Pennine Great Dane Club

Firstly I would like to say thank you to the club for giving me the opportunity to judge, after avoiding judging for 27 years this was my second club appointment - I truly appreciate the clubs supporting me. A huge thank you to all the exhibitors who gave me entries and who attended on the day without you and the committees there would be no shows. Every dog on the day counts especially when you are working towards moving up the judging ladder.

I knew it would be a very long day and was very happy we managed to jump into the ring next door and get an earlier start! I appreciate your patience while we waited for exhibits/handlers in the other shows – I always think if I had paid my money/entered I would like a judge to wait for me and give me the opportunity to exhibit under them.

Remember we all take the best dog home – my decisions were based on the dogs on the day and there are classes where the places could easily change.

MPD (1) 1 Mahon’s Tamzdane Dough Riginal. 6mth and 1 day mantle, very much a raw baby with lots of growing left to do. Lovely square drop of lip, good flat bone and nice lay back of shoulder. A little bum high at the moment not unexpected at this age.

PD (2) 1 Simpson’s Renescent Bewitched.11 month old black is black, really liked this puppies overall balance, strong though elegantly built, beautiful level head planes, lovely correct dark eye, long well arched neck, brisket reaching the elbows well under the body. Lovely tight cat like feet, springy and free movement, covering ground well. Really pushed hard in the line up and was seriously considered. BPD & BPIS

2 Pocock & Pavlou’s Bubba Von Pao Eberjager with Tamzdane (Imp Fca). 11 month old well marked mantle, although the same age as 1 has a lot more maturing and developing to do. Defiantly has the look of dash and dare, good flat bone, long neck, correct medium sized high set ears, belly well drawn up. Not as balanced on the move as 1 would like to see him in a few months time.

JD (2) 1 Lawton & Farquharson’s Garsak Sir Winslow At Thornbrae. 12 month old fawn black mask, very strong head with a nice dark eye I liked his body’s overall balance. Shoulders muscular, not loaded, well sloped back, ribs well sprung, good turn of stifle, covered the ground well. RBD 2 Pocock & Pavlou’s Bubba Von Pao Eberjager with Tamzdane (Imp Fca). See PD for critique.

PGD (1) 1 Warrener’s Stormdance Lord Of The Rings (IKC). 4 year old well marked harlequin with a pure white underground. Good square drop of lip on a reasonable head. Good length of neck adequate shoulders, large flat bone and elbows tucked well under the body. Moved out and covered the ground well.

LD (1)1 McGuinness & Nelson’s Dinahtron The Omen. 22 month old fawn black mask, upstanding male, beautiful long foreface, skull flat with slight indentation running up centre medium ears set high. Long neck free from any loose skin. Muscular shoulders well set back. Good topline with strong loins and well developed second thigh, good turn of stifle. Very pleasing outline on the stack. BD

OD (3,2) 1 Gilbert’s Lomondane Chuffed Tae Bits. 5 year old fawn black mask, long foreface with a broad muzzle, correct rise over the brow, with lovely dark eyes. Good length of neck would prefer a slightly better lay back of shoulder. Good depth of chest reaching elbows. Correct flat bone. Moved out and covered the ground well.

MPB (2) 1 Laycocks’s Juno Von Der Rhon (Imp Deu) 9mth fawn black mask, this was quiet a difficult class to judge as both exhibits are very raw and were very different types. The deciding factor on the day for me was movement - I felt this puppy moved to advantage. 2 Pocock’s Lambrini A Girl Like Me At Tamzdane 7mth mantle beautifully marked. See 1 for further comments.

JB (5,1) 1 Bithell’s Vertumnus Raise Your Glass To Bourntwyn 14mth fawn black mask, a class of promising young bitches that are all still developing and maturing - on another day placings could change but today this bitch topped the class. Overall an elegant balanced outline. Beautiful long foreface with correct scissor bite. Lips hang squarely in front, forming right angle with upper line of foreface. Beautiful long neck, well arched, clean and free from any loose skin. Good turn of stifle and moved out with the required lythe springy action. I will watch this bitch with interest. 2 Bourton-Thorne Verano Viva Las Vegas 16mth fawn black mask. A stronger bitch than 1 but still balanced throughout Correct head flowing into neck which is well set in shoulders, junction of head and neck well defined. Shoulders muscular with elbows well under body. Forelegs perfectly straight with big flat bone. Rear quarters muscular, giving strength and galloping power. Second thigh long and well developed, another with a good turn of stifle. 3 Page’s Novavida Aesirs Conquest

NB (2) 1 Laycocks’s Juno Von Der Rhon (Imp Deu) see PB for critique 2 Pocock’s Lambrini A Girl Like Me At Tamzdane see PB for critique.

