Manchester Dog Show Society

Bloodhound

A breed very close to my heart and one I am extremely passionate about. This was my first time awarding CCs in Bloodhounds, and I was delighted with my entry of 21 hounds. Quality was overall good, slightly better in bitches with several considered for higher awards. As a breed and working trial judge I was looking for a hound that was not only typical to look at, but also sound and well-muscled enough to do a day’s work over heavy plough. Most entered were in super condition although there were a couple who looked like they had enjoyed a bit too much Christmas cheer! The halls at Stafford are not the most ideal place to assess this breed as ring size is never quite big enough and being so loud and echoey some more sensitive hounds struggled.

PD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: PRIOR, Mr John & PRIOR, Mrs Amy Houndseeker Falcon (ai). Promising 11-month-old puppy who was a little overwhelmed today. Lovely head proportions with balanced skull to muzzle proportions, nice clean eyes and ears of good length giving a noble expression. Good length of neck going into a well laid shoulder with enough bone for age and excellent feet. Still needs to drop in chest as expected for one this age but overall balanced body with good length of rib and balanced hindquarters. Well set stern, carried correctly on the move which was sound and elastic when settled. Overall lovely breed type and exactly where he should be for his age in terms of development. Happy to award Best Puppy in Breed.

JD (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: WESTRON, Mrs Suzanne Farlap Kaleb. Super young male with an excellent head piece, giving a beautiful noble and dignified expression. Balanced masculine skull with of excellent size and proportions with super eye and expression and lovely ears of good length and set. Excellent front with strong straight forelegs of good bone and excellent feet. Lovely depth of chest with good keel, nice length of well sprung rib and strong loin with good stern carried correctly. Lovely strong hindquarters and in excellent condition for one still maturing. Super typical elastic movement, especially in profile. This hound excelled in type and confirmation and for me is a true blueprint of a male Bloodhound being impressive without exaggeration yet giving the impression of a hound who can handle a day in the field. I was delighted to award him the CC, his and his owner’s first I believe, and Best Special Beginner.

2nd: ROWLAND, Ms C Castledee Last Christmas. Male of smaller type who scored well in head and eye shape, good ears and nice length of neck. Very good front but not the maturity in body of the winner yet. Balanced hindquarters which he used well on the move being sound and free in action. Just needs time.

3rd: ADSHEAD, Mrs Jane Farlap Kashmir

PGD (3 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: CLARK, Miss S Farlap Keepsake. Promising young male of good breed type who has a good clean head without exaggeration, good eye shape and ears of good length. Lovely strong neck going into an excellent shoulder with good bone although his feet could be tighter. Good depth of chest with good spring of rib and strong loin with balanced hindquarters. The better mover of the two in this class today being sound up and back and free in profile.

2nd: ROWLAND, Ms C Castledee Let It Snow. Another young male who scored well in head and expression with good eyes and ear length. Not as good in front as the winner and slightly overwhelmed today. Still needs to mature in body. Good hindquarters and when settled moved OK.

LD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: PRIOR, Mr John & PRIOR, Mrs Amy Houndseeker Dauntless JW. Male of good breed type who I have judge before. Masculine head of excellent proportions with good eyes and ears, nice strong neck and excellent front with well placed shoulders, good bone and excellent feet. Good depth of chest and well sprung ribs, presented in well-muscled condition and good stern, set and carried correctly. Hind quarters could be slightly stronger, and he let himself down on the move as paced for several steps. When he did move correctly, he looked lovely and overall, a hound who gives an impression of balance, nobility and wisdom and not out of place in the field. Sort his movement out and he should be winning higher awards!

OD (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: HOWIE, Mrs Tracie & EMRYS-JONES, Mrs Sue Ch Marksbury Malfoy. Quality male and another I have judged before. Super head and eye shape with lovely proportions and good length of ears. Lovely typical noble expression. Super strong neck going into an excellent front with good bone and feet. Good depth of chest with well sprung ribs, strong well-muscled loin and good hindquarters. Free and elastic movement especially in profile and overall giving a very balanced outline of a workmanlike hound who exhibits excellent breed type. My biggest bug bear with this hound is he doesn’t like to get his tail up on the move, which spoils the final picture. I awarded him the RCC in this entry as his overall breed specific qualities are excellent however and he looks beautiful when stood.

