Border Union Agricultural Society

Thank you to the committee for asking me to judge the German Shepherds at short notice, bringing me forward from 2025. Also, thank you to all the exhibitors for such a quality entry, some of whom travelled many, many miles. Unfortunately, judging had to be stopped on a couple of occasions due to blatant double-handling and some disturbing ringside behaviour. My experience of the GSD exhibitors over many years has always been exemplary, on the day all but a few accepted my placings in the manor I am accustomed to. I enjoyed my day and was extremely happy with the quality of my dog and bitch lineups. All exhibits displayed correct mouths and dentition and temperaments were excellent.

PUPPY DOG (1,0)

1) Halliday & Roe, Aborientelux Raul, 8 month old super rich black and tan pigment, nice bone and good feet, good head of correct proportions, strong ears set correctly, good front assembly with corresponding rear angulation, exaggerated raised topline, good tailset, good length of foreleg with correct lay of pastern, narrow front, weak hock movement going away, side action was difficult to access due to being very unsettled, however, once moving down the long side of the ring he settled enough to see good forward reach and evident hind thrust, he gave his young, patient handler a hard time, maybe would benefit from some ringcraft classes. He was later withdrawn from competing in the dog challenge.

JUNIOR DOG (2,0)

1) Stephen’s, Chalksville Made of Magic for Brightmeadow 15 month black and gold with correct bone and substance to complement his medium size, this dog is so balanced for his age with no exaggeration in any direction, classic head of correct proportions and just right for his age with correct dark eye and bang on earset, good length of neck finishing into correct withers, super, strong, straight topline into correct croup giving a seamless overline, correctly set tail, evident forechest and correct spring of rib, correct upper arm and lay of shoulder, strong through the loin, powerful quarters with the correct degree of angulation, hocks are well let down giving strong straight rear movement, he covered the ground with such power and ease with excellent forward reach and powerful hind thrust, keeping his super outline at all times, at one with his handler and enjoying his job, presented in superb coat and condition I was delighted to award him the CC, after judging I found out this was his 3rd! At just 15 months this dog has so much more to come.

2) Hosea’s, Eskgyle Cuba 13 month rich black and tan, although just coming out of puppy has good height at the wither, lighter in build and bone than 1, super masculine head in the making with dark pigment, expressive dark eye and firm well set ears, adequate length of neck into correct withers, correct front angulation and required angle of pastern but feet could be better, narrow in front with good length of rib and evident underline, topline presents a continuous curve from withers to tailset, excellent tailset, hocks are short and well let down, although weak at this stage of his development, unable to access front and rear movement as he was giving his handler a hard time, moved steadily once he settled as he went round.

YEARLING DOG (1,0)

1) Stephen’s, Chalksville Made of Magic for Brightmeadow

POST GRADUATE DOG (2,0)

1) Steven’s, Windgunn’s Chaos to Ashvens 2 ½ years black and gold, he has good size and substance with super feet, masculine head of correct proportions and strong muzzle, dark almond eye and good earset, good length of neck into correct withers and straight firm topline into a slightly flat croup, excellent front assembly with good depth of brisket, front straight with correct leg height and lay of pastern, well ribbed back into a strong loin, adequate rear angulation and strong short hocks, movement straight coming and going, covered the ground well with far reaching front action and keeping his shape, presented in good coat and condition, very well handled.

2) Mooney’s, Draycore Kenneth 3 years rich black and tan, adequate bone and substance, his colour is superb with rich tan points and a super black saddle, lovely masculine head of good proportions with strong muzzle, correct eye and ear carriage, adequate length of neck flowing into a firm topline and correctly moulded croup, short in upper arm with a long well laid back shoulder, evident forechest, correct foreleg height and lay of pastern, strong through the loin, excellent rear angulation with well let down hocks, not as true coming and going as 1, steady side gait with good hind thrust, at one with his handler, well presented.

LIMIT DOG (3,1)

1) Vorrias, Windgunn’s Firestarter 2 ½ years black and tan made of good bone and substance with super feet, his head shouts male with a lovely expression and dark eye, ears are correctly set, excellent reach of neck flowing into correct withers and topline, slightly flat over the croup, correct straight front and lay of pastern, evident forechest and depth of brisket, correct length and depth of rib but would prefer a shorter loin, corresponding front and rear angles of correct length and proportions with strong well let down hocks, sound and straight coming and going with an effortless, powerful side gate with evident forward reach and in tune with his handler as he moved out, coat in excellent condition and well presented.

2) Blair’s, Starkherz Valko at Ceannard 5 years black and tan with superb rich pigment, light in bone and substance for his overall size, would prefer a broader more masculine head, correct dark almond eye and firm well set ears, super length of neck into correct withers, his topline presents as a curve into a well moulded croup, correct length of upper arm and lay back of shoulder, evident forechest but narrow, good depth of rib, correct length of foreleg and strong, correct pasterns, moderate rear angulation, movement is straight coming and close behind, side gait is steady, well handled with excellent temperament.

