Leonberger Association

Leonberger Association

Championship Show – 13th July 2024

Bitches

My thanks to the Officers and Committee of the Leonberger Association for very kindly inviting me to officiate at the society’s first Championship Show, alongside long-standing breed specialist, Celia Peters. The show was held in conjunction with National Working & Pastoral Breeds Society Championship Show at Three Counties Showground with the beautiful Malvern Hills as backdrop. A rather long day for both dogs and owners on a warm sunny day but all held up well and made for a great show!

MPB (2,1)

1. Thomas’ Jandikas Magic. This 7 mth old pup presented a pleasing outline having a clean neck of good length, firm topline, gently rounded rump, tail good for set and carriage and balanced by nice length of leg. Feminine head with good proportions and planes, excellent eye and correct dentition. Good angles front and rear and stands on nice tight feet. When gaiting she goes well on the go around, true when going away and more than ok coming towards for age. Super temperament.

PB (4,0)

1. Cole’s Simden Born to Boogie. An interesting class with all having lots to like. My winner was this 11 mth old. Blowing coat on the day but a most promising youngster. She is so very well balanced with super neck, firm straight back, lovely rib for age, muscular loin and correct croup and tail for length, set and carriage. Balanced headpiece with feminine expression; good eye and ear and correct dentition. Nice layback of shoulder, elbows close to the body, straight forelegs and stands on good feet. Moves freely all through and scored here on the go around. Best Puppy Bitch and with agreement of my co-judge, she went Best Puppy in Show.

2. Anderson’s Gilvaris Wotcha Doing Now. This 10 mth old sandy girl was another in full moult but she too appealed. Feminine all through, she presented a well balanced outline with correct neck, firm topline, pleasing rib development, well-muscled loin and tail correct for set and carriage. Attractive head with good skull to muzzle proportions, nice eye and ear and scissor bite. Pleasing angulation front and rear, standing true in front but feet not quite those of winner. Moves out well on the go around and was very well handled here.

3. Peachey’s Navaeh Mishka Chosen CC at Taffnia (Imp Est). 11 mth old who is a different build to those placed above her, being heavier-set and carrying a touch more bone. She pleased for overall type and has a strong neck of good length to balance, firm topline, good depth to chest, broad loin, moderate slope to croup and tail of good carriage. Balanced head with good skull, expressive eyes, ears set on high and good dentition. Gaiting well when viewed in profile and when going away. Front action not quite as good as 1 and 2.

JB (2,0)

1. Lear-Schofield & Schofield’s Kinglords Miss Selene at Alfross (Imp Fin). Two promising young bitches challenged in this class with this 13 mth old coming out on top. Like so many on the day, she was in the middle of casting her coat but she has all the required elements and should go on to do very well. She appealed for overall type, presents such a good outline and has the desired elegance of the breed. Super neck, nice straight back, good rib development for age, firm loin and tail correct for set and carriage. Feminine head with good proportions and planes, excellent eye and correct dentition. Standing true on very good feet and impressed on the go around and when coming towards.

2. Page’s Pagency Megsul Tessa. This 15 mth old is another with lots to like. Carrying good bone and pleased in outline with clean neck of correct length to balance, firm topline, nice spring of rib, muscular loin and correct croup and tail carriage. Nicely balanced head with feminine expression; good planes and ears set on high. Nice layback of shoulder and she stands straight in front on good feet but forechest still to full develop as you would expect. Not quite rear angulation of winner. Good ground coverage and well handled.

YB (4,1)

1. Simpson’s Simberger Perfect Blend JW. A pleasing class which saw this 23 mth old girl take first place. Feminine throughout and so good to go over and presenting a nicely balanced outline with correct length of neck, firm topline, excellent ribbing, well-muscled loin, gently rounded rump and tail pleased for length, set and carriage. Attractive head with good skull to muzzle proportions, nice eye and ear and correct dentition. Carrying good bone and soundly constructed both front and rear; standing true in front and well-muscled all through. Moves out well with good length of stride and was very well handled here. RCC.

2. Heginbotham’s Sulandi Fallen Angel (IKC). 18 mth old of different type to the winner but she also has lots to like and was good hands on. Well boned and scoring in outline with strong muscular neck of correct length to balance, straight back, deep brisket, broad loin and tail of good carriage. Feminine headpiece with good skull which is proportionate in length to that of muzzle, expressive eyes and ears set on high. Pleasing angulation front and rear and when gaiting she covers the ground well and is nice and firm in rear. When coming towards winner just had the edge.

