Scottish Beagle Club

Scottish Beagle Club

Sunday 15th June 2025

Originally, I was scheduled to judge this show in June 2020 but COVID put paid to that! It was kind of the committee to ask me again and it was a pleasure to judge an entry of clean, good-tempered hounds who were all in good muscular condition. Applause greeted all class winners and a sporting atmosphere prevailed. It was the first time for the club at this venue and I thought things went well. The relatively new committee worked hard to produce a friendly show and any teething problems will be ironed out for next year. Well done to the hardworking ladies and gentlemen in the kitchen. I was fortunate to have two experienced and cheerful stewards in Debbie Linden and Fiona MacLeod.

I feel it is always necessary to judge with a clear, open mind and this is never more important than when it is your own breed. The best dogs are not necessarily the ones with the fewest faults but the ones with the most virtues!

DCC, RBIS and BVIS was Deaconfield Kingcraft with his half-brother, Annavah Justify winning the RDCC. BCC and BIS was Molesend Jazzy whose half-sister (another Junior), Felinoak Hennessy won the RBCC. BPIS was Hardisty’s Blunderhall Jackson.

Minor Puppy Dog (2):

1. Hardisty’s Blunderhall Jackson, charming tricolour baby who looks just about right for his age, pleasing head, good legs and feet, well ribbed with short loin, good topline held on the move, true fore and aft and went on a good stride in profile where he kept his outline, pleasure to award him BPIB;

2. Stuart’s Boskenna Prince Charming, another tricolour, similar age, well reared with good bone and sturdy appearance, well made hindquarters, preferred the refinement of 1;

Puppy dog (2):

1. Binks’ Tannahill Knockout, blanket tri of 10 months, good type, good neck and well laid shoulder, well ribbed back, good width of thigh, merry hound who went on a good stride in profile;

2. Lewis’ Fallowfield Charming Boy, another blanket tri who pushed hard and has many virtues, liked his head, correct bone and well ribbed body, good hindquarters and moved well behind with drive;

Junior Dog (4):

1. Tanner’s Felinoak Griffyn, this tricolour, who is out of the larger mould, is a quality dog who was very pleasing to handle, scored in his lovely head and eye, masculine without a trace of coarseness, good bone and feet, well laid shoulder into strong topline and well set on stern, good hindquarters, shown in super condition, went on a good stride and carried himself well;

2. Macdougall’s Mackhovie Elladan, this tri mottle is of pleasing size and overall outline, good legs and feet, good body – well ribbed back with short loin, well set on stern and well-muscled hindquarters, moved soundly;

3. Fallon’s Molesend Jackpot

Novice Dog (1):

1. McBain’s Maplelayne Serendipitous, t/w of pleasing size and compact built, well ribbed and shown in good condition and musculature, moved soundly;

Graduate Dog (3):

1. Diamond’s Kelcardi All Fired Up, this open tricolour of 20 months has a look of quality, masculine without a hint of coarseness, pleasing size, good head and eye, well boned, good body with long rib and short loin, excellent topline and set on of stern, carries himself on a free stride in profile covering the ground well and is particularly good moving behind, going with drive, considered in the challenge;

2. M Jackpot, tan/white with a look of quality, lovely head and eye, excellent topline and set on of stern, shown in superb condition, not in the least coarse but rather on the big side;

3. M Serendipitous

Post Graduate Dog (2):

1. Taylor’s Rosanka O’Neal by Deaconfield, neat tan/white shown in excellent condition and good muscle tone, pleasing head and good eye of correct colour, very compact, presents a pleasing overall picture and moves soundly;

2. Fallon’s Newlin Rambler, another tan/white but a different stamp of dog altogether which made the decision difficult, excellent topline and set on of stern, moves very freely in profile and has a superb bond with his owner;

Limit Dog (4):

