Bath Canine Society

BLOODHOUNDS - BATH CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 30/5/22

I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge on this beautiful showground & my wonderfully efficient stewards for their hard work. I was asked to judge here as a replacement back in January, so way before entries closed, but as the schedule didn’t actually name me as the judge, I hope no one got a shock on the day!

Long before I judged – or exhibited a bloodhound- I spent a lot of time working with them professionally, so absolutely at the core of my assessment is ‘is the dog fit to carry out its function?”. Overall I think most here could have done a day’s work and ended the day sound, and my top winners certainly could – a factor that is critical to me when signing the ‘green cards’.

PGD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: PENNINGTON’S Moorlander Guy Laroche – I would like to congratulate this exhibitor on presenting a hound in top condition with excellent ring training & superb presentation – these last 2 factors obviously don’t affect construction or working ability, but they certainly make the dog easier & more pleasant to judge! When I said I was impressed during the critique writing the handler said she was a novice – well there was nothing novice about the ring preparation, it was better than a number of more experienced exhibitors. He is masculine without being exaggerated in head, narrow with correct length and an acceptable eye. Good length of neck flowing into shoulders with sufficient angulation. He could perhaps be a little longer in body but he has adequate depth of chest for age. His quarters still need to develop but they have sufficient angulation. In good muscular condition with strong pasterns. He showed easy movement with good drive, keeping his topline & good tail carriage. At only 2 years he needs time to mature & develop but today he had sufficient quality to justify his Res CC.

LD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: MCKENZIE’s Moorlander Dior – B&T litter brother to the winner of the previous class but rather different in type being much heavier & more finished in body; clearly a male in head with correct mouth & pigment; over all he has typical proportions with correct length of neck to body , sufficient layback of shoulder but would prefer more upper arm; not holding his topline so well today and tail set could be better; ok hind angulation with hocks well let down . Bone appropriate for size, front feet still need to knuckle up , moved with drive.

OD (4 Entries) Abs: 2

PRIESTLEY,’S Maplemead Malazar Of Quikotic – 3 yr old, upstanding male with excellent balance, giving the impression of the requisite power standing over the correct amount of ground . Long narrow masculine head with ok eyes, thin soft ears , good pigment & dentition. Good neck going into a well laid shoulder, level topline, sufficient hind angulation. Well knuckled feet, strong pasterns and correct bone. Movement is typical of the breed with good drive – I just so wish he would use his tail on the move to complete the outline. He exudes the nobility and solemnity required by the standard but could I perhaps suggest he watches some of the excellent documentaries shown about the Queen over the jubilee weekend – she demonstrates both characteristics but also shows you can enjoy yourself too! I suspect he’d prefer to be out tracking than posing in the ring. He won the CC with more than a bit in hand today– certainly a worthy champion.

2nd: CUDLIP’S Harvidene In The Getto - smaller male but still masculine. Soon to be 7 yrs he is showing his age and I’m not sure whether he was thrilled at being back in the ring or rather put out at being required to be asked to show himself off – he certainly wasn’t helping his handler, or me as the judge! His overall head shape was OK but would prefer a better eye. Good shoulder & well bent muscular hind quarters, with a good depth of chest. Today he just wasn’t demonstrating the balance I was looking for and I’m sure on another day could have moved better.

MPB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: CLARK’S, Boru's Element Of Surprise At Farlap (imp Can) NAF – well what an exciting young lady to start the bitches with. I think even those who perhaps wouldn’t normally fall for the bloodhounds charms would have been capitivated by her today. At 6 mths & 5 days she was so confident and unflustered. Lovely feminine head with an absolutely perfect eye – the best here today, thin, soft ears of required length, good mouth. Well laid shoulder, level topline, spring or rib & depth absolutely age appropriate; correctly angulated quarters with well let down hocks. Good bone and carrying the correct amount of weight. Her movement was outstanding – good for any age let alone a puppy. I don’t give green cards to puppies in any breed lightly, and certainly not in a breed that requires time and maturity. At 6 mths she obviously needs time grow and mature to become the finished article but her exceptional effortless movement gave her the RCC over the older girls. Also BP & was pleased that, at the end of what must have been a long day for her, she was shortlisted in the puppy group.

PB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: BURNSIDE’S, Blistatelnaya Xenia Iz Doma Markovyh (Imp Rus) – at 9 mths this young lady is well grown and certainly fulfils the ‘standing over more ground..’ requirements of the standard . Obviously, a bitch, her head is long and narrow with correct planes, long neck with sufficient shoulder angulation good length of body. Slightly long in second thigh and needs to strengthen in rear pasterns, as she was tending to pull her hocks in today . Good drive and front movement but the immaturity in hind quarters showed in her rear movement, Overall at the moment she is looking rather ‘gangly’ and slightly ‘teenagery’ – which are certainly not ‘faults’ as with time she will undoubtedly muscle and firm up, but clearly it affects judging ‘on the day’ . One who will take time to mature and fulfil her potential and I look forward to seeing how she develops.

Class 3065 PGB (1 Entries) Abs: 1

Class 3066 LB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: CLARK’s Farlap Miss Konduct- my star of the day, typical of the breed, correct outline & balance, excellent movement, shown & presented to advantage & the most lovely temperament – what more could I ask for? 2 yrs liver & tan bitch, feminine head with correct planes, sufficient stop and good depth of muzzle, correct ears framed her head well, good length of neck, well laid shoulder, well sprung ribs with her length of back coming from the length of rib , and a good strong loin; well-muscled quarters , good strong pastern. Correct amount of bone & good body. Movement was easy & accurate with good drive & excellent tail carriage. Coat in top condition. Sometimes when you read your critique back you realise you, perhaps write less about your top winner but it’s quite simple - all in all, she was today, the ‘complete package’. CC & BOB

Class 3067 OB (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 6183 HOWIE’S, & EMRYS-JONES’, Ch Marksbury Hessie- the ‘grand dame ‘of the entry today, at 5 years she is fully mature and oozed dignity. She is certainly built for power. Heavier in head than the other bitches here today, she was still obviously a bitch with correct depth & proportions. Generally well made with a well-developed chest and strong loin. Moved with good drive. As always with this exhibitor presented to get the best out of her. A worthy champion and one I have done well before. In the final analysis just didn’t have the accuracy in hind movement of the green card winners.

2nd: BURNSIDE, & MANLEY’s , HOUNDSEEKER BEWITCHED (A.I.) – 3 ½ yrs bitch – wow was she pleased to be out! A bigger girl than 1, she has proportions as asked for in the breed standard & presents a typical outline. Long narrow head with good pigment. Good length of neck, adequate shoulder angulation, level topline & good quarters. Good bone & feet. Sadly, she was her own worse enemy and just would not settle to move – pacing & crabbing in spite of being given several chances to get her act together.

Helen Almey (Judge)