Home Counties Cocker Spaniel Club

Show – Home Counties Cocker Spaniel Club

Date – 29 September 2024

Judge – Lynda Nicholas (Nickarlyn)

Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge, all exhibitors and especially the many that braved the weather (floods). It was my pleasure to have the opportunity to judge such quality & quantity of cockers at my first breed club appointment at such a friendly show. All presented in clean condition. There was quite a variety of size and type. Cockers must remain fit-for-function requiring core strength and muscle tone.

BIS - Zakova Santana JW

RBIS- Clavaire Marrakech Sky

BOSIS - Glowhill Sweet Magnolia

BPIS - Rayol The Journalist

BMPIS - Wissant About Flippin Time

B Baby IS – Delightful Hunter London Eye at Meggiemac (NAF)

B Veteran IS - Sheigra Stars in her Eyes JW OSW ShCEx

Baby Puppy D – any colour (1,0)

1 McShane - Delightful Hunter London Eye at Meggiemac (NAF)

Delightful blue fluffy baby. Good head proportions and square muzzle. Short, sturdy and plenty of substance. Standing on well boned legs and feet. Lovely temperament – a mix of settled movement and puppy bounce around the ring.

Baby Puppy B – any colour (2,0)

2 black babies at very different stages of development and growth.

1 Pop – Merrysoul Donatella Versace with Bocablue

Balanced baby with clean outline. Lovely head and eye, the softest expression. Sufficient body and bone for age. Ribs reached well back and short loin. Will take her time to mature- but it is all there. Balanced angulations.

2 Selwood – Aisza Penelope

Of similar age. Clean head, dark eye, decent stop - preferred the expression of winner. Well-made body. Confident moving, showing promising reach and drive. Preferred the overall balanced silhouette of 1 today.

Minor Puppy D – any colour (2,0)

1 Fawcett – Wissant About Flippin Time

Blue. Well grown for age. Head developing nicely, good proportions, correct stop and dark eye with a hint of naughtiness. Well-boned with a sturdy body. Stood on straight legs with tight feet. Holding onto puppy coat as he should. Moved as his angles suggested – some puppy bounce as he was full of himself enjoying his day.

2 Beckwith – Balaambeck Oricorio Opal

Up-to-size black. Pleasing head, square muzzle, dark well shaped eye. Well boned and bodied. Not quite the balance of winner and little upright in shoulder. Enough ribs and brisket. Moved well.

Minor Puppy B – any colour (3,1)

1 Kidd – Freestone My Serendipity

6 mth ultra feminine blue. Sweetest of heads. Square and cobby with good angulations. Correct bone and substance for size - time will be her friend. Well up on the leg, and neat tight feet. Balanced proportions hiding under that puppy coat. Happy and moved well.

2 Bindza – Laurellakes Songbird

Blue with pleasing head, intelligent expression with dark well shaped eye. Good neck and shoulders slightly finer in bone and though out than 1, Prefer a tad shorter loin. Moved soundly.

Puppy D – any colour (3,0)

1 Roberts & Smith – Rayol The Journalist

Very smart mature lad. Lovely quality and substance, gorgeous head and expression, darkest of eyes. Excelled in bone. Big ribs, short wide loin, nicely rounded backend, with short hocks. Everything was there. Happy attitude in spades, moved with great drive and purpose.

2 Gray – Purdyspride Rave On

Another lovely puppy with lots to admire. Up-to-size blue, with style and substance. Balanced head, dark eye, good stop but preferred the expression of winner. Strong neck into well placed shoulders with matching upper arm. Depth to brisket, decent bone and tight feet. Covered the ground well with accurate footfall.

3 Beckwith – Balaambeck Oricorio Opal

Puppy B – any colour (1,0)

1 Davies – Ryallcourt Happy Dance of Peacevale

Feminine light blue. Decent head still developing - good proportions, dark eye. Good length of neck, well-off for ribs and short loin, correct bone for size. Growing her furnishings, coat is correct texture with natural presentation. She has balanced front/rear angles. Movement was slightly erratic, and footfall could improve.

