St Andrews Cupar & District Canine Society

St Andrews, Cupar and District Canine Society Open Show.   Critique 1st June 2024

Hound Group (excl Basset Hound)

My thanks go to the committee of the club who made me so welcome. A well run, relaxed show managed by an efficient team. I am grateful to my very competent steward, Alan, who kept the classes up to speed and me well organised.

To the exhibitors, my thanks for the excellent, quality entry and for providing many hounds that I would give a home to any day. Temperaments were all good and, despite the heat, all hounds seemed happy to be out and about. I found a couple of level bites and one slightly overshot. I so enjoyed my day going over some lovely hounds. Efficient handlers all in happy spirit and being kind to one another – that’s what it’s all about!. Pleased with my top winners and delighted to see my AV Special Puppy awarded Res Bes Puppy in Show.

Sorry that some critiques look a little sparse and that is because my dictation tape came out a bit “fuzzy” in places. Pen and notepad in future.

Afghan Hound PG (1,0) 1. Nisbet, Forrester and Smith’s Finix Just a Girl. Standing alone, quality young bitch. Well balanced skull, correct occiput, stop and eye. Ears well covered, held close, back and low. A nice smooth journey for my hands from her elegant neck down into good slope of shoulder and to well boned foreleg and arched toes. Deep chested, my hands flowing back to a good spring of rib, elbows nicely tight to ribcage. Level topline onto slight fallaway, hips prominent and rear quarters strong, tail set on low and carried well. Stifles and hocks provided powerful propulsion, covering the ground with smooth action.

Afghan Hound Open (1,0) 1. 1. Nisbet, Forrester & Smith’s Finix Just a Girl. See PG Class. BoB

BGV Grand Open (2,2)

BGV Petit PG (2,0) So nice to see the PBGV’s presented untrimmed and natural. 1. Wyllie’s Callydena Rachecco. Dark eye, good forward brows, defined stop, and fine, folding ears, set correctly below the eye. Strong jaw. Long, elegant neck leading down to a clean shoulder and tidy elbows. Nicely boned. Deep chest, sternum, ribs carried well back. Standing a tad bum high, would prefer a little more rear angulation to provide more drive and to help level her topline out on the stack, but it levelled out on the move. Moved at good pace. In lovely condition and perfectly handled. BoB

2. Gilluley’s Ballencrieff Jingle Belle. Nicely shaped head with all the correct furnishings. Clearly defined stop, dark eye, corectly set, fine ears. Arched neck of good length leading into well laid shoulder. Standing a little higher on the leg but it didn’t impact on the position of elbows which were held close to her body. Good length of rib. Level topline, held on the move, tail set well on and in happy mode. Coat harsh and natural. Strong rear quarters and good rear angulation kept her balanced. Just moving a tad close behind.

BGV Petit Open (2,0) 1. Gilluley’s Caldewriver Legally Blond of Ballencrieff. A lovely old fashioned look about this bitch and a lot to like. Intelligent, kind, dark eye, good stop and cut away under eye. Eyebrows, beard and moustache bushy but tidy. Nice harsh coat but a little sparse at the moment, perhaps. Supple ears, correctly set. Neck nicely laid down to a clean sloping shoulder. Good hook on a prominent sternum. A slight crook apparent. Tight feet, good bone. Ribs nicely rounded and carried well back, level topline held perfectly on the move, front legs reaching well forward, rear legs driving. Strong hindquarters, defined second thigh, good angluation helped her to present as nicely balanced both coming and going. Moved freely with drive. Nicely paced. What lost her the BoB was that she was just carrying a little extra weight and had lost her waist. (I know the feeling!).

2. Wyllie’s Calleydena Mowdie Miss Chief. Have often watched this happy, energetic bitch from the ringside. Well named, a bit of a show-off, she proudly carries her head which has good stop, dark eye, prominent occiput, ears fine with inward fold, set correctly below the eye. Coat rough and harsh to the touch. Neck strong with good length leading down to nicely sloping shoulder, ribs which are carried well back holding her level topline, which she kept on the move. She has a fair turn of speed. Straight going away but a little wide coming towards me. Happy, active stern. Just preferred the movement of 1.

