Boston & District Canine Society

Boston & District CS General Championship Show 2024

Pastoral Group

Firstly, I would like to extend my thanks to the Boston & District Canine Society Secretary, Leila Tarabad, and her team for affording me the opportunity to judge my first Pastoral Group at this level. The Society should be justifiably proud of themselves with how far they have come since their very first General Championship Show in 2007. With a very limited CC allocation, Boston year on year staged a super show and many breeds scheduled without tickets attracted amazing entries which just goes to show how popular the show was with the exhibitors. Following the demise of East of England last year, Boston deservedly were granted a much more realistic CC allocation and that combined with a move to Rutland Showground has firmly established Boston as one of the ‘must do’ shows of the year! Unfortunately, the society’s President and former long-standing Secretary, Pat Dufty, was unable to be present at this year’s show and I would like to take this opportunity to wish Pat all the best and hope that she will be well enough to be out and about again very soon.

From a good-sized group I made a shortlist of eight dogs with the top spot going to the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Pollard & Maggs’ Ch Gillandant Thief of Hearts at Dewyche ShCEx. This 4 yr dog is no stranger to me having previously awarded him a CC and BOB. Today he was bang on form and with maturity he gets better and better. It would seem that the General Appearance clause of the breed standard was written for him, ‘A powerful and imposing dog with a certain elegance. Great size, strongly built but not cumbersome. Well balanced and of noble bearing.’ He was a delight to get hands on and he was beautifully presented and so very well conditioned. Soundly constructed all through, accurate on the down and back and moving in typical fashion for the breed.

Coming in second was the Australian Shepherd, Zettin’s It/Swi/Slo/Hr Ch Almond Cookie of Moon and Stars. This 4 yr old red merle dog pushed the winner right to the line. I thought him so good for overall type and he presented a beautifully balanced outline with each part smoothly flowing into the next. I thought his head and expression particularly refreshing, being so correct in eye and expression, something not always easy to find in the breed. This boy was also so well constructed, standing foot perfect and gaiting freely with excellent carriage and so very well handled.

For Group 3, I selected the Border Collie, Akester & Wiltshire’s Sh Ch Thwaitlake Buzzman. This 3 yr old is quality through and through and not only is he a beautiful show dog, he looked like he good easily do a days work if called upon to do so. All male, he scored in outline with a muscular neck of correct length to balance, flowing into well laid shoulders, firm topline, excellent ribbing and tail just right for both set and carriage. Carrying just the right amount of bone and moving freely with the characteristic carriage which is so essential in the breed.

Finally, for Group 4 I chose the Finnish Lapphund, Forsey’s Ch Arianrhod Black Sun Aeon at Muzoku. This 4 yr old black/tan dog is another who has done well under me previously and I was pleased to see that he has held together. Strong built lad of excellent type, well-boned all through and so very well balanced. There is no denying that he is male, yet there is no suggestion of coarseness to his super head and expression. He has correct angles both ends and certainly didn’t disappoint when gaiting. Presented with excellent muscle-tone and shown to advantage.

Also making the shortlist were the Rough Collie, Geddes’ Ingledene Sno Wanda, the Old English Sheepdog, Rutland & Porter’s Ch Mellowdee Mask of Zorro JW, the Samoyed, Jones & Kirkwood’s Ch/Ir/NL/Int/DK/Bl Ch Vandreem Imperial Kazhiya JW and the Shetland Sheepdog, Hateley’s Ch Lizmark Lullaby Moon over Mohnesee JW.

Judge: Tim Ball