Basenji Owners & Breeders Association

Basenji Owners and Breeders Championship Show 13/07/2024.

I was delighted to judge at the Platinum Anniversary Championship Show for B.O.B.A., thank you to the committee and helpers for a well run show in a fantastic venue, to my stewards who helped keep things running smoothly, and to my friend Sue Glennon for providing the taxi service and helping with stewarding on the day.

The General Appearance paragraph in the UK standard states “ Lightly built, finely boned aristocratic-looking animal, high on leg compared with its length, always poised, alert and intelligent. Wrinkled head, with pricked ears, proudly carried on a well-arched neck. Deep brisket runs up into a definite waist, tail tightly curled presenting a picture of a well-balanced dog of gazelle-like grace”.  I tried to find these qualities in my winners.

It was a lovely entry, though I would say I found more quality in the bitch classes.  I was happy that there were beautiful typy examples of the breed, thank you to the exhibitors who entered under me.  

Minor Puppy Dog (2 entries, 1 absent).

1st. Knights & Stokes Lelaps Time Lord.  A lovely start to the day with this very smart 6month R/W boy.  He has a masculine well proportioned head, very nice small slightly hooded ears, which combined with his dark eye and lovely wrinkle to give a very typical and pleasing expression. I thought he had an excellent outline, very short coupled with level topline, very good tailset and shelf.  Moderately angulated fore and aft, good length of leg.  In excellent condition with good short coat and pliable skin. He was a real fidget on the stack, handled sympathetically and allowed to be a pup, as it should be.  Moved as well as I would expect a pup of this age to, I look forward to seeing him mature. 

Puppy Dog - no entries

Junior Dog - no entries

Yearling Dog (1 entry)

1st. Vescan’s Mawali New Kid On The Block.  18 month old R/w boy in excellent condition.  Small slightly hooded ears that could have been set and carried a wee bit higher.  Correct skull/muzzle proportions, but for me he is a bit too heavy in head.  Good front, leg length and correct compact feet.  Correct angulation front and rear, short back with level topline.  Good tailset and plenty shelf.  Well curled tail but I would prefer it carried more to side. His movement was very good particularly in profile. 

Post Graduate Dog - no entries

Limit Dog (1 entry, absent)

Open Dog (6 entries, no absentees).

1st. Carringtons Ch/Lux Ch. Bushwacker Oceans Eleven.  A 3 year old tricolour dog in excellent condition.  He has a very well proportioned head with correct muzzle length, small well set ears and well shaped eye giving typical expression.  Strong fine boned legs with very good tight compact feet.  I liked his proportions, good level topline, high tailset with good curl and plenty shelf behind.  Good underline created by his deep brisket running up into a definite waist. His balanced angulation let him move out freely and accurately in a typical fashion.  To be critical I would prefer him to be a bit more masculine.  Well deserved CC winner, and BOS in show. 

2nd. Williams & Wrights Ch. Mawali Going For Gold.  A lovely 3 yr old red/white boy who pressed the winner hard.  In excellent condition, very typical in outline and again a very good mover.  I felt his ears could have been placed slightly higher, and for me was slightly heavier in head. Well balanced angulation with particularly well muscled rear. Level topline with excellent tailset and carriage. A very worthy champion and could easily switch places with 1st on another day. Res CC.

3rd. Grayson & Cullens Bushwacker American Hustle at Embeau.  R/w litter brother to the winner of the class, but in a stronger more masculine mould.  Very good head and expression, lovely small slightly hooded ears.  Strong short topline and well angulated both ends.  Unfortunately today this boy was not happy on the stack at all and didn’t show to his best advantage despite his handlers efforts (by now it was quite windy and we know not all basenjis appreciate that).  He was in excellent condition and moved in a balanced typical fashion, 

Veteran Dog (4 entries, 1 absent)

An excellent class with 3 very typical boys, all in superb condition and credits to their owners.

1st. Clinton’s Ch/IR/Lux/Int Ch. Westlawn Diablo ShCM.  A 9 year old tall tricolour boy who has just got better with age.  He has a lovely balanced head, good ear set and expression, though I would prefer his eye slightly darker. I liked his typical breed proportions, short back, good length of leg and correct compact feet.  Balanced angulation, good tailset and shelf and a sound accurate mover, was closely considered for res CC. 

