Brittany Club Of Great Britain

Thank you to the Brittany Club of Great Britain for my invitation to judge at this open show. I would also like to thank the exhibitors that entered: I was very pleased with my entry. It was good to see some promising youngsters in the ring. I was particularly impressed by the quality of the dog classes which made for some difficult decisions. I would also like to thank Jenna for stewarding for me and who enabled the classes to run smoothly even with the challenge of the Championship Show and Special Award Classes running in another ring at the same time.

CLASS 1 – BABY PUPPY DOG OR BITCH (1,0)

1st – Axtell’s Astrid de la Riviere Ouareau for Callimard – O&W. What a pretty 4 ½ month old puppy who coped very well with her first show. Very feminine head with correct head proportions, a moderate stop, and well placed ears. Stood square with a cobby outline and good depth of chest for such a youngster. Nice pigmentation. Moved well once settled. Still plenty of time to develop but showing lots of promise. I look forward to seeing her progress

CLASS 2 – MINOR PUPPY DOG OR BITCH (1,0)

1st – Anderson’s Rochus Alizee BPB, BPIS, RBB – B&W bitch. A nicely matured body on such a youngster. Good 2/3 proportioned head with dark eyes and well set ears. Good spring of ribs, still requiring chest to develop further for brisket to reach elbow as would be expected on such a young dog. Presented a nice cob standing in profile. Short loin and good angulation. Movement was a little unsettled but moved well once she did settle. Her workmanlike body and maturity held her in good stead against some other strong contenders and I was happy to award her RBB . I look forward to watching her progress with interest.

CLASS 5 NOVICE DOG (2,0) Two very different dogs in this class making this a difficult decision

1st – Aitken’s Hawkwise Unsung Hero O&W. A little on the smaller size. Nice and compact presenting a good square outline. Correct 2/3 portions of head. Lacked a little in spring of ribs and depth of chest . Good topline that was held on the move. Moved well with typical gait and it was this movement that won the class on this occassion

2nd – Bruce’s Patouch Utrillo O&W. A larger dog, again presenting a nice cobby outline. Attractive and expressive head with good ear placement although a fraction long on the muzzle. Short loin. As with 1 he lacked depth of chest to give that real workmanlike feel. Topline slightly more sloped. Dog moved out OK, but did not hold his topline well on the move. Whilst I preferred his overall balance and felt he was more typical on my initial assessment, the movement and his top line, particularly when on the move eventually lost the higher placing on the day.

CLASS 6 POST GRADUATE DOG (1,0)

1st – Cutler’s Jayrincnbrits Uptown Beat O&W tailed dog. I liked the pigmentation on this dog. He had a lovely, expressive, well proportioned head, moderate stop, tapered muzzle and eyes in harmony with coat. Presented a nice square outline, with good angulation front and rear. Lacked a little in depth of chest and spring of ribs. Generally moved well, retaining topline, although moved slightly wide at front

CLASS 7 LIMIT DOG (4,1)

1st – Molton’s Jayrincnbrits Uther at Braebrits. Tricolour. Mature dog, presenting a nice square outline. Well proportioned head and expressive head with well placed ears and eyes in harmony with coat. Good depth of chest and spring of ribs. Short loin and good topline with slight slope to croup. Presented an overall workmanlike appearance. Was a little unsettled on the move initially but once settled moved with typical gait, holding his topline.

2nd – Drozdova’s Malik Team Del Crepo. O&W. Another mature dog with good depth of chest and well sprung ribs - presenting a well proportioned outline. Short in loin. For me , he had a little too much slope to his topline which was more evident on the move. Correct 2/3 proportion to head but felt that it was a little wide at zygomatic arches giving it a stronger, less moderate look. Beautifully presented and handled and moved with a brisk short stride. I preferred head and topline of 1 in this class.

3rd – Jones’s Rochus Take Action

CLASS 8 OPEN DOG (1,0)

1st – Nicolls’ SH CH Minima Unforgettable at Stonesview BD & BIS O&W Beautifully well proportioned dog. Plenty of substance with no heaviness and not overdone in any way. Correctly proportioned head with well carried ears and good expression. Good spring of ribs and brisket reaching elbow with foreleg slightly longer than depth of chest. Short loin and strong topline that was held well on the move. Correct angulation and well muscled. Moved well with typical gait. Was very pleased to award him Best Dog and Best in Show

CLASS 9 SPECIAL OPEN ORANGE/WHITE DOG (4,1)

1st – Drozdova’s SH CH/CZE CH Bonapartist Peaky Blinder avec Aukskara ShCEx RBD & RBIS O&W Another lovey dog that is worthy of his title. Well proportioned head with well placed ears. Good spring of ribs and depth of chest. Strong topline with slight slope to croup and short loin. Well muscled with correct angulation. Very well presented and handled immaculately. Moved very well with typical gait.

2nd – Aitken’s Hawkwise Unsung Hero (see Novice Dog)

3rd – Hayes and Wilson’s Tillybirloch Otto

CLASS 10 SPECIAL OPEN ANY OTHER COLOUR EXCEPT ORANGE/WHITE DOG (3,0) This was a very strong class with three lovely dogs and a very close decision

1st – Axtell’s Umberto de la Riviere Ouareau for Callimard B&W Correct proportion head with lively expression. Lovely square and compact outline. Good depth of chest and spring of ribs. Moderately boned with correct angulation. Moved very well with correct clipped gait. Nice moderate dog. Workmanlike with no heaviness. His alert expression and compact outline won him the class on this occassion

2nd – Cutler’s Bonapartist Soldier Blue with Jayrincnbrits Tri. Another very nice dog with well proportioned head with lovely expression. Well muscled and good depth of chest and length of foreleg. Good solid topline that held well on the move. Well handled and moved well around the ring. Could well change places with 1 on another occasion, but I felt 1 slightly had the edge on the day.

