Hitchin & District Canine Society

Hitchin and District Canine Society

Saturday 19th April 2025

Critique

I thoroughly enjoyed this appointment. I was initially only invited to judge Beagles, Pharaoh Hounds and Salukis however took on AVNSC Hound, AV Hound and the Hound Group as a replacement judge. This was a quality group today with some lovely examples from several breeds. I was delighted to see my group winning Basset Hound went Reserve Best in Show under the highly respected Peter Young, congratulations to his owner.

Beagle

A really lovely entry of this breed.

Puppy (4 entries, 1 absent)

1st. Rushforth’s Campionfield Satisfaction. Compact feminine bitch with a lovely head and gentle expression. Good length of neck going into a good front and nice forechest. Good feet and well ribbed up with nice short loin and well-set tail. Moved OK, a touch prancy as still needs to tighten up but did enough to win this class.

2nd. Borg’s Alibor Knockout. Another nice puppy, this one a male with a masculine head, good eye shape and ears and good strong neck. A good front but still needs to strengthen in hindquarters. Plenty to like and little between him and the winner.

3rd. Borg’s Alibor Gingerbread.

Junior (4 entries, 1 absent)

1st. Rushforth’s Charterwood Icon of Campionfield. 11-month-old tri male with a super head and expression, very good front with well laid shoulders, good forechest and very good feet. Excellent spring of rib with nice short coupling and very good topline and tail. Excellent sound mover, lovely in profile. A quality compact hound who I was happy to award best of breed and best puppy to in today’s entry.

2nd. Ambridge’s Julemark Chaos. A shade longer in body than the winner. Super head and eye shape and another with a good front. OK feet and hindquarters could be stronger. Moved well however, especially in profile where he held his topline well.

3rd. McBain and Stevens’ Maplelayne Serendipitous.

Postgraduate (2 entries)

1st. Giles-Wyatt Clarismore Crown Prince JW. Compact male with a lovely head and expression, good front and depth of chest and good feet. Nice short loin and strong hindquarters, excellent topline and tail set and another who moved well.

2nd. Ambridge’s Julemark Chaos.

Open (3 entries)

1st. Whitton’s Haggatty Callisto JW. 2-year-old bitch with lovely head and eye shape giving a super gentle expression. Good front with well laid shoulder and excellent feet. Well sprung ribs with an excellent topline, and balanced strong hindquarters with a well-set tail. Very nice mover, especially in profile. I felt the puppy just had the edge on the up and back movement today so had to settle for Reserve Best of Breed. Another lovely Beagle non the less.

2nd. McBain and Stevens’ Redcap Bella Sorella Jw ShCM. 12-year-old veteran girl who I have judged before with lovely head and eye shape and a very good front. Excellent topline and good strong rear end. Very sound mover, just carrying a couple of extra pounds which we can allow for given her age.

3rd. Rushforth’s Charterwood Spangled Gold of Campionfield.

Pharaoh Hound

Postgraduate (2 entries)

1st. Falzon’s Doucai’s Principessa Xini. 4-year-old bitch who was feminine in overall outline and expression however would have liked a stronger head. The better front of the two in this class with good depth of chest and good feet. Nice topline and balanced moderate hindquarters. Moved well.

2nd. Hartley and Cannon’s Doucai’s Pixxispad. Nice enough head with evident wedge although ear set slightly low. Good length of neck going into an OK front. Needs more depth of chest at this stage. Moderate hindquarters and held her topline on the move.

Open (3 entries)

1st. Ashby, Cappelaere and Samways Kurriera Krystal Amethyst. Quality 8-year-old bitch of good breed type with super chiselled wedge-shaped head, lovely eyes and good ears. Super strong neck going into a very good front with excellent depth of chest and excellent feet. Lovely topline with balanced moderate and strong hindquarters. Lovely mover being free and flowing. Delighted to award her Best of Breed and Group 4. Surprised to see she doesn’t have her title!!

2nd. Hartley and Cannon’s Kerriera Sapphire Queen. Another quality bitch, litter sister to the winner and very similar for type. Lovely head proportions, although ear set could be slightly higher, good length of neck and another good front. Lovely overall outline and another who moved very well. Reserve best of breed.

