Tay Valley Gundog Association

TAY VALLEY GUNDOG ASSOCIATION OPEN SHOW

SUNDAY 21st APRIL 2024

With other Open Shows and a Labrador Retriever Championship Show on the same day, not the biggest entry, but what a lovely show, a good venue with spacious rings enabling movement to be properly assessed and the usual wonderful Scottish hospitality. Special thanks to my efficient steward Sheila, who was a pleasure to work with.

RETRIEVER (LABRADOR) PUPPY (2, 1 Abs)

1. Gunn’s EXELBY ELIZABETH. Yellow, 11 months, beautifully constructed enabling her to free stand without effort, a lovely outline in profile, free from exaggeration, balanced feminine head with soft expression, dark eye and pigment, correctly set ears, good neck and shoulder layback, balanced body and well-set tail, just right for her age, moved very soundly coming and going and fluidly in profile covering the ground. Best Puppy.

RETRIEVER (LABRADOR) SPECIAL YEARLING (2)

1. EXELBY ELIZABETH

2. Gilroy’s CLAYCHALK COSTA MONETA. Black, more heavily built and just preferred the more feminine head and positive front movement of 1, but very soundly and compactly made standing foursquare on strong bone and compact feet. Dense double coat and thick otter like tail, a very nice outline with good angles front and rear, strong neck of good length and well-placed shoulders, no mistaking her breed.

RETRIEVER (LABRADOR) GRADUATE (3, 1 Abs)

1. Hardy’s GIGHTY BURN ECHO. Darker yellow bitch, workmanlike, lighter in build, muscular and in hard condition, enough bone and good leg length to body ratio, clean neck of good length and well laid shoulders. Would just prefer more width and depth of muzzle to balance her head, rather keen in expression. Straight front and rear, upper arm could be better but hindquarters well angled, neat feet, moved with freedom and drive, attentive to handler.

RETRIEVER (LABRADOR) POST GRADUATE (2, 1 Abs)

1. Farquharson’s RAMSAYVILLE RUSSIAN RHYTHM. Yellow bitch, presenting a lovely balanced outline, feminine well-proportioned head, intelligent expression from dark eyes, neat well placed ears, good depth and width of muzzle. Would prefer a cleaner throat, but no denying her overall quality and breed attributes, thick dense coat and otter like tail, excellent front and rear angulation, level topline and good tail carriage, moved steadily truly and with purpose. Best of Breed.

RETRIEVER (LABRADOR) OPEN (2, 1 Abs)

1. GIGHTY BURN ECHO

SPANIEL (COCKER) PUPPY (7, 2 Abs)

1. Neatham’s SHOOGSEA HEIR. Quality dog 10 months, very well presented, lovely clean masculine head with soft expression, good muzzle to skull ratio, clean strong neck well set into fine shoulders, compactly and squarely made with good spring of rib and depth of brisket, good angles front and rear. An easy winner with typical bustling, merry movement with ever wagging tail carried level, moving absolutely soundly and truly. Best Puppy and Puppy Group 4.

2. Blazejczak’s ST CLAIR’S WILDSWIM FROM REDGRANATE. Black bitch, 9 months, well presented and handled, another squarely and moderately made, presenting a very nice outline standing, everything n the right place, sweet and kind expression, feminine outlook, straight front and rear, short level back and good tail carriage, moved truly but not the enthusiasm or merry Cocker action of 1.

3. Duncan’s DUNHERL MOUNTAIN ASH

SPANIEL (COCKER) SPECIAL YEARLING (7, 3 Abs)

1. Duncan’s CORRALET CONDESA III OF DUNHERL. Beautiful blue roan bitch, feminine with a lovely head, well-proportioned and kind gentle expression from intelligent eyes, well placed ears, sturdy and compact standing on strong bone and feet, everything in proportion, well ribbed with short strong loin, straight front and rear, level topline and correct tail set, moved with typical merry bustling action and great drive, well presented and handled. Best of Breed & Gundog Group 4.

2. Smith’s DELLA FIUMANA LET’S HAVE FUN AT LUANSHYA. Blue roan, masculine dog giving his handler a hard time but a happy attitude, substance without coarseness, very soundly made, balanced head with gentle intelligent expression, ears well set, strong neck, straight front and rear and well angulated all through, good width to hindquarters and very sound and active on the move. Close up to 1.

3. Lawrie’s MABELHOPE YOUR THE ONE

SPANIEL (COCKER) LIMIT (5, 3 Abs)

1. Duncan’s DUNHERL FORGET ME NOT. Solid chocolate/liver bitch of quality, a very good example of her colour, flat silky coat gleaming with condition. Feminine well-proportioned head with parallel planes, sweet expression, pleasing outline, well constructed all through, at the top end of the standard, but a balanced typical Cocker with very good action, moving truly and soundly, driving from strong hindquarters.

