Three Counties Agricultural Society

Three Counties Championship Show

June 10th 2022

Afghan Hounds

It was a pleasure to judge my favourite breed, on the grass with the backdrop of the

Malvern Hills on a sunny day. My Ring Stewards, Anne and Barry, were so helpful,

especially when a gust of wind played havoc with my judging book! I shall stick my

neck out and say the quality of the hounds has not deteriorated even if the numbers

have lessened. There were no poor exhibits, but someone has to be last in the line.

Some dogs will have off days when it’s frustrating for both handler and judge. I hope

I gave everyone equal chances to get the best out of their dog on the day.

Minor Puppy Dog - No Entries

Puppy Dog - 1 entry Absent

Junior Dog (2)

1) Gosling - AYOUBKHAN SILK ROAD

s.m. cream age 14 months. Produce of a well matched mating. Very promising

medium size dog who demands attention. Wilful teenager at the moment, but a

pleasure to handle and to watch when he moves. No exaggerations. Sufficient

masculinity in head and expression. Good pigment. Forward gazing in action, firm

fronted, elbows held well, good length of rib cage and spring of rib. Exact balance

everywhere. Ring tail set on correct croup. Large feet with exact foot placement;

spring and drive.

2) Peek-Matar – YANSUKHIM’S SHERBET FIZZ

Black brindle age 12½ months. Has his parents’ outgoing temperament. Tall leggy

lad with pleasing, balanced outline when stacked. Correct skull proportions with dark

well shaped eyes, leading to good length of neck and correct shoulder placement.

He has adequate upper arm but the front movement is still loose at this age. Good

length from hip to hock with potential for drive as he settles more. Tail set OK but tail

itself not ringed as yet.

Yearling Dog (4)

1) Gosling - AYOUBKHAN SILK ROAD

2) Newton – SHIMALMA JABERMEISTER

Shaded masked cream age 21 months. Blessed with classic coat texture and text

book head. So different in type to class winner – a leggy lad with a big stride but

decided today not to make the most of his head carriage when moving which was

disappointing for the judge! On handling, this dog has desired expression, lengthy

neck, deeper chest than 1, strong loin, good fallaway and feathered ring tail. Good

length from hip to hock which corresponds well with front action. Well worth waiting

for.

3) Hills’ and Thornton’s – ABSOLUTE AFGHANS DJIBOUTI OF KARNAK Jw. (imp.

Norway)

Post Graduate Dog (4)

1) Hopper and Finch – ZANDAHAR XTRAORDINARY ME AT ZINZANI Jw.

Black and brindle age 4 years

Very impressive, heavily coated hound. He has a regal bearing which attracted me to

him. Strong in head for all the right reasons – good underjaw and expression. Very

pleased to find a deep well sprung rib cage with level topline and strong loin carrying

perfect weight. Looks shorter coupled than some I placed today but he has such

satisfying movement, so his proportions must be correct. All finished off with a tight

ring tail and great coat presentation.

2) Shaw – SEOLDIN THE PEACOCK

Shaded masked gold age 2¾ years

Slightly longer cast than 1and with similar powerful, eyecatching movement but

moved closer behind and slightly finer in head than 1. Quite a character. Beautifully

presented.

3) McClay – CLOUDSIDE SUNKING

Limit Dog (7 – 2 Absent)

1) James – SYDARA DARJEELING CHAI OF SIMKHAN

Shaded masked red age 2¾ years

An example of Afghan breed points which I appreciated. No flash, but so much that

breeders don’t want to lose when breeding. This willing, happy show dog can move

so correctly, demonstrating power and agility. He carries the correct body weight and

is well muscled. Perfectly presented silken coat with natural saddle. Kindly handled.

Definitely masculine but not heavy in head, with oriental dark eye has chiselling

which we should try to keep. Low set ears, strong neck and level topline, good croup

and well set ring tail. Ribcage nicely sprung and loin strong. His outline is

proportioned correctly for height and length. Well angled fore and rear quarters with

sloping pasterns and big fore feet and low set hocks. Head and tail carriage held

correctly standing and when moving. C.C. Winner

2) Lancashire and O’Donnell – DRISHAUN STAR AMONG LILIES Jw.

Red brindle aged 4 years.

Gleaming condition of coat and body as always from this kennels’ hounds.

Handsome headed rangy boy – loved his eye and expression. Another with good

chest width and depth and well balanced angles. Lost out to winner on lift when

moving today.

3) Abrey – KARAGEZ TAME THE WORLD

Open Dog (5 – 1 Absent)

1) Bloor – PASHTARI LORD BYRON

Black and tan aged 6 years.

One of several exhibits whose show careers suddenly came to a grinding halt due to

Covid restrictions. I liked him 3 years ago and my opinion of him has not changed,

and maturity suits him. He has such balanced, honest construction. I am familiar with

his sire’s offspring and he is such a good example of the substance and type that is

useful for our breed. Head and chiselling with pride in himself. Good fore chest, deep

rib cage and strong loin. Correct angles front and rear. Ringed tail carried well. Light

on his feet and true in movement. Unlucky to start feeling the heat in the challenge

for C.C. and so deserved the Reserve C.C.

2) Lancashire and O’Donnell – Ch. DRISHAUN FAIR AS A LILY Jw. Shcex Osw

Self masked cream aged 4 years

Delighted to see the success of this dog since I awarded him a first place as a puppy

3 years ago. I’m glad a self masked cream male can be recognised as masculine!

He has an excellent frame to work from. Super expression and attitude.

Pigmentation is pleasing, coat and body condition is perfect. Outline is flowing and

balanced so movement is correspondingly correct in profile and coming and going

away.

