brodie & Owen’s Wolfscastle Soul Sister. Very attractive, feminine hound in fit, well muscled condition. Presented a typical deerhound outline with curves in all the right places from her head to her tail. Typical head and expression with dark eyes and neatly folded ears. Good angulation with no exaggeration. Good sloping pasterns into neat feet. Excellent width and power in her hind quarters. Moved effortlessly. Well handled. Very close decision between her and the CC winner. Pleased to award her the RCC. 2. Quinton’s Kilbourne Louisa Chick to Kirjojax. Different type to first. Heavier boned but not coarse in any way. Balanced outline with correct topline. Good head and expression with neatly folded ears. Good depth of brisket with plenty of heart room. Presented in fit, well-muscled condition. Her movement won her this place in this class. She moved effortlessly with plenty of width and drive in her hind quarters. 3. Kilgar’s Claonaiglen Strontian Maelstrom. 

OB: (2, 1abs) 1 & CC & BOB. Helps’ Ch Beardswood Ulyssa. Workmanlike hound without an ounce of coarseness. She looks like she could easily do a day’s work. Very well balanced with no exaggeration whatsoever. Beautiful head and typical, soft, faraway expression. Good length to upper arm into straight legs, sloping pasterns and strong feet. Excellent depth of brisket with plenty of heart room. Correct topline which she held on the move. Moved effortlessly with plenty of drive from her strong, broad hindquarters. I see that I awarded her Best Puppy the last time I judged and I was very pleased to award her the CC and BOB today. She showed really well in the hound group but sadly wasn’t selected for the shortlist today. VB: (1,1abs).