Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

I must start by thanking the Officers and Committee for the opportunity judge the breed that my partner and I have dedicated our lives to for a quarter of a century. ETT’s that we have owned and bred have enjoyed success at every level within the breed show community and the wider all-breed show community alike. Over 50 Champions, 10 Championship Show Toy Group Winners and still the only General Championship Show ‘Best in Show’ award winning ETT’s have carried our Witchstone kennel name. We remain as committed to the breed now as we have ever been and are keen to see the breed prosper and strengthen even further in the years ahead.

We have seen friends and foes come and go and have heard every story and conspiracy theory in the book. It seems this appointment was no different. I would like to address the ringside speculation after this, my 7th time awarding CC’s in the breed, and put that firmly to bed.

When I step into the ring as a judge my job is to evaluate the dogs presented before me against the breed standard. Where you get placed in a class reflects how I believe your dog’s ‘breed standard’ virtues rank against the others in the class, on the day. The same applies when it comes to choosing my CC and RCC winner. If you were called back in to challenge for the RCC then I can assure you I was seriously considering your dog for the RCC; that is the only reason I would ever you call you back in. Any suggestion otherwise is churlish and quite frankly disrespectful.

My love and commitment to this breed, my integrity and my honesty as a judge have always been paramount. Who bred your dog, who you are friends with, your involvement with The Royal Kennel Club (in any capacity), when you are next judging or whether you are ‘in’ with the current ‘in crowd’ will have no bearing on how I assess your dogs. It is with that frame of reference that I assessed the 37 ETT’s present against the breed standard.

Thank you to each and every one of you who valued my opinion enough to enter the show. We recently returned from judging in Finland where you are required to critique and grade every dog ‘live’ in front of the exhibitor. The critique is then immediately emailed to the exhibitor with confirmation of their grading. Whilst I have only critiqued the first two dogs in each class you only have to ask if you would like me to verbally critique your dog. Please feel free to ask me and I will give you my honest opinion. I hope my critiques help explain exactly why the class winners won and stop any further silly speculations over the results.

To my steward, Pat Hallam, I am most grateful. Pat is such an efficient steward. He was a great support as well as good company. Thank goodness for Pat as our ring was running behind schedule and he was working ‘solo’.

VD (2,0) 1st HOWARD, Mrs Cecilia Margaret & HOWARD, Mr Donald Lasagesse Supersonic. Only just qualified for his bus pass and looking a picture of health for his age. He has a very typical breed outline which deserves greater appreciation. Long narrow wedge with slightly domed skull and super dark almond shape eyes. His ears are set high. Big teeth and good dentition. Plenty of strength to his underjaw. Slight arch to his neck. Compact in body with long rib cage and short loin. Gentle curve to his top line and well angled croup with low set tail. Super black shiny jacket and rich tans with well-defined thumbprints. Moves away parallel and has good footfall in profile. Crossing front legs slightly coming towards. Just lacks a little animation and pace on the move. For BVIB he was just out-moved by the impressive side gait of the Veteran Bitch and I preferred her flatter skull. 2nd KIRTON, Mrs Christine Wykewoks Black Knight Tarot. 8.5 years old and still keen and alert. An ideal size, lovely and compact in body with the correct gentle curve to his top line and a low set tail. A shorter wedge-shaped head with a flat skull. High set candle flame shaped ears which he used at all times. Shows strength to his muzzle but lost quite a few teeth. Dark, almond shaped eyes. Thick, black coat. Brights tans. Lacks definition of thumbprints and some breaching on his second thigh. Moving away a little wide behind and front legs crossing towards.

PD (1,0) 1st PARTINGTON-PALMER, Mrs C & PALMER, Mr Leslie Roy Winsome Flames Aussie Gold (imp Swe). A well-conditioned 7 month old with the shortest thick black coat and his bright, paler tans create obvious definition but only a few black hairs at the moment as opposed to the desired defined black thumbprints. His head is still developing and skull a little domed but it is long and narrow and he has a strong underjaw. Excellent dentition with big strong teeth and a scissor bite. His ears are set high on his head. Eyes are dark and could be a little more almond in shape. His chest still needs to drop and he should finish with a compact body. At the moment, he is not as compact as he should be and has a very slight dip in his top line. His tail is set low and carried nicely. He has a straight front, well laid shoulders and good bend of stifle moves with drive and with good reach in front although a little close going away.

