South West Scotland Gundog Association

SOUTH WEST SCOTLAND GUNDOG ASSOCIATION

GORDON SETTERS, SUNDAY 23RD NOVEMBER 2025

Thank you to the committee for their kind invitation to judge and for the welcome and warming hospitality received on a very chilly day. My thanks also to my two ring stewards who kept things running smoothly. I would like to thank all the exhibitors for the supportive entry and for allowing me the pleasure of judging their lovely dogs, I thoroughly enjoyed my day.  

Gordon Setter Puppy (0,0)

Gordon Setter Junior (2,2) A lot to like about both exhibits, still to mature fully which is typical for our late maturing breed. 1st Bell, Millar and Bell’s Laurelhach Mercedes at Blairbelles (B) Liked the overall picture presented by this young female, head proportions are good and she has a lovely dark eye of nice shape giving her a soft expression. Ear set good, neck lean leading to well placed shoulders. Straight front, flat bone. Hind quarters need to catch up with fore quarters at this stage, elbows well let down, muscle developing nicely, moved at a good pace and gait lovely to see her using her tail, nice head carriage. Lovely shiny coal black coat with tan of good colour. 2nd Hoggs Gailiech Wirnpa (D) Young Male at a similar stage of development as 1, straight front with flat bone, good depth of brisket, elbows well let down, firm loin. On the move he held his top-line, just needs to settle into his stride, excitable today making it hard to assess his rear action. Gordon Setter Special Yearling (2/2) 1st Cuthbertson’s Lainnireach Star Gazer JW (D) Pleasing in profile he has a masculine head with nice expression, straight front, flat bone, elbows well let down, has depth, nice spring of rib and ribbed well back. Firm loin, good width to hindquarters, well-muscled second thigh which came through in the rear drive he showed on the move. He held his top-line well and used his tail to advantage, nice head carriage. 2nd Hogg’s Gailiech Wirnpa (D) See 2nd previous class. Gordon Setter Graduate (2/1) 1st Hogg’s Gailiech Wirnpa (D) See 2nd Junior, movement more settled in this class. Gordon Setter Post Graduate (4/2) 1st Millers Cafotaliena Heart of a Hero JW (D). Head of good proportions, lean cheeks, broad nose with open nostrils, Strong front with deep brisket, ribs well sprung leading to a firm loin. Hindquarters well-muscled with firm second thigh, straight hock and well-padded toes. Coat shiny and coal black, good tan. Holding his top-line on the move he drove from behind covering the ground with ease. 2nd McFarlane’s Ardnadam Willow Coppice at Macdui (B). Pleasing feminine head with dark eye of good shape, lean cheeks, parallel head planes, soft expression. Ears well set, strong neck with slight arch. Straight front, flat bone, elbows well let down. Good ribs and well ribbed back into wide loin. Nice flat coat of coal black with nice tan. She was giving her handler a hard time today, tense over the loin and this reduced flow in her movement today. Gordon Setter Limit (2/0) 1st Cuthbertson’s Lainnireach a Star is Born JW (B). A pleasing head with good proportions and parallel planes, lean cheeks, soft feminine expression, broad black nose, well set ears. Strong neck into straight front, flat bone, elbows well let down, good depth, ribs well sprung and ribbed well back into firm loin. Equal in angulation fore and aft, good rear assembly with firm muscle and well-padded toes. Held her top-line on the move and drove from behind with a smooth action. Coat of coal black. 2nd Millar’s Liric Just the Ticket (D). Masculine head with lean cheeks, head of good proportions, broad black nose with nice open nostrils, nice ear set. Strong neck, straight front with nice flat bone. Equal balance fore and aft. Ribs deep with good spring of rib and ribbed well back. Loin strong and a well-muscled rear with good second thigh. He held his top-line on the move and had a good driving action, just pipped by the expression and smoother action of 1 today.

Gordon Setter Open (4/1) 1st Millar & Scobie’s Yennadon Calvay JW SHCEX OSW, (D). Nice masculine head with intelligent expression, lean cheeks and good parallel planes, broad black nose with open nostrils, good ear set. Strong neck into straight front, legs of flat bone, elbows well let down, nice depth and well sprung ribs. Balanced angulation fore and aft, loin of good width, well-muscled rear assembly with good second thigh, strong hocks and well-padded toes. Nice flat, shiny, coal black coat and good tan. Relaxed on the move he held his top-line and with a smooth driving action he covered the ground effortlessly and finished the picture with a nice tail action. BOB. 2nd Bell, Millar & Bells Balnakeil Beinn Corradail of Blairbelles (D). Another nice masculine dog with dark eye, broad nose with open nostrils. Straight front with good flat bone, elbows well let down good depth of brisket. Ribs well sprung, firm loin into strong rear assembly, well-muscled with good second thigh. Coat of coal black, tan could be clearer. Moved as one with his handler he drove well from the rear. Preferred the expression and head of 1.

No issues with mouths.

Barbara Smith, Clacorick