Plymouth & District Kennel Association

Plymouth & District Kennel Association Open Show 12/11/22.

Critiques for Irish Setter, Irish Red and White Setter, English Setter, and Gordon Setter.

Another show that has been on hold, I was so happy to have been able to carry out this appointment. I must thank those who put me forward and the committee for a lovely welcome. Also, a big thank you to Chris, who showed his experience in running the ring so well. The sun also shone on us, on the day, which was particularly welcomed in an outdoor ring. I was so pleased that the Irish could be shown off in the natural light. The rings were also of a good size, again, enabling the dogs to show their movement, which helped me make my decisions.

I am pleased to report that on the day, the movement of the dogs was generally quite sound. I was very happy with the standard of the exhibits through all the breeds. Therefore, a major thank-you to all that presented your charges so well and brought them for me to go over. I must also say that they looked great in both the puppy and adult groups respectively.

Irish Setter

Class 263- Puppy (4,0)

1st - Roberts’s Polmennor Castaspell - this girl was just short of her 1st birthday, and how well she has developed in that short time. A really lovely youngster to go over. When I saw her, she reminded me very much of her mother. Very feminine in a refined, long and lean head. Nice amount of working under eye, with correct unshelled almond, dark eye, bordering a gentle stop. Lovely oval skull. Ears set on low, hanging close to head and alongside, such an elegant, well arched neck. This flowed seamlessly into shoulders that were fine at points. These were also well laid back, giving rise to correct front construction. Good depth to chest. Well sprung ribs, a gentle tuck up and strong loin giving the ideal base to show off a lovely gently sloping topline. Balance was seen between the angulation with front and rear construction, with lovely width to thigh and backend. Good bend at stifle for a young girl. Although a slighter bitch in the stack, she was racy, elegant on the move and did not put a foot wrong. Difficult to criticise the movement. Neat feet. Picture was completed in a lovely rich coat. I’m sure this girl will go far. Very happy to give her BP.

2nd - Hall’s Riverbrue Ophelia Love Glennara- A 7-month girl that was unfortunate to come up against 1st. A very flashy girl, in a super-rich coat that had lovely movement to it, especially on the move. More compact than first. Fine, feminine head. Evocative eye, that made you look twice. Pigment all round in keeping coat and eye colour making her quite appealing. Ears set on low, closely next to an elegant neck of medium length, without throatiness. Rather narrow in front, as per breed standard. good depth to chest and well sprung ribs. Strength to loin, showing gentle topline. Good width behind. Well boned young lady. Didn’t quite move as well as 1st on the day, nonetheless, a girl that shows promise.

3rd - Chapman’s Sheldonite Gingerbread Man

Class 264- Junior (1,0)

1st - Roberts’s Polmennor Castaspell- Please see critique from first in class 263- Puppy

Class 265- Postgraduate (4,0)

1st - Beresford’s Jetsetter Wind of Dreams (IMP RUS) – A 2.5-year-old boy that was showing maturity beyond his age. He looked very flashing both in the stack and on the move. A balanced young man. A very pleasant head that had the correct planes. Good width to dark nostrils, nice amount of working around the zygomatic arch, which drew you to correctly formed and coloured eye. Ear positioning and length correct. Good strength to a moderately long neck. This flowed well into good front construction. Good amount of bone seen throughout. Spring of rib was good to see, with strength and length to loin, thus, giving rise to a very gentle sloping topline. Not overly steep croup. Good rear quarters with bend at stifle. Moved best in the class, with plenty of reach. A dog that was not overdone and well balanced. RBOB

2nd - Henderson and Szwajkowski’s Grenada Lofty Czerwony (IMP POL) – this girl, who was coming up to 2 years, was well presented in a rich dark coat. In head, quite a feminine girl. Correct eye shape with a pleasing amount of working. Good stop with well raised brows. slightly arched neck that was clean and free from throatiness. Good width and depth to chest. Very gentle slope to topline. Good width to upper thigh and over croup. Moved ok, but feel would benefit from losing a few lbs.

3rd - Purves’s Grousehill Dream Boy

Class 266- Limit (5,0)

1st - Hadfield’s Covarney Estee Avec Marzanne JW- I liked this bitch very much. She was only just beaten to RBOB. A rather racy young lady of some 4 years. In the head, good proportions of foreface to skull. Not overly worked under eye, but was very pleasant in eye shape and colour. Well defined brow, whilst retaining femininity. Back of skull showing lovely occipital protuberance, reminiscent of the Cornevon lines. A lovely arched, strong neck ran into well laid-back shoulders that were fine at point. Good length to body, with ribs that were well sprung. Strength and length to loin. Lovely width and muscle to upper and second thigh, with proportional angulation to front. My notes stated “balanced”, several times, along with “movement helped win the class”. I stand by those statements.

2nd - MacDonald’s Redclyst Head Full of Dreams- Another 4-year-old, but this time a dog. Rather handsome in head, with correct eye and some lovely working in zygomatic arch, providing a soft expression. Good shape to skull. Strong in moderate length neck flowing into well-constructed front. Appealing depth to chest and rather narrow front, as required. Good spring to ribs. Strength seen to loin. Didn’t quite have the length and balance of 1st. However, on the move went out well with reach on the up and down. Foot placement on the around was spot on.

