Norfolk & Norwich Canine Society

Show – Norfolk & Norwich Premier Open show

Judge – Lynda Nicholas (Nickarlyn)

Date – 28.08.24

Thank you to all the exhibitors who entered today. My stewards called in to help out at the last minute did a sterling job. I was looking for a dog that was fit for purpose; body condition and muscle tone is essential.

It was an exceptionally hot/humid day especially for the coated breeds.

ROUGH COLLIES

P (1,0)

1 Collino – Imaginist My Fair Lady BP / PGR1

Lovely way to start my day, and this elegant young lady had a fabulous run all the way to BPIS. Flashy sable with a full white shawl with correctly fitted jacket that enhanced her make and shape. She has good overall balanced proportions but needs the time to drop into her frame. Wedge shaped head, parallel planes, correct stop and dark obliquely set eyes. Ears were a little light today, Decent neck into well laid shoulders and matching return of upper-arm. Enough bone and good feet. Good ribbing and loin. Well set long tail. Covered the ground easily needs to tighten up all over which should come with maturity. What an example of great temperament - she had 3 different handlers throughout the day.

SY (1,0)

1 Pearson – Brilyn Make Me Smile at Garbh

Nicely constructed 13 mth tri - beautifully presented. Well balanced head, correct stop giving a feminine expression, though ears a little heavy for me. Moderate reach of neck into good front angulation. Rise over loin and well set tail carried low. Was unsure of the job in hand and did not show her potential on the move – be patient and her confidence with come.

L (3,1)

Two very different types in this class

1 Wensley – Imaginist Spellbinding

6 year old shaded sable. Lovely head and expression and used ears to good advantage. Would prefer a little more underjaw. Good reach to neck into well placed shoulders, well off for bone and decent ribbing. Would prefer slightly stronger rear quarters – however she moved with ease and elegance with good ground cover keeping her tail low

2 Reeder – Carristina Bluebell Wood

2 ½ yr golden sable with a correctly textured coat - well presented. Good body proportions with decent bone and feet. Stop was a little steep for my preference. Oblique dark eye giving masculine expression but ears rather low and heavy. Positive on the move but not quite the reach of 1.

O (2,0)

1 Benton – CH Brooklynson Jane Russell of Oakestelle VW BOB

10 years young and still very much a showgirl diva. Picture of elegance and poise, handled to best advantage. Well moulded head, correct stop with almond shaped eyes with just enough underjaw. Ears used non-stop. Presented a lovely balanced outline, good body proportions with a nicely arched neck, balanced front and rear angulations and a sweep over loins. Well set tail carried well. Enough substance and bone. Nicely fitted coat of correct texture. Decent turn of stifle and short below the hock which ensured she moved out with reach and drive. The best mover today.

2 Wray-Ramsden – Takhisis Lady of Mystery RBOB

Young lady who had seen the weather forecast and came in her Summer attire. Appealed for overall balance, size and shape. Parallel head planes, correct stop and oblique almond well sized eyes that gave a feminine expression, would have liked more length to head. Tipping on ears was a little heavy but very attentive to handler. Good neck flowed neatly into well angulated front, good bone and great feet. Good ribs and loin and rear angulation matched front ensured she covered the ground with ease.

SHETLAND SHEEPDOGS

P (1,0)

1 Rutterford – Myter Black Tarquin at Stormhead BP / PGR3

11 mth mature boy and a little showman. Sweet expression with good head planes, a blunt wedge with no flaring. Good underjaw. Neat well placed/tipped ears used well. Decent front assembly. Arched neck, big ribs and rise over loins. Loved his body proportions with good bone and feet. Movement was light with effortless ground coverage and low tail carriage - with time will tighten up all around. Jet black well fitted jacket beautifully presented.

SY (6,1) a varied class

1 Norris – Ferngroves Skywalker

14 mths sable boy. Nothing overdone and all parts in proportion. Parallel head planes, well filled muzzle and decent underjaw. Good neck into well laid shoulders and matching return of upper-arm. Tight elbows and stands on good legs. Correct height/length ratio. Light on his feet with accurate footfall covering the ground easily.

2 Fylyma – Felthorn Material Girl at Fylymeg

Beautifully coloured clear blue girl. Sweet feminine expression with good head planes, blunt wedge but would like a little more underjaw. Well placed ears that she used. Decent body proportions and bone. Matching angulation front and rear. Moved well but not quite the drive and ground coverage of winner.

L (4,0)

1 Norris – Ferngroves Valentino JW

Judged him as a puppy and my comments are pretty much the same – he has matured on well. Classically marked golden sable- a real showman. Balanced head, good eye shape obliquely set - well used correctly placed ears all made for a sweet expression. Sufficient underjaw and generally well-off for bone. Correctly textured well fitted jacket that enhanced shape and outline. Good reach of neck and proud head carriage with balanced angulations front & rear. Spot-on body proportions with decent ribcage that extends well back. Good tailset and carriage. Moved freely with coordinated reach and drive, holding his topline. Considered hard for RBOB

2 Rutterford – Kelgrove Midsummer Blue at Stormhead

Slightly different type to winner. Beautiful coloured clear blue boy with white shawl of 6 yrs with lots to like. Good head planes, correct stop, eyes could be slightly more almond/oblique. Well tipped ears that he used well. Correct body proportions though carrying a big coat. Decent bone and good feet. Moved true in all directions with accurate footfall - carrying a bit too much weight.

