Ashfield (Notts) Canine Society

AshField (Notts) Canine Society Premier Open Show 8th June 2024

I would like to thank the committee of Ashfield Canine Society & the sled dog community for coming out in force and supporting this show. It was truly humbling to have such a wonderful quality entry, which made for some very tough decisions. 

Alaskan Malamute

Puppy 3 entries/1a

1st Patrick & Ashman’s Okinastar Destiny Calling at Coldasice. A wonderful Seal & White girl, 7 months old. Beautiful feminine head, with room for maturing. Correct ear placement and shape. Lovely dark almond shaped eye. Dark nose/lip pigmentation & correct scissor bite. Good layback of shoulder into correct return of upper arm. Appropriate bone for age, nice compact snowshoe feet. Coat in clean pristine condition, highlighting its wonderful colour & texture. Correct tail set. Very true coming & going. No hesitation in awarding class win & BPIB. 

2nd Hooley’s Bartkennels Magic Soho. 9-month-old Grey & White girl, who has many of the same attributes of class winner but just preferred the movement of 1 on this occasion. 

Junior 1 entry

1st Hooley’s Black Stripe at Dokkalfar. A Wolf Grey & White male, nice wedge-shaped head with soft expression. Almond shaped eye, correct scissor bite. Small well furred ears. Good movement. Coat texture slightly softer than I would prefer. 

PG 1 entry

1st Perfitt’s Samjoe Shadow Hunter JW. Grey & White boy with lots to like and will only get better with age. Nearly 20 months old. Nice wedge-shaped head with maturing still to do. Correct ear set, bite and eye shape. Correct amount of bone for age. Exhibited a tightening of tail when excited or alert, but once on the move it transformed into a wave plume. RBOB. 

Open 1 entry

1st Perfitt’s Samjoe from Russia with Love JW. What an elegant, powerhouse this wonderful girl is. From the moment she moved she did not disappoint. Could do a full day on the sled with no problems. Correct size & proportions. Nothing overdone. Lovely head shape, correct eye & placement. Small well furred ears. Correct bite. Pretty waving plume tail. True coming & going. It was my pleasure to award her BOB. 

Bouvier Des Flandres

Puppy 1 entry

1st Bruintjes Schaap’s Crystal Damy VD Vanehlikhoeve. What a pretty, young lady who screamed breed type. Correct head proportions with powerful broad muzzle. Lovely slightly oval shaped eye, great pigmentation. Correct ear set & bite. Wonderful Shape and proportions. Feet, round & compact. Great tail carriage. Pristine coat & handled to perfection. She really pushed the Open class winner for BOB. No hesitation to award her BPIB & RBOB.

Junior – 0 entries 

PG 2 entries/1a 

1st Ackers’ Ornella Dei Figli Di Paparott at Bouvibear (imp ITA) 3-year-old bitch, correct head and scissor bite. Ample leg & slightly longer cast in proportions than I would prefer. Correct tail & feet. Good movement. 

Open 1 entry

1st Bruintjes-Schaap’s NLD/BEL/INT CH Damy-Funny VD VanenblikHoeve. 8-year-old bitch who demanded attention as she strutted into the ring. Powerful, compact & dripping in bone. Beautiful coat, groomed & presented in great condition. Correct head, ear set & dentition. Movement was free and easy, with effortless power. My pleasure to award her BOB. Even if her daughter (Puppy class winner) did give her a run for her money. 

Canadian Eskimo Dog

I have admired CED’s for a long time and it was an honour to judge this breed today, although not numerically strong in the UK, it in no way reflected in the quality of the dogs.

Puppy 1 entry

1st Bailey’s Anka Interstellar. What can I say about this spirited youngster, she really felt she had better and more important things to be doing than being in my ring today. When she did allow her handler to get to the job in hand she oozed breed type. Great front and rear angulation. Lovely feminine head and correct scissor bite. She was all sass. If her clever handler can harness that she will be a force to be reckoned with. BPIB. 

PG 1 entry

1st Cronin’s Norstrela Lost Jewel. Another energetic exhibit who gave their handler a hard time. Pleasing head, lovely obliquely set eye, dark in colour. Powerful girl on the move, effortless when gaiting. Great feet. Correct coat. 

Open 5 entries

Wow what a class, of 5 quality exhibits.  

