Hampshire Gundog Society

Hampshire Gundog Society Open Show – 28th July 2024

Many thanks to the Society for the invitation and to everyone who entered. My two stewards were superb and I thank them both for their efficiency. I was a little disappointed that Best in Show couldn’t be judged outside as dogs definitely move better on grass but it was so hot and there was no shade at all so the committee felt it should be judged indoors. I was also disappointed that the BOB Cocker Spaniel and the BP Bracco Italiano didn’t stay until the end. I’d watched both these breeds being judged and had admired both dogs from the ringside, I thought perhaps they might have featured in the final placings. I’d only judged four breeds at this show so was grateful to all the other judges for sending through such quality for me to preside over in BIS & BPIS – it made for a thoroughly enjoyable appointment, thank you.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Open (1 entry)

1st & BOB Nevers’ Tollelkin Dream Cove at Sheldrake JW AW

A handsome boy with a lovely expression. Good neck and shoulders. Correct topline & tailset. Well angulated rear with good width of second thigh. Moved true in all directions and nicely presented.

English Springer Spaniel

Puppy (3 entries, 1 absent)

1st, RBOB & BP Williams & Toublic’s Cobhay Dashing Dandelion

A pleasing head of good proportions. Well constructed all through and moved easily and accurately. A little more mature than his sister in second place at the moment and has more coat. Later won BPIS4 in good company.

2nd. Williams & Toublic’s Cobhay Heavenly Hydrangea

Another very nice puppy who just needs time but it’s all there – she has the prettiest head, is nicely put together and moves soundly. Well handled.

Special Yearling (4 entries, 1 absent)

1st. Williams & Toublic’s Cobhay Dashing Dandelion

As prev.

2nd. Walker & Bellamy’s Dexbenella In my Dreams

I really liked this smart bitch but she was being totally uncooperative with her handler today. She has a lovely head, eyes of good colour, a decent front, nice big ribs, short loin and well angulated rear. Naughty whilst being stacked and when moving so she had to stand second today.

3rd. Williams & Toublic’s Cobhay Heavenly Hydrangea

Post Graduate (2 entries, 1 absent)

1st. Nicholson’s Kingsheath Paso Doble

19 Month old boy with a lovely masculine head without being too strong. He is balanced and correct in outline and has good bone and feet. Moved well in profile, just a little untidy coming towards.

Open (1 entry)

1st & BOB Walker’s Dexbenella Double Oh Seven

Quality. He has the most beautiful head and correctly set on ears of good length. Well angulated shoulders with good return of upperarm. Correct topline/tailset. Ribs well back, short loin and a strong, well angulated rear with good width of second thigh. Presented in tip top condition and he moved superbly, covering the ground easily and accurately in all directions. Delighted to later award him BIS, it would have been criminal not to.

Weimaraner

Special Yearling (3 entries, 1 absent)

1st & RBOB Carpenter’s Aschfahl Kepanye

Handsome boy of substance. He has a lovely head, well angulated front, good height/length proportions and a good topline/tailset. I’d prefer a little more angulation behind. Moving accurately enough, just a little erratic as the other exhibit in this class was either in season or not far off it.

2nd. Jefferies’ Rivertone Aurora over Silbermeer

I liked the type of this shapely bitch and she is of good colour. Nicely made front and rear. She needs maturity and was a little baggy behind. Moved well.

Post Graduate (1 entry)

1st. Carpenter’s Aschfahl Kepanye

As prev.

Open (2 entries, 1 absent)

1st & BOB Braine’s Ansona Dream Big

A very nice boy who is well constructed and in excellent muscular condition. Won BOB as he had the best rear in the entry and moved really well. He was a little lethargic in BIS and thus sadly, couldn’t go any further. It was really hot though!

Import Register

Post Graduate (2 entries)

1st & BOB Claridge-Fleming’s Toto v d Wielervelden

Lovely head & expression on this 3 yr old Korthals Griffon. Good neck & shoulders. Level topline, good tailset. Ribs well back, short loin and a well angulated rear. Decent coat texture with undercoat visible. Well muscled and moved well.