1. Fellows’ Rosanka Bridges, half brother of winner of last class and both sired by today’s CC winner, quality tan/white who is of lovely type and overall stamp, a real Beagle with well made front, very good legs and feet, well ribbed body, strong short loin, excellent topline and set on of stern, pleasing hindquarters, moved well in all directions, pressed hard in the challenge and one who could carry a title with ease;

2. Binks’ Tannahill Ezra, tricolour of pleasing type, size and overall picture, good head shape, masculine without a hint of coarseness, good legs and feet, compact well ribbed body, good topline and set on of stern, very good hindquarters which he uses to drive well with off the hock;

3. Banks’ Forgebanks Santiano

Open Dog (2):

1. Havard’s Annavah Justify, tricolour of 22 months, his type, look of quality and overall stamp is very much what I have in mind when I think of a Beagle, pleasing head shape, clean neck, correct legs and feet, excellent topline to well set on stern, well ribbed body with short loin, really excels in hindquarters with good width of thigh and well let down hocks which gives real driving action behind, maintains his static outline on the move with well carried stern, shown in good condition as one would expect from this kennel;

2. Parker and Stevens’ Serenaker Saltydog, this open tri is quite different to 1 which makes the decision harder, upstanding handsome dog with a beautiful head and eye giving the mild pleasing expression that the Beagle is noted for, good legs and feet, excellent topline, well-muscled hindquarters, looks particularly good freestanding, so true on the move fore and aft and goes with reach and drive in profile, pushed hard and is sure to title;

Veteran Dog (1):

1. Taylor’s Deaconfield Kingcraft, I judged this tricolour just over two years ago at Crufts when I wrote “is deserving of a title”, well today it was a pleasure to reward him with his third CC, he may not be flashy (are they meant to be?) but he is a totally honest, correct type Beagle who says TYPE, correct size, balance and proportions, pleasing head with not a hint of coarseness, compact well ribbed body, super topline and set on of stern, very well angulated hindquarters with width of thigh and well let down hocks, scored in profile on the move where he maintains his outline and goes on an effortlessly free stride showing reach and drive, most deserving and I had no hesitation in giving him the CC, later RBIS and BVIS;

Baby Puppy D or Bitch (3): this is the first time I have judged these classes in the UK; what wonderful practice it gives to our puppies and it was good to see all three enjoy their outing.

1. Arden’s Madika Shine On, very promising puppy of good type, size and balance, good bone and feet, well ribbed, short coupled body, good topline and set on of stern, very good hindquarters, stood like a little prima donna and carried herself so well on the move;

2. Findlay’s Rhiconich Goldie Hawn, rich tan/white with lots of promise also, well grown with good bone and feet, built on clean lines and has good hindquarters, moved soundly, look forward to seeing her in the future;

3. Coyne and Davidson’s Annavah Scotch Mist

Minor Puppy Bitch (3):

1. Binks’ Tannahill Midge, this dark blanket tri of just 6 months won by virtue of her lovely size, pleasing type and overall compactness, well boned legs and feet, well bodied and ribbed, good width of thigh;

2. Stuart’s Boskenna Frozen In Time, tan/white of just over 6 months, out of a bigger mould, has a pleasing outline, very well reared, super hindquarters, would just prefer a longer rib and shorter loin;

3. Stuart’s Boskenna Ice Queen

Puppy Bitch (8):

1. Lewis’ Fallowfield Magic, tan/white with a look of quality and built on clean lines, pleasing head and eye, super topline, croup and set on of stern, very good hindquarters with well let down hock and width of thigh, pleasing in profile where she maintains her outline, but needs to tighten in front;

2. Hunt’s Bondlea Cherished, tricolour who pushed hard and moved well both front and behind, feminine head, good bone and feet, well ribbed with very good hindquarters, pushed hard and a close decision;

3. Lewis’ Fallowfield Merry

Junior Bitch (5):

