West Of England Ladies Kennel Society

WELKS CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW – 25TH-28TH APRIL 2025

Briards

I would like to thank the committee of the West of England Ladies Kennel Association for inviting me to judge Briards at their 2025 Championship Show. I would also like to thank my efficient and very helpful stewards. My overall comments are that many mouths in the breed could be improved, and I regret the lack of the breed typical wave in the coat of some of the exhibits (perhaps due to overgrooming?).

Veteran Dog (1,0)

1st Smith’s Jandade Baloo L’Bear: 10 year old black shown with plenty of coat. Strong, masculine head with a kind eye. Excellent topline for age. Steady on the move.

Minor Puppy Dog (2,1)

1st Foster & Wilkinson’s Fostebrie Black Thunder: promising 8 month black of good proportions. Strong head and muzzle with good dentition. Good depth and width of brisket for age, with quality bone. Balanced angles front and rear. Good pigmentation. Moved steadily after he had settled.

Puppy Dog (2,1)

1st Foster & Wilkinson’s Fostebrie Black Thunder.

Junior Dog (2,0)

1st Foster’s Fostebrie Just Ganache: impressive 13 month rich fawn, well developed for age. Masculine head. Strong neck flowing into well laid shoulder. Chest deep and broad. Strong topline. Well coupled with good rear assembly. Coat well pigmented and correct texture developing. Good parallelism and plenty of drive on the move. 2nd Rudnicka’s Imax Z Pierwszej Ligi (Imp Pol): 16 month fawn presenting an excellent silhouette. Engaging expression. Elegant neck flowing into well placed shoulder. More finely built than 1 and coat going through a paler, finer stage. Sadly, did not want to settle on the move for his handler today.

Yearling Dog (1,1)

Post Graduate Dog (3,0)

1st Thorp’s Gilcoru Malbec D’Brie JW: 20 month fawn. Strong breed typical head with excellent ear set. Good length of neck. Plenty of bone. Coat of good texture, awaiting the return of pigment. Tail carriage will improve on the stack and on the move with growing confidence. Movement was balanced and steady but would like to see a little more reach and drive. 2nd Parry’s Zweet Chilli Song Moravia Campanella at Stormymoon (Imp Cze): 3 year fawn with strong masculine head and a kind dark eye. Nice arch to neck. Well proportioned body with good topline but carrying a little weight today. Well angled hindquarters. Good texture and pigment to coat. Steady but unenthusiastic on the move. 3rd Rudnicka’s Imax Z Pierwszej Ligi (Imp Pol).

Limit Dog (2,1)

1st Challis’s Kastobri Midnight Dreamer: Loved this rugged 3 year black boy of super breed type. Strong masculine head. Lovely arched neck flowing into well laid shoulder and well angled upper arm. Deep and broad chest. Rear construction did not disappoint. Deeply pigmented coat with correct texture and breed typical wave. A little close going away, but showed fluid movement, covering the ground in the breed class. Sadly, did not repeat this in the challenge for RDCC – missed by a whisker.

Open Dog (3,1)

1st Rual-Keogh’s CH Gilcoru Wolfblass D.Brie: 6 year old fawn at the top of his game, with everything in the right place. Well balanced head, good dentition. Good substance overall and well muscled. Excellent tail set and carriage. Copious coat of good texture but would have loved to see him presented with the breed typical wave. His sound construction delivered truly superb movement today – one long low flowing line, covering the ground effortlessly – handled to perfection to earn his DCC, BOB & G2. 2nd Craker’s Swiss Ch Fostebrie Just Exquisite of Crakebrie JW: 3 year black presenting a breed typical silhouette. Good head, well arched neck going into well placed shoulder. Good chest and substance - well muscled. Strong topline. Correct texture and pigment to coat with excellent breed typical wave. Tidy coming and going, topline carried well on the move. RDCC.

Veteran Bitch (3,0)

What a quality class …

1st Foster’s Ch/nl/lux/sui/ir/int Ch Fostebrie Precious Hope (ai) JW ShCM: 8-year black girl still oozing quality and breed type. Feminine head, but with sufficient substance. Long arched neck flowing into well angled front assembly, balanced by excellent rear construction Harsh dry coat with lovely wave. Held topline well throughout her fluid movement … would prefer slightly more length of leg, but boy did she cover the ground with ease BV & BCC. 2nd Ledsham ‘s Ch Touslefell Hopes and Dreams: Fabulous 12 year old girl … still turning heads. Of larger type than 1 but still feminine and presenting beautiful breed typical silhouette. Well angled, with a strong topline – held well on the move. Quality in every inch from her large black nose to her long well-furnished tail. Moved with grace and ease around the ring. 3rd Barber & Gaskin’s Shezmo Lady Midna: Another veteran lady of great quality – hard to split these 3 today.

Minor Puppy Bitch (2,0)

1st Kellett & Burrow’s Fostebrie Just Klassique of Kellbry: pretty 8 month fawn bitch. Feminine head, dark eye, decent length of neck. Well proportioned and good angles with enough chest for age. Well pigmented coat with a nice break. Long tail with the best “J” seen today. Good parallelism coming and going, and reasonably steady in side gait. 2nd Thomson’s Fostebrie Just Finesse: 8 month fawn - litter mate to 1. Pretty head and expression. Good neck, and well angled front and rear. Very excitable, better on the move once settled. Will improve with further experience.

Puppy Bitch (2,0)

1st Bithell’s Gilcoru No Rules D'brie at Bourntwyn: 11 month black with lovely outline. Feminine head with good dark eye. Sufficient chest for age. Well angled front and rear with well held topline – well muscled for age. Good tail set and carriage. Well handled on the move- BP. 2nd Craker’s Valegro Oda Miss Crakebrie (Imp Fra): 11 month fawn of narrower type than 1. Pretty feminine head. Coat texture good for age and pigmentation excellent. Substance should develop with maturity. Steady on the move.

Junior Bitch (0,0)

Yearling Bitch (1,0)

1st Foster’s Fostebrie Hope's Sensation JW: Nothing not to like about this 18 month fawn bitch. Feminine head, excellent bite and dark kind eye. Arched neck flowing into true front assembly. Good forechest, and well ribbed up. Appropriate substance. Excellent topline, strong loin. Rear construction delivers too. Coat of good texture and well pigmented for age. True coming and going. Long tail carried well throughout her ground covering movement. Her impressive extension and drive in profile earned her the RBCC today.

Post Graduate Bitch (2,2)

Limit Bitch (2,2)

Open Bitch (5,0)

1st Webb’s Ch Barronoaks Etta Bagel ShCEx: 4 year old black bitch of excellent breed type. Strong but still feminine head, good bite and pigmentation. Nicely arched neck. Good bone and substance. Well placed shoulder. Strong topline into well constructed rear. Harsh dry coat. Tidy out and back. Presents a pleasing picture in side gait – but could have greater reach in front. 2nd Ledsham’s Touslefell I Have A Dream: 4 year old pretty black. Good head proportions. A true Briard - workmanlike, and well made throughout. Harsh dry coat. Sound on the move. 3rd Haddock’s Gilcoru Intuition d’Brie