Minehead & District Canine Society

Thanks to Julia and her team for asking me to judge the Toy group and Veteran Stakes at their very well-run show. The setting of Dunster Castle in the background is an added bonus. There is always such lovely hospitality here, with judges’ and stewards’ lunches presented by the committee, plus super ‘goody’ bags. A special thank you to my steward, Vicky, for her excellent hard work.

CHIHUAHUA (LONG COAT)

POST GRADUATE (1)

1. Skinner’s Mujerose Bobby’s Heart in Heaven JW. Pretty cream and white dog, of correct size and shape. He has a masculine head with well rounded ‘apple dome’ skull, defined stop and large round eyes. Well laid shoulders and straight forelegs. Nicely constructed with level back and well ribbed. Muscular hindquarters and well-set tail carried correctly. Good long soft textured coat. Rather erratic movement today, but the grass was very hard. RESERVE BEST OF BREED.

OPEN (1)

1. Skinner’s Tyssul Awel Y Mynydd. Another pretty cream well balanced dog from the same kennel. Correct head with a wide well rounded ‘apple domed’ skull, well-defined stop and moderately short muzzle. Ears were set at the desired 45 degrees, perhaps smaller than some. He is the correct size and construction. Good lay of shoulders, nice well boned forequarters, correct topline and well-muscled hindquarters. Tail carriage is good. Correct textured coat. He also appeared not to like the ground conditions. BEST OF BREED.

COTTON DE TULEAR

POST GRADUATE (1)

1. Scott’s Mopseyscoton Minti Minki. Well-proportioned dog with good pigmentation. Slightly convexed skull with good skull to muzzle ratio. Correct stop, dark eyes and black nose. Nice mouth with correct scissor bite. Slightly arched medium length neck and well laid shoulders. Good depth of brisket, medium tuck up and slight rise over the loin. Well-muscled hindquarters, moderate angulation and low set hocks. Tail carriage is good. Correct textured coat. Moved well. BEST OF BREED.

OPEN (1)

1. Scott’s Cotonkiss Conqueror VW. Nearly 9 years old, of correct size, excellent for his age. Well-proportioned head with good skull to muzzle proportions. Correct pigmentation, black nose with open nostrils. Dark round eyes, correct scissor bite and neck of correct length. Good front, nice body shape, in good condition and correct topline. Well-muscled hindquarters. Good tail set and carriage, Moved well for his age and ground conditions. Super coat of cotton texture. RESERVE BEST OF BREED.

ENGLISH TOY TERRIER (BLACK AND TAN)

POST GRADUATE (3)

1. Snell’s Moretonia Royal Navy. Masculine dog with a strong wedge-shaped head. He appeared rather hesitant, which was a shame as this affected his outline and movement. Head was good, being long and narrow with a flat skull. Dark almond eyes and good bite. He has the correct candle-flame shaped ears, but they appeared rather long to me. Correct bone and body condition. Compact, with slight curving from behind the shoulders to loin, falling to root of tail. Good tail set and carriage.

2. Johnson’s Moretonia Royal Wren. Sister to above and on the smaller side for me. She appeared rather too hunched up, instead of the slight curving of the topline. Perhaps the ground did not suit her, which was a shame. Lovely temperament. Correct balanced head, with flat skull and high set candle flame shaped ears of a better length. Dark almond eyes. In superb condition with defined muscle tone. Black shiny jacket with rich tan well-defined markings.

OPEN (6)

Both of these dogs were nice examples of the breed.

1. Snell’s Skin Deep’s Mint Condition (Imp Nor). This chap was a natural showman, showing off his balanced, elegant, compact outline. Well-proportioned long, narrow head with flat skull. Dark, almond eyes and correct candle-flame shaped ears. Slightly arched neck, good shoulders and front. Correct topline and nicely angulated stifles. Low set tail of good thickness and carried correctly. Dense, glossy coat with good markings. Correct movement of the ‘extended trot’. BEST OF BREED.

2. Warren’s Pedara The World is Mine. 6 years old, having the same good attributes as the dog above. But he just did not show himself off so well, resulting in being a little hunched up. Lovely correct wedge-shaped head, almond eyes, good candle flame shaped ears set correctly. Nice neck, straight front and good depth of chest. Nicely constructed body with correct curved topline, well-muscled hindquarters and good turn of stifle. Low set tail. Moved well. RESERVE BEST OF BREED.

