Great Dane Club Of Wales

GREAT DANE CLUB OF WALES - 11th OCTOBER 2025

Thank you to the Great Dane Club of wales for inviting me to judge their Championship show and thank you to the exhibitors for their entries and support. I had a really enjoyable day; I would like to remind you that the dog show is a beauty contest and it's important to present your dogs to the best of your ability, just by giving them a quick bath, cutting nails and cleaning teeth will improve presentation.

Baby puppy dog (1, 0 abs). 1st Whites, Kinnegans last kingdom at Taradanes. Beautiful fawn puppy. Lovely size and substance, growing very well and evenly, lots of knuckle to grow into, correct weight for age. Expressive head with dark clean eyes, the darkest mask. Long neck flowed into well set shoulders, good length of leg, tight feet. Deep chested. Good length of body, nice topline, slight rise to loin, slightly sloping croup. Rear angles are very good. Typical puppy movement.

Special veteran dog (0 entries)

Minor puppy dog (1, 0 abs). 1st Fletcher’s, Sophelsa fields of Gold. Attractive fawn puppy, growing nicely for his age, still plenty of knuckle to grow into. Appealing head with good expression, dark mask, dark eye, but eyes could be tighter. Nice length of neck, strong shoulders. Chest reaches the elbows, Strong, thick bone, nice feet, nails need attention. Topline good, with slight rise to loin and ok croup. Gave his handler a hard time on the move as he wanted play, but when he did it properly he moved well.

Puppy dog (1, 0 abs). 1st Cranfield & Wright, Zefather’s two faces with irieusdane. BEST PUPPY IN SHOW. Well grown elegant fawn puppy, nice shaped head of good length, dark mask and quizzical expression, dark correct shaped eyes, nice ear set that he uses to advantage. Body shape and weight is pleasing for age and growth, long neck, would prefer a better lay back of shoulder, well filled front, enough bone substance, tight feet and short nails, chest reaches elbows, firm topline, slightly sloping croup, rear angulation is good, well muscled rear. On the move he strode out well, still needs to tighten in front. Excellent breed type.

Junior dog (5, 2 abs), 1st Simpson, Renescent bewitched. RDCC. Large black male in gleaming coat condition. Excellent head shape, good length of foreface and narrow back skull, kind expression with dark eye of correct shape, well set ears. Long thick neck, flowed in shoulders. Deep chested, brisket reaching elbows, thick straight legs, still has knuckle for more growth, tight feet and dark short nails. Body is well developed for age, carrying an excellent amount of weight for his size, good spring of rib, body proportions are particularly good. To be critical at the moment his rear needs time, but it is expected at his age, croup is slightly sloping and rear angulation needs to drop. His movement is very pleasing to watch, long length of stride, very light on his feet and holds topline well, still needs to tighten his front on the move. An excellent specimen with plenty of breed type. 

2nd Lawton’s, Garsak sir Winslow at Thornbrae. Fawn male that is a heavier type than the class winner, I assume going through a growth spurt as today he was taller than long, so body shape was not balanced. Masculine Head with long length of foreface, kind expression, dark eyes that could be tighter, would not want any more drop of lip. Strong thick neck into good shoulders, slightly straight upper arm. Deep chested, with prominent sternum. Excellent bone substance, straight front legs, nice tight feet with short nails. Topline is firm, nice tailset, rear angulation needs to drop, very well muscled. Moved well, with plenty of power, front needs to tighten.

3rd Patch, Nunn & Nunn, Roshanun Conquistador

Yearling dog (1, 0 abs). 1st McLellan’s, Anadain life is a lemon. classical looking fawn male of decent size and substance. head of good proportions, and parallel head planes, dark eyes of correct shape, nice expression, uses his well-set ears nicely. Strong arched neck, slight wrinkle over the shoulder, would prefer more return of upper arm, well filled front and chest to the elbows. Good bone, straight front legs, pasterns could be tighter. Body shape is pleasing, a firm topline with good croup and tailset. Nice rear angles well muscled all over. Moved well, good length of stride.

