Norfolk Terrier Club of Great Britain

NORFOLK TERRIER CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 27.9.25

It was an honour to be invited for a return appointment 15 years after I first judged the Club’s Championship show and I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon with the Norfolks.

Overall I found the standard to be of a high level; mouths were excellent but I found some dogs to be a little long-cast and lacking the desired compactness whilst some tails on otherwise pleasing dogs were far too tightly carried which destroys the overall balance. Judging is always a matter of compromise and whilst one should never “throw the baby out with the bath water” on the strength of one fault some dogs did slip down a place or two because of tail carriage.

I was delighted with my CC winners, both of whom were winning their first ticket and I believe both should become worthy Champions.

VETERAN DOG (2,1 abs) 1. Thompson-Morgan’s Ch BELLEVILLE MAJOR KEY, red almost 8 years of excellent overall type and still in great form. Well balanced, unexaggerated head with expressive eye, well placed and carried ears and strong enough in muzzle. Handles well on the table with ample bone, good straight forelegs, enough neck and he is well ribbed back with a firm level topline and excellent angulation front and back. Correct coat texture and sensibly presented. Very impressive moving with well-coordinated profile, true up and down and perfectly carried tail. In strong competition he won the Reserve Dog CC and Reserve BIS.

PUPPY DOG (2) 1. Gee’s WATERCROFT TIME FLIES, red of 11 months, top quality and very much all of a piece. Very pleasing head and expression with neat ears, sufficient strength of muzzle, excellent bite and already well filled in front with well-boned straight forelegs, good spring of rib, ample neck, firm back line and excellent set-on of tail which is straight, busy and well-carried. Good layback of shoulder, well-turned stifles and very compact. Quality coat that was well presented and his movement - particularly in profile - was extremely impressive with great natural carriage. Best Puppy in Show and should have a very rosy future. 2. Thompson-Morgan’s BELLEVILLE BRINGING HOPE, almost 10 months and again the basic type is very pleasing. Well-proportioned head with lively expression. His outline is balanced with well sprung rib and good bone. On the table his hocks seemed rather wobbly, needing to firm up, yet strangely when he moved he went very accurately out and back but not with the tail carriage of 1.

JUNIOR DOG (2) 1. Jenkins & Darnell’s KINSRIDGE COOKIE MONSTER, nearly 13 months black & tan, on his toes and full of character. Beautifully balanced head with well-shaped eye and good bite. Enough bone, straight forelegs, correct balance of outline with correct length of neck, well-set tail with plenty behind it but the tail is a little tight and could be carried straighter. Excellent spring of rib and well-coupled with excellent coat texture. Movement is sound and particularly impressive in profile with plenty of attitude. 2. Hess & Higgins’ UMBRAGE JULY IN PARIS, 16 months red with plenty of spirit. Fundamentally good head type with very appealing expression if slightly longer in muzzle than 1 and noticeably longer coupled but he is well bodied with sufficient bone, moderate angles and a typical coat. When he settled he moved steadily but the tail carriage is a little curved and tight.

YEARLING DOG (5,1) 1. Owens’ BRICKIN A WISH AWAY, 21 months and he appealed enormously for his basic honesty of type and correct basic anatomy with no exaggeration whatsoever. Well-proportioned head with typical eye, well placed ears, good strength of muzzle and excellent bite. Good straight forelegs, enough spring of rib but could be a little shorter coupled. Excellent coat texture, very well set and carried tail with just a slight curve. Moved true up and down and covered the ground well in profile. 2. Gee’s WATERCROFT GOLDFINCH, 15 months and very much all of a piece being compact and well bodied. Well-proportioned head with very expressive eye and plenty of bushy whiskers! Excellent neck, firm topline and optimum angulation of front and rear. Although shorter coupled than 1 he needs to tighten in front. Having said that, his movement particularly in profile is very striking but the tail is a little tight and could be straighter but it is well set. 3. Davis, Toms & Toms’ JAEVA PARTY BOY.

POST GRADUATE DOG (1) 1. Darnell & Pointon’s KINSRIDGE SMART COOKIE WITH JACQUIDON, red just a year old, free of exaggeration and there is no mistaking his sex. Well-balanced head with well-placed ears, expressive eyes, sufficient strength of muzzle and perfect bite. On his toes and very interested in the surroundings, correct length of neck, firm level back line, well boned with good spring of rib and sufficient angulation throughout but could tighten in front. Moved with purpose and whilst the tail is well set it is rather tight which spoils the overall picture.

