South Of England Gundog Club

Many thanks to the Officers and Committee of the Club, my efficient stewards Sharon and Pam, and of course to all the exhibitors for the opportunity to judge so many beautiful dogs. I had a truly enjoyable day judging at this well-organised and very festive pre-Christmas show.

BRITTANY

Special Yearling: no entries

Open: no entries

GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTER

Puppy (2, 1 absent)

1st - Warrington's DRYSIKA FINAL EDITION AT ZAKOVA, neat outline on this 6 months D, already showing balanced proportions in his clean-cut head, expressive dark eye, correct length of neck leading to well-laid shoulders, body has good depth & strength throughout for one so young, short-backed with good width of thigh, stifles are well bent without being excessive & he stands over plenty of ground, will grow into his legs which are straight and well-boned, stands on strong well-shaped feet, moved very smoothly with drive from the rear, eye-catching in profile, just needs to tighten in front, well-deserved BPIB

Special Yearling (3, 2 absent):

1st - Mapes' AGDENUSHER MULBERRY, well-built 19 mths D, head is masculine & balanced with good width & roundness to skull, good brow & soft expression, plenty of length in neck, moderate front angulation with width to forechest, well-boned legs & strong feet, liked his depth of brisket, moderate tuck-up giving him good strength in flanks, very well-bent stifles & well-developed hindquarters, perhaps a shade long in back, nevertheless held a firm topline on the move & showing drive behind, still only a youngster who has time to mature into his frame, giving way to two much more mature exhibits in the next class

Post Graduate (4 entries, 1 absent):

1st - Edlin's GRAYGEES TSARINE, smart 3 yrs B who presented a clean & unexaggerated profile, pretty, feminine & correctly proportioned head, intelligent expression in her dark eyes, good length of neck, shoulders are well laid back with sufficient return of upper arm, straight forelegs, body is deep all through with strength in flanks, well-muscled & wide hindquarters, desirable short back & well-bent stifles giving her the ability to stand over plenty of ground, liked her for the grace of her outline combined with her strength, her gait reflected her general soundness and condition, being smooth, lithe & effortless

2nd - Warrington's ZAKOVA ARIA, mature 2 yrs B, another with a feminine & well-balanced head, dark eye & kind expression, liked her reach of neck, which was also strong & well-muscled, leading into a well-constructed front assembly, good width in forechest, stands on strong straight forelegs with slightly sloping pasterns, excelled in depth of brisket & spring of rib, slightly longer in loin than 1, upper thigh strong & wide, well-bent stifles but a tad less length in second thigh would give her better balance, moved out soundly & effortlessly, just preferred the balanced angulation and shorter length of back of 1

3rd - A MULBERRY

Open (4 entries, 1 absent):

Never were the clichés about needing three red cards or splitting hairs truer than in this fantastic quality class. Although not critiqued here, I must mention the superb muscle condition of the lovely D in 3rd. Final decisions hinged on who produced the most typically effortless & lithe movement in the last run-off on a horribly slippery surface.

1st - Elliott's ANKERWYCKE SILK STOCKINGS, eye-catching graceful outline on this 4 yrs B, clean-cut head which was feminine & proportionate, being neither too light nor too heavy, with power to her jaw, intelligent & alert expression, strong & muscular neck of moderate length, well-laid shoulders, deep in brisket & flanks, well-ribbed back to correct length of loin, firm topline, short back, excellent width in hindquarters with well-bent stifles, correct length in hind legs, stood over plenty of ground, in this incredibly strong class she filled my eye with her noble, strong & athletic appearance and gave the best performance on the move to take BOB, thrilled to see later that she was the judge's choice for BIS, congratulations!

2nd - Blay's SH CH BARLEYARCH SKYE AT LONGBARROW ShCM, 6 yrs B with an equally graceful shape as 1, she has a clean, balanced & feminine head with a delightfully bright expression, strong neck of good length leading to very well-laid shoulders, similar body properties to 1 being deep-chested with strong flanks & well-sprung ribs, moderate tuck-up, short back, croup slopes gradually towards her well-set tail, she has very curvaceous hindquarters with strong, wide thighs & well-bent stifles, she moved effortlessly, just thought the younger B had the edge on energy here, very pleased to award her RBOB

3rd - Dymond's CH QUINTANA DIAMOND DUST AT FRIARSBELLE JW ShCeX OSW

SPANIEL (CLUMBER)

Puppy (0 entries)

Junior (1 entry, 1 absent)

Post Graduate (2 entries, 1 absent)