3. Hope’s Leosrus How About That. Substantial 20 mth old who carries good bone but isn’t quite as well balanced as 1 and 2. Having said that she has a strong neck, firm topline, deep brisket, well sprung ribs, broad loin and tail good for set and carriage. Quality headpiece with super expression; good skull to muzzle proportions, excellent eye and ear and correct dentition. Pleasing angulation both front and rear and she moves out well when viewed in profile, is true when going away and ok when coming towards. Well handled.

GB (3,2)

1. Lear-Schofield & Schofield’s Alfross Tulabo Natsuki. This 3 yr old was lovely to go over and pleased in outline with good neck to balance, firm straight back, deep brisket, excellent ribbing, broad loin and tail of good set and carriage. Balanced head with feminine expression; moderate stop, good eye and ear and correct dentition. Good angles both front and rear, elbows close to the body but can stand somewhat untidy and feet could be tighter. On the go around she opens up with good length of stride and was very well handled.

LB (6,1)

1. Simpson’s Simberger Salata De Icre. This was a rather varied class. This 3 yr old came out on top and was a standout here for me. A good-sized girl who pleased for overall type, carries good bone and retains the elegance of the breed. Super neck, firm topline, good depth of chest, lovely spring of rib, broad loin and with acceptable tail carriage. Well proportioned head with feminine expression; good eye and ear and moderate stop. Pleasing angulation both ends and she stands true in front on good feet and scored in forechest. Goes so well when viewed in profile and lovely strong rear.

2. Heginbotham’s Hera Nasza Duma (Imp Pol). 4 yr old who also pleased and was good hands on. She appealed for type and is nicely balanced with strong clean neck, firm straight back, good depth to brisket, gently rounded rump and tail correct for length, set and carriage. Nicely proportioned head with feminine expression; excellent eye and ear and good dentition. Carrying good bone and standing well naturally. Coming and going she is accurate but doesn’t quite open up as much as winner on the go around. Very well handled.

3. Butterfield’s Dragongardens Lady Madonna at Dragonsfield (Imp Swe). 2 yr old who I thought was a lovely type. She carries super bone and was shown here in excellent coat and condition but wasn’t quite as well balanced as 1 and 2. Muscular neck of good length, firm topline, well sprung ribs, broad loins and tail set and carried correctly. Feminine headpiece with good eye and ear but preferred skull of those placed above her. Nice layback of shoulder, elbows held close to the body, standing straight on good feet and firm, muscular hindquarters. Moves out very well.

OB (6,1)

1. Whan’s Ch/Ir Ch Millbrook Leos Aster Princess Rovenia at Sulandi. The first two here greatly appealed, both so very well balanced with a nice length of leg, strong yet retaining the desired elegance of the breed. This 3 yr old came out on top and she was a delight to go over and presented in first class condition. Slightly arched neck, firm straight topline, deep brisket, excellent ribbing, broad loins, correct croup and tail good for length, set and carriage. Quality headpiece, full of femininity, good skull to muzzle proportions, expressive eyes, ears set on high and good dentition. Good angles front and rear, elbows close to the body, straight forelegs and stands on excellent feet. Open ups well on the go around with nice easy action and was so very well handled. CC and Reserve BIS, in agreement with my co-judge.

2. Studholme’s Ch Leosrus Roksanda to Kalizmar. 5 yr old who pushed the winner all the way. Many of the same comments apply. Lovely balanced outline with moderately long neck which flows into well-laid shoulders, firm topline, good depth to chest, well sprung ribs, correct underline and tail correct for set and carriage. Attractive head with feminine expression; good proportions and planes, moderate stop and good eye and ear. Moving freely all through, with good ground coverage. Unfortunately she was unable to stay to challenge further due to the Group being called at the host show.

3. Brown’s Ch Davenheath Gipsy Girl to Brenaljay JW. This 4 yr old girl also has lots to like but is quite different to those placed above her, being a slightly heavier build and not quite the length of leg. She pleased for neck, is firm in topline, has excellent ribbing and tail is correct for length, set and carriage. Feminine in head but with a tad more breadth to skull, expressive eyes, good skull to muzzle lengths and correct dentition. Pleasing angulation both ends, standing straight in front with more width and she moved well enough all through. Well handled.

VB (1,0)

1. Wescomb’s Brynarian Ballikissangel at Fieldshouse. 8 yr old standing alone here. She looks good for her age but just carrying a little more weight than the ideal. Neck of sufficient length, nice straight topline, deep brisket, well sprung ribs, broad loin and tail of good carriage. Nicely proportioned head with feminine expression; good eye and ear and scissor bite. She carries good bone and has a nice layback of shoulder and firm hindquarters with moderate turn of stifle. Moving pretty well all through and she has a nice length of stride on the go around. Best Veteran Bitch but another who was unable to stay to challenge further.

Judge: Tim Ball