Wolsingham & Wear Valley Agricultural Society

Wolsingham Show – 8th September 2024

Many thanks to the officers and committee for the invitation to judge GSD, Working Group along with Puppy Stakes and Veteran Stakes. I also thank the exhibitors for the wonderful entry and pleased to see my principal winners take Best In Show, Best Puppy In Show and Reserve Best Veteran In Show.

It was challenging at times due to the adverse weather on the day but we got there in the end.

German Shepherd Dog

Post Graduate (3)

1st Ingham, Paluka Bali. A very promising young female, with so much to like. Strong in head but retains femininity. Dark eyes with well placed ears and using them well. Well-muscled neck and well in forechest. Good bone, straight in leg with compact feet. Strong in topline, well defined hindquarters and strong hocks. Very sound on the move.

2nd Cave, Ballynabola Ria At Casiann. 6 year old female. Long coated and heavier built than my winner. Attractive head, looked good in overall profile. Body had plenty of depth. Moved okay but was slightly loose in front.

Open (3)

1st Kenmare, Windgunns Rio Grande. 3.5 year old female. Such a feminine head with a good expression, good reach of neck with well-placed shoulders and deep chest. Well for bone and compact feet. Good body with spring of rib, super topline which was retained on the move. Sufficient croup, well developed hindquarters, good strong hocks. This females comes into her own on the move which is so free flowing in all directions. Best of Breed.

2nd Cave, Casiann Ate ShCEx. 3.5 year old female. Another lovely bitch, good head, strong in bone and well-muscled. Pleasing front with depth and overall good in body that was well muscled. Once settled, she moved okay and was sound.

Working Group

Siberian Husky

Puppy (2, 1A)

1st Bryson, Inukshuk Hello Darkness. 6 month old female. Black and white and very pleasing to look at. Good balanced head displaying a good expression, well placed ears. Good front, well for bone and standing on straight legs. Level topline though slightly longer than I would like but this did not distract from the overall profile. A little unsettled on the move but they are babies and once settled the movement was balanced and free.

Junior (1)

1st Bryson, Inukshuk Ride The Storm. 6 month old female. At this young age there’s so much to like. Overall so well put together, lovely feminine head, sufficient length of muzzle and skull. Pleasing length of neck, good body proportions. Correct rear angulation with tail carried correctly. Little excitable on the move but once settled she was a joy to watch with lovely free flowing movement. Best Puppy and Working Puppy Group 4

Post Graduate (1)

1st Howarth & Phillips, Forstals Elfin. 3 year old female. Striking female that looks like she could work all day. Well balanced in head, dark eye, well placed ears. Well arched neck, good lay of shoulder into well-developed chest. Strong topline with sufficient tuck. Movement was full of purpose viewed in all directions. Best of Breed.

Limit (1)

1st Bryson, Azgard Padron of Inukshuk. 5 year old male. Overall stood very well balanced, with a good head, well placed eyes and ears. Excellent reach of neck, well defined forechest. Level topline, moderate tuck up and well-muscled rear angulation. Moved free and sound in all directions.

Open (Absent)

Newfoundland

Post Graduate (5, 2A)

1st Adair. Chateaunewf Make My Day For Darebear. 19 month old female. Well balanced with a good head, good mouth, well placed ears. Strong neck, straight in front, well boned legs and good feet. Strong in body with adequate spring of rib, level topline and well angulated rear. Moved soundly with a good driving action. Best of Breed and Working Group 2.

2nd Ryan. King Helluland Harley Quinn For Bearnessitie (Imp SVK). 2 year old female. Not built as my winner but still lots to like. Good head with balanced proportions, well for bone and straight in front. Good body with well-defined rear angulations. Sound coming and going on the move.

Open (6, 2A)

1st Crosier. Nurburgnewf Cayman. 6 year old male. Masculine in head, well placed ears and good dark eye. Muscular neck with a good length. Strong in bone with good feet. Well-developed front with good depth and width. Well sprung ribs with well-defined rear angulation. Moved well and freely.

2nd Dickson. Zentaur Der Kapitan Wisperdomen JW ShCM SHEX. 7.5 year old male. For me would have just like a little less weight. Presented in wonderful coat. Pleasing head and well balanced. Strong in forechest, good body and well-muscled rear angulation. Moved okay.

Alaskan Malamute

Junior (1)

1st Patrick & Ashman. Okinastar Destiny Calling At Coldasice. 9 month old female. Lovely exhibit with such a feminine head, moderate stop and well placed ears. Well placed shoulders, good front and standing on straight legs and moderately boned. Well balanced in outline, good rear angulations. Movement was good to watch and was very sound and true in profile. Best Puppy.

