Midland Counties Canine Society

Midland Counties Canine Society

Irish Setters

My thanks to the officers and committee for the invitation to judge at this well-run show, and to my two stewards for all their hard work. Thanks must also go to the exhibitors who entered under me and who created such a lovely atmosphere at the ringside. I’m a firm believer in dogs who are built correctly, moving correctly, and I was looking for winners who combined soundness both standing and moving with breed type. I’m pleased to report that fronts were better than last time I awarded CCs, however I remain concerned about the number of overly long dogs that are too short on the leg, resulting in uncharacteristic dipping toplines. I’ve kept well away from show results for the last few months and genuinely had no idea who my winners were until I studied the catalogue afterwards. I later found out my winners had done the double a couple of weeks before, and my BOB winner was crowned Sh Ch on the day – what a run they have been having. Finally, a word for the two veteran classes, which brought a tear to my eye. How wonderful to see these happy, healthy oldies powering around the ring with their smiling expressions and lashing tails – a real testament to our wonderful breed.

MPD (4 ,2) 

1 Hyslop’s Gwendariff Little White Lie. Very promising seven-month-old with the most beautifully chiselled head, low-set ear and mischievous expression. Straight front, good forechest, correct angulation front and rear, and the start of a gleaming chestnut coat. Moved steadily off tight, cat-like feet.

 2 Richardson’s Bardonhill to Be or Not to Be. Very much my type but very much a baby. Rangier and leggier than the winner and will take longer to come together, which is never a bad thing in an Irish. Everything in the right place with sound construction all through, just needs time. A little excitable on the move in the big ring today. 

PD (3, 1)

1 Frampton’s Strathmead Tennessee Waltz. Loved this youngster and am sure his future will hold bright things. He is honest and unexaggerated with plenty of breed type and the most beautiful, chiseled head. Loved his flowering topline, with cleanly arched neck set into well laid-back shoulder. Good depth of chest and correct angulation fore and aft. Especially liked his tailset, flowing cleanly as a continuation of his topline and lashing on the move. Moved so well – driving from behind and reaching in front. Just pipped the BPB to BP thanks to his movement. Will watch his future with interest.

2 Clarke’s Riverbrue Gives You Hell. Loved this boy and he was unlucky to meet 1 on such fine form. I’m sure they will swap places many times. Really well constructed dog, with each part flowing cleanly into the next. I especially liked his width of second thigh and his topline. Just preferred the work in the head of my winner.

JD (4, 1) 

1 Hemmings’ Orlanset Slave to Love. Really liked this 14-month-old boy and thought he was very together for his age. Gorgeous dark coat, handsome head with dark eye and the slightly aloof expression I love on an Irish. Has the tightest of feet, straight front and well-balanced angulation front and rear. Another with an excellent, firm, gently sloping topline. Again, moved really well in the big ring, with drive, coordination and tail carried correctly. 

2 Hignett-Capper & Capper & Kassube & French’s Cararua Pearl of The North. A rangier dog of 17 months who will take longer to come together but who has lots of promise. Good head with nice amount of stop and quizzically raised brow. Clean neck, straight front, good depth of chest and balanced angulation. Dark, wave-free coat. His topline dipped slightly when standing today but am sure it’s a development stage. Moved soundly.

3 Randle’s Rionore Bewitching Memory 

YD (8, 3)

1 Crocker & Frost’s Ronaldo Lofty at Riverbrue. Two lovely dogs of very different types headed this class. My winner is one to watch. Has so much promise and absolutely powers around the ring, balancing drive from the rear with reach at the front…and testing his handler’s pace! He’s only 18 months and needs time to mature, but can see him taking top honours in the future. Has the topline I look for, flowing cleanly from his defined occiput to the tip of his well-set tail. Not exaggerated in any way and with correct angulation and straight front. Liked his well-chiselled masculine head. 

2 Lorrimer’s Gwendariff Disco Dazzler JW. Finer all through but lots to admire and more settled than one on the move. Loved his head, which had plenty of work in it and an aloof expression, with low-set ear. Good topline, balanced angulation, neat feet and well-set tail. More mature than my winner, but had a tendency to lean back today – would like to see him shown outside.

3 Walker’s Gwendariff Hanky Panky JW

GD (10, 4) Three lovely dogs headed this class.