2. Skinner’s KAIMERLAY YOU PRETTY THING. Solid black bitch, not quite the head proportions of 1, but she is compactly made with good angles front and rear, a most beautiful expression from dark eyes, moderate neck set into good shoulders, but tending to slope her topline and carrying her tail a little high on the move. Moved however, steadily and truly coming and going using strong hocks and short rear pasterns to produce drive from behind.

SPANIEL (COCKER) OPEN (4, 2 Abs)

1. Skinner’s KENYNTEN NAKED AMBITION AT KAIMERLAY. Black/tan bitch, feminine with a well balanced head though muzzle plane could be flatter, well defined stop, lovely neck and forequarter construction, straight forelegs and well angulated rear, deep brisket and well sprung ribs, pleasing outline, tail set well on her rounded and wide hindquarters, moved truly and soundly with typical merry action.

2. Hynd’s RYALLCOURT TAN ABOUT TOWN AT SCOMAR. Black/white and tan dog, a little heavy in the head and with excess throatiness, eye rims could be tighter, but body properties are good, short level back, compact and neat with ribs well sprung, deep brisket, well rounded hindquarters, good angulation front and rear, strong bone and feet, moved soundly and truly.

SPANIEL (ENGLISH SPRINGER) POST GRADUATE (1)

1. Stevenson’s PEASBLOSSOM BROGAN AT GAOLACHCARA. A wow moment when he came into the ring and I saw him move, liver/white, yet to mature and still raw at 16 months, masculine, very well balanced, harmoniously constructed, clean outline, well proportioned head, good length of neck into well laid shoulders, well angulated front and rear, strong bone and tight feet, workmanlike, muscular and athletic, simply powered around the ring ground covering with a long swinging stride in front and great drive from the rear. Very stylish, one for the future. Best of Breed and shortlisted for Best in Show.

SPANIEL (ENGLISH SPRINGER) OPEN (1)

1. Dobbin’s SH CH DONARDEN GIN FIZZ. Mature l/w bitch, much quality, mature and in full coat, well presented. Beautiful feminine head, well chiselled with soft expression, so well made, balanced and correctly angulated all through, absolutely sound and effortless on the move, free striding with reach and drive. My notes say nothing to fault, absolutely loved her, not surprised to find she has her title. A very hard decision between her and the young dog, had to go with my initial thought, the best two dogs I had hands on today.

SPANIEL (CLUMBER) OPEN (2)

1. Brown’s MAURSETT MEADIE. 19 month old dog of excellent proportions, powerfully made, free from exaggeration with substance and strong bone, very well balanced, absolutely sound, active, well-muscled and workmanlike. Well-proportioned masculine head without being overdone, good ears, excellent neck and shoulders, well ribbed back strong hindquarters producing drive from the rear, overall straight effortless movment. He did know how to play his handler, who needs more practice with this enthusiastic youngster, but no denying his overall quality and once settled, should go far. One to watch. Best of Breed.

2. Hanney’s MAURSETT MORUISG. Masculine showing typical Clumber temperament, square head, longer and lower than 1, not quite the leg length or overall balance and heavier all through, good depth of brisket and well ribbed back, straight front and rear with moderate angles, strong bone and feet, rolling gait, moved steadily.

SPANIEL (SUSSEX) OPEN (1)

1. Mowbray’s CRUMBLEDOR REUBUS HAGRID. 3 year old still maturing, in excellent coat and condition, masculine with lovely head proportions and that frowning yet soft expression,. Powerfully yet soundly made all through, a dog of substance with straight front and rear, well ribbed back, strong bone, round feet. On the move portrays typical rolling action, true in all directions with drive from the rear. Best of Breed.

SPANIEL (FIELD) OPEN (2)

1. Spence’s SONNETEND PICTURE THIS AT CABHARAN. Black with a feminine well- proportioned noble head, grave expression, with a good neck leading into very good sloping shoulders, well constructed front, but could do with a shade more length of leg, as could her kennel mate and a more moderate bend of stifle. Good topline and tail set, mature in body, tight feet. Moves so happily and soundly with free action. Best of Breed.

2. Spence’s SONNETEND NAUGHTY NAUGHTY FOR CABHARAN. Another feminine black, a little apprehensive, similar comments apply, though her hind angulation is moderate as required. Of quality, presented in gleaming coat, moved happily, freely and soundly covering the ground easily.

KIM ELLIS (Judge)