City Of Birmingham Canine Association

City of Birmingham Championship Show 30th August, 2024. King Charles Spaniels

Thoroughly enjoyed assessing the King Charles Spaniels and thank the exhibitors for the super entry. Full of quality and, in particular, the bitch entry where there was a depth of quality in most classes. I could have awarded a handful of CC’s. Some very exciting youngsters whose careers I shall follow with interest and who are sure to be in the green cards very soon.

 SBD (2,0) Two litter brothers in beautiful condition.1st ABBOTT, Mrs H Helmajon Sibelius. Lightly marked Blenheim with a very typical head and appealing expression. Well domed head with large dark eyes and low set ears. Short square muzzle with desired turn up and good width. Better spring of rib than his brother. Would prefer a little more cobby in body but preferred his height to length ratios over his brother. Very happy on the move with tail wagging. Moving too close behind. 2nd ABBOTT, Mrs H Helmajon Rhapsody In Blue. Tri-colour dog built on larger lines than his brother. Happy and gentle nature. Silky coat texture. Domed skull with some width through. Large dark round eye. Slightly longer in muzzle but still with required turn up. Longer in loin and lacking some spring of rib so not as compact. Would like straighter front and moves to close behind to provide the desired drive.

PD (4,0) Two super dog pups heading this class; both will have a bright future and win green cards I’m sure. 1st MORLEY, Miss E Baldragon Dream Chaser At Lizlanmor. A well marked tri-colour puppy who immediately appeals for his size and shape. He is sired by the Dog CC winner and of a similar stamp. Chest already has width and he is compact and cobby. His head is domed and has width right through. Large dark round eyes set well apart. He moves with great freedom driving from his low hocks. Super straight front and well laid shoulders; so sound. Tail never stops wagging. A happy spaniel with a very bright future. BPIB. 2nd AUSTIN, Mrs Kathleen & AUSTIN, MR MARK Baldragon French Kisses (taf). Another tri-colour less broken in jacket than the winner. I noted the sire was the Dog RCC winner and his sister won Puppy Bitch class. What a fabulous litter. I loved his head and expression. Domed skull with low set ears. Large dark round eyes set well apart. Square muzzle with good turn up. Makes a very typical silhouette stood. Compact and cobby with fore chest well developed. Level top line with low set tail. Very sound moving away with drive. Lovely free gait in profile. Not quite as accurate as the winner coming towards today. 3rd WELLS, The Rev'd Kirsty & BROWN, Ms Amanda Yeshalomi Mogul Matter At Metamorphic

JD (2,0) 1st AUSTIN, Mrs Kathleen & AUSTIN, MR MARK Baldragon French Kisses (taf). 2nd SMITH, Mr Stephen & SMITH, Mrs Gillian Chacombe Just Magical For Justacharma. A very well broken tri-colour with a silky straight coat of good length for his age. Compact and cobby in body with good spring of rib. Fabulous forequarters with width to his chest and straight front legs. Good bend of stifle and low hocks. His head has width all through and is domed with low set ears with good feathering. Large dark eyes set well apart. Sound enough but moving a little close behind.

 PGD (5,0) 1st RUSHTON, Mrs L & RUSHTON, Mr R F Tiflin We All Love Jack. A well broken tri-colour with flecking in the white. Loved his well domed skull and overall expression. Good width through, desired turn up with width to jaw. Large dark eyes. Low set, well feathered ears. Compact in body. Moved parallel away and back and has good drive in side gait. A happy spaniel but just a bit proud of his tail on the move. 2nd MOCHRIE, Mrs Ruth Downsbank Indian Ink. A black and tan with a truly beautiful head. Super domed skull with long well feathered low set ears. Large dark round eyes set well apart. Short muzzle with turn up and shiny black nose with open nostril. Widht to his underjaw. He has a raven black coat with the richest tans. He examines well on the table but impossible to assess his movement properly as he had a serious itch that he just could not reach which caused him to sit and scratch repeatedly. Such a shame. 3rd BOYER, Mrs Sandra Olaf Ot Nevskogo Hobbita At Ellinghurst (imp Grc)

 LD (4,1)1st KENDALL, Mrs M & BAKER, Miss Emily Cofton Tap Dance. A lightly marked tri-colour of an ideal size and overall shape. A temperament to die for. Such a happy lad. Lovely domed skull, low set ears and dark eyes with gentle expression. Slight arch to neck and proud head carriage. Compact in body with level top line and low set tail. Straight front, well laid shoulders and good bend of stifle to match. Very accurate foot fall in side gait where he makes a super silhouette. Just a little closer behind than ideal but still plenty of drive from his low set hocks. 2nd AUSTIN, Mrs Kathleen & AUSTIN, MR MARK Baldragon Blinkin Hell (taf).Another well marked tri-colour who instantly appeals for his size and overall shape; lovely and compact. Wonderful head and expression. Super domed skull with low set ears and large Dark eyes with such a soft gentle expression. Well laid shoulders and elbows tight to ribs. Well bend stifle and low hocks. Is a picture in profile with real drive and free action. Just not quite as parallel coming towards today. 3rd MADDISON, Miss Sarah Justacharma Northern Magic

