Spanish Water Dog Club

Spanish Water Dog Club Open Show 2024 – Special Awards 9 June 2024

What a fabulous day and a great honour to be asked to judge these Special Award classes at the SWDC 14th Open Show. Thank you to the SWDC Judges’ subcommittee for the appointment and to the exhibitors for allowing me the pleasure of judging your dogs. Thank you to my Steward Helen Upton and to the Show Secretary and Manager, Ray McDonald. Without these volunteers we would not be able to run these shows to celebrate our breed.

As most of you know, I currently serve as the Club Honorary Secretary and I was delighted with a fantastic entry both for myself and for the Open Show Judge, Pam Cox, and for the excellent atmosphere and ringside support for the competitors, throughout the event.

My 3 class winners were all show stoppers and I was relieved I didn’t have to select a ‘Best of Breed’ !

Class 20 – Special Award Junior (4, 1)

1st Glaysher/Palumbo/Donaldson – Rainethyme Ever So Special – 15 mos brown/white B with bobtail – what a pleasure to meet this girl ! Fabulous expression, oozing breed type, yet feminine. Correct head with short neck and good depth of chest. Expected moderate angles, well-muscled and shown with correct brisk action with level topline – at one with the handler.

2nd Napier – Agemera Ginni Come Lately to Josalyn – 10 mos black B with bobtail – very excited on the grass today ! Good head, beautiful dark eye and correct neck. Correct angles front and rear resulting in great movement, when she was a little calmer !

3rd Slaymaker – Perrorizado San Andreas for Salvajero – 15 mos black D with full tail – Dark eye and pigmentation, good dentition and well curled coat. Needs to mature and fill out as a little long in the limbs at the moment.

Class 21 Special Award Post Graduate (7, 2)

1st Capille - Zorrazo X Factor at Lendever – 2 yr brown/white D, with bobtail – fabulous example of breed ! Strong and athletic, with correct proportions throughout. Flat skull, well placed ears and dark eye. Correct strong neck into well placed shoulders. Moved with drive and purpose with level topline.

2nd Kehoe - Delimore Varpu at Aguamarina (Imp FIN) – 2 yr brown D, with bob tail. Fabulous rustic coat and well-made underneath. Correct head proportions and pleasing expression with dark eye/pigment. Straight front, well laid shoulder, moderate angles resulting in brisk movement with rear drive and well handled.

3rd Slaymaker – Pabiaga Merietta at Salvajero – 6 yr brown B with full tail. Traditional overall shape – smaller and compact but feminine. Looser coat of correct texture. Proportions all correct and moved effortlessly, holding topline.

Class 22 Special Award Open (11, 1)

1st Preece / Cooper Janamorio Northern Arlo – 3 yr brown with white D, with bob tail. Strong, athletic dog with ring presence. Coat was clean and rustic and his overall outline exudes breed standard. Masculine head with pleasing expression and dark eye. Short muscular neck into well laid shoulders and deep chest. Ribs well sprung with level topline and muscular loin. Moved with drive and reach and at one with his handler.

2nd Peart – Josalyn Ria Nessa Via Janamorio – 6 yr brown B, with long tail. Mother to 1 above. Short coat today but nothing to hide. Pretty expression on feminine head, with dark pigmentation. Well balanced with excellent angulation, which reflected in athletic movement, holding a level topline.

3rd Ladlow – Josalyn Roldan El Mago – 6 yr brown with white D, with full tail. Litter brother to 2 above. Not overdone in any aspect. Slightly over excited today but accurate movement and at one with the handler. Slightly longer in the muzzle than I would like but still fits the breed standard in proportions and coat condition. Pleasing expression and dark pigment. Short neck, good lay of shoulder and sprung ribs. Strong loin and well let down hocks.

Jennifer Abrahams - Adormidera