South Of England Gundog Club

I’d like to express a huge thank you to the committee for inviting me to do this appointment. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was able to judge many quality dogs and all exhibitors took my decision with grace. A big thank you to my steward, Louis, who was one of the best stewards I’ve had – kind, thoughtful and on the ball. Thank you. A very Merry Christmas to you all.

German Longhaired Pointers

O (5, 3) 1 Connor’s Caldera Crimson Glory at De Melvilles. Lovely feminine brown and white bitch who is nicely put together all over. I thought she had a delightful head – kind and expressive eyes and held well when stood, and on the move. Correct upper arm length for the breed, with good depth of brisket. In body she has the depth and good angulation fore and aft. She moved with style and purpose. Shown in hard, muscular condition – I can see this dog working out in all weather. A pleasure to judge and award BOB. 

2 Connor’s Cadanbyrig Ice and Roses at De Melvilles. The muscling on this bitch was to die for – a real powerhouse of a dog. A youngster at only 12 months old and enjoying her moment in the ring. She had a lovely aristocratic head with correct ear feathering. Lovely strong neck leading into well-placed shoulders. She had a free, long-striding gait with drive, pushing off from her strong hindquarters. In body she needs to develop but this will come with age and I will be excited to see her in future. Delighted to award RBOB.

3 Gale’s Cadanbyrig Fire and Ice

Hungarian Vizsla

P (1,0) 1 Senior’s Oakswarren Feel The Heat (AI). Really nice puppy full of excitement and attitude at just 8 months old. Needs time to develop in body but has the makings of nice dog. I thought he excelled in head type, with good eyes and correct earset. Good angulation fore and aft with well laid shoulders, tight elbows and well let down hocks. On the move he showed a good striding and lively gait, although he did pace to begin with but his handler gave him lots of encouragement to show him off to his absolute best. Best of luck with him in the future. BP.

SY (3,1) 1 Challis’ Vizslanya Praxis. Lovely feminine girl throughout who oozes elegance and commanded attention in the ring. She has a wonderfully strong neck which leads into the correct lay of shoulder. In body she has well sprung ribs and has excellent muscling. I thought she excelled in movement – fluid and lively and eating up the ring. In the challenge for BOB she put in a spotless performance with a new handler. Delighted to award her BOB and a pleasure to judge her.

2 Senior’s Nemzet Kincse IPA (Imp Hun) NAF TAF. Fidgety 12-month-old who had fun in the ring. He is quite up to size but overall he is well put together and balanced when stood and on the move. I thought he had a lovely demeanour and attitude and was demonstratively affectionate as the breed calls for! So cheeky and happy. On the move he scored, with a lively gate and ground-covering trot. Has the correct feet and good angulation in the rear, leading into well let-down hocks.

PG (4, 2) 1 Challis’ Vizslanya Praxis. Repeat of Special Yearling.

2 Kubikova’s Darwin Gurdau (Imp Cze). Difficult to assess fully as he was very excitable and made his handler work hard to settle him. He is up to size but has a lovely kind expression and head, with the correct eyes. I would prefer more forechest on him to fill him out. He is well ribbed back with strong hindquarters and when settled moved soundly.

O (4,2) 1 Challis’ Vizslanya Csibe JW. On the stack this girl is the epitome of noble and aristocratic as the breed calls for. Truly feminine throughout, she has the right amount of power and retains wonderful elegance. Richer in colour than any of the other dogs here today, with a lovely head and expression. Strong forequarters and driving rear, she has strong pasterns and excellent muscle – moderate all over. I loved her for BOB but unfortunately she couldn’t get to grips with the flooring in the hall and was unhappy but couldn’t deny her RBOB. Delighted that she won the RBOB stakes. A lovely girl. 

2 Kubikova’s Darwin Gurdau (Imp Cze). Repeat of PG.

Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)

P (2,0) 1 Middleton and Mayhew’s Arnac Bay Jellicoe. What a gorgeous and promising baby who I just fell in love with. She has an expression to die for which just melted me. She has correct head proportions, and is feminine throughout with the correct earset. Well laid shoulders and good depth of chest. She is strong in body for a puppy so young and with age and time I’ll be looking forward to see how she develops. Good stifle and hindquarters, comes to life on the move with a strong, powerful and free-striding gait. Correct coat texture and a pleasure to award BP and RBOB.

2 Allen’s Arnac Bay Juno. Such a cutie enjoying her first show. Littermate to class winner, you can see there is a clear type they share. Scores in angulation fore and aft with the same exquisite head as her sister. She definitely showed off her character on the move, and was very bouncy to assess, but when she did settle she moved soundly. Good body and strong in back with bags of personality.

SY (1,0) 1 Hayes’ Tideflight Floki. Very masculine dog with lovely head, good width between the eyes and broad skull. I would not like him any bigger but he has nice proportions and a lovely breed type. I thought he had an excellent coat which was the correct texture, length and oily to the touch. Good angulation fore and aft – would like to see more in his chest. Could do with being moved on a longer lead to see his movement more as he was very enthusiastic today. Lovely boy.