Dachshund LH Open (1,0) 1. Maxwell & Chalmers Pettigans Voulez Vouz. Very smart black and tan 9 month old bitch. Presents a very pleasing profile on the stack. Lovely head proportions and shape, correct stop and muzzle, strong jaw. Dark eye, correct shape and set. Ears nicely rounded, correctly set. Arched, strong neck leading down to well sloped long, broad shoulder. Prominent sternum, deep chest, good bone. Strong quarters. Level topline held well on the move. Reached well out in front - rear movement might improve as she matures. BoB

Dachshund MLH Open (1,0) 1. Morrin’s Code Red Again at Arlatdax. 18 month old shaded red male in lovely coat and condition. Dark eye, arched neck, sloping shoulder, nicely balanced, tidy feet. Level topline and which he held on the move, neat underline. Sound both going and coming, pasterns just need a bit more strength. Skilfully shown by his very polite handler – such a nice young man. BoB.

Dachshund MSH Open (4,0) 1. Cumberland’s Mumysami Beth Level of Crazy. BoB ***** Really sorry, my recording was very fuzzy as well as a lot of background noise so I was unable to retrieve my information.

2. Bain’s Clentry Rewrite The Stars. Smart black and tan bitch. Correct head shape, appealing expression, lovely dark, almond eyes, Compact and well muscled throughout, good ground clearance. Good length and reach of neck flowing smoothly into well made front construction. Good pro sternum, ribbing carried well back supporting her level topline well held on the move. Strong loin. Angulation balanced both fore and aft. Moved freely with good reach.

3. Cumberland’s Mumysami Clickety Clic for Yorami.

Dachshund MWH Open (1,0) 1. Gilroy’s Dachienne Everyday Life. Pretty, feminine head with correct MW furnishings, strong jaw, elegant arch of neck leading to broad shoulder, prominent sternum, easily seen and felt, elbows fitting to ribs which are carried well back, good topline and underline, topline being level and held on the move. Movement true enough coming towards me but a little close going away. BoB

Dachshund WH Open (3,0) 1. Christie’s Cloudside Valentino at Decalleigh. A handsome youngster, and he knew it! A lovely type, he’s full of quality. Hands on him there is so much to like and his profile is very satisfying to the eye. Super expression, dark eye, strong jaw, excellent forehand and sternum, Strong neck of good length, firm and level topline, tidy underline, ribs carried well back, strong quarters. Balanced angluation both fore and aft. Moved with power, style and drive, true both going and coming. Good ground clearance. Very sure of himself - a class act! Shown in top condition. BoB and G3

2. Christie’s Tannahill Bergen at Decalleigh. Quality head, good eye and correctly set ears sitting close, strong jaw. Nice bone thoughout. Sternum was fair. Just a tad upright in shoulder, ribbing fair – would have been nicer if a little longer, both of the foregoing impacting on the topline which didn’t look as “tidy” as 1. Strong quarters. Shown in good muscle condition. He moved out nicely.

3. Tinker-Haldane and Haldane’s Dollydash Never Enough.

Irish Wolfhound Open (4,1) 1. Tinker-Haldane’s Malinkey’s Acacia. Quality young bitch with a lovely femine head of correct shape and typical expression. Dark eyes, good stop, strong jaw, mobile rose ears. Good reach of her strong neck into a well-laid shoulder, good depth of chest, elbows tucked nicely in, good bone, ribs carried well back, good tuck up. Nicely muscled rear quarters and parallel, low set hocks. Presented in lovely harsh coat. She covered the ground well, with a long, elegant and easy, active stride. While she still has some maturing to do, I felt she deserved her 1st and BoB

2. Hanlon’s Balnuith End of the Storm Over Achnagonlan. Substantial hound of heavy construction. Typical, masculine head with plenty of correct furnishings, strong jaw. Kind, soft expression. Strong neck coming down to fair shoulders. Great depth of chest, ribbing well back, strong legs, broad, muscular back with a gentle rise over the loin, good underline, strong quarters. Ample width to thighs with strong hocks. Harsh coated. Steady mover around the ring. Ribs were a bit too well covered, for me, so maybe rather fond of his food.

3. Hanlon’s Ranfurley Prince Over Achnagonlan.

Rhodesian Ridgeback PG (7,3) I found a little bit of white here and there in some hounds but I didn’t get myself steered by what I felt was minor, today. Ridges were correct.

