Northern Borzoi Association

Many thanks to the Officers & Committee of the NBA for the invitation to judge at their show. As a former secretary of the Association it was much appreciated. This was my first time at this venue, it is an ideal size with a sufficiently large ring to give the exhibits the chance to move, although some found the floor difficult with the lines between the rubber mats causing them to break stride. The quality of the exhibits was varied; sadly as a breed we seem to be losing what people think of as the classic British borzoi.  Overall, mouths were fine and most had clean teeth. Feet were a cause of concern with short rear feet and front feet too long, not helped by long nails flattening feet and forcing the dog’s weight backwards.  I am not expecting immaculately turned out exhibits without a hair out of place but looking after the basics will improve a dog’s presentation and well being. Condition was also an issue with some exhibits carrying too much weight and others needing more substance. Ours is a running breed, they need the muscular rear to provide the power they need to cover the ground. This meant that in some classes I had a difficult decision as to whether I should withhold. Despite this I was very pleased with my line ups for the tickets, particularly in dogs, where there was a rich choice for the cards.

Finally many thanks to the exhibitors for their sporting acceptance of my decisions and the good atmosphere created around the ring.

VD 1 Absent

PD No entries

JD (3,1)

1st Ford’s Mischran Anomosa 14 mth white / sable. Good masculine head with veining developing well good dark eye.  Good shoulders and depth of chest for his age, correct topline and well angulated rear.  Moved straight with youthful enthusiasm and bounce.

2nd Wallace’s Mischran Takoda 14 mth white / tori.  Sharing many of his brother’s attributes, with good head and neck flowing into a nicely arched topline. Would prefer a bit more length of loin but he is still developing.  Correctly shaped feet front and rear.  He too needed to settle when moving but showed good potential.

GD (2.,0)

1ST Dover’s Palamedees Arian Khrysos at Keanver JW w/r 23 mth beautifully presented large male who is maturing well and has a full coat.  He has a well balanced head with attractive veining, gently curving dome of skull. In profile I thought his face was slightly dished for my liking.  Nicely set neck leading to good shoulders and an arched topline, I would prefer more length of loin giving a less steep fallaway. He has a good bend of stifle and nice length of 2nd thigh. Moved well with plenty of drive in profile but turned his front left in coming toward.

2nd Cassidy Taylor & Gallagher’s  Chalksville Evander 21 month w/torti. A different type to 1 and not quite as mature . He has a pleasing well chiselled head with dark eye and strong underjaw. I found him a little upright in shoulder but he has clean legs with a nice slope of pasterns. Good body with spring of ribs and pleasing topline, as with 1 he would benefit from more length of loin.  Well set on tail carried low on the move. When moving he needs to learn to extend and go on more but this will come with time & experience.

PGD (3,0)

1st Birmingham’s Takatori Barnum. Big handsome 2 yo w/r who really dominates the ring, excellent coat and well presented. He has a very masculine head with dark pigmentation, sufficient veining and good underjaw . Neck is well muscled of good length and carried at the correct angle. His topline rises gracefully to the top of the arch with a long fallaway. Hindquarters are well muscled with good bend of stifle. He has a good deep chest and well sprung ribs. His shoulders slope well back and good return of upper arm giving him plenty of reach. On the move, he was rather happy and carrying his tail a bit too gaily. With time when he learns to extend and control his body he should be very impressive.

2nd Edward’s Ryazan Vlesk  4 yo w/r a much finer type to 1. Well balanced head, nicely pigmented and well veined although I preferred the masculinity of 1’s. Good front structure with slope of pasterns although I would prefer his feet to be more oval shaped. His topline is nicely arched but would benefit from a bit longer loin. When moving he has a nice easy movement with good extension, straight when going away but turns his front left in when coming towards. Beautifully presented and well handled.

3rd Carter’s Vasili V D Marloe (Imp Bel)

MLD (2.0)

1st Jarczynska’s Diamond Magnus Borzoj (Imp Pol) 3 yo w/r another v masculine dog carrying an excellent, well presented coat.  Well balanced with a gentle arched topline and good fallaway.  He is well bodied and has good angulation front & rear giving him low set hocks.  His head is well proportioned with dark pigmentation and veining. Ideally I would prefer more underjaw. He was well handled which brought out his light easy profile movement and straight coming and going. Deserved RCC and pushed hard for the ticket.

2nd Conroy’s Santerman the Way We Were at Enolam 5 yo w/r attractive head with gently domed skull and neat ears set high. Well set neck with slight arch that flows into his shapely topline and continues into his fallaway. Good front with nice width, clean forelimbs with a good slope of pasterns. His rear has a good bend of stifle and length of 2nd thigh with low hocks. His tail is well set on but carried a bit happy on the move throwing his rear movement out, in profile he is light and easy.

