North Of England Welsh Springer Spaniel Club

North Of England Welsh Springer Spaniel Club Open Show (03/11/2024)

Many thanks to the committee for inviting me and for their first class hospitality on the day. It is always an honour to be invited to judge but officiating at a breed club show as a non-specialist is such a privilege. Many thanks to my very capable stewards who ran the ring like clockwork and to the very sporting exhibitors for their support. I was delighted to be told after judging that it was a real family affair amongst my principle winners, with the BD & BB being the parents of my BPIS & RBPIS winners!

MINOR PUPPY DOG (1,0)

Jackson, Ritchie & Jackson’s, Slapestones Dominico. Lots going for this 7 month old dog. Excellent bone and overall balance for his age. Well proportioned head with correct eye and ear shape, would not want anymore stop but this could be down to his current stage of development. Super forehand with straight limbs and correct feet. Wide all through his quarters and ribbing. Rear needs to strengthen with age. Excellent mover for age. BPD & RBPIS to his sister!

PUPPY DOG (1,0)

Jackson, Ritchie & Jackson’s, Slapestones Dominico.

JUNIOR DOG (1,0)

Wallington’s, Ferndel Renzo at Rovinjdal. Very much a teenager at the moment being a little rangy all through but liked him very much for type. Such a typical headpiece with required chiselling and big nostrils. Moderate but balanced angulation fore/aft. Level topline with pleasing tail set. Needs to develop in body and confidence with time. Very sound mover when viewed from all angles holding his shape.

YEARLING DOG (2,0)

Douglas’, Santallina Off And Running JW. Built on smaller and more compact lines than 2nd. Well off for bone with excellent feet. Super head and eye with well sized/shaped ears. Symmetrical angulation fore/aft with super width over his quarters and enough leg length. Absolutely firm topline with short loin. Very tidy on the move with firm hocks and elbows. He maintains his shape when viewed from the side but would benefit from being a little more extrovert. A really nice prospect and did consider him for top honours today.

Wallington’s, Ferndel Renzo at Rovinjdal.

POST GRADUATE DOG (2,0)

Douglas’, Santallina Off And Running JW.

Brook’s, Eiraindylis Georgia Moon. Absolutely excels in temperament and bone! A very honest, typy male with lots of appeal. Really liked his head shape in profile, eyes dark enough. Excellent breadth/depth through his quarters and body. Correct leg length. Balanced, moderate angulation both fore/aft but would prefer a more gentle slope to his croup. In excellent coat and condition. Sound mover from all angles, just needs to curb his enthusiasm to fully focus on the job at hand.

LIMIT DOG (1,0)

Clarke & Gaylor’s, Tigerrock Tick Tick Boom JW. A very impressive dog on first appearance having the required strength and robustness in body and bone. Greatly appealed for type and size. His head is masculine with work around the eyes which emphasises his kind expression. Reachy neck that flows into an excellent forehand with well developed forechest, straight limbs and neat feet. Excellent development through his quarters and body with a firm topline and short loin. Would prefer slightly more bend of stifle to be hypercritical but his croup is correct and hocks are strong. Makes his presence felt on the move with his powerful action when viewed from the side and correct front/hind action. Put down in excellent coat and condition combined with an excellent temperament. Pleased to award him RBD & RBIS!

OPEN DOG (4,0) - A really good class, 4 very competitive males.

Ritchie & Butler’s, Sh Ch. Slapestones Diamond Mine JW. Excels in type and balance. Immediately drawn to his typical shape, super bone and correct balance of angulation. Super head and eye, showing strength without coarseness. Excellent reach of neck that flows into well laid shoulders, straight limbs and well padded feet. Super spring and depth of ribbing that go well back to a short loin. Firm topline that flows to a correct croup angle and tail set. On the move he is smooth, showing good forward reach, correct hind thrust while maintaining his level topline and tail carriage. Put down in first class condition. Not at all surprised to see he has his title, he set the benchmark for the day. Delighted to award him BD & BIS!

Clarke’s, Sh Ch. Tigerrock Magic Woundabout JW ShCEx OSW. Another worthy titleholder and close up to 1 in many respects. Very pleasing overall type and shape with proportionate bone. Loved his masculine head with soft expression. Excellent flow of neck into shoulder. Not quite the upper arm of 1. Excellent maturity through the body with well sprung ribs and correct length of leg. Level topline with good moulding over the croup and correct rear angulation. Very sound and typical on the move maintaining his shape. Another put down in excellent condition overall. Considered in the challenge but just preferred the front of his kennelmate.

Stevenson’s, Mymmsbrook Matador with Blythway JW.

VETERAN DOG (2,1)

Brown’s, Bowdonia Ozzie VW. This chap really belies his veteran years when you see him trot so freely and still displaying good power from the rear at 9.5 years old! A very honest dog in his overall make and shape. Typical head and eye with the softest of expressions. Moderate but balanced angulation fore/aft. Well developed ribbing with a level topline. Displays excellent bone and feet. Superb temperament!

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (3,1) - 2 litter sisters with very much to choose between them.

Graham’s, Slapestones Catoca.

Ritchie’s, Slapestones Finsch.