Post Graduate (3, 1A)

1st Burgess. Tolketna Top Of The World To Mountainglen. 2.5 year old female. Sturdy G/W bitch but overall was very pleasing to go over. Well balanced head with a good length of muzzle, well set ears and almond shaped eyes. Strong muscled neck, good depth of forechest. Strong in bone, good feet, well in body and level topline. Moderate rear angulation. Presented with a good harsh coat. Moved with purpose and was sound in all directions.

1st Patrick & Ashman. Okinastar Destiny Calling At Coldasice. (See Junior critique)

Open (Absent)

Leonberger

Post Graduate (1)

1st Bell. Cleon Clanis Giganotos. 17 month old male. Good head and dark mask with a strong muzzle. Good reach of neck, lay of shoulder and strong in front with good feet. Well-proportioned body, strong topline and well-muscled rear angulation with good turn of stifle. Tail carried correctly when moving which was good in all directions.

Open (2)

1st Bell. Lionscourt King Kahekili. 5 year old male. Presented in very good coat and condition. Very good head and dark mask. Strong muscled neck, well defined front and strong bone. Strong in back with good body with well-muscled rear angulation, correct turn of stifle and strong hock. Well set tail that was carried correctly on the move which was full of purpose. Best of Breed.

2nd Brown. Jantonely Solar Eclipse. 7 year old male. Lovely masculine head with dark mark. Overall was well balanced with a good front, good bone. Another with a strong back, good body with a spring of rib. Moved okay but coming towards was a little loose.

Doberman

Open (1)

1st Kent, Kent & Sutton. Korifey Reckless JW. 21 month old male. Stood alone today and I have judged this dog previously as a puppy and just gets so much better as he begins to mature. For me such a super breed example. Such a correct head with dark eyes well placed. Good muzzle with strong underjaw. Strong in neck, well placed shoulders and sufficient bone. Moderate rear angulation with strong hocks and pasterns. Foe me he comes into his own on the move being so well balanced with the correct reach and drive. He is presented and handled to perfection and though standing alone he could not be denied top honours today awarding Best of Breed, Working Group 1 and later a well-deserved Best In Show.

Bernese Mountain Dog

Post Graduate (3)

1st Jefferson. Elbrusbern Amadeus. 20 month old male. A lovely youngster with a masculine head, flat skull and strong muzzle. Ears well set and a gentle expression. Well-developed front, good bone and tight feet. Good body with a good spring of rib and strong back. Well balanced rear angulation and strong hocks. Very sound on the move.

2nd Horn. Westholincar Born And Bred. 16 month old female. With a feminine head and kind expression. Moderate neck, good front, straight well-boned legs and good feet. Good body and level topline. Good tail carriage and moved well.

Open (2, 1A)

1st Bern Haus On Oka Mikon To Scobern (Imp Rus). 5 year old male. Masculine head and balanced in proportions. Well set ears, good breadth of skull. Muscular front and forechest, moderately boned, good feet. Good body length and topline. Well defined rear angulation, straight hocks. Presented in good coat, Moved really well with plenty of drive. Best of Breed.

Dogue De Bordeaux

Junior (Absent)

Post Graduate (1)

1st Moran. Airbrean Killer Queen. 23 month old female. Pleasing feminine head, with gentle expression and plenty of width. Muscular neck, well placed shoulders and strong for bone. Good strong body and overall, well for size. Movement was okay and was presented in good condition today.

Open (3, 1A)

1st Moran. Airbrean Kenzo. 2.5 year old male. Excellent masculine head, slightly domed and pleasing expression. Well-developed forechest with plenty of depth and width, strong muscular neck and well bodied with a good spring of rib. Well of muscle in rear angulation and was displayed in his movement which was clean and sound. Best of Breed.

2nd Moran. Airbrean All That I Know. 2.5 year old female. Feminine head and expression and very well balanced throughout. Good front with ample forechest. Good for bone and good feet. Overall shown in good condition. Moved well in all directions.

Bullmastiff

Post Graduate (2)

1st Priest. Big Boy Brucie. 7 month old male. I liked this young dog very much. Good masculine head even at this tender age. Dark eyes and well placed ears. Powerful neck and front developing nicely. Good bone and compact feet. Level topline and good rear angulation. Moved well and was balanced overall. Nicely presented and handled. Best Puppy and Working Puppy group 2

2nd McMenemy. Cairnmount Flashover. 10 year old female. I started writing my critique by saying super condition for age. Good and expression, pleasing front and had a good covering overall. Moved well and a credit to the owner.

Open (2)

1st Mcmenemy. Cairnmount Tamdhu. 4 year old male. Masculine head, strong muzzle and correctly placed ears. Good shoulders, muscular neck and powerful front with ample depth. Good body length and strong topline which was retained on the moved which displayed a good driving action from the rear.

2nd Priest. Big Boy Brucie. (See Post Graduate critique.)

Great Dane.

