British Utility Breeds Association

British Utility Breeds Association

16th March 2024

It was an honour to be invited to judge Best in Show and Best Puppy in Show at this very well organised and smooth running show. I also enjoyed judging the A.V. Imported Breeds Register Classes. Thank you to the officers and committee for inviting me and to my ring steward for keeping everything running like clockwork.

Best in Show was Wells’ Volgarus Candid Clara – this cream Miniature Poodle is a quality bitch of excellent type and in really good condition throughout. It’s no secret she is a favourite of mine, I have done well for her in the past and she just seems to get better. She excels in breed type and is very well proportioned throughout with a lovely head, well made body and good depth to her well sprung ribcage, lovely coat which was presented to the highest standard, sound free mover with plenty of reach and drive enabling her to cover the ground effortlessly, in superb condition and expertly handled. It was a pleasure to award her Best in Show.

Reserve Best in Show was Cund, Cund & Hickin’s Chelmbull Space Man – French Bulldog of excellent type and in really good condition throughout, lovely square head with dark well set eyes and bat ears, strong underjaw, well developed cheek muscles, cobby body with good ribcage and ample width of forechest, strong muscled hindquarters, moved freely and was sound fore and aft.

Group 3 Brown & Colaco’s Saxtead Norbu - lovely Tibetan Spaniel of good type and well proportioned throughout, lovely head and expression with good cushioning, good front, strong well made body of good depth and correct topline, muscled quarters with good tail set and carriage, moved freely.

Group 4 Lewis’ Ch Deelayne Jennifer Joy – well balanced Lhasa Apso with a lovely head and dark expressive eyes, rounded ribcage with good depth and correct topline, in super condition topped by a good coat which was well presented, moved freely.

Best Puppy in Show was Dawson’s Miniature Schnauzer Gryselda Step In Time - well constructed puppy that flowed round the ring with good forward reach and powerful driving rear whilst keeping a good profile, a strong muscular dog with lovely head proportions, clean nicely arched neck, well made body of good depth, good coat and in superb condition, moved soundly.

Reserve Best Puppy in Show was Cund’s French Bulldog Chelmbull Capt’n Fantastic - well put together youngster that showed like a veteran with a hint of mischief, compact and well balanced, he has a super head with good ear placement and carriage and lovely expression, strong wide jaws with plenty of cushioning, well rounded ribcage, compact feet, moved soundly.

Puppy Group 3 Hood’s Schipperke Django Alpha Nero with Arathorn (Imp Cze) - stylish puppy with a lovely head and expression, good ear placement, well made body with correct tail set and carriage, standing on small tight feet, nicely balance throughout, moved with purpose.

Puppy Group 4 Stock’s Dalmatian Dalmark’s Jubilations at Nospar - mature puppy of good proportions and with a lovely head and expression, strong neck, rounded ribcage with good depth, strong loin, standing on tight feet, clean lines, moved freely.

A.V. Imported Breed Register Utility

Junior (1)

1st Cassidy’s Xoloitzcuintle (Mexican Hairless) Yrgalem Dream of Coffee at Chinasky’s (Imp Pol) – smart youngster who is balanced throughout, good width to skull, well set almond eyes and lovely expression, erect ears, strong neck and well developed body, moved with drive.

Open (3. 1 Ab)

1st Cunningham’s Korean Jindo Hr Ch Yulyeong Rock Dee Jay – well balanced, very alert and used ring to full advantage with effortless movement, super head forming a blunt triangle with erect ears, arched neck, good ribcage and strong loin, well muscled rear, correct tail carriage, excellent coat, moved well. Best Imported breed register.

2nd Cassidy’s Xoloitzcuintle (Mexican Hairless) Athena Goddess of Wizdom IZ Kanekso at Chinasky’s (Imp Rus) – strong yet feminine with a pleasing head and expression, clean foreface and tight lips, strong neck and good body with well muscled rear, unfortunately she was pacing.

A.V. Utility

Veteran Dog or Bitch (18)

1st Sullivan’s Shih Tzu Ch Jacquinta Lets Go Andy JW – gold/white with plenty of substance, large round head, with well placed nose and open nostrils, wide jaw, dark eyes and masculine expression, good arch to neck and well sprung ribcage with good width to chest, high set tail and good carriage, moved well fore and aft.

2nd Hickson’s Keeshond Ch Kichigai’s Only The Lonely – pleasing head and expression, compact with good reach of neck set into clean shoulders, short back and correct topline, well defined markings, in excellent coat and condition, moved freely.

 3rd Johnson’s Kooikerhondje Sensation Vom Tespelkooi of Valleyrise (Imp Deu) VW

Minor Puppy Dog (8)

1st Stocks’ Dalmatian Dalmark’s Jubilations at Nospar - lovely youngster who oozes quality and excels in breed type, lovely head piece of good proportions and nicely balanced with the whole dog, very good ribcage and depth of body, standing on thick tight feet and moved with reach and drive but he was definitely doing it his way.

