Basenji Owners & Breeders Association

Basenji Breeders and Owners Association Open Show 13th July 2024 I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been invited to judge the open show among the Association’s Platinum Anniversary celebrations. I’d say the entry reflected the excellent opportunity, for judge, exhibitor and Association alike, of holding an open show alongside a championship show. Many thanks to the Association and the exhibitors for giving me this wonderful opportunity! Baby Puppy Dog (0) Baby Puppy Bitch (3,1) Litter sisters, both of a similar stamp and must be commended on their temperaments, taking it all in their stride and enjoying their time in the ring. 1. Hollway’s Askaifleet Daydream Diana. 5 month old red and white bitch. Better overall outline on the stack out of the two at present. Lovely feminine head of good proportions. Has time to tighten up and down on the move but moved very well in profile. Super coat and has quality. Best Baby Puppy in Show. 2. English’s Askaifleet Dada Dunia of Torqmonky. 5 month old red and white. Not dissimilar to her sister, but not quite the outline and it was difficult to assess movement at this stage, still very much enjoying her time in the ring, but lovely to see at this age. Minor Puppy Dog (1) 1. Knights & Stokes’ Lelaps Time Lord. 6 month old red and white. Masculine dog and quite forward for his age. Lovely wrinkle and dark eyes, would not want him any longer in muzzle. Well proportioned with good leg length. Well made all through with good angulation. A very good mover from all angles, particularly controlled for his age, but just a touch ‘bumhigh’ at present. A lovely puppy and made for a difficult decision against the bitch. Best Puppy Dog. Puppy Dog (0) Junior Dog (1,1) Yearling Dog (1) 1. Vescan’s Mawali New Kid On The Block. 18 month old red and white. Undoubtedly masculine dog and presents an excellent outline. A little broad in skull, but short muzzle. Good length of neck but could be more refined through. Well laid shoulders and upper arm. Balanced hindquarters of good strength and width of thigh. Super tailset and shelf. Good mover up and down and went very well in profile holding outline. Post Graduate Dog (0) Limit Dog (1,1) Open Dog (6) Excellent class. 1. Williams & Wright’s Ch Mawali Going Four Gold. 3 year old red and white. Such a quality and typey male. Lightly built whilst retaining enough masculinity. Excellent proportions, balance and outline. Ears could be slightly higher set, though head and wrinkle is very good overall, with dark almond shaped eyes. Very good shoulders and upper arm, super feet. Excellent top and underline. Tail well set and curled tightly with good shelf. Balanced hindquarters. Lovely rich coat colour and sleek texture. Excellent mover in all directions, a long, swinging, yet controlled stride in profile, holding his outline at all times. Best Dog and Reserve Best in Show. 2. Carrington’s Ch/Lux Ch Bushwacker Oceans Eleven. 3 year old tricolour. Another typical male of good outline and proportions. Whilst perhaps he could be marginally more masculine, I did prefer his refinement and light build over 3. Lovely headpiece with small ears used to advantage at all times. Beautifully crested neck of good length. Gleaming sleek coat. Not quite the carriage and front swinging action of 1, and of the Veteran when called back into the challenge, so just lost out but still a very good mover and overall, a very nice example of the breed. 3. Legget’s Ch Swanwite Take A Chance On Me ShCEx. Superb profile mover and very much the showman, but a little too much of him for me. Veteran Dog (4,1) 1. Clinton’s Ch/Ir/Lux/Int Ch Westlawn Diablo ShCM. 9 year old tricolour. Leggy dog of super proportions. Thought he had a lovely head, particularly liked his muzzle which was short and well-cushioned. To be critical, he could be darker in eye. Good front angles and infill of chest. True front, finely boned, correct slope to pastern and excellent feet. Short backed with good depth. Tail could be marginally higher set, but is tightly curled. Carries himself so well on the move and displayed an excellent example of a free, tireless and swinging stride. Reserve Best Dog and Best Veteran in Show. 2. Dunsdon’s Ch/Am Gr Ch/Aus Ch Kazor’s Breaking The Bank (Imp USA). 