JD (1,0) 1st PENDLEBURY, Mrs C Ettology Small Gods Of Pendlethrine. This correct sized young dog is full of breed type and makes an unmistakeable ETT silhouette stood. Not the longest wedge but well balanced. He has a fabulous keen expression and was really on his toes and ‘up for it’. Small, wicked almond shaped eyes. Super candle flame shaped ears set high on his flat skull. Slight arch to his neck and a perfect gentle curve to his top line with a low tail set. Compact in body. Ideally, he would have a little more angulation to his front and hindquarters but everything is balanced. He is really parallel going away and coming towards. Moves swiftly for his size with accurate footfall but lacks ‘reach’ and ‘drive’ in side gait. Black shiny jacket lacking hair on his throat, rich tans and very well-defined thumb prints. needs to carry more weight to cover those pin bones.

PGD (2,0) 1st OAKDEN, Mr Anthony & CONWAY, Mr Paul Spawood Hey Mickey. Although an 18 month older ‘teenager’ this dog has matured early and really looked the looks very much the finished article. His silhouette is so typically ETT – no mistaking that at all. He is an ideal size and so well balanced all through. His head is a clean wedge shape with good fill under his dark almond shape eyes. Length of muzzle and skull matching with slight stop. Really flat skull with candle flame shaped ears set right on top and used well to support a very alert expression. Coat was gleaming and his tans nice and rich with clearly defined although ‘light touch’ thumbprints and obvious pencilling. He is short-coupled and could turn on a six-pence. Particularly impressive over the croup where his pelvis is well angled and his tail low set. As such, his top line is a perfect gentle curve. Straight front legs with elbows close to his deep brisket. Good bend of stifle and low hocks. Moved with a brisk confident pace with drive from behind and good reach in front. Very parallel going away and back towards. At times he insisted on looking adoringly up at his handler which effects unsettles his front on the move. But ‘made right he moves right’. 2nd FIERS, Mrs J & Mr P Lokeren Brooks Yonas. Another very smart young man coming up for two and with lots of virtues on show. He has a beautiful long narrow wedge-shaped head with strength to his underjaw. Really attractive small , dark almond shaped eyes. Flat skull and nicely shaped ears which juts carried a little low. If they were right on top of his head he would have a more alert expression. Elegant neck with slight arch; perfect for shaking rats. Good length of rib but a little longer in loin so not as compact as the winner. Even though longer cast he still has a well-rounded rump and good bend of stifle; his tail is set and carried low. Matching angulation of his fore and hind quarters produced accurate foot fall in side guide and neat parallel movement away and back. Short, jet black coat with bright tans and well-defined thumbprints.

LD (3,0) 1st DIXON, Mrs Lisa Jane & DIXON, Mr Graeme Lasagesse Dazed N'confused. Just out of Junior and a clear winner here. Mature and upstanding for his age. In first class order in terms of coat condition and muscle tone. A slightly larger framed dog which takes nothing away from his overall elegant outline. He has an alert expression created by small dark almond shaped eyes and his high set candle flame ears. Long clean wedge showing strength to his under jaw. Stood, he has a very slight curve to his top line but he is a fraction longer in loin than ideal so this does flatten on the move. Would like him a little steeper in croup with a better fall-off and a lower set tail. Well angulated forequarters but slightly straighter in stifle as such he has more reach in front than he does drive from the rear. Tail carried high on the move at all times which detracts. Short, thick, shiny black jacket, rich tan points and clearly defined thumbprints. 2nd HOWARD, Mrs Cecilia Margaret & HOWARD, Mr Donald Lasagesse Jumpin Jack Flash. A real Terrier in terms of his attitude and fit condition. I awarded his sire the CC back in 2019 but this chap doesn’t have the virtues of his father. He certainly looks like he could dispatch a rat or two with ease with his powerful muzzle and strong neck. His large head is a definite wedge shape with a much wider back skull and larger, pale eyes than required. His top line is flatter especially on the move. He has a short, black, shiny coat and rich tan markings in all the right places. His thumbprints are obvious but have now started to run. He moved steadily but not the drive or reach required for an extended trot. 3rd REEVE, Mrs P Galvizach Royal Emerald

