Birmingham Dog Show Society Ltd

National Dog Show 2024

Judge: Anthony Allen

Irish Water Spaniels

It is a number of years since I owned an IWS, but I still maintain a keen interest in the breed, and I was delighted to be given the chance to judge them at The National Dog Show. Thank you to the exhibitors for the sporting way they accepted my decisions.

Perhaps I look back to my days in the breed when I was showing through rose tinted glasses but today, I didn’t find the depth in quality in the males that I hoped for. That being said, there were some topflight bitches and some exciting youngsters that gave me a lot to think about.

My Dog CC and Best of Breed was the super dog, Hackett & Williams, Sh Ch Curlyco My Hot Rock Star. My Res Dog CC Duckmanton’s Ch Cuboglach Sandy Wave. My Bitch CC, her second, was Stirk’s Stanegate Hey It's Bianca JW Shcex OSW. My Res Bitch CC was Bannisters’ Ta An Neifinn at Banysun

Best Puppy was the very special youngster Carruthers’ Stanegate Standing Ovation. Best Veteran Blades & McNaught & Andrews’ Eldarrah Dream of Spring and my Best Special Beginner Stoddart’s Camridgcurl Aileen Fox

Class 468 JD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1715 PROUDLOVE, Mrs Fiona & PROUDLOVE, Mr Peter Cuboglach Toadflax Brocade

Just 12 months old, head of correct shape and definition, eyes need to darken a little. Good through the neck, set in to well-placed shoulders and enough return of upper arm. Enough depth to chest for his age and legs well boned. Body of good proportions with ribs springing well. Quarters well proportioned. Coat ok with a good curl, should finish with a good coat. Needs to settle on the move.

Class 470 LD (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1710 LATHERON, Ms L & TRENCHARD, Mr M Fynder Reacher

I liked this chap for overall shape and make, there is a shade more of him that I would like but he is made well. Scores in head and expression, with a dark eye. Neck clean and set well into his shoulders, good lay back. Standing on good legs and depth in forechest. Good body proportions with well sprung ribs, correct length to the loin. Quarters well developed and well angulated. So well balanced and moved with good reach and drive and rolling gait. Super coat, correct texture with good ringlets. I think we will hear more from this chap in the future, close up for the RCC.

2nd: 1716 SMITH, Mr D J & Mrs A C Goldenacre Jubilee Lord of Leonardston

Upstanding dog, with a good outline, preferred his size to the winner. Head shape ok but a little strong for my tastes. Enough reach of neck set in to well-placed shoulders and a decent return of upper arm. Depth to chest and legs well boned. Body of good proportions with enough spring of rib. Quarters well proportioned. Coat ok but lacked a little condition today. Not as fluid on the move as the winner and lacked the typical rolling action.

3rd: 1711 MAC MAHON, Dr Ardle Tiger Tail

Class 471 OD (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1708 HACKETT, Mr J & WILLIAMS, Mrs Angela Sh Ch Curlyco My Hot Rock Star

What a smart dog this six-year-old boy is, he took my attention when he walked in the ring and did not disappoint when I got my hands on him. He has a good overall outline and is an upstanding dog. He has a masculine head and expression with correct length of muzzle and shape. Correct eye colour and certainly a mischievous look in his eye. Neck of good proportions, set correctly in to well laid shoulders. Correct front angulation with a good return of upper arm. Good depth of chest. His body is of correct proportions, he has the correct spring of rib and loin. Well angulated quarters. Coat of good quality with dense ringlets. Movement was positive in the class with a good action. In the challenge he just stood out as a class act, pleased to award him the CC and BOB.

2nd: 1707 DUCKMANTON, Mr Bob & DUCKMANTON, Mrs Marion Sh Ch Cuboglach Sandy Wave

Substantial chap, well up for size, well-made and has good balance. Masculine head and expression, not quite as clean in head as the winner. Shoulders well placed, a decent return of upper arm. Stands on well boned legs. Body well made with ribs well back and sprung, good through the loin. Excellent quarters with a moderate bend of stifle. Sound on the move with fluidity. Coat was OK but not quite the quality of the winner. Please to award him the RCC.

Class 473 SBB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1718 STODDART, Prof Caroline Camridgcurl Aileen Fox

Pleasing lady, just 17 months but progressing in the right direction, I like her head shape, good overall proportions, eyes need to darken a little. She is well made with good angles front and rear, needs a shade more length un upper arm. Body well made, ribs springing nicely, short back. well made in quarters. Scored in movement in this class with a typical action. Coat coming along nicely, with good ringlets.

2nd: 1705 DAVEY, Miss Zoe & DAVEY, Mr Thomas Santarocco Derry

Another youngster, just eight months. For me she has the basics and a good overall outline, but I just wanted a little more of her all through to complete the picture, this should happen as she matures up. Coat coming, but again needs a bit more time. On the move she wasn’t as settled as the winner today.

