Northwich & District Canine Society

Northwich & District Canine Society Premier Open Show – 15th June 2025

Judge: Aarron Kehoe

I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge at this wonderful showground. The society ran the show fantastically well, and my 2 stewards Ashley and Barbara kept the ring running well on the day. Additionally, thank you to all the exhibitors who allowed me to judge your dogs, it was a privilege to go over some lovely examples.

Irish Red & White Setter

Junior (1)

1st – Bloxham’s: Alanea Emerald

A smart bitch, just turned 12 months. She gave her handler a hard time today and didn’t quite settle, which is a shame as I liked the look of her overall. Broad skull with pleasing dark brown eyes. A good muscled neck, not too long and then into well-muscled forequarters. Strong oval bone, nice deep chest and powerful and athletic throughout. RBOB

Post Graduate (1)

1st – Hargreaves’ Ianbro Kamino Sapphire to Forgeway

7 year old bitch, happy and good natured In the ring, moved with ease and showed plenty of reach as she strides round the ring. Feminine throughout and showcased her athleticism. Deep chest, with well sprung ribs. BOB

Irish Setter

Puppy (3,1)

1st – Macfarlane’s: Harelferg Macfarlane for Umfrido

Very handsome 10 month old dog. Super affectionate puppy and absolutely loved showing off in the ring. Correct proportions for head and skull with lovely dark eyes and a kind expression. Neck not too long or thick, but well-muscled, set nicely into shoulders. A good deep chest and a straight topline with a gentle slope. Moved well and showed his character. Coat was well presented. Exciting puppy. BPIB

2nd – Rose-Hay’s: Shelindair Chocolate Flake

7 month old bitch, Wasn’t too confident in the ring today, however she came out of her shell as the class progressed. Quite raw and would like to see more bone and substance. Pleasing head and expression. Clean neck. A little straight in angulation at the moment. Need to firm in top line as she matures.

Junior (3,1)

1st – Hignett-Capper, Capper, Kassube & French’s: Cararua Peal of the North

1 year old dog, very well presented with a lovely balance throughout. Super temperament. Kind eyes, refined head and correct proportions. Shoulders well back and good straight forelegs. Nice deep chest and an excellent topline. Free flowing movement with good drive. A nice depiction of ‘racy’. Was close to taking the top spot, just hasn’t quite reached the maturity of the BOB today. Excited to watch mature. RBOB

2nd – Kassube & French’s: Cararua Spring Pearl

1 year old bitch, litter mate to 1st place and you can see the similarities. Refined and racy throughout. Presented vey well with a good free flowing drive. On the day I just preferred the overall balance and proportions of 1st place.

Post Graduate (6)

1st – Macfarlane’s: Harelferg New Tricks for Umfrido ShCEx

A lovely 4 year old boy, a handsome strapping lad. Had quality throughout and moved effortlessly round the ring, free flowing with excellent co-ordination. Very affectionate with good racy lines. Presented very well and balanced throughout. Perfect head proportions. Nice muscular neck and clean into shoulders. Deep chest and correct straight but gently sloping topline. BOB

2nd – Holmes’: Gewndariff Mr Blue Sky

18 month old dog. Put together very well and lots to like, showed his socks off. Free flowing in his movement, and clearly loved being there with his handler. Was in the running for BOB and RBOB. Balanced, with racy look overall. Deep chest and a strong loin, with correct topline. Very tough to pick between him, 1st place PG and 1st place Jnr for the top awards.

3rd – Hearn’s: Cataluna Light of My Soul

Open (5)

1st – Corless’: Swiftlark Spellbinder

Nearly 6 year old dog. Good sized male with a typical silhouette and stood out in the line-up. Pleasing head, with kind eyes. Correct neck well placed correctly into well laid back shoulders. Top line probably not as firm as I’d like on the move, but held in the stack. Nice flowing movement, would have preferred a little more drive.

2nd – Walkers’: Thendara Soul Sister

8 year old bitch. Nice refined feminine head, overall pleasing on the eye. Correct angulation upfront and a good sloping topline to a correctly set tail. Moved lovely round the ring. Coat was a little long and wavy in places today.

3rd – Kassube & French’s: Twoacres Fantasy by Cararua

Spaniel (Cocker)

Puppy (6,1)

This class was without doubt my toughest choice of the day across all the breeds I judged, there were some excellent pups in the ring.

