Ladies Kennel Association

ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIELS – LKA December 2024

Thank you to my two super stewards Angela and Barry, being third in and a breed behind us, and an unavoidable hold up with the breed in first, they did a grand job getting us done efficiently. I hope no exhibitor felt rushed, my critique notes were rather hurried sadly.

Obviously part of judging is that you will inevitably disappoint people who came with high or even medium hopes and am grateful for the sporting spirit shown accepting my decisions by the vast majority. But sadly not all. I was so disappointed to hear there was poor sportsmanship ringside, what a shame the moans and mutterings weren't left until the journey home

Please let's be more sporting. I’d love to see all experienced exhibitors encourage newcomers as most of us do, support and help them learn about our beautiful breed, not look down on their dogs which you deem inferior, none of us started out with a champion, we progressed with help from seasoned and successful exhibitors. Our breed needs to grow not dwindle further. Let's end the bad atmosphere seen at times around the ring being created by few bad apples.

Heads were very varied and correct sound movement wasn’t there in abundance. Some very wildly carried tails too. Size was all over the place. I penalized over or under ideal height less than a lack of balance in the height to length ration. No good being the right height and as long as a long thing or too short for that matter.

Now on to the positives - and there were plenty!! A super entry in terms of numbers and quality. Very encouraging to see full puppy classes. More quality in depth in the bitch classes, but I was impressed with my main male winners today. In the bitches there were 7 or 8 I'd have gladly handed a ticket. My Best of Breed I thought was exceptional as did the Group Judge and I was thrilled to see her win a really strong group that was teeming with quality. My Best Puppy looks a very exciting prospect and if I could have stolen any away today it would have been her. My Best Veteran and Best Special Beginners, although not related, were both out of the same stylish mould and pleased me greatly.

BEST OF BREED : SMITH, Mr R J - Sh Ch Melverly Vignette
Dog CC : TOPLISS, Mrs T E - Sh Ch Beresford Lockdown
Res Dog CC : GLEDHILL, Mrs Jane - Greg De Les Tres Llacunes (imp Esp)
Bitch CC : SMITH, Mr R J - Sh Ch Melverly Vignette
Res Bitch CC : KEELY, Mr & Mrs M J & K - Khaleesi De Les Tres Llacunes With Alhambian (imp)
Best Puppy : MACBAIN, Miss Allie & HARRISON, MR James - Daenerys Winter Solstice At Fecimus
Best Veteran : Hydon Mrs M - Ir Sh Ch Clentonian Pandemonium JW ShCEx OSW VW
Best Special Beginner : PATTISON - Mrs Victoria Crackerjanne Cassiopeia

MPD (5 Entries) Abs: 0 What a mixed bag of a class
1st: AINSLEY, Miss Lucy-May & NICKLIN, Mr Lewis & HENDERSON, Daenerys Warrior Heart
Mature and well grown for his 8+ months. No doubting he is a male. Won this class with his super shoulder and rear angles and balance all though, plenty of bone on him too and stood on very correct smart feet. Beautifully presented and showed well with good ring presence. Sound on the move. Found myself wishing for a little less of him all through but most importantly he was balanced.
2nd: ALLERY, Mrs Karen, Daenerys Playing With Fire
Baby puppy just right for his age. Very appealing head with correctly shaped dark eyes. Hopefully will develop further in stop and fluting as he grows and matures. Enough bone and super tight feet, pleasing in front assembly but would like a broader thigh. Moved soundly in good style for one so young. Presented in tip top condition.

3rd: SUCH, Miss J A Gleadsbury Whataboy

PD (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: SUCH, Miss J A, Gleadsbury Whataboy
Won this class with his “togetherness”. A balanced young man with a pleasing head and eye that are dark enough that shows good stop and fluting, good depth to his body, and lengthy neck into well angled shoulders, adequate bone. Moved okay, well handled to bring out his best.
2nd: TURRELL, Mrs Charlotte Elizabeth & TURRELL, Mr P, Forgespring Tomfoolery
Showing his babyness on the stack and on the move, but sound enough with a correct tail carriage and very pleasing in head with a decent stop and fluting, and super dark correctly shaped eyes. Good length of neck into well made shoulders, pleased in length to height ratio, moderate in a good way in rear angle. Super feet. Did well for what I believe was his first show.
3rd: KIBBY, Mr Christopher, Pinhays Pie In The Sky

JD NO ENTRIES

YD (1 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: HOARE, Mrs Emma Jane, Lynmoares Enoch Arden
This cheeky b/w boy has a lot of character. A racy type with just enough bone and moderate angles, good length to his neck, decent forechest, deep enough though the body and well balance. He moved soundly with some energy holding a good topline. Patiently handled, definitely a work in progress.