2nd: MCKENZIE, Ms Fiona Moorlander Dior. Blanket Black male who was not happy in the halls today. Masculine head with good eye shape and good front and bone. OK feet. Good depth of chest but drops away slightly at the croup and could be stronger in hindquarters. Moved OK considering, may benefit from being outdoors as I don’t think the hall got the best out of him.

SBD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 4423 WESTRON, Mrs Suzanne Farlap Kaleb. Winner of Junior Dog. Best Special Beginner.

JB (2 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: WILLIAMS, Miss Denise Immervahr Vera. Young bitch with nice feminine head and eye shape and ears of good length. OK front but excellent feet and good depth of chest. Carrying a few more pounds than desired in a working breed and not particularly happy in the halls today. Moved OK but another who perhaps would benefit from being in an outdoor ring.

PGB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: BURNSIDE, Miss Evelyn & MANLEY, Mr Robert Houndseeker Dragonfly. Red bitch of super breed type with beautiful feminine head of excellent proportions, lovely eye shape and super ears. Good front with well laid shoulders and nice depth of chest, well let down, well sprung ribs and strong solid loin. Well-muscled strong hindquarters and well-set stern, carried correctly on the move. Overall, a quality bitch however she had a tendency to pick her feet up slightly too much on the move which was noticeable more so in profile. Super sound on the up and back however and in great condition, more than capable of a day working. I considered her for higher awards as loved her breed type, however felt the open and limit winners scored better in front movement.

LB (2 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: CRUICKSHANK, Mr I & Mrs D Wychway-crown's Ghillie Gin's Island At Culsalmond. Feminine blanket black and tan with super head of lovely proportions, lovely eye shape and ears of good length. Excellent front, bone and feet, excellent dept of chest with good spring of rib and hard muscled loin and hindquarters. Well set stern, carried correctly. Super mover, free and elastic in profile and sound up and back, this hound could work all day. A completely unexaggerated bitch of lovely quality, delighted to award her the RCC in this super entry.

OB (5 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: CLARK, Miss S & HAYDEN, Mrs L Ch Farlap Qui Martha (ai). Bitch of the highest quality with super typical head, balanced skull proportions and excellent eye and ear shape giving lovely overall expression. Excellent front with well laid shoulders, balanced return of upper arm and good bone. Excellent well knuckled feet. Super depth of chest with good spring of rib and well-muscled loin. Lovely tail set which she carried correctly on the move. Solid hindquarters which she used on the move to give true free and elastic movement I was looking for today. An excellent example of the breed showing beautiful type and condition and one who can work all day, I’m sure. A standout example in today’s entry and was delighted to award her the CC and Best of Breed.

2nd: HARRINGTON, Miss Jill Ch Moorlander Cacharel. Another quality bitch with a super head, ears and eye shape giving the most beautiful noble expression. Excellent front and feet with lovely bone. Super spring of rib with strong loin and hindquarters. Lovely mover in the class with her stern carried correctly and presented in excellent condition. I seriously thought she would be my RCC winner however when I called her back in to challenge, she decided she had done enough and didn’t move anywhere near as well as she did in the class! A beautiful example however and one who without a doubt could work all day.

3rd: HOWIE, Mrs Tracie & EMRYS-JONES, Mrs S & AVERY, Mr Marksbury Regina At Millvery

Res: HUDSON, Mrs J Ch Graceminster Ruby Slippers (ai)

VHC: ROWLAND, Ms C Castledee Tinkerbell

VB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: BURNSIDE, Miss Evelyn & MANLEY, Mr Robert Houndseeker Amber (a.i.). An old favourite of mine who I have judged before both in trials and the show ring. Red bitch of lovely breed type with a super head of good proportions and lovely ears. Excellent length of neck going into a well-made front with good enough feet. Slightly weaker pasterns as can be expected in a veteran. Good depth of chest with well sprung ribs and balanced, strong hindquarters. Moved soundly with enough freedom of action and elasticity to show she can still work. A quality bitch who is just starting to show her age, however delighted to award her best veteran today.

David Knights (Lelaps)