1 Jacobs & Bernard’s Forfarian Fancy Footwork JW. Lots to like about this promising youngster. He is well constructed throughout and presented in gleaming coat and condition. Liked his cleanly arched neck, straight front and balanced angulation. Good depth of chest, well-set tail and the best mover in the class, driving from behind with good reach in front. Masculine head with a mischievous expression. Leaned back on a few occasions when standing but his handler quickly corrected him.

2 Holehan’s Loganrish Tiger Warrior JW. Another lovely young dog and I’m sure these two will change places on many occasions. Honest, sound dog with nothing to hide. Beautiful head, with plenty of work, firm gently sloping topline and presented in the most immaculate condition. Moved straight and true. Just preferred the rear angulation and width of second thigh of my winner.

3 Abbott’s Thendara Haribo at Baibreeze 

PGD (10, 1)

1 Richardson’s Bardonhill McIntosh Red at Montgreenan JW. Judged this boy as a youngster and it’s great to see him fulfilling his early promise. Moved so beautifully it was a joy to behold. His owner paced him perfectly to really get the most from him. He’s an upstanding, rangey dog with the firm, gently sloping topline I love. Clean, arched neck, standing on neat feet and well angulated. Coat is heavier under his chest than under his couplings at present, which makes him look a little unbalanced from the side of the ring, but once you get your hands on him you see just how well he is made.

2 Corless’ Swiftlark Invincible JW. Another soundly made dog with lots to like. Heavier all through that my winner and with less coat, but many of the same comments on his construction apply. Moves with drive and coordination off tight feet with his tail carried correctly. Lovely head and expression and very clean over neck and shoulder. Just preferred the slope of topline of my winner.

3 Davison’s Bardonhill Million Reasons 

LD (13, 1) An excellent class.

1 Bott’s Bardonhill Million to One. Aptly named dog with so much to admire. The best of movers – straight and true coming and going, and showing reach and drive in profile. Loved his masculine head with its chiselling and aloof expression. Good length of neck, set cleanly into well laid-back shoulders. Good depth of chest, correctly angulated front and rear, and standing on neat feet. Possesses the firm, gently sloping topline I always look for in our breed and carried his tail perfectly on the move. RCC and sure it won’t be long until he’s made up.

2 Green’s Loganrish Out On The Town JW. Slightly paler coated boy with lots to commend him. Many similarities to my winner, with his elegant head, low-set ear, correct angulation and firm, gently sloping topline. Both these dogs have straight fronts, ample depth of forechest and are strong over the loin. Presented in excellent coat and condition. Moved as one with his handler, making the most of the large ring. Just preferred the head of my winner, which I felt had more chiselling.

3 Chorley-Newton, Chorley & Flinders’ Kerryfair Just Be JW

OD (6, 2) A trio of lovely dogs here with the first two being very similar in outline.

1 Edwards’ Sh Ch Copper’s Get Off My Cloud by Bonhomie. An unexaggerated dark-coated boy who I’m not surprised has been crowned Show Champion at just two years of age. He doesn’t have the most coat but has nothing to hide. Flows cleanly from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. He moved fluidly around the ring with his talented handler, propelling from the rear and driving from the front. His tailset and carriage on the move are exemplary, his feet neat and cat-like, and his angulation correct. Very close for the RCC but just felt the LD winner had that extra ring presence for top honours in the challenge.

2 Danks-Kemish’s Sh Ch Alolfrana All I Ask of Eveandabec JW. Loved this dog as a puppy and haven’t changed my mind. He’s just so well made, which means he moves so well, and he has the most handsome head with raised brows, dark eye and alert expression. Another with a darker coat, which was presented beautifully. Liked his body properties throughout and he was unlucky to come up against my winner on such fine form.

3 Bott, Allen & Morgan’s Sh Ch Quensha Take A Bow 

VD (4, 0) 

1 Russell’s Sh Ch Lynwood Hocus Pocus at Settesoli JW. Never mind hocus pocus, I was bewitched by this boy! My notes say ‘really loved him’ and I rarely write anything emotional. I’ve clearly been hiding under a rock for the last 8.5 years as I genuinely had no idea who he was, but was delighted to later find out I’d given him his 10th CC. One of the things I love most about setters is that they are a slower maturing breed that shouldn’t be rushed, and he is a perfect example of this – looking in his absolute prime. He has such a noble, masculine head with a slightly aloof expression that says he knows how good looking he is! His neck flows cleanly into well laid-back shoulders, with a straight front, excellent depth of chest, strong loin, flowing topline and clean tailset. He’s dripping in coat and in firm, muscular condition that is a credit to his owner. Flowed around the ring, moving straight and true. CC & BV..