3) Gardner – Ch. DRISHAUN SAID TIGER TO LILY

Veteran Dog (1)

Chadwick – SOFICO GRAFFETI

Black masked gold age 7 years.

Presented in great condition and reminiscence of his dam for type. Refined in head

but suiting his elegant construction.

Minor Puppy Bitch - No entries

Puppy Bitch – No entries

Junior Bitch (7 – 1 Absent)

1) Parsons – AYOUBKHAN HONEYSUCKLE TO SHUKRIYA Jw.

Self masked cream of 14 months.

This little madam stacks herself perfectly and that’s when her perfect front angulation

is so easy to see, she also looks good from the front with foot placement and elbows

just so. Fractionally longer in back than her litter brother class winner. Hind

angulation to co-ordinate with front with low set hocks, producing reach, drive and

lift. Her tail is ringed and well set. Very feminine, and she is ‘pretty’, but along with

this her expression and eye shape are exotic with good pigmentation. Her skull is

balanced with enough underjaw. Good neck leading to good shoulder and back line.

2) Gunn and Cannon – KARAGEZ KARTINA MASLOM AT ZUSHKHAN (Imp)

Black and cream aged 18 months.

This bitch was a hot contender for this class. Slightly heavier boned, nice size and

very feminine. Gleaming saddle and pleasing coat texture. Plenty of heart room and

strong loin. Another who could lift and reach well being light on her feet.

3) Kirk-Vickers – GEARDELE TIME TO SHINE AT ISTANI

Yearling Bitch (5 – 1 Absent)

1) Milligan-Bott and Bott – MEDAWLARK ATTITUDE IS KEY THE WONES

THENDARA (Imp Rus)

Black and tan aged 22 months

Very smart, nice size, body frame and substance. Good under jaw. Excellent width of

front and spring of rib. Ringed tail nicely set. Once settled in her stride she is a joy to

watch.

2) Tanner and Link – RHAJIKHAN ATHEN OF ALEYAZAR

Brindle aged 19 months – Totally different type to 1. Bigger frame and big

personality. Very pleasing to go over, especially good ribbing and very forceful

movement.

3) Collyer-Todd – SHIMALMA KAMORA

Post Graduate Bitch (5 – 1 Absent)

1) Smart – GEZANCOL KISSED BY AN ANGEL

Black and silver aged 2 years 9 months.

Medium sized, well boned bitch with plentiful silky coat. Very pleasing head, being

feminine and correctly proportioned with dark triangular eyes. Reachy neck going to

level topline. Long sloping shoulder scored well in this class. Matched with her front

and rear angulation, her movement is very sound. Good ring tail carried correctly.

2) Lancashire and O’Donnell – DRISHAUN SAY SHE AIN’T GAZON (A.I.) Jw.

Domino aged 4 years who I was pleased to judge again. Such an elegant bitch.

Stunning head and expression with wonderful pigmentation. Sensibly angulated, and

with the sloping pasterns to produce required springy gate. Strong topline, well

ribbed with well set tail. Perfect condition.

3) Hughes – GEZANCOL FALLEN FROM GRACE

Limit Bitch (8 – 1 Absent)

Terrific class of Afghans

1) Rhodes – SHADOWFAX THREEPENNY OPERA Jw.

Domino aged 4 years.

She just has everything I wanted. Her handler allowed her to move at a sensible

pace so her gait could be seen to be correct and at the point of standing this bitch

stacks herself perfectly. Blessed with a silky coat, naturally saddled and beautifully

presented. Carries correct body weight, is well boned and muscled. Another domino

with super pigmentation to enhance her expression. She looked splendid when

representing our breed in the Group ring. C.C. and B.O.B. well done.

2) Hedge – UNSTOPPABLE HAPPY GO LUCKY (AI) (Imp Sweden)

Black and brindle 3 years old who lives up to her name. Compact bitch, with similar

breeding to class winner. Very enthusiastic mover, light as a feather and covering

lots of ground. Very good head qualities – not too broad in back skull and with good

muzzle, underjaw and dark triangular eyes. Good pro sternum. Elbows nicely held to

her side. Balanced angulation and height to length ratio. Finished off with a happy

raised tail. Reserve C.C winner.

3) Lancashire and O’Donnell – DRISHAUN CONSIDER THE LILY Jw.

Open Bitch (4 – 1 Absent; 1 Withdrawn)

1) James – Ch GILARI VERMILLION VENUS Jw.

Red aged 6 years still showing with great enthusiasm. Powerful bitch in great

condition, body, coat and movement. Long strong skull, good shoulder and return of

upper arm, level topline, good croup and sweeping hindquarters. Achieves great

length of stride.

2) O’Donnell – DRISHAUN FAITH IS LIKE A LILY FOR JAVIDAN Jw.

Gold brindle 4 years old. Smaller build than 1. Very attractive head features and

again in beautiful bloom and all over condition. Not quite the thrust in her movement

although she covers the ground well with a pleasing springy gait.

Veteran Bitch (4)

1) Link – Int. Ch. Ned. POPOV’S BORA BORA AT ORASHAN Jw

Shaded masked red aged 8 years. Showed her socks off today. In top condition.

Firm topline, deep chest, free striding action. Eager expression from her lovely head,

Ring tail when on the move. What a career she has been enjoying!

2) Peek-Matar – SLEEPY HOLLOW AT YANSUKHIM (Imp) Jw SHCM

Red brindle 7½ years old. Still taking over the ring in just a few strides. Keen

expression from long skull with dark eyes. Would prefer a bit more stop. Long, strong

neck. Good topline and fallaway. Strong hindquarters. In good muscular condition

following her litter.

3) Adams – ZANDAHAR JUST TIGER LILY Jw SHCM

Mary Fisher - Judge