Border Union Agricultural Society

BORDER UNION DOG SHOW

14th June 2025

Firstly can I say thanks to Border Union committee for asking me to judge at this extremely well run show. Even though the weather was against us things still ran smoothly and on time.

Thanks to my two capable stewards, Dave & Bob who kept the ring running smoothly & a special mention for Dave who kindly picked me up from the train station.

AFGHAN HOUNDS

Minor puppy dog.(6. 0). 1st. Kidd's. Cloudside of light. B/M gold, A mature balanced head with a good dark eye for one so young. Well put together both fore and aft which made him the best mover in this class.

2nd. Morrison & McCormack's. Sitana Ghost rider toTulak. S/Mask Cream boy in good bodily shape. Masculine head with dark well shaped eye, level topline, deep chest good length of tail with the much sought after ring. Just didn't move as well as 1st.

3rd. French's. Sitana Silver Surfer at Zalmeerah.

Puppy dog. (1. 0). 1st. Gleed & McPherson's. Chinzaes tartan Tiger. Brindle dog, even though he stood alone in this class he caught my eye as he entered the ring! He has a confident air about him. Masculine head without being coarse. Good length of rib to loin, deep chest, well boned, ample heart room between front legs.

Junior dog. (2. 0.) 1st. Anderson's. Chinzaes Tartan Rebel. Black and cream boy. Presented in excellent condition, head of good proportions with correct bite. Strong neck leading to a well constructed front, level topline short loin correct fallaway well boned, big feet moved with verve.

2nd. Chinzaes Tartan Tiger.

Yearling dog. (3. 1.) 1st. Appleby, Minchin, Edwards & Mulvaney's. Rhajikhan Achernars River.Brindle dog with an eye catching outline. A balanced head which I would have liked to have been a tad more masculine but nevertheless still balanced. Elegant strong neck, level topline. Complimentary front and rear angles which helped him to move around the ring with style and power. Presented in excellent condition.

2nd. Butt's. Rahjikhan Phoenix Rising. Slightly rangier than 1st but still a balanced outline. Well constructed in front I would have liked a bit more in the hindquarters. Level topline with good deep chest. Another dog well presented & groomed well.

Novice dog. 1st. Cloudside Prince of Light.

2nd. Chinzaes Tartan Tiger.

3rd. Sitana Ghost Rider to Tulak.

Graduate dog. (0. 0.)

Post Grad dog. (5. 0.) 1st. Macmillan's. Sitana the Winter Soldier. S/M black and cream. Refined head yet still very masculine. Strong neck leading to a well constructed front, ample bone with sloping pasterns. Chest of good proportions being both deep and giving plenty of heart room.level topline with correct fallaway finished off with a ring tail. Moved with power and style.

2nd. Thompson's. Drishaun Rock me Baby. Sh/M Gold presented in excellent order, gleaming coat with correct pattern of saddle. Looked good from both front and rear. Had that far eastern look in his eyes which is missing in so many. It was a close decision between these two but I felt that 1 had more confidence on the move.

3rd. Harwood's. Altside Too Hot to Handle. 

Limit dog. (8. 1.) 1st. Lancashire & O'Donnells. Drishaun Baby's in Black JW. Bl/Tan boy. I had seen this boy at other shows and admired him from outside the ring! I certainly wasn't disappointed when I went over him. Mature masculine head of correct proportions, good eye shape & placement, strong neck leading to a rock solid level topline. Well ribbed chest coupled with a strong short loin enabling him to move around the ring with power & ease. I am sure it won't be long before he gains his title. RCC.

2nd. Woodward's. Pramya King of Everything (Imp Fin). Sh/masked gold, presented in beautiful condition, I could see a lot of work had gone into his coat. Head of correct proportions, strong elegant neck leading to level topline with prominent hipbones. Well put together both front and rear, good tailset. Moved soundly. Unlucky to come up against 1 it was a close decision but preferred the expression of 1.

3rd. Lees. Altside Micah hot Prophet JW.

Open dog. (7. 3.) 1st. Millward, Millward, Ferguson & Race's. CH. Aus CH. Tahkira Affogato. S/m Black & Cream dog. My first time going over this dog! I have seen him from the ringside & thought that I would like to go over him to see if he is as good as he looks. Well I wasn't disappointed Masculine head of good balance between foreface & back skull. Strong neck leading to a well shaped ribcage, front & rear complimentary angles. Prominent hipbones correct fallaway & tailset. Moved with the required style of high order even though we were restricted in ring size because of the weather. CC & BOB

2nd. Parsell, Beanland, Parsell & Thornton's. Ch. Gezancol Never say Never at Harlextan. Sh/M gold. Put down in excellent condition as always! A well boned boy with a classic outline. Pleasing head with dark eyes well set. Topline was firm & straight leading to correct fallaway. Moved with style but just preferred the movement of 1.

