Welsh Kennel Club

Eukanuba Puppy Stakes

It is always a pleasure to judge puppies and over the four days I was spoilt for choice on occasion. I was delighted with my final four.

Day 1 AV Toy / Utility Dog

This was a super class. 1 Pekehuis Hyperion. I was very glad to have this young Pekingese in this class. He is quite lovely to go over. Much like his sire who I found out was my CC and BOB at a club show a few years back, this young dog has a wonderful head and expression. He has correctly shaped head with good breath of skull and lovely open features. Good dark round eye and correct and non-obtrusive wrinkle. Good strength of jaw and correctly placed leathers which are well covered. Well slung body. Desired heavy boned forelegs and typical front assembly, correct at the elbow. Correct body shape. High set tail carried correctly. In super jacket of good texture. Such a well-developed but not excessive mane. Moved soundly and typically. I really liked this young dog and although I dislike the overused ‘I wish I have two cards’ I did here. It was a real shame that on this occasion there was no reserve. I wish him well. 2 Montego Am I Kenough For Crystalar. White Standard Poodle. This dog impressed for his overall shape and balance. Pleasing head and expression with good dark pigment. Nice length to his head although would not want any more back skull. Good strength to foreface. Good length of neck into well placed shoulders. Nice front assembly. Good depth of chest. Nice hind angulation without being excessive. Well set tail. In good hard condition and in good jacket. Typical poodle action. 3 Hawksflight American Jazz. In my opinion another champion in the making.

Day 1 AV Toy / Utility Bitch

1 Lireva's When Stars Collide. This young sable bitch immediately took my eye in this class. Her overall shape, bloom and personality at the fore. On closer inspection, her head is really lovely with correct skull to muzzle proportions and importantly no open fontanelle. Fine clean muzzle. Good dark well shaped eye, and well-set ear completed the expression. Short neck into good shoulder. Nice front with good fine bone and cat like foot. Short backed. Well ribbed. Good hind angulation. In the best of jackets and lovely frill. Moved with such enthusiasm. She made me smile and pushed the peke hard. I wish her well. 2 Lasagesse Kashmir. Very smart ETT with a typical and elegant outline. Lovely head with good length and clean in back skull. Good candle shaped ears which are well set. Keen eye of correct shape. Lovely length of neck into well placed shoulders. Nice front and finely boned. Lovely topline and nice hind angulation. Good colouring. Moved well. 3 Antrix Sukey Tawdry. Completed a very nice trio of bitches.

Day 2 AV Terrier / Hound Dog

1 Montelle Flash Light To Lionwood. Irish Terrier. Young male of good size and of correct racy appearance. Pleasing head of good length and width. Nice, neat ears on top and keen small keen eye completes expression. Good length of neck into correct well laid shoulder. Correct forehand for an Irish Terrier. Well ribbed back and of good length, correct and desired slight rise over loin. Good hind quarters. In the best of Irish jackets of super hard texture, well presented but with no excess of flat work to allow adequate coat assessment. Coat of good dark red. Moved well with drive. 2 Forest Zpod Chlumskych Haju Glebeheath (Cze Imp). Have written about this young grizzle dog earlier in the summer when he won best puppy in breed and pushed for higher honours under me at Southern Counties. Then I felt he was already all of a piece and fairly mature. He still impresses me and my opinion of him has not changed. Moved very well. Pleased to see him go reserve best puppy in show under Gavin Robertson on Sunday. Congratulations. 3 Brumberhill Bit O' Blarney. Different type to 2 but another impressive border terrier.

