Welsh Kennel Club

Welsh Kennel Club 2024

Many thanks to Ann and Graham for inviting me to judge at The Welsh Kennel Club, a show that has many, many, years of happy memories for me. I wish them well in their well-deserved retirement. It was a lovely four days in this beautiful setting.

Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit)

My first time awarding CC in this charming breed, thank you for a lovely entry. Having judged them for many years a few brief comments; I was generally very impressed by the overall quality of dogs. Overall breed type is much improved and in particular I noted that feet, which were very poor when I last judged, are considerably better throughout. Thankfully the excessive stripping is gone. One negative is that I found a lack of prominent sternum which the standard distinctly calls for in all basset breeds. Please be careful not to lose this essential point. I did penalise some dogs on this. I was very pleased with my overall winners.

Veteran Dog

Nice class to start the day with. Two males who are fit healthy veterans.

1 Erylan Loki Maitre Du Mal. Tricolour. Pleasing head of correct proportions. Good strength of muzzle. Nice dark eye and correctly set ears of good size for a petit, confers a good expression. Decent neck into well laid shoulders. Correct bone for a male and nice tight foot. Of correct length and well ribbed back. Well set and carried tail. From ringside his coat looks as though it may be soft but on handling is of correct texture. Won this class on his sound movement with plenty of drive from the rear. Would be better free shown than stacked.2 Ceri Marunnel Orinoco. Another who is all male and presents a nice outline. Pleasing head although just preferred the overall expression on 1. Good strong neck of good length into pleasing shoulders. Good front and well-developed sternum. Of correct length and with a good topline. Nicely angulated rear. Not as enthusiastic on the move as 1 and needs to get his tail up a little more. Super jacket.

Minor Puppy Dog

Two very raw puppies who I am sure will change places a few times before maturity.1 Overbecks Finn Shelby. The least behaved of the two who gave his young handler a hard time, but a real nice young petit. I preferred his overall proportions at this stage to his littermate. This dog has a very typical head and expression. Head is of good length and with the desired slight dome to the skull Clearly defined stop and correct muzzle length which is a fraction shorter than that of the second dog. Good front assembly and chest is quite well developed for his young age. Nice bone and feet. Of correct length with pleasing level topline Well ribbed up. Nicely angulated rear. Tail, which is of correct length, is well carried. When he settled into the move his foot fall was very good. 2 Overbecks Dusty Black Coat. Another promising male and whilst more finished than 1, I preferred the winners overall head and body proportions. Head is of good length with correct dark oval eye, and he has well placed leathers. Nice front and another with enough bone. Level topline and good tail set. Strong hindquarters which are well bent at the stifle. Moved well.

Puppy Dog

1 Maudaxi Billy Bookcase. Very nice puppy who presents a nice overall shape on initial inspection. More finished and much more mature than 2. Very nice head and expression. Head is of nice proportions and his short muzzle is strong with a strong underjaw. Pleasing eye. Good leathers well set. Well-furnished head and eyebrow completed the typical petit look. Good length of neck into well laid shoulder. Nice length of upper arm. Good bone and feet. Good length with short loin. He could be a fraction more angulated in the rear for completeness. Moved very well with nice free action. 2 Overbecks Finn Shelby. Winner of minor puppy. 3 Overbecks Dusty Black Coat

Junior Dog

1 Soletrader Ed Sheeran. Very pleasing young dog who presents a very nice silhouette and who is nicely balanced through. He really has a super head and expression and is very nice for breed type. Super neck into excellent shoulders. Nicely angulated forehand. Would prefer a slightly stronger sternum if I am being hypercritical. Good bone and tight feet. Could be a fraction straighter at front pastern to complete the picture. Good shoulder and of good overall length with lovely body proportions. Well set tail of good length and well carried. Good rump with enough behind the tail. This dog is such a joy to watch on the move, he is a happy dog with a super front extension and great rear. In good jacket and A1 condition. Probably one of the best movers of the day. If you can look past a few imperfections, he should with fair play do very well.