8 year old red and white. Another good dog, just not quite the leggy proportions of 1. Masculine head with correct eye and expression. Admired his outline with a super top and underline. Well angulated and balanced fore and aft. Not quite the front reach of 1 on the move, but still a very typical and sound stride. 3. Knowles’ Ch Tokaji Klassic Trickster at Sarawana. Special Bred By Exhibitor Dog (1) 1. Matthews’ Flugelberry Free Cuba. 7 year old brindle. Admired his legginess and square outline. Head of good shape but could have more detail and although small and hooded, ears could have been higher set. Clean mover up and down and sound in profile, even if he was not extending as much as I’d like. Special Not Bred By Exhibitor Dog (1) 1. Knowles’ Ch Tokaji Klassic Trickster at Sarawana. 7 year old tricolour. Very typical outline and proportions, being well up on the leg and short in back. Wouldn’t want him any stronger in head but uses his hooded ears well. A little thick in neck. Deep chested with good tuck up gave a lovely underline to compliment his strong topline. Lovely clean bone and correct feet. A very easy mover but could be tidier in front. 1 and 2 in the Veteran Class had the edge on refinement and movement. Minor Puppy Bitch (2) 1. Knowles’ Sarawana Dragon’s Conquest. 7 month old red and white. Ultra feminine bitch bearing much of the same type and quality of her mother. Her light build and leggy proportions gave an undoubted impression of gazelle-like grace. Lovely head detail and wrinkle. Long neck and well set shoulders. Short and level back, with a tightly curled high set tail and good shelf. Free profile movement holding her outline. Like her dam in many ways. Best Puppy in Show. 2. Knights & Stokes’ Lelaps River Song. 6 month old red and white. Heavier through than 1 and although she has plenty of body, very much a baby still in overall appearance. Feminine head and expression. She excelled in topline, tail set, tight curl, shelf and hindquarters. In super condition. Moved soundly. Puppy Bitch (1) 1. Knowles’ Sarawana Dragonfire Rising. 7 month old red and white. Litter sister to the winner of the last class and again, has similarities to their lovely dam, particularly in head and type. However, this bitch is not quite as together as her sister at this stage. More rangey, still quite shelly in body and a little loose in front movement, but has lots of time to fill out and settle. Excellent lofty carriage and really enjoying her time in the ring. Junior Bitch (2) 1. Knowles’ Sarawana Dragonfire Rising. 2. Stratton’s Justartee This Is Me. 6 month old red and white. Lovely feminine tapering head, clean cheeks, some wrinkle and well set ears. Crested neck of good length but not the layback of shoulder of 1. Very moderate rear. Tail, set and shelf could be better. Needs time to settle on the move, particularly in front. Yearling Bitch (2) 1. Dunsdon’s Mawali New York New York. 18 month old red and white. Super bitch, loved her outline, balance and proportions. Balanced angulation fore and aft. Excellent topline and underline. Superb mover in all directions and holds herself so well. Very much in my mind for Best Bitch throughout the classes and shortlisted in the challenge but just preferred the more feminine heads and smoothness over the shoulder of my Best Bitch and Reserve Best Bitch. Nonetheless, a very nice bitch! 2. Cvirkiene’s Catuma Xuta Tabangwa (Imp CZE). 18 month old tricolour. Very leggy with super proportions. Lovely feminine head. Very good front angulation. Good bone and feet. A little rounded in loin and croup, and wouldn’t want any more hind angulation. Free and swinging movement with a good stride in profile. Post Graduate Bitch (2,1) 1. Palubicki’s Jessella Lady Margot. 2 year old red and white. Well sized bitch. Good head proportions with short muzzle. Short in back and a lovely underline with definite waist. A little down on her front, could have more return of upper arm and strength to pastern. Good tail curl, set and shelf. Has width to thigh. A good mover up and down but could have more stride and freedom of action in profile. Limit Bitch (4,1) 1. Clinton’s Akmar Napatan Gold for Westlawn. 