OPEN DOG (2,1)

1) Steven’s, Windgunn’s Blaze to Ashvens one I judged as a puppy and loved him and he didn’t disappoint today, now 2 ½ years has matured into a substantial dog with super bone and substance, his frame is set well on straight clean limbs, black and tan with excellent pigmentation, super, old fashioned, expressive head with a kind dark eye and bang on earset, excellent reach of neck into correct withers and firm slightly sloping topline moulding into a correct croup and tailset, super front and rear assembly, correct length to height ratios, good width and depth of brisket and correct forechest, tidy underline and strong loin, would just prefer stronger in front pastern, strong quarters with excellent turn of stifle and strong hocks, true movement coming and going, super, long striding side gait covering the ground fluently and keeping his super shape at all times, presented in gleaming coat and condition, pleased to award him the RCC.

VETERAN DOG (2,1)

1) Prydderch’s, Ch Droyale Mr Moo 8 years gold sable who is such an honest dog of medium size, with correct bone and substance. Another I have judged before and so happy to see he gained his well-deserved title. Super masculine head with firm correct ear carriage and kind dark eye, good reach of neck flowing into a correct straight slightly sloping topline and correct croup and tailset. Excellent front-end assembly, well ribbed and correct underline, firm quarters with correct turn of stifle into strong well let down hocks giving him excellent rear movement in all directions, his side gait is free flowing with good forward reach, covering the ground with minimal effort. Presented in excellent condition and well-handled as always. Best Veteran

JUNIOR BITCH (2,0)

1) Prydderch’s, Droyales Dancing in the Dark 14-month-old sable of medium size and still very much a baby, bone ok for age. Well proportioned head that is feminine and still developing, with correct eye and well set ears, enough reach of neck into good topline, excellent croup and tailset, evident breast bone and good width of brisket with good underline, pasterns of correct length and angle, correct turn of stifle with strong short hocks, movement is beautifully straight coming and going with a steady effortless side gait, unfortunately out of coat, she just needs time to body up and mature, would be interesting to see her in 12 months.

2) Mcgough’s, Xibor Coco just over 12 months old black and tan with superb deep pigmented jacket, well grown but would prefer better bone and feet, feminine head with correct proportions, good muzzle with tight lips and excellent firm ears, adequate length of neck into raised backline, correct tailset. Excellent front assembly having correct lay of shoulder and upper arm, but narrow in front. Excellent turn of stifle, would prefer stronger hocks as movement was difficult to assess going away and around, but straight coming. Still very much a baby and needs time to strengthen.

POST GRADUATE BITCH (1,0)

1) Johnstone’s, Brocklehirst Early Bird 3 year old pale black and gold of topsize, presenting a tall and rangy picture with adequate bone, would prefer more width to her head and a darker eye, excellent firm ears set correctly, adequate length of neck into evident withers and straight firm topline into a steep croup, front is straight and set on parallel legs, well ribbed and strong through the loin, very true coming and going with a steady, effortless side action keeping her outline and well handled.

LIMIT BITCH (3,0)

1) Vorrias, Windgunn’s Rizzini 3 and half year old, eye catching rich black and gold, wow what a little pocket rocket this bitch is, with glamour and style, super bone substance and feet for her size, would benefit from more width in her head and muzzle, has a super dark almond eye and firm ears that she used to her advantage giving a keen, alert expression. Strong neck into evident withers and short firm topline leading to an excellent croup and tailset. Evident forechest with good width of brisket, excellent lay of shoulder and correct length of upper-arm, strong straight front and correct height to leg ratio, good width and depth of rib into firm loin, strong quarters with good turn of stifle, she screams femininity but shows strength, stamina and power in her fantastic movement, excellent temperament, presented in superb coat and condition and well handled. Bitch CC and BOB

2) Kenmare’s, Windgunn’s Rio Grande 3 and half year old pale black and gold, litter sister to 1, medium size bitch with good bone substance and feet, more balanced in head than 1 with firm well set ears and correct almond eye, lovely reach of neck into correct straight topline, croup and tailset, stands on good straight legs with correct width and depth of brisket and good spring of rib, strong quarters with well let down hocks, straight coming and going on the move with ground coving side action keeping her flowing outline, carrying correct weight and in super coat and condition, not as glamourous as 1 but she is a real honest bitch. RCC

3) Mackenzie’s, Beeberhoos Loreeza

OPEN BITCH (4,2)

1) Stephen’s, Ch Brightmeadows Rags to Riches 6 year old rich gold and black good size with corresponding bone, substance and feet with correct lay of pastern, gorgeous head and expression coming from correctly set almond eyes, head planes and firm well placed ears, super length of neck into well-defined withers flowing to a straight topline, correct croup and well set tail, evident forechest with superb front assembly, good length and depth of rib, quarters are well muscled with correct turn of stifle, straight coming and going, covering the ground with ease, showing good forward reach and powerful hind thrust, keeping her topline at all times, presented in excellent coat and condition and at one with her very sporting handler, who, when I called 2nd in Limit in, to challenge for the RCC against him, he offered to run the bitch for the owner, gaining her the RCC, superb sportsmanship!

2) Cave’s, Ballynabola Naya at Casiann 5 year old, long coat, gold and black bitch of top size, excellent bone, substance and feet, lovely head and expression with kind dark eye and correct earset, good length of neck into correct withers and short slightly sloping, firm, topline, a little steep in croup and well-set tail, short in upper arm with good lay and length of shoulder, front is straight with good length of foreleg, adequate turn of stifle and rear assembly, movement was true coming and going with a fluent side action, well-handled and presented in top condition.