Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

Darlington Ch show 2025

Thank you to Darlington Ch show for inviting me to judge the YKC Members handling and stakes classes on Day 1 and Day 3. It was a great to see so many enthusiastic and promising young handlers, some just starting out in handling and some seasoned pros, and in many instances, decisions had to made with the tiniest of margins to separate and placings such was the depth of quality of handling. I kept it simple only asking for the triangle and straight up and down.

Some general pointers which I hope may help; some handlers were very focused on their dogs and didn’t always spot that I have moved sides during the class or that I had moved a foot when dogs were being stacked. Don’t forget the importance of listening to what the judge is asking and if at all unsure, please do ask the judge to repeat or clarify what they want you to do so you can show off your skills to the best advantage. 

Young Kennel Club Members Stakes (Day 1)

YKC Hound (5, 3 Abs)


1. Sirrell & Sirrell’s Hopewood Dream Come True. Dachshund (Wire) who appealed for her overall balanced outline. Feminine head of good proportions, dark almond eye and good ear set and shape.  Muscular neck into decent front assembly, prominent prosternum, well ribbed back, level top line into strong short loins.  Moved confidently, and soundly with excellent profile movement. 


2. Spademan & Mycroft’s & Higginbottoms’ Crosscop Seduction (Whippet). Pretty girl, with flat skull, and dark oval eyes, her ears just needing to settle a little. Shapely outline with good neck and shoulders, front and rear nicely angulated without being exaggerated, topped off with a smooth glossy coat. Carried herself well on the move with a good ground covering stride, close decision.


YKC Utility (4,1Abs)


1. Mackenzie & Moir & Moir’s Ch Jansanleis Rave JW. German Spitz (Mittel). This girl has a stamp of quality about her and caught my eye as she as she came into the ring for her impressive movement, sound as they come with a brisk active gait. Feminine head with small high set triangular ears, lovely dark eyes and excellent pigment. Well made throughout, nicely angulated front and back and short coupled with a well set on and carried tail all topped off with a good quality coat correct texture.

2. Hunter & Allen & Hunter’s Whitewreath Cashmere Casakura. (Akita) Masculine lad with plenty of bone and substance. Balanced head with good strength with dark almond eyes with neat forward facing triangular ears and good breadth and with to his muzzle. Strong straight forelegs, good depth to his chest , firm top line with a good high set ail. Carried himself well on the move with a powerful side gait, the winner just having the edge in terms of rear movement. 
3. Tate & Tate’s River Starlight At Tatalena. (Min Poodle). 


Young Kennel Club Handling Classes (Day 1)

YKC Handling 6-11 (5,2abs)


1. Arlo Barb. Smartly dressed young man handling a miniature Dachshund. Arlo did a super job showing his Dachshund in a calm, confident manner, completing everything I asked of him with little fuss and always carefully listening to my instructions. Moved his dog at the right speed with straight lines and sharp corners. His table work was good and he spotted that I moved his dog’s foot and quickly correctly it. Shadowing was spot on, not overdone and he was mindful of where I was stood at all time. Super job, well done.


2. Layla Duncan. Handling a whippet, possibly quite new to junior handling and was concentrating on her dog, so wasn’t always watching where I was positioned to avoid blocking my view of her dog and missed me move her dog’s foot. Once I had prompted her what pattern I would like her to do, Layla moved her dog at the correct pace for the breed and was kind and gentle with her dog throughout her performance. Just needs to gain in confidence, keep practising and you will get there, Well done. 


3. Hallie Hunt-Crossland.

 
YKC Handling 12-17 (6)


1. Lucy Mallinson. An accomplished performance from Lucy who clearly has a very good rapport with her dog, keeping an eye on my location within the ring at all times without being too intensive, spotting I had changed sides, so did a neat change of lead hands. Lucy’s shadowing was good, taking one small step to the side when I approached, nothing exaggerated. Her pattern work was completed very well, gaiting her dog at the correct pace and making sure she kept straight lines and sharp corners. Great work, well done. 


2. Mairead Trolley. Another very competent handler who did a super job of showing her dog in a calm, confident manner, completing everything I asked of her with little fuss. She moved her dog at the right speed with straight lines and good corners. Kept her eye on me to make sure I could see her dog at all times, also spotted that I moved a foot and corrected it quickly . Good shadowing and ensured her dog was stood four-square at all times. Well done. 


3. Gemma Mackenzie



YKC Handling 18-24 (2,1abs)


1. Carmen Allen. Handling an Akita. Carmen’s handling was quiet and very confident, always ensuring that her dog looked the best from any angle. Carmen stacked her dog in a proficient way, spotted that I moved her dog’s foot and quickly corrected it. Her was shadowing was excellent, and she kept an eye on my location within the ring to ensure she didn’t get in-between me and her dog. Stayed unflustered when her dog was a little uncooperative on the move and got her dog moving nicely and at the correct pace for the breed. Great job, well done. 


