Tredegar & District Canine Society

Tredegar and District

Hungarian Vizsla, Retriever (Flatcoat), Weimaraner and Spaniel (Welsh Springer).

My thanks must go to the committee for asking me to judge at their show and for the warm welcome I received. I found out that there was a late change of venue that obviously caused a major headache for the committee. Although tight, they did their very best to make it work, under difficult circumstances. Well done.

Some good examples on view today. Movement was very much chalk and cheese. However, type took precedence on some occasions because of ring size. Thank you to all who brought their charges under me. My two stewards, Simon and Matt, ran the ring so very well and ensured all documentation was carried out perfectly, even at some difficult times. Thank you both very much!

Hungarian Vizsla

Not much to choose from the exhibits within this breed, which was nice to see and provided a nice little headache.

Class 65 – Graduate (3,0)

1. 91 – Adams’s VIZASH ELENK AT JAMZCO- 2.5-year-old bitch that had a lot to like. Lighter in coat colour than that of 2nd. Fine in appearance in the stack, showing bitch trait, yet still robust. Nicely feminine in head proportions, lovely development to nostrils, with complementary colour to dermis to nose and around eye, that was of medium size and a shade darker than coat. These were set well into skull that showed good width between ears and in keeping prominence to median line. Ears hanging closely to side of head. Excellent reach to neck that was well off for arch and strength. Seamless interchange to thoracic region. Very nice in chest width and depth, with soundness to proportions and angulation to shoulders. Well off for bone and upright in pasterns. Lovely, rounded feet with arched toes. Well sprung rib and slight tuck-up. Super topline that did not waver on the move. Angulation of rear, complementary to that of front, as was angulation to croup and tail set. Moved very well around the ring with nice width to rear action.

2. 95 – Jefferies’s VISZLANYA DOMEKNKOS -11-month boy that pushed 1st well. stood in a slightly darker coat than that of 1st, yet still well in breed standard. A developing male head that was very pleasing. Very balanced with rest of body. Good prominence to stop, without being overdone. Lovely width to skull between ears that fitted the hand nicely. Median line showing ample prominence. Skull to muzzle ratio correct. Oval, medium shaped eye with good pigmentation. Correct ear placement and length, good reach to arched neck, ample lay of shoulders, with good amount of bone. Well off for muscle throughout, inclusive of croup. Good width to thigh and muscling to rear quarters. Covered the ring well on the move. Needs a little time to come into his own. Out done on a more mature dog. Presented well indeed. Happy to award BP.

3. 97 – Walford’s PIROSKUTYA ARA.

Class 66 – Open (3,0)

1. 94 – Coombe’s AMARANTOS BELLARIA AT CASTLEFIELD – 2.5-year-old bitch which I liked as soon as I saw her in the stack. Overall balance was key here and clear to see on a slighter in frame, but still showing a lot to like. Light russet gold coat. Well off for female head construction, with proportional stop and strength to foreface. Correct in bite. Lovely working around eyes and to zygomatic arch. Bright, intelligent look to medium, ovoid eyes, of a lovely shade. Pigmentation of wide nose and eye complementary to that of coat. Again, balance seen to width across skull to that of the medial furrow. Skull of good ratio to muzzle. Ears of correct, rounded V shape of good length, and hung closely next to head. Excellent in strength to moderately long neck. This flowed effortlessly into powerful shoulders that were well laid and good proportions. Width to chest of good depth. Depth of thorax in good ratio, from chest to floor. Nicely sprung ribs. Super, firm topline and strong loin. Gentle tuck-up. Lovely width to upper thigh. Angulation of rear, in proportion to front. correct tail placement and carriage. Best mover of all the Vizsla on the day, showing easy ground coverage, drive, reach and width behind on the up and back. Knew her job well and carried it out. BOB.

