National Gundog Association

National Gundog 4th August 2024

 Judge: Suzy Roffey

I awarded my first set of CC’s at this show in this wonderful breed and it was an absolute honour to be invited again to judge at this prestigious show set in the most beautiful surroundings. The weather was kind, and it was great to be outside. I must also acknowledge the exhibitors who were generous in their support of each other, from applause, running dogs when necessary and overall positive camaraderie between them. A great atmosphere. 

Veteran Dog: (2,0Abs) Two super males, full credit to their owners. 

 1st: Sh Ch Alanea Game Reserve with Danwish (Miss T Gardner) What a super male! Of top quality. Excellent colouring and markings. Very eye catching in outline, clean balanced and masculine with the desired athleticism. He was a pleasure to go over from head to tail. Well made and excellent construction. He was strong throughout with super bone. His head piece is quite something, loved it; beautiful eye shape and colour with the most appealing expression. Correct length and strength of neck into excellent front assembly, with deep chest, lovely spring of rib flowing into strong hindquarters, with spot on angulation and width. He held his shape and topline on the move, covering the group well. A pleasure to judge him and award him the CC. 

 2nd: Sh Ch Cornadore Argyle with Copperwhite (Imp Pol) (Mrs L R Ward) A slighter smaller framed male overall but again no denying his athleticism and strength throughout. Masculine but not overdone in any way. Lovely rich red and clear white colouring. In excellent muscular condition. Liked his head shape and has the kindest expression. Moderate length of neck into good shoulder placement, just carrying a bit of weight over the shoulder which spoilt his overall outline, but this is minor for such a wonderful veteran. Straight in front, strong in body with well sprung ribs. Correct tail sat on firm hindquarters with excellent bend of stifle into tidy hocks. Moved soundly and lovely to see him using his tail. 

Puppy Dog: (1,0 Abs)

 1st: Rhoswendale Game Is On Again for Viszaset (Imp Fin) (Mr S & Mrs M & Miss N Martin & Martin & Green) A lovely puppy and I have to say that I loved watching this dog and handler team, really enjoying their time in the ring together. Good coat colouring and presented in excellent coat condition, absolutely gleaming in the sun. A masculine head with good stop and appealing expression. Super straight in front and tidy, smart feet. Needs to mature up in body and come together but only a pup and has time on is side. Nice to feel the strength in his rear hindquarters which he used well on the move. 

Junior Dog: (3 Abs 0)

 1st Roanjora Cremant De Lux Copperwhite (Mrs L R Ward) I was really taken with this young boy. I watched him come in and did a double take as I was really drawn to him. A most appealing balanced outline and lovely to go over but for me he got even better on the move. He held his shape, topline, carried his head and tail and his reach and drive confirmed his excellent construction. Super colour and complementary markings. Excellent, beautiful head piece, with a clean square muzzle. He has a gorgeous eye and expression. Liked his strength and length of neck into clean, excellent well-placed shoulders. For a young dog he has super depth of chest and spring of rib. Super neat feet. He is firm in his hindquarters with lovely width to his thigh and correct bend of stifle. He has everything going for him and as his coat continues to come through, he is just going to get better. I will watch this young man’s career with much interest. He thoroughly deserved the Res CC, and it was a pleasure to do so. 

2nd Roanjora Cremant De Savoie avec Eusanit (Miss R & Miss S & Mrs T McDonald & Westwood & Westwood) No surprise to see that this was the litter brother to the winner as very similar in type but slightly taller and not quite as mature in body at this stage. I also preferred the front assembly of the winner, and he was just lacking a bit of confidence today. However, he is a balanced male with excellent bone. I’d trim a bit of length off his tail feathering until his other furnishings come through to create an even better outline. Beautiful deep red colouring. Again, another lovely head and very much like his brothers, masculine, good stop and lovely shape of muzzle. Firm in topline, power in his hindquarters with moderate bend of stifle. Moved soundly. 

3rd Roanjora Cremant Bourgogne (Mrs S J Jones)

Graduate Dog (0 Abs 0)

Post Graduate Dog (1 Abs 0)

1st; Roanjora Cremant De Lux Copperwhite (Mrs L R Ward) Placed 1st in Junior.

Limit Dog: (0 Abs 0)

 Open Dog: (3 Abs 0)

1st: Daithi Shadow Dog with Ferngate (Imp Pol) (Mrs A B & Mr S H Catton & Cook) There is a lot to like about this male. He is all male and has an eye-catching outline. He has a great character and temperament with a look of mischievousness in his expression, which I liked. He was pleasing to go over. Good stop and shape to his skull. Good length of neck with a slight arch, his shoulders are well laid back. Straight front legs. Desired spring of rib and strong in his rear with a nice bend of stifle. He is a good dog and for me I believe he would benefit from a bit of work to his coat presentation to present a more polished finish. He moved soundly and covered the ground well and with ease. 

2nd: Spyefire Reyt Bobby Dazzler (Mr P J & Mrs E A Titterton) An impressive male with a clean balanced outline on the stack. Beautifully presented and in great condition. He too is strong throughout. Another nicely shaped head, with good markings to complement, a good stop and square muzzle, correct eye shape, colour and expression. His neck is of good length and flows into a well constructed stong front assembly. He is deep in chest, straight in front and has a firm topline which held on the move. He is in super muscular condition and good width to his thigh but would just prefer slightly more angulation to his bend of stifle. On the move, I just wanted a bit more from him as sure it’s all there but just didn’t quite get into the stride to see him cover the ground as well as the winner. 