Young Kennel Club Members Stakes (Day 3)



YKC Gundog (11, 5 abs)


1. Shaw & Robertshaw & Robert’s Aurgentious Melion An Ki At Akenscales. (Retriever (Golden)) Feminine girl, well sized and with good bone. Lovely head, dense pigmentation, dark eyes giving a kind and gentle expression. Clean neck flowing into well placed shoulders, level top line and good tail set, all topped off with a beautifully presented coat . Gave a really good account of herself on the move which gave her the edge in this competitive class, such an elegant and easy gait with very good reach and drive.


2. Darwesh & Darwesh’s Chanderhill Smart Edition For Elizad JW. (Spanish Water Dog.) Smart looking brown and white lad, well made throughout with a balanced outline all topped off with a well presented coat. Lovely head and expression, short neck, straight forelegs, good depth of chest, level top line to a moderate rear. Held himself really well on the move, with a very free and easy ground covering gait. 


3. Williams & Williams’s Auristela Lady Luck At Lamhryn. (Retriever (Golden))



YKC Toy (7, 3 abs)


1. Sparrow & Moores’ Chibaya Catch My Vibe With Casarow. (Pomeranian). Dainty and compact little girl with her well plumed tail carried over her back, she presented a very breed typical outline. Feminine head, small well set ears and dark oval expressive eyes. Moderate angulations front and back, short back, nicely ribbed and carrying a well presented coat. It was on the move that she had the edge in this very good class, moving soundly and briskly around the ring.


2. Westerman’s Keljantzi's Yulianna At Charpin JW. (Miniature Pinscher). Mature black and tan girl with a pleasing outline, slight slope to her top line and well set tail. Feminine head, dark eyes and wells set on ears all giving her a keen bright expression. Good front assembly, decent depth of chest, good sweep of stifle, all topped off with a close fitting coat with well defined tans. Once she settled down on the move, she showed lift in front and good drive from behind.


3. Patterson & Patterson, & Patterson’s Hollinsclose The Promise For Bratilda

Young Kennel Club Handling Classes (Day 3)


YKC Handling 6-11 (8)


1. Myla Mae Hanes. A very competent and understated handler who was attentive to her dog at all times. Her table work was excellent, setting her dog up efficiently, taking a step to the side when I approached and showing her dog’s teeth with ease. Spotted I had moved her dog’s foot and quickly corrected it. Shadowing was really good, nothing exaggerated, just quietly moving around so I had a clear and unobstructed view of her dog. Myla’s pattern work was also very good, gaiting her dog at just the right speed making sure she kept her lines straight and corners sharp. Great job, well done.


2. Konan Mayer. Another very competent handler who did a super job, working well with his dog completing everything I asked with little fuss. Konan’s shadowing was very good, without being overdone, just making sure I had a clear view of his dog. Spotted I had moved his dog’s foot and quickly corrected it. He was mindful of where I was standing and neatly changed lead hands, whilst moving his dog at a good pace for the breed. Good pattern work, finishing in front of me with good distance, just could perhaps set his dog up a little bit quicker but very close up to the winner, well done.


3. Libby Burke



YKC Handling 12-17 (13). Wow, this was an exceptionally strong class, a real headache to sort out but in a nice way and where placings came down to fine margins, with every competitor showing highly commendable skills including those not placed today. 


1. Charlotte Robertshaw. Handling a golden retriever, with whom Charlotte has a very good rapport, she quietly and calmly shows her dog to the best advantage in a breed specific way whilst showcasing her own handling skills and carefully listening to my instructions. She was aware of my position within the ring at all times, making both necessary and efficient lead changes and without any ‘overshadowing’. Charlotte spotted I had moved her dog’s foot and quickly corrected it. Her patterns were accurate, straight lines, neat corners and at the right pace for the breed. Charlotte finished her pattern work by presenting her dog in front of me with good distance with the minimal time taken to set up her dog. Great job, well done. 


2. Grace Rutherford. Hot on the heels of the winner was Grace handling a Pointer. Another quiet and confident handler, who shows off her dog to great advantage whilst show casing her own handling skills. Grace’s shadowing is calm, quiet and not overdone in any way. She kept an eye on my position within the ring, quickly and efficiently changing lead hands as necessary and moving her dog at a good pace for the breed. Spotted I had moved a foot and quickly adjusted. Grace’s pattern work was very good, straight lines and neat corners which can be tricky with a breed that has good ground covering gait. An accomplished performance, just splitting hairs, Grace could perhaps just set her dog up a little bit quicker on the final present, but a great job, well done. 


3. Leah Chadwick




YKC Handling 18-24 (5,4 abs)


1. Eryn Williams. Handling a golden retriever, with whom she has a very good rapport. Eryn’s handling was quiet and very confident, always ensuring that her dog looked the best from any angle, completing everything I asked of her with little fuss. Eyrn was aware of my position within the ring but didn’t over-shadow, doing her lead hand changes quickly and efficiently. She spotted I had moved a foot and quickly correctly it. Very nice pattern work where Eryn worked hard on keeping straight lines, neat corners and moving her dog at the right pace, finally presenting her dog at a good distance from me whilst quickly setting her dog up. A very good performance, well done.

Vanessa Cox (Judge).