Leeds City & District Canine Association

LEEDS CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 27/7/24

WELSH SPRINGER SPANIELS

My sincere thanks to the committee of Leeds for the invitation to judge my second breed for the first time and to the exhibitors for a lovely entry with only a couple of absentees. It is many years now since I have shown welsh springers and I found temperaments, which used to be an issue, to be on the whole sound and very few showing any shyness. Although there was some variation through the entry, all were typical and within the standard. My main observation would be more than a few who lacked forechest and subsequently lacked reach in front meaning they were rather wide and untidy, just something to watch out for and not allow to become the norm. I was delighted with all my main winners on the day who were excellent examples of the breed and sound on the move.

MINOR PUPPY DOG(1,0)

1/ Harrison. GLENBROWS MARKSMAN. A delightful 6 month old puppy who has so much promise. Very nice balance to his head, lovely eye shape and expression with well shaped and set ears. He has a great reach of neck which runs back into well placed shoulders and has a good forechest. Well boned legs, good depth through the body and correct topline. Well set and carried tail, quality coat and good rich colour. He just needs some time now to come up a bit on his legs to balance out his length and to settle into himself but he is just a baby and time will be his friend.

PUPPY DOG(O)

JUNIOR DOG (2,0)

1/ Harrison. GLENBROWS CASANOVA. Quality dog of lovely breed type, scores in his overall shape and balance although carrying just a tad too much weight for my preference and I would have liked a bit more forechest. Lovely balanced head and good eye shape, balanced angulation and well muscled rear. Well boned, straight forelegs and super tight feet. Topline and tail carriage correct, carrying plenty of coat which was of good quality and colour. Movement showed plenty of drive from the rear.

2/ Wallington. FERNDEL RENZO AT ROVINJDAL. Another of good type with all the essentials, he has a lovely head and eye, gentle expression and well set ears. Good neck, correct topline and tail carriage. He is still a little narrow all though so doesn’t quite have the balance of the winner at present but a decent dog nonetheless.

POST GRADUATE DOG (4,0)

1/ Williams & Williams . NYLIRAM THE ALIBI FOR TREBETTYN. Liked the head shape on this boy, leaner than some but in no way weak and has good length and depth to his muzzle. Really scored on eye shape and colour giving a lovely expression, well set ears, clean neck running in to good shoulders. Good bone , feet ok, good coat and condition. He is compact in body with correct topline and tailset. Moved with drive, just a bit untidy in front.

2/ Graham. DON’S BOLD AS BRASS WITH NYLIRAM. This boy is a bit stronger in head but still showing balance, would like eye colour a bit darker, ears well set. Liked his overall body shape, balanced angulation and strong rear. Stands on good legs and feet, topline and tail correct, moving briskly and soundly although another who is a bit untidy in front.

3/ Clarke & Gaylor. TIGERROCK TICK TICK BOOM

LIMIT DOG(2,0)

1/ Hepworth. KAMUNTINGS MAD HATTER. Really lovely type , appealed greatly for his head type and kind eye, well shaped and set ear. Would have liked a bit more angulation and forechest and he wasn’t the most confident dog. Stands on well boned forelegs and tight feet, good depth to his body with well sprung ribs. Correct topline and tail carriage, lovely colour to his coat. Moved with plenty of drive from the rear, just a bit untidy in front.

2/ Ritchie, Ritchie & Scaife. WAVERLYLINE TO TOBERMORY AT SLAPESTONES. Nice head shape on this mature boy although his eye could be a better shape. Would like a bit more angulation in front as it throws his balance in body off a bit and makes him look leggy and lacking reach in movement. Well boned legs to good feet, lovely coat and super temperament.

OPEN DOG (6,0)

Fabulous class of top quality dogs making for some hard decisions . In the end it came down to minor details.

1/ Marrella. SH CH FERNDEL WATER MARK. CC. This is an outstanding youngster, so typical of what this kennel has consistently produced over many years. He has a beautifully proportioned head of quality, lovely eye shape and colour giving a kind expression. Neck of good length runs well back into correctly placed shoulders, excellent front angulation and forechest allowing his well boned legs to be set well under his compact body which shows good depth. Strong well angulated rear and short, straight hocks. He has the correct topline and carries a sensible amount of coat and feathering which was well presented. His movement is strong and accurate with plenty of drive from the rear and reach in front which won him the class and the CC. Not fully mature as yet and I look forward to seeing how he finishes as he can only get even better. The one I would have taken home today.