1. Black and McKinley’s Asharaa Dark Side of The Moon at Gileeja. One of those dogs that makes my day. Quality male, glorious colour, gleaming with health. Those Intelligent eyes looked right through me. A handsome profile. Ears nicely set on, neck long and strong. Good depth of chest, shoulder nicely laid, perhaps a little short in upper arm – this showed on the move as he didn’t reach out quite as well as I would have liked. Level topline, strong quarters, angulation excellent. He used his strength and angulation to advantage. An active and powerful mover. Close call for BoB.

2. Black and McKinley’s Asharaa Stars in Your Eyes at Gileeja JW. Litter sister to 1. Very similar in many areas and description and they could change places any day. Nice on the eye in profile – a substantial bitch, very in proportion and in immaculate coat and muscular condition, good bone, correct, femine head with highly intelligent expression, good eye shape and colour, correctly carried ears. Strong neck, well placed shoulder, correct ridge, level topline carried well on the move. True going away but maybe a little toe-ing in coming towards me. Moved with drive, grace and elegance.

3. Willunat’s Gambia Sirius Canis Major at Clauwill JW (Imp Pol).

Rhodesian Ridgeback Open (8, 1) Some quality hounds went unplaced. This was a lovely class, thank you. I moved you all around a lot, but I had some close decisions that I had to get right in my head.

1.Willunat’s Multi Ch Shavano’s Quality of Life by Oliver JW,OSW,SHEX (Imp Nor). Very much to like about this boy. I have watched him many a time from the ringside and have wanted my hands on him – well I got it and he didn’t disappoint. Showing quality and substance, a slightly longer bodied male showing balance in profile and on the move Masculine head with a good dark pigment, suitably coloured eye & expression, well set & carried ears, strong, clean neck & muscled shoulders, strong and straight forelegs, correctly carried topline & tailset, ribcage carried well back, strong loin, powerful free action. Shown in excellent condition. Was pushed hard, not only for his 1st place, but also for BoB. BoB and G2

2. Muir’s Jimann’s Ace of Spades. Quality hound – lovely type. Correct eye in his maculine head, good stop, strong jaw, nicely set ears. Strong neck leading down to a clean and muscular shoulder, good depth of chest, ribs carried well back, good ridge, topline level and held on the move, muscular and strong rear quarters. Good angulation. Flowing movement, well balanced and true both going and coming with plenty of reach. Shown in immaculate condition. Different to 1 but a close decision.

3. Darling-Steele’s Sonstraal Walking Sunshine with Sharufa.

Saluki Open (4,3) 1. Simpson’s Zxylasahlaam Gea’rr VW. Handsome 7 year old with masculine head. Dark eye, good pigment and a good ear set with silky fringes. Smooth, silky coat. Good length and reach of neck that flowed down into into nicely laid shoulders, good depth of chest, and fair ribbing. Good tuck up and a nice rise over the loin. A little more angulation desirable and would prefer a little more propulsion. Presented in lovely condition and well handled. BoB

Whippet PG (4,2) 1. Burton’s Ballenbreich Harris. Almost 15 months old, so still a young man, but showing maturity. Full of character and quality and out to please his handler. A balance of muscle and grace and a pleasure to the eye. A very smart young male who impressed both on the stack and on the move. Wide head tapering nicely, good length and elegance in his neck, shoulders showing obvious muscle, blades caried nicely up. Deep, strong chest, forelegs straight and upright, feet neat and well arched. Ribs well sprung. Graceful and gently flowing top-line. Strong rear quarters. Well-defined tuck-up. Free forward movement, with powerful drive. Nothing exaggerated and much to like. BoB and G4

2. Hunt’s Hologem Serenade in Blue. From a sightly smaller mold than 1. Nicely profiled head going into good length and arch of neck. Sufficient depth of chest and a tidy topline. Moved okay coming and going, but would have liked to have seen a little more reach in front. In lovely show condition. Not paying attention today.

Whippet Open (5,3) 1. Hunter’s Coollooney Was Meant to Be at Sulahmara. Quality brindle and white male – stunning profile. Very tidy and clean lines. Handsome, tapering, clean-cut head, alert and intelligent correctly shaped eyes, mobile ears of correct shape. Long and elegant neck leading down to muscular shoulders, blades nicely carried, forelegs straight and strong, chest deep, feet neat. Fore action reaching well forward. Powerful, flowing body lines, well sprung ribs and strong quarters. Stood nicely over the ground. A strong, elegant mover – true both going and coming. Pushed hard for BoB.

