Lichfield Canine Society

Lichfield Canine Society Open Show

6th January 2024

A superbly run show. Thank you to the excellent Committee and my two stewards, Doug and Sarah. I had some great entries in numbers and some superb dogs to go over. Thank you for a very nice day indeed. The Pastoral Puppy Group was one of the strongest I have had the pleasure to judge.

Eurasier

Post Graduate (2,1)

1st: Luckman’s Albionspitz Revel. A dog of nice size with good wedge-shaped head. Eyes are of a good shape and ears are set and spaced correctly. Expression is typical for the breed. Well put together with good angulation. Longer than tall. High set tail. Sound mover. A little apprehensive. Moved soundly. BOB

Bernese Mountain Dog

Puppy (5,2)

1st: Worrall’s Oakbern Kodiac Gold. A real baby. Head still to develop but is quite well balanced. Nice symmetrical markings. Eyes looking just a little full at present. Ears are well set. Body is developing nicely showing good angulation, bone for age and correct substance. Topline firm. Rounded rump. Tail is set correctly. Moves soundly. BOB. BP

2nd: Kluges’ Morgenmegs Megan. I felt this one was a nice size and well built. Obviously needs to broaden. She really wasn’t keen on me going over her today which rather ruined her chances here, but she displayed many breed typical characteristics, with good bone for size. Moves very soundly. Has lots of time to settle. Lovely markings

3rd: Lindsay’s Oakbern Ripsaw Rye

Post Graduate (1,0)

1st: Kluge’s Hugo Boss Mocne Kurpianki at Morgenmegs. A really typey boy but wasn’t too keen on me going over him. Head of strength and well proportioned. His eyes are of a good shape. Ears are well set. Good symmetrical markings. Neck ok for length. Moderate angulation fore and aft. Deep chest. Well ribbed. Tail set and carriage ok. Moved soundly when he settled a bit. RBOB.

Newfoundland

Puppy (5,1)

1st: Hietschold’s Davistell Babee Love at Chrishelkate (AI). I felt this was a very beautiful young bitch. I feel her head is developing very nicely. She has a nice shape to her eyes which are well spaced. Ears are nice for size and shape. I really liked her expression. She had good length of neck leading to well set shoulders. Good return of upper arm. Enough bone for me at this young age. Topline is firm. Chest is broad enough. Perhaps a tad long in loins but no weakness at all. Well-turned stifles and low set hocks. Moves very effortlessly. One to watch I’m sure. BP & RBOB

2nd: McDonald’s Shadowrise Fire and Ice. A big lad and so raw. Displays a nice expression and head is quite well proportioned. Eyes ok for shape and set. Moderate angles all through. Deep chest. Well proportioned. Tail set and carriage are good. Moves soundly. Narrowly defeated 3rd.

3rd: Gorvin & Cole’s Davistell B’Mian Rapsody (AI)

Junior (3,1)

1st: Coldwell’s Twillin Gate Villustrious Among Zentaur (Imp Bel). A bigger girl with lots of maturing still to do. Just out of puppy. Head is strong, but feminine enough and well proportioned. Eyes and ears are well set. Built along quite classic lines I’d say. She has excellent angulation fore and aft and does not show excessive length through the body. Chest still to drop and broaden. Topline firm. Low set hocks. Coat ok for age. Excellent light, free mover. Another promising bitch and took BOB on her overall strength, construction and soundness.

2nd: Chapman’s Nandobears You’ll Never Walk Alone (Imp Deu). For me, this one was a little heavy in skull and muzzle for my personal preference at this age and showed some wrinkle. Eyes are of good shape and sets. Ears are well set. Neck ok for length. Shoulders are ok for angulation and upper arm returns well. Topline firm. Good tail set and carriage. Moves very soundly and is well presented.

Post Graduate ( 5,1)

1st: Coldwell’s Twillin Gate Villustrious Among Zentaur (Imp Bel).

2nd: Chapman’s Nandobears You’ll Never Walk Alone (Imp Deu).

3rd: Popple’s Mileoak Loch Noir

Open (2,1)

1st: Haresign’s Will Of The Emperor’s Could This Be Love (Imp Esp) Quite a nice sized bitch. Head is feminine with strength. Skull and muzzle ok for proportions. Eyes are well set. Well angulated front. Deep chest that shows enough width. Topline firm. Ok for bone and size. Hocks well let down. Moves with a light action.

Border Collies

A really thought provoking entry with many different shapes and sizes – some rather too fine, some too heavy. Not many with the breed typical action. Construction was not really a strength either. Lots of compromises.