2nd & RBOB Pottinger’s Muddiwarx Spirit Tracks

A lovely head on this 5 yr old Barbet with expressive dark eyes. Mouth slightly undershot. She is nicely constructed but needs more weight on her. I was quite surprised at how little there was of her underneath that profuse coat. Moved nicely.

Open (1 entry, 1 absent)

AV Gundog

Veteran 7 – 9 yrs (14 entries, 7 absent)

1st & BVIS Beecham’s Grafskoe Gnezdo Arlo (Imp)

7 year old Bracco Italiano. No mistaking his breed in profile with that characteristic outline. He is nicely constructed all through and has good bone and feet. Thick, elastic skin. Most accurate mover in the class, covering the ground effortlessly.

2nd. Fuard’s Tollelkin Bay of Ice

Handsome NSDTR who certainly doesn’t look his age. Pleasing head, well made all through and in good coat. Presented beautifully and moved well.

3rd. Bellamy’s Bochilbarley My Girl

Veteran 10+ years (9 entries, 3 absent)

1st. Welch’s Ir Sh Ch Oxfordacres Trinity by Hookwood JW

This 11 yr old pointer looks amazing for her age. A few lumps and bumps but she is still super in profile with an excellent type. Moves really well, driving from the rear and her tail a’lashing.

2nd. Walden’s Geenawell Gilmore Girl for Taramount

Unlucky to meet 1 on such top form. Lovely head, nice shape and big ribs and short loin. Immaculately presented and moved well.

3rd. Challis’ Pitswarren Magdalen by Vizlanya

Field Trial (3 entries, 1 absent)

1st. Venturi-Rose’s Leospring Tiffin

A smaller bitch with a nice expression. Nicely put together with a good coat. Lovely feet. Moved well.

2nd. Rose’s Rossclyde Highland Grouse at Leospring

An upstanding, handsome male. He was nicely constructed with good bone and feet. Coat of good texture but a slight wave in it. Sound moving.

Special Working (3 entries)

1st. Durrant’s Glenturret Happy Go Lucky JW SGWC KCWGC

Smart flatcoat with a nice head, good front, decent topline & tailset, well angulated rear and good bone and feet. Won this class as he had the best reach and drive on the move. In super condition.

2nd. Carpenter’s Aschfahl Kepa Secret

Initially thought this beautifully put together Weimaraner would be my winner. She is so well made with really good muscle tone. Perhaps it was the floor surface but she was short stepping on the move today.

3rd. Watts’ Oakmarsh Freedom SGWC

Best in Show – ESS – Walker’s Dexbenella Double Oh Seven

As prev.

RBIS – Sussex Spaniel – Beecham’s Sh Ch Crumbledor Albus Dumbledor at Rydonmist

A quality male with a beautiful head. He is well made all through, super bone and feet and in excellent condition. Moved out well and handled to perfection.

BIS3 – Hungarian Vizsla – Harper’s Pitswarren Siyon JW

A pretty bitch of good colour. She is smart in outline with the correct topline, in super muscular condition and moved soundly in all directions.

BIS4 – Clumber Spaniel – Lovell’s Clumbraise Your Song

 A good head, well constructed fore and aft with good bone and feet. Good topline and underline. Moved nicely.

Best Puppy in Show – GSP – Peebles’ Seasham Too much Heaven

This 10 month old girl just epitomises “GSP” to me. I thought she was quite exceptional. A pleasing head, good neck into well laid shoulders, correct topline, ribs well back and a short loin. A well angulated rear. She just didn’t put a foot wrong and thus, she had to take the top spot in this puppy group.

RBPIS – American Cocker Spaniel – Archer’s Zarcrest After Cut for Tallisbay

Another quality puppy. Loved her head, a good neck into well laid shoulders, good width and depth of chest, correct sloping topline and a strong well angled rear. Presented beautifully and moved well.

BPIS3 – English Setter – Bennet’s Wansleydale Busy as a Bee at Caprow

Really liked this young bitch in the initial stack and she didn’t disappoint on closer inspection. Lovely head, well made all through and moved nicely.

BPIS4 – ESS – Williams & Toublic’s Cobhay Dashing Dandelion

As prev.