OD (5,1) 1st WHITMAN, Mr John & TARABAD, Miss L Ch Cofton All I Hav To Do Is Dream With Khatibi – Dog CC. A lightly marked tri-colour, fully mature dog who looked a picture of health and vitality. His coat had length and was straight and silky in texture. His body was well condition and he was clearly fit. Such a typical head and expression. My notes say simply “beautiful head”. Loved the slight crest top his neck that emphasises his proud head carriage. Ideal for overall size and shape. Cobby and compact with bone to match. Length and spring of rib with short loin and low set tail. Strength to his hind quarters with well bent stifles, good muscle tone and low hocks. As expected, he moves with such drive. Very accurate foot fall in side gait. 2nd BOWLES-ROBINSON, Mrs C Tom Des Trois Maillets Baldragon (Imp) Fra – RCC. A 2 year old who is maturing perfectly and another in such fine fettle. Ideal size. Such attractive blenheim coat pattern with the richest chestnut tans and clear pearly white background. Another lovely head with domed skull and low set ears. Gentle expression. Loved his cobby body and he too was compact with good spring of rib and width to his chest. Fabulous straight front and well angulated forequarters. Just moving a little closer behind than the winner today but still moving with great freedom in side gait. Will undoubtedly gain his champion title.3rd SMITH, Mr Stephen & SMITH, Mrs Gillian Ch Justacharma So Magic J W

SBB (2,0) 1st ABBOTT, Mrs H Helmajon Clara's Romance. Litter sister to the two boys in Special Beginners Dog. What a delightful little blenheim lady who absolutely charmed me with her outgoing (dare I say unruly) personality. Such a happy girl who ‘wagged’ her whole body most the time. I liked her overall size and shape although perhaps a little finer all through. Beautiful head and expression. Straight front legs and well bent stifles with low hocks. Once settled she moves parallel away and back. Her blenheim pattern is well broke with rich chestnut. Just lacking length of coat and feathering. On lovely condition overall. Whilst I would never want her to lose her personality and happy disposition she needs her owner/handler to be more in control; I am sure this would be of great benefit to her future show results. Best Special Beginner. 2nd ABBOTT, Mrs H Cofton Reach For The Stars. This Veteran tri-colour is the dam of the winners of the two Special Beginners classes and today beat her daughter. She is lightly marked with some flecking in the pearly white background. I liked her size although she is a fraction longer in loin than her daughter but definitely described as cobby. Very gentle expression with nice dome; ears set a little higher than her daughter. Large dark eyes set well apart. Good width to her underjaw. Moved well just lacking a little drive from behind.

VB (2,1) 1st ABBOTT, Mrs H Cofton Reach For The Stars. BVIB

 PB (4,1) Three cracking puppy bitches. A credit to their owners and breeders. 1st BOWLES-ROBINSON, Mrs C Baldragon French Fancy. Daughter of the RCC winner and so similar to her litter brother who was 2nd in Puppy Dog. She is an absolute cracker. Blanket tri-colour at just 7 months old. Her head is already quite stunning and an adorable expression. She is compact in body and already showing cobbiness with width to her chest and wonderfully angulated fore quarters. Ruler straight top line and low set tail. Moves parallel away and back. Super sound behind. A really close decision for BPIB but the dog was foot perfect and so composed he clinched it today. 2nd WHITMAN, Mr John & TARABAD, Miss L Yeshalomi Day To Remember For Khatibi. A well-grown, lightly marked Blenheim bitch puppy who is maturing perfectly for her age. She’s not going to be the smallest girl but I loved her overall balance and proportions. Her head is a joy with the most fabulous domed skull and low set ears. Large dark eyes set well apart. Her chest just needs to drop a bit so looked a bit leggy today. Already has really well sprung ribs and width to her chest. Lovely straight front and strength to her hindquarters which she uses to really drive. Parallel away and back. Super level top line stood and on the move. 3rd BOWLES-ROBINSON, Mrs C Cofton La Belle Vie. Another beautiful puppy with a beautiful head and so sound with super hindquarters.