Post Graduate Dog

1 Erylan Poseidon De La Mer JW. Nice male who is of good overall body proportions and is fully mature, which gives him a good overall first impression. Nice head proportions. Good eye and well-set leathers. Nicely furnished head. Good front. Nicely boned for a male. Level topline. Correctly rounded rib and is well ribbed back. Pleasing hindquarters. Carries tail a fraction too high for me which spoils the overall picture on the go around. 2 Maudaxi Fonzie Foxtrot. Another pleasing young dog. I actually preferred the head and expression on this dog than on the first placed dog, he is of super breed type. Nicely made through and in good condition. Super rib and well-developed chest and breastbone. Just today he had no enthusiasm on the move which cost him a place. 3 Nykarth's Under Wraps

Limit Dog

1 Vencharno Stuck On You. Very smart dog who won this class on his overall size and shape. This young dog has a very nice head and expression. Lovely angulation both front and rear. This dog has one of the best front assemblies of the day. Good bone and feet. Well-developed sternum. Well ribbed back. Body of correct length and overall proportions for a petit. Good well developed hind quarters. Good tail set and length. Moved very well. RCC 2 Cynetkoy's Tinker. Larger and stronger through than 1. A fraction strong in head although of correct overall proportions. Good dark oval eye and correctly set leathers of good neck. Good depth of chest. Well boned. Could have a better lay of shoulder. Good level strong topline and super tail set and carriage. Slightly longer cast than ideal, but of good rib. Good hindquarters. Moved well.

Open Dog

1 Soletrader Fabioquartaro. As soon as this male came into the ring, I knew he would be hard to get past. He is such a typical petit. He has a beautiful head and expression and is quite clearly a male. Ideal skull to muzzle proportions. Skull is of moderate length and in keeping with the rest of the dog, his slightly domed skull is of preferred width. Strong underjaw. Good dark eye and well set leathers which are not too long. Good neck and shoulder. Fabioquartaro has a well-developed sternum and deep chest giving him the edge over some and is well ribbed. Level in topline. Well angulated yet not overdone behind. In good jacket of good length and of super texture. Pleased to award him the CC and later BOB. Delighted to hear that this made him up. He deserves his crown. Congratulations. 2 Ch Soletrader Freddie Mercury JW. Another lovely petit who also impressed on his overall make and shape. A little less masculine than 1 in head. Super length of neck which is of good strength and into well laid shoulders. Well-made front, prominent sternum, well let down chest. Lovely tight foot. Well ribbed up and with a good topline. Correct tail set and carriage. Moved very well with super reach in front. 3 Erylan Zeus Roi Des Dieux ShCEx

Special Beginner Dog

1 Cynetkoy's Tinker. Second in limit Dog.

Veteran Bitch

1 Ch Overbecks Kathy Tiere Quality bitch. Won here on her head and expression. Very pleasing in head with nice proportions and good eye. Correct front assembly. Prominent sternum. Good bone and nice feet. A fraction longer than ideal but level topline and good rounded rib. Well angulated hindquarters. Well let down at the hock. In good jacket. Moved well. 2 Marunnel Miss Adelaide. Nice for size and overall shape. Preferred body proportions on Miss Adelaide although preferred head and expression of 1. In good body and condition. Nice bone and well angulated behind. Moved well.

Minor Puppy Bitch

1 Overbecks Ruby Shelby. I really liked this young puppy. Very raw and yet to learn her job, yet she is of super type. I thought she has a lovely head and expression with correct skull to muzzle ratio, expressive dark oval eye which is well set and leathers well set, fine and of correct length. Good neck and shoulder. Good front and nice bone and feet. Lovely topline and tail set. Good hind angulation. Would prefer her to have a slightly harsher topcoat but this will come hopefully with maturity. Needs to strengthen behind, and again time and maturity together with road work will help. I really did like this bitch. Third of five behind two more mature bitches in the puppy class, but this one should do well.