KING CHARLES SPANIEL

POST GRADUATE (2)

1. Paradise’s Yeshalomi Jam and Jerusalem with Shardlow. Only just 6 months and very much a baby with lots of promise. Super head with well domed skull and defined stop. Well turned up square muzzle, wide and deep. Large, dark eyes. Very long ears, set on low with feathering coming. Well-constructed body with good bone. Fore legs straight and short, well laid shoulders. Nicely muscled hindquarters, with stifles well bent. Very sound movement, with drive from the rear, aiding her placings of the day. BEST PUPPY & BEST OF BREED.

PAPILLON

POST GRADUATE (3)

1. Stanbury’s Inixia Finest Hour. A very promising 7-month-old dog puppy, quite immature, but absolutely lovely, who should have a great future. Very attractive well-proportioned head with slightly rounded skull, muzzle finely pointed and well- defined stop. Very large, mobile ears with fringing coming. Carried well. Very good scissor bite. Super forelegs, straight, slender, strong and fine boned. Good body and hindquarters. Tail set on high and held over the back. Coat coming through well. Moved freely and positively for one so young.

2. Casey’s Melangel Lovely Lexi for Shamal. Fully mature dainty bitch. Well balanced, presenting a very nice outline. Super head, good skull and dark eyes. Wonderful large mobile ears, set correctly, beautifully fringed and used well. Deep chest, level topline and good turn of stifle. Well fringed tail nicely carried over her back. Movement was all over the place, perhaps due to the grass. Well presented, in lovely coat.

OPEN (2)

1. Stanbury’s Elendil Knghts Templar at Inixia. 10 months old, in Open and still won it! My find of the day for me. I really thought he was gorgeous in every way and would have loved to have taken him home. My mother had Papillons when I was a teenager and I expect I will end up with one in my old age. Just as the breed standard states – dainty, well balanced little dog. Alert with an intelligent expression. Super well-proportioned head, dark eyes and large mobile ears. Good length of neck and body. Coat maturing nicely with good texture. Moved lightly and freely around the ring. BEST PUPPY & BEST OF BREED.

2. Borg’s Elendil Crusader. I note this chap is sire of the above and can see where the puppy gets his good looks. He is a dainty well balanced dog, on his toes and alert, catching the eye upon entering the ring for both style and shape. His well-proportioned head is lovely with wonderful ears, used so well. He has dark expressive eyes to match his dark black colouring in his coat. Well laid shoulders, straight fore legs, good spring of rib, length of loin and rear angulation. He is in full, beautiful mature coat, fine and silky. I felt on the day he had to give way to his son who appeared to have a good length of body and was able to move around the ring better. Lovely showman, hard decision. RESERVE BEST OF BREED.

POMERANIAN

POST GRADUATE (2)

1. French’s Bincombefarm’s the Phoenix. Just a year old and quite apprehensive but got better as time went on. Pretty black bitch of correct size and shape, compact and short-coupled. Foxy head with correct skull and muzzle. Dark oval eyes. I thought the ears could be smaller, but when fully coated they may disappear more in the coat. Correct short back, compact body and hindquarters. When her tail came up over her back, she looked so different. Moved freely and briskly. Coat coming well. RESERVE BEST OF BREED.

OPEN (1)

1. French’s Norvanik Rumour has it at Bincombefarm JW. Absolutely beautiful. Correct foxy head, super skull and fine muzzle. Oval, dark eyes and small, erect ears. Well-constructed front with fine bone and catlike feet. Good body with ribs extending well back to her moderately angulated rear. High set tail carried flat and straight over the back, covered with long, harsh spreading hair, completes the picture. Lovely free, brisk movement. Beautifully presented coat. BEST OF BREED.

ANY VARIETY IMPORTED BREED REGISTER TOY

POST GRADUATE (1)

1. Casey’s Russian Toy, Russiandream Ezra Elliot for Shamal. A 3-year-old black and tan dog of ideal size. A good example of the breed. Very good, attractive head, well held on the move. Slightly rounded skull, defined stop and pointed muzzle. Super large, thin, erect, fringed ears, well set. Complete scissor bite. Correct body proportions and long legged. Sloping topline and angulated hindquarters. Super sickle tail, carried high. Moved soundly and well. BEST A.V. IMPORTED BREED REGISTER.

ANY VARIETY NOT SEPARATED CLASSIFIED TOY

POST GRADUATE (1)

Day’s Havanese, Immeleon Peppermint Latte in Cubadias. A very nice, promising puppy bitch, showing a super outline. Well-proportioned head, with dark, large, almond shaped eyes and black eye rims. Straight forelegs and nice lay of shoulders. Level topline and correct length of body. Tail set high and carried well. Movement good. Coat coming nicely. BEST ANY VARIETY NOT SEPARATELY CLASSIFIED TOY & TOY PUPPY.