OD (7,0) A class full of quality with plenty more than worthy of their Champion titles but quite varying in style. Lots of breed typical attributes. As always, I had to prioritise and re-prioritise the breed typical virtues when ranking a class of this quality. Some dogs did not move as well as I have seen them move in the past and I could honestly have them in a different order on a different day but today 1st was PARTINGTON-PALMER, Mrs C & PALMER, Mr Leslie Roy Etruria Hear The Word. We don’t ‘paint the house’ until the house is ‘built’ to our satisfaction so I would be doing this dog an injustice to make his brighter, paler tans and his very light thumb mark (if you look very closely) a huge issue – this house has been well built. There is very little I would change with the rest especially his breed typical outline. I loved his balanced wedge-shaped head with a flat skull and super candle-flamed shape ears and those small, dark almond eyes set obliquely on his head. Big, healthy teeth and strong jaw. Very elegant in neck with slight arch and the correct slight curve to his top line. Long in rib and short in loin falling over the croup to a low set tail. Moves really parallel away and back and with accurate footfall in side gait. Stepped up a gear in the challenge when handled by his breeder and moved at the pace associated with an extended trot to really force a close decision. In the end the rich tans and clear thumbprints of the Dog CC winner really were the deciding factor. His Champion title will come I am sure. 2nd IMRIE, Mrs W Norris Ch Amalric Butch Cassidy JW. This young dog takes after his famous father in terms of being the perfect breed typical silhouette stood. Looking as fit as a flea’ with the shiniest black coat and visible muscle tone and such a happy dog. A little heavier boned than the winner but absolutely in proportion to his body. Lovely and compact in body with well sprung ribs, deep chest and conditioned well-rounded loin. His top-line is textbook with a gentle curve from withers over the pin bines and falling well over the croup. Tight feet and short nails. Low hocks and well-muscled thighs. His head has strength and jaw looks powerful. Really alert expression with ears high on top of his head and almond shaped eyes. He was a bit too enthusiastic on the move today so not going so parallel away and back. Looked much better in-side gait with balanced foot fall. Carrying his tail a little higher than ideal today on the move. 3rd FORSYTHE, Mr Richard & PEVY, Mr Ryan Ch Kikuchi Hollywood Avec Richpin JW. A worthy Champion who has real ring presence and was shown in mint condition. He has a great rapport with his handler who expertly presents his dog’s many virtues both stood and on the move.

VB (4,0) 1st FIERS, Mrs J & Mr P Thalcyon Springtime Star. She is 11 years old now and is still one of the best movers. She’s a bigger bitch but fine and elegant in bone and body and full of breed type. She has a long stride with reach in front, drive from her low hocks and well bent stifle and accurate footfall in-side gait. She is still totally sound away and back. She has a lovely deep chest and a long rib cage. Although she could be a shorter in loin she has a correctly angled pelvis which gives her full off over the croup and a low set tail which she carries following the shape of her hind legs. She has a beautiful long narrow wedge with almond eyes which could be darker in colour. Her ears are candle flamed shape and set high on her flat skull. Her coat is in super condition. Her tans are paler now all over. Her thumbprints have real clarity and there is obvious pencilling. Delighted to award her BVIB. She was the Puppy Group Winner here at Darlington a decade ago. 2nd EVISON, Mr Liam Ch Winter Star At Kikuchi JW. Such a worthy Champion for her overall breed type, her size and her perfect silhouette stood. Still has a very short and compact body with a really deep chest and well sprung ribs. As a fellow ‘retiree’ I know only too well how difficult it is to keep definition to one’s waist and Winter Star lacked definition in her loin. She has a long narrow wedge with small dark almond shaped eyes and ears of a size to balance set and carried high on her head. In profile she shows real reach and drive and due to her well angulated fore quarters and the matching angulation of her well bent stifle and the strength of her low hocks. Not so tidy going away and a little wider in front coming towards. 3rd KIRTON, Mrs Christine Wykewoks Serenity Success