Junior (1)

1st McLellan. Anadain Dead Ringer For Love. 10 month old male. I wrote in my judging book WOW, I felt privileged to go over and surely a promising future. Fawn, with a strong masculine head, correct eyes and ears that were well placed and carried. Such a flowing reach of neck, good lay of shoulder, pleasing topline and developing rear angulation which is correct for his age. He took time to settle on the move but when he did there is so much to admire with his free flowing movement which covers the ground with ease. Please to award, Best of Breed, Best Puppy, Working Puppy Group 1 and later in the day Best Puppy In Show.

Post Graduate (1)

1st McLellan. Anadain Life Is A Lemon. 10 month old male. Litter brother to the junior winner and similar remarks apply they are like peas in a pod. The deciding factor for me today was that coming towards he was not as clean in movement when settled but this will come with age but again another with a promising future.

Open (Absent)

AVNSC Working

Puppy (2, 1A)

1st Hind. Callowdale Tibet Tira At Diamoneo (Tibetan Mastiff). 8 month old female. Lovely exhibit and so balanced at this young age. Good size of head, good expression, oval shaped eyes. Good neck and well placed shoulders. Strong for bone and stood on rounded feet. For a youngster the movement was good and clean. Best AVNSC Puppy.

Open (4, 1A)

1st Armstrong. Rowanbridge Ailsa Bay (PWD). 7 year old female with such a feminine head and expression. Short in neck with well placed shoulders and front. Good body length and moderate rear angulation. Displayed a positive moving action. Best AVNSC

2nd Doran. Tamdrin Rinchien. (Tibetan Mastiff). 2 year old female. Good size with a strong head and muzzle. Strong neck and moderate front angulation. Large feet, strong in body and gave a level topline. Clean in movement.

AV Working

Puppy (10, 5A)

1st Priest. Big Boy Brucie. (See Bullmastiff Post Graduate Critique)

2nd English, Annicia Night Sky (Rottweiler). 8 month old female. Expressive feminine head with well placed ears giving a gentle expression. Ample bone and front developing nicely. Level topline and spring of rib. Slightly longer in loin than I would prefer. Movement was sound In all directions.

Open

1st Adair, Chateaunewf Make My Day For Darebear. (See Newfoundland Post Graduate Critique).

2nd Kent, Lyfearon Off With Her Head ShCEx (Siberian Husky). 4 year old female. Again another I have judged previously and awarded top honours but today just felt she didn’t have the finish though still much to like. Feminine throughout with a gentle kind expression. Well defined in front and rear angles. Strong topline which was held on the move which is free flowing. Well handled.

Veteran

1st Patrick. Ch Tom Bombadil Of Poliarine Arktika At Coldasice JW ShCM VW. (Siberian Husky). 10 year old male. pleasing outline. Masculine head that gave good proportions, eyes correctly set. Good neck length and well-muscled. Good depth of chest, moderate bone. Well balanced body, good for ribbing and length of loin. Tail well placed and carried correctly on the move, which was true and balanced in all directions. Best Working Veteran and pleased to see he went Reserve Best Veteran In Show.

2nd Adair. Ch King Of Helluland Love Actually At Darebear (IMP) JW ShCM ShCEx OSW. (Newfoundland). 7 year old female. And another well worth of her title. Strong head with broad skull. Small ears and well set. Good reach of neck and shoulder placement. Strong for bone and good tight feet. Ample body, Well-muscled rear that was used well on the move with plenty of drive and sound action.

Working Group

1st Doberman

2nd Newfoundland

3rd Alaskan Malamute

4th Bullmastiff

Working Puppy Group

1st Great Dane

2nd Bullmastiff

3rd Rottweiler

4th Siberian Husky

Caroline & Susan Gatherall Memorial AV Puppy Stakes (30, 15A)

1st Priest. Big Boy Brucie (See Bullmastiff Critique)

2nd Dack. Gaelgorm Leap Into The Dark (Kerry Blue Terrier). 6 month old male. Masculine head with neat ears, Good developing front and ample bone. Strong topline with a well set tail. Presented with a coat of correct texture and moved out very well. Well presented.

Jennifer Caden Memorial AV Veteran Stakes (26, 11A)

1st Knowles. Ch Tokaji Klassic Trickster At Sarawana. (Basenji). 7 year old male. Another worthy Champion giving such a balanced head, with a correct ear set and wonderful expression with dark eyes. Correct leg length and compact feet, good short back and correct curled tail well set. Defined rear angulation which gave such balanced movement and ground covering action.

2nd Lawless & Donaldson. Revloch Kasanova JW ShCM VW (Groenendael). 9 year old male. Such a great breed example. Balanced head with dark eyes and ears set correctly and well used giving a wonderful expression. Good front with ample forechest. Level topline into correct croup. Such an easy action on the move and presented in good coat.

Judge – Paul McClure