2/ Butler & Ritchie. SH CH SLAPESTONES DIAMOND MINE. RCC. Another top quality male of super type, loved his overall shape and balance. He has a gorgeous head and eye, such a kind and friendly expression. Lovely length of neck running back to good shoulders and upper arm, another who shows good forechest. He is mature and compact in body with well sprung, deep ribs and correct topline. Moves really well showing plenty of drive and freedom with a wagging tail. Loved his temperament, my notes say he is a ‘proper’ welsh.

3/ Gaylor & Robertson. HENIVERUCE KING OF BREWERS FOR APRILFLASH.

VETERAN DOG (2,0)

2 lovely champion dogs of different types

1/ Graham. SH CH TAIMERES TWISTER ROUND NYLIRAM. More substantial than 2, he has a really lovely head shape showing balance and a kind expression, he has plenty of bone and great feet. Really well constructed dog all through, excellent front with forechest, compact in body with well developed ribs carrying the correct topline through to a well set tail. Really good strong rear end with lovely straight hocks allowing him to move with plenty of drive. A great example of a sound, typical male who has retained his quality through to his veteran years, he was close up in the challenge for RCC today. Delighted to award him Best Veteran and see him top the group later in the day.

2/ Williams & Williams. SH CH ISFRYN SPOT THE DIFFERENCE TREBETTYN. Leaner in head than 1 but still correct and he has the most lovely eye and kind expression. Another who is really well constructed, excellent neck and deep body, correct topline, used his docked tail very well to indicate his kind temperament, moving with plenty of drive. A worthy title holder of obvious quality. Today I just preferred the head and substance of the winner.

SP. BEGINNERS D/B (3,1 W/D)

1/ Brook. EIRIANDYLIS GEORGIA MOON. Placed 4th in PGD, nice type of dog who had got his act together a bit better in this class, doesn’t quite know how to make the most of himself yet. He has a lovely headshape and kind , dark eye, adequate angulation, good bone, nice length and depth to his rib cage, correct topline and well set tail, good coat. Moved steadily here with drive from the rear.

2/ Yacoub. LAITHMOORS FELKA. Typy bitch who is on the smaller side, very feminine head, adequate length of neck and angulation in front, bone appropriate for her size and of good quality. Nice and short through the body with good ribs and topline, well set tail. Not very happy in this class which affected her movement but she was much happier in her later class and gave a better account of herself.

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (0)

PUPPY BITCH (2,0)

1/ Lewis & Lewis. EIRIANDYLIS STRANGE MAGIC VON TRANNON. Very pretty puppy who is feminine all through. Lovely headshape , scores in reach of neck and front angulation, forelegs are set well under the body, bone sufficient for her size and carried down to good feet. Well balanced and proportioned in outline, still to finish in body but right for her age. Correct topline and tailset. She wasn’t terribly confident in this class but had got herself together when it came to the puppy challenge where she moved and carried her tail better. She just pipped the lovely dog puppy being a bit more forward in development on the day and a shade more compact. Delighted to hear that she was shortlisted in the puppy group.

2/ Cochrane. EIRIANDYLIS CONFUSION. Litter sister to the winner and very much of the same stamp. She is just a bit less developed at present and still looks a bit raw. She is very feminine and I’m sure she will come on. Needs to get her confidence and settle on the move which will come with more ring experience.

JUNIOR BITCH(3,0)

1/ Harrison. GLENBROWS HARMONY. 3 very different bitches in this class. Found this girl to be the most together and mature of the 3. She has a lovely feminine head although I found her expression a bit hard. Clean over the neck and shoulder and compact in body with well sprung ribs, good quality bone carried down to tight feet, very balanced in outline with correct topline and tailset. Beautifully presented, full coat of rich colour. Moved with plenty of drive.

2/ Gibson. FERNDEL ROSSANA AT CADEHILL. Another lovely bitch who is still a bit raw in body and coat. She has a beautifull head and lovely soft expression, clean through the neck which runs well back into the shoulder, good angulation both ends. A fraction light in bone and feet could be a bit tighter.