2 Hemmings’ Sh Ch Orlanset A New Flame. I was splitting hairs between these two worthy champions. At seven years old, this boy still powers around the ring like a youngster and was presented in the most gleaming coat and condition. You could see how much he loves being in the ring with his handler. Has excellent body properties throughout and a well-chiselled, masculine head, just preferred the slightly lower tail carriage of my winner on the move.

3 Davison’s Bardonhill You Don't Fool Me

SBD (1)

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1 Hignett-Capper & Capper & Kassube & French’s C Pearl of The North. See 2nd in JD. 

MPB (3) 3 lovely babies but all at very different stages of maturity.

1 Crocker & Frost’s Sassy Susan Lofty at Riverbrue. It’s always a treat when you get to see a beautiful dog at its first show, and I was thrilled to be the first to judge this six-month-old bitch. She’s incredibly mature and together for her age, with enough cheekiness to let you know she’s still a baby at heart. She’s a longer, rangier bitch than the other two in the class, but so well made. Loved her pretty head, arched neck and clean shoulders flowing into her gently sloping topline. Has both style and substance and will watch her future with interest. BPB. Just preferred the slightly more together movement of the dog in the challenge for best puppy.

2 Holehan-Green & Green & Selby’s Loganrish Winter Pearl Moon. A more compact bitch than my winner with lots to like. Has the tightest of feet and the prettiest of heads with lots of chiselling. Everything in between is balanced and proportional. Like her depth of chest, angulation and steady movement for her age. Just preferred the tail carriage of my winner on the move.

3 Bott’s Bardonhill As You Like It – such a promising youngster but very much the baby today.

PB (0)

JB (3)

1 Peters’ Bluesprings Love of My Life for Shirlilah JW. Only just out of puppy at 13 months old. This girl has the prettiest of heads with a gentle expression, dark eye and low-set ear. Liked her clean neck and straight front. Really came into her own on the move, moving straight and true off tight feet with her tail held correctly. In beautiful coat and condition but would prefer slightly more angulation.

2 Kassube & French’s Cararua Spring Pearl. Sister of 2nd in JD and many similar comments apply. They are a finer, rangier type that takes longer to mature but both have lots of promise. This girl has a pretty head, clean neck and firm, sloping topline. Lost out on the top spot as she threw her front legs out today on the move.

3 Evers-Swindell’s Talharon Too Tempting

YB (7, 1)

1 Berry & Morris’ Riverbrue Mystique avec Brinara. Was splitting hairs between the first two in this class…then later found out they are litter sisters! So similar in many ways, with excellent toplines and beautiful heads. Both have just the right amount of gleaming chestnut coat for their age, and are in firm muscular condition, which enables them to move with reach and drive. They both have neat feet, correct angulation front and rear and well-set tails. Like their straight fronts and short, straight hocks. Just preferred the depth of chest of my winner on the day but will be interested to watch them swap places as they mature.

2 Nicholls’ Riverbrue Storm. 

3 Roffey’s Gwendariff Skys The Limit – a shame she was a little unsettled today as thought she was lovely.

GB (14, 1)

1 Mugford’s Kedalita Abfab for Lynwood JW. Gorgeous, dark coated young bitch with nothing to hide. Doesn’t have the most coat yet but what she does have is absolutely gleaming. Loved her feminine head, dark eye and aloof expression. Has the cleanest of necks, which flows into her correct layback of shoulder. Straight front, excellent bend of stifle and correctly set tail, which she lashed on the move. Looked as if she could drive around the ring all day. One to watch.

2 Danks-Kemish’s Alolfrana Electra. Another lovely bitch who is bigger and rangier all through than my winner so will take longer to mature. Loved her rich mahogany colour and her correct movement. Another with the firm, gently sloping topline I believe is a calling card of the breed and should be protected at all costs. Has a pretty head with raised brown and defined occiput. Well angulated front and rear.

3 Mitchell’s Kerryfair Misty Love for Amblin

PGB (5,1)

1 McDonald’s Quensha Galway Girl. This girl was the best mover in the class, gliding around the ring with drive and coordination. She is completely unexaggerated with everything in moderation. Very much liked her firm topline, ample bend of stifle, correct tailset and layback of shoulder. Has raised brow with low-set ear and feminine head, good length of neck and. Is well muscled. Sure she will have a bright future.

