Three Counties Agricultural Society

Three Counties Championship show 2025 Irish Setter.

I Would to thank the Three Counties committee for inviting me to judge at their show. A big thank you to my stewards who were brilliant on the day. But the biggest thank you to all the exhibitors who blessed me with a huge entry, 131 dogs totalling 171 and I was truly humbled. This size entry left me with some extremely hard decisions in many competitive classes, hair splitting calls to make and many deserving dogs going card-less. The Bitch Limit class was a stand out example, the quality in this class just fantastic and the first three in my opinion worthy of the CC.

The Breed on the whole was a joy to judge, the exhibitors are to be congratulated, so sporting to the winners, applauding every winner, so lovely to see, well done. Handling and Presentation continues to improve with almost every exhibit shown and presented extremely well. A couple of observations in my opinion. Although presentation was of the highest order, I felt a few exhibit's necks I felt had been slightly over trimmed, this gives the impression of a exaggerated long neck and not the Moderately long neck that is asked for. I felt there is room for a little improvement in movement especially in hind movement. Some dogs I felt were a little weak in the hock this showed up when moving away. Having said that this, it did not detract from that absolute joy I had Judging the breed, one that will live long in my memory, thank you.

IRISH SETTER DOGS.

Minor Puppy Dog.

1st, Frampton, Strathmead Tennessee Waltz (ai). A six month baby making his debut. Very promising boy giving a very pleasing head, with dark eye. Straight in front with ample bone. A lovely shape when stacked. Correct in neck and balanced in body. Well angulated in both front and rear with lovely colour to coat. Steady on the move.

Puppy Dog.

1st, Foster. Ixia Boys Don't Cry at Shanoah. A nice type that has a lovely head with a melting expression, super earset, good in neck. Showing a good depth to chest. A little bum high that will drop in time. Still has his puppy coat in places that shows the baby that he is but everything in the right place, will watch to see how he develops. BPD.

2nd, Hemmings Orlanset Slave to love. A completely different type to winner but another very nice puppy. Very balanced when stacked with lovely head shape, again super eye and expression. Strong in neck, lovely topline and strong in body. Well angulated shoulder and strong in hock in rear. Super coat colour and very well handled. 

3rd, Randle, Rionore Bewitching Memory.

Junior Dog.

1st, Ashley-Turner Riverbrue The Joker. A nice youngster giving that racy apperance when stacked lovely head set on a correct neck. His front is straight with good bone, correct in topline with no exaggeration. Strong in body with good bend of stifle on hind quarters, in good condition throughout. Very steady on the move.

2nd, Hunnybun. Riverbrue Quicksilver. No surprise it is the litter brother to winner as a lot of the same remarks apply. Again good in head and eye with strong neck, good depth to chest in excellent coat another steady mover. The winner just had a bit more length in body for me giving that more racy appearance.

3rd. Abbott & Milligan-Bott. Thendara Haribo.

Yearling Dog.

1st Murray. Henaleas Maximillian with Derrydore JW. Very pleasing in outline with good shape to head, correct in both stop and muzzle, with a dark eye. Straight in front with tight feet. Good angulation in front and rear. Body well proportioned, deep mahogany gleaming coat. Well presented and handled. Moved very true front and rear. 

2nd. Russell. Tiroen Touch of magic by Settesoli (Imp Kcj) JW. Very similar in profile slightly rangier than the winner. Again nice head with lovely earset. Muscular neck into sweeping topline. good strong body and lovely tailset. In excellent condition, just preferred the overall balance of winner. 

3rd. Davison. Bardonhill Love Me Tender.

Novice Dog.

1st. Ashley-Turner. Riverbrue The Joker.

2nd. Murray. Quensha I know him so well. Strong looking boy on the stack Solid in body with correct topline and tailset. Moderate length to neck, with good angulation on front and hindquarters, again super coat colour and condition, well handled on stack when moving. Just preferred the head of the winner.

3rd. Condron. Covarney Mr Magoo.

