Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

Darlington DSS

12th September 2025

Poodle (Miniature)

It has been a while since I last judged the variety and certainly since I last exhibited having been active in what can only be called the halcyon days when entries were bigger and there were many great kennels battling it out for the top awards. Although the entry was average numerically for today, it is sad to see the numbers decline as they have. With this I found the depth of quality somewhat lacking. Heads are varied, some thicker in back skull and lacking length, but more worryingly is the loss of true Poodle expression with that wicked glint in their eye. Too many are full in eye, light in colour, with some giving an almost startled expression. The Mini should be a slightly scaled down Standard being high stationed, with length to leg, square in outline and proud in carriage. On the move he should hold his head high, look down his nose and move around the ring with an air of arrogance yet style, using his legs with effortless reach and drive. There is also the characteristic slight hollow behind the wither that has almost but disappeared, I do hope that the breed not only gets a well deserved rise in interest once again, and in doing so remembering that a Poodle is more than just a haircut, there is a dog underneath whose construction and soundness is of the upmost importance. Luckily there is a nucleus of good dogs still and I hope that these are used wisely in future breeding programmes to bring the variety back to where it so rightly belongs.

Dogs

Veteran

1: HOLMES-LEAK, Mrs Elizabeth Ch Navarre's Extrovert JW, 8-year-old in fine form and in full coat. He took me back to the good old days. He is so beautifully constructed with the most delightful head and expression. Top size and all male. He has an arrogance about him, and he carries himself so well. Moved out very soundly and puts his feet in the right place. He pushed hard in the challenge and missed out by a whisker, but he was a worthy BV, and I was delighted to place him 4th in the Veteran Group as he rightly deserved it.

Puppy

1: SARSON, Mrs D & SARSON, Mr G Arrowflight Tres Beau, 10-month-old black who is top size, decent head and expression, well presented coat. He has a decent front and one of few that had the correct hollow behind the wither. Good tail set and carriage and he uses himself on the move.

2: GRACE, Miss Michelle & WOOD, Mr Tony Joleena Back In Black, 7-month-old black with a really super head and eye and I liked his shape enormously. He had other things on his mind today and so didn’t move as well as I’m sure he can. He will have much better days.

Junior

1: TOFTS, Miss Joanna Claire Poornima Im On My Way, 12-month-old brown with a pleasing head and expression. Good for size and reasonable carriage. Would prefer a better tail carriage. Good colour and well presented.

2: BATEY, Mrs Wendy Diane Donavika A Million Dreams, imposing black boy who on the floor presents an excellent outline and he has a super head and eye. He puts his feet in the right place. He just needs more confidence on the table and then he should have some fun.

Post Graduate

1; CHURCH, Mrs Libby Joleena Magnifique Pierre Jw, black who has a decent head and is the correct shape. Used himself in profile and has good tail carriage.

2: SHAKESPEARE, Ms Teresa Holsyi's Titan In Ice, white boy with ice white coat well presented. A smidge longer than the winner but he has decent carriage and moved out on the right track.

Limit

1; BECK, Mr M & BECK, Mrs V Maldavale Bielsa, beautiful headed dog who screams type and quality. Black of excellent coat texture and very well presented. To go over there is very little to change, and he is a dog that will bring much to the breed. He has carriage and style and puts his feet in the right place. He just needs to finish in body for the complete picture and then I can see him carrying a title.

2: GRINDEY, Mr Richard Malcolm & DYER, Mr Stephen Regulus Black Malricey, black dog who presents a very pleasing outline stacked and is in excellent condition and well presented. Not the head or expression of the winner but is excellent to go over. On the move he puts his feet in the right place, but he could just concentrate more on his carriage as he tends to poke on occasion. Decent chap though.

3: LISTER, Miss Christine A Calmaric All In One

Open

1: LEE-MORRIS, Mr A & Mrs S Ch Michandy It's Showtime At Pupstar JW, Black boy who has certainly made quite a name for himself in a relatively short space of time. He has a fabulous head and expression and is good to go over. Not the biggest but he is all male. It is, however, on the floor that he can’t be ignored as he has such true carriage, wonderful outline and is as sound as a pound. Presented sensibly which adds to his charm. CC & BOB

2: BRUCE, Mrs Fiona Am Ch Piedmont's James Bond With Donaska (Imp USA). A beautifully presented mid-size white boy whose outline stacked is delightful. He has a wonderful expression with a wicked glint in his eye. Another, who to go over, there is little to change. He is very much the style that I admire. On the move he is sound and puts his feet in the right place. He just lacked that look at me attitude that is so Poodley and that the winner had in buckets. Sadly this was the decider today, but his type and construction rightly deserved the RCC.

