Midlands & Northern Rhodesian Ridgeback Club

Midlands and Northern Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Open Show

Many thanks to the Society for inviting me to judge this happy friendly show, with a really lovely entry. I was looking for a balanced, moderate hound that combined substance and power with the potential for a turn of foot. The quality was generally high, but a number of hounds were quite loaded in shoulder and rather wide in front. A nice big ring but front movement was quite hard to assess on a surface that did not provide a firm footing for either dogs or handlers.

MPD (2) 1, Zhao’s Vkloof Duke Lambo Gallardo, 8 months masculine youngster with a pleasing outline, plenty of bone, flat skull, good earset, clean shoulder, good drive behind, a bit loose in front still. Much the more mature of these.; 2, Keyhoe & Phillips Redcrown Cool Cruise, just six months with a lot going for him, well made all through, pleasing head and outlook, just not settled on the move as yet and needs more ring experience.

PD ( 7, 1 absent) 1, Barker’s Delianza What’s Your Motive, 11 months light wheaten, a super combination of masculinity with elegance, very well balanced front to rear and a super mover, covering a lot of ground in profile; typy head, showed and handled very well, most promising youngster who wasn’t far off the main winners. BPD & BPIS; 2, Barnes’ Diamondridge Dreadnought, another really high quality 9 months pup, plenty of scope, good front and shoulder, level topline, pleasing head, moved very nicely; 3, Clark Maclean’s Callmn’s Jammy Dodger.

JD (3,1) 1, Darnell’s Rubiltra Gunna B Victorious, good overall make and shape on this lad, balanced proportions, nice masculine head, clean out and back. Would like a touch more fill in front and firmer pasterns; 2, Thomas-Bassett’s Fiadma’s Stiggens, red wheaten, good balance and topline, profile movement good, yet to fill in front and head a touch strong for my taste.

ND (3) 1, Hicks’ Nuthouse Mastermind, Reserve in the strong puppy class, and another promising pup, flat skull, level topline, balanced angulation, very pleasing stacked, just a bit raw in his movement at present, needs a bit more time to come together; 2, V Duke Lambo Gallardo, 3, R Cool Cruise.

GD (4,1) 1, Johnson’s Ungowa On the Road Again, upstanding young male with plenty going for him, ample scope and potential for a turn of speed, well ribbed up, clear colour and he moved pretty well in all directions, a touch fond of his tail; 2, Millward’s Ammahle Hot Like Fire, different type, more compact and substantial, again well-balanced front to rear, moved nicely all round, would prefer a cleaner colour over the neck and shoulder; 3, Dennis’ Sonnypride Rum and Raisin.

PGD (3) 1, Shaw’s Negasi Radagast JW, excellent front with good fill and clean shoulder, masculine head with flat skull, level topline held on the move, carried tail well. Touch more hind angulation than I prefer; 2, Black & McKinley’s Ashaara Dark Side of the Moon at Gileeja, red wheaten with a nice head, level topline, well ribbed up, moved nicely, better rear angulation than 1 but feet and pasterns were not his fortune; 3, Jefferey’sNegasi Thorin at Redgrove.

LD (16) Biggest class of the day. 1, Catharell’s Asharaa’s Perfect Match with Faahac JW, this striking young liver-nose took my eye straight away, beautifully balanced with an exceptional front and shoulder placement, ample bone without being cloddish, lovely head with flat skull, handled to get the most out of him and pin sharp out and back. Still just 2 and more to come from him. BD & RBIS; 2, Hodge’s Kxoxo I’m Old Fashioned for Colkeririn JW (imp Fin), light wheaten, another promising youngster, masculine head, good shoulder and topline, plenty of scope and moved really well especially in profile, just not as mature in body as 1 but a lovely type; 3, Dawson’s Priorpark Problem Solved.

OD (10) 1, Storey & Piehl’s Ch Kiromol Heaven Can Wait (AI), a mature 5 year old male with a lovely front and shoulder, well balanced angulation with level topline kept on the move, in good muscular condition and strode out really well in profile, pleasing head and outlook, RBD; 2, Nash’s Mutoko’s Noble One, scopy red wheaten who stands over a lot of ground and looks as if he could produce a turn of speed, nice masculine head, balanced construction without exaggeration, moved very well; 3, Ashman’s Ch Patemeliann Red Tarka at Kitaarka JW.