TOY GROUP

BEST TOY - Knapp & Blackie’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cridensa Connor.

RESERVE BEST TOY – Stanbury’s Papillon, Elendil Knights Templar at Inixia.

GROUP THREE – French’s Pomeranian, Norvanik Rumour has it at Bincombefarm JW.

GROUP FOUR - Paradise’s King Charles Spaniel, Yeshalomi Jam and Jerusalem with Shardlow.

TOY PUPPY GROUP

BEST TOY PUPPY - Stanbury’s Papillon, Elendil Knights Templar at Inixia.

RESERVE BEST TOY PUPPY - Paradise’s King Charles Spaniel, Yeshalomi Jam and Jerusalem with Shardlow

PUPPY GROUP THREE – Conibere & Luther’s Pug, Joyful Juicy by Luterpugs TAF.

PUPPY GROUP FOUR – Day’s Havanese, Immeleon Peppermint Latte in Cubadias.

ANY VARIETY TOY

PUPPY (9)

1. Paradise’s King Charles Spaniel, Yeshalomi Jam and Jerusalem with Shardlow. As above.

2. Hawkins’ Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lexody’s Incantation. 10-month-old Blenheim bitch. Pretty, well-shaped head, flat skull, shallow stop and super large, dark, round eyes. Well bodied, level back and good turn of stifle. Moved well and freely. Correct coat coming through nicely.

3. Woodcock’s Havanese, Alphapups Flufftail.

OPEN (6)

1. Warren’s English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan), Neerodan Just in Time. Approaching 8 years old, looking good and does not act his age. Well balanced, elegant and compact, producing a super outline. Correct long, wedge shaped head, with flat skull. Dark eyes, good muzzle and correct candle-flame ears. Nice neck. Body and movement OK. He was being a naughty boy, playing up, making it difficult to assess movement.

2. Hawkins’ Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lexody’s Incantation. As above.

VETERAN (7)

A really super show of veteran toys. A credit to their owners, making my decision very hard to make.

1. Scott’s Coton de Tulear, Cotonkiss Conqueror VW. As above.

2. Knapp & Blackie’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Cridensa Conrad ShCM ShCEx. Another super ruby dog from this kennel. Heading towards 8 years old and did not show it. He was excellent in every way with a temperament to match. Super head with flat skull and shallow stop. Large dark round eyes, high set ears, well cushioned face and correct length to muzzle, creating that desirable soft expression. Nice reach of neck, good angulation front and rear. Good body proportions and depth of chest. Moved with drive. Well presented, in good coat.

3. Woodcock’s Havanese, Kenquince Big Guns Alphapups.

4. Day’s Havanese, Cubadias Caribbean Damsel ShCM.

5. Stanbury’s Papillon, Inixia Ever Ready Eddie ShCM.

ANY VARIETY VETERAN STAKES (23)

A super class of veterans, a credit to their owners. Concentrating on movement, the first three placings were large dogs able to cope with the ground conditions very well. Unfortunately, a couple of excellent dogs with wonderful outlines on the table were not able to cope with the spikey grass, which was a great shame.

1. Challis’ Hungarian Vizsla, Highforce Future Legend for Vizslanya JW ShCEx VW. 8 years old who certainly does not look his age. What a mover! Certainly, ground covering and could work all day out in the field. Definitely ‘fit for purpose’. So muscled and fit, he must also keep his handler very fit as well! Super outline, classic masculine head, of good proportions and dark eyes. Strong, smooth, muscular neck, flowing into well laid muscular shoulders. Deep and broad chest, with prominent breastbone. Short and level back, sprung ribs and well-muscled hindquarters. Moved with plenty of drive.

2. Turner’s Bearded Collie, Rembrand Hit for Hat. Almost 12 years old and another that could really move around the ring. Supple, smooth, long reaching, covering the ground with minimum effort and very little lift of feet. She could also do a day’s work out in the field. She had a lovely shape, being relatively long and lean, but with plenty of substance. Head proportions were very good, with a broad, flat, square skull, along with good strength of muzzle. Presented in a wonderful double coat, a credit to the owner to have a dog with such coat at that age.

3. Fenn & Foster’s German Shepherd Dog, Chalksville Cool Running over Jandeburn ShCEx VW.

4. Taylor’s Border Terrier, Clydebeck Solitaire VW.

Felicity A. Snook

JUDGE