2. Brook’s Rushden Hello Look at Me. Certainly belies his almost 8 years. Brindle and white, stands nicely balanced over the ground. Handsome head, good length and arch of neck into a flowing body of depth and ribs of good length, well sprung. Moderately strong, sound hindquarters, well bent stifles. Free front reaching, but not quite got the rear drive as 1.

Dachshund SH Open (2,1) 1. Balfour’s Clentry Mango Passion. Very smart, shaded red, 2yo Bitch in beautiful condition. Looking lovely in profile and well balanced. Good head shape, strong jaw, nice length of neck going into a well placed sloping shoulder. Deep chest, good sternum, rib carried well back, level topline, neat underline, strong quarters, sound and true both going and coming. Good ground clearance. Perfectly paced. BoB and G1

AVNSC Hound Open (1,0) 1. Morrin and Barbi’s Donard Dream for Arlatdax (IKC). At last I get my hands on this handsome 8 month old Bavarian Mountain Hound. Still very young and a lot of maturing to do but he has presence and attitude and moves out well. Deer red with black mask in a masculine head, correct eye set and colour, ears well set and of good length. Elegant neck coming down to nicely laid shoulders. Correct topline held well on the move. Good length of ribbing, strong loin, and good hind angulation. Very nice bone, good feet. Will look forward to seeing him mature. Handler – don’t push too fast, allow him time to come into his own and find his preferred pace. BAVNSC

AV Hound Minor Puppy (4,1) 1. Morris and Barbi’s Donard Dream for Arlatdax (IKC) (Bavarian Mountain Hound). See AVNSC Open. BMP

2. Bowers Sasilasy Edge of Chaos at Lyonglen (Basset Hound) A handsome youngster, showing promise if taken slowly. Looking very nice in profile. Head - dark eye of good shape, good occiput, correct stop, soft, curling leathers of correct length. chest coming down nicely into crook, sternum coming along nicely too. Feet, both facing forward with tight toes. Neck long and arched leading into a well placed shoulder, elbows tight to well sprung rib, carried nicely back, topline level. Fore and aft angulation is almost balanced. Quarters are strong. Standing well and looking balanced from rear. Moved with a good drive. Handler – be patient with him, he still has a lot of developing to do - he’s a basset!

3. Bowman’s Tauraleous Little Lottie (Dachshund MSH)

AV Hound Puppy (5,2) 1. Brook’s Coollooney For Your Eyes Only (Whippet). Qaulity shone in this brindle and white boy. Handsome head, correct stop, dark eye with lovely expression. Straight front, tidy feet. Good length and reach of neck, good ribbing supporting broad back. Well bent stifles. Nice lines in body showing a poised profile both stacked and on the move. Moved out freely, strongly and well balanced. Lovely condition. BP and thrilled at his RBPiS

2. Maxwell and Chalmer’s, Pettigans Voulez Vous (Dachshund LH) see Dachshund LH Open.

3. Bowman’s Tauraleous Little Lottie ( Dachshund MSH)

AV Hound Veteran (7,1) 1.Gilluley’s Caldewriver Legally Blond of Ballencrieff. See PBGV Open (BGV Petit)

2. Simpson’s Zxylasahlaam Gea’rr VW. See Saluki Open (Saluki)

3. Brook’s Rushden Hello Look at Me. See Whippet Open (Whippet).

AV Brace Stakes. 1 Hardie’s Italian Greyhounds. What an amazing pair of co-ordinated show-offs. Beautiful, gleaming condition, smart and sound movement. I’m sure they could dance in time to music, if asked. Beautifully handled.

2. Simpson’s Australian Shepherds. True to their occupation, looked as though they could easily do a day on the hills. Smartly groomed to perfection and striding well out, totally in tune with handler.

3. Wyllie’s BGV Petit. They must have practiced for this. These happy hounds amazingly striding together, side by side, without any nonsense! Both hounds in excellent condition and moving out well. Nicely handled.

Aileen M Sharpe (Bulieburn)

Judge