West Of England Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club

West Of England CKCS Spaniel Club Ch Show 24th May 2025

Judge Miss Helen Long

I was delighted to be offered this judging opportunity, the West of England Club show was the very first show I attended, where it all started for me with a VHC in novice. To be judging on the prestigious Bath showground was a real honour and thrill.

I was looking for a happy sporting toy spaniel, one of the first shows of the year on grass and with quite a wind I was expecting the dogs to be feeling frisky. I had several people apologise for their dogs being dogs, for me this is not a problem. It is a show not an obedience competition, I like to see the dog’s personality this is after all such an important breed trait.

My co judge and I agreed on all our decisions with BIS going to the dog, RBIS the bitch and BPIS the dog. Unfortunately there was clashing with the Veteran challenge and the Bath Ch show groups, so it was decided our referee could decide BVIS which went to the bitch.

Veteran Dog (4,2abs)

1st Mr A & Mrs C Rhodes’s, Calonlan Café Noir, 9 year old nicely marked black and tan. A well-proportioned chap who showed well, fit and active striding around the ring with drive. Good reach of neck and solid topline leading into a well carried tail which never stopped wagging. Masculine head, nice eye and expression. Best Veteran Dog.

2nd Miss S Wawman’s, Bellrise Lil Blue Boy VW, Another very fit veteran, 11 year old heavier marked Tri-colour, shown well in good coat. Compact size with good bone. Moderate reach of neck. Large round eyes. Happy showman who moved with drive.

Minor Puppy Dog (2,0abs)

1st Mr M & Mr M, Spall & Clark’s, Llapsttam Luther Vandross, 8 month old Ruby with a rich silky adult coat coming. Striking in profile with excellent reach of neck and lay of shoulder and solid level topline. Moderate bone and good spring of rib. Raw in head with well set on ears and flat skull. Well set tail, carried well.

2nd Miss H Liverton- Ovey’s, Halosey King Of My Heart. 8 month old Ruby. Rich coat of good texture. Excellent head with a beautiful soft expression. Large round dark eyes. Well set ears. Nice compact size with moderate bone. Well carried tail. Excellent personality.

Puppy Dog (6,1abs)

1st Miss L and Mr L Callaghan & Todd’s, Callyspride Cedric, 11 month old, heavier marked Blenheim, in excellent condition, silky straight coat which was absolutely gleaming. Very moderate throughout and well balanced. Good reach of neck flowing into well laid shoulders and a level topline. Good spring of rib. Nice head with gentle expression, dark eye. Excellent pigment. Well placed ears framing his head. Moved out steadily around the ring and despite a long day was still showing for his handler at the end of the day to win Best Puppy Dog and Best Puppy in Show.

2nd Mrs C A & Mr A & Miss L, Rhodes’, Calonlan Zeus, nearly 10 month old heavier marked Tri colour with correct tan points. Compact size with moderate bone. Good coat on its way. Nice reach of neck with level topline. Nice head with handsome expression. Level topline. Happy personality wagging his tail. Moved out steady around the ring.

3rd Mrs J Nolan’s, Jernito Good Day Sunshine

Junior Dog (7,1abs)

1st Miss S and Mr A Maclaine & Vella’s, Lochbuie Goldman Sachs. 14 months old. Very well marked Blenheim with lozenge. Moderate dog with excellent type. Well boned with excellent spring of rib. Moderate reach of neck fitting into well angulated shoulders. Good depth of chest and spring of rib. Level topline which he held on the move. Good head with well set ears and the most melting eyes. Large dark and round. Happy personality.

2nd Mr B Rix’s, Ricksbury Elite, Another very well marked Blenheim with lozenge, excellent colour. Good type with soft handsome head, nice topline just dropping off at the croup. Good bone and balance. Excellent reach of neck fitting into well put together shoulders. Well placed ears. Excellent pigmentation.

3rd Mrs E D Williams’, Charnell the Renegade Sancana

Yearling Dog (7,1abs)

1st Mr P Lovel’s, Lovetrac Banksy, 19 month old richly marked Blenheim, very typey dog with a handsome headpiece. Fabulous head with high set ears between an almost flat skull. Large dark eyes well cushioned. Excellent pigmentation. Well balanced body with level topline and well carried tail. Well boned with good spring of rib. Moderate reach of neck. Moved out well with drive. Handled and shown well, happy personality. I was very taken with him, shortlisted to final 4 for consideration.

2nd Mr S A & Mrs M T, Mynott’s Honeybet Hamilton JW, 19 month old, heavier marked Blenheim. Moderate type with soft head. Well made with good angulation, nice reach of neck flowing onto level topline which was held standing and on the move. Good bone. Good pigment. Moved out steadily.

3rd Ms G Walker’s, Carsan Richie Rich JW

Novice (7,1abs)

A very competitive novice class.