3rd. Gorman & Latimer's. Shahfoladi Sphinx riddle atZharook (ai) JW

Veteran dog. (5. 1.) 1st. Latimers. Ch Jeremiah De Koulanger at Zharook JW. VW. 10 years old Sh/M gold who moved with the energy of some much younger dogs. Well put together both front and rear,. Still has a firm level topline & correct saddle. Well boned with large feet. Long silky coat presented in great condition.

2nd. Anderson's Ch Zandahar Tartan Xplorer. Brindle boy with a balanced masculine head. Strong neck firm topline, complimentary front and rear angles used well to move with style. Deep well filled chest finished off with a ring tail.

3rd. Hunter's Neptune De Koulanger at Sulahmara.

BITCHES

Minor puppy bitch. (4. 1.) 1st. Moore's. Cloudside Whispering Angel. 9 month old all black girl. A compact but balanced outline, feminine head with good balance & dark eye. Deep chest with short broad loin. A little unsettled on the move at first but calmed down to show sound movement.

2nd. Sanghera's. Sitana Beautiful Dreamer. Cream girl with good shoulder placement & return of upper arm. Sweet feminine expression deep well formed ribcage. Moved OK. 

3rd. Aynsley's. Cloudside Ice angel.

Puppy bitch.(2. 0) 1st. Howie & Leitch's. Chinzaes Touch of Tartan. Sh/M/Black & cream. I could see as this girl entered the ring that she had the shape that would be a pleasure to go over! And she was. A very feminine girl with a sweet expression strong neck firm topline deep chest sweeping hindquarters, good bone & big feet. Moved correctly. BPIB.

2nd Cloudside Whispering Angel.

Junior bitch. (1. 0) 1st. Bloor's. Pretty Infinity A touch of Freedom at Pashtari (Imp Deu) all black girl.a bit of a fidget but stood still long enough for me to go over her. A well proportioned feminine head with correct shaped dark eye. Looked good when viewed from both front and rear. Moved OK once settled

Yearling bitch. (0. 0.)

Novice bitch. (2. 0.). 1st. Cloudside Whispering Angel.

2nd. Aynsley's. Cloudside Ice Angel. Cream girl. Not quite as mature as 1 but still has a balanced outline. Good balance between foreface and back skull with dark eye.

Graduate bitch.(1. 0) 1st. Bellringer's. Pramya Keep your Eyes on me (imp Fin). Sh/M gold. Pleasing outline with front and rear balanced construction. Firm level topline with deep well shaped ribcage, finished with a ring tail.

Post Graduate bitch. (2. 0.) 1st. Latimer, Latimer, Gorman & Gorman's. Sitana Moon Star at Zharook JW. S/M gold girl. Ultra feminine head which was just right for me with well shaped dark eye, had that distant look about her. Her shape fitted that of how I like to see an Afghan bitch. Moved soundly but I felt she would have given more in a bigger ring.

2nd. Gilchrist's. Khawari Raspberry Beret. Brindle girl. Different type to 1 but still fitting the standard. She has a feminine head with dark eye, strong neck firm topline good hindquarters but carrying a little excess weight over the hipbones, still moved with a powerfull stride. Great coat condition.

Limit bitch. (5. 0.) 1st. Moyes, Locket Davies, Shaw & Hunter-Ryan's. Rhazmakh heart O'summer by Bryelis.Black girl. Best mover in this class. Good head & eye, firm neck going to a well angled front. Carrying a little excess covering over the loin & hipbones but did not affect her movement.

2nd. Tanner, Tanner & Link's. Rhajikhan Athena of Aleyazar. Brindle girl with a good overall shape. Probably would have been better in a larger ring as I could see she was trying to stride out but the ring size was against her. Feminine head with correct eye placement, level topline good fallaway and tailset. 

3rd.Charlton's. Drishaun Lily Among Thorns at Nyanza.

Open bitch. (3. 0.) 1st. Gilbert's. Ch Altside Hot as Hell at Affietar. Brindle girl with a flowing silky coat. Head refined with correct eye placement, elegant neck firm straight topline, sweeping hindquarters. Moved with power and grace. RCC.

2nd. Cullen's. Cloudside Sevilla a at Eweyisska. All black girl just out moved by 1 today. Pleasing outline with complimentary front & rear angles. Pretty head with dark well shaped eye, another one I felt needed a larger ring!

3rd. Bastow's. Cloudside Muineira to Karandikar.

Veteran bitch. (2. 1.) 1st. O'donnell & O'Donnell's. Ch Drishaun Faith is Like a Lily forJavidan JW. This is my idea of an ideal female Afghan. Beautiful compact shape, Feminine head with correct eye shape & placement. Sloping shoulders with correct return of upper arm. Level topline with good fallaway leading to powerfull hindquarters enabling her to move with the grace & style required. Just didn't give it all in the challenge otherwise she would have been top here today. 

Still a well deserved CC. 

 Derek Keates. (Judge)