Puppy (9,1)

1st Lee & Ratcliffe’s Arrodare Wild Card. A pretty young puppy. Refined head of quite a typical shape. Eyes are of good shape and well set. Ears are ok for size and set. Neck moderate in length. Nice shape on the stand. Moderate angulation. Body still to mature. Tails set and carriage ok. Very sound on the move but I would like to see more reach and drive. BP

2nd: Allison’s Wenmap Topkapi Gem. This one is a nice shape and has a lovely breed typical action. Attractive head with some strength. Moderate arch to neck. Moderate angulation. Chest is developing nicely. Quite well proportioned. Lovely low set tail low which she carries so well on the move.

3rd: Surridge’s Roydenbark Casablanca

Junior (5,0)

1st Lee & Ratcliffe’s Arrodare Wild Card

2nd: Allison’s Wenmap Topkapi Gem.

3rd: Charlesworth’s Wizaland Time For Change at Ginnylands

Post Graduate (6,1)

1st: Lea’s Calareto All My Loving JW. More mature than 2nd. Attractive head. Skull is quite broad. Skull and foreface approximately equal in length. More distinct stop than 2nd. Ears well set. Neck moderate in length. Balanced angles. Topline firm. Deep chest. Body slightly longer than tall. Typical tail set and carriage. Free enough in gait. RBOB

2nd: Lee & Ratcliffe’s Arrodare Wild Card

3rd: Charlesworth’s Wizaland Time For Change at Ginnylands

Limit (6,2)

1st: Charlesworth’s Wizaland Time For Change at Ginnylands. A handsome dog with a masculine head. Nice shape to eyes. Ears ok for set. Neck is ok for length. Moderate angles. Well off for bone and perhaps not quite as athletic as I like. In good condition. Sound in movement and well handled.

2nd: Lee & Ratcliffes’ Arrodare Rebel With A Cause JW. Preferred the head on this one to 1st. Good shape without being overly ‘cheeky’. Broad enough in skull. Ear set good and overall nice alert expression. Moderate in angles. Looking just a tad long in body. Chest is deep and relatively broad. Tail set low and carried well on the move. Liked her side gait. Just didn’t look totally balanced overall.

3rd: Allison’s Kinaway A Million Dreams. (AI)

Open (5,0)

1st: Lee & Ratcliffe’s Sh Ch Arrodare Royal Flush JW. This one stood away for me in this entry, and it was nice to see that she is a Champion. Her shape appealed to me overall. Looks athletic and fit and like she could do a days work. Feminine head of good shape and overall good balance. Keen expression. Eyes are of good shape. Prick ears that are well set. Moderate length to neck and angulation fore and aft. Firm topline. Deep chest. Nice bone for size. Tail set low and carried well on the move to complete the picture. Was easily the most active free mover of the day and did so in the typical style of the breed. Well handled. Easy BOB.

2nd: Charlesworth’s Wizaland Time For Change at Ginnylands.

3rd: Prandles’ Borderbrook Spring Dreamer at Baywern

Rough Collie

Puppy (3,1)

1st: Mills’ Hanvale Edina Monsoon. Stood alone here today, but I felt her well worthy of her placing and most promising indeed. Very attractive head of good shape and balance. I particularly liked that she wasn’t overly snipey and had good strength to underjaw. Stop positioned correctly. Parallel head planes. Eyes are almond in shape and set obliquely. Ears are well set. Neck moderate in length. Well angulated throughout. Firm in topline. Nice bone calibre. Coat as expected for her age. Tail is well set and of correct length. Firm hocks. Very sound on the move and displayed a nice action when she settled. BP, RBOB

Junior (5,2)

1st: Hawkins’ Brilyn Shows The Difference. Overall, a most pleasing standard fitting bitch. Typical head with good parallel head planes and good length. Well balanced skull to muzzle. Enough width and good underjaw. Eyes are almond shaped and set obliquely. Ears are well set. Good length to neck. Shoulders are well set and upper arm has good return. Chest reaches to elbows. Good width. Well bent stifles and low set hocks. Correct tail set and carriage. In good coat which did not detract from her outline. Moves very soundly and with nice reach and drive. BOB

2nd: Whitaker’s Siluto Blueberry Mist. Attractive and well balanced overall. Head has typical head planes and enough width through the skull and good length. Not quite the expression of 1st. Balanced angulation. Topline not as good as 1st. Moves soundly. Quite good colour.

