South Wales & Monmouthshire Cocker Spaniel Club

South Wales & Mon Cocker Spaniel Club

29th March 2025

It was an honour to receive the invitation to Judge the dog entry at this much favoured show and approaching the venue, on the most gloriously sunny Spring morning, it once again came to mind what a privilege it is to judge our breed. Many thanks to the Committee for looking after us and the stewards for keeping us on track; and of course the exhibitors whose entry was very much appreciated.

Delighted with the high quality in the senior classes and some promising youngsters coming through. We have some excellent senior parti-coloured dogs – not all could be winners today but they should certainly make their mark on the breed.

My observations - there were one or two questionable bites – please pay attention to this; incorrect is just incorrect and not acceptable in our breed. Grooming/presentation – too much feathering and some severe scissoring which completely spoils presentation and is a distraction which, in strong competition, may well make a difference.

At the end of the day, I was pleased to agree with my co-judge, Sarah Amos-Jones, on the main winners.

BIS Sh Ch Zheridons Blanche, RBIS Sh Ch Lindridge Front Runner, BPIS Manchela Soul Sister,

BVIS SH Ch Riondel Candyman JW.

Congratulations to all.

Any Solid Colour

Sp Puppy Dog (3)

1st Ward’s Whinburn Walk the Moon to Wensum – 11 month black of good type, growing into himself. Short, balanced with good rib and correct angulation front and rear. Sound movement.

2nd Flowers’ Totenkopf Dutch Devotion - 10 month black, well presented in excellent flat coat and condition. Short and balanced throughout with good bone and body; pleasing head and expression; sound movement but needs to get his act together.

3rd Defuyck’s Paris Nat Hales.

Sp Graduate (5-2)

1st Wiggins’ Plaiglen Follow That Bike to Scapafield – 15 month black. Balanced head, good reach of neck and angulation; short with good rib and bone. Sound moving.

2nd Bindza’s Aisza Figaro for Laurellakes – Well put down Liver of good type. Good head, kind expression and deep pigmentation. Good bone, short, well sprung and nicely angulated. Sound movement.

3rd Kent’s Laurellakes Are You Ready

Sp Open (1)

1st Brookes’ Gino Della Sciaranera of Bruxly (Imp ITA) – well put down black; compact with good bone and neat feet. Happy movement.

Any Particolour

Sp Puppy (4-1)

1st Whitehead’s Ryallcourt Grand Slam (AI) – striking, upstanding 10 month black & white ticked with nicely balanced head and kind expression. Good reach of neck into well laid back shoulder placement with excellent forequarters. Good bone with well sprung rib, short coupled and good rear angulation. Promising youngster with sound movement covering the ground well.

2nd Sewell & Hunt’s Lynwater Mad Hatter at Quastrozampe – delightfull 10 month orange roan. Nicely balanced all through, pleasing head and sweet expression. Short and compact with good bone and plenty of substance. Deep body with well sprung rib. Covers the ground well with sound movement.

3rd McClean & Scotland’s Lynwater Moon Walk

Sp Graduate (3)

1st Anslow’s Shansart Harry Potter – well presented blue roan, balanced all through with good bone and body, nicely ribbed, short coupled and sound moving.

2nd Pearce-Gudgers Pearkim Pietro – blue roan, similar remarks apply although preferred his head to the winner; a sound dog misbehaving for his handler.

3rd Proudler’s Kimpapa Kwackers Kalon

Sp Open (6-2)

1st Darby’s Sh Ch Classicway Call Time JW – young dog maturing nicely; delightful well balanced head and expression; good reach of neck into fine, well laid back shoulders and good upper arm with tight elbow placement. Stand four square on good legs and feet. Excellent bone and substance; nicely sprung rib, deep body, short coupled with correct angulation all through. Sound and freely moving, showing his personality. Pleased to award him RCC in a strong line-up.

2nd Hackett’s Lindridge Harbour Lights – lovely light blue of excellent type showing all the qualities expected from this kennel. Sound moving, well balanced all through, everything in the right place, with excellent head, body and substance. Carrying a little extra weight over his wither today.

3rd Torbett’s Sh Ch Kirlinjis Taylor Made

Res. Cassidy’s ShCh Manchela Speechless at Cassoz JW

ANY COLOUR

Veteran (3)

1st Morris’ Sh Ch Riondel Candyman JW – blue roan of excellent type, presented in good condition showing the qualities that make him a champion – short and well ribbed with plenty of body; correct angulation, nice firm top-line with strong quarters. Sound and moving well. A credit to the breed.

2nd Pearce-Gudger’s Sh Ch Cachel Prince Charming of Pearkim JW – well known champion orange roan who, at nine years, continues maintain his quality and condition. Showing well today but beaten by a younger model.

3rd Robinson’s Wilmerella Perfect Storm.

Minor Puppy (3)

1st Birkenshaw’s Gilcar After Midnight – 7 month blue roan of good type, showing much promise. Good head with kind expression; well balanced and correct all through with plenty of bone and body. At his first show, slightly hesitant moving but sound and no doubt he’ll find his feet. A cobby puppy with coat nicely turned out.

2nd Gilmour’s Chavez Royal Aclaim – at 8 months this black is still very raw and needs to develop all through; he is balanced of good type with clean outline and shows much promise. Good reach of neck into well placed shoulders; short with firm top-line, good angulation front and rear. Sound and happy moving.

3rd Defuyck’s Paris Nat Hales.

Puppy Dog (7-1)

1st Cox’s Ryallcourt Charm of Unique to Suvern – 10 month, light blue, showing enthusiasm, substance and good type. Compact with well sprung rib, firm loin and good quarters. Pleasing head and expression, good reach of neck, well laid shoulder, correct angulation. Sound moving, covering the ground well. Should have a good future. BPD – possibly feeling the long day in the challenge for BP.

