Reading & District Kennel Association

Reading and District Premier Open Show 31st May 2023

Thank you to the society for inviting me to judge their open show, thank you also to my stewards who kept me on track and on time. And last, but by no means least, thank you to the exhibitors for their entry and for allowing me to go over their dogs.

Tibetan Spaniels

Puppy (3,2)

1st Smith’s Tibbiestars Tutti Frutti Femaine bitch of good proportions. Pretty head with correct set ears and good length of muzzle. Well laid shoulder and evident bow in front. Pleasing spring of rib level top line which was maintained on the move. Show in lovely coat and condition.

Junior (1,0)

1st Hourihane’s Amcross Kutisha Pleasing young bitch with nice head. Good dome of skull and correct ear set. Medium length of neck into good shoulder. Good spring of rib and top line. Good feet, she moved out well.

Postgraduate (3,2)

1st Hall’s Balgay Shab Tra Mature boy of 3 yers. Pleasing head and ear set. Lovely feathering on ears and in overall fabulous coat. Good length of neck into well laid shoulders. Good feet. In good condition, maintained top line on the move with good tail set. Moved out well.

Open (9,2)

1st Bevis’ Skyvana Empty Dreams of Starlance ShCEx Pleasing male shown in excellent condition. Masculine head without being coarse with dark eye and correct ear set. Good length of neck and good shoulder placement. Correctly proportioned with correct tail set. Well muscled and moved out well. His movement won him the class and BOB. Happy to see he went on to G4

2nd Hourihane’s Bruesown Kyi Mo At Amcross Pretty bitch with dark mask, dark eye and correct ear palcement. Nicely domed skull and has a pleasing expression. Moderate length of neck into good shoulders. Good spring of rib and solid top line, correct tail set and nice feet. Moved well, just out moved by 1 today. RBOB

Handling classes

I keep commenting on the fact that overshadowing and this over flamboyant performing in handling is starting to creep in. I was pleased to not see much of this today, but handlers still need to be aware of overshadowing. Some handlers blocked the view down the line by standing behind their dogs, which meant I could not see handlers and dogs behind them. Just be aware of this and try not to move unless you have to. The overall quality today was super strong and I had some tough decisions to make, I am always looking for quiet and professional handlers that work truly to make the dog the focus of the class.

Junior Handling 6-11 years (6,1)

1st Myla Mae Hanes Handling a bedlington, good straight lines and excellent use of the ring. Shadow work was spot on. A really conscientious handler who was aware of her dog and the judge at all times, smartly presented and tidy throughout. Work on final present of the dog and remember to be 3 paces from the judges feet.

2nd Molly Whisker handling a border terrier, positive pattern work and listened to all instuctions. Really patient with a slightly uncooperative dog. Nice lines and tight corners, again work on final present of the dog at the end and work on shadow work.

3rd Texas-Lee Dunstone handling a Norfolk Terrier

Junior Handling 12-16 years (5,1)

1st Erin Robertson handling a basset fauve. Really patient and kind with a young and sometimes less than cooperative dog. Good lines and corners, set the dog up a good distance from the judge at the end. Dog moved at correct pace, and overall picture was of handler and dog working together. Stop faffing and relax, it doesn’t always have to be perfect. Really like the rapport that the handler had with the dog and patience that was shown. Best Junior Handler

2nd Ellie Darling-Steele handling a Rhodesian ridgeback. Good handler who was patient with the dog at all times. Good use of ring and good lines and tight corners. Pleasing overall presentation again, stop faffing and relax.

3rd Fenella Barker

Adult Handling 17-30 years (8,3)

1st Abbeygail Longhurst handling a whippet. A near faultless performance. Excellent rapport with the dog. Really good pattern work with straight lines and tight corners. Picked up on my feet position for the away and back. The overall picture was one of balance and patience, excellent communication with the dog at all times. Polite and unassuming handler – well done

2nd Phoebe Toublic very close between one and two. Handling an ESS. Good pattern work, tight corners and straight lines. Worked well together as a team. Also picked up on feet position for away and back. Improve on not over shadowing to complete the overall picture.

3rd Tiggy Saunders

Adult Handling 31-40 years (0)

Adult Handling 41+ years (20,7)

A super strong class with a lot of quality throughout. My advice to everyone is to practice the more obscure patterns and the reverse of these – L’s, T’s for example. Learn about triangles from different judges positions. Overall the quality of this class was excellent and it was a pleasure to judge. The majority pushed hard for placings and my final 5 could probably swap places on any other day. Well done!

1st Miss Marguerite McShane handling a Sheltie. Super straight lines and tight corners. Excellent rapport with the dog, a quiet and unassuming handler who listened to everything I said and completed all the patters. No faffing, no messing, just got on with the job. I could not believe that she was so early in her handling career, one of the best I have judged in recent times – brilliant. Best Adult Handler

2nd Bev Manners handling a Lhasa. Bev is such a sound handler, always precise in her pattern work and I love the rapport she has with her dogs. Pleasing and accurate pattern work, was aware of my position at all times. Quiet and unassuming she has such good rapport with her dog and communicates with her charge at all times. Pushed hard for first place today, but I felt that first place was just (and I am splitting hairs) more accurate on the move today.

3rd Ruthie Waller

Andrea Keepence-Keyte, Alandobel