LD (4,1)

1st Baker & White’s Mischran the Witcher 3 yo self red. Handsome male of a classic British type. Masculine well veined head with neat ears.  Well constructed front with prominent prosternum and good depth of chest, well laid back shoulders and return of upper arm. Correct feet front & rear. Well arched topline although I would prefer a little more length of loin. Moved well with good extention and drive from his well muscled rear showcasing his rear angulation. Nice & straight when coming and going. Well presented with a good coat, without being too excessive. Delighted to award him CC & BIS.

2nd Clare’s Donskoi the Mad Hatter at Russmechta 2yo well coated self red.  Refined, masculine head nicely veined, well set on powerful neck. Good shoulders but would prefer just a little less bend of pastern. Good deep chest and well sprung ribs. To be picky I would prefer his topline to be a bit more arched. Well angulated rear with good low hocks.  Moved well but just preferred the overall construction of 1.

3rd Glenton’s Cavallierik Uksus to Baudwin (imp Rus)

OD (2,0)

1st Clare’s Donskoi Groza at Russmechta 3yo  w/torti  elegant head  with correctly shaped dark eye, neat well placed ears, muscular neck held at a nice angle. Good front angulation with pasterns offering enough flexibility, I would prefer more arched front feet. He has a good deep chest with spring of rib, Ideally I would like more forechest and arch of topline. Good rear assembly with nice bend of stifle & well let down hocks. Move straight coming & going with profile movement showing drive & extension. Well presented & handled.

2nd Maxwell’s UKC Ch Simply Obsession Phantom of the Opera CGC 4yo self black. Good head with neat ears, but too upright in the neck for my taste,. Well angulated shoulders but needs more width throughout and deeper chest for his age. Well arched feet and shapely topline but needs more covering.  His profile movement was flamboyant but erratic. Striking looking dog but sadly lacking in condition

SBD(3,1)

1ST Dover’s Palamedees Arian Khrysos at Keanver JW  2nd Cassidy Taylor & Gallagher’s  Chalksville Evander

CHD (2,0)

1st Odell’s Ch Sukeshi Dazzling Dan 3yo w/b substantial well balanced male nice refined head, good shoulders and upper arm, his prominent prosternum gives him width at the front, clean forelegs with correctly shaped feet. His topline flows through his pleasing arch and good fallaway into a well angulated rear with correct set of tail. Steady on the move with good extension and straight front a rear. Unfortunately was playing his handler up today which affected his chances in the challenge.

2nd Wallace’s UKC Ch Simply Obsession Phantom of the Opera CGC

VB (3,1) Conroy’s Quarenta’s Life’s First Love at Enolam 10yo w/r belying her age .She has a lovely feminine head with prominent veining and pleasing expression and neat ears. I would prefer a bit more width at the front,  but otherwise she has a good body and still retains her shapely topline. Moved well for her age with an easy movement. Her coat is good for a bitch, well presented and handled.

2nd Baker & White’s Mischran Gyda  7yo  grey/w  Nice head but not quite the elegance of 1, well constructed with nice width at the front and good shoulders. well arched topline, good depth of chest  and nice spring of rib.  Good length of 2nd thigh and good low hocks. Was slightly wayward on the move compared to 1.

PB (3,0)

3 very promising litter sisters, 11 mths all with the same good framework the choice in the class came down to movement. They are well developed for their ages have good classic heads with dark eyes correctly shaped, all 3 are shapely,  well balanced with good front & rear angulation  although I would prefer slightly longer rear feet 1st Donnelly & Devereux’s Sukeshi Anna Leopdovna w/r on the move she showed excellent extension and drive for her age BPIS, 2nd Odell’s Sukeshi Tsarina Alexandra w/torti moved steadily and straight but without the reach of 1. 3rd Odell’s Sukeshi Tsarina Elizaveta w /brindle was unsettled today on the move compared to her sisters but still has the same excellent potential.

JB (3,0)

1st Odell’s Sukeshi Tsarina Alexandra

2nd Baker & White’s Mischran Freydis 16mth sable & white pleasant head well muscled arched neck with well angulated front and forechest although slightly wide but I can forgive that in a bitch. She  wasn’t relaxed today which spoilt her profile, exaggerating her topline. This also affected her movement when she didn’t move freely. A pity as she has a lot of potential.

3rd Odell’s Sukeshi Tsarina Elizaveta

GB (2,1)

1st Giblet’s Barnesmore Cinderella at Sunnymeadow w/cream 2yo badly out of coat and lacking condition,  which didn’t do her any favours. Feminine head with good underjaw.  Too upright in neck for my taste this also emphasised her flat topline. Good length of loin.  Acceptable shoulders and good forechest.  