3/Sutherland & Sutherland. JACRANELLA GRACEFULL

POST GRADUATE BITCH( 6,3a)

1/ Yacoub. LAITHMOORS FELKA. 2nd in SpB

2/Seymour. PEGASETT AMBER DAWN. Decent type of bitch who has a good headshape and well set ears, eye just a fraction light for me. Front angulation could be a bit better which reflects in her front movement and not so compact in body as 1. Good bone and feet, correct topline and tail carriage. Lovely rich colour and a sensible amount of coat. Moved with drive from the rear.

3/ Tew. PAMICKS DREAM WITH ME

LIMIT BITCH(3,0)

1/ Ritchie & Graham. RENASCENT BLEABERRY AT SLAPESTONES. CC/BOB. This bitch doesn’t immediately catch the eye , not helped by her markings, but hands on she is really well constructed showing great balance and everything fits together as it should. She has a well proportioned, balanced head although the markings make her look rather plain, lovely eye shape and colour, correct shape and set to the ears. Her front construction is excellent, good length of neck running well back into correctly laid shoulders, upper arm and forechest also excellent. She has super bone and tight feet. Great depth and spring to the ribs, hindquarters strong and well angulated with short, strong hocks. Correct topline and well set tail complete the picture. She really comes in to her own when she moves and this is what impressed me most, she has reach and drive and her profile movement was the best of the day. She just got better every time I looked at her on the move and couldn’t be denied the CC in great company. When it came to BOB, she just had more finish in body at present and a bit more presence on the move than the young male but it was such a close decision.

2/ Chandler. CHANANGEL YORKSHIRE ROSE. Another top class bitch who I liked very much. I love her type and size and her outline is undeniably welsh springer. She has an excellent head shape which I preferred to the winner with a kind eye and well set ears. Her construction all through is excellent, she is compact and carries the correct topline at all times. Very soundly made which is reflected in her driving movement although not quite covering the ground as well as the winner. Considered for RCC and not far behind the top 2 today.

3/ Casey. TIGERROCK LIT DE ROSES WITH WILLOWMEANA

OPEN BITCH (5,0)

Super class of excellent bitches, a pleasure to judge them.

1/ Graham. SH CH NYLIRAM TELLING TALES. RCC. Gorgeous bitch who has loads of ring presence. She has a lovely, feminine well shaped head with a kind expression. Construction all through is excellent, her angulation is balanced, well ribbed and good depth to her body, strong rear, she has great bone and feet. Correct topline and tailset and carrying a profuse coat. She is fully mature and has a bit more finish to her which gave her the edge over her competition in this class and for RCC, just narrowly lost out for the top spot as I just preferred the fractionally more compact shape and freedom of movement of the winner but she wasn’t far off.

2/ Clarke & Sherlock. SH CH CRIMICAR SHES ELECTRIC WITH TIGERROCK. A really pretty, feminine bitch who really caught my eye. Another with a beautiful head and expression. Her front construction is excellent and she stands on well boned forelegs which are placed well under her. Great depth to her body and well ribbed up, good hindquarters with lovely short hocks. So well presented, lovely finish to her coat which is of good colour. Moved really well and close up to winner, just not quite holding her topline as well but she is a top class bitch who well deserves her title.

3/ Ritchie. SARABANDE DANCING QUEEN AT SLAPESTONES

VETERAN BITCH (5,0)

Another lovely class filled with quality

1/ Tyler. HIGHCLARE MADE OF HONOUR AT EIRIANDYLIS. Lovely outline and feminine shape to this girl, not in her best coat today which meant her good construction was there to see. She has a very nice headshape and soft expression. Really good through the neck and shoulders and carrying good bone down to her tight feet, compact and well ribbed in body with correct topline. She is slightly steep in croup but carries her tail well. Moved really well with plenty of drive to win this good class.

2/ Ritchie. SH CH SARABANDE ETERNITY AT SLAPESTONES. Another absolutely top class bitch who was unfortunately carrying far too much weight today which detracted from her outline and movement. However, there is no denying her quality, she has a gorgeous head and eye, so kind and expressive. Her construction is spot on, everything balanced and in proportion, compact in body and correct in topline with a well set tail which was constantly wagging. On another day , minus a few pounds, she could still trouble the best .

3/ Dyer. BENTON SMALL TALK AMONG TYLWTH

Sandra Stevenson (STEELRIVER)