Northern English Setter Society

Northern English Setter Society

Single Breed Championship Show 15th July 2023

Bitches critique

I wish to thank the Northern English Setter Society for being asked to judge bitches at their 2021 Championship show. Yes you read well 2021, but we all know that then came Covid and it made the appointment postponed twice, but finally we made it in 2023. Third time good time.

Many thanks and congratulations to the NESS committee who made it an excellent day. Very well organized at a very good venue with all facilities and rings of good size.

No show of course without dogs, so I truly thank all the exhibitors for bringing their dogs and their sportsmanship during the day.

Special thanks also to my two excellent and experienced ring stewards who kept things going smoothly.

I really was very much looking to this show. Of course I was pleased with the true type of English Setter which is not always the case when judging on the continent where a more variety of types can be seen and a lot of compromising between types is needed when judging.

Heads of course were in general excellent, as how I want to see them as being a correct English Setter head, with correct proportions and balance and have seen some really excellent expressions.

Correct round shaped ribs, rounded bone and compact rounded feet where generally seen. Level toplines, correct silky coats and that lovely tail action and correct level carriage on the move is also what we want to see in this breed.

But I was rather concerned about strength of toplines and croups. Quite a number I wished to see stronger and firmer, with croups and tail sets that could be better “in almost a line with back” as the breed standard asks to give a better clean outline.

Movement in general is in my opinion another point to be looked after, especially front movements. I would have liked to see more reach in front and drive from behind with more attitude and temperament and in some classes the better moving dogs took advantage of this in their placings.

Please forgive if my English is not perfect.

R. Blomme

Minor puppy bitch (2/0)

1st Paton’s BOURNEHOUSE ETERNAL FLAME FOR MEADOWFOOT

A very nice promising O/B puppy. She is already very well matured at this stage and already has all things in good balance and proportions. She has a nice balanced head with pleasing expression. Nice body and ribs for this age and good angulations front and behind. Nice firm level topline with good croup and tail set. She was for this age moving very well front and rear with happy attitude, correct tail carriage and action. She showed a correct coat of silky structure.

2nd Forrest’s ELVISTAR PRIVATE DANCER

Nice and correct type as well, B/B, but today I found her a little leggy in this growing stage which can occur at this age but she can look very much different in a few weeks. Nice firm topline. She also needs to improve in better head balance. Overall she needs time to mature, needing more body, bone and angulations. She moved fairly well with good head carriage and correct tail action but needs to be more regular in front. She will need a little more time to get a better overall balance but she will do.

Puppy bitch (3/1)

1st Owen’s MARWESSETT YSOBEL ENIGMA AT CORNSETT

She is a lovely O/B of excellent type, nice proportions and balance. A nice feminine head and expression. At this young age already excellent body and ribs. Level topline but a rather low croup/low set tail. She has very nice front angulations, with nice shoulder and well angulated long upperarm, bone and feet. Nice silky coat. Moving well, showing good temperament and head carriage, with good tail action and carriage. On moments she could be more regular.

Best Bitch Puppy and Best Puppy in Show but only after both judges agreed to let her run an extra round as she initially started pacing but luckily eventually found the right rhythm.

2nd Reid’s HUNTERBLUE MYSTIQUE AT DIERSETT

She is of good type but she needs more time to get into a better balance. Let’s give her some more time. She could be a little more feminine in head and showing just a little more stop and brows. Good body with firm and strong level topline but a little rounded at back showing low croup and tailset. Like to see a little more pronounced angulations. Moved well with nice tail action but a little wide behind. Lovely coat.

Junior bitch (8/2)

1st Ridsdill’s SHARNYX HERE’s BONNIE

I loved this sporting looking B/B bitch, of good type and compact strong body. She had an excellent lively attitude. Nice balance in feminine head with nice expression. Nice body with good ribs, nice firm level topline and good tailset. Needs to mature in ribs and get elbows a little closer to body. Good bone and angulations. She moved really well going and coming, with excellent reach, drive and power showing an excellent temperament with good head carriage, tail carriage and tail action. Correct silky coat structure.

