North Of Ireland West Highland White Terrier Club

North of Ireland WHWTC Championship Show, 28.09.24 – Judge: Douglas Berry

It is always a pleasure to judge a club show and I must say this club did pull out all the stops to make it feel as close as possible to the club show experience given the restraints imposed by their partner society.

As for general comments on the entry I will start with my perennial plea for exhibitors to stop taking hair out in front of the eyes. I know I’ll sound like an old fogey here but we never used to and the dogs could see perfectly well. Leaving hair there helps to emphasise the required piercing expression, whereas taking it away, particularly when combined with wide-set ears, really spoils the look. Mouths were good, but then most know I’m not forgiving of anything bur minor mouth faults, and the three males in particular need to be praised for meeting the ‘teeth large for size of dog’ criteria. The most noticeable widespread problem with this entry however was with turned out front feet. Some were better disguised than others, and the degree of turn of course varied, but it is something we will need to be wary of.

MPD (1,0) 1. Jenkins & Crocket’s Havasu Heir Apparent, well up to size for his 8 months, short coupled with longer neck and tail, good head and expression, lovely straight front and all round angulation, short hard and tight coat. Very unsure of himself here, and therefore difficult to assess movement – I later heard a Sussex of all things had flown at him – but much more confident in the challenge, to the extent that it highlighted he can be a bit proud of his tail. RBPIS & RCC.

JD (1,0) 1. Bruen’s Zackshine Sinner in Silk, one-year-old with level topline running into a short well set tail and powerful backend. Good head and expression, front feet could be better, tight hard topcoat of good length, moved well.

OD (2,1) 1. Zaccariello’s Ch & It Ch Zackshine High Technology, impressive mature short backed 3-year-old of good substance, decent head and front, very good coat, level topline and good tail. Moved true and demonstrated good extension when going round at a fair old rate of knots. CC & BIS. Nice to see him getting G2 later in the day at the Belfast partnership show.

PB (3,0) 1. Fryer’s Hopecharm Bright Angel, lovely nicely balanced 11-month-old very much looking and moving the part. Good head and expression with neat well-placed ears running into a short level back with a well-set short tail and a very good coat to boot. BPIS. And she also went on to PG2 in the partnership show. 2. Crozier’s Dalskairth Kirkcolm Cutie, a month younger than 1 but well behind that in maturity and a lot of her needs time to develop but she has the basics of angulation and back and tail length, plus a coat that will be the better for more work. Moved well when not distracted by things going on round about. 3. Thomson’s Ashgate Kelso.

JB (2,0) 1. Thomson’s Hillcloud Echowave by Ashgate, nothing hidden or exaggerated in this 15-month-old who was in just enough coat. Decent head and front assembly with plenty behind her well set tail, which led to good movement throughout. 2. Fryer’s Gin and Tonic Sunshine Celebration (Imp Svk), 17-month-old better put down contrasting type with lovely head and expression. Both here had slightly turned out front feet. Otherwise lots to like about her overall construction but disappointed in how close behind she moved.

YB (1,0) 1. Bruen’s Ir Ch Zackshine Glenrosa Cjw 24 Cw24, well presented 19-month-old with nice head and an expression that would be the better of a little less space between the ears. Decently made with strong rear end but again with a slight front feet issue. Went well with very controlled movement.

PGB (2,0) 1. Jenkins & Crocket’s Havasu Pipe Melody, not the smallest of 11-month-olds, good head and expression, decent front with only a hint of the feet issue, and an okay backend. Coat needs to tighten yet but of good texture. 2. Belousova’s Zackshine Dalida, near 3-year-old of decent type. Coat tight and of good texture, moved well with nicely shaped tail carried correctly but all I said in my intro about front feet and expression applied.

LB (2.0) 1. Crozier’s Dalskairth Glamis Girl, have judged her previously and still a very well made balanced bitch whose now 5-years of age suit her. Very feminine head and expression, straight front and correctly set and shaped tail carried on decent backend, and she moved well. Her overall presentation could be better but she has the all-important hard tight white top coat. RCC. 2. Chambers’ Circinus Dreaming All Day, decently made 20-month-old with well set and shaped tail. In good coat but the extreme trimming in front of the eyes epitomised what I said in my intro, to the extent it also made her look long in the muzzle.

ChB (2,1) 1. Smith’s Ch Lingbeck Hold The Dream, 4-year-old of lovely type who looked the part and moved well. Whilst well made in head, I again I would have preferred more hair left in front of the eyes. In very good jacket with a short tail on a really good backend. BCC & RBIS.