1st Miss S and Mr A Maclaine & Vella’s, Lochbuie Julius Baer. 14 months old. Well-marked Blenheim dog with lots to like. He really caught my eye on the move, accurate and powerful yet free flowing and elegant. Well balanced shape with good bone and spring of rib. Good depth of chest. Moderate reach of neck. Level topline. Well set on tail which he carried well around the ring. Handsome head with a gentle expression and beautiful large round dark eye. High set ears framing his face and good dark pigmentation. Shown in excellent condition and coat. Loved his type, in the Challenge his free movement and soft expression caught my eye and won him the RCC.

2nd Mr M & Mr M Levy & Sedgwick’s Pascavale Banksy. Another smart young dog. 12 months old. Heavier marked Blenheim. Smaller all through. Well proportioned and holds a lovely outline standing. Good reach of neck flowing onto a level topline. Tail carried well. High set ears. Good pigmentation. Moved out accurately around the ring.

3rd Miss L and Mr L Callaghan & Todd’s, Callyspride Cedric

Post Graduate (6,0abs)

1st Mrs L Koster-Tindall’s, Harana All That Jazz. Richly Coated Ruby. 2 years old. Smartly shaped dog, very attractive to the eye. Moderate neck. Level top line which well held well on the move. Tail held well. Nice head with well placed ears framing his gentle expression. Lovely melting eyes. Good personality very active in the ring.

2nd Miss A Bubb’s, Wandris Speak Of The Devil JW. 2 year old nicely marked Blenheim with a good coat. Excellent type. Nice size and shape. Good reach of neck into well angulated shoulders. Good bone and spring of rib. Moved out well with good drive. Nice large round eye.

3rd Miss Jackson’s, Fortunamajor Perseus JW

Special Mid Limit Blenheim or Tricolour Dog (4,3abs)

1st Mr C & Mr K Wilkins & Wilcock’s, Fortunamajor Bettelgeuse at Tebaldi. Nearly 2 year old heavily marked Tri-colour with tan in all the correct places. Nice size and shape with good topline. Nice bone and depth of chest. Nice head with large round dark eye giving a lovely soft expression. Moved out well around the ring. Very well presented.

Special Mid Limit Black & Tan and Ruby (4,3abs)

1st Mrs L Gamble’s, Loranka’s I’ve Got The Look for Lisgarth. Richly marked Ruby with a cracking personality. Smart size and shape, with good rib. Moderate reach of neck fitting into well angulated shoulders. Moderate bone. Lovely expression with large round eyes. Moved out with drive around the ring. Happy personality.

Limit (3,1abs)

1st Mrs L Koster-Tindall’s, Harana Now You Has Jazz JW. 2 year old Black and Tan in full coat. Cracking dog who really catches your eye. Bright tan in the correct places. Balanced shape with good length of leg. Excellent top line held at all times. Good bone. Moved out accurately on a loose lead with plenty of drive. Excellent reach of neck fitting in to well angulated shoulders. Well set on tail. Lovely large round dark eyes. Showed himself to advantage shortlisted for final consideration.

2nd Mr P Lovell’s, Juzandia Keverne at Lovetrac. 2 year old well-marked Blenheim with lots of coat, Nice size with good bone. Good reach of neck. Excellent pigmentation, large round dark eyes. Well placed ears between a flat skull. Showed well with an excellent personality.

Bred By Exhibitor Dog (4,0abs)

1st Mrs M & Miss T Chapman & Ireland’s Ch Ellemich American Express, 4 year old dog and my star of the day. Richly marked, well broken Blenheim in full coat which was presented to perfection. He really fills your eye with his wonderful shape. Excellent moderate reach of neck with a slight arch. Fitting into well angulated shoulders. Rock solid topline and correct tail set which he carries correctly to create a beautiful fluid line going around the ring. Moderate bone and good spring of rib. Soft expression yet still ‘boy’. Beautiful large dark round eyes with the darkest of pigmentation. He was a joy to behold and shown to the very best, today unstoppable. I could not deny him CC and with my co-judge’s agreement Best in Show. I was delighted to note afterwards that he is the sire of my RCC winner, who he has passed many of his qualities onto.

2nd Miss B & Mrs S Rees’, Ch Embeth Rock the Boat. 5 year old dog, Rich Blenheim coat which is well broken up. Excellent size and shape. Presenting a really nice overall impression, classic breed type. Level topline, with tail well set that he carried well. Lovely large round dark eyes. Moved out very well around the ring with good drive and free elegant movement. Excellent happy personality.

3rd Mrs K A 7 Mrs J Nolan & Bayliss’, Castlewytch Nevada Gunclub

Open (4,2abs)

1st Mr M & Mr M Spall & Clark’s Ch Llapsttam’s Heavenly Scent. 4 years old. Superbly presented Ruby of rich colour. Straight coat. Another striking dog with an eye catching outline. Level topline with excellent tail set. Good rib with moderate bone. Nice reach of slightly arched neck. Good eye large dark and melting which added to his lovely soft expression. Moved out well around the ring with plenty of drive.

2nd Mrs S Mangham’s Brymarden Touch Of Gold of Charnavale. Nearly 6 year old dog with a handsome headpiece. Good size and shape with nicely balanced angulations. Well broken coat, superbly presented. Moderate reach of neck, level topline. Excellent personality. Good bone and nice spring of ribs.