3: BROOK, Miss F A Ch Sculbrook Had To Be A Miracle JW

Bitches

Veteran

1: LISTER, Miss Christine A Calmaric One For The Money JW VW, 9-year-old black in super condition and really typical in outline. Good to go over with a super head and expression. Moved out on the right track.

Puppy

1; REEVE-KETTLE, Mrs Kay Vadisima's Guiding Promise. 6 months old and so very exciting. Not the biggest in stature, although well within the standard, but my my, she has the biggest attitude. She has the cheekiest expression coming from well-shaped eyes of the correct colour. Totally balanced in outline and a fantastic forehand. Correct topline and a well carried tail. On the move she performed as if she has been a seasoned campaigner. Style, soundness and the most wonderfully correct carriage. She stole my heart and she, the RCC along with BP and delighted to watch her win the Puppy group. Quite a debut and I truly hope that she finishes with a title.

2: YOUNG, Miss K A Chesterhill Burning Love For Anorien, another pretty black who is not quite as forward at the moment, but she is super to go over, and I liked her head and expression. Looks great in profile just needs to settle coming on.

3: TATE, Mrs Leonora & TATE, Miss Lena Tatalena Rock N'roll Star

Junior

1: KITCHENER, Miss J Michandy Time After Time, black bitch of absolute quality and very much the correct type. Her outline stacked will always draw the eye and she has a sensibly presented coat of excellent texture. She has great carriage and a wonderful temperament. Today she just lifted her front a tad high which could very possibly have been because of the ring condition.

2: LEWIS, Ms Nikki Arrowflight Miss Demeanor Nikkeit, black bitch who was 4th in puppy, she looks good in profile action and puts her feet in the right place, she just needs a tad more attention to presentation to finish the picture.

3: WELLS, Mrs J Volgarus Cuppa Cosmo

Post Graduate

1: MCINTYRE, Mrs Kath & SMITH, Mr Stuart Kayth's Carte Blanche, white bitch who is top size but has a decent outline although you would not want her any longer. Pretty head and expression with good pigment. Well presented white coat of good texture. Moved out holding her outline.

2: HYSLOP, Miss Lauren Holsyi Got Envy, white bitch in continental trim which is very well executed. Not the pigment or the head of the winner but she is short in back and up on leg.

3: BIRD, Miss Debbie One Lucky Girl

Limit

1: HARWOOD, Miss M Minarets Counter Attack. In walked this cream and I felt it was game over; here was what I was looking for. Her shape and balance being everything I admire. Her head and expression a delight and she has a wonderfully clear coat of excellent texture, presented masterfully. However, she had other ideas and totally threw her chances away on the move where her brain did not appear to engage. Yes, she is totally Poodley in attitude, but she just needs to get her head in gear and she’ll be away.

2: BATEY, Mrs Wendy Diane Donavika Dancing Queen black bitch of type and is the correct shape, not quite the head of the winner but a decent bitch to go over and she puts her feet in the right place on the move. Coat of good texture that is well presented.

3: WATT, Mrs Angela & BRUCE, Mrs Fiona Donaska Tilted Halo

Open

3 very worthy bitches

1: WELLS, Mrs J UK Ch Volgarus Candid Clara, well known Cream of exceptional quality. She is the right shape, being high stationed and short in back. Her front assembly is superb, and she has the desired hollow behind the wither. In full coat, beautifully presented; to be picky I would just prefer her colour to be clearer, On the move she has such style and carries herself correctly. She was in wonderful condition too. Worthy CC.

2: HOLMES-LEAK, Mrs Elizabeth Ch Joleena's In Excelsis With Navarre JW, have done this black bitch well as a youngster and she is good to go over. Delightful head and expression. Sound on the move and has carriage. I just felt she was carrying a little too much body condition today.

3: SARSON, Mrs D & SARSON, Mr G Arrowflight High Society At Dongara JW ShCEx

Lee A S Cox (Judge)