I have decided to do a joint critique due to being so similar. Both slightly different in body shape at this stage, 1 being slightly shorter bodied than 2. Both have such typical head shapes when viewed from the side and are ultra-feminine but just preferred the eye shape of 1 today. Both have correct, balanced angulation fore/aft with firm toplines and correct angle of croup. On the move they’re both very age-appropriate but will only get better with conditioning and training. Delighted to award the winner BPIS, only beating her litter brother!

PUPPY BITCH (2,0)

Graham’s, Slapestones Catoca.

Ritchie’s, Slapestones Finsch.

JUNIOR BITCH (3,1) - Both very different styles of bitch.

Gibson’s, Ferndel Rossana at Cadehill. Very typy in all departments. Liked her head shape and expression with well sized ears. Correct angulation both fore/aft. Age-appropriate body with room for further development. Excellent bone and feet. A very fluid mover while holding her shape from all angles.

Worth’s, Sarabande Spirit In The Skye. Smaller and lighter framed all through compared to 1. Liked her body length. Typical head and eye. Balanced angulation fore/aft. Strong topline and good width through her quarters. Just needs to settle and grow in confidence to show herself off to advantage.

YEARLING BITCH (0,0)

POST GRADUATE BITCH (4,1)

Casey’s, Tigerrock Amazing Grace with Willowmeana. A really good one for type and balance. She has obvious strength in bone and body without compromising her femininity. Super head and eye with a long neck that flows into a well made forehand. Neat feet and straight limbs. Excellent spring of rib, strong topline and short loin. Firm hocks when viewed from behind with a correct tailset. Very sound and together on the move from all angles. Sympathetically handled to get the best from her. I liked her a lot and pushed all the way in the challenge.

Short’s, Toftwood Jean Genie. A slightly different style of bitch to 1, being slightly shorter bodied and more up on her leg, but with lots of appeal. So typical in head with good finish to back skull but would prefer a bit more strength through her muzzle for balance. Well-boned limbs and neat feet. Excellent body and topline. Correct rear assembly. Another good mover but preferred the slightly truer action of 1 coming towards. Put down in excellent coat and condition.

Mole & Knox, Jennifer Our Loyal Welsh at Edincraw (Imp NLD).

LIMIT BITCH (5,1)

Short’s, Ferndel Fire Gem at Toftwood. Stood out in this class for type and shape. Beautiful head and eye with well shaped/sized ears. Excellent neck into shoulder but stands a touch wide. Super bone and feet. Well bodied up with excellent length of leg. Topline flows seamlessly to her correctly angled croup. Super mover from the side and going away, using herself well and maintaining her shape. Pushed hard in the challenge.

Casey’s, Tigerrock Lit De Roses with Willowmeana. Felt she had a better head overall than 1 but preferred the leg length of the winner. Typically made throughout without exaggeration. Angulation is correct and balanced. Well bodied up and another in excellent condition. Puts herself to good use on the move.

Mole & Knox’s, Zaza Florence Our Loyal Welsh at Edincraw (Imp NLD).

OPEN BITCH (3,1)

Ritchie’s, Sarabande Dancing Queen at Slapestones JW (AI). Liked her very much for size, shape and overall balance. Middle-sized with strength in bone. Her head shape and proportions are typical but would just prefer her eye one shade darker. Absolutely balanced angulation both fore/aft with strong limbs and neat, well-padded feet. Excellent topline, tailset and carriage. Goes with precision going/coming and covers the ground in an economical fashion when viewed from the side. Excellent temperament and condition. She looked a treat standing next to her ‘partner’ for BIS but just felt the 2 males had a bit more finish and panache.

Graham’s, Aindrea Harleyquinn. Bigger and more angular than 1 but with an undeniable air of quality. Preferred her style of head and eye colour to 1. Excellent neck and shoulder with plenty of leg. Would prefer her a touch shorter in loin. Well made hindquarters with firm hocks. Very sound on the move and really covers the ground. Very good coat and condition.

VETERAN BITCH (1,0)

Gibson’s, Dearham Dilys of Cadehill. Really taken with this young lady who can still trouble the best. Scores heavily in type. Loved her head and expression, super forehand with straight limbs and neat feet. Well bodied with a deep brisket and good length of foreleg. Would prefer a touch more bend of stifle for ideal balance but stands firm when viewed from behind. Really puts herself to good use on the move, displaying an easy ground covering action and absolute soundness going/coming. Really taken with her and incredibly happy to award her RBB and BVIS.

GOOD CITIZEN DOG SCHEME (3,1)

Mole & Knox’s, Zaza Florence Our Loyal Welsh at Edincraw (Imp NLD). A bigger girl but very balanced in terms of angulation and general body properties. Typical head shape, feminine with required chiselling. Good body and topline with excellent feet. Displays an sound action on the move but would prefer her a touch wider going/coming.

Philipson’s, Menstonia Meteor ShCEx. Really liked the bone and substance of his handsome dog. Very typy head and expression with dark eyes. Good forehand, straight limbs and excellent feet. Mature through his body with a firm topline and strongly made rear quarters. Would prefer a little less slope to croup. Goes with gusto on the move. Excellent coat presentation.