OD (3,0)

1 Hull – Mohnesee’s Dream Date of Lizmark JW BOB

Sable boy not at all flashy and needs hands on to fully appreciate. Textbook head and expression that took him to BOB. Good neck, well placed shoulders and matching return of upper arm. Good bone, pasterns and feet. Ribs reached well back and rise over the loins. Correct croup and tailset, tail carried low. Maybe, due to the high temperature, did not always make the best of himself - but at the right moment something caught his attention – and pulled it all together.

2 Simmons – Lorainian Kings Ransom at Lindfern

Attractive 5 yr sable boy. Good make and shape sporting a well fitted jacket. Presented and handled to advantage. Different type of head piece to winner not quite the angelic expression I was looking for. Used ears well – but very tight on top. Excellent bone leading to great feet. Good body proportions and matching angles which allowed for light ground covering movement.

OB (2,0)

1 Colman-Smith – Kyleburn Sibylla at Shelridge

Feminine sable with good overall balance, size and shape. Refined head with parallel planes, correct stop and good fill of muzzle. Dark almond eyes that could benefit from a more oblique set. Well placed/tipped ears used to best advantage. Decent neck, well placed shoulders and matching return of upper arm. Good bone, pasterns and feet. Matching angles front and rear allowed good ground coverage with minimum effort. Excellent coat & condition. Moved accurately displaying more reach and drive than 2.

2 Kennedy – Oakcroft Aurora Dream at Donbeley

Well balanced clean head with good planes and stop though not quite the softness of expression of winner. Good ears. Decent underjaw. Well-sprung ribs. Stands on good bone with neat feet but prefer a little more leg length. Matching front and rear angles. Moved well. Presented in good order. Preferred the overall symmetry of winner.

V (2,0)

1 Norris – Clanavon Love In A Mist RBOB

Very pretty bitch with balanced proportions presenting a pleasing silhouette from all angles. Not in full coat – but nothing to hide and soon her furnishings should grow in. Good head and expression. Nicely arched neck leading to good shoulder placement, good length of body and rise over loin. Decent bone right down to tight feet. Good bend of stifle and short below the hocks – all leading to true movement both going and coming. Profile movement was very good. In the challenge moved with composure and co-ordination

2 Hoare – Briggsview Opalesque VW

10 years young – blue of lovely clear colour. Pleasing expression coming from good head proportions and correct eyes and stop. Good bone and feet. Not quite the front angulation of winner and carrying a bit too much weight today to best display movement.

SPANIEL - AMERICAN COCKER

P (1,0)

1 Wellsted – Arrowbien Rose & Rose at Davcar BP/RBOB

Attractive tri baby 8 months who has much to admire - lots of development still to come. Well balanced head with good eye and plush muzzle. Sufficient size and substance, enough length of leg, lovely bone ending on firm round feet. Slightly upright shoulder, decent spring of rib and short loin –just a little bum high atm. Good tailset and carriage. Shown in Persil white puppy coat. Enthusiastic on the move – but demonstrated reach and drive when settled.

SY (1,1)

O (2,1)

1 Gaskin – IR CH Shadowemane Elderberry Wine at Dovestream (IMP BLR) BOB

B&T feminine 5yr old. Head handles well with a soft expression, dark eye enough chiselling and sufficient plushness of muzzle. Little upright in shoulder, well balanced throughout and everything in moderation. Good ribbing and short loin. OK bone. Correct coat texture. Moved purposefully though lost her topline a little.

SPANIEL - FIELD

SY (1,0)

1 Shipton – Heartwood Mishules All Is Possible with Calico RBOB

B&T. Balanced head, well chiselled with a gentle expression. Enough muzzle and underjaw. Well angulated front and back which allowed positive steady movement. Needs to develop in body to drop into frame but time will be her friend. Decent neck, level topline, ribs reached well back, strong loin and correct tail. Good bone and feet. Strong hindquarters with good muscle tone. Correct coat texture

L (2,1)

1 Shipton – Heartwood Mishules All Is Possible with Calico (repeat)

O (1,0)

1 Shipton – Broomeece Fire Cracker Over Mishules BOB

One I have judged previously; has really matured on and today was fully concentrating on the job. Masculine head with a kind eye, nicely chiselled below. Correct stop, nicely shaped muzzle but ideally would like a little less width to backskull. Defined occiput. Good substance and bone throughout. Good length of neck. Decent lay-back of shoulder and matching return of upper arm; straight front with deep brisket. Ribs reaching well back, strong loin. Sound movement/ good stride length using his strong well-muscled hindquarters.