Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

JUDGE’S BLOODHOUND REPORT

FOR

DARLINGTON CHAMPIONSHIP DOG SHOW

12.9.2025

 I was most honoured to be invited to judge and award CCs to the Bloodhound breed at Darlington Championship Dog Show. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Committee and Officers for kindly inviting me to judge, and all the Bloodhound exhibitors for giving me ten entries of which, two were unfortunately absent on the day and allowing me to go over their lovely hounds. I would also like to thank my lovely Stewards; they made my life a lot easier.

In general, temperaments were sound, eyes and bites were all good. It was nice to see some taller youngsters in the ring, and I was very pleased with the generally high standard of Bloodhounds shown on the day, which made my task quite challenging at times. Just one point to consider, a few of the heads are becoming a little broad and flat causing the very important occiput to lose its correct appearance on the crown of the head. This is a very distinct feature of our breed that gives the face its unique expression. Squareness of lip was also a bit diminished.

 Post Graduate Dog (1) 1. Mrs. Jane Adshead’s Farlap Kashmir. A tall two-year-old black and tan boy. He was ever so excited to meet me as two-year-old Bloodhounds can be, because they take longer to mature. Good eyes, bite, angulation, tight feet and good bone. He was well balanced in the stand. He was restless on the move but did show a good gait once settled for a very short period of time.

 Limit Dog (2.1 A) 1. Res. Dog CC. Mrs. Suzanne Westron’s Farlap Kaleb. Another tall boisterous two-year-old black and tan hound. He settled down and was balanced in the stand with an impressive simitar tail. Correct eyes, bite, ear set with long leathers, level topline with good angulation and cat feet. Once settled, his movement was good but moved a little wide in front at one point, most probably due to being a bit distracted.

 Open Dog (3. 1 A) 1. Dog CC & BOB. Lorraine Priestley’s Marksbury Railway of Quikotic. I remember judging him at six months of age felt that he had a lot of promise. He is now an almost three-year-old black and tan gentleman. In profile, his head planes are at a good angle with a well-defined occiput and depth of lip. His eyes are good, and bite correct, ears set on low, with the correct expression when viewed from the front. He has good bone, good length of neck, level topline, correct angulation and moved well even though also a bit distracted at times.

2. Sam Clark’s Farlap Keepsake. Another lovely black and tan two-year-old having a nice head, good eyes, and bite. He was also a bit unsettled about showing me his bite but stood well with a level top-line and holding his tail up in perfect simitar fashion all on his own at times. He was well balanced in the stand, with good angulation and front. He was also unsettled on the move only allowing me to see his correct movement for too short a period of time.

Limit Bitch (1. 0 A) 1. Res. BCC. Carol Rowland’s Castledee On In A Million. An almost four-year-old black and tan girl with a nice feminine head, low ear set with good ear length, good eyes, bite and in profile had a correct depth of lip. She was a little nervous but settled into a well-balanced stand. Her movement was a bit skittish but once brought back into the ring for the BCC award round she moved much better.

Open Bitch (3. 1 A) 1. Bitch CC. Sam Clark & Lynda Hayden’s Farlap Qui Martha (Ai). The four-year-old red bitch moved well, although also a little skittish at times. Her body is well balanced with a level top-line and simitar tail-set in the stand and has good angulation and front. Her feminine head had the correct head planes, occiput, eyes, bite, well let down long leathers, deep lip, and with a lovely expression when viewed from the front.

 2. Tracie Howie, Sue Emrys-Jones, Colin Avery, Ken Miller’s Marksbury Regina Of Millvery. This three-year-old black and tan girl, litter sister to my BOB winner also has a lovely well-constructed head with good depth of lip. She has low set ears, nice head planes and occiput, good eyes, bite, and feminine expression. Nicely balanced in the stand, good length of neck and well angulated stifle. Sadly, she was unsettled on the move so only caught a few glimpses of good movement.

 3. Mr. I & Mrs. D Cruickshank’s Wychway-crown’s Ghillie Gin’s Island At Culsalmond.

From previous experience I am almost sure that when Bloodhounds are shown on a windy day in Marquette rings the flapping sound distracts them.

Gillian Lamb

Scentall Bloodhounds