2 Hughes’ Alolfrana Queen of Hearts at Bryntwrw. The prettiest of heads on this very feminine bitch. Lighter all through than my winner with a paler coat colour. Like her clean neck and topline with well-muscled loin and correct tailset. Would prefer a little more angulation front and rear. Move steadily.

3 Peters’ Corranroo Viennese Waltz to Shirlilah 

LB (9,1) Wonderful class.

1 Mugford’s Lynwood Rather Scrumptious JW – this girl has the perfect name! I thought she was exceptional and was delighted to hear she became a Show Champion on the day. She completely filled my eye and is really in her prime. Each part of her flows cleanly into the next, without exaggeration, Loved her feminine head with quizzical expression, her clean, gently arched neck and excellent construction. She has style and substance, with a straight front, short hocks, cat-like feet, deep chest and, of course, a firm, gently sloping topline. Her angulation fore and aft is textbook, as is her tailset and carriage on the move. It was her movement that won her this class and later the CC and BOB. She glides around the ring with effortless, economical movement, not putting a paw wrong. Congratulations to her breeder-owners, I am positive there are more CCs to come.

2 Humphreys’ Riverbrue Ophelia Bongos at Henaleas – unlucky to meet one in such fine form as I loved her and am sure she will do very well in the future. The most beautiful, well chiselled head with raised brow, dark eye and low-set ear. Again, each part flows cleanly into the next and fits each element of the breed standard so well. She was presented in perfect coat and condition and floated around the ring with her handler. I’m sure it won’t be long before she is crowned.

3 Sturrock’s Forfarian Tickles Yer Fancy. Completed a trio of lovely bitches.

OB (8,2)

1 Crocker & Frost’s Riverbrue Snoozeulose. Another beautifully built bitch who is constructed so well she moves like a dream. Flows from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail. Liked her firm, gently sloping topline, cleanly arched neck, depth of forecast, straight front and well-balanced angulation. Loved her head, with plenty of work beneath the eye, correct definition and low-set ear. Has the tightest of feet. Handler knows how to get the best from her – every time I looked in her direction she looked impeccable. So close up for top honours but just felt my CC winner was in better coat on the day. RCC. Thank you for bringing her.

2 Hall’s Glennara Cherry Cola JW. So unlucky to meet my winner on such top form. A rangier bitch with lots to admire. Her head is feminine, her neck is long and gently arched and flows into her correctly laid back shoulders. Straight front, correct angulation and gleaming chestnut coat. Another who moved really well. Just tended to lean back today when standing – would love to see her outside.

3 Godart’s Int Sh Ch/Bel/Nld/Lux/Ger Ch Riverwood The Devil Wears Prada Jch – completed a trio of beautiful bitches.

VB (6,1) It almost felt a crime to have to choose between these beautiful ladies. Thank you for bringing them.

1 Edwards’ Sh Ch Gwendariff Its Numero Uno at Bonhomie JW. So much has been said about this beautiful girl and all of it is true. I love that she looks better now, as a veteran, than she ever has. As with my VD winner, she is testament to the quality and longevity of my breed. She has the most exquisite, elegant head with the grey flecks making her even more appealing. Has a clean neck, correct topline, perfect amount of angulation and good depth of chest. Moves off neat feet with her tail carried correctly. Slightly paler coloured than some but in excellent coat and condition. She clearly adores her owner and floated around the ring with drive from the rear and reach in front. I loved her but just felt my CC and RCC winners had the edge on the move in the challenge.

2 Catling’s Sh Ch Teleri Indian Summer JW. Taller, darker coated bitch than my winner with so much to admire. Loved her head – it is so pretty with raised brows, dark eye, plenty of chiselling and low-set ear. Her topline is perfection, flowing cleanly from her well-defined occiput down her arched neck, over her well-set shoulders and muscular point, to the point of her perfectly set tail. Again, her movement belied her years – moving straight and true with a wagging tail. Thank you for bringing her.

3 Mugford’s Sh Ch Lynwood Abracadabra JW. Another who I would happily have smuggled home. 

SBB (5,1)

1 Bentley’s Penclippin Celtic Asthore JW. Was unplaced in a very strong graduate class but a well-deserved winner here. She is unexaggerated with everything in the right place. Dark coat and pretty head with raised brows. Presented in good coat and condition with ample feathering. Moved with drive and coordination. BSB.

2 Carter’s Bardonhill Little Darlin'. This two year old is lacking maturity and finer all through but has many promising qualities. Liked her head and gently sloping topline. Nice mover.

3 Walker’s Glenvarna My Girl 

Laura Crombie (Judge)