3rd: Farthing’s Didek Once In A Blue Moon

Post Graduate (7,3)

1st: Hawkins’ Brilyn Shows The Difference

2nd: Whitaker’s Siluto Silvary Blue Moon. This one was very well presented and of a nice make and shape overall. Head shows good length, Well-positioned stop. Eyes are almond shaped. Ears of good shape but a bit wide set. Body is nice to go over and is well balanced in angulation. Low set hocks. Good bone. Moves soundly.

3rd: Mills’ Lynmack Sweet Amber

Open (4,2)

1st: Mills’ Lynmack Starman at Lemivee. Quite refined in head. Parallel head planes. Eyes are correct for shape and set. Ears are well set. Neck a tad short and a little square in body. A little more open in angles than I prefer, but balanced fore and aft. Topline firm. Slight rise over loins. Tail set and carriage ok. Moves very soundly. Well handled.

2nd: Leese’s Esanjay Fields of Gold For Firesaga. Not as typical in expression as 1st. Stop not positioned quite right giving more length through the muzzle. A little deep through. Nice eyes for shape and set. Ears are well set. Better angles that 1st both fore and aft and moves with lots of scope. Firm topline. In great coat of good texture and well handled.

Smooth Collie

What personalities these dogs were!

Puppy (1,0)

1st: Evans’ Sturtmoor Amaura’s Bliss. A sweet puppy with lots to like already. Long head with correct proportions of skull to muzzle and well positioned stop. Eyes of nice shape and set. Ears ok for set and size. Moderate length to neck. Medium angulation. Chest reaches to elbows. Well ribbed. Sightly sloping pasterns. Tail is well set and carried. Sound when she settled. BP & RBOB

Junior (3,0)

1st: Martin’s Sturtmoor Araceus’s Legacy. Litter brother to 1st in Puppy. Many similar qualities and another really good prospect. Head is very much developing, and I’d like a little more development in underjaw. Eyes are well set, as are ears, which are also of correct size. Really coming along nicely in body with good angles. Little up behind at present. Like his sister, moves very soundly.

2nd: Seagars’ Blamorder Magic Maker with Freejack JW. An attractive dog. Lovely eyes for shape and set. Correct size and set to ears. Good length of head. Excellent parallel head planes. Body doesn’t quite look in proportion at the moment- looking just a tad long. Well angulated. Sound mover.

3rd: Howes’ Lizoni The Drifter

Open (4,0)

1st: Jerrett’s Coldelee Eternal Sunshine JW. A bitch with an overall nice make and shape. Long head with correct wedge and proportion of skull to muzzle. Well positioned stop. Good parallel head planes. Eyes ok for shape and set. Well set ears which are of ideal shape and size. Moderate length to neck. Shoulders are well set. Upper arm looks straighter than it actually is as she tends to stand slightly too far forward. Topline typical with slight rise over loins. Deep chest. Well-turned stifles. Tail set and carriage good. Excellent mover when she settled. BOB

2nd: Wensley’s Constella Hazy Cosmic Jive JW. One I have met before and looking just as good here. Much more mature in body than when I last judged him. Good head for shape, proportions and head planes. Not quite so typical in expression as 1st as eyes are not such a good shape. Well angulated all through. Slight slope to pasterns. Tail is well set. Typical movement for the breed.

3rd: Meacham’s Blamorder Curlywurly Girly at Zellamere.

AVNSC Pastoral

Puppy (2,1)

1st: Strong’s Draccus I have A Dream (AI). Norwegian Buhund. A really promising young Buhund. Refined head. Correct wedge. Nicely pointed ears. Slightly arched neck. Good to go over with everything as expected for one of her age. Nice for overall size. High set tail. Love her little white back feet! Very well presented and moved around the ring with purpose and drive. BP.

Open (4,1)

A really lovely class, with three top quality dogs here!

1st: Corin & Camm’s Klingehthal Almuric, Best AVNSC Pastoral.

2nd: Strong’s Ch Legatts Dancing Queen At Draccus.

I have judged these two super Norwegian Buhunds a few times over recent years and I cannot really add to what I have said on previous occasions. Last time out, the 2nd here came out on top, but today 1st just looked every inch the mature male on top form and really pulled out all the stops to take the win. Both moved superbly and were presented in wonderful condition. A credit to the breed.

3rd: Fieldsend’s Ir Ch Du Domaine Des Dhalbergs At Starwell (Imp Fra) CW

AV Import Register Pastoral

Puppy (1)

1st: Brown’s Disadonna Sky Potions with Tamalden (Imp Fin). White Swiss Shepherd Dog. A nicely put together young dog. Developing well and showing lots of promise. Wedge shaped head. Parallel head planes. Dark eyes set slightly obliquely. High set ears. Black pigment. Well angulated shoulders and return of upper arm. Topline slopes gently. Well bent stifles. Sabre like tail, set low. Good reach and drive on the move. BP & Best Import Register Pastoral.