Class 475 PB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1704 CARRUTHERS, Mrs J Stanegate Standing Ovation

A very promising young lady of 10 months, presented and paced to perfection. In tip top condition, I loved her feminine expression, her head is of the correct shape. Good reach of neck, set into well placed shoulders. Super front with depth to her chest. Correct length of body with ribs springing well. Well angulated hindquarters and well let down hocks. Coat of good quality. Moved very well with a good driving action, needs to settle into her front action. In the challenge she moved with such purpose and drive covering the ground, very close up for the RCC. Today my Best Puppy. Another whose career I will follow with interest.

Class 476 JB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1718 STODDART, Prof Caroline Camridgcurl Aileen Fox

2nd: 1700 BINGHAM, Miss Lisa Jayne Lobelia Avon

Just 12 months and giving away a lot in maturity and finish to the winner. She has a good shape and size about her. Head is feminine, good in neck into a decent lay back of shoulder. Body well proportioned and at the right stage for her age. Good back end with well angulated stifles. Needs to settle on the move to complete the picture, she was having fun today.

Class 477 PGB (5 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: 1721 WILSON, Mrs S E & WILSON, Mr D J Cambridgcurl Calypso at Eldarrah

I liked the make and shape of this lady. Her head is pleasing with a good shape and definition, lovely dark eye. Shoulders well placed, would like slightly more return of upper arm. Her body is well proportioned, ribs well sprung, slightly long through loin. Good overall rear angulation, stifles well bent. Coat in good condition and well presented. Did her best to throw her chances away on the move but did just enough to take the class.

2nd: 1720 WILLIAMSON, Mrs Joan & WILLIAMSON, Mr Bryan Finchsmill Secret Surprise

Good sized bitch, head of good shape and proportions, just would have liked her eyes darker. Good through the neck, shoulder placement OK and a decent return of upper arm. Not the depth of chest of the winner and would have liked her elbows a little tighter. Well-proportioned in the body, ribs and loin OK. A little untidy coming toward me and not in the best of coats today.

3rd: 1714 MORRIS, Mr D J Caliway Dolly Varden

Class 478 LB (4 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1699 BANNISTER, Mrs C Ta An Neifinn at Banysun

Very nice type of water spaniel, with a pleasing feminine head and expression, good eye shape and colour. Good through neck and shoulders, good depth of chest. Correct through ribs good through the loin. Quarters well-made which she used well to move with purpose and drive, excellent footfall. Lovely coat of correct texture and puce colour. I found a lot to like about this bitch. She was with a runner today and not as confident on the move as I would have liked. She pushed very hard for top honours but in the challenge, she wasn’t as fluid on the move as the open winner so had to be content with the RCC, good luck with her as she is worthy of her title in my opinion.

2nd: 1698 ANDREWS, Mrs Sharon Famous Crowds Secret Parade @ Mudlarks (Imp Dnk)

Another of good type, was told she had just come off a litter and this reflected in her coat today. I liked her headpiece, feminine in expression with a good eye shape and colour. Good overall shape and size, clean in neck, decent layback of shoulder into a well-constructed front. Good depth of chest and spring of rib, slightly long in loin. Well made quarters with well angulated stifles. Moved out well to take this place, just not the finish of the winner today.

Class 479 OB (4 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: 1717 STIRK, Mr G & STIRK, Mrs K & STIRK, Miss Z Stanegate Hey It's Bianca JW ShCex OSW

This lady took my attention as she walked in the ring and did not disappoint when I got my hands on her. She has a super outline and is balanced. She has that classic IWS feminine head and expression that I was looking for with correct length of muzzle, eye shape and colour. Neck of good proportions, set in to correctly placed shoulders, good depth of chest for her age. Correct body proportion, spring of ribs and depth of loin. Well angulated quarters. Coat of good quality with dense ringlets. Once she got into her stride, movement was good both fore and aft, in profile she just came alive with that typical free flowing action. I was delighted to be able to award her the BCC.

2nd: 1712 MCCALLUM, Mr Fraser & MCCALLUM, Mrs Julie Weemaes All About Eve

Another typy bitch, four years old, correctly sized and pleasing proportions. Today she didn’t put in the performance of the winner. Good feminine expression, head of the correct shape. Good reach of neck, set into well placed shoulders. Well made in body, not quite the rear angulation of the winner, nor the coat. Moved well to take this spot over third.

3rd: 1719 WEAVING, Mrs M & Mr A Ir Sh Ch Stanegate Cast a Spell

Class 480 VB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1702 BLADES, Ms Adele & MCNAUGHT, Mrs J & ANDREWS, Mr A Eldarrah Dream of Spring

Another I really liked, full of type and quality. She has that classic IWS feminine head and expression that I was looking for with correct length of muzzle, eye shape and of the correct colour. Neck of good proportions, set in to correctly placed shoulders, good depth of chest for her age. Good through the body, spring of ribs, slightly long in loin. Well angulated quarters. Coat of good quality with dense ringlets. Needed to be a little more fluid on the move to complete the picture. My Best Veteran.