PGD (2 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: LE-CLERC, Mrs Amy & LE-CLERC, Mr Michael, Hunterheck Fade To Black
Plenty of substance to this boy. Well off for bone and well presented. Just the right size too. Very much liked the balance of his masculine head with ample stop, chiselling and fluting, broad muzzle and deep flews, adequate neck, moderate in angulation fore and aft, good spring of rib. Super neat correctly shaped feet. Presented well and moved with a rock solid topline.

LD (2 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: GLEDHILL, Mrs Jane, Greg De Les Tres Llacunes (imp Esp)
A dog I have admired previously and he did not disappoint. Beautiful headed dog, one of the best I saw all day, the correct width to his muzzle and depth of flew, perfectly balanced with enough work in it, dark correctly shaped eyes with such an appealing expression, certainly a head you’d be happy to look at all day long. The right neck length into well made and angled shoulders, balanced with his super rear angulation. Well sprung ribs, deep through the body, well muscled all though, excelled in forechest. Well handled to move soundly especially in profile, held a solid topline on the move and his well set tail was carried perfectly. Happy to award him the RCC.

OD (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: DARLING, Mrs Carol, Elazlan Billy Kimber
Right up my street for style but found myself wanting a tad less height, a tad more length. That said I really appreciated his many qualities. A pleasing masculine well balanced head, dark correctly shaped eye, elegant length of neck into well made clean shoulders and decent length of upper arm. Deep through the body, well boned, good muscle tone, his super neat feet edged him into first in this class. Pleasing in front and rear angles. His movement was stylish, good topline held and another who showed a good tail carriage. His lack of ring experience just showed in the challenge when he failed to maintain a stack and looked a little overwhelmed.
2nd: 6087 TOPLISS, Mrs T E, Sh Ch Beresford Bolt From The Blue
Classy quality male who I liked a lot. Not oversized with just the right substance and balance. I’d described him as old fashioned and on the right side of moderate, and that is meant in a very complimentary way. Beautiful head balanced foreface to skull, correct eye shape and colour, very appealing expression. Excelled in depth of body and forechest. Well boned, correct angulation front and back, appreciated his height to length ratio. Very much admired his overall balance, well held topline, good tail carriage and outline on the move.
3rd: 6062 JENKINSON, Mrs K, Eastriding Royal Black

GCD (3 Entries) Abs: 2
1st: TOPLISS, Mrs T E, Sh Ch Beresford Lockdown
Another lovely stylish dog from this kennel and he has a super balance to him. Pleasing head with a correctly shaped eye of good dark hazel colour. Just right for bone, neat feet, good length to height ratio. Balanced in his super angulation front and rear, nothing overdone, an all round package that pleases the eye. In super coat and condition and well muscled. Full of character on the move, sound with a strongly held topline and correct tail set and carriage, I loved the obvious connection between dog and handler and was certainly handled to bring out his best. My CC Winner.

SBD (3 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: 6069 LE-CLERC, Mrs Amy & LE-CLERC, Mr Michael, Hunterheck Fade To Black
Critiqued in PGD.
2nd: KIBBY, Mr Christopher, Pinhays Pie In The Sky
Excelled in substance and spring of rib. Happy but rather unsettled on the move and a little proud of his tail but held a good topline through the body. Shown in good condition.

VD/B (1 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: HYDON, Mrs M, Ir Sh Ch Clentonian Pandemonium JW ShCEx OSW VW
Stood alone but a bitch in fab condition and a credit to her owner. Sweetest of heads with a super dark eye you would expect from a b/w. Beautifully balance and symmetrically built. An elegant pleasing neck, good moderate angulation to her front and rear construction and liked her overall size and style. A really sound mover holding a strong level topline and one of the few who held her tail perfectly as she strode round the ring. Well presented and in really good nick. Best Veteran.