18 month old tricolour. Such a smart bitch with class and style to spare. No stranger to me, I have done her well previously at general open shows and she gets better each time. Really like her head, eye and expression. Well angled fore- and hindquarters with good width of first and second thigh. Super lofty carriage on the move, just needs to settle in front but such a lovely long and swinging stride in profile. Shortlisted for higher honours. 2. Holloway’s Aksaifleet Russki Rose. 7 year old red and white. Petite girl although I would like her higher on the leg. Feminine head with small ears and a short muzzle, though it could have more cushioning. Good layback of shoulder and return of upper arm, with balanced hindquarters. Sound on the move but could not match the stride of 1. 3. Matthews’ Flugelberry Cherie Trifle. Open Bitch (7,2) 1. Dunsdon’s Ch Mawali Four Get Me Not. 3 year old red and white. What a beauty! Full of quality, all of a piece and topped off with a stylish and elegant carriage. Ideal for overall outline, balance and proportions. Excellent head and typical expression, with small, high set and hooded ears. Well constructed throughout with a crested neck, balanced angulation, short back, high set tightly curled tail and plenty shelf. Almost too eager on the move but she is handled to advantage and once settled, displays an excellent example of a tireless, swinging stride, holding a perfect outline at all times. Best Bitch and Best in Show. 2. Knowles’ Ch Bushwacker Dragon Tattoo at Sarawana. 3 year old red and white. Another very typical example of the breed with beauty and quality in abundance, pushed the winner hard. Most beautiful head of correct proportions, typical inscrutable expression with wrinkle and small high-set ears. As above, hard to fault in construction and another super mover, but she was just pipped by 1 on the move in both stride and outline. Reserve Best Bitch. 3. Nash’s Ch Tokaji Moon Over Miami with Mutoko JW ShCEx OSW. Such a showgirl and another excellent mover but I preferred the toplines and tail sets of 1 and 2. Veteran Bitch (5,1) 1. Gray’s Ch Jisgard Daydream Believer. 11 and a half year old tricolour. Super bitch of typical light build with fine bone. Really lovely head and expression, held proudly on a crested neck. Fair front. To be critical, I thought she could have slightly more infill and depth of chest but still has a good underline with definite waist to compliment her level topline. Super hindquarters of good width and well let down hocks. In fantastic coat and muscle condition. Excellent mover with a long, swinging stride and lofty carriage. Best Veteran Bitch. 2. Richardson & Wood’s Woodella Purple Haze over Cooperland ShCM VW. 9 year old tricolour. Another good bitch of correct proportions and totally balanced. Scores well in head with lovely tapering, short, well-cushioned muzzle and dark eyes. Super front angles and depth of chest with a clean tuck-up. Like 1, out-moved many of the younger bitches with such an active and free stride. Just not the topline and tail set of 1. 3. Palubicki’s Nganga’s Princess Snow-White (Imp SWE). 4. Matthews’ Gooses Glint Of Gold at Flugelberry. 13 and a half year old. Must give a mention to this bitch, quite remarkable for her age! Special Bred By Exhibitor Bitch (4,1) An extremely close decision and one I could probably do differently next time. 1. Casentieri’s Alchez Kivu. 4 year old black and white. Upstanding and leggy bitch of good proportions. Super front and infill/depth of chest. Short back but topline curving a little too much. Really excellent profile movement with a super swinging stride. 2. Gray’s Ch Jisgard Daydream Believer. 3. Matthews’ Flugelberry Fizz Princess. Special Not Bred By Exhibitor Bitch (3) 1. Knowles’ Ch Bushwacker Dragon Tattoo at Sarawana 2. Casentieri’s The Impossible Girl of Alchez. 2 year old tricolour. A smart bitch of leggy proportions. Feminine head of good proportions with well placed hooded ears, though a touch light in eye. Very good top and underline, with high-set and tightly curled tail. Excellent shelf and hindquarters. Moved very well in profile. 3. Stratton’s Aheme Cinnamon Swirl for Justartee. Mr L A Johnston