1st – Wildman’s: Oktumi Big Player

9 month old dog. Immaculately presented, sturdy and well balanced, a very happy puppy. Well developed skull with a nice wide nose. Neck not too long and muscular with correctly angled shoulders and straight legs. Strong body with well sprung ribs and short firm loin. Correct topline. Up to size but maintained balance and no coarseness. His movement is what nabbed him 1st place, great drive. BPIB

2nd – Bayliss’: I Will Be In The Morning Light (Imp Hun)

Beautiful 11 month old bitch. She caught my eye in the first line up, well balanced and compact with a lovely nature. Head neither too fine or too coarse, with a lovely gentle expression. Legs well boned and the correct length. Sturdy, compact body with a strong loin. Covered ground well. Really close to 1st place but just didn’t have the same level of exuberance and drive on the move as 1st place.

3rd – Tomlinson’s: Milalder Breeze of Grace

Junior (4,1)

1st – Tomlinson’s: Milalder April Showers

1 year old bitch. A very smart orange roan bitch. Feminine and beautifully presented. Full of confidence with a lovely merry attitude. Strong neck into sloping shoulders and correct front assembly. Nice compact body with good width, leading to well-muscled hindquarters. Moved well round the ring.

2nd – Nicholas & Wildman’s: Oktumi Wishful Thinking

14 month old bitch. Very well put together with a lovely temperament to boot. Feminine head with a kind expression, strong muscular neck and correct topline. Well-developed chest. She didn’t quite have the movement of 1st place today and made it a little hard for her handler.

3rd – Eisen’s: Crankwoods Quick Step

Post Graduate (5)

1st – Tomlinson’s: Milalder Lady Madonna

2.5 year old bitch. Nice square shape and moderate all over. Well presented and full of confidence. Square muzzle on a cleanly chiselled head. Compact and robust throughout, super strong wide loin and level topline. Plenty of Drive and covered the ground effortlessly, looked like she enjoyed herself. RBOB

2nd – Bradbury & Mather’s: Kyna Crystal Clear

2 year old bitch. Pleasing on the eye, both in the stack and on the move. Nothing overdone. Affectionate and happy. Nice angles front and back, with a nice balance of sturdiness and robustness, without being coarse.

3rd – Kita-Oakes & Oakes’: Ludzska Royal Quest

Open (6,1)

1st – Wildman’s: Glantraeth Ovation to Oktumi

Stunning 19 month old bitch. Affectionate and a lovely merry nature. Balanced throughout with a lovely feminine head and sweet expression. Good muscular neck, correct front assembly and a strong, compact body. Well sprung ribs and a nice wide strong loin. Expertly handled, moved with purpose and drive. Nothing overdone and nothing out of place, just a really lovely example of the breed. BOB. Group 1 and BIS.

2nd - Norris’s: Joaldy Mr Happy at Amaranth

Dog of nearly 4 years. Another wonderful example of the breed. Well-conditioned with good muscle. Lovely kind expression and was clearly happy to be in the ring. Moved with drive showing a clean set of paws and covered the ground well.

3rd – Tomlinson’s: Milalder Jumpin Jack Flash

Gordon Setter

Junior (1,1)

Post Graduate (1,1)

Open (2,1)

1st – Beddall’s: Dwensantinis Dora of Artiyo

Nearly 3 year old bitch. Nice broad head with kind dark eyes and lovely big nose. Complete scissor bite. Long clean neck. Correct angulation up front and a level top line with strong, wide, slightly arched loin. Moved well with good drive. BOB

Spaniel (American Cocker)

Puppy (2)

1st – Clay’s: Americlass Hollywood Parti

8 month old smart dog. I loved going over him and his litter mate. Tail wagging and merry as you like. He has a rounded head with clearly defined stop with chiselling in the right places. Nice round eyes with an affectionate soft expression. Wonderful topline, strong and sloping evenly on to well-rounded quarters. Covered ground well, loved being in the ring. BPIB

2nd – Clay’s: Americlass Dita Von Parti

8 month old bitch, littermate to 1st place. Shares many of the virtues of her littermate, tough to split them but 1st place just covered ground a tad better today.

Junior (2)

1st – Fryer’s: Dreamcast Elysium at Carolco

1 year old bitch. Lovely temperament, rounded head with nice alert eyes, ready to strut her stuff. Sloping shoulders, straight legs set close and well-muscled. Correct height and length proportions and deep, well sprung ribs. Moved with ease with tail constantly merry.

2nd – Glover’s: Yankeetank Princess Ida at Mickals

1 year old bitch. Another lovely temperament, didn’t want to be anywhere else. Nice head and expression. Proportions all correct in the forequarters and a good spring of rib. Full of confidence. On the day 1st place just held her topline more on the move, but it was very close.

