Cairn Terrier Association

CAIRN TERRIER ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

17th NOVEMBER 2024

JUDGE'S CRITIQUE

Breed Club Shows are always very special and I would like to thank the Officers and Committee of the Cairn Terrier Association for inviting me to judge their Championship Show. This was a very opportune appointment as I had already decided to retire from judging by April 2025. A change of venue at short notice, albeit it to a known one, is never ideal, however everything went smoothly with the ever efficient steward, Sharon Confue, keeping things flowing. My thanks go to all the exhibitors for their support, both Open classes were exceptional, 9 Champions entered in Open Dog and 5 in Open Bitch.

As always bitches outnumbered dogs with several of the lower classes having no entries, which makes me wonder where the stud dogs of the future will come from? In general conformation was good, although a few overweight. A couple of things to watch, tail set and light eyes. Presentation in a few was far from good, more general grooming needed and also some rather ‘smelly’ exhibits. Coats varying as usual, a coat of the right texture coming in is preferably to a blown coat.

BPD/B 3 (1) Litter sisters just over 4 months old, both enjoying their debut and both doing all that was asked of them, one just slightly more confident

1 Dolan’s GLENROOD IT HAS TO BE ME 2 Firths’ GLENROOD SILENT WHISPERER TAF

VD/B 2 1 Smith’s CANWOOD MISTY DAWN AT GETHLEE B A favourite of mine in her younger days, well presented and in good coat, plenty of muscle she moved with verve. BVIS 2 Metcalf-Saut’s CANWOOD CALL ME AGGIE B Rather more matronly than 1, attractive head, in good coat but a little portly.

MPD 0

PD 3 1 Felters & Rumens’ LANDBUCK SABRAGE 10 months, well grown smart puppy with good head, correct bite and excellent construction throughout. Shown in full coat, just needs to tighten up in movement but that will come with maturity. BPD & RBPIS 2 Firths’ CAIRNGOLD CARSON 8 months, rather plainer in head at the moment, in good coat, well made body, preferred the movement of 1 3 Inett & Harrisons’ CARRADINE BRIGHT CIDER LIFE

JD 0

ND 0

PGD 5 Very mixed class, difficult to judge

1 Roberts’ CANNWOOD MOONLIGHT SHADOW Masculine head with dark points, correct mouth, ear set and eye colour & shape, decent neck and lay back, level topline, correct texture coat, best mover in this class. RDCC 2 Thomas & Jones’ TYCADNO NEW TRICKS Different type, rather shorter on the leg, lovely head, presented in good coat, gave a good account of himself. 3 Parker-Tucker’s UNIQUECOTTAGE GREY SHISO

LD 4 1 Byrne’s CARRADINE HOWZAT HOWARD Strong masculine head with good stop ear set and mouth, decent length of neck into correct layback and level topline. Plenty of bone and well muscled. In good coat and moved with drive. Not the easiest dog to show but at one with his handler today. 2 Thomas’ TYCADNO MAGIC MAN Another with a strong masculine head, all in proportion and well furnished, sufficient bone, top line OK, presented in excellent coat, gave his handler a hard time today and not moving as well as he should.

OD 10(2) What a lovely super class, I felt honoured to have so many lovely Champions in the ring.

1 Parker-Tucker’s Ch UNIQUECOTTAGE GREY BORAGE Honest workmanlike dog, late maturer now really making his mark. Have admired him from the ringside and I wasn’t disappointed. He is so well put together, he is all I look for in a Cairn dog, shown in full coat, he moved with plenty of drive. A great credit to his breeder/handler. A pleasure to award him the DCC & BIS 2 Waites, Dennis & Goddards’ Ch GOOD TIMES AHEAD WITH OUDENARDE A worthy Champion, another who has matured well since I judged him in 2021, strong masculine head, well angulated and muscled throughout, just a bit short of coat today. 3 Yates-Johnson’s Ch PENDLEY SEAFARER

SBD/B 2 1 Sinclair & Tothills’ TYCADNO QUICK SHOT D Well proportioned head with keen expression, angulations OK, in excellent coat, tail set quite high which rather spoils the overall picture. Showed and handled well. 2 Metcalf-Sault’s CANWOOD QUIET REFLECTIONS B Feminine head with dark points, bit short of coat today, movement OK

MPB 5(2) 1 Hughes’ GYNCAIRN DANCING IN THE DARK 8 months Lovely feminine head of right proportions, adequate neck and good front, everything as it should be at this age, in good coat, very promising 2 Waugh’s TRIBANNON ANGEL’S KISS 6 months Attractive dark puppy, again a lovely feminine head, adequate length of neck, well up on the leg, a bit short coupled for me. Very showy. 3 Firths’ CAIRNGOLD CLAIM TO FAME

PB 5 1 Thomas’ TYCADNO WINTER STAR Her last show as a puppy and she impressed. Head with correct proportions, excellent bone and angulations, level topline, in very good well presented coat, moved with drive and never stopped showing. Delighted to give her the RBCC & BPIS 2 Felters & Rumens’ LANDBUCK AMETHYST 10 months another promising bitch, well grown, similar remarks apply as her litter brother (1 PD) very showy but didn’t hold her topline so well as 1 3 Petts’ DOONRAE ULTRA VIOLET

JB 2 1 Thomas’ CASTLELINE SEREN AT TYCADNO Very well made balanced bitch, lovely head & expression, good fore chest & length of neck into level topline, excellent coat & showed very well. 2 Thompson’s CASTLELINE CARIAD Litter sister to 1, similar remarks apply, but would like a little more length of neck to give a more balanced outline.

PGB 8(1) Difficult class to judge, my line up didn’t really ‘match’

1 Osborn’s BE GIN AGAIN AT TWESLAM Attractive bitch with lovely expressive head, correct front and layback, level topline held on the move, in good coat, can give her handler a bit of a hard time. 2 Parker-Tucker’s UNIQUECOTTAGE RED CHERVIL overall a good sound well made bitch, super well presented coat, sadly just doesn’t always give her best 3 Ballinger’s CLOVERBROOK FORGET ME NOT

LB 7 1 Parker-Tucker’s BIRSELAW FLORAL DANCER OF UNIQUECOTTAGE Very typical of one of the most successful kennels of the past, beautiful head with correct proportions, decent fore chest, good bone, neck and lay back of shoulders, level topline, moved with plenty of drive. Serious contender for the RCC but sadly she was inclined to fly her ears which spoils the overall outline. 2 Smith’s CLOVERBROOK SHINING STAR OVER GETHLEE I really liked this bitch, expressive head, good fore chest, bone and angulations. Well muscled, she moved with drive. Presented in excellent coat, showing well. 3 Shannon & Storr’s BRENNDARCY WITCHES PROMISE

OB 8(1) Quality class

 1 Shaw’s Ch TYCADNO STAR ATTRACTION AT HONEYHALL Stunning bitch, beautiful feminine head with dark eyes and small ears, best of fronts, shoulders & layback. Strong level top line retained on the move. Tail set just right, her movement is a joy to watch. A little short of coat but her overall quality could not be denied, at one with her handler. BCC, BOS & RBIS 2 Firths’ Ch CAIRNGOLD CHIQUITITA Striking red with attractive head, good fore chest, decent neck and shoulders, level top line, moved and showed well. She has matured nicely since I last judged her. 3 Yates-Johnson’s Ch PENDLEY SEA BREEZE

 Frances Goldfinch

 Judge