Blackpool & District Canine Society

BLACKPOOL AND DISTRICT CS 21 JUNE 2024 My thanks to Blackpool Championship Show committee for affording me this invitation and the opportunity to assess nearly 20 exhibits for the breed I was born into. My thanks to those who persevered in the heat and of course to my two stewards who had quite a day’s work to undertake. It’s difficult to comment in general terms with only twenty exhibits, however I was surprised at the lack of stop in heads, the standard clearly asks for ‘moderate stop’ but with some it was still so lacking and heads become plainer and less typical, movement was incredibly sound and the breed clearly scores in coming and going, however not all could be described as ‘effortless and ground covering’ although my principal winners had this in abundance and it was a joy to watch them eat up the ring with some ease, condition, coat and colour were good, there were some very typy exhibits but one or two a little high on leg which gave an untypical outline. PD 2(1) 1. Bennett’s Ansona Chico. Robust male, well off for bone, pleasing head and expression, good ear and correct moderate stop, top-line unsettled today but has correct proportions, covers the ground well, if a little relaxed, would prefer more width to the fore, which may come in time. JD 4(1) 1. Longbottom’s Gunalt Beehave. Pleasing male of nice size and substance, just right for age, had a tendency to stand a l little ‘rocking horse’ but loved his proportions, good depth, in super hard condition, lovely attitude, excellent sound ground covering movement. A really promising prospect and I shall watch this one with interest. BJ. 2. Hill’s Weipowa Double O’Seven JW. Really liked this male, an old fashioned sort which appealed for me, he is just a little too finished for his age, he has depth and breadth in abundance, level top-line, in head, would like more stop, will watch him with interest. 3. Hickman’s Theondale First Impression. YD 2(1) 1. Hickman’s Theondale First Impression. Just right for age, really excels on the move where he is sound and ground covering, good proportions, a nice size, was untidy in the earlier class but seemed to settle and maybe more appealing, his time will come. LD 3(0) 1. Isherwood’s Gunalt Schweppes at Caleydene JW. Appealing, honest typical dog, preferred the head on this one, sound and clean and really ground covering, absolutely ‘aristocratic’ throughout with a sense of nobility, lovely size and shape, shown in fabulous condition RBD. 2. Spavins/Chevalier’s Ashstern Delphinius. An unassuming male who doesn’t always move to best advantage but when he does he is undeniably typical, a little deep in muzzle but wonderful temperament and very sound. 3. Bennett’s Ansona Sprinter. VD 2(1) 1. Evans/Pavey’s Sh Ch. Gunalt Undeniable at Joneva JW. Upstanding male at his best, so typical in outline, balanced fore and rear, so very sound and with an easy length of stride, I had no doubt he could go all day, lovely head and level top-line, super depth and angulation, clean coming and going, pleased to have the opportunity to judge him, does not remotely show his age BD, BV & BOB. PB 2(0) 1. Grime’s Ansona Calamity Jane. Pleasing, promising pup, not the most outgoing but entirely settled, liked her for bone and size, correct proportions but would prefer more depth to compliment her level top-line but she is clean, sound and honest, BP. 2. West’s Gunalt Frequency (AI). A more upstanding and slighter bitch, not incorrect and she has time on her side, lovely colour and condition, balanced, would prefer a little more all over but this will no doubt come in time. JB 2(0) Not the easiest of classes, two very different exhibits. 1. Evans/Pavey’s Rivertone Inevitable at Joneva. A moderate bitch, would prefer less leg but she has sufficient depth and a level top-line, tight feet, good colour and coat, really needs more upper arm. Hostler’s Theondale Margot. A rangier taller bitch, almost the total opposite of 1, I liked her head, eye and bite, just had a tendency to appear exaggerated in fore and rear angulation for my preference. YB 3(0) 1. Hill’s Weipowa Ida JW. Appealing bitch, nothing overdone, shapely and typical in outline, correct proportions and a lovely level top-line which she held on the move, balanced angles, long neck, would prefer a little more stop, RBB. 2. Hostler’s Theondale Margot. Repeat. 3. Murray’s Silberstern Rumour Has It Around Rachmor. PGB 1(0) 1. Dobbs’ Kalimor Summa Love JW. A pleasing bitch, unlucky to stand alone on the day, a little square for my preference but her top-line is level, she had super finish and depth so very clean coming and going and no doubt she could work all day. LB 1(0) 1. Longbottom/Milby’s Gunalt Curtain Call JW. Quality bitch, super head though could be more feminine, that said she has a moderate stop, correct length of ear, well proportioned, she is strongly built but balanced, would prefer less tuck up, needs to come together on the move. OB 3(0) 1. West’s Sh Ch. Gunalt Wavelength JW. This bitch stood rock solid and is so honest, she had nothing to hide, workmanlike but feminine, level top-line, correct proportions, good depth and relaxed and sound on the move, BB. 2. Hostlers’s Kalimor Daisy JW. A rangier bitch, a little longer in body and subsequently her top-line dropped, she is oh so feminine in head and eye, and equally enthused by her movement. 3. Duffy’s Almoor Lady Gaga. VB 1(0) 1. Dobbs’ Oakswarren Ice Maiden. Feminine and laid back veteran of good size, excels in top-line with a pretty, pleasing head and ears and bite and she was sound she lacked enthusiasm but was enjoying her day, all helped by her excellent condition and lovely laid back temperament. JENNIFER MILLARD