Ladies Kennel Association

THE LADIES KENNEL ASSOCIATION 14 DECEMBER 2024 GERMAN WIREHAIRED POINTER My thanks to the Ladies Kennel Association for the opportunity to award my fifth set of Challenge Certificates since 2011. I was thrilled with my entry of 33 which made for an early Christmas treat. My thanks to my wonderful stewards who were stewarding for the third long day. Temperaments were excellent and I was delighted to see some able demonstrations of the breed we know and love with some of the exhibits giving the handlers a rather hard time! Movement was also very good as was presentation. I was delighted to see some superb young handlers and indeed a young junior who offer great potential for the future of the breed. I dearly hope that they are encouraged and supported by the elders of the breed to create a bright future in this fabulous breed. It’s not often I say this but there were one or two who were a little long for me and I think I’m generally tolerant in this regard, top-lines in some were missing that ‘slightly falling’ element we should strive for. Heads were mixed with some incorrect heads, well covered with ample furnishings. I was surprised to find some questionable bites, the breed has rarely had an issue in this regard, I hope it is not tolerated or accepted. Most perplexing for me was the arrival of black and white wires, with a softer light coat, greyish in appearance. The two puppies in puppy dog were undoubtedly black and white and what should be strived for. Many of the others, whilst not wholly unattractive to the non purists, and with an abundance of softer lighter coat, were almost grey. I don’t want to get into a great debate about this but it saddened me and was overall rather unappealing. I was, however, heartened to see true black and whites. I hope that you manage to get on top of this quicker and it doesn’t become too common place. PD 2(0) 1. Morris/Evans’ Beanalrem Gwyndu. Super prospect, well up on leg, his first show I suspect but put on a good show and I just loved his rather daft temperament, he was truly black and white with good furnishings and a lovely harsh jacket, lovely tight feet, super strong correct dentition, being critical I would like a little more depth but that may come. His colouring was as it should be and on the move he was foot perfect. It’s not often I award a puppy the RDCC and I didn’t do so lightly but I will watch his progress, he certainly has all the right ingredients. 2. Pinkerton’s Beanalrem Bon Jovi at Bareve NAF. Litter brother to 1, more confident on the stack and super to go over, he is textbook in his front angles and balanced to the rear, longer than 1 but not incorrect, tighter closer jacket with less furnishings but he is young and time is on his side and he is in no way incorrect in this regard. Lovely feet and just the right amount of bone. Like his brother he had a long easy effortless stride than convinced me he could go all day, his brother was marginally better behind. JD 4(0) 1. Lovatt/Gettings’ Beechillawn Break The Mould (IKC) Ir JCh. I liked this chap, he is superbly handled and the handler gets the very best out of him, he is a moderate male of correct proportions, adequate depth and slightly sloping top-line, I would prefer more forechest but otherwise I liked him very much, jacket dense and harsh enough, pleasing head and expression, dark eye and good bite, handled very well. In the challenge I found myself drawn to him but on the move he was favouring one front leg which he hadn’t in the class, he was therefore denied higher honours which I would have happily rewarded him on another day. 2. Johnston’s Glenquin The General. Close up to 1, I liked this chap, he does score in forechest but I preferred the depth of 1, he has just enough length of body, could be longer in neck, super head and dark eye, so very sound on the move and clean coming and going, top-line fails a touch when he is bored but will watch him with interest, I suspect he has a bright future, I enjoyed assessing him and together they gave me great hope for the future. 3. Turnbull’s Glenquin The Colonel at Elagram. PG 4(3) 1. Toynebee-Smith’s Bareve Bronski Beat. Loved this gentleman for size and substance in body, he is perfect to handle, optimises medium sized, text book top-line and really lovely angles, my preference is for a touch more coat but he has beard and eyebrows and more than enough, he reminded me very much of wires of yesteryear and I felt quite nostalgic when assessing him. He just needs to settle a little for higher honours, a touch unsettled which meant he threw his front a little which cost him in the line up. He stood alone but is a most worthy winner. LD 1(0) 1. O’Brien’s Caldewriver Cold As Ice. Nice type chap and much to like, I liked his overall height and he is balanced, his top-line was a little level for me, superbly handled, a darker eye would be my preference, he has a super jacket, just right to the touch, good feet and excellent strong dentition, really appreciated his temperament and the rapport with his handler. OD 4(0) 1. Quinn’s Germanus Hotwyr Yindi. An honest dog of good size and nice head, would prefer a more oval eye, looked like he could go all day, in super order, top-line and proportions just enough, lovely furnishings and no mistaking his sex or breed, well off for body and depth, he just didn’t excite me in the challenge and appeared a touch short and so gave way to the veteran. 