2nd Gardner’s MARIGLEN MIDNIGHT MUSE AT DANWISH

Very attractive overall and elegant appearance. Excellent type. She had a very nice coat of excellent silky structure. Feminine head with lovely sweet expression, but in my opinion could have a little more square finish in muzzle which I found better in first. Nice body and ribs, bone and feet. Would prefer a little better lay back of shoulder and front angulation placed more back under the body. She has excellent angulations behind. Firm and level topline with correct croup and tail set. She had a happy temperament and attitude on the move showing correct tail action and carriage.

3rd Sharpless’ KANIETTER SABONETTE

Veteran bitch (2/0)

1st Loakes’ SH CH RACHDALE PAINTED LACE AT GOLDBIRCH

Lovely B/B of very good type. Feminine overall. Really nice head with correct balance and expression. She has for age a good firm topline with nice croup and tailset. Found her only a little long in back. Well made body, with good ribs and forechest. Excellent angulations and bone. She moved really well for her age, with excellent temperament and attitude, good reach and drive, with correct tail action and carriage. In good coat and enjoys herself in a good happy and physical condition.

2nd McCabe’s SH CH RACHDALE ELEGANCE JW

A nice well made O/B bitch, she has a nice strong body with good ribs. Nice feminine head and expression. Excellent ribs, but topline could be a little firmer, good croup. Good angulations and bone. Could have stronger pasterns. She did not really show herself on the move, could show more drive, attitude and temperament, rather narrow behind but used her tail well. Nice coat structure.

Yearling bitch (5/1)

1st Williams’ P D A BOURNEHOUSE CHIMING BELLS

A very nice and promising O/B bitch of correct type which pleased me a lot. Excellent proportions and balance. Feminine head but must not be stronger, expression could be shade softer for me. She really has an excellent front well placed under the body with correct shoulder and long upper arm. Nice angulations behind. Excellent bone and feet. Firm and level topline as I like to see with a nice croup and tail set. Excellent mover, shows temperament and attitude on the move with correct tail carriage and action. She could just be a little more regular in front. Nice and correct coat structure. Will be interesting to see her further maturing.

2nd Stephenson’s MARIGLEN WAVE DANCER FOR BONDGATE

B/B. I liked this young bitch, she is of excellent type, promising but she may need a little more time to mature. Nice feminine head and expression. Prefer to see more front angulations, well angulated behind. Good, level and firm topline with nice tail set. Good bone and feet. Could be more regular and straight forward on the move. Nice tail action and carriage on the move. Correct silky coat structure.

3rd Cook’s PERNICKETY QUARTZ

Novice bitch (3/1)

1st Kemp-Taylor’s QUENSHA’S STRAWBERRY SWING

I like the type but found she could be a little stronger overall and might need more time. Feminine head and expression. Could be firmer and more level in topline, somewhat low croup and tail set. Has to develop in ribs. Could show more temperament on the move with more reach and drive from behind. Tail carriage a little high.

2nd Forrest’s ELVISTAR PRIVATE DANCER

Graduate bitch (6/0)

1st Dykes’ CALEYDENE CONNEXTION

A lovely promising O/B bitch. Very nice type, proportions and balance. Lovely head and expression. Excellent body, angulations, bone and feet. Firm level topline, just a little low tail set. She has a lovely attitude on the move with excellent temperament. Good reach and drive and nice tail action and carriage. Good silky coat. Already well matured for age.

2nd Grimsdell’s TATTERSETT DARK AMBER

Very nice O/B bitch, correct type and balance. Excellent head, expression could be shade softer. Very excellent in body, topline and tail set. Good angulations and bone but would prefer to see a little stronger in pasterns. Although she moved well front and rear she should show more temperament, enthusiasm and better tail action on the move.

