Coventry (Foleshill) Canine Association

COVENTRY FOLESHILL CANINE ASSOCIATION

My thanks to the committee for inviting me to judge at such a busy show. It was a pleasure to judges

the handlers entered under me today and I thank them for their entries. One thing I would say is to

some handlers to remember the golden rule of not getting in between the dog and judge, and

always listen to what the judge is asking you. The handlers all coped well in the busy environment,

and with a very small ring for those with larger breeds.

JUNIOR HANDLING 6-11 (6,3)

1 Abigail Twigg handling a Kooikerhondje. This young handler looked as if she thoroughly enjoyed

her time in the ring. Her charge made her really work but Abigail stayed calm and carried out all of

my instructions and moved at the correct pace for the dog, showing her charge off on the move. On

the initial presentation she stood the dog correctly and shadowed when needed. I just really liked

this pair and I know in the future she will be a cracking handler! Well done.

2. Eliza Darwesh handling a Labrador. Unfortunately, due to the size of the ring, the larger breeds

were at a slight disadvantage. However, Eliza didn’t let that stop her and did her absolute best to

show her cheeky charge off to its best. I thought she had the dog stood really well in the initial line

up with the other competitors, and despite being a very happy dog Eliza kept talking to her dog. Due

to the dog’s excitement it was difficult for Eliza to show the teeth but on the move she showed her

dog’s movement off and I thought her final presentation was the best in the class, standing the dog

four square correctly. Well done.

JUNOR HANDLING 12-16 (2,1)

1 Charlotte Freudenreich handling a Basset Hound. Charlotte stood alone in this class but she was a

very worthy winner. She is a lovely quiet and unassuming handler who pulled my focus totally onto

the dog. I thought her shadowing was excellent and she really blended into the background. Her

teeth presentation was excellent and she listened to my instructions. On the move she was at one

with her charge, using the entire ring to her advantage with nice tight corners and straight lines. A

great performance, well done.

ADULT HANDLING 17-35 (7,1)

1 Olivia Busby handling an Irish Water Spaniel. I just absolutely adore Olivia’s handling style – it is

quiet, calm and attentive, putting the focus onto the dog at all times. She is a real natural and I could

watch her handle all day. She stood out in this class for her precise shadowing and the way she

cleanly carried out my instructions, all while putting her Irish Water Spaniel front and centre. She

was never overstated or really did I notice her at all – the dog (despite a small ring) moved well with

sharp lines and corners and her teeth presentation was faultless. Well done.

2 Ellen Higginbottom handling a Whippet. Another understated handler that I really like – I can

remember thinking ‘wow!’ when I saw the whippet stacked on the table. Ellen shadowed really well,

but unfortunately didn’t correct the position of the leg that I moved. She started her patternwork

correctly at my feet and used the entire ring. When I moved on the final up and down, Ellen

completed the pattern before coming back for the final presentation, and quietly placed the dog

correctly. I really like how she used the entire ring and she looked a real partnership with her

Whippet. I will watch her handling career with real interest! Well done.

ADULT HANDLING 36-60 (10, 1)

This was a really large class so had to be judged in two halves. Thank you to the competitors for

being so patient in order for everyone to be assessed.

1 Bev Manners handling a Lhasa Apso. Bev stood out in this class from the very beginning – she was

a real professional and I couldn’t take my eyes off the dog. She used the full ring and was always

making sure her charge was the full focus of my attention, blending into the background. Her

tablework was faultless, including the presentation of the dog’s teeth. When I moved the hind leg,

Bev was quick to correct it to ensure the outline of the dog was correct. On the move her corners

were tight and I especially loved how straight her lines were. On the final presentation, she stood

the correct pace away and positioned the dog in line with my feet. A spotless performance, well

done.

2 Kirsty Freudenreich handling a Basset Hound. Like Bev, Kirsty stood out in this class. On the initial

presentation she stood the dog wonderfully with the correct leg placement fore and aft. When I

went over the dog, she moved the hind leg back with ease, however I think her teeth presentation

could be cleaner. I particularly loved Kirsty’s shadowing which seemed so natural and effortless; the

dog listening to her at all times. On the move her pattern work was excellent, using the full ring to

her advantage but never compromising on precise corners and lines. Congratulations.

ADULT HANDLING 61+ YEARS (6,3)

1 Patricia Hartfield handling a Skye Terrier. There were two very close handlers in this class but

Patricia just edged it with correctly carrying out a lead change when I asked the handlers to move

around the ring together. She moved at the correct pace for her dog and when I moved on the up

and down she completed the pattern correctly back to my original position, then stood the dog

directly in front of me. Her teeth presentation was spot on, enabling me to see all sides of the

mouth. I particularly liked her shadowing skills which were wonderful and which eventually won her

the class. Well done.

2 Sheree Dickson handling a Japanese Spitz. In my notes I’ve put “what an excited dog!” and I now

know this Japanese Spitz was just 19 months old. Sheree made handling such a young and exuberant

dog look easy and she looked at one on the move. She was equal to Patricia but on the final pattern

around the ring I felt that she could have been cleaner with the lead changes, but this will come with

time and as the dog matures. She presented the dog correctly for the breed, and on the move had

neat and precise corners, once again presenting in the correct position at the end. Well done.

VICTORIA WILKINS (VELVETQUEST