Birmingham Dog Show Society Ltd

BIRMINGHAM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 6.5.23

HOUND GROUP

I am sure all our thoughts today were with Glen Dymock whose appointment this should have been and I know how much he would have enjoyed sorting through the quality that would have awaited him for his first Hound Group. Prior to group judging I had been required to referee in the Whippet ring for both Best of Breed and Best Puppy. BOB went to the bitch (more of whom later) and the fairer sex also accounted for Best Puppy with Danluke Don't I Know It winning. I was delighted to hear that she later went on to win the Puppy Group – many congratulations.

Over the past 32 years I have judged 21 Hound Groups at UK Championship shows and I considered this a very even group which resulted in my making a weighty short-list of 12. These included the Basenji, Basset Hound, Borzoi, Miniature Smooth and Wire Dachshunds, Ibizan Hound, Saluki and Black & Tan Coonhound.

After extensive movement a convincing winner was mature, handsome Irish Wolfhound male, Ch Sade Paris. The Standard calls for a dog of “great size, strength, symmetry and commanding appearance, very muscular yet gracefully built” and Paris ticks all those boxes. He has a strong but balanced head with a kind expression and structurally he is excellent to go over. His strong, well arched neck flows cleanly into well-laid shoulders, he has a well filled forechest of ample width and straight, strongly boned forelegs. Well ribbed back, his outline is sufficiently curvaceous with strong, well angulated hindquarters that display superb muscle tone. His coat is rough and harsh but complement the whole outline. However it is on the move where he really excels as it is unusual to have a dog of such substance that moves so accurately out and back, shows scope and freedom in profile and Paris really used his hindquarters to drive around the big ring.

Second was the Whippet bitch I saw earlier in the breed ring, Creme Anglaise's Thistle Be Perfect, and in the big ring she looked even better. Exquisitely feminine, flashily marked light brindle & white with the most glorious alert expression, her outline just flows with a long, elegantly arched neck, the perfect Whippet topline and her hindquarters display strength and breadth with well let-down hocks. She has ample depth of brisket, a beautifully filled front and well sprung ribs that go well back. The overall picture is one of intense quality and when she moves, particularly in profile, she is thrilling with her long, easy stride and no suggestion of effort, holding her tail perfectly.

Third went to the Pharaoh Hound bitch, Multi Ch Vaskurs Moni Maker Qiwidotter, who made an instant impact when she came in and set up, gazing lovingly at her handler and displaying the sharpest, perfectly balanced outline. She has the noble bearing so essential to the breed with a head that is perfectly balanced with a keen, intelligent expression and perfectly set and carried ears. Her overall construction is very pleasing and her outline clean and correctly balanced. On the move she is sound and free and made a very satisfying overall picture. I have since discovered that, 13 years ago her sire won Best In Show at an International All Breeds show under me in Sweden … it really is a small world!

Completing a high-quality quartet, in Fourth position was the Beagle bitch, Ch Annavah Princess Tiana, a beautifully balanced tricolour with so much breed type and totally devoid of exaggeration. Her head is beautifully balanced with the soft expression that is so important in this breed. Her neck is of correct length, clean and elegantly arched with a firm topline, well-filled forechest and correct underline. She is well ribbed back with a well set and carried stern and her hindquarters are well angulated with great development of second thigh. She has bone and substance and yet a lot of quality and moved soundly and freely.

ANDREW H. BRACE