Novice dog (1, 0 abs). 1st Patch, Nunn & Nunn, Roshanun Conquistador. Placed 3rd in junior, he showed better in this class. Well marked harlie, with a white background and torn black patches. Masculine dog with good bone and substance. Strong head with good length of foreface, would not want anymore drop of lip. Good length of neck, strong shoulders, enough fill in front and chest just reaches the elbows. firm topline with slight rise above the loin and slightly sloping croup. Enough rear angulation. He is very muscled all over. Movement was hard to access as he was giving his handler a challenging time but when he settled he was powerful with a good stride, needs to tighten at the elbows.

Graduate dog (0 entries)

Post graduate dog (1, 0 abs), 1st Ingram’s, Homer Simpson vom kleinen feenwald with dainmajik (imp deu). Substantial harlie, nicely marked with white background and black torn patches. Strong head with good expression, good eyes of correct shape. Nice big teeth. Pleasing ear set. Strong build with good bone and substance, thick neck of good length, very good shoulder placement, and good return of upper arm …his black leg marking can play tricks of your mind when first looking at his front assembly. Pleasing body shape, deep chested, good length of loin, firm topline, sloping croup, docked tail due to injury, well muscled all over which enhanced his powerful stride on the move, elbows and Pasterns could be tighter.

Limit dog (3, 2 abs), 1st McLellan’s, Anadain dead ringer for love JW. DOG CC AND BEST OPPOSITE SEX IN SHOW. Excellent breed type, all male combining elegance and strength. Typical breed standard head, level head planes with good length of foreface, good drop of lip. Eyes are dark and correct shape. Well set good sized ears which he used well enhancing his pleasing expression. Long thick, well arched neck which flowed into his strong shoulders. Well filled front with deep chest reaching to his elbows. Thick bone, straight legs, tight feet with short dark nails. Strong and firm topline, slightly sloping croup and good tailset. Well angulated rear, excellent muscle tone and long hocks. He moved with a good length of stride and well controlled front movement.

Special open Harlequin dog (2, 0 abs). 1st Palmer’s, Adoreadane Charlton (AI). Masculine harlie male, in excellent condition, gleaming white background and torn black patches with a clean white neck. Masculine head, nice eyes, one blue and one brown of correct shape, slightly broad in back skull, well set ears which he uses to advantage giving a quizzical expression. Body has plenty of substance and good overall balance. Thick arched neck of good length, flowing into strong shoulders, good shoulder placement and return of upper arm (his black shoulder/leg patch can be deceiving), well filled front and deep chest. Firm topline, slightly sloping croup. Could do with more rear angulation. Well muscled all over. Excellent side profile movement with reach and drive.

2nd Henshall’s, Calchas Bryan the brave. tall and elegant harlie with nice markings, well distributed torn patches and a clean white neck. Head of excellent proportions, well defined stop and long length of foreface, dark eyes of good shape. Ear set good but he did not use them to advantage. The longest neck flowed into strong shoulders, well filled front with good depth of chest reaching the elbows. Excellent size and substance, long straight legs, pasterns could be tighter, excellent feet but nails need cutting. Good firm topline with slightly sloping croup, good tailset. Nice rear angles and well muscled all over. Movement was hard to access, he would not settle and was pulling away, he had a good rear movement.

Special open fawn dog (2, 2 abs).

Special open Black dog (2, 0 abs). 1st Simpson’s, Renescent Bewitched. winner of junior, preferred his size and substance, again moved very well.

2nd MacDonald’s, Zeus Nero Von adamantium of ranaldane (imp deu) Irish jun ch, IKC cent JW, CW25. Mature black in gleaming coat condition. Pleasing head, well defined stop and good length of foreface, dark tight eyes of good shape. Long well arched neck, flows into good shoulders, well filled front and deep chest to the elbows. Good bone substance, straight legs, pasterns could be tighter, excellent feet with dark nails. Topline could be firmer, croup sloping, very good rear angulation, and well muscled rear. He moves well with good length of stride but lacked enthusiasm.