2nd Thompson’s Poodle (Toy) Afterglow Show Us Yer Nuts Trandella - nicely made youngster, refined yet masculine head with good chin, good reach of neck and well rounded ribcage but needs more coverage, rich brown colour, short back, very outgoing and moved freely.

3rd Lawrence’s Tibetan Terrier Tazique The Emperior

Minor Puppy Bitch (11)

1st Bennett’s Japanese Akita Inu Seijitsu No Bishoujo – beautiful youngster, so collected on the move, very good head proportions with dark almond eyes giving a real oriental look, hooded ears, strong arched neck set into good shoulders and standing on neat arched feet, excellent ribcage with strong loin and good depth to rib, well muscled and used the ring on the move.

2nd Copper’s Miniature Schnauzer Violis Poetic Haiku for Copellastar- feminine throughout with a lovely head and pleasing expression, nice arch to neck and good ribcage but would prefer a bit more forechest, good topline and tailset, well angulated rear, stylish in profile but needs to firm up fore and aft.

3rd Irwing’s Chow Chow Autumnal Blossom at Beaconpride

Puppy Dog (6)

1st Cassidy’s Xoloitzcuintle (Mexican Hairless) Yrgalem Dream of Coffee at Chinasky’s (Imp Pol) - smart youngster who is balanced throughout, good width to skull, well set almond eyes and lovely expression, erect ears, strong neck and well developed body, moved with drive.

2nd Francis & Pearce’s German Spitz (Klein) Longsdale’s Dance With Me – 11 months old and with lots of potential, lovely head and dark oval eyes that sparkled with mischief, triangular ears but just needs to use them more, well developed chest and good ribcage. well angulated, moved well.

3rd Moorcroft’s Miniature Schnauzer Amorevita Uranus

Puppy Bitch (8)

1st Bridge, Meyer & Britton’s Dalmatian Akoni Buttery D’Or - pretty bitch, good head, dark eyes and a pleasing expression, strong arched neck, good depth of chest and well sprung ribcage, strong in loin, nice round bone and tight well padded feet, correct topline which she held on the move.

2nd Armstrong & Cherry’s Tibetan Terrier Araki Fantasy Funtime at Tizzycharm - overall a nice type and very pretty, good head and eye, well developed solid body although a touch long, needs to tighten in front, moved freely

Junior Dog or Bitch (15)

1st Day’s Miniature Schnauzer Risepark Buffey – smart, compact and very feminine throughout, balanced head with strength yet retaining her femininity, nicely arched neck, compact body, short loin, moved with style and holding outline.

2nd Minto’s Bulldog Kenzduo American Pie – loved her shape and stylish steady movement, good head proportions with rose ears, good neck, strong body with good topline, good rear with plenty of muscle and standing on tight feet.

3rd Robbins and Hensman’s Dalmatian Salvadorada Honolulu Honey at Palouse

Post Graduate Dog or Bitch ( 16)

1st Brown & Colaco’s Tibetan Spaniel Saxstead Norbu - Masculine dog of good size with a nice head with correct stop and well shaped eyes, blunt square muzzle which was well cushioned, good body proportions, well muscled hindquarters, standing on lovely hare feet, moved freely.

2nd Cassidy’s Xoloitzcuintle (Mexican Hairless) Ring Rider Teotihuacan at Chinasky’s (Imp HRV) - a nice type who showed well, lovely masculine head, well made body and good topline, excellent hindquarters with the correct moderate angulation, correct movement, powerful dog but not over-exaggerated

3rd Evans’ Chow Chow Sceptune Artemis Blaze avec Simcha

Open Dog or Bitch (10)

1st Hood’s Schipperke Revloch Fire at Will CJW19 - well balanced honest dog with a well proportioned head, dark expressive eyes and well set ears which he used, nicely arched neck, good ribcage but would like him shorter in loin, well rounded rump, moved with purpose, very intent on handler but handler needs to stand facing him as he twists round.

2nd Armstrong’s Tibetan Terrier Rigaze Dalai Gartok at Tizzycharm – pleasing head and expression, well covered body with good depth and spring of rib, moved freely, needs more finish.

3rd Stocks’’ Dalmatian Nospar’s Gin and Tonic JW

Brace (5)

1st Church’s Japanese Spitz – well matched and moving in perfect unison with one another, super coats and condition, a lovely pair.

2nd Guy’s Kooikerhondje’s – nearly identical, both with good body’s moving well together and nearly in unison.

3rd Williams & Taswell’s Dalmatians.

Melanie Harwood (Minarets) Judge.