Mid Herts Gundog Club

My sincere thanks to Sonja Upton-Lovett and her committee for kindly inviting me to judge at this prestigious gundog show. It had an extremely welcoming atmosphere, and nothing was too much trouble. The exhibitors that entered under me were kind, courteous and showed excellent sportsmanship. A wonderful show and calibre of dogs to judge.

German Shorthaired Pointer

O D/B (3,4) 1 Coe’s Goosepoint Waddington at Abbanash (AI) JW

This lovely lad stood alone in the breed today but a worthy Best of Breed winner for me. He had a lovely typey outline and was balanced throughout. Clean in head with a strong neck, good angles in frond and rear. Particularly liked his muscular and toned condition. Good depth of chest and pasterns, with compact feet and strong nails. On the move he showed good reach and drive with a typical lithe gait. I thought he did the breed very proud in the BIS ring after a long day.

Irish Red and White Setter

J D/B (1,0) 1 Mcdonald & Westwoods’ Roanjora Cremant De Savoie Avec Eusanit. This young man is a quality young male at this stage, so I would be delighted to see him when he is further along. Slightly excitable for his handler to start with, but when he went around the ring the first time, he had a wonderful effortless, free-striding gait which was a picture. Put down in super condition, most pleasing of heads. Good, well laid-back shoulders and strong, broad rear. Coat correct texture – he was turned out in gleaming condition. Delighted to see him go BIS 4.

Y D/B (1,0) 1 Mcdonald’s Roanjora Cremant D’Alsace. Difficult to assess this youngster as she really wasn’t herself and didn’t want to be handled today. On the stand she has good proportions fore and aft, with lovely domed skull and square muzzle. Good sloping shoulders, with plenty of depth for heart and lung room. Turned out in good condition. Not happy so didn’t move her best today but showed promise.

O D/B (1,0) 1 Roanjora Rioja Crianza. Thought this girl would be my BOB winner but her son pulled out the stops in the BOB challenge. Lovely head and expression, with a good dark eye. Such a happy dog who was a pleasure to watch – the tail never stopped wagging! Good layback of shoulder with depth of chest and well-sprung ribs. Good turn of stifle with muscular hindquarters. On the move she was very enthusiastic, but in profile showed a good long and free-striding movement.

Junior Handling

6-11 (1,1)

12-16 (3,0)

1 Megan Slack handling a Brittany. Lovely, polished performance from this young handler who always showed her dog to its best advantage. Effortlessly blends into the background, uses the full ring and always calm and collected. Accurately showed the correct part of the mouth when I asked for the bite and noted the movement in leg placement. Her lines were super straight, and turns were clean, and she knew where I was always. There isn’t anything overstated with Megan’s handling and that helped her to win first place with some really stiff competition in Leila.

2 Leila Levene handling a Spanish Water Dog. Another fantastic handler who pushed Megan all the way. She was always talking to her dog, and I particularly liked this because it put her dog at ease. Leila moved at the correct pace for the breed. When I asked for the bite Leila showed me the whole mouth, so I would work on this for next time. Noticed the movement of rear leg quickly. Really liked her calmness and kindness to her dog, which meant that on the move her corners were tight and lines were straight, presenting the dog correctly.

Adult Handling 17-39

1 Isobel West handling a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. I really loved Isobel’s style of handling. She did everything I asked of her competently and calmly, using the ring to its full potential to show off the movement of her dog, without compromising on the tight corners or straight lines. Good teeth presentation and excellent shadowing, always standing the correct distance away when presenting the dog back from a pattern. In the BAH challenge she pulled out the stops and did some excellent shadowing and pattern work which meant I couldn’t deny her Best Adult Handler.

2 Roxanne McDonald handling an Irish Red and White Setter. Another fantastic handler who knows her breed inside and out. Some super shadowing work on display by Roxanne today, but felt that Isobel had the better presentation coming back from a pattern. Even with a big dog Roxanne had good straight lines and tight corners, always remaining calm. Used the whole ring to her full advantage to show off excellent profile movement. A good performance, well done.

