Windsor Dog Show Society

Sincere thanks and appreciation to the organisers for giving me the opportunity to judge Best in Show for the Windsor Dog Show Society and for their very warm welcome and hospitality on the day. It was an immense pleasure to see the return of this popular, prestigious, and quintessentially English summer show held in the shadow of Windsor Castle to the calendar after an unavoidable absence of two years enforced by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The recent adoption of a revised protocol for Kennel Club Board Directors mandated that the Griffon Bruxellois, Donzeata Royal Attraction, the winner of the Toy Group should withdraw from further consideration on this occasion.

The six exhibits that came forward to the final competition were the Pharaoh Hound, Int Ch Dk Swed N Ch Bazinga Gonna Be A Mighty King; the Standard Poodle, Ch Huffish Rewrite The Stars with Atastar; the Smooth Fox Terrier, Ch Kanix Quintus; the Bouvier Des Flandres, Sennah Damy vd Vanenblickhoeve; the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Ch Penliath Bill Me Later; and the Curly Coated Retriever, ShCh Brightmeadow Never Say Die.

The line-up was impressive and a pleasure to judge, each finalist being, well chosen, and a worthy representative of their respective breed. At this level of competition, presentation, showmanship, and star quality as well as excellence of breed type contribute to the outcome. Having completed the individual assessment of exhibit I sent them round once together before announcing my decision.

I had no hesitation in awarding the accolade of Best in Show, to the Standard Poodle who reminded me so very much of his dam SU Ch Da Maya Huffish Copyright Woman who was my choice for Best in Show at Bournemouth in 2015. He oozes breed type and character with a classical head, eye, and expression, excellent body shape, symmetry, and construction, and moves with true Poodle style and carriage. It was an absolute pleasure to give him this well-deserved award in good company.

My choice for Reserve Best in Show was the Smooth Fox Terrier. He was skilfully, presented in great bloom and condition to advantage. He was pleasing to go over, being active and lively with bone and strength in small compass with no hint of coarseness or being cloddy, appearing neither leggy nor too short in leg, short-backed and covering his ground well on the move.