Colne Nelson & District Canine Society

Irish Wolfhound

P (1) 1. Tingle’s Fosco Della Bassa Pavese. Reasonably well balanced 9 month old grey brindle dog. Pleasing head properties with overall shape being in proportion to body which appeared to be developing nicely. Lovely neck for length and strength and he stood well over ground with good bone. Angles back and forth were satisfactory and as I would expect at this age and stage of development for a giant breed. Sound and easy mover, but naturally needs to tighten up all round as he matures. Handler needs a little more confidence to make the best of his virtues of which there are many. Best Puppy

J (3 1) 1. Sales’ Francistown Chandler. Wheaten boy of 13 months. Scored in head with well set ear, mounted on a good neck of strength without being throaty at all, but I would have preferred greater length to neck for overall balance. Good depth and width of body and his outline was enhanced with pleasing underline and strong topline with arched loin. Good width of thigh and correct hind angulation. On the move he demonstrated a lithe, easy action when viewed from the side. A touch wide going away from me, but true action coming back. 2. Molyneuex’s Francistown Connor. Wheaten and obvious litter brother to Chandler. Sightly finer all through than Chandler, but well up for size and his head was well proportioned in terms of proportion to body shape with adequate strength of jaw, lovely dentition and a kind eye. I think he will be a slower maturing male than his brother and could not yet match his width or depth of chest at the moment, or strength of topline. Lovely, graceful underline and he had a particularly good action when moving towards me. Very sound, there is plenty of time for both of these boys to finish well.

PG (2 1) 1. Molyneuex’s Francistown Connor.

O (3 2) 1. Stirling’s Rysheron’s American Hope for Clanlily. Confident, 2 year old brindle girl who presented a pleasing outline, displaying dignity and majesty both standing and on the move. I liked her head and expression which was feminine, but with good strength of jaw. Clean, length of neck which flowed well into a chest of correct depth and width. Quarters fore and aft were evenly matched and she stood well over ground with little need for clever handling. Strong, shapely topline with correct loin which was used to advantage on the move. Still not quite fully mature yet, I found her to be very honest and with an easy gait. I was pleased to award her Best of Breed and learn that she later took Hound Group 4.

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Thank you to the exhibitors for accepting me as their replacement judge with such good grace.

J (4 2) 1. McIntosh & Mackfall’s Chagall Iona with Attitude. 12 month red wheaten girl. I found her to be slightly more symmetrical in outline, being stronger in depth of body and slightly shorter coupled than 2. Pleasing strength to head with correct planes and length of muzzle meaning it was in proportion to overall body shape. Lovely dark eye and fairly clean neck which was of strength and length. Shown in excellent condition her angles fore and aft were balanced with capacious chest. She moved out with an easy, confident action when viewed from the side when gaiting, but I would expect her to tighten up on the out and back as she matures on. 2. Kerr’s Priorpark Pure Theatre at Buhera. At quite a different stage of development to the winner despite being of very similar age, she struck me as going through a growth spurt. Stronger in muzzle than winner I liked her head and expression and her ratio of skull to muzzle. A strong neck, but not as clean at throat as the winner. Neck was set well into wither and shoulder and she stood on terrific feet with good length of leg. Lacking in maturity I felt she needed time to fill out into her body both for depth and width and strengthen a little more in topline. Lovely underline and loin which led into nicely angulated stifles with enough width of thigh. A lovely, free moving youngster who was true from all directions.

O (6 4) 1. Johnson’s Ungowa On the Road Again with Vapfumi. 2 year old red wheaten male who I found to be masculine in outlook with excellent well developed body for width and depth which supported his very good, angulated quarters. All male in head which was carried well and in proportion to body. Strong neck but I would have preferred a touch more length. Super depth of chest and standing on good legs he was shown in terrific condition with impressive musculature. Lovely rib and loin with correct topline and underline which enhanced outline. On the move he demonstrated freedom of limbs and athleticism. He was a very worthy Best of Breed winner today and then went onto take Hound Group 2. 2. McIntosh’s Benicloujam Lola of Chagall. 5 year old elegant red wheaten lady whose gender was in obvious contrast to the winner with a lovely, clean and feminine outline. Overall she had pleasing head proportions with good length of skull to muzzle ratio, although I would have preferred greater depth of muzzle. Head was mounted on a clean length of neck which flowed well into wither and topline. She had just enough depth of chest which was not too wide with good ribs which were not exaggerated. Not quite as strong in croup as the winner, but pleasing turn of stifle which was used to advantage on the move where she gave a very good account of herself.

Ric Beall (Eppwood)