National Gundog Association

National Gundog Association – 4 August 2024

German Wirehaired Pointers

Judge: Claire Sharp

I was thrilled when I heard I’d won the ballot to judge the breed at this show and further delighted when I received my entry for it. Thanks to all who entered – not just for bringing along your dogs but for the sporting atmosphere around the ringside, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Thanks also to my stewards who were superb and to NGA for their excellent hospitality.

It has been just over 3 years since I last judged this breed. I found temperaments to be excellent. There were a few with eyes lighter than ideal and there are too many dogs that are far too short in body and thus losing that typical GWP outline. However, I was able to find what I was looking for in every class though such was the quality of those entered.

Veteran Dog (0 entries)

Puppy Dog (0 entries)

Junior Dog (3 entries)

1st & RDCC Turnbull & Keene’s Glenquin The Colonel at Elagram

Though I wouldn’t want this smart young man any taller, he won this class as he had the best height/length proportions. He’s got the most beautiful head and expression with eyes of good colour. Good length of neck into well laid shoulders, gently sloping topline and a well angled, muscular rear. He has good bone and feet and moves really accurately. Super harsh coat with undercoat.

2nd. Johnston’s Glenquin The General

A heavier set dog than my winner and slightly shorter overall in body. Another with a lovely head and decent furnishings. Good depth and width of chest, correct topline and good angles fore and aft. Moved nicely.

3rd. Robson’s Glenquin Major at Yohenoak

Novice Dog (0 entries)

Graduate Dog (1 entry)

1st. Jones’ Germanus Makin A Point (AI)

A nicely proportioned head with sufficient furnishings but his eyes needs to darken. He has good bone and feet and a coat of good texture. Correct topline. He wasn’t doing himself any favours here, hunching himself up on the stack and pacing on the move which was a shame.

Post Graduate Dog (3 entries)

1st. Brown’s Matravers Cherokee

Won this class as I preferred his height/length proportions. A pleasing head with enough furnishings. Good topline and tailset. He is well made and moves soundly and accurately. Super crisp coat with undercoat.

2nd. Geary’s Wesley vom Alte Wald at Germanus (Imp Hun)

Absolutely loved his head and expression. He has a good neck and shoulders, correct topline and tailset and a decent, well angulated rear. Good bone and feet. A touch erratic on the move as he’s happy but he covers the ground with reach and drive. Excellent coat.

3rd. Jones’ Germanus Making a Point (AI)

Limit Dog (3 entries)

1st & DCC Quinn & Skeemer’s Germanus Hotwyr Yindi

I must admit, this boy tugged a bit on my heart strings as he reminded me a lot of my first GWP. He has a lovely head with eyes of good colour and correct dentition. He has a good neck and shoulders and good return of upperarm. Deep chest, ribs well back and a good topline and tailset. Well angled, muscular rear with good width of second thigh. He has a really harsh, wiry coat with undercoat and he was presented in tip top condition. He moves with reach and drive, covering the ground easily and accurately. I was delighted to hear that this was his crowning CC – a worthy show champion – congratulations to all concerned.

2nd. O’Brien’s Caldewriver Cold as Ice

An impressive dog with lots to like about him. A lovely, masculine head though I’d like his eyes a touch darker. He is beautifully balanced in profile and is well constructed fore and aft. Moves really well in profile, just needs to tighten up coming towards. Super harsh coat and handled beautifully.

3rd. Shepherd’s Kimmax Kallin Danny Boy Over

Open Dog (5 entries, 1 absent)

1st. Jones’ Sh Ch Mustwork Uland

Really smart in outline and in superb condition. He is well constructed all through and in excellent hard, fit muscular condition. Harsh, wiry coat. Won this class as he was the best mover in it.

2nd. O’Connor’s Sh Ch Karlejay Gump They Live in Yu

A smaller dog than 1 with a lovely head and eyes of good colour. He has good front and rear construction, I’d just prefer him to be a touch longer in body. Excellent coat. Sidewinding on the move on the away and back.