3rd - Beldham’s Redclyst Charlie Brown at Bowringlee

Class 267- Open (4,2)

1st - Hadfield’s Staratlanta Get a Wiggle on to Marzanne- this boy walked in the ring and was instantly eye catching, not only because of how he was presented, but overall flashiness and appeal. He certainly looked the part and when I went over him, I wasn’t disappointed. A racy dog, but certainly retained his masculinity. Very well-muscled throughout. A dark eye, and pigment that was very complementary to the coat. good prominence to the stop with appealing raised brows. Balanced in muzzle and skull length. Ear placement and length correct, with good smashing reach of arched neck, which flowed seamlessly into well laid shoulders that were fine at withers. Good length to upper arm, providing the basis for an accomplished front angulation. Depth was seen to the chest and ribs well sprung. Strong over good loin that was suitably long. Again, very pleasing topline. Width over hind quarters as well as to first and second thigh. Super rear angulation, complementary to front. good bend at stifle into short hocks. Moved with grace and so very well around the ring, in the up and return. To cap it off, presented, dripping in coat. Made quite the picture. BOB.

2nd - MacDonald’s Redclyst Maximus- a 5-year-old boy, with a very handsome expression (same with a lot of dogs from this breeder). Good proportions in length of skull to muzzle. Muzzle finished off well. Plenty of brain room seen with his oval skull from ear to ear. Brows raised over unshelled almond shaped eye, showing amply pronounced stop. Moderate length to muscular neck. Well laid-back shoulders, giving rise to sound front construction, depth to chest/brisket. Very well sprung ribs. Very strong over loin with good croup placement. Well boned throughout and very nice feet. Personally, would have liked a little more width to thigh. Moved a little close on the away, but was sound on the around.

BOB- Hadfield’s Staratlanta Get a Wiggle on to Marzanne (from Open- Class 267)

RBOB- Beresford’s Jetsetter Wind of Dreams (IMP RUS) (from Postgraduate- Class 265)

BP- Robert’s Polmennor Castaspell (from puppy/junior- Class 263 & 264)

Irish Red and White Setter

Class 268- Postgraduate (0)

Class 269- Open (1,0)

1st - Martin’s Laoirebay Steel Blue Ocean at Shannonstyle JW – Although stood alone, I was not disappointed to see this young man again, as he was one I judged several years ago. He has bloomed well and continues to tick the correct boxes. A well-balanced dog that is athletic in appearance. Masculine head, which is broad and well domed, all-in correct head proportions for the breed. Moderate, muscular neck that flowed into well laid-back shoulders and pleasing front angulation. depth to chest, well sprung ribs. Flat topline that did not move on the run. Particularly well-muscled back end, which gave rise to a powerful mover. Moved very well around the ring with drive. Again, sound movement on the up and back. Shame wasn’t able to stay for the group. BOB

BOB: Martin’s Laoirebay Steel Blue Ocean at Shannonstyle JW (from Open- class 269)

English Setter

Class 270- Postgraduate (0)

Class 271- Open (1,1)

BOB: N/A

Gordon Setter

I was so pleased to be asked to judge this breed. It is one of my favourites and had hoped to be able to judge this lovely breed for a while. Some lovely exhibits and some very nice, up and coming youngsters.

Class 272- Postgraduate (3,0)

1st - Taylor’s Graylacier Blue Marlin- This dog was a standout in the group, not only in maturity over 2 puppies, but also in style. Still only a young man himself at some 19 months, his development over this time was very pleasing on the eye. A strong male head, with correct head planes and strength to stop. Good reach to strong neck. Front construction good with deep brisket. Excellent spring to rib and strength to loin. Super topline. Moderate bend at stifle, but width and strength seen to upper thigh. Strength was also seen throughout the entirety of the body. Well boned. Presented in super coat for age. Moved very well around the ring, very neat in the up and back. Happy to present with RBOB.

2nd - Smith’s Amscott Air Born- this 6-month-old was an absolute delight to have in the ring. She showed the wilfulness and exuberance you want to see in a dog of this age. Was lovely to see, almost impossible to train in. Very pretty young girl, but retained the strengths of this lovely breed. Loved her expression and overall head construction. Darkness and cheekiness to eye that certainly drew you. Length to neck, which led into good front construction. Shoulders sloping well back. Well sprung ribs on strong body and loin. Width seen to hindquarters. Tail of correct length. Playfully moved around the ring, but was sound. Will mature well over time. I’m sure the handler is going to have a lovely ride with this young girl. BP

3rd - Markey’s Evenflow All your Love

Class 273- Open (3,0)

1st - Henderson’s When I was your Man Black Lofty (IMP POL)- This dog was very imposing as soon as he entered the ring. Very attractive in head that was rather broad and slightly round. Well defined stop. Dark eye and lovely expression. Ears well set on low, tight to head. Elegance from long, lean, arched neck through to well laid shoulder and return of upper arm thus, providing correct front construction. Plenty of bone. Well matured body for age showing depth to brisket and well sprung ribs to firm loin, which did not shift on the move. Rear angulation matched front well, with good width to upper thigh seen also. He moved effortlessly, covering the ground effortlessly. Presented beautifully. Happy to award BOB.

2nd - Smith’s Flores Lilla Ojcowskiej Doliny Kewstoke (IMP POL) – this nearly 8-year-old did not show her age, in coat or movement. Lovely breed type. Complimenting strength with femininity. Fantastic bone seen throughout. Pretty in feminine head, with correct planes and the loveliest eye. Excellent reach of long, lean neck. Very nice, well angled front construction neither too open nor too closed. Good depth to brisket and loved her very well sprung ribs. It was a joy to go over the hindquarters that were strong and powerful. Great width to thigh. Movement was quite sound and drove out well. Could have done with losing a touch of weight, which would have proved the difference in pushing up to RBOB.

BOB- Henderson’s When I was your Man Black Lofty (IMP POL) (from Open- Class 273)

RBOB- Taylor’s Graylacier Blue Marlin (from Postgraduate- Class 272)

BP- Smith’s Amscott Air Born (from Postgraduate- Class 272)

Dr. Hefin Jones (Pencasta