South Wales Kennel Association

I’ve had the honour of owning this breed some 35 years. This is my twentieth judging appointment, over some 30 years, but my first time judging at Championship show level.

I really appreciate the South Wales Kennel Association and all those involved in giving me the opportunity to assess the current state of the breed, based on this entry, which was a numerically excellent one in the present climate. Also many thanks to my able stewards Clare & Linda who kept everything running smoothly. I am acutely aware that this may well be my only opportunity to influence the future direction this breed takes, so please be aware that my comments bear no malice but are born out my love for the breed.

I have already judged in excess of 500 Cavaliers, but it’s been 6 years, since my last judging appointment; a deliberate choice, as I wanted a fresh perspective. Having been showing in this breed for some time I’ve seen it at it strongest where each and every class was teeming with strength and quality. A pleasure many of our younger judges haven’t witnessed.

Every single word in our Breed Standard was written with the express purpose of preventing this breed from becoming exaggerated. I was delighted that heads have improved.

• Trimming : this is an untrimmed breed! with several exhibits practically sculptured, and the correct Cavalier “slippers” rarely seen.

• To allow for the “free movement” described in the standard, cavaliers should be shown on a loose lead and not “strung up”.

• We also seem to be loosing the “pearl” in “pearly white” and the “raven” in the Black and tan’s. Perhaps, it’s the time of year with many coats on the “blow”.

• Eyes were generally very good a few a bit lighter than my ideal, and a couple a bit smaller than I would like.

Absolute Soundness is a required of this breed and frankly some rear movement left a lot to be desired.

In all my years of judging not once have I considered with holding – until today; that really does not bode well for the breed. On the positive side I had some really strong classes and some very close decisions.

I was looking for a sound exhibit that typifies the breed standard and the points already made. I was looking for an unexaggerated dog with correct gait, well made with good front and rear, holding a level topline at all times. Not fussed what colour it was. I also wanted, just that little bit of pazazz and sparkle that makes them stand out from the crowd.

Veteran Dog – 4 entries (1ab)

Lovely class of Golden Oldies.

1.Ms S Bloomfield - Delhaze Reach for the Sky with Oaklake. A very correct Blenheim male of 7 years of age. Lovely head, with large dark round eyes, Good pigment. Short bodied and good broad pelvis, nicely angulated rear and sound movement. He later won the Good Citizen Dog class but was flagging by the challenge.

2.Mr, Mrs & Miss Rhodes – Calonlan Café Noir. 9.5 year old Black and dog with a very correct head. Lovely coat and tan markings. Preferred the angulation and rear movement on my winner.

3. Miss R Hobbs – Beaconsfylde Catch the Kiss

Minor Puppy Dog – Difficult class of very different types. 4 entries

1. Mrs L E Dawson – Hearthfriend High Hopes of Luphenex. This 8 month old headed a class of Blenheim puppies and was my preferred choice. Nicely marked well broken boy. A little rangy atm will be more balanced when he drops into himself.

2. Miss N J Firth -Tamyse The Charmer, another Blenheim, lighter marked, well balanced, with good head properties. I preferred the larger eye on my winner.

3. 3.Miss J Price – Glenbrows Jeremy Fisher at Bonnisbrooke.

Puppy Dog – 5 entries

1. Miss Jackson – Fortunamajor Jimmy Choo .9 month old well marked Blenheim with coat of good quality. With a lovely head, with correct bite and dark eyes, good pigment. Lovely expression and good fill under the eyes. Very happy disposition and of sound movement, but unfortunately a bit proud of his tail today. BPD

2. Mrs M Chapman, Miss T Ireland and Mrs C Gibson – Toraylac Conrad at Ellemich, another lovely headed Blenheim male similar comments to the winner. I just felt 1 more animated. Hair splitting decision and I’m sure these two are going to swop places under different judges.

3. Mrs L E Dawson – Hearthfriend High Hopes at Lupenex (1st in MPD).

Junior dog - 6 entries. (2ab)

1. Mr M Spall & Mr M Clark’s – Llapsttam Luther Vandross. This boy just stole my heart. He’s so well balanced. He has the most beautiful head totally unexaggerated. Nice dark round eye, great pigment, correct bite. He has a lovely crest to his neck flowing into well laid shoulders, good chest, short coupled, correct length of loin, broad pelvis and well angulated rear and stifles. He’s so well made he just floats round the ring and to complete the picture he has a plentiful, but not extreme coat of rich chestnut. I thought him enchanting. BOB, DCC and shortlisted in the Toy Group.

2. Mrs E D Williams – Charnell the Renegade Sancana. Blenheim dog unlucky to come up against 1 on such fine form. A lovely well marked Blenheim with good coat. Nice head with soft expression, and a good front, with well laid shoulders and good reach. Short coupled body and overall a good shape.

