Driffield Championship Dog Show

DRIFFIELD CH DOG SHOW Gordon Setters

23 AUG 25

Thank you to the Committee for inviting me, always enjoyable to judge your own breed. Thank you to the exhibitors for their entries in a time when we are struggling with numbers, so very grateful for the numerically strong entry. I last judged the breed 2 years ago and my main general comments remain the same. Hindquarters, heads and croups. The Gordon is a stylish dog built on galloping lines as per our breed standard, and needs the rear to be long from hip to hock, with well bent stifles and able to propel the dog forward. Obviously, the front needs to be equally well angled, but I didn’t notice fronts being as much as an issue as rears in the entry. Heads continue to be variable in proportions and quality, but I saw few really light or round eyes which is an improvement. Steep croups were still evident, and to my eye affect the true settery outline both standing and moving. The younger classes were difficult to sort as lots in various stages of development and no doubt will change as they mature. Typical Gordons! So, the depth of quality was more evident in the higher classes on the day and Open Dog was really something to stand back, look round and admire. Thoroughly enjoyed my day, thank you.

GORDON SETTER

SBD 2(1)

1.Taylor’s Graylacier Blue Marlin 4 year old shown in full coat. Strong in bone, good feet and colour. Head with good length muzzle to skull ratio, slightly broad in skull but nicely rounded. Dark eyes, low set ears. Very deep in brisket, and long from hip to hock with short hocks. Would prefer a less steep croup. Moved freely in profile, just a bit close behind going away.

VD 1(0)

1.Timmermann’s AKC Bel DT Munroc Beretta. 9 year old shown in great coat and condition. Impressive outline. Handsome head with correct stop and depth through skull. A little too much flew but didn’t detract for me from the overall shape. The lowest of ear sets. Arched neck into excellent angles in front. Strong straight forelegs with correct pasterns. Well sprung ribs and deep brisket to elbows. Level topline and tailset. Well bent stifle and width of quarters. Great rich colour with only the faintest of grey coming. Moved soundly using his tail. Well-deserved RCC & BV.

MPD 2(0)

1. Sandiford’s Hernwood Master Blaster. 7 months, most promising youngster. Head still developing but all there to come. Dark eye. Liked his overall size at this stage. Stylish neck into the best of fronts. Good bone, legs and colour. Good length through rear. Less coordinated on the move than his litter sister, that will of course tighten with age, but held topline well. In gleaming coat and condition. BPD

2. Macaulay’s Waseley Lazy Dayz at Stylersetts. 8 months, and more mature in body. Lovely head in profile with correct stop and dark eye, a little too much breadth in skull from the front, but loads of time to balance out. Good correct flat bone. Already depth of brisket here. Nice coat. Just tending to lose topline on the move today.

PD 2(0)

1. Sandiford’s Hernwood Master Blaster. Repeat

2. Mappin/Newton’s Glenquin Hurricane Bryerdale. 11 months, larger rangier puppy all through. Presented a nice outline. Head still needs to break and skull to round off. Good flat bone, and depth to elbows. Strong level topline and tail run off good. Excellent length from hip to short hocks. Nice coat on the way. Just needs to get it together on the move but should come.

JD 6(2)

1. Sinclair’s Laurelhach Bugatti at Siochail. 14 months, mature for age. Balanced in outline. Nice head with dark eyes, stop and correct head ratios. Skull nicely rounded. Noted excellent angles through forehand, Good depth of brisket and short coupled with wide strong quarters. Tending to slope off on his croup while stacked but this improved on the move when using his tail, so maturity and muscle should make a difference. Was the most settled in this class on the move.

2. Robson’s Kewstoke Ocean Commander at Glendudmoor. 15 months. In full coat and well presented. Noted excellent topline and tailset. Very nice rich chestnut tan and nicely shaped well arched feet. Would prefer more angulation in quarters.

3. Hogg’s Gailiech Wirnpa.

PGD 4(1)

1. Inglis’ Caradilis Jumping Jack. Coming up 4 years. Dark eye and good length of neck. Good bone colour and well shaped feet. Stronger through front with good depth to brisket, and spring of rib. Moved straight going away but lacks bend of stifle and second thigh.