1st Bailey’s CH Qimugta Judas by Akna. Striking Black & White male, who caught my eye as soon as he entered the ring. Masculine head, but soft in expression. Gorgeous dark eye and pigmentation, correct scissor bite. Lovely short and triangular, well furred ears. Everything about his demeanour and profile shouted powerful sled dog. Correct front & rear angulation balanced throughout. Large, well arched feet. Gorgeous coat with impressive mane. Effortless on the move. My pleasure to award him BOB. I was delighted to see him gain a WG3 in strong group. 

2nd Byrne’s Aavuuta Qimmiq Akiak (imp CAN) Another impressive male who has the near identical attributes as the class winner and really did push for the top spot, but sadly he came up against his half-brother, who did not relent in the showmanship stakes. In no way does this detract from this quality exhibit whom on another occasion could easily swap places. No hesitate to award RBOB. Later went on to Reserve Best Rare Breed in show. Congratulations!

Greenland Dog

Junior 1 entry

1st Blaney’s Fenrirkin Keeping it Loki. The 7-month-old boy, sure was having a great time as he entered the ring, full of enthusiasm and energy which his intuitive handler harnessed. Great body shape and proportions. Correct head & bite. Ears were a little soft but will firm up with age. Great on the move once he settled. BPIB.

PG 1 entry

1st Parsons’ Fenrirkin Out of the Black. Beautiful 3½ year old female, with a wonderful black coat. Lovely feminine head, correct bite with short firm well set ears. Great outline and balance. Cracking coming & going. Outstanding side gate. In the challenge she really pushed her sister hard on the move. RBOB. 

Open 3 entries – a lovely class of outstanding overall quality. 

1st Blaney’s ESP/INT CH Fenrirkin Can’t be late ShCEx. A very Showy, dignified Red & White female, who exudes confidence and ring presence. Beautiful breed type without being overdone or coarse. Wonderful lay back of shoulder and return of upper arm & with the correct hindquarters propelled her around the ring with power & effortless grace. It was my pleasure to award her BOB.

2ND Blaney’s ESP/SUI/IR/INT CH Suna-Sanik’s Electric Noah of Fenrirkin (imp NOR). 5-year-old male White & Black male, who commands your attention, substantial bone, with correct coat & feet. Masculine head, dark eye & pigmentation. On this occasion just out moved by his kennel mate. 

Siberian Husky 

Puppy 3 entries – a lovely class, I’m sure throughout the show season, these pups will all swap placings. 

1st Freeman & Wakefield’s Siberiadrift Hocus Pocus. Loved this girl from the moment she stepped in the ring. Beautiful outline & proportions with striking Agouti colouring & mischievous blue eyes. What a package! Correct head shape, ear set. Then did not disappoint on the move, for a puppy she was smooth & effortless, loved her foot timing. Without hesitation BPIB.

2nd Hooley’s Aloustair’s Queen Sarabi. Another pretty Agouti girl, who had similar attribute to 1. But was lacking in confidence today, to really make her shine, in this quality puppy class. 

Junior 0 entries

PG 6 entries/3a

1st Goodall’s Cwnhapus Master of Whispers JW. 2 ½ year old male, with correct angulations front & rear. Pleasing head, without being over done for age. Lovely movement coming/going and on the side. Schooled & handled well. RBOB.

2nd Bolsover CharmedKelz’s DreamFyre. A different style of dog to class winner but did not detract from her quality. Similar attributes but was less settled on the move. Thus, not reaching her full potential in the ring today. 

Open 8 entries/2a – what a class! Made for some very tough decisions.  

1st Patrick’s CH Tom Bombadil Of Poliarine Arktika At Coldasice JW ShCM VW. Wow! this nearly 12-year-old Red boy defies the act of ageing. He just screams breed type. Nothing is overdone. Cracking finely chiselled fox-like head, correct eye placement & pigmentation for colouring. Correct front and rear assembly. Lovely oval shaped, compact feet. Tail just as the breed standard describes. Excelled on the move. BOB & WVG1.

2ND Snelson’s Salazka’s Mr Abernathy at Ashtrax. Another lovely mature male, nearly 7 years old, who is a different style of dog to class winner. But really caught my eye on the move. The more he moved the more he excelled. 

Kat Copley-Holland

Katabatic Alaskan Malamutes.