Special open Brindle dog (1, 0 abs). 1st Pendleton-Watkins, Goldanina’s king of drago JW. masculine well marked brindle with the desired black stripes on fawn background. Strong head, with dark mask, very nice shaped eyes of good colour. Good ear set but big ears. Well arched neck. Shoulders ok, slightly straight upper arm. Excellent substance with good bone, excellent height. Overall good body shape, well filled front and deep chest, straight front legs, pasterns need to be stronger, good feet and dark nails. Topline could be firmer, croup sloping. Rear angulation is good. Moves ok good length of stride but could be more purposeful, needs to tighten in front on the move.

Special open mantle dog (0 entries)

Special open blue dog (0 entries)

Open dog (1, 1 abs)

Baby puppy bitch (0 entries)

Veteran (2, 1 abs). 1st Nunn’s, Roshanun show business. BEST VETERAN IN SHOW. What a pleasure to have the opportunity to judge this lovely old lady, 10 ½ year old harlie. Markings were good with torn black patches (dusted with a hint of white and grey hairs) but I would prefer less ticking on her white background. Nice feminine head with good planes, nice eyes one blue and one dark. Overall a lovely make and shape with good angles front and rear, good length of neck and well filled front, in very fit condition. She moved with a bounce in her step. A credit to her owners.

Minor puppy bitch (0 entries)

Puppy Bitch (3, 0 abs). 1st Liddell & Alison’s, Smooriken gonnae nodae that. Very balanced pretty fawn. Feminine head, with nice dark eye of good shape. Still needs to grow into her ears, but she used them to advantage. Strong well arched neck flowed into good shoulders, would prefer more return of upper arm. Adequate fill in front, chest just reaches elbows. Straight front legs, feet are ok. Excellent type, good size and substance, plenty of knuckle to grow into. Good topline, sloping croup, rear angulation still needs to drop, good muscle tone for age, moved well.

2nd Cranfield & Wright, Zefather’s gossip girl with irieusdane. Very feminine fawn with black mask, kind face and good expression, dark eyes of correct shape. Ears slightly low set and held back. She has a pleasing shape but did not have the substance of the class winner, a good length of neck with arch, good layback of shoulder, nice front angulation, needs to fill in front, chest just reaches the elbows, good tuck up. Strong topline and excellent croup and tailset, rear angulation needs to drop. Well muscled. Moved well with a good length of stride, constantly wagging her tail.

3rd Laycock’s Juno Von Der rhon (imp deu)

Junior bitch (5, 2 abs). 1st Bithell’s Vertumnus raise your glass to bourntwyn. Tall, Elegant fawn with black mask, her overall balance won the class. Pretty head, with long foreface, well defined stop and narrow back skull, dark eyes of correct shape, ears slightly low set but used them well. Long length of neck into good shoulders, slightly straight in upper arm, front well developed but needs to fill, long straight legs, tight feet and short nails. Strong topline and slightly sloping croup, excellent rear angulation. Good muscle tone all over, moves well with long stride, elbows need to tighten.

2nd Page’s Novavida Aesirs conquest. A tall, feminine and elegant brindle. Did not have the overall balance of first place. Proud standing, holding head high. head still developing in backskull, dark mask, long foreface, well set ears. Long arched neck flowed into good shoulders, excellent return of upper arm, slightly prominent sternum, long straight legs, excellent feet and short dark nails. Chest just reaches her elbows, good tuck up, firm topline, slightly long in the loin, slightly sloping croup, lacking rear angulation. Well muscled all over, moved ok.

3rd Allison & Liddell’s, Smooriken far aboots.

Yearling bitch (5, 1 abs), 1st. Pendleton-Watkins, Goldania’s princess etain. A compact, well built fawn of adequate size and good substance. Won this class on overall condition and balance. Excellent head of good proportions, full dark mask, nice eyes of good colour and shape, slightly big ears, beautiful expression. Good length of neck into well laid shoulders, lovely front, chest reaches her elbows, straight legs with good feet. plenty spring of rib, Undercarriage was a little loose. Nice topline and slightly sloping croup, plenty of rear angulation. Good rear muscle tone, moved ok, rear movement needs to tighten.