2nd. Dunstons Ch/Am Gr Ch/Aus Ch. Kazors Breaking The Bank (imp Aus).a lovely 8.5 yr old r/w boy.  Smaller than winner, with a very typical head, well shaped dark eye and good expression.  Very good balanced angulation, strong short topline and in excellent condition.  He was a bit fed up today I think, dropping his tail a bit at times and giving his handler a workout. A lovely typical basenji boy.

3rd. Knowles Ch Tokaji Klassic Trickster at Sarawana.  7.5 yr old tall tri boy I have judged before and liked.  Well proportioned head but a bit full in cheek.  Excellent leg length, lovely short level topline, very good tailset and curl, just out-moved by the two in front.  A very worthy champion.

Special Bred By Exhibitor (1 entry)

1st Matthews Flugelberry Free Cuba , unplaced in the quality open dog class.  This 7 year old lightly marked brindle boy displays excellent breed type and I feel was a bit overlooked in his younger days.  He has a well proportioned masculine head with typical eye shape and good expression. Level topline, short back, tailset could be a bit higher with better curl. Moderate balanced angulation, good underline, long straight legs with strong fine bone, he moved well. Unfortunately wasn’t happy being handled on the day. 

Special Not Bred By Exhibitor (1 entry)

1st. Knowles Ch Tokaji Klassic Trickster at Sarawana.

MPB (2 entries) Two lovely youngsters. 

1st Knowles Sarawana Dragons Conquest. A very feminine 7 month old r/w girl with real “gazelle like grace”. Beautiful head proportions, lovely shape dark eye and excellent wrinkle. Loved her outline, short level back, long straight forelimbs, good tailset, curl and shelf. Moved out very well when settled, but being a typical basenji pup and leading her handler a merry dance. I look forward to seeing how she matures. BPB and Best Puppy in Show. 

 2nd. Knight & Stokes Lelaps River Song. A beautifully schooled 6 month old r/w girl. Lovely shaped head, nice dark well shaped eye and good wrinkle giving a typical expression. Good angulation fore and aft, she moved very accurately and soundly. At this stage in their development I just preferred the leggier, more compact outline of the winner. 

 PB (1 entry) Knowles Sarawana Dragonfire Rising. Litter sister to winner of previous class and many of the same attributes. Again lovely head and expression, very elegant and typical in outline, in terrific condition. I would prefer a bit more curl to her tail, and she was not as settled on move as her sister. 

 JB (2 entries) 1st. Sarawana Dragonfire Rising. 

 2nd. Justartee This is Me. Another elegant 6 month r/w girl who was giving her handler a very hard time. Lovely head with correct earset and wrinkle. Level topline long forearms giving typical outline. Moved out well at times, could have more curl to tail and more defined shelf. 

 YB (2 entries). Only two in class but both lovely basenjis. 

 1st. Dunstons Mawali New York New York. A very nice standard sized girl with correct head/muzzle proportions and a well shaped eye, though to be critical I would prefer her with slightly less pronounced cheeks. Very good balanced angulation both ends,strong level topline with good tailset and shelf. Moved very accurately and soundly. 

 2nd. Cvirkienes Catuma Xuta Tabangwa (imp Cze). A beautiful 18 month old tri girl with a lovely leggy outline. Very typical feminine head, though her ears are a little large and wide set. Moderate balanced angulation front and rear, excellent underline nice compact feet and in excellent condition. She couldn’t quite match the winner in movement, needs to settle in front but I liked her very much.

 PGB (2 entered, 1 absent) 

 1st. Palubickis Jessella Lady Margot. 3 yr old r/w girl in excellent condition. Correctly proportioned head but a little light in eye. Straight topline, long forelegs and balanced angulation. Lovely tight compact feet. Not happy today and insisted on dropping her tail spoiling her outline. Could move with more drive. 

