Bath Canine Society

Bath Championship Dog Show - Weimaraners

27th May 2024

Many thanks to the Officers and committee of Bath Canine Society for the invitation to judge Weimaraners, my first CC appointment. Thank you to my efficient stewards who kept the ring running smoothly and finally thank you to all the exhibitors who entered under me, it was a pleasure to go over your dogs.

Overall I was very pleased with the quality. My principal winners were exceptional examples of the breed, displaying the qualities and attributes I was looking for. Some exhibits lacked pigment with very light eyes and almost pink noses which completely changes the noble and aristocratic expression of the Weimaraner. Toplines on some were not level and several of the exhibits were overstretched. There was quite a divergence in size. Some of the exhibits were on the large side and much more exaggerated than I would like. Whilst the Weimaraner should have a good length of back, I found that several were longer in the loin and did not have the length of ribs to support this. I was looking for a moderate dog which is what the Standard asks for. Movement in some of the exhibits was a bit erratic which affected some of the placings. Temperaments were excellent. I was delighted to see my Best Veteran won Veteran Group 1 and my Best Puppy was 2nd in the Gundog Group.

Veteran Dog (2) 1 Evans & Pavey’s Sh Ch Gunalt Undeniable at Joneva JW. A lovely boy who I have admired from ringside. He has a classic head and noble expression. Correct length of ear and clean neck into well placed shoulders. Lovely front and feet, nicely angulated front and rear. Correct length of back and level topline with slight slope to the croup. He is a lovely silver grey and his movement is spot on, he really powered around the ring with his handler covering his ground. I preferred the movement of this dog which gave him the class. BV & Veteran Group 1. 2 Beagrie’s Sh Ch Gunalt Audio from Feldhund JW Another lovely boy, different type to the winner. Classic head and expression. He has the correct length of back and is nicely angulated at the front and rear.

Minor Puppy Dog (4) 1 Sayer & Wallwork’s Braefell Blackthorn Lots to like about this 8 month old. Nice head with correct length of ear. He has good forechest and his brisket is to his elbow. Good front and feet and nice strong topline with the required slope to the croup. Moved well for a baby which gave him the class. 2 Alcorn & Ingram’s Gunalt Roger That (ai) Just loved this baby who is 6 months old. Loved his outline, lovely neck and shoulder placement. His brisket is to his elbow and he has a level topline. He has a lovely front and good bone, correct rear angulation and he is the correct colour. Lost out today on his unsettled movement but he is a very promising puppy and I look forward to seeing him develop. 3 Walton’s Akwamar under My Thumb.

Puppy Dog (6) 1 Longbottom’s Gunalt Beehave 11 months. Another smart youngster who has a good head and expression. Lovely arch and length of neck which flowed into a level topline. Best of feet and good front. Slight slope to croup and good rear angulations. Moved well. BPD. 2 Phillips’ Rivertone Retrograde 11 months. Another lovely puppy of different type to the winner. He has a pleasing head and expression, good length of ear. Lovely neck which flowed into his topline. Correct amount of forechest for his age and nicely angulated front and rear. Preferred the movement of the winner but another puppy who I think will do very well as he matures. 3 Sayer & Wallwork’s Braefell Blackthorn.

Junior Dog (3) 1 Charlish’s Gunalt The Hangover JW. 17 months and what an absolute cracker. Not the biggest of dogs but certainly one that is difficult to overlook. So much quality and breed type. Classic head. Lovely neck and shoulders, terrific bone and feet. Correct length of back and level topline. Slight slope to the croup and moderate tuck up. Nicely angulated fore and rear and in lovely hard condition. Moved well covering the ground. Just loved him. RCC. 2 Hill’s Weipowa Double O’Seven. 13 months. Bigger all round than my winner but lots to like. Lovely masculine head. Brisket to elbow, ample forechest, good length of back and level topline. Moderately angulated rear. Moved soundly but would prefer more reach. 3 Tamblyn & Darkins’ Weipowa Skyfall.

Yearling Dog (4) 1 Creighton’s Gunalt Insider. 20 months young male with lots of breed type. Lovely head and expression, ample forechest, good front and feet. Good length of back however stood he does have a tendency to lose his topline as he seemed to drop into his rear. He did, however move extremely well covering his ground and maintaining his topline. 2 Goord’s Dartview Formula One. Preferred the head of the winner but this young dog has lots of qualities that I liked. Moderate all through with decent forechest and good length of back. Nice angles fore and rear and he moved well for his owner. Best Special Beginner. 3 Davies & Brown’s Gunalt Polished at Wystry.