Adult Handling 40+

1 Nicole Coe handling a German Shorthaired Pointer. Such a calm and unassuming handler who knows her breed inside out. Her GSP was getting tired as the class went on but she kept talking to him and got the best out of him until the very end. Nicole had the straightest lines and tightest corners in this class, with good teeth presentation and always having her dog stood and presented correctly. Loved her shadowing work – it was a masterclass! A great performance.

2 Marie Dennis handling a Weimaraner. Kind handler who always reassured her dog – great partnership. I thought she stood and presented the dog well, but could work on the straightness of her lines which would make the corners of the triangle slightly tighter. I thought she shadowed really well, always moving to the opposite side of where I was. Used the full ring to her advantage to give her dog room to move.

AV HPR

AV HPR Puppy (4,2) 1 Sladden’s Canemamans Two Timer. Bracco Italiano. Nice roan dog who for me was of good size and substance for this age. Still very raw at just seven months old but has the makings of a nice boy with excellent bone. Shown in wonderful condition with good muscle tone, handler used the ring to their full advantage to show good drive and extension, holding topline well. Good neck, leading into well-placed shoulders. Head of good proportions. Full of character. Best HPR Puppy.

2 GLP Sarscottah Falling Leaves. Nice youngster with plenty of character and a pleasure to judge a GLP in these stakes classes. Had good balance throughout but needs to tighten up on the move which will come with age. Good clean neck with good layback of shoulder. Good depth of chest and brisket. Moved with exuberance showing off plenty of character.

AV HPR Junior (1,0) 1 Scott’s Facanvadasz Elod. Hungarian Vizsla. Lovely head proportions giving the impression of nobility. Good eye colour. Strong neck with muscular appearance, leading into good shoulders. Would prefer slightly better return of upper arm. Excellent width of thigh and rear muscling. Moved well. Tail carried quite high on the move.

AV HPR Post Graduate (7,3) 1 Tasker’s Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla Zoldmali Ezmi (Imp Srb). Such a typey Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla that commands attention as soon as you see him. Scores in breed type and well-muscled throughout in hard condition. Good shoulder placement and stands on good bone and tight feet, pasterns sloping slightly. Well ribbed back and moderate in hindquarter angulation. On the move, showed good ground-covering action.

2 Weimaraner Mcloughlin and Townsend’s Kalimor Tailor. Comes into her own on the move with effortless ground-covering movement which holds her topline. Clean strong neck leads into well placed shoulders, with good body proportions. Good angulation and turn of stifle, shown in hard muscular condition. Shown with lovely tight, compact feet.

AV HPR Open (5,2) 1 Wright’s GLP Caldera Coral Dawn at Lassemista BHPR. Judged this girl before and she doesn’t disappoint. She is built for endurance and could complete many days of work. She is graceful and effortless, yet true to the breed’s requirements and eats up the ring as she moves with the breed’s free-striding, stylish and graceful movement. Good shoulders and depth of chest with visible forechest, well ribbed back and good angulation in hindquarters. She holds her topline on the move. Couldn’t deny her Best HPR.

2 Foreman’s Large Munsterlander Toberworry Little Lies. Lovely bitch who really needed a bigger ring to get into her stride as she struggled to get into the breed’s typical springy gait. Feminine head and expression, strong neck, good depth of brisket and forechest, well laid shoulder. Holds topline on the move well. Well-muscled in hindquarters and good width of thigh.

RBOB Stakes

1 Stevenson’s Welsh Springer Spaniel Mymmsbrook Matador with Blythway JW. This dog took my breath away in this class and I couldn’t deny him the top spot. He moved like a dream. I would prefer a slightly lower tail carriage, but this didn’t take away from his positive qualities. Strong and muscular throughout with well-developed chest and brisket. Balanced fore and aft. Good proportions in his head with the kindest of eyes, good earset with the correct vineleaf shape. Really stood out in this class – a pleasure to award him the top spot.

2 Slack’s Brittany Bonapartist Snow Goose. Nice compact and cobby bitch who stood out for her balance. Good angulation in the shoulders, muscular forelegs and depth of brisket. Good leg length and width in her hindquarters. Shows that typical Brittany outline. On the move she showed the brisk, short stride, holding her topline on the move. Could benefit from being moved a little steadier if I was being picky, but a lovely solid performance nonetheless. Handled to perfectio