MPB (6 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: MACBAIN, Miss Allie & HARRISON, MR James, Daenerys Winter Solstice At Fecimus
Stand out winner in this class and pleased to award her overall Best Puppy. A puppy of great quality with the brightest of futures I am sure, she’s just right for her age. Glorious head, beautifully balanced with the right amount of work, the softest and most appealing expression from her dark almond shaped eyes. An elegant neck lead to a well angled front assembly, decent length to her upper arm, ample forechest. Super rear angulation and correct neat short hocks, correct tight rounded feet. The right amount of bone for a bitch, well muscled, held a good strong topline during her so sound and stylish movement, another with a perfect tail set and carriage. For me the complete package, of all the dogs I judged today, this is the one I would loved to have whisked away home.

2nd: PATTISON, Mrs Victoria, Forgespring Foolproof.
Litter sister to the third placed puppy and many of the comments apply to both. Super shape and outline, ideal length of neck into a decent front assembly, at just 6 months is of course immature, but has the right raw ingredients and pleasing framework which just needs to fill with a little more substance and am sure will please more and more as she finishes. Moderate in rear angulation and there was nothing overdone. Found her head most appealing, probably this just edged her the place over her sister. Self assured and sound on the move, sure there is fun ahead for both of these siblings.
3rd: PROCTOR, Mrs Maddie, Forgespring Nobody's Fool

PB (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: CORBETT, Mrs Ann, Sieger's See Eye To Eye With Trimere (Imp Dnk) A.E
Super stamp and style of puppy, found her most appealing. Really appreciated her flowing lines, her elegant neck length and her well constructed shoulder assembly (one of the best today) with matching rear, well off for forechest, well bodied and has a good length to height ratio. My notes say exquisite feet both in construction and trimming. Beautifully presented all through. Her movement in profile was most stylish and correct, but was just outmoved on the across and back by the mpb.
2nd: KIBBY, Mrs J I, Pinhays Princess Sarah Very different style of puppy, and like her male sibling has plenty of bone, rib and substance. Presented in good condition not quite settled enough on the move to assess her movement but was happy enough as her tail showed.
3rd: KIBBY, Mrs J I, Pinhays Pride And Joy

JB (1 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: COKELL, Mrs H & NICKLIN, Mr L & AINSLEY, Ms L M, Carlyquinn Winter Storm JW
The first word I said in my recording was “quality” and this bitch is quality all through. She very much appeals for style. Pleasing balanced head with darkening eyes. Super bone, neat feet, a good neck length and a super topline. Deep though the body, good ratio length to height. Liked her balanced angles and especially her short neat hocks. A very pleasing picture. Held a good topline and unlike many others today her tail carriage was spot on and was well handled and moved to bring out her best. In my considerations for the RCC.

YB (2 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: HOARE, Mrs Emma Jane, Lymnoares Ode To Memory
Very similar attributes to her litter brother, hitting the breed standard requirements in terms of moderation, raciness and being higher on the leg than other land spaniels. Well balanced, adequate bone, very well muscled. Enough forechest. Pleasing in head and moved well with a correct topline and tail carriage. Well handled.

PGB (7 Entries) Abs: 1
A class brimming with quality, so pleasing to see.
1st: HAVARD, Miss & Mrs L A & P J, Annavah Aquarius
Absolutely loved the make and shape of this bitch. Super length of neck flowed neatly into her well an excellent shoulder assembly. Strong in topline, deep enough through the body, well off for forechest, adequate bone. Naturally fell into a beautiful shape. Sound, stylish and very efficient on the move, and especially appreciated her profile movement with her reach and drive and good level tail carriage.
2nd: 6086 TOLLADAY, Mrs S & TOLLADAY, Mr Gilbert, Calvdale Half A Story Bethersden
This bitch really has matured into a beauty, feminine and well construted b/w bitch of a really pleasing size and style, full of quality. Well boned, has super feet, correct angulation, good substance through the body - my notes say “a really lovely bum”. Preferred the head on this girl to the winner. Really classy bitch.
3rd: TERRY-RICHARDSON, Mrs Y & RICHARDSON, MR PAUL, Daenerys Moondancer To Cherishym

