Afghan Hound Association

Afghan Hound Association 74th Breed Championship Show

1st May 2023 Dogs

It was an honour and a pleasure to be invited to judge dogs at one of my favourite shows. The last time I judged here was in 1990, the AHA Golden anniversary.

An excellent entry awaited me from the young to the old with some favourites of mine and some pleasant surprises. All were beautifully presented and most in good muscular condition. I found only 1 dodgy bite. It was good to see some very promising puppies being shown.

Congratulations must go to all the committee of the AHA for putting on such an excellent show. To my two efficient stewards, Tineke and Phil Gorman, thank you for keeping things running smoothly. Big thanks going to all the exhibitors for giving me the pleasure of judging your dogs.

It was a day filled with sadness and joy. We all celebrated the life of our president Jeff Bunny, who sadly died a few weeks before the show.

VETERAN DOG (4)

Such a lovely class to start the day with. All beautifully presented and in good coat and condition.

1. Cullen’s -CH SYRDARYA TOFFY POP AT EWEYISSKA - This 11. Year old brindle dog brought a lump to my throat. He was presented in excellent coat and condition. He has a such beautiful head, eye and expression. Long neck leading into excellent shoulders. Level top line. Deep brisket. Low set ringtail. His coat was Immaculate. I had no hesitation in giving him the class but in the challenge for Best Veteran, he was tired. I understand that this was his last show before his retirement. Obviously very much loved and cherished. A very worthy champion. Wishing him a long happy retirement

2. Winter’s -GARAMOND CLOUDBERRY FOR TOKANDO- an old favourite of mine. I love his head. Eye and expression. Long neck into excellent shoulders. Short level top line. Good deep brisket. Low set ringtail. In good Coat and condition. He moved well, keeping his top line. A credit to his owners.

3. Seamarks/Nemoto - SAYADENA NORTHERN LIGHTS (IMP BEL) VW

MINOR PUPPY DOG (8)

This was a lovely class with some very promising puppies. I am sure some will go on to great things.

1.Hitch -ZENDUSHKAS AMARILLO- 8 Months old Black Mask Gold and what a gorgeous puppy. He has a really good head, eye and expression. Long neck leading into excellent shoulders. Short level top line. Prominent hip bones and low set ring tail. Still at the very playful stage, which is lovely to see but when he got his act together, he covered the ground with long, easy strides. I had no hesitation in giving him best puppy dog. And he eventually went BPIS. We will be hearing a lot more of this gorgeous boy.

2.Lees-ALTSIDE MICAH HOT PROPHET 7-month-old self-masked cream. What a character he is. He talked to me all the time I was going over him. Good head eye and expression. Excellent pigmentation for his colour. Long neck, good shoulders. Short level top line. Low set ring tail. He moved out soundly for such a young puppy.

3. Harwood -ALTSIDE TOO HOT TO HANDLE

PUPPY DOG (7)

1. Hitch -ZENDUSHKAS AMARILLO- my first in minor puppy.

2.Heritage - JAZZMEENAH ROHAN BLAZE. Tall, Upstanding, black Masked Red. Such a beautiful, long, lean head with small, dark well shaped eyes. Long neck with good shoulders. Short level top line, good deep brisket. Well angulated, hind quarters. Well off for bone and substance. I liked this boy, but he did not want to show his tail today. However. he covered the ground with ease.

3.Hitch - ZENDUSHKAS TAKE THAT

JUNIOR DOG (6)

1.Roper/Moore -SITANA THE KINGSMAN AT TEMENSHU. 13-month-old black mask red. I have loved this boy since I saw him at 4 weeks old and I have never changed my mind over him He has everything I like. Beautiful head,eye and expression. Long neck leading into excellent shoulders with good return of upper arm. Short level top line. Deep brisket. Low set ring tail. Excellent hindquarters. He can be a handful of times leading his handler a merry dance. Today he was more settled and was striding out well. I had him down to the last four for the ticket but in the challenge he decided it was playtime and would not cooperate. I have no doubt he will go on to great things.

2. Lloyd /Webster -VINDALOO BLOW YOUR MIND TO MONTRABELLA. Another favourite of mine. Such a beautiful head eye and expression. Long neck leading into excellent shoulders. Short level top line. Low set ring tail. When moving he is very light on his feet and covers the ground with ease. A classic example of Scandinavian breeding.

3.French-SITANA MOON KNIGHT AT ZALMEERAH

YEARLING DOG

1. Gardner - SAXONMILL MAJIC ME DANWISH. Tall, well built. black and tan. Good head eye and expression. Good shoulders leading into level top line. Low set that ring tail. Moves out really well covering the ground with ease.

2. Lloyd/Webster -VINDALOO BLOW YOUR MIND TO MONTRABELLA

3. Peek/Matar -YANSUKHIM’S SHERBET FIZZ

MAIDEN DOG (2)

1.Holders - ZENDUSHKAS ROLLING STONE AT FARAKUSHK He stood 3rd in the MP class and litter brother to the first. Tall, upstanding, black masked gold. Beautiful head eye and expression. Very similar to his litter brother but he needs to carry more weight. He was having a great time today wanting to play. In the few steps he managed to get right you could see that he has great scope. I like this boy very much and I'm sure he will finish well.