1st - Sainsbury's WOOLIEBOURNE NICK OF TME AMONG ELSKERWOO, well-constructed & feminine 2 yrs B with attractive balanced profile & correct leg length, broad skull with correct brow & stop, muzzle is broad with enough depth, particularly liked her lovely tight eye & her expression which exudes kindness & dignity in equal measure, strong & muscular neck, excellent front angulation, deep brisket with well-sprung ribs, strong through flanks, powerful & well-muscled in thigh, stifles well bent, would like her feet to be a tad more round, movement was energetic & true with good drive, very happy to award her RBOB

Open (1 entry)

1st Thorogood's ANBROOK DON'T STOP ME NOW AT HARRIFIELD, nearly 4 yrs D whose overall appearance is one of strength & power without exaggeration, in my notes I've described his head as "very Clumbery" being large & square with breadth to his skull & proportionate width & depth to his muzzle, strong neck, well-laid shoulder & return of upper arm, deep all through body with plenty of spring of rib, thigh is wide & well-muscled, sufficient bend of stifle, legs are short & strong with good bone & large round feet, true & effortless on the move, very pleased to award him BOB & later to see him shortlisted in BIS

SPANIEL (FIELD)

Puppy (4 entries, 1 absent)

Three very promising puppies in this class. Hope to see them all again as they mature.

1st - Adams & Lewis' IRISBEL A MILLION DREAMS, confident 8 mths Liver B who is already showing good type & balance in outline, pretty head developing nicely with well-defined occiput & leanness beneath the eyes, muzzle is long & lean with good depth, eyes are darkening & expression is gentle with a twinkle of mischief, long in neck, excellent front & rear angulation, plenty of bone, brisket is deep & ribs reach well back to strong couplings, back is level & loin strong, well-developed in thigh with moderate bend of stifle, her correct construction was apparent in her true, driving movement, BPIB, RBOB & delighted that she later went RBPIS

2nd - Adams & Lewis' CEBEN DARREN AT IRISBEL (IMP SWE), B/T D, just turned 9 mths, liked his body & leg length giving him an attractive balanced outline for his age, masculine head with slightly raised brow & well-defined occiput, long lean muzzle of enough depth, loved his dark eye & kind expression, sufficient length of neck into well-laid shoulders, deep all through body & well-coupled, strong in loin, strong & level in back, just falls away very slightly at croup at present, plenty of width in thigh & bend of stifle, he moved very happily showing drive at the rear, just not as together as 1 at this stage

3rd - Osborn's KILLARA'S PASS THE CROWN TO ELGERT (IMP USA)

Special Yearling (3 entries, 2 absent)

1st - K PASS THE CROWN TO ELGERT (IMP USA), L/T B, just 8 months, displaying plenty of confidence at her 1st show, balanced outline, pretty head with slightly raised brows & plenty of depth & length in muzzle, chiselling below eyes to come, neck very strong & sufficiently long, well-laid shoulders, plenty of depth & strength through body, well-sprung ribs, she is a shade long in loin at this stage & carrying some puppy fat, thighs developing nicely, stifle moderately bent, stands on well-boned legs & excellent strong round feet, a little untidy on the move on a slippery floor surface, but she has promise for the future

Open (6 entries, 3 absentees)

1st - Osborn's SH CH ELGERT LADY STA'DUST JW VW, black B approaching her 8th birthday & wearing her advancing years lightly, one I have had the pleasure of judging before & today found nothing to change my opinion of her, balanced & strong in appearance, feminine head with long lean muzzle, clean & chiselled beneath eye, she has a charming & noble expression in her dark eye, excels in neck leading to correct front angulation, plenty of forechest, deep brisket & flanks, well ribbed back, short coupled, strong hindquarters, stifle moderately bent, movement was both unhurried & powerful, pleased to award her BOB

2nd - Webber's FECIMUS STAR TROOPER AT TREVORIS, liked the balanced outline on this mature 5 yrs Liver D, masculine head of correct proportions, muzzle is lean & well-chiselled with good depth, dark eye with a gentle expression, neck of sufficient length, shoulders are well-laid, excelled in depth of brisket & spring of rib, well-ribbed back to strong flanks, firm level back & strong over loin, powerfully-built hindquarters with width in thigh & moderate bend of stifle, well-boned throughout & stands on strong legs & neat feet, moved well with drive although not wholly at ease today, nevertheless a very pleasing exhibit

3rd - Webber's FECIMUS COUNTRY ROADS TO TREVORIS

SPANIEL (SUSSEX)

Special Yearling (1 entry, 1 absent)

Post Graduate (1 entry)

