Basset Hound Club Of Northern Ireland

The Basset Hound Club of Northern Ireland Championship Show - 22 October 2023. I would like to thank the Committee for inviting me to judge their 48th Championship show, and of course, all the exhibitors who attended, some having travelled a long way. All exhibits were presented in a lovely clean condition. I am mindful of the responsibility that the RKC has placed on judges to adhere to the Breed watch listing, and I was pleased to see the general standard of the Bassets has improved over recent years. Bites were generally correct. I feel that a few hounds lacked sufficient ground clearance, finally eye shapes have improved but attention to this issue must be maintained. 

 Minor Puppy Dog. Green/ Smits’ Wildebeest Will V. Grunsven. 8 month old red and white boy. Lovely masculine head, dark eyes, correct ear set and nicely curled fine leathers. He has a deep keel and tight feet. I liked his front construction. Good body length, level topline and well developed hindquarters. Moved well. Meldrums Cintal Million To One. Another smart 8 month old red and white boy. Good head planes and nice dark eye. Well rounded ribs and good body length, topline needs to settle.  

Puppy Dog

Cudlip’s Tanneron Hideaway at Harvidene. This super young 8 month old is very well balanced, great head and expression. Good reach of neck and well laid back shoulders. Ribs well rounded of good length. Muscular hindquarters, hocks well let down and correct tail set. Smart on the move, maintained his shape. I was pleased to award him Best Puppy in Show. 

Melbourne & Murray’s Diheath Toffee Tart. 11 month old dog of good substance. Handsome head, well set leathers and dark eye. Tight feet. Deep chest and good ribs. I preferred the movement of class winner. Hampton’s Big Long Blues Prometheus. NAF, TAF. 

Graduate Dog 

Strudwick’s Armardio Ride like the Wind among Kumamatata. This red and white hound is of heavier build, with a little more loose skin than I prefer. He has a deep keel, and well rounded ribs. Strong hind quarters and a level top line. Moved well. 

Melbourne & Murray’s Diheath Macaramac. Another red and white boy, of smaller mould and less head furnishings than 1. Lovely dark eye of correct shape. Tight neat feet. I liked his length of body and well muscled hindquarters. 

 Post Graduate Dog 

Woodworth’s Armardio Against the Wind. Red and white dog, lovely balanced outline. Well laid back shoulders and front construction. Neat feet. He has good ground clearance and moved with drive maintaining a level top line. Correct tail set and good bend of stifle. 

Strudwick’s Armardio Ride like the Wind among Kumamatata 

Limit Dog 

Jones’ Clanwillow Back to the Future. A smart well balanced tricolour dog. Masculine head, deep flews and dark eye of adequate shape. Correct ear set and fine velvety texture. Good depth and length of ribs. Lovely clean outline. Moved well, obviously enjoying his day. 

Open Dog Woodworth’s Ch Armardio Firestarter. Red and white hound of good substance without exaggeration. I liked his balanced outline. Well domed head with dark eyes and lovely calm expression. Good reach of neck and deep keel. Correct front construction and tight feet. Good length of body and moved with drive and good reach, maintaining a level top line. I was pleased to award him the Dog CC. 

Freer’s Ch Switherland Blueberry Pie. Another lovely hound, of good proportions and front construction. Handsome head with correct ear set and dark eye, it was a close decision, I just preferred the overall shape of 1. Res CC. 

 Rodger’s Ch Switherland Sorrel Veteran Dog 

Murray & Melbourne’s Diheath Wreckless Eric. A mature 7 year old dark tri gentleman. I liked his head and calm expression. He has a dark eye a deep muzzle. Good body length, perhaps carrying a little too much weight today, but obviously enjoying himself. 

 Puppy Bitch 

Hampton’s Bromwylva Cooki Dough. 7 month old sweet feminine tri colour girl. Well balanced outline. I liked her gentle expression, correct head planes and dark eye. Not overdone in any area. Good bone and length of ribs, well angulated hindquarters. Junior Bitch 

Pearson’s Armardio Candle in the Wind. Red and white girl. Pleasing head and expression. Prominent occipital bone and slight stop. Good length of neck, level top line and good bend of stifle with well rounded hindquarters. Willhoeft & Meier’s Timpetoes Layla. Tidy tri bitch of smaller frame than 1. Would prefer more stop and deeper flews. Good ear set and reach of neck. Ribs well rounded and reached well back. Appeared a little down on pattern. Moved well. 

Graduate Bitch 

Pearsons Armardio Candle in the Wind. Willhoeft & Meier’s Timpetoes Flood. Red and white bitch. Sweet head with kind expression and good planes. Lovely ear set, and good reach of neck. Correct tail set and short hocks. 

Post Graduate Bitch 

Freer’s Switherland Nutmeg. Red and white neat bitch. Feminine head, dark eyes with good eye shape. Elegant neck. Another from this kennel with excellent front construction. Good body length giving a pleasing outline. Moved well maintaining her shape. Pearson’s Armardio Candle in the Wind. Melbourne & Murray’s Diheath RTWO JUTWO. 

Limit Bitch 

Freer’s Switherland Whoopie Pie. Red and White bitch. What a super mover. I loved her balanced outline and front construction with beautiful tight feet. Lovely feminine head, not over furnished. Dark eye and gentle expression. She has an elegant neck and correct ribs. Strong hind quarters, which drove her effortlessly round the ring. Excellent showgirl. I was pleased to award her the Bitch CC and Best in Show. 

Pearson’s Armardio Wind of Change JW. Red and white girl of larger frame than 1. Gentle feminine expression, with dark eyes. Correct ear set. Deep keel and good body length and correct tail set. Hindquarters well developed. 

 Woodworth’s Roamanbay Relight my Fire at Woodrich. 

Open Bitch 

Coultas’ Perfect Peach V Grunsven Imp NLD. Red and white girl of substance. Correct head planes with deep flews, deep keel. Shoulders well laid back and well sprung ribs of correct length. Good bend of stifle correct tail set. Moved true front and rear. I was pleased to award her the Res. CC. 

 Freer’s Ch Switherland Albazar. Sweet feminine tri girl. I loved her type. Smaller frame than one, but nothing overdone. Lovely head and dark eyes of correct shape. Well laid back shoulders and deep keel. Would prefer a little more width at rear. It was a shame that she did not move well today. 

 Pearson’s Ch Armardio I’m on Fire JW. Veteran 

Pearson’s Ch Roamanbay Russia with love to Armardio 9 year old red and white girl. Substantial hound with correct head and ear set. Deep keel and good ribs. Muscular hindquarters. Moved well keeping her shape. Pleased to award her Best Veteran in Show. 

 Meldrum’s Kimbleholme Dreamkeeper at Rumbleton. 7 year old red and white girl. Slightly smaller frame than one. Sweet expression, she has a strong neck and good angulation front and rear. 

 Patricia McLean (Stookewood) Judge.