LB (4 Entries) Abs: 0 Class of quality, nitpicked to find the winner.
1st: KEELY, Mr & Mrs M J & K, Khaleesi De Les Tres Llacunes With Alhambian (imp)
I felt this bitch was really giving her handler a hard time on the stack, but he got the best he could out of her, enabling me to see a make, shape and style I really admired and fell for. Such a pleasing head with its depth of flew, width of muzzle, balanced to her backskull, the stop the fluting and the chiseling were just right. Eye shape and colour spot on. Well made and pleased in her correct angulation fore and aft. The right amount of bone and neat rounded feet. Strong through the body with a good spring of rib and depth through the body. Liked her height to length ratio, her tail set and just the whole style of her. Sound enough coming and going, but really came into her own in her profile movement showing the desirable reach and drive which edged her the win in this class and the RBCC.
2nd: AINSLEY, Miss Lucy-May & NICKLIN, Mr Lewis & HENDERSON, Daenerys Red Priestess
Another bitch who is full of quality who was beautiful presented, my notes say “was she washed in Persil she’s so white”! Her head is well made but not quite the eye shape or expression of the winner. She has the substance and depth I look for, good in front and rear angulation, Well boned, tidy enough feet, pleasing in her overall balance. Sound on the move, just didn’t have the reach and drive of the winner.
3rd: CHANDLER, Miss Elizabeth, Elazlan Coronation Day J.W.

OB (4 entries) Abs: 0
1st: SMITH, Mr R J, Sh Ch Melverly Vignette
Not the first time I have fallen under the spell of this breeder’s wizardry in the beauties he produces. This bitch was everything I was looking for. Dark eyes of the correct shape with the most gentle expression. The right depth of flew, width of muzzle and a balance of foreface to skull, there was the desired fluting and chiselling to complete a most appealing head. An elegant neck lead into as near a right angled shoulder/upperarm as you are likely to find. Decent forechest. Good spring of rib, short loin, rear angulation that matched the front with super width of thigh. Well boned and the neatest of feet. Her movement was sound, effortless and a joy to watch from all angles with super extension and drive, topline was strong and correct. CC & BOB Thrilled to watch her win a super strong group under a judge whose opinion I hugely respect.
2nd: CORBETT, Mrs Ann, Sh Ch Trimere Time Fly's
This beautiful bitch did nothing wrong to come second. The winner just edged her in head and feet which nitpicked her into second place. But so well made, good in shoulder assembly, rear angulation and a great balance to her. Now fully mature she is strongly made though the body and has good depth. Presented in sparkling condition. Moved more soundly and correctly than many today.

3rd: LILLIE, Mr & Mrs. J. & L., Freeway Fortune

GCB (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: GARDINER, Miss A, Barecho Cover Girl Of Svenjak (imp Swe)
Another who excels on the move especially in profile, showing the reach in front that is a breed essential and lacking in many today. A racy type with a good spring of rib. Well made and a very pleasing head with a dark eye. Well presented and handled to bring out her best.
2nd: PROCTOR, Mrs Maddie, Petranella Perfick Bliss
Ultra feminine head on this smart and pretty compact little bitch. She has good shoulder angulation and good turn of stifle, is balanced in her height to length ratio, perfect feet (a trademark from this kennel), adequate bone. Beautifully presented and handled to bring out her best.
3rd: KIBBY, Mrs J I Trimere Taylor Maid At Pinhays JW ShCEx OSW

SBB (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: PATTISON, Mrs Victoria, Crackerjanne Cassiopeia
A smart old fashioned kind of bitch in the best of ways. A pleasing pretty and balanced head and no doubting her femininity. Loved her for size and balance. Well made with nothing overdone. Moved soundly on well boned legs and neat tight feet, held a super topline and good tail carriage. Well presented and handled. Pleased to award her Best Special Beginner.
2nd: HOARE, Mrs Emma Jane, Lymnoares Ode To Memory critiqued in YB
3rd: LE-CLERC, Mrs Amy & LE-CLERC, Mr Michael, Hunterheck Lost In A Spell

Wendy Walker - Judge