3rd. Geary’s Germanus Go Dutch

Special Beginners Dog or Bitch (3 entries)

1st. Harries’ Gleomac Daffodils in Bloom AI

This bitch could do with more coat and furnishings and I’d like her eyes a shade darker but I liked her shape and make. She has a well made front assembly, correct topline and tailset and a well angled rear with good width of second thigh. She won this class on her movement.

2nd. Jones’ Germanus Makin A Point AI

3rd. Hallam & Christie’s Germanus Makin a Statement AI

Veteran Bitch (3 entries, 1 absent)

1st & Best Veteran Johnston’s Sh Ch/Bel Ch Canis Fortuna Harda

A smart bitch who really isn’t showing her age. She has good height/length proportions and is well made all through. Moved really well.

2nd. Shepherd’s Kimmax Klean Sweep

A nice headed girl of good breed type. Just didn’t have the angles in front or rear angulation of my winner and it showed on the move. In good coat and presented nicely.

Puppy Bitch (0 entries)

Junior Bitch (1 entry)

1st. Pinkerton’s Bareve Beyonce

Absolutely beautiful bitch. I love her head, she has a good neck into well laid shoulders and a good return of upperarm. Deep chest with ribs well back. Correct topline and tailset. She is well angulated behind with good width of second thigh. Superb coat with undercoat. Moved really well, showing reach and drive.

Novice Bitch (2 entries)

1st. Luxmoore & Luxmoore-Ball’s Hushwing’s Encanto

On the initial stack, I didn’t think this girl was going to be my winner. She was hunching her topline a bit and was lacking coat. However, she won on her exceptional movement. She covers the ground effortlessly demonstrating real reach and drive. She is very European in type and nicely put together. She just needs time to mature. I liked her height/length proportions and she’s in lovely condition.

2nd. Quinn & Skeemer’s Germanus Miles between Us

My notes say “absolutely beautiful head” and she really does have one! Lovely dark eyes and she has a lovely harsh coat. I’d like a little more length of leg but she has decent angles fore and aft. Couldn’t match 1 on the move today.

Graduate Bitch (3 entries)

1st Luxmoore & Luxmoore-Ball’s Hushwing’s Encanto

As prev

2nd. Harries’ Gleomac Daffodils in Bloom AI

As prev.

3rd. Kearns’ Rudishaw Waltzing Matilda

Post Graduate Bitch (3 entries, 2 absent)

1st. Newton’s Germanus Makin A Ripple with Layasway

The most beautiful head with good eye colour. She has decent angles front and rear, I’d just like her to be slightly longer in body. Correct topline and tailset. Her coat had super texture and was a lovely rich liver colour. She moved beautifully, covering the ground effortlessly and accurately.

Limit Bitch (7 entries)

1st. Johnston’s Glenquin Enyo

Beautiful in outline with the correct height/length proportions. She has a lovely head, good neck and shoulders and good width and depth of chest. Correct topline and a well angulated rear. Lovely crisp coat. Best mover in the class.

2nd. Stamp & Thomas’ Tynsil Just One Smile

A solid liver bitch who was the biggest girl in the entry but I liked the make and shape of her. She is balanced, nicely constructed and has a lovely coat. Presented in tip top condition and moved accurately, just not with the drive of my winner.

3rd. Geary’s Germanus Stands Out a Mile

Open bitch (4 entries, 1 absent)

1st, BCC & BOB Morris & Evans’ Bareve By Kind Permission

I have done this girl well at an open show and I think I wrote then “just my type of GWP” and I stand by that! She is beautiful and is getting better and better as she matures. She epitomises “GWP” in profile with the correct height/length proportions. She is well made all through and physically can’t put a foot wrong as she is so beautifully constructed. On the move, she powers around the ring, demonstrating really accurate footfall. I was delighted to see that she was shortlisted in a strong group. It would be criminal if this girl doesn’t get her title.

2nd & RBCC O’Brien’s Sh Caldewriver Storm N’ Teacup for Katillien JW

Another super bitch who I liked muchly. She has a lovely head, good neck and shoulders, good depth and width of chest, decent bone and feet and a well angled rear. Presented well with coat of excellent texture. Moved superbly in profile. A worthy titleholder.

3rd. O’Connor’s Sh Ch Karlejay Gump Circle of Life