Birmingham Dog Show Society Ltd

BIRMINGHAM NATIONAL (09/05/2025)

My sincerest thanks to the committee for inviting me to award my first set of CCs in the breed here today. The National has to be one of my favourite shows of the year with their forward-thinking committee who always go above and beyond to make it a truly exhibitor-friendly experience. We were blessed with excellent weather and lucky enough to be scheduled in the large pavilion tent with a spacious grass ring. My personal thanks to my 2 stewards who kept the ring running like clockwork and made my day all the more enjoyable.

This is a breed I have previously shown to great success having handled the first UK Show Champion bitch, the first SWD to be crowned Top Gundog All Breeds (prior to CC status) as well as the first (and currently the only) SWD to win a Best in Show award at a General Championship Show. Thank you to the exhibitors for their excellent sportsmanship with rapturous applause for every class - this is what dog showing is all about!

My last appointment with a representative entry was 2019. Comparatively, I was impressed by the improved consistency in type and proportions today with more dogs now possessing the correct length of leg. Rear movement is still an issue universally but no worse than when I last judged. I was so pleased to see no evidence of aesthetic trimming that seems to plague the breed worldwide. Please remember the true essence of the SWD is not only in its temperament but also in its rustically presented coat.

Class 1534 SBD NO ENTRIES

Class 1535 MPD NO ENTRIES

Class 1536 PD (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Lendever's Icing On The Cake. Black/white short tail, took my eye immediately for his excellent type and overall body proportions. Excellent head of correct proportions and slight stop with a big nose. Liked his moderate angulation fore/aft with an excellent topline. Still needs to mature through his middle but has time on his side. Took his time to settle on the move but displayed the correct brisk action while maintaining his topline at all times, just needs to firm up behind. Presented in an ultra-rustic coat. A serious contender for top honours, BPIB.

2nd: Rainethyme Rerite The Rules For Chanderhill. White/brown short tail. Heavier boned with lots of appeal. Typical head shape and proportions with a flat skull and well sized ears. Strong, straight limbs with excellent feet but not quite the leg length of 1. Good body with moderate angulation fore/aft. Would prefer him a shade less rounded over the croup. Demonstrates a brisk action on the move, rustically presented.

Class 1537 JD NO ENTRIES

Class 1538 PGD NO ENTRIES

Class 1539 LD (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Zorrazo Everybody Gonna Talk At Lendever. Brown/white long tail. An impressive dog who makes his presence felt from the moment he enters the ring. Excels in breed type and showmanship. Masculine head with flat skull, slight stop and big nose. Moderate length of neck into correctly made forehand with excellent width to chest and straight limbs. Correct body proportions with well sprung ribs, correct topline and underline. Would not want anymore rear angulation to be critical but has firm hocks when stood. Impossible to ignore on the move demonstrating a breed-typical brisk action with that extra level of passion which is so typical of the breed. Sporting the best coat of the entry, rustically presented and naturally corded. Must go all the way, RCC.

2nd: Chanderhill Smart Edition For Elizad JW. Brown/white short tail, liked his type and proportions very much. Masculine head with flat skull, big nose and correctly set ears, would prefer a little less stop to be critical. Moderately angled both fore/aft. Wide through his body and quarters with the correct topline and underline. Liked his ‘no fuss’ brisk action on the go round, just preferred the front action of 1. Expertly handled & presented.

3rd: Pabiagas Sergio Sinduda JW

Class 1540 OD (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Sh Ch Janamorio Northern Arlo. Brown/white short tail, a top-size male who commands your attention. A good one for breed type and body proportions. Loved his head possessing correct proportions, skull shape and eye colour with a big nose and square jaw. He possesses the correct moderately angled front with gun barrel straight limbs and prominent withers. Decent topline with correct underline. Powerful hindquarters but felt his croup was a touch steep. Shows excellent forward reach while maintaining his topline, not difficult to understand why he has his title. Rustic coat presentation, well handled.

2nd: Zorrazo X Factor At Lendever Ftaw. Brown/white short tail, another good one for breed type and overall balance. Classic head with correct proportions and slight stop. Such good flow of neck into shoulders with moderate angulation and excellent bone. Correct leg length, mature through his body with a level topline. Moderately angled rear with correct croup & tailset. Excellent coat quality and rustic presentation. Loved his side gait, using every ounce of himself to produce such a brisk and economical action. Just preferred 1 going/coming today. A dog worthy of his title. On a different day 1 & 2 could easily change places.

3rd: Chanderhill Eagle Eye Sinduda

Class 1541 VD (2 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: Sh Ch Valentisimo's Ballesteros PdH. Brown short tail, a lesson in correct breed type and balance emphasised by professional presentation. Absolutely typical in make and shape without exaggeration, presented in a clipped coat. Correctly proportioned head with flat skull, oval shaped eyes and a big nose. His strong neck flows seamlessly into prominent withers and moderately angled forehand with the correct length of upper arm. Well boned, straight limbs and excellent feet. Absolutely spot on for body proportions with a rock solid topline and correct underline. His ribs are well sprung with a short loin. Symmetrical in rear angulation with good width to thigh and short strong hocks. His movement is breed-typical being brisk, sound and athletic. A shade close going away but I considered this to be a minor fault of an exceptional dog. CC & BOS - I was surprised to learn after judging that this was only his 4th CC, I thought a male of this calibre would’ve easily had more.