3rd Welburn’s OSHOWA DREAM CAME TRUE

Post Graduate bitch (2/0)

1st Loakes’ GOLDBIRCH HEARTS DESIRE JW

A very nice bitch, very promising and eye striking young TRI bitch. Very beautiful head and correct soft expression. Nice shoulder, forechest and body. Nice angulations overall, just like to see a little stronger pasterns. Good topline and tail set. Nice balance. She is moving well with good temperament, head high, drive and reach. Good tail carriage and action. She could be more regular in front, as today a little weaving. She has a very nice colour and coat of correct silky structure.

2nd Prest’s CALEYDENE COMET

She is a good type with a nice feminine head. But she needs better balance overall and time to mature. Prefer to see some more developed ribs and angulations. Good bone. Found her rather narrow in front. Needs more temperament on the move and better head and tail carriage.

Mid Limit bitch (5/2)

1st Dykes’ WANSLEYDALE BEDAZZLED AT CALEYDENE

This is a well made good looking TRI bitch. Lovely type, good proportions and balance. Only prefer head and expression a little more feminine. She has a level and firm topline, excellent body with good forechest and ribs. Good angulations, nice shoulders and upperarm. Good bone. She moved well with good temperament and tail, but found her a little narrow behind. Nice silky coat.

2nd Watkin’s VALSETT STARLITE NIGHT SKY

Lovely B/B bitch, nice type. Compact body on good legs. Feminine head, could be slightly softer in expression. Nice firm topline, a little low tail set. Good body with good ribs, angulations just needs a little longer upperarm. Front placement could be a little more under body. Excellent bone and feet. She has a very nice colour and correct silky coat structure. She moved well with good attitude, head and tail carriage.

3rd Paton’s BOURNEHOUSE SECRET AFFAIR FOR MEADOWFOOT

Limit bitch (7/0)

1st Wale’s Y CHANINA GOLDEN ROSE JW

This is a very nice O/B bitch, correct type in superb condition and well matured. Very excellent in type balance. Very nice feminine head and soft expression. Excellent body with correct ribs, angulations, bone and feet. Nice level topline with correct tail set. She moved very well with correct head, tail carriage and action. Good temperament. In great condition, nice correct silky coat. Perhaps pasterns could be a little stronger.

Bitch Res CC.

2nd Darley’s SEVERNSETT DARK ANGEL

This is a very good moving B/B bitch, both in front and rear, liked her elegant attitude and temperament. She is of a correct type with a nice feminine head and expression. Well made body with good ribs, nice angulations. Good topline from shoulders to back but just found her croup a little low. She had a lovely tail action on the move with excellent drive and reach.

3rd McCabe’s RACHDALE RIBBONS FOR PEARLS

Open bitch (7/1)

1st Welburn’s CULVERWELL SEA BREEZE AT OSHOWA

Loved this B/B bitch very much, she is as I call “in one piece” with front and rear matching very well together, with a correct straight and firm topline, and tail set just below level of back. Clean in outline, elegant in appearance and movement and looks very sporting. Nice outline. Strong in body and topline. Good ribs, angulations and bone. Nice feminine head and soft expression. Nice temperament and attitude on the move, good reach and drive, just could be a little more regular in front. She is a very well matured and adult looking bitch. Perhaps not flashy or eyecatching but very good and sound in so many points. Perhaps her coat could have been in a little better condition. I later understood this is her first CC.

Bitch CC, BOS, RBIS.

2nd Williams’ BOURNEHOUSE PRECIOUS DREAM

Nice O/B bitch in full condition. She is of excellent type and breed balance. Feminine head and expression. Excellent body with good ribs and forechest. Good bone and feet. Excellent angulations behind, prefer front angulations with the upperarm just a little more pronounced. Found topline and croup/tailset of first better. She moved well with correct tail carriage and action. Excellent silky coat.

3rd Grimsdell’s SH CH TATTERSETT DARK HONEY JW