3rd. Ashby’s Regina Allessandra.

Saluki

Puppy (2 entries)

1st. Hamilton’s Artilily Bronte. Grizzle bitch with a lovely feminne head, super eye shape and expression and good length of neck. Balanced moderate front with good length of rib and nice topline. Balanced hindquarters with good feet and overall giving a picture of good breed type. Moved the better of the two pups today although still has plenty of maturing to do. Happy to award Best Puppy and Puppy group 4.

2nd. Parton’s Artilily Tolkein. Black and silver litter brother to winner. Lovely head and expression going into a good length of neck and another good front and feet. Nice depth of chest and a good topline. Moved Ok, not as settled as his sister but a dog showing plenty of promise.

Open (1 entry)

1st. Hamilton’s Ch/ Int/ Lux/ Bel Ch Alishamar Roxane JW (Imp Bel) Grizzle bitch and mother to the two pups. Beautiful, elegant feminine head with super expression and lovely well feathered ears. Excellent length of neck going into well laid shoulders with good return of upper arm and strong feet. Lovely depth of chest with excellent topline and balanced moderate hindquarters. Lovely effortless mover and shortlisted in the group.

AVNSC Hound

Puppy (2 entries)

1st. Threadgold’s Laakso Katja (Norwegian Elkhound). Smart 8 month old bitch with a super wedge-shaped head and lovely dark oval eye. Excellent small erect ears and overall giving a super expression. Lovely strong front with excellent neat feet and enough bone. Lovely short loin with balanced moderate hindquarters and excellent tail with tightly curled plume. Super coat and colouring and lovely mover. Really liked her for overall type and quality and delighted to award her best puppy and puppy group 2 in a quality entry.

2nd. Rose’s Hyndsight Better Believe it (Deerhound). Lovely breed type with super head and gentle kind expression. Excellent length of neck. Front still needs to fill which is expected in a puppy of this breed. Good feet and an excellent topline with gentle rise over the loin and good drooping croup. Moved OK, still needs to come together but plenty to like.

Postgraduate (3 entries, 1 absent)

1st. Hicks’ Nuthouse Going for Gold JW (Rhodesian Ridgeback). Quality bitch with a feminine head, super eye shape and intelligent expression. Excellent strong neck going into a correct front with good feet. Well sprung rib of good length with balanced unexaggerated hindquarters. Super houndy movement with good reach and drive and sound up and back. I really liked this bitch for overall breed type and was happy to award her reserve best AVNSC in this quality entry.

2nd. Allchorne’s Nelgus Lucky Charm (Basset Hound) Bitch with good head and ears and nice eye shape. Nice enough front with good feet and plenty of bone. Well ribbed up although hindquarters could be stronger. Moved OK, not happy in today’s venue.

Open (10 entries, 3 absent)

A quality class.

1st. Allchorne’s Nelgus Thyme Flies (Basset Hound). Quality Basset Male with super noble head, with good parallel planes, prominent occiput and low set ears of excellent length and texture. Lovely clean eye giving good expression. Excellent length of strong neck going into an excellent front with well laid shoulders, tight elbows and good wrap around. Excellent fore chest with good strong feet. Lovely length of rib giving a very good topline, strong loin and strong well-muscled hindquarters with good stern of correct set and length. Lovely free and effortless sound action, holding his topline and head carriage well, with good amount of ground clearance. I’ll be the first to admit that I can often be critical of Bassets however this hound shows how far the breed has come in recent years in terms of quality and health. A sound moving functional hound who really showed well today. I was delighted to award him Best AVNSC and Hound Group 1 in a strong group.

2nd. Hills and Thornton’s Absolute Afghans Djibouti at Karnak JW (Imp Nor) (Afghan Hound). Masculine black and gold Afghan of good breed type with a good head, strong underjaw and nice triangular eye. A good front with well laid shoulders and balanced upper arm, and good large feet. Lovely depth of chest with sufficient spring of rib and good topline with evident saddle. Prominent hip bones with strong hindquarters and low set ring tail. Super coat texture and condition, moved well with springy gait.