O (2,1) 1 Sh Ch Arnac Bay Hebe WGC ShCEx EW22. What a dog. Such an excellent example of the breed and a delight to go over. She has such ring presence which means you can’t take your eyes off her. She is well made throughout with the muscle to match, retaining the femininity required. Strong neck leads into well laid shoulders, excellent bone with powerful hindquarters that propelled her around the ring effortlessly. She had an excellent coat texture, with oiliness. A quality bitch who has all the attributes you would look for in the breed.

Any Variety 

MINOR PUPPY DOG

 1 Hazeltine’s Corotine Prince Charming (Pointer). The standard calls for graceful curves and this boy is definitely made up of those! Stood out as soon as he was in the lineup and handled to his every advantage. Lovely kind expression and strong neck, leading into long, well-laid back shoulders. Plenty of heart and lung room and standing on good bone. On the move he had good reach and driving action from behind, and used the ring to its full potential. Lovely youngster.

2 Tollisty Raudr (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever). Another that caught my eye when they entered the ring. Lovely puppy to go over and still very raw but showing promise. Lovely expression with wedge shaped head. Good depth of chest and brisket, short-backed with level topline which was held on the move. Does tend to carry tail over when standing. Nice baby and will watch with interest.

MINOR PUPPY BITCH

 1 Killara’s Pass The Crown to Elgert Imp USA (Field Spaniel). I absolutely fell in love with this girl! Such a striking liver and tan colour, oozed personality as she ate up the ring. Good head proportions with the kindest and most noble of expressions. Strong neck with good chest and lovely angulation fore and aft. She moved with great drive, with a nice long stride. Presented and turned out to the highest of standards.

2 Yokotai Queen of Chaos (Cocker Spaniel). Presented in wonderful condition and handled to her every advantage. Compact and in proportion, this one was very happy to drive around the ring. Good amount of bone. Loveliest of heads, with gentle expression. Neck leads into good shoulders, with well sprung ribs. Carried tail well on the move.

PUPPY DOG

1 Gemswim I Am Sailing (Flat Coated Retriever). This dog was so at one with his handler and enjoying every moment in the ring, showing off that typical lashing tail action. Could benefit from being moved with a longer stride to show off his movement to its full potential. Felt well-made throughout, with good muscling. Good depth of chest and brisket. Nice happy dog!

2 Zakova Wise Guy (Cocker Spaniel). Another lovely Cocker Spaniel, this one black. Thought he had the best of heads and expression that made me want to completely melt. Not overdone in any way, he moved with good reach and drive. Presents the best of outlines, with the compactness needed for the breed. Well boned throughout and presented to the highest of standards.

PUPPY BITCH

 1 Paris Mon Tresore D’amoure (Bracco Italiano). Young chestnut and white Bracco with the typical breed nobility – one of the nicest heads, with good proportions and divergent planes. Plenty of power through the shoulders, with withers and elbow in the correct line. Good depth of chest, would prefer a tad more angulation in the rear. Went around the ring with powerful drive.

2 Loxbourne Hustle and Bustle (English Springer Spaniel). Cheeky youngster who was full of personality. Took a while to settle but moved well when he gathered himself. Lovely expression with good earset and the typical puppy coat at this age. Good length of neck and strong throughout the body. Presented in good condition.

FIELD TRIAL 

1 Sh Ch Quintana Diamond Dust at Friarsbelle (German Shorthaired Pointer). What a stamp of a dog! This is a working dog through and through, so well-muscled and shown in tip-top condition – you can easily see him out in the field doing a day’s work. He is well made throughout, standing over a lot of ground but in proportion throughout. Comes to life when he moves and scores in side profile.

SPECIAL WORKING

1 Berrymeade Couer Blimey at Busheyhall SGWC WGC (Golden Retriever). Couldn’t take my eyes off this dog! So happy, with an attitude and expression that made me totally melt. So very balanced and sound, this dog exudes the breed’s description of ‘kindly, friendly and confident’. Broad skull with powerful muzzle, dark eyes. Scores in forequarters, straight legs and plenty of heart room. Well let-down hocks and driving movement from behind. A real credit to the owner.

2 Ch Tollelkin Caife Americano SGWC ShCEx (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever). Such an attractive Toller shown in exquisite condition and turned out in fantastic coat and presentation. Absolutely gorgeous head which is balanced and wedge-shaped, friendly expression with eyes that felt like they looked into your soul. Scores in forequarters with correct shoulder placement and deep chest, short backed with well-muscled hindquarters. Good springy gait but felt he needed a larger ring to show off its full potential. Correct double coat.

SPECIAL SHOW/WORKING

1 Berrymeade Kilternan of Busheyhall SGWC (Golden Retriever). Another nice example of the breed from the same kennel as before. Nice length of neck leading into well-laid back shoulders. Deep chest with well sprung ribs, muscular in rear with well-bent stifles. Moved around the ring with a long, free gait, tail carried well.

2 Ch Tollelkin Caife Americano SGWC ShCEx (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever).