Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Of Scotland

I would like to thank the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of Scotland for allowing me the honour of judging one of their Championship shows on the 3rd November. Having not judged for six years and only attending two shows this year it was with a fresh eye that I had the privilege of judging dogs that I had not seen before.

Thank you to all exhibitors for their entries and the gracious way in which all my decisions were accepted. It was a long day for everyone and I know the delayed start for me with such a big entry meant the show went on longer than anticipated.

I would especially like to thank my steward Gillian Fewster for her professional way in keeping the ring running so smoothly and for the Irn Bru to keep me going!

There is quite a variation in type since I last judged and heads in particular vary a great deal. My biggest criticism is for the lack of return of upper arm and narrow fronts and many could benefit from more width through the second thigh. However, my winners I felt fitted my interpretation of the Breed Standard perfectly and a few classes were crying out for more red cards. All mouths were acceptable and only a couple of ridges were not.

Temperaments were excellent considering the long day for both dogs and exhibitors!

BABY PUPPY: 4 (1)

Bates’ Gunthwaites Red Hot Rose. A few days short of 5 months and already showing promise of great things to come. A rich red wheaten, in profile showing her excellent bone and angulation all through. Beautiful feminine head of correct proportions, strong well arched neck into well laid shoulder. Excellent front with deep forechest and ribbing all through to balanced hindquarters with good width to first and second thigh. Moved with accuracy and ease with long ground covering stride. Best Baby Puppy in Show 

Henshall’s Leeurif Sekiamba Hakahaarli at Suhuba (Imp GRC). 5 month red wheaten bitch. Lovely head with good length and depth to muzzle with kind expression from dark round eye. Good neck into well placed shoulders, straight front down to excellent feet. Longer through the body and not as accurate on the move but still very much a baby.

Scanlon’s Kinabula’s Beat of My Heart

MINOR PUPPY DOG: 2

Geeves’ Kiromol Knight of the Realm. 6 months and very much a baby not impressed by having to stand still. However when he did co-operate he presented a balanced outline. Light wheaten, clean through his head with kind dark eye and good depth to muzzle. Excellent bone, correct front with deep chest, well knuckled feet. Strong neck into well angulated shoulder with good return of upper arm. Well ribbed back into excellent hindquarters that powered him round the ring producing such fluid and accurate movement.  

Cox & Musgrave’s Carlincox Knock em Out. Six months red wheaten, rangier boy who needs to grow into his frame but I loved his type and have no doubt he will have a good future. His very happy temperament and his dark round eye made it a close decision and no doubt these two will swop places many times.

PUPPY DOG: 4

Parsons’ Priorpark’s Par the Course JW. This young lad excelled in every way. Nothing exaggerated just balanced all through with correct angulation fore and aft. The best of heads, strong neck, level top line, well ribbed back to powerful hindquarters with good width through first and second thigh with low set hock. Moved with accuracy and drive and in gleaming condition. Loved him. Best Puppy in Show.

Dennis’s Priorpark Pragmatist. Litter brother to winner and balanced throughout. Lovely head of correct proportions although he was trying to fly his ears! A picture standing with good angulation and depth to ribbing. Moved with accuracy but not the drive of his sibling.

Tanner & Baldwin’s Barfordridge Igor

JUNIOR DOG: 5 (1)

Barker’s Delianza What’s Your Motive JW. 17 months red wheaten who filled the eye both standing and on the move. Strong masculine head, good reach of neck flowing into well laid shoulder. Excellent front and feet. Level top line with ribbing carried well back to a strong loin. Well muscled hindquarters that he used to move effortlessly round the ring. Well handled.

 Hicks’ Nuthouse Mastermind. At 16 months this lovely liver nose has all the essentials but needs to fill out and mature. Well proportioned head with correct amber eye. Elbows a little outside his body at the moment and would prefer more width through his quarters but moved well with good easy stride.

Mulholland & Cunningham’s Walamadengie Heart Throb

YEARLING DOG: 4 (1)

Darnell’s Rubiltra Gunna B Victorious. Best of heads on this young lad with good length and depth to his muzzle and lovely dark eye and expression. Well boned with good length of neck into good shoulder placement. Good depth to ribbing and strong through his loin. Moved out soundly and with ease.

Raymond’s Sofala Raffaello. Strong masculine head of good proportions with dark round eye. Shorter in the neck but well angulated all through with good length and depth to ribbing and through the loin. Well muscled quarters. Moved well coming, going and in profile.

Ross’s Penholda I Want It All

NOVICE DOG: 2

Field’s Chaser Jake Jamanne at Kalabaney (Imp Dnk). Almost 3 years this red wheaten boy was well balanced all through with adequate angulation fore and aft. Masculine head with good dark eye but I would prefer a little more length to his muzzle. Level through his top line and strong through his loin. Moved so lightly on his feet.

Ross’s Penholda I Want It All. Overall bigger rangier type than winner. Long through his body and dipping in his top line both standing and on the move.

POST GRADUATE DOG: 3 (1)

Green & Thomson’s Rottzridge Celtic Legend at Kotamury. Handsome dark red wheaten boy with beautifully balanced masculine head and dark eye. Well boned for size and in gleaming condition. Good length of neck, well placed shoulder and ribbed well back. Shorter through his loin so presents a squarer outline but he moved out soundly and with drive.

Dennis’ Sonnypride Rum and Raisin. Lovely head with gentle expression. Good length of neck into excellent shoulder placement and good depth to his fore chest. Would prefer more angulation through his hindquarters and a more developed second thigh.

LIMIT DOG: 14 (1)

Hodge’s Kxoxo I’m Old Fashioned for Colkerrin JW (Imp Fin). This light wheaten boy exudes quality and breed type. Masculine head of good proportions with intelligent expression. Good length of neck into level top line. Well ribbed back to strong powerful loin and the best of hindquarters, well muscled with correct bend of stifle, low set hocks and good width through first and second thigh. Would have preferred a little more return of upper arm to perfect his outline but he moved out with accuracy and drive. 

Murray’s Kinabula’s Bonjangles of Dellared. Another eye catching boy. Balanced all through with correct angulation for and aft. Masculine head with good length and depth to muzzle. Well boned, straight front down to tight feet with good infill to forechest. Level top line which he held on the move.

Hicks’ Nuthouse Roger the Dodger

OPEN DOG: 13 (4)

Muir’s CH Jimanns Ace of Spades. This big wheaten boy stole my heart. At 3 years old he is in his prime. His gorgeous head is correctly proportioned with a true round hound eye that has the softest expression. His beautifully arched neck flows into well laid back shoulders with good return of upper arm. Excellent front and fore chest, ribbed well back to strong loin and well muscled hindquarters with low set hocks which he used to power round the ring with accuracy and drive. He knows he is special and carries himself like a true stallion hound. My pleasure to award him the DOG CC and Reserve Best in Show

Raymond’s Sofala Lightening Strike. Another quality hound fulfilling the breed standard. Red wheaten with lovely head and expression. Good reach of neck into excellent front assembly, good ribbing to strong loin and good hindquarters with low set hock. Presenting a balanced outline standing and on the move. No hesitation in awarding him the Res CC. 

Mackfall’s CH Hespa Masseto of Africaner JW ShCEx OSW

VETERAN DOG: 1

 Muir’s CH Saadani Show Off. Big well boned 8 year old wheaten who moved out well and covered the ground with ease. Good neck and top line with deep chest, good angulation fore and aft and well muscled hindquarters. A little strong in the head for me and would prefer a cleaner lip.

MINOR PUPPY BITCH: 3

Raymond’s Sofala’s Every Lil Thing. 7 months light wheaten. Lovely feminine head of correct proportions. Good length of neck, good angulation all through and presenting a balanced outline. Well boned with correct front and fore chest and good width to her first and second thigh with low set hock. Moved well.

Cox & Musgrave’s Carlincox Don’t Knock It. 6 months and still very much a baby. Her head is still developing and she was put off by the hot air blowing down on her so took a while to settle which she did later on in Novice Bitch to win the class. Well angulated through her quarters and with excellent ribbing. Well boned, good front standing on tight feet. A little high behind at the moment and moving erratically but once she matures into her frame she will be one to watch.

Raymond’s Sofala Angel Band

PUPPY BITCH: 9

Salmon’s Lobengula Giah. 8 months red wheaten bitch who really took my eye. Well up to size with good bone. Lovely head of correct proportions with dark eye and kind expression. Good length of neck into well placed shoulder. Good depth of rib carried through to strong loin and excellent quarters with good width to second thigh. Moved soundly. Loved her. Best Puppy Bitch.