Post Graduate (1)

1st – Summers’: Ultimate Black Jaclee Knight (Imp Fra)

19 month old dog. I really liked this boy, pleasing outline and a super head. Merry and bright and very well handled. Nice long muscular neck. Well assembled forequarters and correct depth of chest. Super topline and hindquarters. Moved with ease, covering ground well. Excited to see this boy mature. RBOB

Open (1)

1st – Fryer’s: SH CH Fonesse Dirty Dancing at Carolco ShCEx

5 year old dog. Excellent example of the breed. Immaculately presented, fantastic head and muscular slightly arched neck. Perfect Chest depth and front proportions, solid topline and strong loin. Well-muscled hindquarters. Such a show off! He moved with drive and style and covered ground effortlessly. A pleasure to go over. BOB

Spaniel (Welsh Springer)

Puppy (3,1)

1st – Philipson’s: Menstonia Endless Dreams Taf

7 month old dog. I really liked this boy, wonderful temperament and loved to show off. Compact throughout and well-conditioned. Complete scissor bite with a slightly domed scull. Well-muscled neck set nicely into shoulders. Well assembled forequarters. Deep chest and good length of body to leg. Nice solid loin with a slight arch. Excellent mover for his age, powerful with good drive, such a promising pup. BPIB and RBOB. Went on to get PG3 in a strong puppy group.

2nd – Knowles’: Menstonia Endless Mist

7 month old bitch, littermate to 1st place and shared many of his virtues. On the move is where 1st place was better on the day, would have liked the same level of drive for her. Nonetheless a super pup with lots of promise.

Junior (2)

1st – Smith’s: Nyliram Hold My Hand at Isfryn

17 month old bitch. I loved this cheeky girl, she was full of character and confidence, she even went in for a few kisses and a cuddle when I was going over her. kind eyes and a correct slightly domed head with defined stop. Strong neck set into sloping shoulders. Compact and robust body with strong hindquarters. Moved impeccably, effortless with plenty of drive. BOB. Was nice to see her go on and shortlisted in a strong Gundog Group.

2nd – Griffiths’: Merchinetes Padrig

15 month old dog. Another nice youngster, pleasing on the eye and symmetrical throughout. Complete scissor bite, good muscled neck and well assembled front. Compact body with round, firm feet. On the move he fell a little flat and didn’t quite have the character of 1st place today.

Post Graduate (1)

1st – Smith’s: Nyliram Hold My Hand at Isfryn

Open (1)

1st – Philipson’s: Menstonia Meteor ShCEx

7 year old dog. Charming boy, confident, experienced and still happy as ever. Stood proudly and the moved off with purpose and drive. Compact throughout and well-muscled. Handsome head and eyes.

Spaniel (Sussex)

Junior (2,1)

1st – Marston’s: Wollasbridge Barnaby

17 month old dog. Still maturing but has everything in the right place and nothing overdone. Strong and well-muscled neck, slightly arched. Deep chest with level body and a strong loin. Well assembled hindquarters. Typical Sussex roll in movement. RBOB

Open (2,1)

1st – Hipgrave’s: Lord of The Glittering Caves at Ternspringer

Nearly 3 year old dog. Handsome and maturing into a strong muscular boy, full of breed type. Wide skull with large, thick ears. Strong neck with the right level of throatiness. Strong throughout with moderately angled hindquarters. Moved with purpose and trademark roll. BOB.

Italian Spinone

Puppy (2,1)

1st – Pugh’s: Gellini Special Edition

Lovely 8 month old bitch. Eye catching in the stack and a wonderful mover. Tried to go in for a hug a few times, then settled nicely. Typical and correct head with good depth of muzzle and a large spongey nose. Kind, affectionate eyes with correct ears, set on level with eye. Strong neck set into well laid back shoulders. Typical Spinone sloping along the topline with well-muscled hindquarters. For such a young bitch she moved remarkably well and looked relaxed. BPIB and RBOB. Lovely to see her go on and get shortlisted in a very strong Puppy Group.

Open (2,2)

1st – Gill’s: SH CH Testeverde Enrico Caruso Del Jocagil

6 year old dog. Masculine and well built boy. Handled very well and moved free and relaxed, covering ground. Kind eyes, and typically very patient and affectionate. Good depth of muzzle and large spongey nose with enough stop. Muscled neck set into laid back strong shoulders. Masculine and strong throughout, very well-conditioned. BOB. Went on to be shortlisted in a very strong Gundog Group.

2nd – Pugh’s: Gellini Indian Moon

5 year old bitch. Strong and robust throughout. Divergent head planes with soft, kind eyes. Well assembled forequarters with strong bone. Good spring of rib and long muscular thighs. Another lovely example of the breed.