Graduate Dog. 

A very strong class the first two with great futures I am sure.

1st. Edwards. Copper’s Get of My Cloud by Bonhomie (Imp Swe). Caught my eye on first observation of the class. He is so striking in profile full of raciness which is critical for breed type. Lovely head shape with kind eye, super front, good bone and well angulated both front and rear. Super neck and well balanced in body with good depth to chest. Presented and handled in top order and moved well.

2nd Sloane Ferasheen Hot Proper Tea JW. Another beautiful dog, so balanced when stacked, beautiful head and expression ,correct in front, with well bent stifle and strong hock on rear. Strong in body with good rib and gentle slope to top line, excellent condition and presentation, on another day could be the other way round. But today i felt winners over all condition and appearance was the difference.

3rd Aldridge. Clonageera Winner Takes All JW.

Post Graduate Dog.

1st. Corless. Swiftlark Invincible JW. Another dog that is so balanced when stacked with no exaggeration anywhere. Correct in head and dark eye. Strong in bone on a straight front. Well muscled strong neck into good topline. Well angulated rear and moved steadily.

2nd. Levene & Lewis. Quensha Remember The Name Valasarch. Very similar to winner good head and eye. Very nice in body with correct depth to chest and lovely coat and colour. Just preferred the topline of winner today. 

3rd. Berry, Morris & Fitzmaurice. Brinara Country Boy.

Limit Dog. Another nice class.

1st. Parsons. Quensha Thinking Out Loud at Bransett JW. Today was his day. A 3 yr old that is now really looking his best. Gorgeous head with the most appealing eye. Super front with good bone on tight feet. His neck is of perfect length that sweeps into a super topline. His body is so correct in body proportion, deep in chest with good spring of rib. Well angulated shoulder and good bend of stifle on rear, with a strong hock. A lovely size when stacked, full of raciness and in full coat and condition. Excellent handling and when asked to move, he did so very happily with reach and drive, in both front and rear . So pleased to award him the CC and BOB. Pleased to see he was short listed in the Gundog Group.

2nd. Corless. Swiftlark Spellbinder. A very nice dog that did nothing wrong today just up against a dog in top form. Presents a lovely profile when stacked nice head with lovely earset Correct in neck and he possess a good depth of chest and well muscled loin. Super bend of stifle on rear. He was presented in lovely coat and condition and moved steadily round the ring.

3rd. Rutherford & Prangle. Clonageera Touch of Gold.

Open Dog.

1st Milligan-Bott & Bott. Sh Ch Thendara Big Love JW. No surprise that this Lovely Sh Champion came into the ring in immaculate condition and super presentation by his owner breeder. Very nice head with lovely oval skull and dark eye. His body sits on a straight front with strong bone, with good angulated shoulder. Super depth to chest with good rib. Nice in neck into a sweeping topline which is correct in both length and slope. His hindquarters well bent and strong laid down hock. Lovely coat colour and moved with ease. RCC.

2nd Davison. Bardonhill You Don’t Fool Me. Another boy with a pleasing head and good eye shape. Slight arch to a good neck and nice topline. Again good strong body and loin. Correct angulation both front and rear, in excellent coat and condition.

3rd. Macdonald. Redclyst Head Full of Dreams.

Veteran Dog.

1st. Needs. Paco Rabanne at Stourford. A lovely seven yr old boy presenting a very pleasing picture when stacked. Lovely head with melting expression good earset. His body is of correct length with good depth to chest and his rib well sprung. Well angulated on both front and rear and lovely feathering to tail. Very steady on the move and was presented and handled in tip top condition. BVD.

2nd. Russell. Sh. Ch. Lynwood Hocus Pocus at Settesoli. Another lovely boy 8yrs old. Shorter in body than the winner when stacked. Very pleasing head, and his front is straight on tight feet. Good depth to body and sloping topline and correct tail sett. Good hind angulation with nice dark coat and condition.