2. Taylor’s Graylacier Blue Marlin. Repeat.

3. Timmerman/Cornum/Well’s Munroc Castle Stalker at Shakerhill.

LD 5(0)

1. Fudge’s Fieldberry Secret Weapon at Rufusmoor JW SGWC. This 3 year old is of a larger mold than I would normally look for, but had so much to like. Correct balance of muzzle to skull, and depth through head. Low set ears, good tan and bone. Excellent front angles matched in the rear with good length of thigh, strong wide quarters, short hocks. Could do with more fill in front, but excellent depth of brisket. Level topline and run off to tail. Moved soundly.

2. Ivaldi’s Candido Pirro Ludstar Malacahi. 5 year old. More my type for size, lovely outline, such a handsome balanced head, correct stop, deep rather than broad though skull, square muzzle and dark eye with excellent expression. Low set ears into arched neck. Good front angles with substance in bone, and great tight feet well up on pasterns. Level topline and well set on tail, moved soundly in profile and coming and going. Unfortunately, on the day was a little too proud of his tail. Hope he gets it together.

3. Smith’s Glenmaurangi Apollo at Glenkinchie.

OD 10(0)

1. Newton/Cornum/Timmerman’s Int Ch Sh Ch Am Ch Carnoustie Let The Game Begin (AI Aus). What a class my notes say, and this 6 year old for me today was just the complete finished article of a stylish Gordon, and it is easy to understand how he has done so much winning. Impressive stacked outline and all male. Such good bone and substance but wouldn’t want him any bigger. Head is correct from all angles and so handsome. Required depth to skull with good stop, square in muzzle and dark eye, has work in his head which is so important to add to the overall quality. Excellent fore chest and angulation matched to his strong rear. The best of toplines and tail set. Drove round the ring with correct footfall in all directions, but I would just like his handler to slow down a bit! And together with all this, the cherry on top, rich chestnut tan. Congrats to his breeders and owners, a classy dog. CC and my BOB.

2. Bell’s Balnakeil Beinn Corradail of Blairbelles. An honest 6 year old Gordon with a lot to like. Longer cast than the winner, but still presented a stylish outline. Soft kind expression with correct dark eye and rounded skull. Level topline and tail set. Straight flat bone in forelegs, nice feet. Good depth to elbows, and long from hip to correct short hocks. Hindquarters well-muscled and moved soundly, I called him back in the ring to challenge for Res CC, but just not quite the angulation in front as the Veteran Dog.

3. Johnston’s Ludstar Maccabee at Glenquin (imp IT). Another quality exhibit, made for a nice trio of dogs.

SBB 2(0)

1. Bishop’s Glenmaurangi Aurora of Lochdora. Liked this 2 year old’s outline. Feminine, pretty head with correct balance and planes, dark eyes. Arched neck into shoulders, good depth to brisket but needs to strengthen in pasterns. Good length of rear and short hocks but tending to pace when moving today. Presented well in good coat. BSB.

2. Miller-Webb’s Kewstoke Ocean Seahorse. Smaller but more substantial in bone. Well shaped head but would prefer a slightly darker eye. Excellent colour. On the move the handler had the lead too loose and her exhibit’s head was mostly on the ground so was unable to assess movement. Only 15 months, just needs more practice.

VB 1(0)

1. McNeil’s Lachmhor Sincerely Yours at Barrabrae (imp HRV) 9 years old. Well shaped head and excellent reach of neck into good front and depth. Topline starting to dip a bit which is understandable. Moved really well driving from nice short hocks.

MPB 2(0)

1. Sandiford’s Hernwood Superstition.7 months old. One of my finds of the day, really liked her and found everything in the right place for her age. Sweet head, correct muzzle to skull ratios, such a gentle expression, with low set ears, rounded back skull. Excellent angles front and rear, straight bone in forelegs, tidy feet. Correct length of back, topline level and tail set good. Excellent colour. Moved with style and precise foot fall for one so young. Will watch her career with interest, definitely a future title holder. What an exciting litter. BP

2. Crowther’s Ronaldsbill Mystical Fire. 8 months and not as well developed at this stage. Head needs to break, but low set ears and nice eye colour. Good length from hip to hock. Good tan. Moved steadily.

PB 2(0)

1. Sandiford’s Hernwood Superstition. Repeat

2. Johnston’s Glenquin Phantom. Another promising prospect. 11 months and already quite mature in lovely coat and substance. Very nice outline, depth through brisket and good size. Correct head proportions, deep rather than broad but still needs to round off in skull. Arch to neck into shoulders. Front legs need to strengthen but that will come. Excellent colour, very sound and steady on the move.

JB 4(0)

1. Bell/Millar’s Laurelhach Mercedes at Blairbelles. A difficult stage for Gordons and these will no doubt swap places in the future. Lots to like about both girls. 14 months, Correct head shape with good stop, dark eye and depth thru rounded skull. Lean neck blended smoothly into shoulders with good front angulation and fore chest. Good bone and upright pasterns, lovely tan. Level topline. Would prefer more width of quarters, but should muscle up as still so young. Covered the ground well in profile and straight up and back.

2. Marsh’s Kilnrae Back To The Future JW. Close up, 16 months, more settery in outline with more length through back. Really sweet feminine head with a dark eye and low ear set. Excellent topline and sweeping quarters. A little less front angulation than the winner and hope she gets a bit more substance with time. Moved well with a nice high head carriage and clean strides.

3.Munro’s Xclusiv Pour Dulmaur Belfleur Du Rouxmiroir.

PGB 8(2)

1. Hardy’s Cafotaliena Hello My Love. 4 year old mature girl shown in full coat in lovely condition. The most feminine of heads, lots of work through the skin, correct eye and balance. The lowest of ear sets. Shoulders could be more laid back. She was cleaner moving away with nice short hocks, but on return elbows were a bit loose, but held her level topline.

2. Bishop’s Glenmaurangi Aurora of Lochdora. Repeat.

3. Munro’s Evelyn Xclusiv Pour Dulmaur Belfleur Du Rouxmiroir.

LB 4(1)

1. Sandiford/Mazzeo’s Eusanit Marcella at Hernwood. My find of the day, my notes say ‘Wow’! I feel it’s really important for there to be a definitive difference between the sexes and I got that today from my top winners. So feminine, elegant and stylish, whether standing or moving. Loved her head, so typy, and with dark eyes, such a gentle soft expression. Long, lean neck into clean shoulders. Just enough bone and substance. Arched close knit toes with oval feet, good colour. Correct angulation front and rear with plenty of length behind to drive and return of upper arm to reach forward. Topline and tail set excellent. In lovely coat and condition. Sound, free mover, covering a lot of ground with an easy stride and a slashing tail. Just 3 years old, surely her best is yet to come, as well as her title. CC, her first.

2. O’Kelly/Hancock’s Caradilis Sparks Will Fly JW. Have judged before and my comments are similar to then. 3.5 year old and maturing well. More substantial in bone, and more compact than class winner. Lovely head shape with correct muzzle length and deep through skull. Good stop. Strong neck into well angulated front, flat bone and well shaped feet. Depth through brisket with fore chest. Moved very soundly holding topline on the move and using her tail. Would prefer more angulation in rear.

3. Hardy’s Cottonstones Evergreen with Cafotaliena.

OB 4(0)

1. Sandiford/Lewis’ Sh Ch. Hernwood Gin Fizz JW. Small but quality class. 4 year old bitch in her prime. Stunning outline, well angulated front and rear and moved soundly with such style, and a high head carriage. Excellent bone, colour and feet. Topline held on the move and tail never stopped wagging. A very deserving title holder and can understand the winning she’s been doing. Just preferred the more feminine outlook of the limit winner on the day, but very close up. Presented and handled to advantage. RCC.

2. Horn’s Ordett Love Me Do at Keaswood JW. A previous RCC winner for me and still love her. Such a quality Gordon, balanced with no exaggerations. The best of feminine heads with such a dreamy head and expression. Good bone, correctly shaped feet and colour. Well bent stifles with good width across the upper thigh. Good coat and condition. Just doesn’t enjoy her time in the ring on occasion and this must be a huge frustration for her owner.

3. Roberts’ Moonglade Lily Mae Magic.

JEAN COLLINS-PITMAN