Class 1542 SBB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Shirninros Paveyark. White/black short tail, a very medium-sized honest bitch of good overall breed type. Loved her flat skull, slight stop and dark oval eyes with a big nose and strong square jaw. Correctly angled both fore/aft with good length of body. Excellent spring of rib. Wide hindquarters with firm hocks when standing. Would prefer her a shade longer in leg for ideal balance. Sound going/coming with a typical side gait. Rustically presented and handled expertly. BSB

Class 1543 MPB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Lendever's Jump The Gun. Black short tail, at her first show today and in a freshly clipped coat. Raw but of very pleasing overall type. Loved her round feet and super straight limbs. Correctly proportioned head with dark eye and big nose. Moderately angled fore/aft with a level topline, would not want her any longer in body at this stage. Steady and reliable mover all round. Excellent temperament.

Class 1544 PB NO ENTRIES

Class 1545 JB (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Valentina De Canagua At Aguamarina (imp Esp). Brown long tail, slightly longer cast than ideal but has type and quality in abundance. Her head is classic with correct proportions, flat skull and medium sized ear leathers. Loved her proportionate strong bone and another with super round feet. Correct moderate angulation fore/aft with a level topline. Excellent tail carriage standing and moving. Loved her brisk action with particularly good hind movement. Rustically presented.

2nd: Lendever's Hold The Line. Brown/white short tail. Opposite end of the spectrum in style to 1 but she possesses such fabulous breed type being strong and robust in her build. Feminine head with strength through her muzzle and square finish to jaw. Correctly angled forehand with straight limbs and good fill in front. Well bodied up but would prefer her a fraction longer in body and more moderately angled behind for balance. Took her time to settle on the move but goes soundly. Another rustically presented exhibit.

3rd: Shelobi's Solar Flare

Class 1546 PGB (3 Entries) Abs: 2

1st: Lunares De Los Llanos Del Valle Del Fielamigo (gkc). Black/white long tail, a stand alone in this class but excellent for breed type. Typical in make and shape throughout. Superb head properties with flat skull, slight stop, strong muzzle and big nose. Her body proportions are absolutely breed-typical with a level topline and correct underline. Moderate, symmetrical angulation with an excellent croup & tail set. While she had enough body today, I feel with time and maturity the best is yet to come. Excellent mover, brisk in her action and passionate in her carriage. Rustically presented. Must go all the way, RCC.

Class 1547 LB (4 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: Sierrasalva's Fiesta. Brown short tail, top size but impressed greatly for her strength and moderation. She is so honest in her construction without exaggeration. Classic silhouette with correct body proportions. Typical head with good strength throughout. Moderate angulation, excellent topline and underline. Stands with excellent width through her quarters and is firm on her hocks. Sound as a bell on the move, maintaining her shape. Just lacked the verve to go further. Ultra-rustic coat presentation.

2nd: Agemera Dotty. White/brown short tail, very much the showgirl. I liked her overall proportions of length to height. Her head is correctly proportioned with adequate width and a big nose but would prefer more stop. OK in front with straight limbs and well shaped feet. Good spring of rib. For me, she needs to be more ‘moderate’ in her rear angulation. However, she stands firm on her hocks when viewed from behind. Goes with real panache on the move and never fails to catch the eye. Excellent extrovert temperament.

3rd: Adormidera Apache Rose At Cravessa

Class 1548 OB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Valentisimo's Enigma At Fielamigo. White short tail, classic shape in profile with good body proportions. Liked her head proportions and skull shape but would prefer a shade more strength through her muzzle. Correct moderate angulation fore/aft with a strong topline and well developed underline. Looks a picture on the go-round showing such great reach & drive with a brisk action.

2nd: Rommy De Ubbadat (imp Esp) JW. Liked her very much for overall shape and body proportions. Correct head proportions with strong skull and big nose. Moderately angled both/fore aft with a level topline and correct underline. Typical action on the move but preferred the firmer rear action of 1. Clipped coat of good quality.

Class 1549 VB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Sierrasalva's Regalo. Brown short tail, exceptional breed type! I was taken with her classic shape and correct proportions. Her head is beautifully feminine and correctly proportioned with correct skull shape and strength to muzzle. She possesses the correct body depth to leg length. Her angulation fore/aft is moderate and balanced. Her topline is firm and her underline is correct. She possesses good width over her front and rear quarters giving her parallel forelegs and hocks. On the move she was true and her side gait was just a joy to behold. On the move she comes alive with great passion and energy showing excellent reach and drive, epitomising the essence of the SWD. All of these qualities wrapped in a rustically presented coat. She looked a picture paired with my DCC winner in the final run-off, where she pipped him to the post. I was quite surprised to learn after judging that this was her 1st CC. In my opinion she is well worthy of her title and I hope her owners persevere, CC, BOB & BV.

Judge: James Newton (Patamoke)