Boston & District Canine Society

Boston & District Canine Society

Open Show – 3rd July 2024

Beagle

P (5 1) 1. Scarlett’s Vanitonia Enchanted over Michelroy . Lovely 9 month old tricolour puppy who was alert, making the most of her attributes. I liked her headpiece which was balanced, in proportion to body, with strength and breadth to muzzle with corresponding backskull. Excellent eye and melting expression. Her quarters were well developed, of width and depth yet without a hint of coarseness. Her topline and coupling was firm, brisket to elbow and pleasing underline. She could have been a touch shorter-coupled, but her good angles back and forth together with her pleasing carriage, standing and on the move meant that she presented the most balanced outline of the breed today such that I was pleased to award her Best Puppy and Best of Breed. 2. Hardisty’s Blunderhall Saucy Sally. Free moving 11 month old tricolour bitch who was very close up to the winner. She was slightly stronger all through than Enchanted but being well proportioned overall she was free from exaggeration and not coarse in any way. Another who scored in head and expression and I liked her straight front with good depth and width of forechest. Clean length of neck which flowed well into topline. Nicely angled fore and aft I particularly liked her good, workmanlike movement. Overall, at this particular stage of her development I just preferred the refinement of the winner. 3. Giles-Wyatt’s Clarismore Crown Prince. SY (2 1). 1. Hardisty’s Blunderhall Flirty Gertie. Tricolour litter sister to Saucy Sally and another whose quality pleased me for balance and outline. Classy headpiece of good size and proportions with good ear. Clean front which was adequately filled to brisket, she stood on well boned legs and good feet. Clean wither and firm topline and was not too long in back. Pleasing angulation at shoulder which corresponded well to turn of stifle with good width of thigh which was used to advantage on the move where she drove around the ring. A little untidy when coming towards me, but there is time for this to settle. It was a pity that due to a clash with the junior warrant competition she was unable to return for the challenge. L (2) 1. Roberts & Spearing’s Linkenlees Laurina. Honest tricolour lady of 7 years who was presented in excellent condition. In profile she presented an outline that was all of a piece of with good flowing lines and no hard angles. Pleasing ratio of muzzle to skull with good stop and lovely eye. I would have however preferred a slightly stronger drop of lip to complete overall balance. As one would expect for her age her quarters were well developed and evenly angulated, supported by good coupling and a firm topline, and she moved out well around the ring; I particularly liked her hind movement going away from me. I just preferred the head of the Best of Breed winner. 2. Hardisty’s Bunderhall Jacks the Lad. 19 month tricolour male who I found to be developing nicely. In keeping with his masculinity he was stronger all through than Laurina and given the disparity in ages he was understandably giving something away in maturity. Sire of Saucy Sally and Flirty Gertie, one could appreciate where they have gained their attributes. He had a good, well-shape head which was in proportion to body, just enough depth of body and correct topline and underline. I would have preferred slightly more angulation at the rear but being a young dog I felt there may be time for this to be enhanced. A very purposeful mover with sound stride and easy carriage. O (3 2) 1. Roberts & Spearing’s Linkenlees Lyric. Tricolour litter sister to Laurina who I have also had the pleasure of judging before. Tidy and well balanced lady who presented a compact outline with desired strength and depth of quarters without being coarse. Similar head properties to her litter sister, mounted on a good neck which flowed nicely into topline and well developed, clean front. I liker her angles fore and aft and her sound, easy gait when moving around the ring.

Bernese Mountain Dog

P (2 1) 1. Wood’s Oskevabern Hellraiser. 10 month well marked puppy bitch who stood on good strong bone with pleasing quarters of width and depth. Her head had the desired strength of muzzle and was of a good shape so as not to belie her sex with good stop and eye. I liked her front for width and depth and she had a good angle at point of shoulder. Her topline was firm and level but a touch high at the rear as given her age she needed to let down a little more behind. A slow maturing breed she has plenty of time for this. She maintained a good outline on the move and I was particularly pleased with her front action when coming towards me. Best Puppy.

SY (1) 1. Connelly’s Ticklebern Jackelberry. 15 month male who whilst obviously going through a growth spurt it actually enhanced his outline providing him with a good length of leg for his function which became evident on the move where he was workmanlike and even in stride. Compact in profile his angles matched back and forth with a strong topline and good croup. His head was appealing, masculine, well-shaped without being overdone and mounted on a good neck. Although a touch rangy at the moment (and again has plenty of time) he stood on lovely bone and feet. I was pleased to award him Best of Breed.

Portuguese Water Dog

In terms of quality this really was a terrific entry. I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to judge such excellent exhibits and it made for hair-splitting decisions which I am sure could change easily on other days.