3rd. Foster. Goldnavarm Endurance at Shanoah. 

Irish Setter Bitches.

Minor Puppy Bitch.

A lovely start to judging the girls with two very promising girls heading the class.

1st. Boutell & Burbridge. Ixia The Lovecats. Litter sister to my BPD winner. Just Loved her beautiful head with a kind eye and an expression full of mischief exactly how an Irish puppy should be. Straight front with good bone, with good angulation on front and hindquarters. Correct length of neck and super body. Moved so steady, happily, and with such enthusiasm, a joy to see, which not only won her the class against a lovely girl in 2nd but also a deserved BP.

2nd. Roberts. Polmennor Pandora. Another lovely puppy, Correct in head with pleasing eye. Very striking when stacked so balanced all through, correct in both chest and loin and super topline. Well angulated on hindquarters and strong in hock. Excellent presentation and condition, i hope both babies fulfil their early promise.

3rd. Peters. Bluesprings Love of My Life for Shirlilah.

Puppy Bitch.

1st. Hemmings. Orlanset Angel Eyes. A eleven month girl presented to me in tip top order. Her head was of correct length with oval skull and dark eye. Mature in body with deep chest and showing good spring in rib. Well muscled hindquarters, a gleaming coat and super presentation, with solid movement completing the picture.

2nd. Box. Fernstart Heart’s Desire. A ten month girl shorter coupled than the winner. She has a strong mature body, again good in chest proportions, and muscular loin. Her hindquarters have good angulation and correct in hock. Moved steadily around the ring. 

3rd. Roberts. Polmennor Pandora.

Junior Bitch.

Another really competitive class.

Ist. Nicholls. Riverbrue Storm. Litter Sister to the Junior Dog winner, so clearly appealed to my eye. Correct head both in length and depth of muzzle and eye shape. Very appealing on the stack giving that racy appearance, super in both topline and length of body. Well angulated shoulder and well bent stifle on rear. Lovely coat colour, very well handled with solid movement.

2nd. Walters. Kaimiltoft Ruby Tuesday for Deneil. Very pleasing in head with lovely oval skull and low earset. Her neck sweeps into a good body with deep chest, good spring of rib. A well feathered coat completes the picture.

3rd. Rogers. Clonageera Summer Magic.

 Yearling Bitch.

A super class. I think the first two could end up being very special girls indeed when reaching full maturity.

1st. Mugford. Kedalita Abfab for Lynwood. Lovely head and eye with melting expression. Excellent front on tight feet. When viewed from the side she is racy and completely balanced in profile. Her chest is of correct depth and loin strong. She has good angulation front and rear. A super coat in both condition and colour completes the picture. When asked to move she did so with ease around the ring.

2nd. Roffey. Gwendariff Skys The Limit (IKC). Another Super girl with a beautiful head shape and kind expression. Straight in front with excellent bone. Good body proportions all through. Super chest and loin. Muscular neck and sweeping topline. Well angulated shoulder and good bend of stifle in hindquarters. Presented in good coat and condition very close with winner. Today I felt the winner was just more racy in profile. I wish them both well for the future.

3rd. Crocker & Frost. Riverbrue Lofty (Imp Pol).

Novice Bitch.

Ist. Rodgers. Clonageera Summer Magic. This young lady was placed in very competitive previous classes, she was presented to me in tip top condition and showed very well so she thoroughly deserved this win. Nice head with excellent stop and skull shape. When viewed from the side her body is of a nice size and shows strength with chest deep and well ribbed. She was excellently handled and when asked to move did so with ease with smooth movement around the ring.

2nd. Condron. Corvarney Mini Minx. Another girl that was presented to me in very good condition. Very nice profile when stacked, good in neck and topline. Super body with no exaggeration. Pleasing head and eye, very strong in front and good angulation on rear. Very well handled.

3rd. Berry & Morris. Riverbrue Mystique avec Brinara.

Graduate Bitch. 