VD (3) 1, Whiteside’s Jimanns The Doctor, 7 yo in excellent shape, flat skull, very good front and shoulder placement, well ribbed up and with plenty of substance, moved nicely all round ; 2, Davies’ Ch Gunthwaite Papa Don’t Preach, another handsome boy in good shape for his age, well balanced and substantial, plenty of drive and reach which some of the younger ones lacked, just preferred head of 1; 3, Murphy & Barnes’ Diamondridge de Niro JW

SpecV D/B (1, abs).

MPB (6,2) 1, Parker’s Asharaa’s She’s Magic to Azuli, delightful feminine baby with such a pretty head, full of character; excellent construction and especially good feet and pasterns, well bodied for age, stands over plenty of ground, a bit boisterous (nothing wrong with that as this age) but did enough to show that she could move well, very promising, 2, Pearce’s Msingi Dream a Dream, pleasing head with flat skull, good front and fell, tight feet, lean muscle. Just a bit bum-high at this stage of growth; 3, Kehoe & Phillips’ Redcrown Celtic Queen.

PB (6) 1, Hicks’ Nuthouse Going for Gold, elegant and well balanced youngster with a pleasing head, very good front, mature in body for her age, clean limbs and tight feet, moved very well and took this good class with some ease, BPB. Much more forward than 2, Storey & Piehl’s Kiromol Dare to Flair, all the basics are there on this elegant pup, very nice head with flat skull, good balance front to rear, correct shoulder placement; just not quite filled her frame yet but much potential; 3, Rossiter’s Sonstraal Blue Moon.

JB (7,1) 1, Hudson’s Mutoko’s Parker’s Glory, upstanding young bitch, plenty of scope, balanced moderate angulation, well ribbed up for age, good feet and pasterns, clean out and back and good in profile; 2, S Blue Moon, 3rd in puppy class, livernose, more compact substantial type, well laid shoulder, good feet, in fit condition, nice clean mover.; 3, Manning’s Fiadma’s Rumella.

NB (10) 1, N Going for Gold; 2, Willoughby’s Kazembe Cult Classic, elegant youngster with a good head with flat skull and dark eye, correct shoulder, level topline held well on the move, covered plenty of ground in profile, nice type; 3, Nolan’s Priorpark Pucker Up.

GB (9,2) 1, M Parkers Glory; 2, Webster’s Kazembe Orla ‘bout Me, balanced, well put together bitch of a more compact substantial type, excellent front, good depth of chest and well ribbed up, nice clean mover; 3, Thompson’s Sunnypride Honeycombe.

PGB (4,2) Only two but both of high quality. 1, Parsons’ Priorpark Proud as Punch JW, really nice well balanced head with flat skull, correct proportions and balanced all through which showed in her movement, excellent drive and reach with tail carried well, one to watch; 2, Jolly’s Negasi Elbereth for Clanbruachan JW, another quality young bitch, really good front and feet, feminine head, good depth and substance, good lay of shoulder, also moved very nicely.

LB (13, 6) 1, Barnes’ Diamondridge Kazembe Golden Age, pleasing head, dark eye, beautifully balanced and lacking exaggeration, good combination of substance and elegance, well made all through and moved accordingly, at just 20 months should still be more to come from her, RBB; 2, Storey & Piehl’s Kiromol Tip Toe and Go (AI), soundly made, quality head, clean mover, would like a little more body on her at 4 years old. 3, Black & McKinley’s Asharaa Stars in Your Eyes at Gileeja JW.

OB (9,1) 1, Parsons’ Ch Priorpark Poetry in Motion JW, can’t think of a better name for this lovely young livernose. Textbook conformation, with superb front and strong rear, plenty of scope, excellent flow from neck to shoulder, perfect balance of elegance and substance; lovely feminine head, moves with free athletic strides really covering the ground, and all this at less than two years old, so much to look forward to. BB and BIS; 2, Cox’s Ch Carlincox Pure Gold JW ShCex OSW, fully mature red wheaten, sound clean front, tight feet, well ribbed up, strong well-muscled quarters used to good effect on the move, pleasing head which could use a darker eye; 3, Kinabula’s Ment to Be for Faahac.

VB (10,6) 1, Henshall’s Sanbona African Soul Daaci at Suhuba (Imp Deu), dark red wheaten with an excellent front and strong rear, elegant and scopy, feminine head with strong jaw, sound and well balanced both stacked and moving and in great shape for age, BV, 2, Smith’s Sweet Little Wallflower of Leteela, more substantial type, very good front and feet, good turn of stifle, well ribbed up, carried tail well on the move, would prefer a more refined head; 3, Hodge’s Ch Colkeririn Face to the Sun JW ShCM.

Lisa Tyler-Jackson