2nd Sewell & Hunt’s Lynwater Mad Hatter at Quastrozampe - (seen dog – 2nd SpP.PC)

3rd Todd & Rahman’s Zheridons Trademark – 9 month black with both style and substance, showing the qualities I was looking for in a solid. He should gain more confidence with time.

Res. Ward’s Whinburn Walk The Moon To Wensum

VHC. Hughes’ Glantreath Thunder Cloud

Junior (7-1)

1st Whitehead’s Ryallcourt Twis Tan Shout – Light blue and tan, coming to the end of his junior career and showing his adult potential. Nicely balanced all through; appealing head and kind expression, ample reach of neck into fine well laid shoulder placement and forearm, good angulation front and rear, well sprung, deep, short coupled body; plenty of bone, strong quarters, moving with drive and enthusiasm.

2nd Flowers’ Totenkopf Driving me Crazy – richly marked black and tan, well put down with quality flat coat. Best of heads, well defined with kind expression. Balanced all through with good reach of neck, well placed shoulders; well bodied, well sprung rib; good depth, short coupled with strong quarters. Sound and moving well.

3rd Williams’ Bitcon Main Attraction to Wyndsmoor

Res. Gray’s Purdyspride Rave On

VHC. Hughes’ Glantreath Thunder Cloud

Yearling (5-1)

1st Buck’s Clavaire Marrakech Sky JW – beautifully presented orange roan in excellent coat and condition; well defined head with kind expression and good pigmentation. Balanced all through with fine shoulder placement, good reach of forearm, tight elbows, well ribbed with compact, deep body; strong quarters, sound and moving with drive. Much to like but perhaps just a bit more of him.

2nd Gladman’s Chativore Ocean Commotion – compact blue roan of good type; good reach of neck and shoulder placement; good angulation, well bodied, firm top-line and nicely developed quarters. Sound movement.

3rd Hughes’ Glentreaeth Sea Breeze

Res. Proudler’s Kimpapa Kwackers Kalon

Novice (6-3)

1st Flowers’ Totenkopf Driving Me Crazy – (seen dog – Jnr)

2nd Wiggins’ Plaiglen Follow That Bike to Scapafield (seen dog – Sp Grad solid)

3rd Gray’s Purdyspride Rave On

Graduate Dog (3-2)

1st Proudler’s Kimpapa Kwackers Kalon – well presented liver roan with pleasing head, kind expression and good pigmentation. Has type, sound but loses his topline both moving and stacked.

Post Graduate (4)

1st Shapland’s Deracor Duty Paid – well bodied blue roan who has substance and good bone; correct angulation front and rear, well ribbed, short coupled with good quarters. A sound type, moving well.

2nd Gilmour’s Chavez Silver Cloud – compact blue roan; presented in good coat and condition. Well defined, balanced head with kind expression. Good reach of neck, correct angulation, short and well bodied. Sound moving.

3rd Thomas’ Bruxly Harvest Moon at Whisperwood

Res. Proudler’s Kimpapa Kwackers Kalon

Memorial Special Beginners (5-1)

1st Sewell & Hunt’s Lynwater Mad Hatter at Quastrozampe – (seen dog)

2nd Harvey’s Tomerine Fact or Fable – well presented black of good type; well balanced all through with good reach of neck and well laid shoulder placement. Correct angulation, well ribbed and short coupled. Firm topline, well developed quarters; sound movement. Would benefit from less feathering to complete the picture.

3rd Kent’s Laurellakes Are You Ready

Res. Proudler’s Kimpapa Kwackers Kalon

Limit Dog (4)

1st Platt’s Allert’s Fine Dining at Charbonnel – smart blue roan, lovely type, correctly presented in good coat and condition. Best of heads, well defined with kind expression; balanced throughout, well angulated with good lay back, fine shoulder and reach of upper arm. Good bone, well bodied, short with strong quarters. Sound moving, covering the ground and holding topline. Delighted to have had the opportunity of handling this dog – shortlisted in a strong final line-up.

2nd Williams’ Wilmerella Highlander JW – quality dark blue with style and substance; well balanced and correct throughout. Presented in excellent coat and condition, well muscled and sound moving. Gives his handler a hard time – much to like.

3rd Beswick’s Esqueen Give a Gift for Cachel -

Res. Proudler’s Kimpapa Kwackers Kalon

Open (5)

1st Hackett’s Sh Ch Lindridge Front Runner – with his orange/lemon roan pale colouring, this dog asks questions – he certainly is eye catching but needs to be handled to really appreciate his qualities. Text book, well defined head with gentle expression and good pigmentation. Balanced and well muscled throughout – good reach of neck, well laid shoulder placement; excellent forequarters, depth of body and bone. Welll sprung rib, short coupled, strong quarters. Sound movement, covering the ground. A credit to his owner and the breed. CC and RBIS.

2nd Cottebrune’s Tzigane of Merrily (ATC BA87642FRA) – Quality, stylish, well marked black and tan of excellent type; well presented in first class coat and condition. Balanced, well defined head with kind expression; good reach of neck, well laid back shoulder with good upper arm. Short coupled, well ribbed, deep body. Strong, well muscled quarters – sound moving with drive, covering the ground. Brought in to challenge for the RCC.

3rd Bond’s Olibond Not A Bother – blue roan of excellent type, make and shape. Looks good stacked and needs to be handled to be appreciated.

Res. Birkenshaw’s Sh Ch Gilcar Midnight Dream

VHC. Proudler’s Kimpapa Kwackers Kalon

Judge – Sally Ellison