 LIMIT DOG (3) 1. Wren’s JAEVA STRUT YOUR STUFF, at 3 years this rich red was in the most wonderful condition, had a fantastic coat that was sensibly presented and he made a wonderful overall picture, perfectly balanced and radiating quality yet with a workmanlike outlook. With his quietly unassuming handler they are not a sudden impact package but the more I looked into this dog on the table the more he impressed for his point-for-point correctness and excellent overall type. Well-proportioned head with keen, knowing eyes, well set and carried ears, good strength of muzzle, perfect bite and the correct amount of furnishings. Beautifully crested neck that flows into perfectly laid shoulders and a short firm back with level topline and well set tail. Great spring or rib, short-coupled with well-developed and perfectly angulated hindquarters. Moved so true out and back and had a free and easy side gait, carrying his tail better than most. For me he was the dog who impressed me most on the day and so he won what was surprisingly his first CC and then Best in Show. The applause from the ringside and fellow exhibitors when he won the ticket was truly heart-warming and I am sure he will gain his crown. 2. Smith’s JAVIDEL REPEAT IF I MAY, black and tan with a quality head and typical expression. On his toes with ample neck, good bone, firm topline and well angulated front and back. Well set tail which is carried a little tight. Could be tighter in front when moving but he holds himself well in profile and has attitude to burn. Very much between coats. 3. Davis’ WATERCROFT COSMIC DUST.

OPEN DOG (3,1) 1. Thompson-Morgan’s Ch & Fin Ch BELLEVILLE PLAYMATE WW, mature red full of quality with great ring presence and personality. Well-proportioned head with keen expression, neat ears and sufficient strength of muzzle. Well filled in front with good bone, well sprung rib and very much all of a piece with good angles front and back, excellent length of neck, firm topline and well set tail but he does tend to carry it rather tightly which detracts a little from the overall picture. Very true mover going accurately out and back and holding himself well in profile. 2. Nunez’ Am Ch TREEHOUSE ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU, another quality red who was determined to be noticed as he was rather vocal on the floor! Charming head and expression, ample neck and well-proportioned outline with firm topline and well-set tail that he carried better than 1. Could be tighter in front and he wasn’t as collected on the move as 1.

VETERAN BITCH (2) 1. Darnell’s JACQUIDON NIP AND TUCK, 8 years black & tan of excellent size and shape with well-proportioned outline. Very feminine head and expression but giving away nothing in true Norfolk type. Sufficient bone for her size, well bodied with good rib and well coupled. Moderate angulation all through, well set tail that is carried a little tight at times. In between coats but moved steadily and has great poise going around in profile. 2. Macartney’s IVRIG DANCING IN THE SUN, rising 8 but with youthful spirit. Feminine head of good basic proportions but the ears could be a little more settled. A little longer coupled than 1 and not as collected in front. She is a good size with enough bone and pleasing coat texture; just not as composed on the move as 1.

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (1) Dragon & Tate’s JAEVA POKER FACE, 6 months black & tan so full of quality and of ideal size and shape. Charming, beautifully balanced head with neat ears and mischievous eyes. Excellent overall construction with ample bone for her size and already well ribbed with a firm topline, reachy neck, optimum angulation of front and rear and and when she focused, she threw out an outline which gave a glimpse of what is to come. Her tail can be a little tightly carried but is well set. On the move she is sound out and back and despite her youth has great carriage and style in profile. I’m sure we will hear a lot more of her in the future. Best Puppy Bitch.

PUPPY BITCH (4) an excellent class full of quality 1. Gee’s WATERCROFT STITCH IN TIME, red who was very much all of a piece and very poised for her11 months. Feminine head but she loses nothing in type and has a very determined expression. Correct length of neck, firm back line, sufficient bone for her size and excellent ribs with correct angulation front and back. Her tail is well set but sometimes she carries it a little tight however her movement is sound and in profile her carriage is extremely impressive having a very natural style about her. 2. Haydon’s EARTHTAW QUOTE THE POEM, 10 months and very much a dual purpose type bitch full of Norfolk type but free of any extreme or exaggeration. Beautifully balanced head with neat, well held ears and kind knowing expression, good length of neck, well boned, big ribbed and has plenty behind her tail. Well angulated, she is slightly longer coupled than the winner and her tail carriage is rather tight at times but she is sound, if not having the exceptional style of 1. 3. Dragon & Tate’s RAMBLES RUBY AT JAEVA.

JUNIOR BITCH (4) 1. Haydon & Hurrion’s VILLASSA QUOTA OF KISSES AT EARTHTAW, intense quality 15 months red who already has huge ring presence and great appeal on the go-around. Loved her head and expression with the neatest of ears perfectly carried, dark knowing eyes and perfect proportions with strong muzzle and good bite. Compactly built, already well filled in front with ample bone and good spring of rib with short coupling. Beautifully crested neck, firm back line and optimum angulation at both ends which she uses on the move, powering around with great style and self-confidence. Excellent coat texture and sensibly presented. Well set tail with better carriage than most and she made the best of herself both standing and moving. She made a huge impression and ended up winning her first CC which I’m sure won’t be her last. 2. Thompson-Morgan’s BELLEVILLE FIRESTAR, 16 months and another red of excellent type all through combining substance with quality. Plenty of breed type in the head but still looks feminine. Ample bone and rib, firm topline and well set-on tail which she carries superbly. Excellent angulation throughout but needs to strengthen in hock though she moves precisely out and back. 3. Gee’s WATERCROFT MAKING WAVES.

