London Reform Pekingese Association

London Reform Pekingese Association Championship Show, 21st September 2024

Many thanks to the committee of the London Reform Pekingese Association for the kind invitation to judge at their Championship Show. I was very pleased with the entry of 34 in this day and age and thought the main winners were full of quality. Having always taken a very keen interest in the breed; and having been lucky enough now to have judged 3 Club Open Shows and now 2 breed Club Championship Shows, it is always interesting to observe the progress of the breed and to judge generations of the same families. I very much enjoyed the company of Paul and Jo throughout the day and the lunch was super. Now for the dogs! I thought the entry a generally healthy one from that perspective, and most were typical examples of the breed. It is difficult to end up with a line-up of complimentary types, and I felt the winners each had something to give in their own right.

Minor Puppy Dog (3, 1)

1st) Easdon and Martin’s Yakee Starry Starry Night, really beautiful young puppy with a lot going for him. Beautiful head and eye, super facial features and expression. Strongly made in front, well ribbed and firm topline. Well bodied and stands on good legs and feet. Neat shape to his body and his tail is well set and carried. Very shapely from all angles. I felt confident here that I had found my CC winner if nothing else impressed me more on the day. As it was, I found two males who managed to beat him on finish and maturity; but I have no doubt his future is assured. Very sound & typical on the move. BPD and BPIS.

2nd) Kirk’s Calliswold Valentine Sweep, attending I think his (and his owner’s!) first Ch show and he was certainly out to enjoy himself. Not the breadth or shape to head of the winner, but fairly good in eye and expression. Could be better in foreleg. A touch longer in body than the winner, but firm in topline. Rather unruly and so difficult to assess, but the glimpses I saw made him look fairly sound.

Puppy Dog (3, 0)

1st) Shaw, Mee & Ransome’s Pekehuis Hyperion, coming up to a year old and he is a very smart puppy. Liked his head and eye, classical, open features and a lovely expression. Good forelegs and forehand, firm topline, good shape to his body and solid hindquarters. Just needs to drop into himself a little more with maturity. Very sound on the move, with a typical, rolling action.

2nd) Easdon and Martin’s Yakee I Want To Break Free, litter brother to Starry Starry Night and he too is a very promising puppy. Lots to like about him throughout, perhaps not so advanced in head as the winner yet but he is still a Minor Puppy. Very good to go over, well knit and all of a piece, being well knit & shapely in body. Very sound on the move and another who shows a lot of promise for the future.

3rd) Kirk’s Calliswold Valentine Sweep.

Junior Dog (2, 1)

1st) Kirk’s Calliswold Valentine Sweep.

Novice Dog (2, 0)

1st) Easdon and Martin’s Yakee In With A Shout, the third of three brothers here today and I would not be surprised if all three gain their titles. He has a lovely head and eye, very well made in front, well bodied, shapely body and picks up heavy. Very typical of the stock from this kennel & with a little more time and steadiness, he too should have a good future. Went with a typical, rolling action.

2nd) Kirk’s Calliswold Valentine Sweep.

Graduate Dog (1, 0)

1st) Clifton’s Hemmingsway’s Marley at Clifcastle, smart dog, decent head and expression, larger and heavier throughout; well boned, he picks up heavy & has a distinct waist. In good coat, although it could perhaps have been a touch harsher. Typical on the move with a good rolling gait.

Post Graduate Dog (1, 0)

1st) Stearman’s Edgewarebury Phantom, larger sort of dog; quite full in head, I would not want any more nose wrinkle and I would prefer his facial features slightly better proportioned. Good chest and he is well slung; but I would prefer better forelegs and elbows. Does not need to be any longer in back. Sound on the move; but could perhaps be neater in front action. Very well presented.

Limit Dog (5, 1)

1st) Shaw, Mee & Ransome’s Pekehuis Pure Magic, smaller dog, ultra-classy and very lionlike in appearance. His expression is superb, excellent clear eye, beautiful facial features & excellent shape to his skull. Well-made and good chest slung between his forelgs, soundly made in front and good waist. Strongly made hindquarters, using himself well on the move & in good coat and condition. Presented a really nice picture in the class I thought, and I still admired him greatly in the challenge & so he was rewarded with the DCC & ultimately BOS, his second CC I am told & I am sure his title will not be far away. Presented and handled to perfection.

2nd) Easdon and Martin’s Yakee A Blast From The Past, a very eye catching dog and I wondered if he might be the winner on first glance. Different in type to the winner and another first-rate Pekingese. Liked his head and eye, good forelegs and chest. Well made body, defined waist, firm topline and good hocks. Well presented and handled, just not so steady as the winner on the day.

3rd) Walford’s Hetana Red Hot Chilly Pepper at Pekesview.

Open Dog (4, 1)

1st) Oades’ Brentoy Max Power, this dog rather grew on me as the proceedings went on. A very understated, calm chap. Not the smallest, but a completely honest sort of dog. Excellent head properties and facial features, good depth to his chest which fills your hand, tidy forelegs, and good ribs. Well defined waist, and he has a shapely body. Picks up very heavy and is sound on the move, with a typical rolling gait. He won this class, and, in the challenge, he continued to grow on me, and won the ResDCC in good company. Presented and handled in a quiet, calm manner which suited him well.

2nd) Easdon and Martin’s Yakee The Story Of My Life, a very handsome dog, who fills the eye both standing and moving. Beautiful head, wide and shallow; and a good expression. Well made in front, excellent chest, good front, neat ribbing and good shape to his body, if a mite longer cast than the winner. In good coat, of correct texture and well presented. Lots to like and a sound mover.

3rd) Walford’s Hetana Red Hot Chilly Pepper at Pekesview.