PB (2,0) 1st HAFFENDEN, Mrs Hazel & WOOD, Mr Jack Nasabe Strikes Again. A beautiful bitch puppy for size and overall shape both stood and on the move. She is alert and confident with a real wicked look in her eye. Loved her attitude and expression. Her head is correctly balanced. Her eyes are small, really dark and almond shaped. Her ears a set perfectly high on top of her head and a lovely candle flame shape. She is very slightly overshot and she needs more strength to her underjaw but I certainly believe she could catch, hold and dispatch a rat; one whip of that elegant neck and it would be job done. I liked her fine bone and her overall outline. In the finer detail I could have her half an inch shorter in her loin. Really impresses on the move with reach in front and drive from behind from her well bent stifles and low hocks. As such, she has very balanced, accurate footfall. Lovely and sound away and back. Rich tans, shortest black shiny coat and obvious but fainter thumbprints that have run slightly. BPIB. 2nd MARSDEN, Mrs Clare Regalriver Big Bad She Wolf. Immediately appealed for her overall elegance and curvaceous shape. She is plenty tall enough at just 6 months of age but without any hint of coarseness whatsoever. I loved the quality of the head on this very pretty minor puppy making her show debut. She has a long narrow head with tall, candle flamed shaped ears to balance set right on top of her flat skull. Her eyes are of an almond shape but need to be a darker colour. Strength to her chin and good dentition with correct scissor bite. Very elegant, ‘whippy’ neck into well laid shoulders. Her chest still needs to drop fully but nice and long in rib. Her top line is developing well and will finish nicely once that chest drops. Moves very parallel away and back. Just needs a little more confidence in side gait to move a little faster and show her ability to reach and drive. Her coat is short and shiny, her tans are rich and thumb prints very well defined.

JB (2,0) It was obvious that these two were litter sisters as soon as they stepped in to the ring. Absolute peas out of the preverbal pod. Both the correct size and appealed for the overall compact shape. Their heads are almost identical. A smaller wedge that would benefit from a little wider, flatter back skull. Slightly domed between their small, high set candle flamed shaped ears. They both have really dark almond eyes which are a little straight set as opposed to obliquely set. Both have gentle curve to their top line with rounded rump and low set tail. They both move parallel away and back. They have well angulated forequarters but are straighter in stifle. As such, in side gait, they are lower at the withers than they are at the pin bones. 1st KIRTON, Mrs Christine Wykewoks Megga Dawn. Headed her sister with slightly better top line and overall shape on the move. 2nd PENDLEBURY, Mrs C Wykewoks Autumnal Sunsetta Of Pendlethrine.

PGB (4,0) 1st DEAN-ARMITT, Mrs Sarah Jane Twowayshouse Touch Of Class. I have always admired this bitch for her overall elegance and style. When you see her stood she flows from the tip of her nose, her long narrow wedge along her back to her well-rounded rump and low set tail. She is not the smallest from a height perspective but is nonetheless a beautiful bitch. Her eyes are a small, almond shape but could be darker in colour. Her ears are quite big and could be stronger but today they were held high and held their, often elusive, traditional candle shape with a slight flicker at the tip. Her neck has a slight arch and flows into well laid shoulders. She is nice and long in rib cage with a deep chest but longer in loin than ideal so can look a little flat in top line especially on the move. She is so very sound and has such balanced angulation of her front and hind quarters, she moves with a lovely long stride and the pace of an extended trot. 2nd KIRTON, Mrs Christine Wykewoks Solar Happiness. Nearly in her Veteran years and still very sprightly and so very sound on the move. An ideal size and compact in shape with deep chest, long rib cage and short loin. Really shapely over her hindquarters with a lovely low set tail. Her head is a shorter wedge showing strength to her jaw. Eyes are dark but a little round in shape. Strong ears held high on her head and the shape of a candle flame. Coat is short and sleek and has good muscle tone. Her tans are still rich but her thumbprints have faded. Moved with some drive and parallel away and back. 3rd MARSDEN, Mrs Clare Galvizach Royal Amethyst Of Regalriver

