• Show Date: 03/12/2022
  • Show Type: Open/Limited/Sanction
  • Judged by: Derfel Owen Contact Judge
  • Published Date: 28/07/2023

Maltese Club

What a pleasure and honour to be invited to judge the Maltese Club’s Christmas Open Show. The atmosphere was very pleasant, with the club making a great effort to have a Christmas party, a delicious spread for lunch and some fun and games in the afternoon. I very much enjoyed the day and thank the committee and club members for having me. I had a good entry, for which I’m grateful. In a numerically small breed I didn’t expect to be able to find consistency of type in my placings and compromises needed to be made, but overall I found the dogs to be in good condition with good temperaments.

BIS – Holland’s Benatone Perfect Gold. showy and classically presented dog of excellent proportions and overall balance. Well proportioned head with slightly rounded skull and dark oval eyes. Cobby and substantial with good spring of rib, short and level back. Good length to his coat, straight with silky texture. He moved with ease, free flowing action.

RBIS & BPIS - Welbourn’s Zumarnik So Scandalous. What a terrific young bitch, I found her absolutely enchanting. The very definition of cobby, substantial without being heavy or coarse, short with good spring of rib, straight forequarters with well sloped shoulders. Was a little naughty on the move but when settled she was sound and free flowing. Expect she’ll go on to great things.

Veteran Dog or Bitch 1 – Welbourn’s Ch Zumarnic Scandalous JW. Has been clipped so can’t comment on his coat, but for sure he is well constructed, cobby and balanced. Good topline, tail carriage and well angulated. Excellent pigment throughout. I’m sure he’s very popular at breed appreciation days - this is what a Maltese should look like under the coat.

Special Pet Trim Open Dog 1 – Licau’s VIP Sweet Teddy Bear. Lovely head and dark pigment, correct proportions between muzzle and skull and well set ears. Moved well with proud head carriage.

Minor Puppy Dog 1 – Jackson’s Banatone Jubilee Party. Lovely puppy. Sound and balanced. Well proportioned head with slightly rounded skull, dark eye and dark pigment. Moved with free flowing action maintaining level topline. 2 - Kisby’s Genmerian Ellsworth. Balanced and well constructed, moved with free flowing action, maintaining a level topline. Correct pigment, pure white coat in good condition. Hope he doesn’t grow too much more.

Novice Dog 1 - Kisby’s Genmerian Ellsworth.

Limit Dog 1 – Lees’ Sarasuma Eternity Marc at Lafford. Elegant, smart and sound dog. Correct shaped and proportioned head with dark eyes. Well laid shoulders, level topline and strong hindquarters. Moved soundly. Reserve Best Dog.

Open Dog 1 – Holland’s Benatone Perfect Gold. BD & BIS.

Special Pet Trim Open Bitch 1 – Bagguley’s Kennaiteen Love Affair of Dawnangel. Well balanced and elegant, good topline, moved with drive. 2 – Jennings’ Kavaleria Sweet Valerie. Many similar qualities to the winner, her bite is not correct though.

Minor Puppy Bitch 1 – Holland’s Benatone Platimum Gold. Lovely puppy. Sound, balanced and well proportioned. Nice head with slightly rounded skull, dark eye and dark pigment. Moved well maintaining level topline. Coat in excellent condition. 2 – Tyler’s Zumarnik Shake Your Bootie NAF. Well constructed, moved with free flowing action, maintaining a level topline, a little long in back at the moment, hopefully this will correct as she matures. Correct pigment, coat in good condition.

Puppy Bitch 1 - Welbourn’s Zumarnik So Scandalous. 2 - Jackson’s Benatone Platinum Star. Promising puppy. Balanced and well constructed, moved with free flowing action, maintaining a level topline. Correct pigment, pure white coat in good condition.

Junior Bitch 1 – Wasilewska’s My Leya Satiamore. Elegant, smart and sound bitch. Correct shaped and proportioned head, would prefer darker eye. Well laid shoulders, level topline and strong hindquarters.

Novice Bitch 1 – Welbourn’s Zumarnik So Scandalous. 2 – Jackson’s Benatone Jubilee Star. A third, very eye catching and promising puppy here. Well balanced, short and cobby with level topline and tail carried well over the back. Correct pigment with dark eyes. Moved with free flowing action.

Postgraduate Bitch 1 – Welbourn’s Zumarnik So Scandalous. 2 – Bagguley’s Kennaiteen Love Affair of Dawnangel.

Limit Bitch 1 - Oliver’s Sarasuma Penny Lane. Good for size and shape, well balanced and sound. Correctly proportioned head with slightly rounded skull and dark oval eyes. Coat in excellent condition, straight and silky and pure white. Correct pigment throughout. Moved effortlessly. 2 – Tyler’s Zumarnik Confetti. Well balanced and sound. Well proportioned head with slightly rounded skull and dark oval eyes. Moved well, maintaining a level topline and carrying her tail correctly over her back.

Open Bitch 1 – Lees’ Vins Style Polly with Lafford. Loved her head, gently rounded with well defined stop and correct proportions. Coat is pure white, straight and silky, she has correct black pigmentation throughout. Moved with free flowing action. RBB. 2 – Licau’s Dreamy Doll Muchitto. Well balanced, short and cobby with level topline and tail carried well over the back. Correct pigment with dark eyes. Moved with free flowing action.

Derfel Owen