Manchester Dog Show Society

MANCHESTER CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 20.1.24

SKYE TERRIER

I would like to thank the Officers and Committee of Manchester Dog Show Society for the invitation to judge and for their hospitality on the day of the show.  My thanks also to my 2 efficient stewards who made sure that the ring ran smoothly. Last and by no mean least thanks to the exhibitors for their entries and for enduring a bit of a wait before they were able to get in the ring, the dogs had coats that we well cared for and clean – not an easy feat given the amount of rain we have had over recent months – and my hands were clean after Judging. It was a shame there were no dogs or bitches in the classes before Post Graduate as puppies/youngsters are the future of the breed.

I was pleased with the overall quality of the entry, size is still variable particularly in bitches, heads were strong and I was impressed by the good underjaws and correct bites with large, clean teeth, this is a contrast to a number of breeds where teeth seem to be getting smaller. Temperaments were excellent.  One dog was lame on the day and was withdrawn and I found one with a kink in its tail.

I was impressed with my main winners whose construction, I felt, translated into a smooth gait showing good reach and drive and with their balance ensuring they retained a straight topline on the move.    

Puppy Dog (0)

Junior Dog (0)

Post Graduate Dog (3,1)

1 Herberts Riskerytree Ravenswing  17 month old dark silver, liked his outline with good length of back and level topline. Strong head, well placed ears with good fringing, has a decent reach of neck and well placed shoulders with good angulation.  Liked his depth and length of rib, correct tailset and rear angulation.  Still has a of of maturing to do.  A bit unsettled on the move but showed enough free movement to win this class.   

2 Masons Bhatairnis Fasach 5yr old mature dark silver.  Has an attractive outline could show more reach of neck.  Has a head which is strong and plenty of strength of muzzle, correct ear placement.  Has a reasonable length of neck, shoulders that are well placed, angulation Ok, good length of rib, strong rear.  Felt he could lose a few pounds to advantage.  Movement was fine but could be more positive and controlled.   

Limit Dog (2)

1 Lynes Madaza Box Of Frogs. Handsome cream drop eared dog who is just coming into his own and is a good size for a dog.  Has a good outline and held his topline well both on the stand and the move. Strong head, correct bite and with correct ear set and shape for a drop.  Enough length of neck.  Shoulders well placed and angulated, good depth and length of rib, strong loin and fit body condition which holds his topline level. Presented in good coat and body condition.  Moved with positive free stride showing good rear drive

2 McLeods Esgia Glen Garloch 6yr old dark silver.  Good head proportions, correct bite with strong jaw.  Felt he could benefit from a better ear positioning.  Length of neck was Ok, shoulders well placed, angulation not as good as 1.  Decent length of rib. Tail set on a bit high.  On the move he was a bit lethargic and doing just about enough.    

Open Dog (5,1W/D)

An enjoyable quality class to judge with some close decisions made.

1 Sandersons Esgia Highland Laddie. Mature dark slate who was presented in excellent condition and handled to get the best out of him standing and on the move.  Liked his size – height and body length which was covered in a quality coat of good length and texture.  Strong, masculine head, strong jaw, correct bite and ears well placed and fringed.  Has enough length neck and shoulders which are well placed and angulated. Decent depth of rib, well ribbed back and has strong loin. Tail correctly set and rear angulation matching the front. Handled at the right pace to get him moving to show his movement to advantage,  Dog CC   

2 Heaths Lavaux’s Bohamian Chris. Another mature dark slate.  Smaller size all through than 1 but he is all in proportion.  Shown in fit body condition and quality coat.  Head handled well and ears are well set and fringed creating an attractive picture.  Decent length of neck, shoulders are well placed and angulation is good.  Enough length of rib, strong loin and good rear angulation.  Moved well.  Preferred the overall proportions of 1 and he tended to lose his topline at times on the stand with a tendency to tuck his rear legs under him.`

3 Shuttleworths Whicheeta Walk The Walk

Veteran Dog (1)

1 Kendricks Ch Frisco Kiaora at Jeraro (Imp Cze) 7yr old dark slate. Not the biggest of dogs but he is correct to the standard and is well proportioned.  Presented in excellent coat and condition.  Has a well balanced head, good bite and his well fringed ears could be slightly higher set but he uses them well.  Decent length of neck. Liked his shoulder placement and angulation. Elbows well tucked into his body  Good length and depth of rib.  Tail correctly set on and a good length.  Moved at a pace that showed his freedom of movement, front reach and rear drive to advantage.  Res Dog CC & Best Veteran

Sp Beginners Dog (0)

Puppy Bitch (0)

Junior Bitch (0

Post Graduate Bitch (5,2)