2. 93 – Challis’s VIZSLANYA PRAXIS JW- yet another who pushed the 1st well. Again, a 2.5-year-old bitch. Slighter and smaller in frame than that of my 1st but a lot of proportions complementary to composition. Still falling within the breed standard. Pretty in refined feminine head. with width to nostrils, with decent rise to stop. Expressive in medium eye. Lovely proportional width to skull. Correct in ear placement, length, and texture. Good length and strength to neck. elbows held close to body with straight forearms. Length seen to strong loin. Very good, straight topline. moderate rear angulation. Well-muscled and clean lines seen throughout. Didn’t quite have the reach as that of 1st, but showed true foot fall on the around and drove well on the up and back. Handled and presented well.

3. 96 - Walford’s PIROSKUTYA AQUILLA

BOB - 94 – Coombe’s AMARANTOS BELLARIA AT CASTLEFIELD (from Open)

BP - 95 – Jefferies’s VISZLANYA DOMEKNKOS (from Graduate)

Retriever (Flat coated)

I didn’t realise until I checked, but I have had the chance to have ‘hands on’, both exhibits and I did not change my mind.

Class 67 – Graduate (2,0)

1. 99 – Simons’s COEDYLAN BAMBINO CARO JW – This almost 4-year-old, was chosen as 1st in class based on her movement and type. Much of my previous comments will still stand. Very pleasant female in appearance. Soft, sweat expression, with long head, gentle stop, and flat skull. Neatly hung ears, close to head and reasonably long neck. This flowed into well placed shoulders. Well ribbed and showed good strength over short loin. Good bone seen throughout. Good width to thigh which helped greatly on the move, which she did well and with enthusiasm. She was once again best mover of the Flatcoats. Very much true in action on the away and back, presenting good width. Dressed very well in a great deal of rich black coat that had beautiful sheen. More compact than 2nd, which was more of my liking. She has developed well since I last saw her. BOB.

2. 100 - Simons’s COEDYLAN MARTINI NIGHT – another I have been afforded the opportunity to go over previously. A very different style to that of 1st, with this exhibit, more rangy and taller in appearance, and lighter in profusion of black coat, making her a very honest girl of some nearly 6 years. Yet again another lovely soft bitch expression, and alert, yet kindly dark eye. Wide open nostrils. Nicely shaped long lean skull, with slight stop. Ears set close to head. Length and strength to neck evident, that flowed very well into strong body, that is well ribbed. Would have preferred a little more bone. Not overly done in hind quarters giving her body balance. Sadly, today, she didn’t move as well as that of 1st. However, highly optimistic, which was lovely to see, but overflowed sometimes, especially on the move and the free stack, giving her handler a little bit of work. However, was lovely to see the exuberance in the ring. Lovely richness, texture, and depth to the coat.

Class 68 – Open (1,1)

BOB - 99 – Simons’s COEDYLAN BAMBINO JW (from Graduate)

Weimaraner

Although only one dog was present, which was a little disappointing, I was more than happy with my worthy winner.

Class 69 – Graduate (4,3)

1. 108 – Jefferies’s RIVERTONE AURORA OVER SILBERMEER – 16-month bitch that seems to be going in the right direction on many fronts, with a lot of proportions complementary with each other. Lovely in head and expression. Slight prominence to median line, with ample occipital protuberance. Although feminine in appearance, strength to skull still present and balance in head ratios. Not overly light in eye colour, which really suited her and gave that previously mentioned expression. Good amount of workings to foreface and zygomatic arch. Good length and strength to neck. Good front and rear angulation. In body, agreeable in forequarter ratios as well as length of body: height at withers. Enough width to chest for frame and down at elbow. Good strength over loin which was firm in the stack and on the move. Moderate width to thigh. She still has some work to do, but all looks like it is going in the right direction at this age. On the move, went very well in a smaller ring. Width behind and ran true on the fore and aft. BOB.

Class 70 – Open (2,2)

BOB - 108 – Jefferies’s RIVERTONE AURORA OVER SILBERMEER (from Graduate).

