Midland Counties Canine Society

MIDLAND COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 2025

Rhodesian Ridgeback

It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to judge Rhodesian Ridgebacks again in the UK. Thank you for the wonderful entry of 121. Six years have lapsed since my last appointment which was at Welsh Kennel Club in 2019. The appointment at Midland Counties was my 10th. CC appointment in the breed in the UK. How time flies! I also appreciated the sporting atmosphere round the ring and the generous applause to the winners.

I found a good number of quality dogs in the entry. I was a little concerned in some of the lower dog and bitch classes with some of the temperaments. I felt I gave a lot of time and opportunity to some of these dogs, but they would not settle to be assessed properly. I hope time and training will help.

There is still variation in size. I saw a good number of excellent heads and was delighted to see so many correct eye shapes; the beautiful round eye which gives such a lovely expression instead of the small and slanted eye which was quite prevalent a few years ago.

I was a little surprised to see a number of gay tails not just in dogs, but also bitches. This needs watching. Ridges and crowns were mainly in order – I only found a couple of dogs with slightly offset crowns.

I was thrilled to learn at the end of the day that my dog and bitch CC winners were a full brother and sister and they pleased me enormously.

Minor Puppy Dog Entries: 0 Absentees: 0

Puppy Dog Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST Bikquest Helios Sunreacher (Mrs N Nevison), 10 month old up-to-size puppy with pleasing temperament. His head has good length and shape, eye could be a tad darker. Very good bone and feet. Needs better angulation in front, well bodied, just a little long in loin at this stage. Tends to stand high in the rear. Very good ridge and crowns. Moved well for age.

 Junior Dog Entries: 4 Absentees: 0 Some of the temperaments in this class gave me cause for concern.

1ST Kinabula's Making Magick for Faahac (Mrs C L & Miss M L Catharell), 16 month old male of very nice size. Excellent type. Beautiful head with correct eye shape & lovely expression and well carried ears. Good neck and enough body for age. Very good rear. Correct ridge and crowns. Excellent mover, just a little proud of his tail at times.

2ND Amahle Wolfric The Wanderer (Mrs A & Mr B Maidment), 17 month old youngster who needs to settle in the ring as he is a little nervous. Typical head and correct eye shape. Good bone. Rear angulation a little modest. Ridge and crowns in order. Moves well behind, just a little untidy in his front movement.

Post Graduate Dog Entries: 12 Absentees: 3 One withdrawn

1ST Chioke for Zeri by Ridgelove JW (Imp Svk) (Miss M & Mr H Strauja & Price), 23 month old pleasing young male of nice size and correct type. Handled to advantage. Quality head with good eye and typical expression. Has a very good frame to mature into. Good length of ribcage. Carries himself to advantage and moves well in profile. Ridge and crowns in order.

 2ND Carlincox Knock Em Out (Mr C, Mrs L & Mrs V Cox, Cox & Musgrave), 18 month old lively young male. Endearing temperament. Masculine dog with beautiful head of good length, nice expression. Very good neck. Quality bone. Just a little long in loin. Shown in excellent muscle tone. Very good ridge and crowns. Moves very well.

Limit Dog Entries: 12 Absentees: 2

1ST Walamadengie Heart Throb (Mr P & Mrs J & Mr G Mulholland & Cunningham & Cunningham), 26 month old beautiful, well balanced young dog. Very well handled. Masculine and of quality. Beautiful male head of good length. Very good eye and expression. Good bone and feet. He is very workmanlike overall. Balanced angulation fore and aft. Very good ridge and crowns. Excellent mover.

2ND Fiadma's Stiggens at Skyleridge (Mrs T Thomas-Bassett), two year old very pleasing quality young male. Masculine head of good shape, cheeks a little pronounced. Very good bone and feet. Well bodied, but a little long in loin. Balanced angulation. He is a very good, sound mover. Very good ridge and crowns.

Open Dog Entries: 17 Absentees: 5

1ST Ch Gunthwaites Fancy Man JW (Miss K J Davies), three year old top quality beautiful male presented in excellent condition and beautifully handled. Masculine from top to toe. So correct and well made presenting a beautiful picture standing. Beautiful male head of correct length, super expression. Very good angulation fore and aft and sound quarters. To be hypercritical I would like him a little shorter in loin. Very capable and correct mover. Correct ridge and crowns. Delighted to award him the CC.

2ND Ch Hespa Masseto of Africaner JW ShCEx OSW (Mr J & Mrs C Mackfall), four and half year old quality dog of lovely breed type. Shown in exemplary muscle tone. Very beautiful male head of good length. Lovely bone. So very well made throughout. Correct ridge and crowns. Sound and correct mover. Res. CC

 Veteran Dog Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST Sofala Lightening Strike (Mrs N D Raymond), seven year old veteran male. Dignified temperament. Very nice head of good length, has the typical, beautiful eye of the breed. Medium bone. Very good body and rear. Would like slightly better crowns. Good mover.

