Brittany Club Of Great Britain

Brittany Club of Great Britain Open Show 22 September

Special Award Classes

Thank you to the BCGB for inviting me to judge the Special Award Classes today, it was good to see so many entries both in the Special Awards Classes but also over the whole show.

Ad Astra Special Yearling

1. Gudgin’s Jassendue Usoa- 18 months old but already a great looking O&W bitch. Excellent Breton head with moderate stop, lovely dark oval eyes which, combined with nicely high set ears used to good effect, give a great overall Brittany expression of both intelligence and softness. Not overdone in any way but with a good deep chest and moderate angulation with elbows well set against the body giving a strong front with a nice length of neck. Broad, muscular thighs and decent rear pasterns and neat feet with little extension on the move with a brisk short stride although the handler may wish to relax the lead a little to avoid unbalancing the movement on occasion. Nice dense coat of a good rich colour. A very pleasing bitch both in substance and style.

2. Southern’s Umika De La Riviere Ouareau (Imp Fra) – a nicely sized O&W bitch of just 16 months old so still some development to come. Just pipped by 1 but given more time to develop may well challenge in future. Slightly lighter in bone than 1 but still showing good shape and size for age. Chest and rib may well develop more as she ages but showing a good shape and providing a nice outline with good strength of topline which was held well on the move. Good length of leg and neat feet. Movement slightly less settled than 1. Nicely muscled thighs and a good strength in the rear with good angulation giving buttock and hock in line with nice strong upright pasterns. Another nice bitch worth watching as she matures.

Sandy Massie Memorial Special Open BCGB Tan Dog or Bitch

1. Southern’s Rochus Ottilie (AI) 6 year old B&W bitch with a nice square, cobby appearance. Short in back with a good, clipped movement; probably for me, one of the best movers in terms of a brisk, short stride with very little rear extension and on neat feet. Good topline held well on the move with a slight slope to croup. Slightly short in muzzle but a good head shape with nice expressive dark eyes of a good shape giving an intelligent expression without hardness. Nicely placed ears with a good shape which were held to good effect adding to the expression.

2. Bruce’s Patouche Utrillo – O&W dog coming up for a year old, but already showing a good amount of bone with strong loin and good muscle, especially in the thigh with good pasterns. Slightly on the larger size but remains square in outline. Head a little on the broad side but with well placed ears that are high set and with a soft Breton expression from kind eyes. Neat feet and a nice coat. A little unsettled on the move initially but once a bit calmer, moved well.

Margaret & Peter Green Memorial Special Open Dog or Bitch

1. Frost’s Tillybirloch Otis at Patouche – 6-year-old O&W dog with an excellent Breton look both in shape and size, presenting a lovely outline from the side. Good depth of chest with brisket to elbow. Short in the back, keeping his topline well on the move, with a nice short, strong loin and slightly sloping croup and in excellent muscular condition presenting a dog that looks like it could do a day’s work in the field. Coat good, dense with a slight wave and adequate feathering and a fabulous Breton head/face with high, well-set ears and a lovely kind eye; both combined to give a characteristic intelligent yet soft look. Feet slightly less tight than ideal but with a good length of leg and strong pasterns, moves well with a typical gait with little rear extension and nice and brisk. Good length of neck on nice wide shoulders giving a good strong front. A nice dog to both watch and put your hands on.

2. Gudgin’s Jassendue Usoa. As previous class, just pipped to the post by 1 who presents, for me, a stronger outline and overall, more solid dog.