Junior (1)

1st: Henshaw’s Whitehemi’s Brabham. White Swiss Shepherd Dog. Medium coat and looking a little longer legged as a result, but he is well proportioned. Wedge shaped head. Parallel head planes. Flattish skull. Medium length of neck. Moderate layback to shoulders. Upper arm could come under him a little more. Firm topline. Deep chest. Well bent stifles. Very sound mover indeed.

Open(1)

1st: Brown’s Faith Follow Your Dream Lord Of The North With Tamalden. I liked this bitch for overall conformation and movement but wasn’t really showing herself off today. Very attractive head with good breed type. Dark eyes and high set ears. Lovely dark pigment. Slight arch to neck. Well angulated all through. Good bone. Topline could perhaps slope slightly. Excellent turn to stifles. Well set, sabre tail. Good quality coat. Moves soundly but lacked sparkle. Ring was rather small for her. Res Best Import Register Pastoral

AV Pastoral Veteran (21, 12)

A wonderful class.

1st: Flower’s Ch Breckamore Butterfingers ShCM ShCEx. Smooth Collie. Took my eye from the start and I was not disappointed. Really standard fitting bitch of lovely shape. Great head with length, blunt wedge and firm underjaw. Excellent eyes for shape and lovely expression. Ears well set and of the correct size. Well angulated. Deep chest. Slight rise over loins. Super bone. In tip top order. Superb mover.

2nd: Samuel’s Oberitz Upponalle. Finnish Lapphund. I don’t think I have seen him looking so good as here. Lovely masculine head with good breadth to skull and perfectly set ears. Gorgeous expression. Good wedge with strength all through. Well proportioned. Very well angulated fore and aft. Firm topline. High set tail. In wonderful coat. Very well handled.

3rd: Isherwood’s Ch Chrisvale Don’t Push It. Groenendael. At 14 years, she looked every inch the Champion she is. Superb for type and moved with consummate ease and would put some half her age to shame. Quality lady in pristine muscular condition.

Pastoral Group

PG1: Davis & Walsh’s Rosschell Maid You Look. Like her name says – she certainly did! A cracking young Aussie bitch who just gleams. Attractive well-balanced, feminine head. Super expressive eyes and great ear set. Very well built all through and, indeed, a joy to go over. Good width for age. Firm topline. Superb mover and really fills your eye as she goes round the ring. I loved her and, as always, so professionally handled, with such a great connection between dog and owner. Great prospect indeed.

PG2: Pollard & Maggs Ch Gillandant Thief Of Hearts At Dewyche. Pyrenean Mountain Dog. One I judged a few years ago and he has certainly matured and blossomed. Loved his head which was not over done in anyway. It was just lovely flowing lines with no deep stop. Super expression. Lovely body and build. Superb mover. Very impressive indeed with a very noble bearing. Loved him.

PG3: Corin & Camm’s Kligenthal Almuric. Norwegian Buhund. Critique as above

PG4: Irving’s Twinan Sign Your Name. Welsh Corgi (Pembroke). Typical in head and expression with ears well placed. Eyes are very expressive. Lithe active body. Deep chest with ribs carried well back. Good length to body and firm topline. Good tail set and carriage. Stylish mover.

Pastoral Puppy Group

Puppy Group 1: Davis & Walsh’s Rosschell Maid You Look.

Puppy Group 2: Waldron & Gray’s Une Histoire D’Amour De Chester with Snowmead (Imp Fra). Bearded Collie. Fell in love with this one and pushed the winner all the way. Super attractive and feminine but with strength. Well proportioned skull. Super eyes and expression. Really lovely body with excellent angulation and length of body with no weakness. Correct width through body. Super coat for age. Correct tail set and croup. Certainly glamorous. Super mover in profile.

Puppy Group 3: Hately’s Mohnesee’s Meliya. Shetland Sheepdog. A quality puppy, showing great femininity without any weediness or weakness. Really nice head with good parallel head planes, eye shape and correctly positioned ears. Nice to go over. Very lightfooted and sound on the move.

Puppy Group 4: Wesson’s Csulli Lemonade Kisses. Hungarian Pumi. A stylish Pumi with that typical head and expression. Has strength and ideal construction. Well proportioned. Coat in good order. Moved with consummate ease here in the typical fashion of the breed.