3rd – Nicholls’ Bonapartist trouper of Stonesview

CLASS 11 SPECIAL TAILED DOG (2,0)

1st – Cutler’s Jayrincbrits Uptown Beat (see post graduate dog).

2nd – Jones’s Rochus Take Action Slightly smaller dog. Nice and compact presenting a square outline. Good angulation. Head of correct proportions and good expression. Moved well.

CLASS 12 VETERAN DOG (2,0)

1st – Cook’s SH CH Highclare only one avec Tailliside BVD, BVIS O&W This dog excels in his beautiful square outline. Very cobby and workmanlike. Strong topline, good depth of chest with foreleg slightly greater than this. In very good condition, well muscled and correct angulation front and rear. Lovely expression with dark eyes and neat high set ears. Well handled and moved well

2nd – Hayes and Wilson’s Sanbosier Nevis O&W Another dog with a nice cobby outline with short loin and well held topline. Good angulation front and rear. Correct 2/3 proportions of head with good expression and nice pigmentation. Slightly less body than 1 and a little unsettled on the move

CLASS 14 PUPPY BITCH (2,0)

1st – Anderson’s Rochus Alizee BPB, BPIS, RBB (see minor puppy dog or bithch)

2nd – Perks’s Rochus Aurelie O&W Litter sister to 1 and a little less mature at this point than her sister. A very pretty youngster who stood nice and square. Nicely proportioned head with ears carried high, eyes in harmony with coat and a lovely expression. Correct angulation. Still needs time to develop more in chest and ribs, but early days and showing a lot of promise. Well handled and moved well and correctly

CLASS 15 JUNIOR BITCH (0,0)

CLASS 16 NOVICE BITCH (1,0)

1st – Holt’s Rochus Starburst O&W Smaller bitch with good height to length proportions giving a nice square outline. Nice expression, neat well held ears. Just slightly short in muzzle in proportion to head . Good depth of chest and spring of ribs. Good angulation and leg length to chest depth of correct proportion. Moved well.

CLASS 17 POST GRADUATE BITCH (3,0) Nice to see a class full of tailed dogs and all 3 dogs had a lot to like. I preferred the heads of 1 and 2 which gave them the edge in this class

1st – Anderson’s Rochus Unique Elsa O&W Well proportioned and pretty head with nothing overdone: moderate stop, tapered muzzle and nice expression. Plenty of substance with well sprung ribs , good depth of chest and correct rear angulation. Slightly longer of loin impacting on that desired cobby look

2nd – Perks’s Rochus Sea Holly B&W. Nice and square outline giving a good cobby appearance. A little on the smaller side. Very pretty well proportioned, expressive head with nice moderate stop, dark eyes, tapered muzzle and well carried ears. Slightly less body and substance than 1 . Well handled and moved well and correctly.

3rd – Jones’s Rochus Sweet Pea

CLASS 18 LIMIT BITCH (3,0)

1st – Molton’s Jayrincnbrits Unctious at Braebrits BB, BOS A lovely bitch, full of breed type - plenty of substance with nothing overdone. Presented a nice cobby outline when stood. Correctly proportioned, moderate and expressive head. Good depth of chest with well sprung ribs and foreleg just slightly longer than chest depth. Good muscle tone. Moved with correct and typical gait, holding her topline on the move. Was very happy to award her Best Bitch.

2nd – Southorn’s Umika de la Riviere Ouareau Good depth of chest and length of leg. However, slighty longer cast giving a less cobby appearance than 1. Good solid topline with slight slope to croup. Well muscled and correct angulations. Nice head and expression, but fractionally longer in muzzle. Moved well.

CLASS 19 OPEN BITCH (0,0)

CLASS 20 SPECIAL OPEN ORANGE/WHITE (2,1)

1st – Southorn’s Rochus Perrine O&W Very nice moderate and compact bitch. Correctly proportioned head with well placed ears. Good spring of ribs, short loin and foreleg fractionally longer than depth of chest giving a good cobby and workmanlike appearance with no heaviness. Moved well and typically.

CLASS 21 SPECIAL OPEN ANY OTHER COLOUR EXCEPT ORANGE/WHITE BITCH (1,0)

1st – Southorn’s Rochus Ottilie (AI) B&W A little on the smaller side. Good width at withers and depth of chest. Presented a good square outline. Slightly short in the muzzle but otherwise a well proportioned head. Moved very well with typical movement

CLASS 22 SPECIAL TAILED BITCH (2,0)

1st – Anderson’s Rochus Elsa (1st post graduate bitch)

2nd – Jones’s Rochus Sweet Pea B&W A good square outline. A little smaller overall than 1. Nice expression, with well placed ears, but overall preferred the head proportions of 1. Good depth of chest and spring of rib with correct angulation front and rear. Moved well.

CLASS 23 VETERAN BITCH (2,0)

1st – Southorn’s SH CH Rochus Juliet BVB A bitch that I have judged before and always admired. Very typical with a square and cobby outline. Nothing overdone on this dog who has plenty of substance with no heaviness. Lovely proportioned and moderate head. Short in loin and lovely topline sloping slightly to croup. At 11 years old she still holds her own in the ring. Moved well with typical gait. Just lost out to the muscle tone and movement of the younger male veteran for Best Veteran. One I considered very seriously in the bitch challenge.

2nd – Southorn’s Rochus Nelke. Slightly smaller overall than 1. Nice head with tapered muzzle and well proportioned and placed ears. Good depth of chest but not the overall square compact outline of 1 . Moved well and typically.

CLASS 24 SPECIAL WORKING BITCH (0,0)