YEARLING BITCH (3) 1. Gee’s WATERCROFT TIGER LILY, 18 months red full of quality with lots of breed type and really excellent tailset and carriage. Very feminine head with lots of type and character, good neck, firm topline, well sprung rib and well angulated front and back. Sound and steady mover with lots of attitude and very much on her toes. 2. Tate & Toms’ HEULURIHANNAN BURNING QUESTION WITH JAEVA, 15 months red again with plenty of spirit and an ever wagging tail which she carries correctly. Well balanced head free from exaggeration with typical eye, well placed and carried ears. Not quite as collected in front as 1 but she goes well behind and holds a smart profile, keeping her topline and covering ground easily. 3. Thompson-Morgan’s BELLEVILLE SKY FULL OF STARS.

NOVICE BITCH (2) 1. Alman’s NAMLAK GEISEL, incredible to think that a four-year-old can still be in Novice when she has such quality. Feminine head and expression with neat ears if she could have a little more breadth of skull. Loved her size and overall shape; she has a well filled chest, good spring of rib and optimum angulation at both ends and the most wonderful tailset and carriage. When moving in profile she is so striking, covering the ground with ease if she could be a little tighter in front, but the overall picture is wonderful. Best Special Beginner in Show. 2. Tate & Wren’s JAEVA FINGER ON THE BUTTON, just 6 months red baby of excellent type and quality with a feminine but nonetheless typical head and well balanced outline but she clearly enjoys her food! Movement is essentially sound but didn’t have the overall presence or superb tail carriage of the winner. Still she has considerable potential as the basics are there.

POST GRADUATE BITCH (4,1) 1. Thompson-Morgan’s BELLEVILLE COUNTING STARS, mature substantial bitch of dual purpose type who looks ready for her new coat. Excellent head type with keen expression and well-proportioned all through. Ample bone, well sprung ribs, short coupled with correct angulation front and back. Standing holds her tail perfectly, but on the move can be a little tight. Very sound and steady mover holding her outline at all times. 2. Hess & Higgins’ UMBRAGE SPECIAL DELIVERY, loved her size and shape and her tail carriage was totally correct and better than the winner. Whilst her head is well balanced, essentially typical and totally feminine on occasions she can stick her tongue out a little which is strange as the bite is not really incorrect. Enough neck, firm topline, moderate angulation front and back with enough rib and plenty behind the tail. Her movement in profile is extremely impressive, she goes away with purpose but comes on a little wide yet still she has many breed virtues. 3. Tate & Wren’s JAEVA ON THE RUN.

LIMIT BITCH (3,1) 1. Hurrion’s VILLASSA ALL THE WAY, high quality and very poised and together. Impressive head with neat ears, knowing eyes and good strength of muzzle giving a very typical expression. Very well put together with enough neck, firm level topline, good spring of rib which goes well back and whilst her tail is well set she tends to carry it a little too tightly. Excellent angulation front and back and the coat texture is spot-on. Very sound and stylish on the move. 2. Mullan’s WATERCROFT MAYBELLENE AT TAMODAN, standing this light red makes an absolute picture as she has a pleasing and typical unexaggerated head which is feminine and well-proportioned, her outline is classical and I loved her tailset and carriage. She has enough bone, good spring of rib and the coat texture is excellent. Unfortunately on the move she wasn’t as coordinated as 1, pulling a little on the lead and this threw her front out, but standing and showing so obligingly she could easily have won the class.

OPEN BITCH (2) 1. Thompson-Morgan’s BELLEVILLE HOLD THE LINE, so much to like about this mature and solidly made black & tan. Well-proportioned head and when she uses her ears they are well set and carried. Strong bone, so impressively angulated front and back with an excellent coat texture. She holds her topline well and the tail carriage is excellent with plenty behind the tail if she could be a tad shorter coupled. Moved so true out and back and with great scope going around. Won the Reserve CC in good company and I am sure will soon carry her crown. 2. Jenkins’ Ch KINSRIDGE TAKE THE BISCUIT, another top quality bitch but this time a red. Great appeal in head and her outline is clean and totally balanced with a quality coat sensibly presented. Enough bone, good spring of rib and well angulated. At times she can stand untidily in front yet she moves quite accurately if not with the tail courage of the winner but she makes a very pleasing overall picture and on the go around has great style.

SPECIAL BEGINNERS BITCH (2,1) 1. N. Geisel.

ANDREW H. BRACE