3rd: Laoirebay Steel Blue Ocean at Shannonstyle JW (Mr & Mrs S M Martin) Special Beginners: (1 Absentees: 1 1st: Roanjora Cremant Bourgogne (Mrs S J Jones) What a pleasure it was to watch and judge these two. It was full of fun and smiles just as it should be. A smaller framed and constructed male. Still only a youngster at just over 12 months so time to mature. The heads in males were consistently good and there was no exception here. Nice shape and proportions with a very kind eye. Straight front, adequate depth of chest and spring of rib. Firm in his hindquarters and pleasing bend of stifle. He came together on the move and liked his head, topline and tail carriage. 

Veteran Bitch: (2 Abs 0)

1st: Sh Ch Zendarric It's A Kind of Magic Within Wroxham JW (Mrs E E Walker) She is beautiful and classic for type. At 8 years old, I must give full credit to her owner for presenting her in first class muscular and coat condition today. She is feminine but strong throughout. She is correctly balanced and so appealing on the stack. She has a very pretty head with a very kind expression. I would prefer a bit more stop and work to head shape. She is well put together and has a strong front assembly, straight front, and an excellent spring of rib. She has a firm topline and flows from neck to her hindquarters which were strong, excellent width with correct bend of stifle. Good tail set. Her runner got the very best out of her on the move, which was free, purposeful and easy. Highly deserving of her Res CC today.

2nd: Roanjora Fleurie (Mr G & Mrs H Farrow) 11 year old feminine young lady. Excellent job by her handler who was sympathetic and gentle in her approach, well done ,you did a great job. I liked her head which was feminine but with the correct proportions and shape, a good stop and square muzzle. She has a moderate length of neck, good depth of chest and well sprung ribs. Not quite the bone of the winner. Sound on the move. 

Puppy Bitch: (2 Abs 0) 1st: Settersay Martell by Corranroo (Mr G C & Mrs J Bayne) What an absolute sweetheart! Full of puppy fun which is what I love. A real show girl full of sass and I think is super smart, she has that glint in her eye. She is feminine but athletic. Pretty head with defined stop and lovely shape to her skull. Correct bite and well-set ears. Deep red and clear white colouring, nicely marked. Very together for her age and with excellent depth of chest and spring of rib for a baby. Lovely on the move, sound and confident. Best Puppy. 

2nd: Settersay Targaryen Lowdon (Miss V Jarvis) Litter sister to the winner, longer cast in frame. Not quite a together as her sister at this age and needs to body up and mature but not unexpected at this age. She presents a pleasing clean outline and is very feminine. Her head is pretty, I would prefer full pigmentation in the nose. She has good bone. Good length to her neck with the slight arch into a straight front. She held her topline on the move. 

Junior Bitch: (1 Abs 0)

1st: Roanjora Crémant D'alsace (Mr R G, Mrs A D & Miss R McDonald) I thought her shape and outline was super; clean and balanced. Well-constructed throughout and pleasing to go over. Her headpiece is beautiful, I really liked it. A well-defined stop, correct shape to skull and muzzle with a soft expression. Well set ears and nicely marked to complement the head. She had the correct length and strength to her neck moving into well laid-back shoulders. Straight front and tidy elbows. She has a good spring of rib. I’d like a little more width to her thigh but she has a pleasing bend of stifle. She was positive on the move and sound coming and going. 

Graduate Bitch: (0 Abs 0)

Post Graduate Bitch: (2 Abs 1)

1st: Ambancy Dancing Queen (Mrs R Bootland) I liked this bitch and thought her to be well constructed throughout. She appealed to me on the stack and fulfilled my expectations as I went over her. She is feminine but with good bone. She has beautiful colouring and markings. A pretty head, with good defined stop and an expression that draws you in. She was well put together in front, with correct depth of chest flowing into a good spring of rib. Her topline was firm as were her hindquarters. Lovely bend of stifle standing firm from behind. But she did not want to move today! The ground was much more interesting than showing. I felt for her handler, but she was just not going to cooperate, making an assessment of her movement difficult on the day. 

Limit Bitch: (0 Abs 0)

Open Bitch: (3 Abs 0) 

1st: Sh Ch Charnborough Charisma of Danwish JW (Miss T Gardner) This is a class bitch! Presented in top condition. She is quite special and one I have seen from the ringside and it was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to judge her. There is little if anything I would change on this bitch. She absolutely oozes breed type and quality. I loved her. She is so balanced, and clean in outline. Everything is in the right place and as you got over her your hands just flow. Her head is stunning, well-proportioned and balanced. She has a good eye shape and the most appealing expression. Correct strength and length of neck into excellent front construction. She has the desired substance and depth of chest, rib and body. Excellent bone throughout. Well-muscled hindquarters, lovely short hock to heel and correct bend of stifle. Tidy smart feet. I loved her on the stack and loved her even more on the move. A real pleasure to watch as she easily covered the ground with such reach and drive. Absolutely no hesitation and a real honour to award her the CC and Best of Breed today. 

2nd: Ambancy This Is Me (Mr N & Mrs J Barnes) A feminine lady with the desired substance and athleticism. She has good bone throughout. Super well-placed coat markings with a rich red and clear white colour. She has a good shape to her head with the correct stop and square muzzle. Slightly lighter in eye. She has excellent length of neck into a well put together front assembly, made up of well laid-back shoulders, straight in front and excellent depth of chest. Her ribs are well sprung and her topline is firm. She has adequate width to her thigh with a good bend of stifle. She falls away slightly on the croup. She held her shape well on the move in profile and was sound both away and back. 

3rd: Roanjora Rioja Crianza (Mr R G, Mrs A D & Miss R McDonald)