2. McCullough’s Kimmax Kiss Ma Blackside at Beechillawn. My class winner at first glance, just not as settled on the move, I adore his jacket, scores in front angulation, has a tendency to appear a little square which is unfortunate, he is very sound and clean on the move but was pulling into the lead away from his charge which cost him the class today. Another day perhaps. 3. Donnelly’s Ir Sh Ch/Int Ch. Beechillawn Raspberry Sorbet CJW22. VD/B 2(0) 1. McCullough’s Sh Ch/Ger VDH Ch. Kimmax Kurious George Bs’17 Bs’18. 8 years young with the most biddable and easy temperament, a head typical of a previous time which I very much appreciated and could have happily admired all day, correctly set ear and a kind almost almond eye, he has just enough stop, I adored his furnishings, moved well and soundly and put on a great show. For me he is a touch too long and I’d like a touch more of him but his soundness and type is undeniable and I awarded him the DCC with pleasure. He shows no signs of his age and I suspect he’ll be challenging the best for some time. 2. Donnelly’s Sh Ch/Ir Sh Ch. Kimmax Knock Yourself Out JW. A different type to 1, shorter and taller but another with stunning head and a depth many would envy, moved very well, making good use of the large ring, his rear end muscle was the best I had seen so far in this entry, he has a super jacket and was a pleasure to assess. PB 2(1) 1. Vine/Hassell’s Beanalrem Grapevine. A raw baby with the most foot perfect long easy stride and much to like, she has femininity in abundance and her temperament was spot one, correct proportions and a good coat I found her head appealing but lacked breadth, will be interested to see how she matures as she progresses. PGB 3(1) 1. Quinn’s Germanus Miles Between Us. A petite bitch with the most wonderful temperament, a totally honest bitch with nothing to hide, she has depth and rib which was lacking elsewhere and is moderate fore and rear but not incorrect, her tail set and carriage is not for me but otherwise much to like, a testament to her temperament was her very smart, articulate young handler who did a super job and together they made a great team! 2. Kearns’ Rudishaw Waltzing Matilda. A taller bitch who I liked for type, she was carrying too much weight regrettably but otherwise much to like, really scores in front assembly, on the move she did a great job of showing the breed’s zest for life and I was rather relieved not to be on the end of the lead trying to keep up with her! I’d like to see her again in different condition. LB 3(1) 1. Stamp/Thomas’ Tynsil Just One Smile. Solid liver bitch suffering with coat issues today, I forgave this as I liked her type, I appreciated her proportions and balance, she has good angles fore and rear, her head is appealing but is a little narrow for my preference, on the move she was determined as she was sound which was fortunate given her preference to move at quite such a rate. 2. Turnbull’s Kimmax Two Kan Play at Elagram (AI). A very smart and attractive bitch challenging her handler all the way and sadly on the move she could not be contained, I liked her very much but for me she is too high on leg which ruined that image for which we strive but sound, well turned out and she clearly lucked out with her handler who she pushed every inch of the way, this was a true demonstration of the typical wire temperament that tests the very best. OB 6(0) Super class, with 6 entries, I was heartened to be created by this class. 1. Johnston’s Sh Ch. Glenquin Athena. This bitch is simply something to behold on the stack and the move, she is shown in first class order, has a rapport with her handler that many would envy and I had no doubt that she could work all day. I was delighted to receive excellent feedback on her group performance. I adored her proportions and top-line, she has a super neck into well made shoulders and is balanced behind, a super jacket harsh to the touch and dark in colour, lovely body to handle with good ribs and a short well muscled loin. I would however like a touch less of her overall for a bitch and her head whilst not unappealing didn’t ooze ‘wire’ to me, I liked her type. I was delighted to award her the BCC and BOB. 2. Morris/Evans’ Bareve By Kind Permission. Different type to 1, old fashioned in head which was a joy to handle, I couldn’t resist her and she was unlucky to meet 1, depth, body and femininity in abundance, her tail carriage on the move is too high but otherwise I thought her quite special, my notes read ‘if she doesn’t have her title she should’ and I was thrilled to understand that I had indeed completed her crown with her fifth RBCC to accompany her CCs. 3. O’Brien’s Caldewriver Storm N’ Teacup for Katillien JW. GCB 1(0) 1. Donnelly’s Sh Ch/Ir Sh Ch/Int Ch. Beechillawn Ooh Betty. And what a GC she is, impeccable manners and super top-line, a soundness at 8 years old that many would envy, feminine with a very appealing head, good proportions, doesn’t always stand to best advantage and tends to roach her top-line, I liked her size and she put on a good show. JENNIFER MILLARD