3. Mr, Mrs & Miss Rhodes – Calonlan Zeus.

Yearling dog – 1 entry

1. Mr P F Lovel – Ch Lovetrac Banksy. This boy stood alone. My first impression was that he has a wonderful profile. A well broken Blenheim with a soft coat of correct texture. His head is textbook, lovely soft expression, great pigment, correct bite and nice dark round eyes. Expertly handled. The standard calls for an “active”, “graceful”, “free moving” dog and he is. He has moderate bone and is a lovely size, a real “Toy” Spaniel. RDCC.

Post Graduate Dog – 10 entries (1ab)

What a lovely class I had to short list.

1.Miss A Bubb’s Wandris Speak of The Devil JW. A very correct Blenheim of nice type. I really liked this lad and one I seriously considered for the RDCC. Correct head piece, Broad skull, round dark eyes spaced well apart. Muzzle of correct length with good fill under. Correct neck and well laid shoulders giving good reach, good spring of rib, short loin, broad pelvis well angulated rear. Kept a level topline.

2. Miss N J Firth’s- Cridensa Cortez. First of two ruby males, both of excellent breed type. Expertly turned out. He has a lovely correct head and the similar comments as 1 apply. He’s so well constructed, sound and free flowing. Just a tad too much of his beautiful rich ruby coat for me although it was expertly groomed. He reminds me very much of his sire to whom I gave BIS last time I judged. I just wish he were a size smaller.

3. Mrs L Koster- Tindall – Harana All That Jazz.

Limit dog-9 entries (2ab)

Now this was an interesting class

1.Ms S & Mr A Mitchell & Cox – Owencurra Walk in the Park J CH JD. This well marked Blenheim dog has a strong masculine head, broad skull, lovely dark round eyes, correct bite, well filled. He has a lovely construction fore and aft. Sound movement and a very happy disposition.

2.Mrs C & Miss J Lewis. - A Full coated ruby dog of rich colour and great pigment. Sweet head. Sound precise movement. I preferred the tail set of my winner.

3.Mrs S Jones – Boatswain Ethan at Droleus (IMP ITA).

Open Dog – 5 entries (1 ab)

1. Mr M Spall & Mr M Clark’s – Llapsttam Secret Seven JW. This kennel really has mastered the art of producing lovely ruby wholecolours and must have a magic formula. He is so similar to his Kennel mate, Good head, lovely neck and well laid shoulders, good body, broad pelvis, sound movement all finished off with a nice fine silky coat of rich chestnut. If I’m being picky and I was, I would like a fraction off his muzzle length. Unfortunately a change of handler in the challenge unsettled him.

2. Mrs M Chapman & Miss T Ireland’s Ch Ellemich American Express. Well known Blenheim and the current breeds well deserved record holder. What can I say about this lovely Blenheim dog that hasn’t already been said before? Any comment from me is really superfluous. Beautifully turned out and at 4 years old and fully mature I’ve never seen him looking better. As much as I admire him and his very clever breeders, all great dogs can have an “off” day and today was his. I just found him a little “flat” and he lacked the sparkle I was looking for. However, I would like to say how much I appreciate his breeders bringing him all the way to Wales so I had the opportunity to go over one of our breeds historic dogs and appreciate his virtues. Thank you.

3. Mrs L Koster- Tindall – Harana Now You has Jazz.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog – 4 entries

1.Ms S Bloomfield - Delhaze Reach for the Sky with Oaklake. (see Veteran Dog)

2. Mrs R Hartill -Speak. Verheyen Woody Under Gracewincavs at the other end of the age scale a beautifully presented well broken Blenheim boy. Nice crest of neck, good front, short bodied and nicely angulated rear. He has a lovely head but I preferred the eye’s of 1 and his pigment is a little off.

3. Miss L Danks. Rabymar Prince William at Alsidewood.

I had some really lovely bitches and this made for some difficult decisions, some classes were brimming full of quality.

Veteran Bitches. – 6 entries (2 ab).

I do so love the veteran’s and this class was full of quality

1. Mrs E S Berwick – Ch Harana Peggy Lee Merrylaine. 9 years old. Another of breeds very well- known Champions. I can only repeat what others have said before. Ruby with quality coat of good rich colour. Lovely breed type from the tip of nose the end of her tail. Sound. Loves her showing and is devoted to her owner, I wish you both many more happy years of showing together.

2. Mrs P J Biddle – Hearthfriend Midnight Kiss. 7 years old and the first of two very nice black and tan exhibits. Lovely head on this girl good skull, eyes could be a shade darker for perfection. Nicely made good shape, well-constructed and sound movement. Very close decision between these two b/t’s. I liked them both.

3. Mrs C & Miss J Lewis – Carleeto Satine.

Minor Puppy Bitch 7 entries (1 ab).

1.Mr & Mrs Ryan’s Cavallibrook Beatrice. 6 month old well broken Blenheim bitch and what a promising show girl she is. She flew in the ring like someone had set light to her tail and I had to ask her owner to slow her down so that I could appreciate her very sound movement. Sweetest head, lovely dark eye and very well made. I predict a bright future.