2nd Heywood & Manney’s Rosskaja Lady in Red of Sterrennacht 22 mth w/r lovely refined head.  Her topline is well arched with a good length of loin. I found her too upright at both  front & rear which shows in movement, this is straight & steady but lacking the desired drive and extension. She needs more covering on her frame and better conditioning to do herself justice in the show ring.

PGB (3,1)

1st Smith’s Chalksville Saskia w/r 2yo She has a balanced head with a good dark eye and veining starting to come through. I would prefer a more prominent occiput and found her too upright in neck. She has a gracefully arched topline but her fallaway is too steep as she could do with more length of loin. She has reasonable width at the front and a good slope of pastern and correct feet front & rear. On the move she needs to learn to relax more which will improve her in profile. Overall she needs to put on more condition which will improve her all round.

2nd Giblet’s Mischran Cherokee at Sunnymeadow Self red 4yo Pleasant head with good underjaw and slightly domed skull although I would like a little more refinement.  Her neck is slightly arched and carried correctly.  She has a good length of loin.  Her rear is well constructed with good bend of stifle and nice low hocks. Unfortunately she is carrying too much weight which spoils her topline and is flattening her feet. This is also reflected in her movement where she lacked enthusiasm.

MLB (2,0)

1st White’s Mischran Lagatha 3yo self red. Well proportioned head with dark expressive eyes slightly domed skull . Her neck is the correct length and set. Nice steady rise to her topline but she would benefit for a little more length of loin giving her a more graceful fallaway, Her shoulders are nicely laid back, clean legs, pasterns could be a little tighter. Her front feet are well arched. A little more bend of stifle would allow her to drive more. She has a light easy straight movement and moving well in profile, taking bounce from the floor.

2nd Turner’s Chalksville Katerina 2yr w/sable. Balanced, well proportioned bitch. Pleasing head and expression with good veining. Good neck held at the correct angle. Topline has a gentle arch and good fallaway. She has nice bend of stifle and length of 2nd thigh giving low set hocks. Moved straight & steadily but in profile would like a little more drive from her well angulated rear.

LB (3,1)

1st  White’s Mischran Lylia 2yo  self red very attractive feminine head with expressive dark almond shaped eyes.  Well muscled neck with good shoulders and return of upper arm, she has a nice slope of pasterns and correct feet. Her topline rises in a graceful arch with gradual fallaway and nice set of tail carried low on the move.  When moving she was straight coming & going and with good extension and drive when viewed in profile.

2nd Giblet’s Mischran Prime Suspect at Sunnymeadow  5 yo sb very feminine head, she has a potentially nice frame with good spring of ribs and depth of chest but is carrying far too much weight which affected her topline and movement. Moved steadily and would be better with more bend of stifle.

OB(2,0)

1st Dove’s Takatori Madam Butterfly at Saringa JW 2yo w/r striking  bitch who retains feminine elegance despite her size.  She has a feminine head with a good underjaw  and nice dark eye, Well set on neck giving a flow into the topline gently raising to the top of her arch and length of loin gives a pleasing fallaway. Well angulated front and rear she has correct spring of rib and excellent depth of chest for a bitch. On the move she wasn’t 100% which prevented her pushing for the CC but her overall quality couldn’t be denied the RCC.

2nd Donnelley’s Serenefol Amelia 7yo w/r she was very unsettled today and didn’t want to be gone over.  She has a pleasing head with dark pigmentation and good veining just starting to show her  age.  She has a well built body with adequate angulation front & rear. She settled a little more when moved and was straight going and coming.  In profile she needed to relax more to show her extension and drive.

SBB (3, 1)

1st Giblet’s Barnesmore Cinderella at Sunnymeadow

2nd Heywood&Manney’s Rosskaja Lady in Red of Sterrennacht

ChB (1,0)

1st Donnelley & Deveraux’s Ch Serenefol Alicja 7yo w/brindle. A deceptive bitch I didn’t fully appreciate until I got my hands on her. She is well proportioned and balanced front & rear without exaggerations. Her head is feminine with dark almond shaped eyes and neat well set ears. Her neck is of a good length and held at a correct angle. Good shoulders giving her nice reach when moving with adequate forechest , good spring of ribs and depth of chest. Her topline is a gentle arch with a good fallaway.  Her rear angulation is fine with nice low hocks. Moved well with extension when in profile and straight when going and coming. BCC, RBIS & BVIS.

Brace (4,2)

1st Odell

2nd Baker & White