Spaniel (Welsh Springer)

Class 71 – Graduate (5,2)

1. 114-Worth’s SARABANDE SPIRIT IN THE SKYE – as soon as she entered the ring, this 13-month girl was a very eye-catching youngster. This was from her very pleasing outline, proportions, head construction but also, absolutely super gloss to rich red markings and beautifully contrasting white. Very much fitting with the breed standard, and my type. Very well proportioned throughout. Very pretty in feminine head from a beautiful expression from the lovely dark eye, that was surrounded by a nice amount of chiselling. Skull of good proportions, very much in keeping with rest of body, with a lovely fairly square finish to muzzle. Wide in dark nostril. Ears of good length and set. Excellent reach of strong neck that seamlessly exited into well laid shoulders. Forelegs straight. Correct in body proportions from length to height. Brisket deep and down to elbow. Good topline and strong over loin. Nice slope and width to croup, with well set on tail. Complementary width to upper thigh and decent amount of muscle to 2nd thigh. Well off for bone throughout. Moved ever so well with lovely action and covered the ground quickly and with plenty of drive coming from those rear quarters. Foot fall was correct. Was happy on the move but a little nervous when going over. However, I’m sure this will ease greatly, and confidence will come with time and more exposure. She still had all the qualities to make her 1st in class. I also found out that she was daughter to my BOB. A lot of qualities from her father have been passed to her, most notably, her super rich, deep coat. I’m sure this is another from this breeder who will go far under their guidance.

2. 111 – Roberts’s NYLIRAM JUST DANCE WITH CWRTAFON – bitch of nearly 9-month that was unlucky to come up against 1st. Particularly well-schooled for one of such a young age. Not so much my type, but still appealing. Slighter in overall construction than that of 1st, similar to 3rd. Good balance to head proportions and domed shape to skull. Lovely amount of working around zygomatic arch and around dark, medium eye. Complementary pigmentation seen. Good dentition and strong jaw. Correct ear positioning, shape and length, that hang neatly next to a neck of good reach. Front angulation was good and well off for bone, with legs straight. Depth to brisket seen. Moderate rear angulation. lovely tail action that was constant throughout. Lighter in coat colour than that of 1st, but still in breed standard. Not as developed as winner and didn’t have the movement of 1st. Believe she will need a little time to develop and come into her own. BP and gundog puppy GRP 3.

3. 109 - Janes’s JACRANELLA GEORGIA BELLE (AI)- very honourable mention. Just needs to come together a little, but a dog with lovely personality and could do well.

Class 72 – Open (2,1)

1. 113 – Worth’s SH CH SARABANDE LORD OF THE DANCE (AI) JW – this 7-year-old is one I have had the honour of going over previously and after research, seeing his accolades, I am thrilled that he came under me again. Such a lovely example of the breed. Even now, he still has everything that I would look for in a Welsh Springer. Much of my previous superlatives stand and are mirrored from my previous critique. Excellent in masculine head, with lovely dark eye framed with complementary skin pigmentation. Correct proportions from muzzle to head, with moderately defined stop. Muscular neck of good length, which flowed effortlessly into well-laid-back shoulders of good construction/proportions. Deep in chest, showing good width. Providing room for excellent spring of rib and strong loin. Good tail set and length to croup, and rise over loin, which was firm. These elements enabled a desirable topline. Nicely angulated rear with width to upper and second thigh. Went around the ring with drive and true on the up and back. Lovely rich coat that finished off a great example of a balanced dog. So many things to like. Movement today was excellent with that characteristic smooth and powerful action. He showed plenty of drive and covered the ground very well indeed. Excellent width to rear action was also obvious, showing off his sound rear construction. BOB and was super in the group gaining GRP 2.

BOB -113 – Worth’s SH CH SARABANDE LORD OF THE DANCE (AI) JW (from Open)

BP -111 – Roberts’s NYLIRAM JUST DACE WITH CWRTAFON (from Graduate)

Dr. Hefin Jones (Pencastan)