Raymond’s Sofala’s Every Lil Thing. See MPB

Kerr’s Priorpark Pure Theatre at Buhera

JUNIOR BITCH: 4

Hicks’ Nuthouse Going for Gold JW. Lovely well balanced red wheaten girl who moved out so well with a long easy stride. Good head with dark eye and kind expression. Shoulders well laid back with good length and depth to ribbing and strong through the loin. Good width through her hindquarters with low set hock. At only 16 months she is maturing nicely.

Parsons’ Priorpark Proof in Pudding JW. 11 months red wheaten. Another quality bitch well boned with good angulation all through. Long arched neck, excellent front, good top line and ribbing. Moved well. Just preferred the head of 1.

Kerr’s Priorpark Pure Theatre at Buhera

YEARLING BITCH: 3 (1)

Cyprien, Porter & Willunat’s Honeybush Clouds Novel Princess Zola with Jocerik JW (Imp Deu). Shapely bitch with feminine head of correct proportions. Good in front with tight feet. Good depth to ribs but cuts up to a shorter loin. Well muscled quarters. Moved with drive. 

Greeves’ Penholda Sweet Lady JW. A pretty wheaten bitch with nice head and dark eye. Good reach of neck and correct angulation all through so presenting a lovely profile.

NOVICE BITCH: 4 

Cox & Musgrave’s Carlincox Don’t Knock It. See MPB

Mills & Parsons’ Priorpark Pride and Joy to Nzuri. A tall rangy bitch, would like more bone for her size. At only 9 months she has plenty of time to develop and fill her frame. 

Rossini’s Kensesqui Touch of Love

POST GRADUATE BITCH: 6 (2)

Dick’s Amahle Funny Cide. Loved this bitch for her overall breed type so forgave her being slightly out of coat. Nothing exaggerated, everything in the right place, well boned and looked like she could go all day. Gorgeous head of correct planes with good length and depth to muzzle. Lovely dark eye. Strong neck into well angulated shoulder and ribbed well back to powerful hindquarters with correct bend of stifle and strong low set hock. She flowed round the ring with a long, low effortless stride. Reserve CC

McCluskey’s Jimanns hud Yer Wheesht. Bigger bitch with much to like but not moving with much enthusiasm. Lovely head, good fore chest and ribbing.

Pratt’s Carlincox Cream of Society

LIMIT BITCH: 16 (5)

Parsons’ Priorpark Proud as Punch JW. Loved this wheaten bitch for her overall balance and her movement. Best of heads with kind dark eye and intelligent expression. Good reach of neck into well angled shoulder. Well boned with excellent front and fore chest and strong powerful quarters. Moved with a long, low easy stride that covered the ground with ease.

Salmon’s Lobengula Pearl. Another lovely bitch teeming with quality. Darker red wheaten combining substance with elegance. Well arched neck, balanced all through with correct angulations fore and aft and deep ribcage back to strong loin. Good width to first and second thigh. Moved with accuracy and drive.

Ritchie’s Jimanns Hell on Heels

OPEN BITCH: 19 (6)

Cox’s CH Carlincox Pure Gold JW ShCEx OSW. Absolutely stunning bitch, correct in all departments. So balanced standing and when moving to perfection round the ring. From her beautiful head with such intelligent and noble expression to the tip of her tail she is pure quality and to me she is a perfect representation of the breed standard. In wonderful condition she could not be denied the Bitch CC and Best in Show.

Bates’ CH Gunthwaite Ayr of Elegance JW. Another top quality bitch. Rich red wheaten with best of heads and great reach of neck into excellent shoulder. Deep capacious chest and ribbing which carries through to strong loin and powerful hindquarters with correct turn of stifle, low set hock and good width to first and second thigh. Excels in front that is gun barrel straight with quality bone down to the ground. Moved with great accuracy and drive. Sadly she could not be found when called back in to challenge for Reserve CC.

Barnes’ CH Diamondridge Kazembe Golden Age JW

VETERAN BITCH: 7 (2)

Scanlon’s Kinabula’s All About the Bass JW ShCEx OSW. Oh my goodness this young 7 year old could move! Lovely wheaten bitch totally at one with her handler and in wonderful condition. Presented a lovely balanced outline standing and an absolute joy to watch her flowing round the ring with such enthusiasm after a very long day. Best Veteran in Show

Smith’s Sweet Little Wallflower of Leteela. Well put together 8 year old with attractive head and dark round eye. Slightly squarer in body but good angulation all through and moved soundly.

Hicks’ Nuthouse Hot Stuff

                                                                                                               Priscilla Saunders