Puppy Bitch

Nice to see a well filled puppy class.

1 Soletrader Splish Splash. This is a very nice young puppy who immediately caught my eye in this well filled class. Quite a mature puppy who is of required proportions and well balanced. Lovely head and expression with lovely eye. Good neck into well placed shoulders. Enough width in front and with good sternum. Level topline. Well ribbed back. Correct tail set which is well carried on the move. Lovely front extension. Needs to strengthen a little behind. Did enough to annexe the RCC over some nice bitches. 2 Soletrader Prue Leith. Another very typey and very feminine young puppy. Lovely head of correct skull to muzzle ratio. Beautiful eye and expression with correct ear set and length. Correct front. Level topline. Well bodied and well ribbed back. To be critical I would prefer her slightly shorter in loin. Moved very well in all directions. In good condition. 3 Overbecks Ruby Shelby

Junior Bitch

1 Soletrader Tina Turner. I thought this bitch quite lovely when I saw her on the table. She for me is of correct size, overall shape, and balance. On closer inspection, her head piece is of ideal proportions, moderate in its length and of correct width. Her stop is clearly defined but not overdone and her muzzle of good strength with a decent underjaw. Strong neck of correct length into nice shoulders. Lovely forehand. Enough bone and decent feet. This bitch has a good strong breastbone for a bitch and her chest well let down. Well ribbed and a level topline. Tail is as required in its length and well set, giving correct carriage on the move. On the move is where today she outshone her competitors, so free and extending well in front which is matched by a strong rear. In A1 condition and in excellent jacket. The only detraction for me today was that for preference she could have carried a few more head furnishings, I forgave this in what is a working hound. Pleasure to award her the CC over some strong bitches. I was told this made her up. Congratulations. Well deserved. 2 Tangaer Iced Bun. VHC in Puppy. Another nice for overall size and shape. Not the head and expression of Tina Turner but nicely made through with little to dislike and moved very well. In good coat and condition.

Post Graduate Bitch

1 Nykarth Touch Of Class. Quite a nice bitch with a pleasing head and good for overall size. Good neck and shoulder. Good bone and nice feet. Well ribbed up. Good topline and ideal tailset. In good harsh jacket. Moved ok.

Limit Bitch

1 Tangaer Heather. This is a very nice and well constructed petit and was unlucky not to annexe higher honours today. I thought her very typey, well made and of excellent temperament. Super quality head piece with lovely expressive eye. One of the best made fronts and prominent sternums of the whole day. Good bone for a bitch. Nicely ribbed with good topline and tailset. Moved out very well and has a lovely side gait. Harsh jacket. Quality through. 2 Overbecks Polly Gray. O/W with much to like. Pleasing head and expression. Could neck and shoulder. Slightly longer cast than 1 and preferred the overall size of 1. Nice topline and correct croup. Moved well. 3 Maudaxi Joanie Loves Chacha JW

Open Bitch

Lovely class to judge headed by three worthy champions and all from the same kennel which is an impressive feat.

1 Ch Soletrader Missy Elliott JW. This is a very nice petit, who is clearly all petit in her dimensions. Her head, ears and tail all are correct for the breed. She teems type in head. Good neck. Good short level topline and correct tail set. Nice front although a fraction shorter in the upper arm, which detracts slightly. However she moves in front as one would wish. In good condition and excellent jacket. Was unlucky to meet the younger bitches on good form. Very worthy of her crown. 2 Ch Soletrader Fun Times For Rangali JW. From the same kennel but very different in type. I judged this bitch as a puppy and I think she has come on tremendously. Lots to like here with a super head and expression. Good through neck and shoulder. Good rib. Good depth of chest. Nice tail and tail carriage. Excels on the move and is in A1 order. Just for me she is for a bitch a fraction too bog all over which cost her in this hotly contested class. Another worthy champion. 3 Ch Soletrader Langham Rose For Overbecks

Dr Ian H Gabriel