2. Mrs E Bennet – Arroline Incognito. Heavily marked tricolour bitch with a pretty refined head., Well constructed. She has a nice shape, good neck and shoulder placement, Good spring of rib and nicely angulated rear but not the drive and reach of 1.

3. Mr, Mrs & Miss Rhodes – Calonlan Bianca

Puppy Bitch – 3 entries

1.Mr & Mrs Ryans – Cavallibrook Demelza, another promising young lady from this kennel This time in a ruby colour. Presents a pleasing profile, pretty head with large round eyes. Correct bite. Lovely front. She didn’t move as well in the challenge with a different handler, which was a pity.

2. Mr A O’Leary – Owencurra You Got to Me – a well broken Blenheim with a very sweet head piece. She’s well made, tends to over reach when standing which makes her look long: when you go over her she clearly isn’t. She’s got a lovely front, just needs to learn to collect herself together when standing.

3. Ms C Z Martins -Clemartill La Vie En Rose

Junior Bitch 6 entries (2ab)

1. Mrs M Chapman & Miss T Ireland – Kiss Kiss Du Chateau Noblesse at Ellemich (imp Deu). What a little treasure this young lady is. Well broken Blenheim bitch, so correct, she has a lovely pretty feminine head and everything just fits together perfectly. So sound. The cherry on the cake her happy disposition: I don’t think she ever stopped wagging, a real show girl. It was an absolute pleasure to put her through to the puppy group. She didn’t stop showing there either, was a wonderful ambassador for the breed and was awarded Group 2. BPIB, BPB.

2. Miss S Jackson – Applebroad Candy Spice via Fortunamajor. Another nice Blenheim bitch, lighter marked, well coated, not the construction of my winner but a very worthy exhibit.

3. Mr D & Mrs T Homes – Leogem’s Melody’s Charm

Yearling Bitch Entries 10 (4 ab)

1.Mrs J Hazeltine’s – Juzandia Relight My Fire. This was a lovely ruby girl. She has a very pretty head with lovely round dark eyes, she doesn’t use her ears to advantage and has a habit of dropping them, which is a pity, She’s so well made: lovely reach of neck, correct front, short coupled, good tail set and croup.

2. Mr C Wilkins & Mr K Wilcock – Llapsttam Four Tea Love at Tebaldi, black and tan bitch of nice type she has a lovely head, round dark eyes and correct bite, Another that drives round the ring when moving, however she drops her topline when standing.

3. Mr P F Lovel’s Lovetrac Angelica

Post Graduate Bitch Entries 9 (4 ab)

1.Mr D & Mrs T Homes- Leogem Venetzia. Tricolour bitch and the best of this colour here today. Such a sweet pretty head, lovely to go over on the table, correct reach of neck, well laid back shoulders, good spring of rib, nicely angulated rear. Lovely coat: straight of correct texture.

2. Mrs C & Miss J Lewis – Carleeto Black Velvet. Lovely typey bitch, in a black and tan jacket, Well constructed and very sound. I just preferred the head of my winner.

3. Miss R Jaramillo & Miss L Chadwick – Conabec Causing Chaos

Limit Bitch Entries 14 (2 ab). What an absolutely stunning class.

1.Ms S M Ireland – Charnell Songbird- What a lovely Blenheim bitch. Well broken, sweetest head with lovely expression. Another very nicely made, her shoulder markings could deceive the eye, but her front is true and her rear nicely angulated. She moved soundly with a level topline. She went very well to win this class of quality exhibits.

Followed by two lovely ruby girls of different head properties, one in full coat and bloom, the other had washed hers down the plug hole!

2. Mr M & Mrs H A O’Grady – Bevelmount Rose Marie of Culverhill. This young lady has a beautiful head, broad yet feminine, lovely dark round eyes, sweet expression, good reach of neck, well laid shoulders, good spring of rib, broad pelvis nicely angulated rear. I just felt my winner had a tad more drive.

3. Mrs L Koster- Tindall – Harana Maggie May

Open Bitch 10 Entries (4ab)

What a lovely class. I had no idea these two exhibits were siblings from different litters.

1.Miss A Bubb – Ch Sweetbriar Heirs and Graces with Wandris JW. Well broken Blenheim with coat of correct texture. Lovely head, dark round eyes, with lovely fill under, correct bite, good reach of neck, well laid shoulders and chest, good spring of rib. Nice broad pelvis, good turn of stifles, and correct rear pasterns. She moved soundly and positively and I was happy to award her the BCC.

2. Miss W Waters – Sweetbriar La Dee Da. I really struggled between these two lovely ladies, they are so similar and I won’t repeat myself this was a hair-splitting decision. I just preferred the expression of my BCC winner so I had no hesitation in awarding her the RBCC.

3. Mrs C & Miss J Lewis – Carleeto Minnie the Minx, lovely black and tan, best of this colour here today.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch

1. Mrs J & Mr R Boutle – Applebroad Pink Lady, 16 month old Blenheim bitch of larger type. Nice head and eye, correct bite, Moved well with a good tail set.

Judge

Bridgette Evans