 LB (4 entries, one absent). 1st. Clinton’s Akmar Napatan Gold for Westlawn. A beautiful tall leggy tri girl who caught my eye straight away. Very typical head with correct skull/muzzle proportions, lovely shaped dark eye giving typical expression. Good balanced moderate angulation, long forelegs and very good tight feet. Deep brisket running up into definite waist. Good tailset and curl, with plenty shelf behind. She moved very accurately and soundly, was a clear winner in this class and I gave her serious consideration in the challenge but she wasn’t quite putting it all in and seemed a bit bored by then. One who definitely deserves to gain her title. 

 2nd. Holloways Aksaifleet Russki Rose. 7 year old r/w girl of slightly heavier type. Nicely balanced head with small well set ears. Balanced angulation fore and aft, with good tailset. Very sound accurate mover. 

 3rd Matthews Flugelberry Fizz Princess. 7 year old lightly marked brindle girl. Typical head and expression, leggy outline but couldn’t quite match the winners on move. 

 OB (7 entries, 1 absentee). An excellent class, I felt honoured to be given the opportunity to judge them, I had to make some difficult choices and would have happily awarded ccs right down the line. 

 1st. Knowles Ch. Bushwacker Dragon Tattoo at Sarawana JW. 3 year old girl of outstanding breed type, I couldn’t take my eyes away from her. Probably the best head of the day, her absolutely correct skull muzzle proportions, beautiful eye set and terrific wrinkle gave her a textbook expression. Well balanced moderate angulation, short straight level topline, deep brisket rising up to well defined waist, excellent tailset, in super condition and moved soundly and accurately. CC and a well deserved Best In Show. 

 2nd. Dunstons Ch. Mawali Four Get Me Not. Another beautiful very typical girl who pressed very hard for the top award.  The last time I judged these two this girl was in fact the winner, I could have made the same decision again this time and still have been very happy with my choice.  Well proportioned typical head, good earset, well balanced angulation, short back with good tailset and excellent movement. It was a very close call but my winners outstanding head properties just won the day. Res CC and Res Best in Show. 

 3rd. Nashs Ch. Tokaji Moon Over Miami with MMutoko JW ShCM OSW. Another beautiful typical girl I have admired in the past, a very worthy champion. Gleaming tri coat, lovely head qualities, excellent angulation fore and aft and a very accurate sound mover. I was really having to nit pick but today this girl was relaxing her tail a bit at times which spoiled her outline. 

 VB. (6 entries, 1 absent). Another excellent class filled with real quality. 1st. Grays Ch. Jisgard Daydream Believer. A beautiful 11 year old tri girl in outstanding condition. Very feminine, both her and my open winner displaying the “gazelle like grace” I like to see. Super head, earset and expression very strong level topline, long forelegs, tight feet, correct shelf. Nice depth of chest and good underline rising to well defined waist. She moved very well and I could have taken her home quite happily. Best Veteran in Show. 

 2nd. Leggats Ch Swanwite Karaleigh. R/w 11 year old girl out of a larger and heavier mould than the winner. Excellent head and expression, correct angulation and she moved accurately and soundly. Blowing her coat a bit at moment and not quite the outline of the winner, but a lovely typical girl and a worthy champion. 

 3rd. Richardson & Woods Woodella Purple Haze over Cooperland ShCM VW. 9 year old tri girl in excellent condition. Very typical in outline, sound mover, though I would have preferred a better tail carriage. another typical basenji who carried her years lightly.

Special Bred By Exhibitor B

1st. Ch. Jisgard Daydream Believer.

2nd. Casentieris Alchez Kivu.  4.5 year old black and white, very feminine lass with an attractive head, good skull/ muzzle ratio. Well balanced angulation, straight topline and a good tailset and shelf.  She moved soundly, I just preferred the outline of my winner on the day.

3rd. Matthews Fluggelberry Cherie Trifle.  7 year old brindle girl unplaced in Open.  Like her littermates in previous classes a nice head, with correct ear set and expression.  She is lacking a bit in angulation and was carrying a bit too much weight today which affected her outline.

Special Not Bred By Exhibitor

1st. Knowles Ch. Bushwacker Dragon Tattoo at Sarawana.

2nd. Casentieris The Impossible Girl of Alchez.  A pretty 2 year old tricolour girl. I liked her head shape and expression.  She had balanced angulation and held her outline on the move, she moved soundly but couldn’t quite match the head and outline of my winner. 

Judge: Scott Wright.