Junior D/B - any colour (7,3)

A mixed class, each offering me different attributes:

1 Darby – Pearkim Pompadora Dargess

Up-to-size dark blue girl appealed for balance, shape and type. Balanced head, dark eye, square muzzle and correct stop. Lovely neck flowing into well set shoulders and good return of upper arm. Well off for bone. Big ribs and short loin. Tail set correct however carried high, detracting from profile.

2 Buck – Clavaire Vintage Tan

Short, cobby O&W ticked, presenting a balanced outline. Good head proportions, dark eye and pigment for her colour, correct stop. Good depth of chest, decent bone, good ribbing and short loin. Feminine throughout. Coming back into coat. Lost topline a little today, driving action with accurate footfall.

3 Pearce-Gudger – Pearkim Pietro

First glance I thought that he would be my winner. Lots to like; was his own worst enemy today and did not co-operate with his handler.

Yearling D/B - any colour (10,1)

Most competitive class of the day.

1 Buck – Clavaire Marrakech Sky

Eye catching orange roan with great ring presence. Well-balanced, flowing from nose to tail with excellent proportions. Good head, dark pigmentation, correct stop, well-shaped dark eye all combine to give a melting expression. Moderate neck into decent front, excellent ribs and short strong loin. Good bone and ribbing. Kept a level topline with well-muscled rear quarters providing necessary drive and great tail action. Accurate footfall. Correctly textured, well-presented jacket.

2 Warrington – Zakova Wise Guy JW

Black dog of larger build but beautifully balanced. Masculine but not overdone. Clean neck leading to well laid shoulder and correct return of upper arm. Good depth of chest, ribbing reaching well back and a short loin. Tremendous bone ended in the best of feet. Moved well holding strong topline. A1 presentation. Just preferred head of winner.

3 Kotanen – Yokotai Queen of Chaos

Maiden D/B - any colour (1,0)

1 Carey – Uxendel Wood Warbler of Ware

Unplaced in Yearling. Blue dog, smaller size and fine throughout. Nice expression, dark eye, good stop. Natural coat but some needs stripping out to give a more definite finish. Moved out on a loose lead.

Novice D/B - any colour (4,2)

1 Wright – Chazbaz My Girl Melissa

B&T – took class on movement. Nicely proportioned classic head, rich tan markings, dark eye and square muzzle. Decent neck into good front assembly. Big ribs, would prefer shorter coupling. Stands on good legs, feet could be tighter. Moved accurately with purpose and drive.

2 Pocock – Florendeem Tooty Fruity

Blue girl. Decent neck, shoulders finely knitted but could have more lay back. Well off for bone. Good rear angulation and short hocks.

Graduate D/B – black/black&tan/gold/choc/choc&tan (7,1)

1 Warrington – Zakova Santana JW

Impressive black - projecting style and substance; all parts in proportion. Lovely head, good chiselling and square muzzle. Soft expression, well-shaped dark eye. Moderate neck into well laid shoulders and return of upper-arm. Stands on great legs and feet. Deep brisket, ribcage reaching well back and short wide loin. Rear angulation matched front. Co-ordinated movement with admirable drive. Silky coat, not a hair out of place presented to highlight his many virtues.

2 McShane – Meggiemac My My My Delilah

Quality make and shape to this up to size black bitch - with lots of breed type. Classic head with soft expression. Moderate neck flows in good shoulders, could have slightly more spring of rib. Excellent bone ending in tight feet. Longer cast that than 1. Moved with power and drive. Put down to perfection.

3 Kidd – Laurellakes Dream Come True with Freestone

Graduate D/B – AOC – except black/black&tan/gold/choc/choc&tan (1,0)

1 Hutson – Stobytill Bootylicious

Blue appealed for size, type and balance. Lovely head, dark tight eye with gentle expression. Moderate neck with correct front angulation. Decent bone and neat feet, short below the hock. Nicely rounded rear/well-muscled. Moved accurately holding her topline covering the ground well.

Post Graduate D/B - any colour (6,2)

1 McShane – Meggiemac Black Pearl

Black dog showing plenty of size and substance. Masculine head, good eye and stop. Well-presented profuse gleaming coat. Big ribs, deep brisket with a firm rear. Strong bone and tight feet. Held topline on move and used rear quarters well.

