United Spaniel Association

United Spaniel Association Open Show – 23rd April 2022

What an honour to be invited to judge Varieties and Best In Show at this unique Association’s Anniversary show. The specials and glassware on offer to winners will surely be treasured for years to come. Anyone with a genuine interest in showing spaniels should make this a fixture in their diary.

On the day, I was asked to step in and judge Irish Water Spaniels and Spanish Water dogs.

From a top quality line up, I short listed the Welsh Springer and Clumber, both super examples of their respective breeds, looking and going well. My Best in Show winner was the young black cocker Pearce’s Kenwad Black Grouse at Miska, took my eye immediately for his overall quality and balance. Masculine head with lovely shape and plenty of work, well angulated shoulders and straight front. Well-proportioned body with good width and firm short couplings. Strong quarters with good angulation. Stood square. In lovely coat and condition. Moved well at the correct speed. Reserve was my BoB IWS Busby’s Sh Ch Stanegate Leading Role at Zakby

The Best Puppy line up was also full of quality, Best Puppy In Show was Kibby’s ESS, Trimere Turn Back Time. Litter brother to the AV Puppy winner. Presented a balanced outline. Good head, not over done in any way. Well laid shoulders, good length of rib and firm loins. Good width to his second thigh. Moving well. It will be interesting to see how he develops. Close up in Reserve was Thomas’ WSS Bowdonia Truly Scrumptious looking even better than when I recently judged her. Balanced in head with good clean neck and well-made front. Good length and depth of body. Good width to her well angulated quarters. Moving true both ways showing good reach in profile.

Best Veteran was Bennett’s Field Sh Ch Nadavin Ursella with Jesham. Worthy Champion to win this hotly contested award Well constructed though. She has a balanced head with good length of muzzle, well angulated shoulders, elbows nicely tucked in. Good rear angulation. She was turned out in good body and moved to advantage.

Spanish Water Dogs

Junior (1)

1 Wood’s Chanderhill Eagle Eye At 16 months is well grown and well boned through. Good width to the skull. Clean neck of good length. In lovely muscular condition. Moved feely and easily round the ring. RBOB

Post Grad

1 Thompson’s Kurlibears September Truffle Attentive and willing 18 month old. Balanced head with alert expression. Good neck and shoulders. Well ribbed. Super quarters with good width and well-turned stifles. Best of Breed.

2 Wood’s Chanderhill Eagle Eye

Irish Water Spaniels

Puppy (2, 1 abs)

1 Douglas’ Daffydown Dilly Promising girl of 11 months with a lovely head and expression. Good neck leads into well angulated shoulders. Straight in front and correct in topline, she has a good width to her quarters. She moved freely just needs to cooperate with her handler to show her many virtues to advantage. Best Puppy.

Graduate (5, 4)

1 Wilson’s Cambridgcurl Calypso at Eldarrah 15 moths, my notes say, alert, attentive and full of fun! Well balanced in head with good ear placement. Straight front of good width. Well boned though. Level in topline. Moved well but inconsistent due to exuberance. In lovely coat.

Open (5)

1 Busby’s Sh Ch Stanegate Leading Role at Zakby Mature 4 year old in full coat, presenting a super outline standing and moved so well. Balanced head with good eyes and ears. Straight, well boned front with enough width. Well ribbed with muscular loins giving a firm topline. Strong in quarters. Hocks are well let down. Best of Breed and showed well later to take RBIS in a strong line up.

2 Andrews and Blades’ Sh Ch Eldarrah Clash of Kings For Antdela Anothergood one worthy of his title. Lovely head with good neck and well placed shoulders. Balanced inbody with strong couplings. In good coat and well presented. Not as together on the move today.RBOB

3 Roberts’ Tsar of Dee Stronger in head that the two above but still balanced. A little longer in body but well-made nonetheless. Moved straight and true. Looked well in profile.