1st. Bentley Penclippin Celtic Asthore JW. Three yr old girl with nice head and eye, excellent low set ear. Good length of neck into a body that shows good balance and of correct length which gives the racy appearance that is asked for. Well angulated in front and rear and was in good hard condition.

2nd. Milligan-Bott & Smith. Thendara Graff Venus. A girl with good length to muzzle

and kind eye. She had good bone and excellent bend of stifle on rear. Her chest was strong and she was in good coat and condition, and moved soundly.

3rd. Coleman. Camaling Rose Royal.

Post Graduate Bitch.

1st. Mugford. Lynwood Rather Scrumptious JW. Another very nice girl owned by this handler. A very nice head with excellent skull shape and eye. Her legs are strong with good bone. Moderate length to neck and her body very balanced all through. Her hindquarters are well bent and showing good width to thigh with a strong hock. Excellent handling and presentation.

2nd. Parsons. Forfarian Flutt’r Yer Lashes at Bransett. Correct head and eye. Good in front with correct pastern. Shorter Coupled in body than the winner with good depth to chest and well bent stifle on rear. Her Coat was of a nice colour and well feathered. For me the winner just more racy in outline in apperance.

3rd McDonald. Quensha Galway Girl.

Limit Bitch.

The Class of the day with Eleven girls entering the ring of excellent quality. It was an absolute joy to judge but also extremely tough to find just five places. So many unplaced deserved more. The first three were outstanding in my opinion and I would have been happy to award all three the CC and on another days the placings reversed, but today the winner just had that extra sparkle.

1st. Clark. Covarney Dream Time from Bronrians JW. Just filled my eye. When stacked the first thing you see is a girl full of raciness. Her size and length is exactly correct for the breed. Not short in body or too long. Beautiful head with a gentle expression. Lovely length to neck into an excellent topline. Her front is straight with the tightest feet. Super body proportions, correct depth to chest and strong loin. Her hindquarters had good bend of stifle and hocks square and strong. in super coat, and moved with ease round the ring. CC RBOB.

2nd. Hall. Glennara Cherry Cola. Another girl I absolutely loved. So many of the same qualities as the winner. Beautiful on the stack, so balanced in size and length and so racy in appearance. Beautiful head correct in muzzle and sweetest of eye. Super boned front and good feet. Well laid shoulders, and her hind quarters well bent with no exaggeration. Excellent neck and topline with a deep chest, and loin was well muscled. In superb coat and condition and moved well holding her topline. RCC.

3rd. Humphreys. Riverbrue Ophelia Bongos at Henaleas.

Open Bitch.

1st. Catling. Quensha Family Portrait for Teleri. A head with good length of muzzle, dark eye and oval in skull. Strong all through when stacked and good tailset. Good in angulation in front and rear with good width on hindquarters, a lovely colour to coat completed the picture.

2nd. Edwards. Gwendariff its Numero Uno at Bonhomie JW. In good condition for her eight yrs. Correct head and eye with low set ear. Moderate length to neck into a solid body with deep chest. Gently sloping topline and correct tailset. She was steady on the move and excellently handled.

3rd. Douthwaite & Wharfe. Quensha Beautiful Stranger of Gracewood.

Veteran Bitch.

1st. Catling. Sh Ch Teleri Indian Summer. Really loved this eight year old girl. Super head and eye. Straight in front on good feet. Lovely neck and topline. Super body in both depth and length with good angulation on hindquarters. All these points gave a profile that was full of quality and raciness. 

Moved well BV.

2nd. Sharman & Jennings- Sharman. Kerrimere Red Ribbon JW. This 8 year old girl was very unlucky to meet the winner in such top form. Most pleasing head, with excellent neck strong in body not quite the length in body as winner. She has good angulation in both front and rear and a good hocks that are parallel to the ground. She showed a very happy personality when asked to move easy movement around the ring.

3rd. Elkins. Sh Ch Twoacres Promise of Spring with Avacet.

Judge 

Steve Richardson