South Wales Kennel Association

11th October 2025 – South Wales Kennel Association – Old English Sheepdogs

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the committee for inviting me to judge their show and for my ring stewards Liz and Josie for their help. We were indoors for this show but the hall was large and airy. The ring was an excellent size with a level floor and the dogs were able to stride out thus making it easy for me to assess their movement.

Thank you to the exhibitors for your supportive entry and excepting my decisions in a sporting manner. I was privileged to have the opportunity to handle some quality bobtails.

When judging I try and keep in mind those points that make an Old English so special. A thick set, strong, square dog with a rising topline, free from legginess with a square head and a well-defined stop. Profusely coated with a harsh texture and break. All accompanied by movement with effortless extension and drive. Size is not issue if it fits within the breed standard but if a dog is on the smaller size I like them to be masculine and a larger bitch to be feminine.

In the main I found the overall presentation of the exhibits to be excellent apart from three exhibits who had very matted coats and dirty teeth. The rest were shown in a clean and knot free condition. Overall coats were good and eye colour and pigmentation had improved from when I last judged. I felt that although entry numbers are falling the overall quality was relatively strong giving me some hard decisions to make in the majority of my classes. There were no puppy dogs or bitches exhibited which is a bit of a worry for the future.

Veteran Dog (1, 1 abs)

Puppy Dog (1, 1 abs)

 Junior Dog (3, 0 abs). A lovely class to start with, three very different types but all showing promise and little to choose between them. Just preferred the movement of my winner.

1st S. Deakin’s Amblehart Mr Banks at Darwillow. Larger type of dog who is well-off for bone. Has a strong square head and well -defined stop. 2 dark brown eyes with pigmentation developing. Excellent bite with large teeth and square jawline. Lovely arched neck leading into correct shoulders placement, chest developing well for age with nice spring of rib. His body is short coupled and compact with strong sturdy loin and correct bend of stifle. Coat of darker colour and just starting to change but profuse and of a good quality. Moved steadily with good front extension and steady rear action. Presented in excellent condition. One to watch for the future as he develops and matures.

2nd K Grundy’s Amblalong Oak 12-month-old and only just into junior but can still hold his own. Presents a nice outline when standing perhaps just a tad longer than my winner. Has strong head properties with large square skull , wall eye just needing a little more pigmentation to finish the picture. Correct length of neck with good spring of rib and excellent depth of brisket for his age. Coat is advanced with a good harsh texture developing which should clear as he matures. Moved steadily just needs to tighten and muscle up on the rear which should come with age.

3rd D Clymer’s Makaylen Matter of Honour. Showing promise.

Post Graduate Dog (0 entries)

Limit Dog (7, 1 abs) Quite a difficult class to assess as all were very different ages and stages of coat and development. Placings could easily change as these dogs mature.

1st & RCC J & D Howsam’s Melleonars Keep It Cool Branston at Jandoes. Just turned 2 years old with a well-developed body and head. Capacious skull, defined stop and loved the fall over his eyes which gives that wonderful bobtail expression. Strong truncated muzzle, square underjaw and large black nose. Compact body with a gentle rising topline, well sprung ribs and deep brisket. Correct rear angulation and low set hocks which he used well on the move. Coat was profuse and harsh just needs to mature and clear and then he will trouble the best. Would like to see him a little more animated on the move.

2nd C. Naismith’s Shaggybo Mineral Mist. As I said previously said this was a hard class and this boy came a close 2nd to my winner. He just needs to mature in body and coat and then I think he will have a bright future. Excels in head with 2 lovely brown eyes and excellent pigment. Lovely graceful neck with excellent lay of shoulder. Spring of rib and brisket are developing steadily. Great back-end angulation which showed in his movement. Shown in tip top condition with well-muscled backend.

3rd T & C Spurling’s Jelabob’s Paco Rabanne for Dantrecar. Another promising young dog.

Open Dog (3,0 abs) What a privilege to judge 3 good examples of OES males. Of course, this made my job much harder and in the end the decision came down to movement. All 3 were shown in excellent condition and had the attributes I look for in an OES.

1st & CC & RBB P Mill’s Ch Kerjalee Evan Sent. This dog has done some winning at the tender age of just over 2 years old and I can see why. Upstanding, well boned dog who commands attention. Overall, he has super head qualities, correct length of neck and well angulated shoulders. A short and cobby body with fabulous angulation on his rear end which he used on the move. His rear movement was effortless with the driving action and bear like roll that is the typical OES movement. Great extension on his front movement and rear covering the ground with effortless ease, I felt he could have worked all day. His coat does need to mature and clear which gave my bitch CC winner the advantage in the challenge for BOB but he is still young and this will come with time.