2nd. Thomson’s Roucandane cyclone. Very pretty fawn with dark mask, has the potential to be a class winner but her lack of weight affected her overall impression. Elegant head of good width and length, dark eye of good shape. Slightly low set ears. Long arched neck, good shoulders but could do with a better return of upper arm. Needs to fill in front and ribs need to spring, deep chest to her elbows. Long straight legs and excellent feet. Good topline and croup. Extremely well muscled all over, very good rear angulation. Super movement with a powerful long stride.

3rd. Cope & Thorn’s, Fonblanque Fiona.

Novice bitch (3, 1 abs). 1st. Cranfield & Wright, Zefather’s gossip girl with irieusdane. Placed 2nd in puppy.

2nd Kingsley’s, Fontanarossa fait accompli for dainoak. Nicely marked Harlie, torn patches on white background. She has good substance but is on the smaller side. Good head and pleasing expression. Feminine body, good shoulders and enough fill in front, could do with more return of upper arm, topline good, slightly sloping croup, good rear angulation. Very well muscled rear. Movement was good when she settled

Graduate bitch (1, 0 abs). 1st. Pendleton-Watkins, Goldania’s Princess eimear. A butch fawn girl, lacking in femininity. Nice head, dark mask with good length of foreface, dark eye of good shape, a little bit too much lip. Strong thick neck, shoulders were good, well filled front and deep brisket. Would prefer more length of leg for balance. Pasterns could be stronger. Well sprung ribs, topline is good and croup is sloping, lacking rear angulation. Well muscled rear. Moved ok.

Post Graduate bitch (4, 1 abs). 1st Foster’s Ravendane like a prayer. Classical looking substantial fawn with black mask. Beautiful head with pleasing expression, the darkest mask, dark eyes which could be tighter, good head planes, long foreface and well-defined stop, biggish ears. Nice length of neck with arch, good lay back of shoulder, well filled front, elbows could be tighter, straight front legs and tight feet. Deep chest reaching the elbows, well sprung ribs, good tuck up, strong firm topline and slight rise to the loin, sloping croup, tailset could be higher. To be critical I would prefer more rear angulation. Nicely muscled. Moved well with good length of stride on a loose lead.

2nd. Owen’s, Tyak Golden jubilee. Pretty fawn of good size and substance. was not as balanced as the class winner. Strong, feminine head, slightly broad in backskull, dark eyes of good shape, nice set ears used to advantage. Overall good body shape, strong neck and nice shoulders, good fill in front, chest just reaches elbows, straight front legs. Good undercarriage, firm topline, rise about the loin and slightly sloping croup. Nice rear with enough rear angulation. Moved well with a bounce to her stride.

3rd. Vann's, Fontanarossa risk it all for isdantay.

Limit bitch (5, 1 abs), 1st. Stanton's Goldania's Diva Princess. BCC and BEST IN SHOW. She was Exactly what I was looking for … a Substantial breed typical bitch that is strong and has feminine qualities with a touch of elegance. She owned the ring with her look at me attitude. Fawn with an excellent head and a super expression, nice set ears which she used to advantage. Dark mask, parallel head planes, good length of foreface and correct width of back skull. Dark eyes of correct shape. Excellent body structure, well balanced, carrying the correct amount of weight. Strong firm neck, well arched, flowed in to well laid shoulders. Good front angles, well filled front and deep chest, ribs well sprung. Strong straight front legs, tight feet, short nails and strong pasterns. Deep chest reaching to the elbows, good tuck up, firm topline and good length of loin, slight rise to the loin and slightly sloping croup, strong rear end with enough rear angulation, well muscle all over. Best mover of the day, powerful and purposeful, super length of stride.

2nd Henshall’s Calchas addition (AI). Strong but feminine harlie. Beautifully marked with evenly distributed torn patches on white background, pleasing white neck and front. Strong head, good length of foreface but slightly broad in backskull, dark eye of good shape. Nicely set ears. Enough length of neck, flows into good shoulders, well filled front and good front angles, deep chested. Plenty of bone substance, tight feet but nails need attention. Good length of loin, firm topline, slightly sloping croup. Excellent rear angulation, very well muscled. Moves really well with good length of stride and lots of drive from the rear.

