Birmingham Dog Show Society Ltd

Many thanks to the committee of Birmingham National for the kind invitation to judge Cavalier bitches and also to the exhibitors for a good entry, both numerically and in quality. I would be the first to admit that I had been looking forward to the appointment with some trepidation, not necessarily knowing what the quality was going to be like, but I was very pleased. In most classes there we more than a couple of good ones, and for the BCC some good ones didn’t make the cut with only minor details separating the main winners. More than a few had upright shoulders and short upper-arms, and generally hindquarters could have been much better right through the entry. Croups were much better than when I last judged the breed. Thanks to Ian Layfield and Philip Lunt for keeping the ring in good order & allowing us to finish in good time for the group. BOB, BPIB, BSBIB and BVIB were all decided jointly with my long-time friend, Lisa Gamble (Lisgarth) who it was a pleasure to judge alongside.

SBB (6 Entries) Abs: 2

1st) BENNETT, Mrs E Rishtte I'm Tanisha Of Remmya JW, a very nice ruby bitch and one who I have judged before. Very typical head and eye and a good expression, well made in front and keeps her topline both standing and moving. She is a real showgirl and enjoys herself all the time, a little untidy going away from me today but looked smart in profile. BSBIB.

2nd) BOUTLE, Mrs Joanne Applebroad Pink Lady, a smart Blen bitch who is already well grown for her age. Her basic head features are good, and she is quite attractive there. A little forward in shoulder and could do with a mite more neck, but she has a firm topline and uses herself well on the move; even if she could be a little cleaner up and back. Perfectly presented and well handled.

3rd) COLLIER, Mr Michael Alice Tyras Amazonitas Imp Ltu

MPB (6 Entries) Abs: 1

1st) SPALL, Mr M & CLARK, MR MATTHEW Llapsttam's Vanessa, B/T bitch who is already quite mature for her age. Her head does still need time, and she could do with a little more fill under her eyes. Her angles are balanced, and she already has quite a remarkable depth of chest. Quite a well-made body & she can look a little low at times; but she was the most precise up and back in this class with a good, easy footfall & it was this that won her the class. Presented to perfection in a coat of good colours and the correct texture.

2nd) WADDINGTON, Mr R A & Mrs E Spindlepoint Annie Oakley, I thought on first glance this bitch would be the winner of this class, her head and expression are quite delightful. She has all the makings of a lovely bitch and is very well constructed in body and probably more balanced than the winner at this stage. Didn’t quite project herself as well as the winner on the day which cost her, but with the addition of a little more confidence, she will have many good days.

3rd) KITSON, Mrs E A Kadoogels Days Of Our Lives, very smart ruby bitch with a lot to like about her too.

PB (7 Entries) Abs: 1

1st) COX, Mrs T Emberlace Christina, caught my eye when she came in for her shape, balance and verve. Very pretty head and expression for her age, good forehand with nicely balanced angles and a very good return of upperarm; firm topline and neat underline, moved with a very free and easy stride away and back and carried herself well in profile. Excellent Blen coat of the correct texture and colour. She looks like the puppy she is and is not overly mature for her age, but she is a true “toy” spaniel.

2nd) JACKSON, Miss Sarah Applebroad Candy Spice Via Fortunamajor, perfectly presented Blen bitch with a delightful head and expression. A little forward in shoulder and a mite wide at the blades, and does pin in a touch coming to, level topline and a perfect tailset and carriage. A very good profile mover and carries herself well there. Put down to the minute and was sparkling, good colours; but not quite so well marked as the winner.

3rd) SPALL, Mr M & CLARK, MR MATTHEW Llapsttam Edge Of Heaven

JB (6 Entries) Abs: 1

1st) HAZELTINE, Mrs J P Juzandia Relight My Fire, lovely Ruby who really comes to life on the move, such a pretty head and expression & it would look good in any colour, quite good in front, and firm in topline, beautifully set tail & she gives 100% on the move, very accurate up and back and has a good, easy, open stride in profile. I liked her a lot, she doesn’t need to carry any more coat so as to shield her lovely outline. Ch quality for sure. Cut for CC.

2nd) KILCOYNE, Mrs L & Mr R Granasil Bird In The Hand, close up to the winner & initially I thought she would be the one to beat here. She is classically headed, very expressive and so typical. Excellent forehand, firm topline and another with a lovely tail for both set and carriage. She is quite accurate up and back, despite her best efforts to resist co-operating with her handler. One who will have many more good days when she gets her head into gear. Excellently presented.

3rd) CONNEALLY, Ms Sharon Melody Dobry Rok Of Coedgwylum, close up to the first two.