  Special Beginners Dog Entries: 4 Absentees: 0

1ST Fiadma's Stiggens at Skyleridge (Mrs T Thomas-Bassett), 2nd. in Limit Dog, please see notes above. Best Special Beginner

 2ND Rubiltra Gunna Be Striking (Mrs C Edwards), two year old, medium sized dog who I would like a little more masculine. Good head. Medium bone. A little straight in shoulder and needs better reach in front movement. Good body and rear. His tail is too gay on the move.

Minor Puppy Bitch Entries: 3 Absentees: 1 One withdrawn

1ST Colkeririn to The Nines (Mrs K Hodge), eight month old very pretty bitch puppy of very nice type. Pale wheaten with a little white on chest and toes. Soundly grown. Has a promising frame to mature into. Feminine quality head. Good body and sound quarters. Crowns and ridge in order. Very nice mover for age. Best Puppy

Puppy Bitch Entries: 5 Absentees: 3 One withdrawn

1ST Bikquest Envy Blazingstar (Mrs N Nevison), 10 month old nice quality puppy. Well developed for age. She is feminine and nicely balanced and has an excellent length of ribcage. Medium bone. Good body. Ridge and crowns in order. Moves very well. Nice head, but ears need work put into them as she flies them at this stage.

Junior Bitch Entries: 8 Absentees: 3

1ST Africaner Zavanna Breeze (Mr J & Mrs C & Miss E Mackfall & Mackfall & Mcintosh), 14 month old beautiful young bitch. Very typical and well balanced for age. Correct skull, a little lightweight in muzzle, very good eye and expression. Ears a little large. She is very well put together and has good bone. Sound mover with good reach and drive and carries herself to advantage.

2ND Alexia Lyonesse (Mrs S R Phillips), also 14 months old, feminine and well balanced young bitch at her first show and hence a little tense. Beautiful head, eye and expression. Sound and well made. Moves well, just a little proud of her tail.

Post Graduate Bitch Entries: 16 Absentees: 8

1ST Priorpark Pride and Joy to Nzuri JW (Mrs L & Miss S & Mr J & Miss H Mills & Mills & Mills & Parsons), 21 month old quality breed representative shown a little plump, but carrying her weight well. Very well put together. Excellent head shape and most typical lovely round eyes to give a super expression. Ears a little large. Really good and capable mover despite her being a little plump. Correct ridge and crowns.

2ND Nuthouse Going for Gold JW (Mr J & Mrs S Hicks), another quality bitch. Two year old feminine bitch of correct size. Has very good type and balance. Beautiful head and expression, also excelling in the correct eye shape. Medium bone. Well bodied. Sound quarters and a capable mover.

 Limit Bitch Entries: 17 Absentees: 4

1ST Lobengula Giah (Mrs K & Mr A Salmon & Hawkins), this exhibitor always shows such typical and correct Ridgebacks under me! Two year old beautiful bitch full of quality. A little on the tall side, but balanced. Beautiful head shape and excellent length to the head. Gorgeous eye and expression. Quality bone. Very well bodied. Lovely mover. Correct ridge and crowns.

 2ND Bonfirebeau Red Skye at Skyleridge (Mrs T Thomas-Bassett), medium sized four year old bitch of lovely type. Correct head and typical eye. Good bone, feet a little flat. Good body and quarters. Effortless mover.

Open Bitch Entries: 23 Absentees: 5

1ST Ch Gunthwaites Ayr of Elegance JW (Mrs J M & Mr D H Bates), three year old most aptly named bitch! She definitely has an air of elegance and class about her. I was quite mesmerized by her beautiful eye and expression. Stylish and well made throughout and carrying herself to full advantage. Quality head. Outstanding mover. CC and Best of Breed

2ND Lobengula Pearl (Mrs K Salmon), I was spoilt for choice with so many quality exhibits. Another absolute top quality deep red bitch. Delightful temperament. Super head of excellent length, most typical eye and expression. So very well made. Excellent mover. Lots to like about her! Res.CC

Veteran Bitch Entries: 5 Absentees: 2

1ST Kinabula Ment to Be for Faahac (Mrs C L & Miss G Catharell & Lawless), seven year old liver nose veteran bitch. Beautiful type. Shown in excellent condition. Feminine and well made with lovely long ribcage and excellent body. Tends to turn her feet in a little. Quality head. Nicely angulated. Excellent mover. Best Veteran

 2ND Ch Kiromol Midsummer Spirit JW (Mr P, Mrs E & Mrs L Storey & Piehl), 10,5 year old tall veteran female of very nice type. She has nursed three litters and her underline is not perfect. Moved very well.

Special Beginners Bitch Entries: 7 Absentees: 0

1ST Bonfirebeau Red Skye at Skyleridge (Mrs T Thomas-Bassett), 2nd. in Limit Bitch, please see notes above.

 2ND Alexia Lyonesse (Mrs S R Phillips), 2nd. in Junior Bitch, please see notes above

Elina Haapaniemi

(Finland)