Wickford Basildon & District Canine Society

Irish Setters and Spaniels (Welsh Springer)

Firstly, I would like to thank Vince and the rest of the committee for asking me to judge at their so well organised show, especially one on such a large scale. Thank you and so well done. I would like to also thank my stewards on the day, Lili and Ruby, for running the ring so very well for me. It was very much appreciated.

Irish setters

Although not a huge number of dogs present, quality over quantity was definitely of note. I am very grateful that the exhibitors brought their charges under me with lovely, young dogs in each class, with good futures ahead of them. A long journey made worthwhile.

Class 62 – Irish Setter Puppy (3,2):

1. 159 - Gisby’s MARLLAND LILY ON THE VALLEY BY SUTTERESETT (IMP NLD)- although standing alone in the class, this 9-month bitch would do well in many a class. In profile, painting a racy outline. With correct, gently sloping top line, and balance between angulation in front and behind. Very feminine in head with lovely chiselling beneath a dark eye. Nicely proportioned head which gave rise to a lovely soft expression. Very good reach to neck showing characteristic arch. Depth seen to chest and strength to loin. Width across croup. Lovely richness to coat already. Still a little raw with movement, but sure will come with maturity. Also did well obtaining a 2nd in a strong AV puppy. BP

Class 63 – Irish Setter Junior (1,1):

Class 64 – Irish Setter Graduate (2,0):

Both dogs in this class could win on their day, but with movement paramount for me, the dog took it, as he drove out very well on the up and back, even with the incline to the ring.

1. 163 - Parsons’s QUENSHA THINKING OUT LOUD AT BRANSETT (JW) – 2-year-old dog in fine shape. In the stack and on the move, looked very eye catching indeed. Lovely strength to a dog head, with good definition to foreface and without overdone chiselling to zygomatic arch. Dark colour to characteristic unshelled almond eye and periocular skin, providing a lovely expression. Well-balanced head. Ears hung neatly next to neck of good length and reach. Well-angulated front construction that was balanced with rear, which was evident in his movement. Plenty of bone. Depth to chest and well sprung ribs. Strength to loin that again enabled good movement. Width to upper and second thigh, and behind. Nice short hocks. Richness to dark coat. Best movement of all Irish Setters on the day, in all departments. Very pleased to award BOB. Also did well in the stakes classes and obtained a well-deserved gundog GRP2.

2. 166 - Walters’s GWENDARIFF YELLA JUMPER (IKC) – 3-year-old bitch that again has a lot to like. In the stack, a very well-balanced girl, with correct proportions seen throughout. Everything in moderation. Dark, wide nose. Excellent in head planes and construction. Adequate workings around eye, of correct shape. Personally, would like a slightly darker eye to complement pigmentation around eye and coat, but still well within standard. Good rise to stop and prominence to eyebrows. Well-set ears into moderately long neck. This flowed effortlessly into well laid-back shoulders. Good spring to ribs with strength to loin evident. Tail placement and croup correct. On the move didn’t have the drive of 1st on the up and back. Foot fall on the around, sound. As mentioned previously, could easily win, on another day.

Class 65 – Irish Setter Open (3,1):

1. 161 Gratton’s GLENLAINE MOONSTONE - 3-year-old dog. Again, a dog with a lot of promise still. Really fab expression that cane from a solid male head with dark well shaped eye. Excellent prominence to stop, with expressive brows. Deep chiselling undereye and muzzle finishing squarely, which really gave a lovely head of gentle expression. Correct ear placement, hanging close to a muscular neck of moderate reach, showing the desired arch. This flowed effortlessly into excellent front construction and angulation. This was evident in his movement around the ring. Plenty of bone. Spring seen to rib with strength to loin, thus presenting the typical topline. Correct rear-angulation, with tail-set and croup to match. Strong hocks and rear pasterns. Presented in full rich coat. Personally, would like to see a little more substance behind. This would enable him to drive off a little more, therefore, would have pushed BOB harder for the win. His reach on the up and back, as well as foot fall on the around was good/correct, when he allowed the handler to move him (was lovely to see his character). RBOB

2. 162 Parsons’s FORFARIAN FLUTT’R YER LASHES AT BRANSETT - 3-year-old bitch with a pretty, feminine head, characteristic of the breeding. Well balanced, lean head, with a black wide nose, fairly square finish to muzzle, equal proportions of occiput to stop and stop to end of nose, rise to stop and prominence to eyebrows. Dark colour to eye. Great placement of ears. Moderately reaching neck into shoulders that were in balance with the rear construction and angulation. Good spring to ribs. Gently sloping topline, with strong firm loin, which was held well on the move. Good width to upper thigh, that was well toned and plenty of bone evident throughout. Didn’t have the same amount of reach as 1st on the move, pushing her to 2nd. However, all these attributes made for a difficult decision.

BOB - 163 Parsons’s QUENSHA THINKING OUT LOUD AT BRANSETT (JW) - from Graduate

RBOB - 161 Gratton’s Glenlaine Moonstone - from Open

BP - 159 Gisby’s MARLLAND LILY ON THE VALLEY BY SUTTERESETT (IMP NLD) – from Puppy

Spaniel (Welsh Springer)

Although few in number, I was more than happy to put my winners through to the group and veteran respectively. Both dogs had different qualities, but in the end the junior took the group.

Class 78 – Spaniel (Welsh Springer) Puppy (0,0):

Class 63 – Spaniel (Welsh Springer) Junior (1,0):

1. 195 - Barkley’s JACRANELLA GALAHAD OF CHERRYHEATH (AI) – male of some 14-month. Loved the soft expression of this young man. Wide in dark nostrils. Clearly defined stop with dark medium shaped eye, bordered with a dark pigmented trim. Lovely working seen undereye. All coming together to give the presence of masculinity, without being harsh. Skull proportionate, and slightly domed. Muscularity seen on a long neck. Shoulders well set back and in balance with rear. Well-boned. Depth to chest clearly seen, with strength across loin. Excellent width to rear with well-muscled first and second thigh. Neat in feet. Coat in lovely condition also. N.B. in the challenge, Head and movement won it, showing characteristic merry and active disposition on the move. Showed superiority in the drive from rear, in the up and back, but also effortlessly on the around. BOB and shortlisted in a strong gundog group.

Class 64 – Spaniel (Welsh Springer) Graduate (0,0):

Class 65 – Spaniel (Welsh Springer) Open (1,0):

2. 194 - Barkley’s CHERRYHEATH’S MR MOJITO – 9-year-old male. Dark, wide nostrils, ample amount of working beneath eye. Hazel eye with dark pigmentation bordering. Good prominence to stop. Well-set ears, hanging close to cheeks. Neck muscular. Very good front angulation. Depth to brisket. Length of body to length of leg, balanced. Strength to loin, that was well coupled. Loved the width to thighs and rear angulation. Although lightening around face, still in full coat, with lovely richness to body and good feathering. For nine, moved very well indeed. Had straight pasterns on the up and back, covering the around well. RBOB and 2nd in the AV gundog veteran. N.B. In respects to body proportions, I preferred the compactness of this dog, over the other exhibit. However, in the challenge, did not drive out as well as the younger charge, with youthful exuberance taking the win.

BOB - 195 - Barkley’s JACRANELLA GALAHAD OF CHERRYHEATH (AI) - from Graduate

RBOB - 194 – Barkley’s CHERRYHEATH’S MR MOJITO – from Open

Dr. Hefin Jones (Pencastan)