P (2) Two absolutely super puppies. Unsurprising to find that they are litter mates. First was as masculine as second was feminine and yet neither gave anything away to detract from their working function. 1. Williams & Newton’s Rarjo Captain Curl Macduff. 11 month male with terrific curly coat and for his age was quite stallion like. He caught my eye head-on with strength to slightly tapering muzzle which was so well proportioned to backskull. His abundant coat was in no way designed to belie the strength of forequarters and chest which was evident with hands on examination. Adequate neck with super level and strong topline. He stood on great legs and feet. His angles fore and aft were just right and importantly he had a lovely width of thigh which I have found can be lacking in this breed; not so with this boy. He was put down in excellent condition and he moved effortlessly around the ring. A smashing lad who took Best Puppy. I was delighted to learn he took Res Best Puppy in Show. 2. Williams, Newton & Slack’s Rarjo Macduff Making Waves with Megulcie. This lovely girl gave as good as she got against her litter brother and didn’t let him have it all his own way. Great headpiece; so well proportioned with great frontal bones, lovely nose and eye. Excellent front for neck, chest, legs and feet. Lovely underline and she did have a firm topline, but she lost out to her brother by needing a touch more hind angulation. At this stage of development I didn’t feel this was anything to worry about but when splitting hairs that’s what it came down to. Function-like on the move with lovely tail carriage. L (2) 1. Kirk’s Belleville Crazy in Love of Belezaflor. I have judged this lovely girl as a puppy and could not but still admire her. I found her to be growing into a classic outline, from head shape and carriage, through neck, forequarters and hindquarters all being equal and harmonious. I loved her head complimented by eyes for colour, shape and set. Her topline was good and firm with just the right amount of slope to croup. Hindquarters have settled since I last saw her to match her angle at point of shoulder. Her handler got the very best out of her on the move. I felt there is still more to come from this girl and her owners should be in no rush. Classy girl 2. Williams, Newton & Carter’s Rarjo Calm the Storm Macduff. I’ve also liked this lovely girl since she was a puppy and I feel she is the slow maturing sort who will be very worth the wait. Her head was lovely with super jaw, dentition and eye. There was little between her and the winner save for I think she could just drop down a little more into her hind angulation. Her quarters were well developed and of width and she was presented in the best of condition. Lovely depth of body throughout with super topline. Robust and workmanlike on the move and I felt she has so much time on her side. O (2) 1. Williams, Newtons & Slack’s Ch, Can, Am Ch. Rarjo Quicksilver. With him being 8 years old it was such a pleasure to again judge this handsome dog whom I have admired countless times. On this day, as before, I found nothing flashy about him, but his quality shone through because of his honesty and nobility of carriage. I found him to be so well balanced with his good quarters supporting a correct and strong topline. His depth and width of body, and exceptionally good loin, supported his workmanlike ability which could only add to his appeal. Lovely, well proportioned head with great expression. On this day he was a veteran and consummate performer which took him to the top of the breed. He really proved himself on the move; effortless, no fuss, sound and easy with super action on the out and back, with particularly good action from the rear. I could not deny him Best of Breed. 2. Mcfarlane’s Micador Will I Am. Another mature gentleman who I admired very much for his head and expression with eyes to die for. His neck was of adequate length and he held it well both standing and on the move. I thought his angulation fore and aft to be adequate but I preferred the depth and width of body of the winner. This notwithstanding, he stood on good bone and feet with a very good topline and underline. Supremely honest and in good condition he was a credit to his owners.

Birdbrook Lucky Dip Post Graduate Stakes

A great initiative from between the Society and its sponsor. This was a very high quality stakes class. There was a clash between this class and some group judging so unfortunately the quality Irish Wolfhound and Great Dane were unable to remain for consideration.

1. Weyman’s More Than Amazing Wanna Be A Gangster at Spuffing (Imp Bel). 16 month old English Springer Spaniel. I thought him to be quite handsome; strong and squarely built in super condition with lovely even quarters. He was very well coupled with nicely developed chest and depth of body, good rib and fir loin. His head was well shaped with pleasing proportion of muzzle to skull with lovey kind expression. Head was mounted on a clean neck, which had strength, good length with slight arch. His correct, well muscled quarters lent themselves so well to his good gait which was free, easy with correct reach and drive. 2. Williams, Newton & Slack’s Rarjo Macduff Making Waves with Megulcie. Fabulous Portuguese Water Dog girl who I had judged earlier. She held her own in this competition with the older dogs, ably piloted by a very talented handler. 3. Ward’s Glenbrows Flame for Tantaraviz, Welsh Springer Spaniel.

Ric Beall