2 Randall – Plaigen Sunshine with Fengrange

Not the biggest of blue girls but well balanced. Pleasant head, dark eye enough chiselling. Scored for body proportions and matching angles. Good neck, well placed shoulders and upper arm. Good ribs, bone and feet. Moved with co-ordination and composure.

3 Marshall – Wissant Very Special Agent

Bred By Exhibitor D/B – any colour (4,1)

1 West – Sheigra Super Secret JW

Red. Pleasing head, well-placed dark eye with soft expression. Compact, sturdy body with good bone ending in tight feet. Good width in front. Balanced angulations. Silky coat with natural presentation. Moved true in all directions with enthusiasm. Good tail action.

2 Brothwell – Wissant Uptown Girl

Blue – different type to 1. Pleasing head and expression. Well bodied, good bone, matching angles. Happy and sound moving but not the drive of winner.

3 Hill – Princehill Shining Star JW

Not Bred By Exhibitor D/B – any colour (6,0)

Class of differing types.

1 Randall – Plaigen Sunshine with Fengrange (repeat)

2 Laurellakes Dream Come True with Freestone

Pleasing feminine head with kind eye. Little reluctant on the move, needs more confidence to show herself to best advantage. Gleaming black silky coat well presented. Would like to see more of her all through.

3 Gray – Purdyspride Feel the Rhythm

Special Beginners D/B – any colour (6,2)

1 Brothwell – Wissant Dear Darlin

Blue. Feminine expression, good head in balance. Well-off for bone and substance: Good reach of neck flowed into well set sloping shoulders. Deep in body, short loin and matching angulations. Accurate movement and has admirable carriage/deportment. No doubting she could move like this all day long.

2 Wright – La Scales Berlin with Chazbaz (Imp HUN)

Black. Pleasing overall type with excellent presentation. Masculine head. Decent angulation and good front. Moderate bone and neat feet. Longer in loin and not quite the fluency of side gait as 1.

3 Marshall – Wissant Moon and Stars

Open D/B – black/black&tan/gold/choc/choc&tan (2,0)

1 West – Sheigra Simply a Star JW

Black. Well balanced and proportioned from all angles, nicely arched neck flowing to good shoulders, straight front with deep brisket. Cobby body, ribs reaching well back with short loin. Well off for bone down to tight feet. Moved steadily with purpose and drive.

2 Remington – Rozaime Black Pearl Jessremjul

Black larger type, presented to full advantage. Balanced head with kind eye and melting expression. Moderate neck into well placed shoulders, prefer more width to front. Decent bone and well off for ribs and short loin. Not the footfall accuracy of winner.

Open D/B – AOC – except black/black&tan/gold/choc/choc&tan (6,1)

1 Mitchell - Glowhill Sweet Magnolia

Light blue. Lots of breed type, nothing exaggerated needs to be handled to appreciate her classic lines. Good head proportions gentle expression, dark eyes and correct stop. Natural coat presented to enhance her make and shape with nothing to hide. Moved with accuracy and enthusiasm.

2 Hutson – Stobytill After the Storm

Blue dog. Classic well balanced head with soft expression – but all male. Matching angles front and rear. Good spring of rib and short loin. Excellent body proportions. Free easy mover, excellent side gait - covered the ground with accurate footfall coming from core strength and hard condition.

3 Robers & Smith – Claramand Ziggeta at Rayol

Veteran D/B – any colour

1 West – Sheigra Stars in her Eyes JW OSW ShCEx

Black - feminine head and kind eye. Not the biggest – good reach of neck, depth of brisket, big ribs, good angles and a short loin. Demonstrated accurate, efficient movement that allowed her to cover the ground. Great conditioning for a veteran.

2 Hill – Olibond Sunshine Girl at Princehill

Orange roan starting to show her advancing years. Classic type head, soft expression. Big ribs and short loin. Flat silky coat however carrying a little too much weight and did not quite get it together on the move today.

Judge – Lynda Nicholas (Nickarlyn)