Midland Counties Canine Society

I would like to thank the committee of Midland Counties for inviting me to judge Basset Griffon Vendeens at your Championship show. It was a real privilege to be asked. I was grateful to have had two most efficient stewards, Karen and Mick who both worked tirelessly help my ring run smoothly.

I found when judging the Grands that there was quite a variation in type and presentation. It is important to remember that this is a show, and we should always try to present our dogs looking their best.

There were many wonderful hounds here and I had a great depth of quality throughout many classes. Decisions and placements in some of the classes were made on very fine margins.

Thank you to the exhibitors for bringing their wonderful hounds and for accepting my decisions in a sporting manner.

PUPPY DOG 0

JUNIOR DOG 1

1st Mrs F & Mr M Buchanan & Maclaren Tarmachan Tre Valli A handsome 14-month-old tri with a super balanced outline – what a fabulous start to my day judging! He has a noble, masculine head with dark oval eyes, his ears are long and fine and correctly set. His neck is strong and flows smoothly into a good front assembly, he has straight forelegs and large, well-padded feet. He has depth to his chest, with ribs well back. Lovely profile movement, with his long, high set tail carried correctly. RBD

POST GRADUATE 3 (1)

1st Mrs S Marshall Soufriere Paserelle Bateau Moderate and unexaggerated 3-year-old tri. Masculine, domed head with expressive dark oval eyes and lovely furnishings. He has a decent lay of shoulder, with straight forelegs though he could be a tad firmer in pasterns. He has width to his rear, with a moderate bend of stifle and short parallel hocks. Sound mover, although a little close in rear.

2nd Mr R & Dr Jj McVey & Shaw Soufriere Artimon 3-year-old tri, litter mate to 1st. His neck is strong and fits smoothly into a fair shoulder placement, though I would prefer a slightly better return of upper arm. He has depth to his brisket with plenty of infill, his back is of good length and is nicely ribbed. Ideally, he would benefit from more angulation to his rear quarters as he was a little straight in stifles. He maintained his topline on the move.

OPEN DOG 3

1st Misses C L, E R, & K A Cooper & O’Brien Ch Jayanel Royal Affair at Katillien Wow, what a fabulous 2-year-old tri, a true stallion of a hound! He caught my eye when he came into the ring with his beautifully balanced outline. I loved his masculine domed head, with dark oval eyes and long, low set folded ears. His front assembly is super; he is clean in shoulders with elbows close to chest. He has quality bone with lovely feet and has strong pasterns. He has width to his rear with well-developed second thighs and strong, low set hocks. He moved around the ring with reach and drive, holding his topline. Beautifully handled and presented. BD

2nd Mrs P & Miss C McGregor Ch Claela Infinity and Beyond Nicely balanced 3-year-old tri male, he is firmly bodied and ample boned. Attractive, masculine head both in shape and proportions. He has a good length of neck that flows into well placed shoulders, with good depth to his chest and plenty of infill. Correct, moderate rear with width to second thigh and low set hocks. Shown in harsh coat, he moved around the ring with a lovely free action.

3rd Mr C, Mrs L & Miss S Brown Ir Ch Claela Sweet Dreams Ir Jch

VETERAN DOG 1

1st Mr R & Mr A R Bailey & Yates Ch/Ir Ch Tarmachan Ice Cool Almost 8-year-old tri, who was belying his years. Lovely, furnished domed head, he has the correct length of muzzle with a wonderful Roman nose. Balanced in angulations front and rear. His chest is deep with a prominent sternum, though he is just a tad loose at the elbows. This boy has strong bone and has large, tightly padded feet. Shown in a rough jacket, he was nicely handled and presented. A happy and enthusiastic mover, he moved effortlessly around the ring. BV

SPECIAL BEGINNERS DOG 1

1st Mr R & Dr Jj McVey & Shaw Soufriere Artimon see 2nd Post Graduate BSB

PUPPY BITCH 2

1st Miss L E Rossington Tiramisu Previa Z Chybowego Gniazda (Imp Pol) 11-month-old tri, who is a little too finely boned all through. Her head piece is nicely proportioned with kind dark eyes. Balanced in angulations both fore and aft. She has fair width to her chest, although her front feet have the tendency to turn out, and she would benefit from tighter pasterns. Her back is of good length and well-ribbed, she just needs to strengthen in her topline. BP

2nd Mr P A & Mrs Y M Bullivant Diamond Star Danda Bohemia avec Payguns Pretty 7-month-old bitch who is going through a growth spurt at the moment and is standing a little bum high. She has the sweetest of heads with lovely dark eyes and pigmentation, and long, well placed ears. She is very much a baby and still needs to develop into her frame. Her rear quarters are strong and well boned, but she is just a little straight in stifles. A little distracted on the move as there were too many smells in the ring for her to investigate. Just lost out by the slightest of margins.

JUNIOR BITCH 0

POST GRADUATE BITCH 3 (2)

1st Miss L E Rossington Soufriere Balisage Typey 3-year-old tri. Feminine, well proportioned domed head; she has dark eyes and pigmentation, and has the correct length of muzzle and a Roman nose. She has a strong neck into a decent lay of shoulder, but she is just a little short in upper arm. Her rear is moderate with width to her thighs. She moved steady around the ring, with her tail carried high.

OPEN BITCH 6

1st Miss C L Cooper Ch Jayanel Peppermint Patty Elegant 3-year-old sable and white, she has substance without being coarse. She has so many pleasing attributes and has fabulous breed type. Her head and expression are beautiful; with dark oval eyes and well set folded ears. She has a first-class front assembly, with depth and width to her chest. Her back is broad and well-ribbed, she is level in topline and has a short, powerful loin. Shown in super harsh coat and muscular condition. She held her shape on the move, driving around the ring covering plenty of ground in profile. BB & BOB

2nd Mrs F & Mr M Buchanan & Maclaren Ch Tarmachan Clootie Dumpling Eye-catching 3-year-old sable and white, she has a lovely balanced outline on the stack. Excellent feminine domed head, with correct length of muzzle and correct dentition. She has a strong, clean neck into well-laid shoulders with good depth of brisket and prominent sternum. She has a good length of back with moderately sprung ribs. Her well-muscled rear quarters enabled her to drive around the ring. RBB

3rd Mrs P & Miss C McGregor Claela Sweet Afton at Arona

VETERAN BITCH 2 (1)

1st Mrs S Marshall Silvamoon Saffron at Soufriere VW 10-year-old tri – what a super old lady, she has lost none of her qualities with age. She moved around the ring ‘like a spring chicken’ - a real credit to her owner. She is balanced in angulations front and rear, and has a good depth of chest. She is level in topline and maintained it on the move. Shown in a harsh coat.

SPECIAL BEGINNERS BITCH 2 (1)

1st Miss L E Rossington Tiramisu Previa Z Chybowego Gniazda (Imp Pol) See 1st puppy

Elaine Bogart (Incitatus)