JB (3,0) Three super tri-colour bitches. 1st LOVEL, Mr P Lovetrac Kamilla. Only just out of puppy and still some maturing to do but what a beauty. Well broken tri-colour of ideal size and compact in overall shape. Her head is just a delight and so very typical. Such a pretty bitch with a kind, gentle expression. Lovely domed skull and low set, well feathered ears. Large dark eyes set well apart. Width to her jaw and square muzzle with tight neat lips. Slight arch to her neck giving that typical proud head carriage. Very well balanced with angulation of fore quarters matching hind quarters; everything just fits together. Although young she is fit and in good condition so really drives from her low hocks. Of absolute Champion quality. RBCC. 2nd 3154 GURTNER, Miss C Una De Melcourt. Another well marked tri-colour with an equally beautiful head with width all through. Super dome with low set well-feathered ears. Large dark eyes and gentle expression. She is a bigger bitch and whilst she has a fabulous spring and length of rib she is a fraction longer in loin than the winner. Liked the width and depth of her chest. Lovely straight front and well angulated hindquarters. Just moving away a little close today but very balanced in side gait holding her top line well. Another of Champion quality. 3rd RATTER, Mrs Loraine Chacombe Catch A Star For Seafar

PGB (5,1) 1st BOWLES-ROBINSON, Mrs C Lovetrac Katrina Baldragon. Litter sister to the RCC winning Junior bitch and with a little more confidence and showmanship could give her sister a run for her money. She is definitely CC worthy too. So well made, cobby and compact with a beautiful head juts like her sister. Well broken tri-colour with straight silky coat developing well for her age. What a litter; I also noted they were sired by the Dog I gave the CC & BOB to last time I judged the Charlies. 2nd AUSTIN, Mrs Kathleen & AUSTIN, MR MARK Tess Des Trois Mallets Baldragon Taf (imp Fra). This Blenheim is litter sister to ‘Tom’ who won the Dog RCC and very similar in many respects. Appeals greatly for size and overall shape. Cobby with length to her rib and short loin giving compact body overall. Good width to her chest and straight front. Well bent stifle and low hocks ensure she moves away with drive and sound behind. She could be a fraction tidier coming towards to be able to write ‘parallel’. Her head is so typical with a gentle expression and good width through. Another worthy of a green card. 3rd ABBOTT, Mrs H Helmajon Clara's Romance

 LB (4,1) 1st BOYER, Mr & Mrs P & S Ellinghurst Miss Saigon. A pretty tri-colour who is lightly marked and has a lovely silky straight coat. Immediately catches your eye with her beautiful head and expression. Those eyes could get away with murder and. the way she wags her tail tells me she knows that to be the case. So much love in her expression. Domed skull with low set ears with good feathering. Compact in body and holds her top line well. Very sound away and back. Slight arch to neck with proud head carriage. 2nd BAILEY, Mrs Dorothy May Aldoricka Sweet Victoria. Well broke tri-colour with silky coat and good feathering. A very happy spaniel who wagged throughout proceedings. Liked the size of her head and her domed skull. Sweet expression with width to her jaw and open nostril. Good width to her chest and well spring ribs but a little longer in loin. Just turns her feet out although legs are straight. Moving a little close behind today. 3rd AUSTIN, Mrs Kathleen & AUSTIN, MR MARK Baldragon Gots Hattitude Taf

OB (4,1) 1st NEMETH, Mr Tamas Arrowbien The Sphinx. What fabulous ring presence this lady has. What a beautiful Charlie looking a picture of health and vitality. Perfectly marked tri-colour with a long silky straight coat. Her head is glorious with width all through, well domed skull and low set ears with fabulous feathering. Large dark eyes set well apart giving gentle expression. Her head is carried proudly on the move by virtue of the slight arch to her neck. She moves so freely with drive from her low hocks and well bent stifle. Well laid shoulders allow for reach in front giving such and accurate foot fall in side gait. Her compact body and length of rib ensure a level top line stood and on the move. She is so perfectly cobby. Her tail is set low and wags gently at all times. Bitch CC & BOB. I learned afterwards that she had a break for maternal duties (see Puppy bitch class) and has returned to the show ring today to gain her well-deserved Champion crown. A model and a mother; every owner’s dream.  2nd WHITMAN, Mr John & TARABAD, Miss L Ch Baldragon Centre Stage With Khatibi JW. A favourite of mine who I awarded top honours to as a youngster. She has matured into a beautifully typical Champion Toy Spaniel. I still love her stunning head and expression. She is still super sound in all directions. Moves with great freedom. Immaculately presented with straight silky coat and fit overall body condition. Just preferred the slightly shorter loin of the two principal winners but would gladly have added to her CC collection. 3rd BOYER, Mr & Mrs P & S Ellinghurst Kiki Dee. Litter sister to the Limit class winner and no disgrace to be 3rd here. She is a very typical Charlie with a beautiful head.

Nick Gourley - Judge