English Springer Spaniel Club

English Springer Spaniel Club Single Breed Championship Show.

7th May 2022

Judge Jan Wood (Ardencote)

Firstly I must thank the Officers and Committee for inviting me to judge this club's championship show for the second time, I previously judged for the ESSC in November 2005. Secondly I would like to thank my two very efficient stewards Sue Aston and Paul Drinkall for keeping the ring running smoothly, last but by no means least I would like to thank the exhibitors for bringing their dogs along for me to judge.

I do not believe in fault judging or damning exhibits in writing, this preamble is based on my interpretation of the Breed Standard and I hope that any negative comments will be taken in the constructive way that they are intended. I do appreciate that since I first awarded CCs in 1985 pretty well all breeds have changed and I was allowing for that, but my overall impression was that this breed has become really quite varied in 'type' and whereas each kennel develops in its own way I would not have expected them to be quite so diverse.

 While some were on or above the upper height requirement others were not as tall but somehow lost their balance by appearing long in body and/or short on the leg. A reminder of the General Appearance clause in the Breed Standard reads 'Symmetrically built, compact, strong, merry, active. Highest on the leg and raciest in build of all British land Spaniels.' Raciest is an interesting bit, my impression of this does not mean that they must be moved round the ring like GSDs, some were moved far too fast in my opinion and in the process top lines sloped and that lovely ESS gait was lost. I do appreciate that if whoever is at the head of the line sets off at top speed it is not easy to set a slightly slower pace yourself when you have an enthusiastic Springer on the end of your lead but when moving individually there is the opportunity to show your dog off at the correct pace. I am not interpreting 'raciest' as a whippet or greyhound but do feel that some exhibits were too cobby and with that cobby appearance came somewhat stuffy necks and round untypical bone. On a positive note, on the whole top lines and tail sets were good, eye colour was better than last time I judged, heads were lovely and only a couple of dogs seemed a little apprehensive.

DCC & BIS Ainsley & Nicklin's Daenerys Blood of the Dragon

BCC & RBIS Corbett's Sh Ch Trimere Taylor Swift

RDCC Walker's Sh Ch Dexbenella Atticus Finch ShCEx

RBCC and BBWIS Hancock's Sh Ch Meadowdale Jedi of Hanknight

BPIB Kibby's Trimere Taylor Maid At Pinhays

BOSPIB Hill's Dexbenella Double Trouble At Teignvalley

BVIS Taubman's Meonstoke Hawthorn

BOSVIS West's Meonstroke Cherry Blossom at Grosbreul

MPD 2

1 Hill's Dexbenella Double Trouble At Teignvalley. A very promising puppy, lovely head with good eye and expression, he is correct through neck lay of shoulder, return of upper arm, topline and tail set. Presented in supper condition with good coat, he moved well when he settled.

2 Walker's Dexbenella Double Oh Seven. Another presented in super coat and condition, he has good breed type and is well made all through, was close to the class winner who is his brother. Another who moved well once he settled.

PD 2

1 Walker's Dexbenella Double Oh Seven.

2 Reynolds' Clentonian Pitch Perfect this young chap is not quite as ready as the class winner but still shows good breed type with lovely head a nice overall shape and correct bone. played his handler up on the move but has plenty of time to learn the game.

JD (1abs)

YD 1

1 Topliss' Beresford Lockdown. Stood alone in this class but thoroughly deserved his place, pleasing head showing good definition and lovely expression, nice for type with good return of upper arm, topline and tail set, strong well made quarters, this exuberant character had excellent side gait.

ND 1

1 Walker's Dexbenella Double Oh Seven

PGD 4

1 Rowlinson's Meltarose Midshipman. L/w tri dog who is nice for size and overall balance he is another with lovely Springer head, good neck and front assembly, correct through topline and tail set, shown in good coat and lovely condition, moved well once he settled.

2 Gledhill's Greg De Les Tres LLacunes (Imp). Good for size and breed type he unfortunately was playing hard to handle and did not show himself off to his best.

3 Richardson & Terry-Richardson's Cherishym Dofida

LD 7 (1 abs)

1 Ainsley & Nicklin's Daenerys Blood of the Dragon. This classic dog caught my eye as he entered the ring. He's just my type of Springer, quality all through with lovely head carried on great reach of neck which flows into well laid shoulders, pleasing return of upper arm, just enough depth of chest and spring of rib, he has a correct topline and tail set, strong well muscled quarters which carried him round the ring with that special Springer gait.

2 Allen & Bott's Trimere Tipping Point of Allenie. This dog was unfortunate to meet the class winner, he is another quality exhibit shown in lovely coat and condition, good all through and moved well.

3 Mitchell's Peasblossom Xanti

OD 3 (1 abs)

1 Topliss' Sh Ch Beresford Night Train. Mature 5 year old dog who is balanced through out, he has a masculine head with good eyes and expression, is well made with correct topline and tail set, strong well developed quarters which helped him move well from all angles.

2 Graham's Peasblossom Valentino unfortunate to meet the class winner this dog is pleasing throughout and sadly did not give his all on the move.

ChD 4 (1 abs)

1 Walker's Sh Ch Dexbenella Atticus Finch ShCEx. A worthy champion this dog has a lovely Springer head with super eyes and expression, he has correct reach of neck with good lay of shoulders and return of upper arms, good through topline, tail set and quarters, correct bone and feet, he moved well from all angles.

2 Eyeington's Sh Ch Meadowdale Daisydale Lightning Bolt. Classy b/w dog who was close up to the winner, he is another with a lovely head, correct eyes and good all through, he had pleasing profile movement.