Novice Dog (3) 1 Carpenter’s Aschfahl Kepanye. 13 months. Lovely head and expression. Moderate forechest, brisket to elbow and correct length of back with slight slope to the croup. He has a level topline and lovely angulation front and rear. Lots to like. Moved well. 2 Sayer & Wallwork’s Braefell Blackthorn. 3 Cooper’s Trosnant Eau Savage.

Post Graduate Dog (4) 1 Hillen’s Britmans Auriol. Larger made male. Pleasing head with lovely amber eyes. Brisket to elbow, moderate tuck up. Moved well. 2 Thwaites & Woodward-Thwaites’ Sireva Rambler (ai) 13 months old with the preferred silver grey coat. Nicely made young dog with pleasing head. Decent forechest and good bone. He has a good length of back and level topline, moved well with reach but needs to tighten in front. 3 Osborn-Fardon’s Silberliss Bombadier.

Limit Dog (4) 1 Isherwood’s Gunalt Schweppes at Caleydene JW. 2 years old. Lovely young dog with classic head and expression and good pigment. Lovely clean outline, slightly arched neck into well placed shoulders. He has a good front and lovely feet. Nicely angulated front and rear with a level topline and slight slope to croup. Moved very well covering his ground. 2 Brown & Filby’s Desjiem Billy Don’t Be A Hero JW. 2 years old. Another smart young man with lots of qualities. Brisket to elbow, correct length of back. Lovely overall body proportions but today he had a tendency to lose his topline. Moved well. 3 Pearman’s Weipowa Denton at Britmans.

Open Dog (8) 1 Alcorn & Ingram’s Sh Ch Gunalt Hendricks. The star of the day. Lovely masculine head with aristocratic expression. Correct length and fold of ear. Clean cut well arched neck into excellent front assembly with the correct amount of bone and good feet. Level topline, well ribbed back with good spring of rib. Moderate tuck up. Excellent rear angulation and in lovely muscular condition. This dog is the ultimate showman, totally at one with his handler. He has effortless ground covering movement and looks like he could go on all day. A most handsome boy and very worthy Show Champion. CC & BOB. 2 Snaith’s Skilaki Move On Up to Bifonda JW. Another lovely boy with classic head and lovely amber eyes. Clean neck into well placed shoulders. Lovely length of back and correct front and rear angulation. He moved very well. Coating but nevertheless a boy with lots of breed type and qualities. 3 Simpson’s Ch Sireva Emeyefive JW.

Special Beginners (5) 1 Goord’s Dartview Formula One. 2 Osborn-Fardon’s Silberliss Bombadier. 2 year old male, masculine head. Good length of back, brisket to elbow. Coating presently but a lovely boy who moved well. 3 Lord & Broomfield’s Chilternway Bukeela.

Veteran Bitch (2) 1 Anderton’s Tatze Bewitched by Thrihyrne. Lovely Longhaired bitch 7 years old. Lovely head and expression, with amber eyes. Correct length of back, brisket to elbow. Shown in beautiful coat and condition, moved well. 2 Dobbs’ Oakswarren Ice Maiden. Another lovely girl of 7 years whose age belies her. I thought she was a little upright in front, however she had a good length of back and nicely angulated rear. She moved soundly.

Minor Puppy Bitch (6) This was a very mixed class of babies. Very close decision between 1 and 2. Both have similar qualities but I preferred the front and movement of the first. 1 Sayer & Wallwork’s Braefell Briar. Sweet baby of 8 months. Pretty head, lovely neck into well placed shoulders, good forechest, lovely feet. Brisket to elbow and good length of back with slight slope to croup. Nicely angulated front and rear. Moved well. 2 West’s Gunalt Frequency (ai) 8 months. Another lovely puppy, preferred her overall body proportions but she was lacking in forechest and upper arm. Very feminine and lots to like. Moved well but would benefit from a looser lead. I’m sure she has a bright future ahead of her. 3 Moll’s Akwamar Back Street Girl.