2nd D & M Mann’s Blairdon The Water of Life For Flufebustles. Another dog I love, his conformation is fantastic with such a great head, 2 brown, well pigmented eyes giving a typical OES expression. Square muzzle with strong underjaw. Enough neck leading into good shoulder placement. Excels in spring of rib and depth of brisket with such a strong compact body. His jacket has matured beautifully, it’s a clear pigeon blue colour with the correct break and harsh texture of a mature OES. If only he would have settled and moved on the day in the way I know he is capable of I would have considered him for the higher honours.

3rd W & B Millward Ch Beauvallon Jack Frost At Wilbramil. A very worth champion, I have always admired this male, unlucky to meet these two and was just a little sluggish on the move today.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme – Dog (1, 1abs)

Veteran Bitch (1, 1 abs)

Puppy Bitch (0 entries)

Junior Bitch Excellent class with some promising youngsters

1st E Wheeler’s Makaylen Savanna Pearl. Another I have admired from the ringside so I was pleased to be given the chance to go over her. 16-month feminine bitch with correct bite, well arched neck and correct shoulder angulation. Chest and spring of rib developing. Strong rear end with strong loin and neat little hocks. She has a typical bobtail outline, short and cobby. Coat just a bit in-between at the moment but once it clears and matures, she will be challenging for top honours.

2nd S & C Barkham & Noyce’s Lammorick Summer Dream. Really loved the shape of this young girl, so square. A super head with lovely square skull. A little overawed on the day but with a bit more practice and handling will get over this. Coat slow to change from puppy to junior but could not deny her overall shape and conformation. Just needs to settle on the move and slow down a little to get the best from her movement.

3rd B & C Ford’s Clenmaen Shepherdess. Lovely type, square and compact.

Postgraduate Bitch Another strong class with a lot of super OES wish I had more first place cards. All at different stages in their development and coat change.

1st & RCC Krisendaw Kassia For Flufebustles I have watched this young girl closely and pleased to see that she has blossomed into a super OES. Although on the bigger side she is still feminine. Lovely square head, dark eyes which are well pigmented. A strong and sturdy square shaped body which is so well balanced. She already has a magnificent depth to her brisket and a grand spring of rib. She was shown in full bloom today with a super crisp junior jacket with the correct break. She moved with ease, extending on her front movement and with the strong driving rear action I love to see.

2nd P Mills’s Kerjalee All About Me Another strong feminine girl. Super square head with 2 brown eyes and pigment developing. Correct shoulder angulation Lovely mature jacket of excellent colour and profuseness. Super head with good length of neck and strong rear end. The sympathetic handler was able to get the most out of her and she moved out with good extension front and back.

3rd J & A Sweet & Doran’s Makaylen Cu Caol Ila JW.

Limit Bitch

1st C Adams Makaylen Majestic Lady. A real cobby, girl standing four square. Correct bite, neat ears and feminine head. Enough neck and well off for bone. Excellent spring of rib and correct rear angulation. Super mature pigeon blue colour with crisp texture. Would like to see the handler use more of the ring to show her movement. Presented well.

2nd C & T Cartwright’s Molyneux Ladies Night At Applejem. Square outline, super head and correct stop. Excellent reach of neck and good lay of shoulder. Slightly longer in body than my winner. Harsh coat just carrying a little brown. Moved steadily.

Open Bitch. My notes say super class just preferring the neck and more animated movement of my winner

1st & CC & BOB R & C Churcher’s Ch Kalaju Krown Jewel of Portville 3½ year old fabulous bitch who was shown and handled to perfection. Excellent shaped skull with well-defined stop. Small close-set ears, correct dentition with lovely clean teeth and 2 dark brown fully pigmented eyes. Arched neck leading into well angulated shoulders and well off for bone. Super spring of rib, deep brisket and a strong rising topline to her loin. She has strong well-muscled rear end which has the correct angulation. Moving with drive and extension both front and rear looking animated on the move and like she was really enjoying her day out.

2nd L & J Wileman’s Ch Lindisfarm Hope Redeemed ShCEx. I have watched this bitch over the years and she has matured well. Pleased to see her made up into a champion a few months ago. More old-fashioned type than my winner and so much to like about her. Now fully mature at 4½ year old she is carrying a darker jacket with great texture and profuseness. Square skull, with correct stop and wall eye with good pigment. So well balanced with correct front and rear angulation. She has such a cobby shape with plenty of bone and substance. Enough neck and correct shoulder placement and great depth to her brisket.

Moved steadily

3rd R & A Jones Ch Quemerford Magic Wish. A worthy champion

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch

1st J & A Sweet & Doran’s Makaylen Cu Caol Ila JW.

Lovely type and shape, compact and square. Correct dentition, square head with 2 brown fully pigmented eyes bitch. Enough neck leading into clean and neat shoulders. Super front with deep chest. Rising topline to loin, correct bend of stifle and neat hocks. just needing time for her coat to change and come through. Good handling ensuring she moved steadily and at the correct pace.

Terri Reed