3 Topliss' Sh Ch Beresford As Good As It Gets

VD 2

1 Taubman's Meonstoke Hawthorn. This nine year old dog was put down in super coat and condition, he is well made all through and moved well from every angle.

2 Morgan's Kennair Dreaming On A Star. Just seven years old this chap was well made and moved with true Springer gait.

SFTD 0

SW 0

GCD 1

1 Such's Trimere Ticks The Box At Mujascal. This six year old is pleasing through head, eyes, neck shoulders and upper arms, correct for topline, bone and feet he has strong well developed quarters which he used to his advantage to move out well.

MPB 4 (2 abs)

1 Walker's Dexbenella Double Take. Very promising pup who has a lovely head with good dark eyes, correct reach of neck that fits neatly into good lay of shoulders and return of upper arm, pleasing topline and strong well developed quarters for her age, she is correct for size and bone and moved well for her age.

2 Hancock's Meadowdale Kellys Heroes To Hanknight. This b/w baby is another quality exhibit and was unlucky to meet the winner, again a lovely head, eyes and expression, correct through neck, front assembly and bone, presented in good coat and condition she moved well from all angles.

PB 6 (2 abs)

1 Kibby's Trimere Taylor Maid At Pinhays. This was my best puppy today, but on another day they could all change places, she is built on racy lines without being tall has a quality Springer head carried on the correct reach of neck which fits well into correct lay of shoulders and return of upper arms, good topline and tail set with enough body for age, she has the correct bone and feet and is good in profile movement.

2 Kibby's Trimere Turn Back Time TAF. L/w tri litter sister to the winner and little separated them, similar remarks apply and they could easily change places another day.

3Weyman'sSpuffing Prosecco

JB 5 (1 abs)

1 Corbett's Trimere Time Flys. Another quality exhibit from this kennel who is good through head , neck and front assembly she has the correct topline and tail set and is presented in good coat and condition, good through thigh and second thigh. Moved well from all angles.

2 Conrad's Strathnaver Starstruck. Another who is good for breed type and was very close up to the winner she is correct all through and just needs a bit more schooling to make the most of her attributes.

3 Pattison's Crackerjanne Cassiopeia

YB 3 (1 abs)

1 Hill's Peasblossom Tupelo Honey With Teignvalley. This b/w tri just oozes quality, she has a lovely head with good dark eyes and melting expression, she presents a balanced over all picture with correct outline, bone and feet, presented in good coat and condition and has good profile movement.

2 Topliss' Sandylands Send My Love. Good through head, neck and front assembly this bitch was presented in lovely coat and condition she has strong well developed quarters which she used to advantage to her advantage on the move.

NB 3 (1 abs)

1 Weyman's Spuffing Prosecco. Raw nine month old baby who has a lovely head, eye and expression, all of the essentials are there she just needs time to complete the picture, moves well in profile.

2 Carr's Alhambian Kirsty Maccoll. I had written in my notes that the first two were similar and could swap places another day, I see that they are by the same sire. She has a true Springer head, is correct through neck, front assembly, bone and feet. Pleasing profile movement.

PGB 12 (4 abs)

1 Simmons' Dexbenella Frivolity. This bitch is lovely for breed type, she has a super head, eyes and expressions, is good for size, bone and feet, has the correct reach of neck which fits well into correct lay of shoulders and return of upper arms, good through topline and strong quarters which she used to her advantage in profile movement.

2 Taubman's Meltarose Madeleine At Meonstoke. Another quality Springer bitch who is good for breed type and was close up to the winner, I feel sure that they could change places another day.

LB 7 (3 abs 1 wd)

1 Lillie's Freeway Fortune. Lovely quality chiselled head with correct eyes she presents a balance picture with correct angles fore and aft, super coat and condition, moves well from all angles.

2 West's Grosbreuil Abricot Regal. Another who is good through head and overall type she was unfortunate to meet the winner, lovely correct profile movement.

3 Hipgrave's Ternspringer Jazz Singer

OB 5 (1 abs)

1 Corbett's Sh Ch Trimere Taylor Swift. This l/w tri bitch caught my eye as she entered the ring and did not disappoint on close inspection. She has a true Springer head with lovely dark eyes and super expression, her head is carried on arched neck which fits well into correct lay of shoulders and return of upper arms, topline has just the right amount of arch over the loin and correct tail set, strong well muscled quarters, correct bone and feet complete a lovely picture standing, she did not disappoint on the move going well from all angles.

2 Hydon's Clentonian Pandemonium. This quality b/w has to be gone over to be appreciated, she is all Springer with a lovely head and dark eyes, correct neck, shoulders and upper arms, good through topline, tail set and quarters she has correct bone and feet and a gleaming coat, moved well in all directions.

3 Topliss' Sh Ch Beresford Night Class

ChB 3

1 Hancock's Sh Ch Meadowdale Jedi of Hanknight. Lovely through head, eyes and expression, correct through neck and front assembly she has a nice topline and tail set with strong well developed quarters, is good for body, bone and feet. Moved well once she settled.

2 Smith's Sh Ch Melverly Lil Dancer. Another with a lovely correct head, eyes and expression this bitch is balanced all through, in super coat and condition, moved well.

3 Havard's Sh Ch Trimere Time To Shine Among Teignvalley

VB 3 (1 abs)

1 West's Meonstroke Cherry Blossom at Grosbreul. Nine years young this bitch used her strong quarters to move out well round the ring and was true coming and going, she has a correct head and eyes with good reach of neck and front assembly.

2 Richardson & Terry-Richardson's Cherishym Chara. Another nine year old this bitch was good for size and type, she has correct head, neck and bone, good forequarters and quarters with correct topline and tail set she moved well in profile.

FTB 0

WB 0

GCB (1 abs)