PGB (2, 2) 1 Thomson’s Roucandane Cyclone 21mth fawn black mask. This class could easily change places on another day - both bitches could benefit from more weight. Femanine bitch with a good head leading into a clean well arched neck, good flat bone and the required tight cat like feet. Still has some maturing to do. This bitch won on her movement and look of dash and daring, being ready to go anywhere and do anything 2 Page’s Novavida Shieldmaiden 14mth fawn blackmask. I like this bitch’s overall make and shape long flat bone, long foreface, correct scissor bite. The placings could easily change on another day however today she was a little unsettled and wary this affected her on the move and didn’t allow her to show to her best advantage.

LB (2) 1 Merwick’s Taradanes Star Vision For Saalan 3 year old brindle wearing a slightly hormonal/seasonal coat today - it didn’t distract from her beautiful feminine head, giving the appearance of equal breadth throughout and a nice dark eye. Well placed shoulders leading to perfectly straight forelegs with flat bone. Good depth of chest. In fantastic well muscled condition – powered round the ring covering the ground well with excellent drive. 2 Gilbert’s Lomondane Coorie Doune 5 year fawn black mask overall a balanced bitch with a lovely length of foreface, clean neck and a reasonable layback of shoulder. Forelegs perfectly straight with large flat bone. Good depth of second thigh with enough turn of stifle. Handler gets the best out of her.

OB (5,3) 1 Worsley’s Primus Encore Avec Malpa 3 year old fawn black mask. First thing that springs to mind looking at her is this is a classy bitch! Nicely balanced throughout, a classic head on a long well arched neck that’s well set in good layed back shoulders. Nice flat bone, with tight cat like feet. Good depth of body with elbows well tucked under. Her tailset is correct leading to a correct rear assembly with enough rear angulation to drive. A beautiful bitch that I was very pleased to award the class BB and ultimately BIS 2 Middleton’s Dornoir Sinade 5 year old blue, this is a nice shaped bitch, no exaggeration, strongly though elegantly built, square drop of lip with a long foreface. It’s a shame this bitch doesn’t hold/show herself to advantage.

SPVB (2,1) 1 Middleton’s Ch Taysca Must De Cartier At Dornoir JW 8 year old black. Although a little grey this quality bitch could give some of the youngsters a run for their money, she covers the ground well hocks moving freely and enough bend of stifle to provide a driving action. Lovely dark eyes. Well handled.

SPO Mem D/B (1) 1 Middleton’s Carsan Agustina 3 year old blue bitch. On the stand she has a very clean elegant outline. Muscular shoulders, elbows well under the body and forelegs with big flat bone. She has enough rear angulation with a reasonable turn of stifle. Good croup set. She didn’t show herself to best advantage on the move for her runner.

SPO HARLI D/B (1) 1 Pocock’s Tamzdane Oooey Gooey Cake JW 2 year old harli bitch. Lots to like about this girl clean white background with torn black patches, overall muscular and strongly built. Muzzle broad, head viewed from above and front has appearance of equal breadth throughout. Well sprung ribs with belly well drawn up. Second thigh long and well developed with a good turn of stifle and hocks set low. Once she gets going she moves really well. Pushed hard and seriously considered in the line up.

SPO Fawn D/B (3,1) 1 Worsley’s Primus Encore Avec Malpa see OB for critique 2 Martin’s Keishant Athena 4 year old fawn black mask bitch. Good head with a long foreface, skull flat with the correct rise/brow over the eye. Longer in body than 1, with a deep brisket reaching the elbows and large flat bone. She appeared a little sluggish on the move today and lacked her usual dash and dare but it was the third show of the day.

SPO BLK D/B (1) 1 Macdonald’s Zeus Nero Von Adamantium Of Ranaldane (IMP DEU) IR JCH CJW22 CW. 4 year old Black, Black is black with the darkest of eyes and dark nails to match. Presented in gleaming condition. Powerful overall look with a very strong male head. Has that look of dash and dare. Enough hind angulation to cover the ground well uses his muscular hindquarters to his advantage, slightly low croup.

SPO Brindle D/B (4,2) 1 Merwick’s Taradanes Star Vision For Saalan see limit bitch for critique. 2 Page’s Novavida Aesirs Conquest 14mth brindle bitch. Litter sister to 2nd in PGB, some of the same comments apply. I like this bitch’s overall make and shape long flat bone, long foreface, correct scissor bite. Loved her length of leg, still needs to develop in the rear angulation this hopefully should come with age. It was a difficult class to judge and the placings could easily change on another day however today I preferred the head and maturity of 1.

SPO Blue D/B (2,1) Ferguson’s Ir Ch Renescent Too Hot To Handle For Chateaudain Lux Jch Cw25 JW 2 year old blue bitch. Steel blue bitch who presents a beautifully balanced outline. Overall stack presents elegance of outline and grace of form. Broad muzzle with Skull proportionally narrow giving the appearance of equal breadth throughout, lips hanging squarely in front forming a right angle with upper line of foreface. She is mesmerising to watch on the move with a lithe springy and free action moving in unison with her handler. I have judged this bitch previously and she is developing beautifully -she still has some maturing to do however I was very happy to award her RBB & RBIS. I will follow her with interest.

Mrs Anna McLellan (Anadain)