Day 2 AV Terrier / Hound Bitch

1 Priorpark Proof In Pudding. This RR is rather smart. She is of lovely size and shape and her balance is wonderful. Good feminine head with nice breadth to the skull and despite her young age clean and without much wrinkle. Strong muzzle. Nice eye. Good ear set although she just needs to grow into her ears a fraction to complete the picture. Wonderful length of neck which is of good strength. I loved this bitch’s forehand which is so well put together. Good ridge. Well angulated hindquarters. Lovely compact feet. Such a sound and collected dog on the move. Best overall on the day. I do hope someone qualifies her for the finals and would love to see the finished picture. 2 Soletrader Splish Splash. My RCC in the breed on the day. Again, put in a sterling performance in the puppy stakes. 3 Watercroft Toffee Nosed

Day 3 AV Gundog Dog

1 Gwendariff Bobby Dazzler (IKC). Upstanding young Irish Setter. This dog has a beautiful head and expression. Long lean head with super dark eye of correct shape. Good length of neck. Super bone and feet. Good depth to chest for a young dog and well sprung rib. Good length to hind quarter with good string short hock. In super coat and condition. Moved with drive. 2 Tenshilling Shboom. The Irish did not have it all his way. This pointer is a very promising prospect. He is beautifully balanced and is outline textbook. Good head with correct planes. Super shoulder and front assembly. Good hindquarters which he uses on the move, and his tail is wonderful. Very close up. 3 Sperant Hibou Of Komikhund

Day 3 AV Gundog Bitch 1 Gwendariff Sky's The Limit. As soon as I saw this young Irish Setter on the stack, I knew that she would be hard to get past. Initial impressions are those of a beautifully balanced quality racy bitch of excellent breed type. On further inspection she did not disappoint. The headpiece is very appealing and is of good length, clean back and of correct proportions, she is very clearly a bitch but there is no loss of strength in her head. Correct shaped dark eye and well-set ears complete the overall expression. Super length of neck leads to well laid shoulders. Her forehand is a pleasure to inspect, and she is of good bone and with a lovely tight foot This bitch has a good spring of rib and importantly is well ribbed back. Correct topline. Well angulated hind quarters of good width and well-muscled for one so young. Collected on the move which is effortless. Of good rich colour and in A1 condition. Easy winner for me today. Pushed hard on the final day by what in my opinion is a rather special young Pekingese but I could not deny her the top spot. I find her hard to fault apart from her immaturity. Good luck in the finals. 2 Layways Dua Lipa. Quality Vizla bitch who has a lovely silhouette and is good for size. Quality headpiece of correct width and typical proportions. Nice eye. Good length of neck and well-placed shoulders. Another of good bone and feet. Well sprung rib and good hind angulation. She is very raw and this was evident on the move but when she matures and muscles up, I am sure she will do well. 3 Oakmarsh Little Acorn

Day 4 AV Working Pastoral Dog

1 Copperfield Jonas Mudge. Bullmastiff. I thought him a quite impressive male for one so young. Super well matured head piece of good size and well-developed cheek. Correct skull to muzzle ratio and good breadth and depth to the latter. Good width and depth to chest with super bone. Good feet for such a large dog. Good relatively short topline. Well developed hind quarters. Correct tail set. Needs to lose a few young guard hairs on his front otherwise little to dislike. So very sound on the move. 2 Fostebrie I Am Mika @ Kimarlaz. Briard. Another impressive young male dog. All the essentials are there apart from final maturity. Good head and expression. Good eye. Correct neck into good shoulders. Correct front. Good topline and tail set. In super jacket. Moved very well. 3 Unita Mentale Hollywood Paul At Eivisah (imp Ukr)

Day 4 AV Working Pastoral Bitch

1 Twinan Shield Of Steel. Cardigan Corgi. Quality brindle who immediately impressed for her overall proportions, sturdiness and overall balance. Head wide and correctly tapered with correct length of foreface which is of good strength. Nice dark eye and rims. Lovely ear size, placement and use. Typical Cardigan front and with lovely bone. Good length. Super tail which is carried correctly. Moved very well. Winner overall on the day. 2 Arcticskies Black Diva. Very feminine Siberian. Pleasing head. Correct ear. Loved her body proportions and pleased to see no excess of jacket. Has legs and looks like a Siberian. Super front assembly. Moved very well and is very collected for a puppy. Looks like she could work. 3 Amical Valletta. Very smart young Siberian. Not completely together on the day. Although since WKC I have judged her again and once of a piece she such a free mover she has annexed a good RBPIS under me.