1 Shuttleworth & Whincups Wondersky Wish You Were Here at Whicheeta (Imp USA). Nearly 2yr old dark silver who caught my eye for her shape, good length and as she stands so well over herself.  Coat not her fortune at present as changing but it is of good texture and quality and she will be impressive when it finishes. Head well proportioned and maintains femininity, correct bite, large teeth and ears are correctly placed.  Has enough neck and shoulders that are well placed and well angulated. Decent length and depth of rib, level topline, correct tailset. Handled well to get the best out of her on the move where she showed the movement her conformation suggested she was capable of. Res Bitch CC

2 Cox Silverbriar Imogen of Petitpaws. 18 mth old dark slate who is very feminine, coat not her fortune and obviously needs time to mature.  Head of good shape, size and proportions for a bitch, ears could be set a bit higher but she uses them well.  Decent length of neck, good length of body coming from length of rib, shoulders well placed and angulation is Ok.  On the stand can have a tendency to tuck her rear legs under her which raises her topline towards the rear and spoils her look.  Sympathetically handled to show her movement and hold her topline.  

3 Herberts Riskerytree The Magpie

Limit Bich (5,1)

1 Curtis Brakemill Midsummer Dream JW.  Very feminine dak slate who was well handled to show off a lovely outline – long, low and level.  Still with a lot of maturing to do and could carry more body condition to advantage. Head is well proportioned and balanced, ears well placed, adequate reach of neck shoulders well placed and angulated and elbows nicely tucked into the body.  Has enough length of rib, strong loin and straight topline.  Tail well set on and hindquarters well matched to front.  She was a bit of a challenge on the move but her handler managed to get her moving as her construction suggested she could.

2 Graingers Black Cuillins Catriona JW (Imp Deu)  Young cream bitch whose coat hasn’t cleared yet. Larger than 1 but well in proportion and balanced.  Has a strong head which is balanced and well proportioned, correct bite and ear set. Good length of neck, decent depth and length of rib. Her rear is well moulded and her rear angulation matches her front. Felt she could lose a few pounds to advantage. Holds a level topline on the move but on the stand at times doesn’t extend her rear legs enough to counter the tendency to give a topline that rises to the rear. Moved well.

3 Heaths Skyeshire Rosie

Open Bitch (3,1)

1 Curtis Ch Verumamicus Aurora of Brakemill JW. Mature cream top sized bitch shown in excellent coat and condition.  Has an attractive, well proportioned head with ears well set and fringed giving a classic look.  Strong jaw and correct bite.  Enough neck and shoulders well placed and with good angulation.  Plenty of bone, elbows well tucked into body, good depth and length of rib. Strong loin and well angulated hindquarters.  Maintains a level topline standing and on the move. Handled well to get her moving with a smooth forward reaching stride and good drive from the rear.  A worthy Champion and I was pleased to award her Bitch CC and BOB

2 Ryans Ch Classic Touch of Morningsky with Feorlig JW (Imp Deu) Dark slate who at 1st look at her outline thought would be winner as she is very feminine and looked long, low and level.  She is well made throughout and has a head of good type, strength and proportions with correctly placed, well fringed ears. Good length of neck, shoulders well placed and angulation is ok.  Decent length of rib and strength of loin.  On the move she wasn’t moving straight from the rear and her rear legs seemed to pull to the side which threw her out of balance.  I did give her a couple of opportunities to see if her rear movement improved but unfortunately it didn’t and she paid the price.  

Veteran Bitch (3)

1 Heaths Perrylands Hello Again.  7yr old cream of good size and proportions. Has an attractive head with good properties and balance, well placed ears which are nicely fringed.  Decent length of neck, shoulders well placed with good angulation.  Has enough rib and good strength of loin.  Liked her body condition and her free movement which was balanced and purposeful. Well handled.  

2 Parkers Tweedsmuir Feebee Mine Shcm 7yr old cream whose coat isn’t her fortune but is of good texture.  Happy bitch with a well proportioned head, good ear set but lacking some fringing.  Decent length of neck, shoulders are well placed and angulated, rib of good depth and length, holds a level topline on the stand and move.  Moving she can carry her tail too high but when concentrating shows an easy, smooth gait.

3 McLeods Noap Charoit Madlen Mardzheri at Esgia (Imp Rus)

Sp Beginners Bitch (2,1)

1 Whitelam Madaza Star. Cream bitch of good size, shape and proportions. Shown and handled well to get the best out of her.  Has good head properties, strong muzzle, correct bite, ears are well set on and fringed.  Decent length of neck, shoulders are well placed and angulation is OK.  Liked her length and depth of rib.  Calmly handled to get the best out of her on the move where she showed an easy, smooth gait.  Best Special Beginners and pleased to hear she was awarded Special Beginners Group 2

Tony Burscough, Judge