YB (8 Entries) Abs: 2

1st) ATKINS, Mrs Sue & ATKINS, Mr Chris Lacerta Luisa, I loved the shape and outline of this ultra pretty Blen bitch. Glorious eyes and expression, quite good in front and keeps her topline both standing and moving. Her tail set a mite low and she carries it just too high when moving, which is a real shame as in all other respects she is a really lovely girl. Perfectly handled and presented.

2nd) O’GRADY, Mrs H A & O’GRADY, Mr M J Bevelmount Rose Maria Of Culverhill, quality Ruby with a lovely shape standing. Not quite the head or expression of the winner, but she is attractive. A little heavier over the shoulders than the winner & this showed when she moved. She is quite accurate up and back and is a really lovely colour, presented in great condition.

3rd) JARAMILLO, Miss Rebecca & CHADWICK, Miss Leah Conabec Causing Chaos

MB (8 Entries) Abs: 2

1st) MORDECAI, Mrs E Ec Millhill Delectable, and she is! Classic type with so little to change, super head and expression, excellent forehand and depth to chest, firm topline, super tail for both set and carriage, sound, free and easy up and back and a very fluid profile mover. Beautifully broken up colour and super depth to her chestnut, I liked her a lot and with the benefit of a little more time and coat, she could do some very useful winning. I see I gave her mother two ResCCs and she shares many of her virtues.

2nd) WATERS, Miss Wendy Sweetbriar Sunbeam, quite different in type to the winner but a real cutie. Pretty head and eye, and a very well cushioned muzzle which was nice to see as quite a few lacked enough fill under the eye. Very well made in body, good angles front and rear, kept her topline on the move and was particularly good in profile. I thought she could have done with a mite more on the leg for perfect balance, but she is young yet and still with some maturing to do.

3rd) SPALL, Mr M & CLARK, MR MATTHEW Llapsttam Four Tea Love, lovely B/T stood third in this good class but ended up winning BPB as she is a most stylish and striking youngster. Liked her head and eye, good expression and very well made all through her body. Very sound and accurate on the move, rolls a little at the present time and just needs to shed some puppy fat; presented in pristine condition and pulled it together to win BPB in good company. 

NB (6 Entries) Abs: 1

1st) LEWIS, Miss J & LEWIS, Mrs Carol Carleeto Red Velvet, smart Ruby with a good overall shape and outline. Very expressive, good forehand and quarters; firm topline and another who had a well set and carried tail. Accurate footfall on the move and she goes with a free, and easy stride. Well-presented and handled.

2nd) SHARP-DIXON, Mr Kevin & LEACH, Mrs Sue Ouzlewell's Spring Blossom, well broken Tri bitch of good colour and general make and shape. Not quite the head of the winner and could do with a touch more fill, but she earned her place here on her well-made body, good forehand and topline, and accuracy of footfall. Not in her best clothes on the day.

3rd) BRYSON, Mrs Kate Myglee Blame It On My Juice

GB (9 Entries) Abs: 1

1st) SMITH, Mrs S Beaudale Little Bit Naughty, a good winner of this competitive class, right the way down to 5th where my final places were separated by only minor details. Loved everything about this Ruby bitch, excellent head and eye, glorious pigment and super expression. Very well made in front, excellent shoulder and return of upperarm, well ribbed back and super tail for both set and carriage. Very sound, free, easy and accurate on the move if at times a little careless with her hind action. I thought at this point she would be the CC winner, but in the challenge the MLB and the OB were just that slightly more precise in rear action which cost her today. She would make a very worthy Ch and I have no doubt she will gain her title. I won’t disagree when she does. Cut for CC.

2nd) WHITMAN, Mr J & TARABAD, Miss L Rahmzi's Abbie O'riginal At Khatibi, very pretty Blen bitch with the most lustrous eyes! Excellent eye and expression, well laid shoulders and good depth to her chest. Firm and compact in body, with lovely hindquarters. Quite accurate up and back and uses herself well in profile. Not so as advanced in maturity as the winner but she is young yet. Close up.

3rd) SEDGBEER, Mr David & SEDGBEER, Mrs Andrea Russmic Olivia Rose

PGB (7 Entries) Abs: 1

1st) WATERS, Miss Wendy Sweetbriar A Singer, very nicely broken Blen bitch presenting a good picture both standing and moving. Liked her head and eye, good in front and has decent depth to her chest, well ribbed back and firm in topline. Carried her tail well on the move and has a very good side profile, as well as being quite true up and back. Could do with a little more coat, but it’s not easy with bitches! A nice girl.