LB (5,0) The first three in this class all present a beautiful silhouette stood and absolutely scream ETT. 1st GREEN, Miss Angela Three Times A Lady. Makes a really impressive shape stood; perfectly balanced body proportions, angulation fore and aft and head to muzzle ratio. Loved her long narrow wedge-shaped head with fill under her eyes, flat skull and strength to her jaw with big, strong teeth and full dentition. Ears are set high on her head and are really firm and erect. Small dark almond eye giving alert expression. Compact, deep in chest and long in rib with a well-developed loin. Falls well off her croup to a low set tail which she carries low on the move making a typical outline. She is so very sound going away showing real strength to her low hocks and absolutely parallel coming towards. Very accurate footfall in side gait with a stride and pace akin to an extended trot. In fit condition with visible muscle tone and a shiny black jacket. Bright tans which could be richer in colour but real clarity between black and tan and perfect definition to her thumbprints and pencilling. RCC. 2nd HALL, Ms Dawn & OAKDEN, Mr Anthony Spawood Proud Mary With Ghilgrange JW. Such a shapely bitch with a series of gentle curves; on the taller side but fine boned and elegant. Another that presents a very balanced overall picture. Long narrow wedge-shaped head with a flat skull and strength to her muzzle. Almond eyes which could be darker in colour. Super high set ears set high and used at all times to create a really alert expression. Her ears are a very traditional candle flamed shape. Elegant neck with slight crest and really well angulated fore quarters and matching angulation of her hind quarters. Her top line is exactly right with a gentle curve falling again over her croup and a low set tail which she carries down following the line of her hind legs. Moved with a real flow and freedom in side gait with accurate footfall. Just a little narrow behind going away but nice straight front coming towards. 3rd GOODFELLOW, Mrs Maria Nasabe Royal Rose Airambech

OB (6,1)1st HAFFENDEN, Mrs Hazel & WOOD, Mr Jack Ch Nasabe Play The Game JW ShCEx. A beautiful example of the breed and a real ‘Toy Terrier’. Balanced all through with a super head and the very best expression. She is good for size and so elegant with fine boned legs and Alert at all times with her perfect candle flame shaped ears showing strength and set right on top of her flat skull. She has strength to her underjaw and clean strong teeth. The best eyes; small, dark and almond-shaped set obliquely on her head with an extra sparkle. She is an ideal size and typical compact shape with deep chest, long rib cage and short loin supporting the gentle curve to her topline which falls perfectly off the croup to her low set tail. She could twist and turn with the best of them especially given her muscle tone, her neat feet and her strong well let down hocks. Moves with real drive and shows good extension in front. Accurate foot fall in side gait where she moves with great freedom and the pace of an extended trot. CC & BOB.

2nd DIXON, Mrs Lisa Jane & DIXON, Mr Graeme Lasagesse Kashmir JW. A much more substantial bitch just turning 19 months and more Terrier than Toy Terrier particularly in head. She presents a very typical breed silhouette stood. She has a long head with a powerful jaw and big strong teeth with perfect scissor bite – it would certainly be a punishing bite and would dispatch vermin easily. Her eyes are almond shape and dark giving her a wicked expression. Her ears appear larger but are lovely and firm, are balanced to her length of head and are held high on her flat skull. She is broader in skull making her head look more masculine than my two principle winners. Slight arch to her neck flowing into well laid shoulders. Straight front legs and tight feet with neat nails. Deep brisket and long rib cage. Could have a little less length in her loin and as such she does flatten her top line on the move. She has strong hind quarters with obvious muscle tone. Tail is set and carried low. Her footfall was balanced and accurate in side gait showing drive from behind and reach in front. Parallel away and back. Tans are rich and thumbprints and pencilling well defined. Immaculate, short black coat shining like a piece of wet coal. Considered for the RCC but I preferred the CC and RCC winner’s size and head proportions. 3rd FIERS, Mrs J & Mr P Lokeren Abba Agnetha. My RCC winner from Crufts 3 years ago and still has so many of the breed standard virtues required for a Champion title. Such an elegant lady and a perfect ETT silhouette stood. Just showing a few signs of her age now but a beautiful bitch.

Judge – Nick Gourley (Witchstone)