1st - Roberts' DEANWAY FAIRY DUST, balanced outline to this 3 yrs B, skull wide with moderate curve, pronounced stop with marked brow, has strength in foreface & muzzle yet retains her femininity, very pretty with the softest of expressions framed by large ears, kindly temperament very evident in her demeanour, strong legs with enough bone & round feet, long muscular neck into well-laid shoulders, good length in body & strong throughout with ribbing extending well back, a shade longer in loin than other winners, brisket deep, well-developed thigh & moderately bent stifle, moved soundly with great enthusiasm

Open (2 entries)

1st - Moon's DEANWAY PROPER CHARLIE, litter brother to PG winner, his strong build catches the eye immediately, very masculine in head with wide curved skull, pronounced stop, centre indentation & frowning brow, plenty of strength in foreface & muzzle, correct length of neck, well-developed forechest, stands on good bone & feet, excelled in front angulation, tremendous substance & depth all through body, great ribs, firm in back & well-coupled with width across his loins, moderate bend of stifle, thigh wide & muscular, same happy temperament as his sister, moving out with great drive & energy, BOB & delighted that he later went RBIS

2nd - Moon's DEANWAY SUMMER STORM, sturdily built 8 yrs B, not quite the balance in outline of 1 being slightly shorter in body, very feminine in head with rounded skull, good stop & brow, strength in foreface & muzzle, strong & muscular in neck, excellent front angulation, great depth to brisket & flank. well-ribbed back with well-coupled loin, moderate in stifle & good width of thigh, her fitness & condition at her age are a credit to her owner, initially she didn't fully appreciate a handler who wasn't "Mum", but moved with much more enthusiasm once "Mum" took over, beating the younger bitch to RBOB on maturity

A.V. GUNDOG IMPORTED BREED REGISTER

Puppy (0 entries)

Special Yearling (1 entry)

1st - Kifford's HUNTINGTALES DAPPLED WILLOW, Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer, unmistakeably feminine 19 mths B, still maturing & in her underclothes today, but has well-balanced outline with no sign of heaviness, head moderately lean & clean with required amount of stop, balanced skull & muzzle, almond-shaped amber eyes, medium length neck into clean shoulders, would prefer slightly better length & return of upper arm, well-sprung ribs reaching well back, body needs to develop but time is on her side, good rear angulation, hindquarters developing nicely producing rear drive, held firm topline & head high on the move, Res Best IR in Show

Open (3 entries)

1st - Kaye, Byrne & Barclay's SWISS SH CH BRYANELLY WOODY AMONG NIZZANA WW23, Portuguese Pointer, mature 5 yrs D who draws you in with his balanced outline & overall impression of strength, skull & muzzle have the correct proportions & shape with convergent planes, clearly defined stop, rounded pendulous flews, eyes full, tending to round & the windows on his calm soul, neck strong of medium length, tremendous forechest, great depth & breadth all through body, ribs well sprung, powerful broad thighs, stifles are well bent without exaggeration, excels in front & rear angulation, his correct construction shows in his effortless & easy movement, Best IR in Show

RESERVE BEST OF BREED STAKES

Many thanks to the large number of RBOBs who stayed on after breed judging to compete in a class where the quality was so high my shortlist was in grave danger of being a very long list! All were typical representatives of their respective breeds. My winners all had one thing in common, which was the ability to give their all moving around the large outdoor ring

1st - Challis' VIZSLANYA CSIBE JW, Hungarian Vizsla, lovely balance to this 2 yrs rich russet B, head is lean with a typically noble look yet retains its strength with good width to skull & a square muzzle, dark eye with intelligent & gentle expression, strong neck of moderate length flowing smoothly into well-made front assembly, body is robustly built with depth & breadth while retaining the elegance required of her kind, ribs well sprung, hindquarters are broad, powerful & muscular, she moved as she was built on a balanced & lively stride combining power & grace, really working the outside space available, Best RBOB

2nd - Brooksmith's MILLPOINT GOLDEN PIPPIN, 14 mths Pointer B, still young but lots of promise for the future, symmetrical & graceful in outline, feminine head with skull of medium breadth, correct muzzle shape, well defined stop & pronounced occiput, darkest of eyes with soft expression, long muscular neck leading into well-laid shoulders & good return of upper arm, strong & straight forelegs with visible back sinews, brisket deep, well ribbed back to strong loins, well muscled & wide hindquarters, when standing was a little unsettled in the cold wind, but showed herself off properly on the move with a smooth driving action

3rd - Hempstead's SHIMMERING BROOKE AT CUVANA, IWS

Res - Connor's CADANBYRIG ICE AND ROSES AT DE MELVILLES, GLP

VHC - Baldry's LLON LLANHARRAN LLEUCI, WSS

Teresa Dunsdon

(Judge)