2nd) WADDINGTON, Mr R A & Mrs E Spindlepoint Gertie Jekyll, beautiful head and eye on this Blen bitch & she is perhaps a little better there than the winner. Her body and general make and shape are good, and she is well constructed. Her croup isn’t quite so good as the winners and this was evident on the move. Glorious colour, one of the best chestnuts of the day. Presented and handled expertly.

3rd) BENNETT, Mrs E Rishtte I'm Tanisha Of Remmya JW

MdLB (10 Entries) Abs: 1

1st) BUBB, Miss Alexandra Sweetbriar Heirs And Graces With Wandris JW, the last time I judged this well-coated Blen bitch she was 2nd in Puppy Bitch and didn’t quite “capture me” on the day. Today was a different story and she has matured into a delightful bitch. Her head and eye are textbook, and her head shape is close to perfection. Excellent front angulation, some depth to her chest, she is firm in topline being well ribbed back and short in loin & has moderate hind angulation. Standing she can sometimes get “lost” in the crowd as she is a very unassuming bitch, but on the move, she goes with ease and accuracy and carries her tail just as she should. An unassuming bitch, but so correct & just as the standard calls for. Cut for CC and well-deserved the RBCC in good company here today.

2nd) Ispahan Tender Is The Night, Blen half-sister to the winner and shares many of her attributes. She too has a lovely head and eye and is very expressive. Balanced throughout and moderate; perhaps not the fluidity of the winner on the move, but she is quite accurate up and back. Very well broken, and beautifully put down, if a little paler in colour than the winner.

3rd) VELLA, Mr A Cinderaic Kerry

LB (8 Entries) Abs: 0

1st) KOSTER-TINDALL, Mrs Lucy Harana Maggie May, a lovely sized Ruby bitch who caught my eye when she first came in for her shape and balance. Lovely moderate head and super pigmentation; she is very expressive and pretty. Very well made in front and she has a good depth to her chest. Firm topline and another today with a good croup, which I was really pleased to see going through the entry today; super tail carriage and very precise up and back and used herself well in profile. Quite a good colour and very well presented. Cut for CC.

2nd) Miss Sheena Pennygown Butter Wouldn't, a larger and less feminine Ruby bitch than the winner, but quite attractive. Her head is well balanced with good large eyes, although she isn’t so pretty there as the winner. Enough neck, firm topline and her tail is good for both set and carriage. A little unsettled here at first but pulled herself together enough to stand second here today. She has excellent footfall and good power from behind. Well- presented in a super coat, which is an excellent colour.

3rd) DREWETT, Mrs L M Judyland Mischief

OB (6 Entries) Abs: 0

1st) HOMES, Mr Dennis & HOMES, Mrs Tina Leogem Campanula, a lovely, feminine Blen bitch who, when standing, projects the most beautiful shape and outline; being elegant and shapely. Her head is correct for balance and shape, and her eyes are just what I want in the breed. Beautiful front with lovely shoulder and return of upper arm, firm topline and a super tail set. Each part fits seamlessly into the next and she moves as her construction says she might, with precision and accuracy away and back, and carries herself in an eye-catching manner in profile. She is quite a good colour and beautifully broken up. In the challenge, the more I moved them the more she kept it together over her competition, and I could do nothing but award her the CC, her 3rd & in complete agreement with my co-judge, Best of Breed. Well done.

2nd) IRELAND, Ms S M Charnell Here Comes Summer JW, a very different type to the winner; but an attractive bitch. Large, round eyes and a real glint in her eye! Good to go over and all of a piece, perhaps just a mite longer in back than the winner for perfect balance. Went with a free, and easy action and put down in super condition, excellent chestnut and well broken up. Considered for RCC and she will soon gain her title, I am sure.

3rd) WHITMAN, Mr J & TARABAD, Miss L Khatibi Chewed A Rose

VB (7 Entries) Abs: 0

1st) BERWICK, Mrs Elaine Ch Harana Peggy Lee Merrylaine, excellent class – first three all beautiful ladies. The winner was ultimately this Ruby who still looked wonderful, beautiful head an eye and to go over there is little to want to change. Very sound and accurate on the move and can still out-move some of the youngsters. Presented to perfection and looked great. Cut for CC and ultimately BVIB with agreement of my co-judge.

2nd) LOADES, Mrs Roslyn Rosirius Bluebell, have always liked this Blen bitch and I consider her very unlucky not to have gained her title. She has aged beautifully and really did look good. Super head and eye, so expressive and gentle. In good body and great condition, she went well on the move but not with the accuracy of footfall as the winner. A lovely girl presented to perfection.

3rd) COLAVECCHIA, Miss M Carolus Miss Elsie

Evan L Ryan (Cavallibrook/Feorlig)