Puppy Bitch (2, 1)

1st) Poole’s Kocho Shooting Star, lovely puppy for type and quality. Quite good in head and her expression is one of prettiness and mischievous! Could be a touch neater in front, but she has a good chest for her age. Well made in body, firm in topline and she does have a waist. Sound on the move, most promising.

Junior Bitch (2, 0)

1st) Poole’s Kocho Dolly Daydream, litter sister to the winner of puppy bitch and another very nice one. Fairly good head, well-spaced features and she is quite pretty. Also prefer her a little neater in front, but she is well bodied and shapely. Holds her shape well on the move, better than 2nd here and hence her win. Two solid bitches who should produce well.

2nd) Driscoll and Aldred’s Rickenny’s Pheobe, thought this bitch would be the winner on first inspection as she is very much of the mould I like, stocky and a good sort of bitch generally. To go over, there isn’t a lot to change. She too could be neater in front and a little shorter in body. On the move today she completely packed it in and went with little effort sometimes, and none at others. A shame for both owner and judge.

Novice Bitch (2, 1)

1st) Clifton’s Lizlanmor Queenie Panini at Clifcastle, smart little bitch with quite a lot going for her. She is attractive in head, with good width and balance there. Not overdone in any respect and her expression is good. Prefer her a touch better in front, as her legs are rather forward placed, and she could have a mite more chest. She is shapely in body & picks up well. Good coat for presentation and texture. Sound on the move and quite typical.

Graduate Bitch (1, 0)

1st) Dixon and Penman’s Dragden Hope, quite a charming character and a very typical bitch. Not the biggest of girls, but she is attractive in head, good eyes and finish to face. Very stocky in body and she is well made in front with a good chest. Picks up heavy and is fairly sound and free on the move with a good roll. Would have preferred a little less rusting through the coat for a black, but a very admirable bitch.

Limit Bitch (4, 0)

1st) Thomas’ Ralshams Sunset Lady by Jonsville, with the appearance of these two bitches I knew I had a CC & a ResCC winner at that point, it was just a case of sorting them out and analysing the finer points. This bitch is an object lesson in presentation, she is in truly first-class order and there is not a hair out of place. Beautiful head and eye, super features and not over done in any respect. Well-made front, good forelegs and depth to chest. Picks up heavy and has a defined waist. Very good hindquarters which were both firm and well-muscled. A really beautiful bitch and had to go some to win this class over her sister. Top quality, later the winner of the RCC which I understand gave her a well-deserved title and she finished the day RBIS, over the lovely DCC winner.

2nd) Rogers’ Ralshams Lady Ma Donna, litter sister to the winner and not an awful lot here to separate them. First class presentation and very quietly, but skilfully handled. I liked her head and eye, good for shape and balance there. I preferred the nose and finish of the winner, but she is very pretty. Good front, excellent chest and she picks up heavy. Good shape to her body and she is very dignified and classy on the move. Another one of undoubted Ch quality.

3rd) Penman and Dixon’s Jonsville Floral Design by Dragden

Open Bitch (1, 0)

1st) Easdon and Martin’s Ch Yakee Jasmine, a really beautiful bitch and I thought at this point it would end up being a close-run race between her and Sunset Lady. So utterly feminine in head and expression, super features and not overdone in any way. Excellent forelegs and chest, neat elblows, she has some waist & picks up remarkably heavy. In excellent coat of the correct texture and she is a very dignified and self-assured mover. I thought she was absolutely gorgeous, and when she came back in for the bitch challenge, she continued to hold her own and impress, so she ultimately ended up with the CC and against the lovely dog, Best in Show. A real star.

Veteran Dog/Bitch (1, 0)

1st) Walford’s Holinca Incas Fiery Lady at Pendenrah, very smart bitch with a lot to like. Expressive features, and her face is so pretty. Good front and chest, firm topline and she has a shapely body. Picks up heavy and is a real charmer. Lots to like and very well presented, BVIS and even though she stood alone, it would have taken a special veteran to beat her. I am surprised she is not a Ch.

Special Open (Red or Red Brindle) Dog/Bitch (4, 2)

1st) Easdon and Martin’s Ch Yakee Dear Prudence, another lovely bitch from this kennel, lots to like about her. Very much all of a piece. So expressive in head, excellent eyes and shape to skull. Good in front, she has a shapely body and picks up well. Goes with a nice, easy typical action. Close up in the challenge and a very worthy Champion. Presented in super order and in the peak of condition.

2nd) Penman and Dixon’s Jonsville Floral Design by Dragden, 3rd in Limit and she is a very nice bitch too, who looks as though she would be an asset to any kennel. Not the head of the two above her in Limit, or Dear Prudence but she is generally a well-made bitch for both body and substance. Very stocky and picks up as you would expect she might. Does just enough on the move and she is sound. Very well presented and handled.

Special Open (Fawn or Grey Brindle) Dog/Bitch (3, 0)

1st) Walford’s Hetana Red Hot Chilly Pepper at Pekesview, 3/3 in Open Dog but the two above him were really super Pekingese. He does not have the intense quality of those two in head, but notwithstanding that, he is an honest and typical Pekingese. Picks up heavy and was presented in first class order and he is clearly adored by his owner. Sound and happy on the move, if a touch lazy. He made me smile!

2nd) Fitt’s Leostela Perceval De Gallois (IMP FRA), typical head and eye, maybe a touch better there than the winner. However he is not so good in front and does not pick up quite so heavy I felt. He is shapely and moves with a good, typical action. Well presented and handled.

Special Open (White, Cream, Particolour, Black, Black with White or Tan) Dog/Bitch (4, 0)

1st) Dixon and Penman’s Dragden Hope, see GB.

2nd) Walford’s Holinca Incas Fiery Lady at Pendenrah, see VB.

Evan L Ryan (Cavallibrook/Feorlig)