Puppy Bitch (6) 1 Dyer & Oddie’s Sharnphilly Annie Mac. 10 months. Very smart young lady, pretty and feminine but with good bone. Lovely head with slight arch to neck into clean well placed shoulders. She has a level topline and slope to the croup. Nicely angulated front and rear. Moves extremely well, at one with her handler. BPB, BP & PG2. 2 Evans & Pavey’s Rivertone Inevitable at Joneva. 11 months. Another beautiful puppy. She is taller than the winner but she is well balanced and has the correct body proportions. Feminine head and good forechest, lovely front and feet. Level topline and moderately angulated front and rear. She has a lovely silver grey coat to complete the picture. 3 Sayer & Wallwork’s Braefell Briar.

Junior Bitch (8) Three lovely bitches headed this class. 1 Morris’ Kalimor Tinker JW. 15 months. Feminine head, correct length of ears. Clean neck into well placed shoulders. Correct length of back, nicely angulated front and rear. She is mature looking for her age but has lots of breed type and qualities. Level topline, moved well to take the class. 2 McDowall, Rutland & Jones’ Sireva Floribunda to Khamsynn (ai) 13 months. Very different type to my winner. Lovely head and correct length and fold of ear. Clean neck into well placed shoulders, correct amount of forechest for her age. Brisket to elbow, correct length of back, slight slope to the croup. Nicely angulated front and rear. She moved well and has the preferred silver grey coat. 3 Balch’s Weipowa Severine.

Yearling Bitch (3) 1 Hills’ Weipowa Ida JW. Lovely bitch of 21 months. Liked her head, correct fold to her ear. Brisket to elbow and correct length of back. Nicely angulated front and rear. She has a level topline and slight slope to the croup. She moved very well. 2 Carpenter’s Aschfahl Kepa Secret. 13 months old. Another smart young lady who I liked very much. Moderate in all departments. Feminine head, has very similar attributes to my winner. Correct length of back and a lovely shape. Moved well. 3 Hostler’s Theondale Margot.

Novice Bitch (6) 1 Sayer & Wallwork’s Braefell Briar. 2 Rutland & Jones’ Sireva Floribunda to Khamsynn (ai). 3 Hays’ Longlox Celestial Star at Falconwoodz.

Post Graduate Bitch (3) 1 Dobbs’ Kalimor Summa Love JW. Lovely young bitch of 2 years. Feminine head and lovely expression, correct length of ear and fold. Clean neck into well placed shoulders, brisket down to elbow, correct amount of forechest nicely angulated front and rear quarters. Level topline with a slight slope to the croup. Nice tight well arched feet. Moved very well retaining her topline. 2 Lord & Broomfield’s Chilternway Bukeela. Very different to my winner. Heavier more workmanlike type, liked her head. Decent length of back. Moved well. 3 Brown & Filby’s Desjiem Dujardin.

Limit Bitch (7) 1 Pilatova’s Sabsky Svratka JW. Almost 3 years old. Just loved her, she has a lovely classic head, amber eyes, correct length and fold to her ears. Clean neck into well placed shoulders, nicely angulated front and rear. Correct length of back. Seemed to be giving her handler a hard time, but she moved well retaining her level topline. Maybe slightly overstretched at times but deserved her place. 2 Morris & Randall’s Kalimor Dottie JW Lovely head, clean neck, brisket to elbow, good front and feet, correct length of back with slight slope to the croup. Another lovely bitch who moved well. 3 Phillips’ Farnfield Déjà vu from Rivertone.

Open Bitch (7) A class full of quality, I really was spoilt for choice. 1 Rodgers’ Sh Ch Minstergate Carnival JW. Just loved her! She has all of the breed qualities I was looking for, 3 years old and in her prime. She has a classic head and expression, with the correct median line and gorgeous amber eyes that draw you in. The correct length and fold to her ears. Good pigment. Clean neck into well placed shoulders, the correct amount of forechest, nice front and tight feet. Lovely length of back and level topline with slight slope to the croup. To top it all she has a lovely silver grey coat. A very happy girl who was enjoying her day out and who moved well, covering the ground and retaining her topline. CC & BOS. 2 Phillips’ Sh Ch Rivertone Head Above Water another beautiful bitch, a different type to my winner but again many of the same comments apply. Built on lovely clean lines, very feminine. Lovely neck and shoulders, loved her length of back and level topline which she retained on the move. RCC. 3 West’s Sh Ch Gunalt Wavelength JW.

LINDSEY EVANS (Judge)