3rd Jacques & Kirby’s. Jacqukir time for change

Special open harlequin bitch. (6, 2 abs). 1st Henshall’s Calchas addition (AI). 2nd in limit class

2nd. Cope & Thorn’s, Fonblanque Fiona. Young harlie of good size and well-balanced body shape. Correctly marked with well distributed black torn patches. Pretty head with nice length of foreface and good width of backskull, correct drop of lip, dark eyes of good shape, well set slightly big ears. Nice arched neck into ok shoulders, good fill in front and strong straight well placed legs, tight feet with short nails. Chest just reaches elbows, could do with more spring of rib and less tuck up but this will come with maturity. Firm topline, with slight rise to the loin and sloping croup. Rear angulation needs to drop. Moved well on the side profile, but close coming and going.

3rd. Kelly’s Onabonn Alish NAF.

Special open Fawn bitch (2, 1 abs). Worsley’s Primus encore avec malpa. Pretty fawn with lovely overall shape and balance. Dark masked lovely shaped head, good head planes, excellent expression, dark eyes, well set ears which she used to advantage. Well arched neck flowed into strong shoulders, would prefer more return of upper arm. Well filled front and deep chested. Strong front legs, pasterns need to tighten. Nice tuck up, firm topline with slight rise to the loin and sloping croup, very good rear angulation. Movement was ok, slightly high stepping on her front.

Special open black bitch (1, 1 abs).

Special open brindle bitch (3, 0 abs). 1st. merwick’s Taradanes star vision with Saalan. Previously placed 4th in a strong limit class. Won this class on her movement. Nicely marked with well distributed black stripes on a fawn background. Dark masked feminine head, with good length of foreface. Well set ears. Long neck flowed in good set shoulders, well filled front and deep chest. Long firm topline, slightly long in loin, sloping croup. Plenty of rear angulation. Well muscled all over. Moved well, would prefer a longer length of stride.

2nd. Ingram’s Zweibelchen in flagranti with dainmajik (imp deu). Upstanding brindle who makes you look twice. Elegant and powerful on the stand. Nicely marked with well distributed black stripes on a fawn background. Lovely head with Dark mask, eyes dark but slightly rounded, long foreface and correct drop of lip. Nicely set ears which she uses to advantage. Long arched neck flows into shoulders and strong well filled front, good length of leg, straight bone and tight feet. Correct length of body and loin, good topline, sloping croup, well angulated rear. Moved ok.

3rd. Page’s Novavida Aesirs conquest.

Special open mantle bitch (0 entries).

Special open blue bitch (2, 1 abs). 1st. Ferguson’s Ir/Swiss Ch Renescent too hot to handle for chateaudain lux jch CW25 JW. Tall, upstanding blue of good colour. Head is decent shape, with pleasing expression, good length of foreface and good width of backskull. Ears nicely set but slightly large but she does use them to advantage. Long well arched neck flowing into well laid shoulders, deep chested, well filled front. Enough bone, long legs, tight feet and short nails, pasterns could be stronger. Body shape is good for her size and substance, slightly long in loin, sloping croup. Rear angulation is good and very well muscled. Moves very well with good length of stride, would prefer elbows to be tighter on the move.

Open Bitch (3, 2 abs). 1st Dysons Primus diamonds are forever samdice. RCC and RESERVE BEST IN SHOW. Elegant and attractive, well marked Dark brindle. Very pretty correct head, dark mask, good head planes with well defined stop, dark eyes of good shape. Slightly low set big ears, appealing expression. Very balanced body shape. Long well arched neck into well laid shoulders, prominent sternum, well filled front, Nicely boned, straight front legs, tight feet and strong pasterns. deep chest past the elbows, good undercarriage, strong and firm topline, slightly long in loin and slightly sloping croup, good rear angles, very good muscle tone. Moved really well with good length of stride holding her head proud.

Judge Tamasin (Tammy) Pocock (Tamzdane)