Varieties

Minor Puppy (4)

1 West’s Cocker Sheigra Super Secret Sweet 6 months looking just right for her age. Balanced head with good neck and shoulders, elbows nicely tucked in. Lovely topline. Well angulated quarters with correct set on of tail. In lovely coat and condition. Very promising.

2 Ainsley Nicklin and Gardiner’s ESS Barecho Cover Girl Also 6 months, Balanced in head with typical expression. Clean neck of good length. Straight in front with good layback of shoulder. Firm in topline. She has good width to her quarters. Moved well in profile.

3 Weyman’s ESS Spuffing Prosecco

Puppy (8)

1 Kibby’s ESS Trimere Taylor Maid at Pinhays Really fell for this 11 months girl, litter sister to BPIS winner. Full of quality and so balanced through. She has a lovely head with plenty of work for her age. Clean neck and well angulated shoulders. Good length and depth to her ribs and firm couplings give a correct topline. Well rounded quarters with developed second thigh and hocks are well let down. She moved with drive and purpose. Should go on to do very well

2 Thomas’ WSS Bowdonia Truly Scrumptious RBPIS

3 Brothwell’s Cocker Wissant dear Darlin

Junior (10)

1 Wright’s Cocker La Scales Berlin with Chazbaz At 13 months is coming along nicely and looks the part. Balanced in head with enough stop and well placed ears. Strongly built in body but is so balanced. Clean neck and well laid shoulders. Well developed in chest and firm in topline. He has well angulated quarters with a good turn of stifle. Moved well when settled.

2 Stevenson’s WSS Mymmsbrook Matador with Blythway Super young lad of 12 months. Everything is there it just needs time to bring it out. Not as forward as the winner here. loved his head, so welsh in appearance. Good body proportions and well angulated quarters. Should make a good one!

3 Hutton Baber’s Cocker Esqueen Following Star at Babtonkelpie

Yearling (2)

1 Sheppard’s Clumber Star Fidelis Isle of Sancerre Among Whissgig At 16 months has a good head thoughtful expression and correct bite. Strong neck leads to well placed shoulders. Well ribbed for her age and carrying correct amount of body. Stifles are well bent and she has good width to her second thigh. A bit unsettled on the move but showed plenty of quality.

2 Thompson’s SWD Kurlibear September Truffle

Post grad (9)

1 Thorogood’s Clumber Anbrook Don’t Stop Me Now at Harrifield Strong 2 year old that I have liked previously. Did not see anything today to change my mind! Strongly built masculine through with well-proportioned head. He has a strong neck of good length, well angulated shoulders and good width through his ribs. Strong quarters with a decent turn of stifle and correct set on of tail.

2 Brothwell’s Cocker Wissant Uptown Girl Lovely headed 2 year old with good eyes and well placed ears. She is balanced in body and moved to advantage. Just needs to fill out a bit and coat will complete the picture.

3 Williams and Toublic’s ESS Cobhay Fancy Phlox

Open Dog (5)

1 McCann’s WSS Slapestones Tidal Force this 7 year old presented a balanced outline. Refined in head with good reach of neck and well laid shoulders. Well boned legs and correct feet. Good length of rib and in good body. He has strong quarters with plenty of width and lovely angulation. Showed well today.

2 Brothwell and Bayliss’ Cocker Wilanorah Ticket to the Moon balanced in head with lovely typical expression. Clean neck of good length leads to well angulated shoulders. Strong over his quarters. Looked well enough.

Open Bitch (6)

1 Woodward’s WSS Hinxwood Fire and Ice Close decision between these two welshies. In the end I preferred the outline of the winner on the move. Well made with enough bone but still feminine through. Good head with kind expression. Balanced body with good rear angulation and good width of thigh. Hocks nicely let down. Moved truly carrying her tail well.

2 Caldwell’s WSS Bowdonia Only the Brave for Cerysan This 5 year old is so balanced standing and so good to go over, everything is well put together. She moved well back and forward. Close up.

3 Williams and Toublic’s ESS Cobhay Dazzling Azalea

David Howarth

Judge