NOVICE DOG (3)

1.Sharp - AFFYNEETA RHAPSODY IN BLUE. 8-month-old domino. Good head eye and expression. Would prefer a better lay back of shoulder and more return of upper arm. Level top line. Low set ringtail. He needs better coat presentation and more ring training.

SPECIAL BEGINNERS DOG

1. Harwood -KRISHAN RAINBOW WARRIOR. Domino with a good head, eye and expression. Long neck. Good lay of shoulder but would prefer more return of upper arm. Short level top line. Deep brisket Well angulated hind quarters. Presented in good coat and condition. Moves well.

GRADUATE DOG (2)

1. Drage -SHIMALMA DRAMBUIE- Self masked dark cream. Good head eye and expression. Good shoulders and return of upper arm. Level top line. Well angulated, hind quarters. Long silky coat presented in excellent condition. Moved out well, covering the ground.

2.Mullen. EL ROALITO KEEP SMILING (IMP DEU) Black and silver and smaller in build than the winner. He has a good eye and expression. Good shoulders. Good hind quarters. Well angulated hindquarters.Not moving as well as the first.

POST GRADUATE DOG (9)

1.McClay - CLOUDSIDE SUNKING. This boy had never taken my eye but what a very pleasant surprise I had when going over him. Beautiful head eye and expression. Long neck into excellent shoulders. Deep brisket. Short level top line. Well angulated hind quarters. Carrying just the right amount of weight. He moved really well, covering the ground with ease. Presented in excellent coat and condition. Down to the last 4 for the ticket. His day will come.

2. Gill-NAME OF THE GAME DE KOULANGER. A big favourite of mine. Superb head an expression. Long neck into excellent shoulders. Short level top line. Deep Brisket. Well angulated, hind quarters. Moved out really well covering the ground. Presented in excellent coat and condition. Pushed hard for first place.

3. French-TRUST QUEEN BUDDHA AT ZALMEERAH (IMP RUS)

MID LIMIT DOG (3)

1. Trainor/Trainor/Rogers- TULAK FAST AND FURIOUS. Tall Upstanding shaded masked gold. He has a superb head. eye and expression. Long, strong neck into excellent shoulders. Deep brisket Level top line. Well angulated hind quarters. Moves out really well, covering the ground. Not a glamour boy, but so well made.

2.Mitchell/Smithson- ZANDAHAR XPLOSIVE FORM - Black masked Silver Grizzle. Good head but I preferred the eyes of the winner. Long neck excellent shoulders. Short level top line. Good deep chest. Well angulated hind quarters. Moved out well but not quite the stride of the winner.

3. JO-KINS PINEAPPLES HAVE PEELINGS TOO (IMP FIN)

LIMIT DOG (5)

1. Bartram/Perry. GEZANCOL UTTER CHAOS AT CHANDARA. Black and silver with a beautiful outline. Excellent head, eye and expression. Long neck into excellent shoulders. Short level top line. Deep brisket. Low set ring tail. He comes into his own on the move. He covered the ground with so much ease with long, easy strides. Presented in excellent coat condition. I liked him a lot.

2. French - SITANA BIJALI TOOFAN AT ZALMEERAH. Hard on the heels of the first. Shaded masked gold with a beautiful head eye and expression. Long, strong neck into excellent shoulders. Deep chest. Level top line. Well angulated, hind quarters. He was presented in excellent coat but he was carrying far too much weight. I have admired this boy for a long time.

3.Finch/Hopper- ZANDAHAR XTRAORDINARY ME AT ZINDANI JW

OPEN DOG (7)

What a class! It was a VERY hard one to judge. I was splitting hairs between them.

1. Millward, Millward, Ferguson, Race. CH/AUS CH TAHKIRA AFFOGATO. VENI, VIDI, VICI.

Eye catching black/silver. He came into the ring as if he owned it and he did. Long lean head with beautiful eye and expression. Long strong neck into excellent shoulders. Short level top line. Prominent hip bones. Low set ringtail. Good deep brisket. Just the right amount of weight. In excellent coat and condition. He looked at me and defied me to walk past him. He moves with long easy powerful strides. There was nothing that could touch him. He was a joy to watch powering himself around the ring. My pleasure to award him the CC and res BIS of the referee’s decision.

2. Gardner -CH DRISHAUN SAID TIGER TO LILY. A favourite of mine. Self-masked brindle who was very unlucky to meet my winner today. Long lean head with excellent eyes and expression. Long, strong neck into excellent shoulders. Level top line. Low set ring tail. Deep brisket. He moves out really well covering the ground. He was presented in excellent coat condition. A very worthy champion.

3. Anderson - CH ZANDAHAR TARTAN XPLORER JW. I have loved this shaded masked red dog since he was a small puppy. A very worthy Champion.

Pat Latimer (Judge)