1. Tanner’s Felinoak Hennessy, this neat feminine tan/white has a look of quality and is always shown to advantage, very much a Beagle in type with clean neck, well laid shoulder, good legs and feet, super topline and set on of stern which is carried so well on the move always, well made hindquarters with width of thigh and well let down hocks, really drives from behind and has a very good gait in side profile where she maintains her static outline, pushed her half sister hard in the challenge and will surely win her title soon but on this occasion it was the RBCC;

2. Goldberg’s Molesend Impish, this open tri is of very good type, has a look of quality and has sturdiness in build, pleasing head, well boned, good body and rib, straight topline and set on of stern, shown in very good condition, has a tendency to lean forward on her front;

3. Fraser’s Felinoak Giggles

Novice Bitch (5):

1. B Cherished

2. Stuart’s Boskenna Wicked Witch, tan/white who is strongly made, well bodied and free moving in profile, rather doggy in head and a bit close behind;

3. Toft’s Jarrowley Pandora

Graduate Bitch (4):

1. Goldberg’s Molesend Jazzy, this 14 months tan/white is not necessarily an immediate eyecatcher but is very good to go over, handles well on the table and is correct in many ways, feminine with pleasing head and eye shape/colour, clean neck, correct bone and good feet, really good topline and set on of stern, well made in body with long rib and short loin, hindquarters with width to the thigh and well-muscled, moved straight and true fore and aft, in the challenge she drew my eye and I felt that she scored on condition, overall balance and head so it was a pleasure to award her her first CC, when writing this I recall awarding her dam her first CC too, CC and BIS;

2. Diamond’s Kelcardi Playing With Fire, neat sweet tricolour of pleasing type and size, has a pleasing outline with good neck and shoulder, well ribbed body, excellent topline and set on of stern, particularly well-made hindquarters with width of thigh and well let down hocks, really drives off the hock and moves on an effortless stride, pushed hard;

3. Parker and Steven’s Bellvalley Roxanne Serenaker

Post Graduate Bitch (1):

1. Kilgour’s Kelcardi Claudia, what a happy open marked tricolour this girl is, her tail never stopped wagging, pleasing overall type, shown in fit condition, happy sound mover;

Limit Bitch (9):

1. Lewis’ Velenco True Love For Fallowfield, this open marked tricolour is a pleasing size and very good type, feminine head with lovely eye shape, has the right balance, well ribbed body with good topline and set on off stern, very good hindquarters which she uses to drive herself forward, carries herself well in profile;

2. Binks’ Tannahill Calissa, this tan/white is very good type and overall stamp, a true Beagle, pleasing head shape and eye colour, compact well ribbed body, good bone, pleasing topline and set on of stern, free sound mover, shown in very good condition and musculature, pushed hard;

3. Fellows’ Rosanka Deneuve

Open Bitch (4):

1. Deans’ Ch Gempeni Cornflower, this open tri is a worthy champion and a true Beagle through and through, correct size, balance and overall proportions, pleasing feminine head, well made front, excellent body, rib and topline, super hindquarters with width of thigh and well-let down hocks, well set and carried stern, has a free easy ground covering profile gait and drives off the hocks well;

2. Stuart’s Kellitcreed Frozen Assets, this tricolour was good to handle, she is a true Beagle with good balance and proportions, pleasing head, well made front, very good legs and feet, well ribbed body, excellent topline and hindquarters, sound as a bell on the move;

3. Hunt’s Dufosee Iyla at Bondlea

Veteran Bitch (2):

1. Leonard’s Butterow Rumba, this is a very good veteran and very much a true, old-fashioned Beagle, sturdily and compactly made all through with good bone, well ribbed body and strong well muscled hindquarters, really drive from behind and presented the picture of a real merry hound, her tail never stopped and she looked and shows so well freestanding;

2. Fitzpatrick’s Blunderhall Moonwalker at Springstorm, this fit tricolour is compactly made with strong topline, enjoyed her day out and went soundly and happily;

David R Craig (Judge)