3rd. Threadgold’s Ch Norvin Joyeaux Noel (Norwegian Elkhound)

AV Imported Breeds Register Hound

Open (1 entry)

1st. Searle’s Stonemartin Bron (Azawakh). Typey feminine bitch shown in lovely lean condition with fine head and good eyes. Moderate front with good length of shoulders, balanced upper arm and good feet. Lovely outline being higher on leg, with balanced very moderate hindquarters. Nice fine coat texture and shown in condition expected for this breed. Moved typically with high action. Best AV Import Register.

AV Hound

Puppy (11 entries, 6 absent)

1st. O’Day’s Rocky Succesion of Baron at Madifrey (Imp Poland) (Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen). Young male of super breed type who I judged recently and awarded the RCC to. Super breed type with lovely noble head, super eye shape and expression and nice square muzzle. Very good front with good bone and feet, well sprung ribs and an excellent top line. Well set on stern and strong hindquarters. Excellent coat texture and a lovely sound mover.

2nd. Threadgold’s Laakso Katja (Norwegian Elkhound).

3rd. Borg’s Alibor Knockout (Beagle)

Junior (7 entries, 4 absent)

1st. Hawdon’s Lokmadi Charles Dance (Mini Smooth Haired Dachshund). Nice head and eye shape with good length of neck going into a good front with sufficient forechest. Excellent topline which he held well on the move and good length of rib. OK hindquarters, could be stronger, however most together on the move in this class.

2nd. Wood’s Beaujons Anton Du Beke (Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen). Young male being naughty for his handler. Nice head and eye shape wit well set ears. Good front and forechest, nice topline and balanced hindquarters. Coat could be slightly harsher however moved well.

3rd. Wilson’s Boughton Busy Lizzie for Hamiltonhill (Whippet)

Postgraduate (5 entries, 2 absent)

1st. Casey’s Cootscanis Start at Eversden (Mini Smooth Haired Dachshund) Nice head although eye slightly rounder than I’d prefer. Good front, better of the two dachshunds in this class. Good length of rib with a good topline which they held on the move.

2nd. Ward-Blower’s Dajean Surely Keifer at Willowmist (Mini Wire Haired Dachshund). Better eye shape than winner however did not score as well in front. Nice length of neck and another good top line. Balanced hindquarters and moved well.

3rd. Rochford’s Velandor Mr Jingles (Whippet)

Open (6 entries, 1 absent)

1st. Threadgold’s Ch Norvin Joyeaux Noel (Norwegian Elkhound). Quality bitch who has a super typical wedge-shaped head, lovely dark eye and nice small ears. Strong neck going into well laid shoulders and super feet. Nice square outline with lovely coat texture and colour. Lovely mover and excellent breed type.

2nd. Cvirkiene’s Lux Ch Catuma Xuta Tabangwa (Imp Cze) (Basenji). Tri coulor male with a good enough head, short muzzle although would like more cushioning on the muzzle as slightly snipey in appearance. Lovely, crested neck going into a good front with well laid shoulders and good feet. Overall square in outline. Hindquarters slightly more angulated that forequarters which looked good in profile movement however slightly unbalanced in up and back. Lovely tail set and curl and good coat texture and overall condition. Still a young dog who needs to mature however plenty of positive breed specific points.

3rd. Nunneley’s Kelesmonk Kind of Magic (Whippet)

Veteran (13 entries, 8 absent)

1st. Buchanan, Maclaren and O’Day’s Ch Tarmachan Black Ice WW18 (Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen). Top quality bitch who I recently awarded a CC too. Excellent breed type with a super head, nice square muzzle, super eye shape and noble expression. Excellent length of neck going into a very good front with well laid shoulders, very good forechest and excellent bone and feet. Good depth of chest with well sprung ribs of good length and strong short loin. Super well muscled hindquarters which she used well on the move with free elastic action and excellent tail set and carried correctly. One of the best examples of this breed I have judged.

2nd. Skerritt and Betts Beaujons Vagabond of Monkhams (Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen). Quality petit and another I have done well in the past. Super typical head and expression, lovely short square muzzle, excellent eye shape and good ears. Lovely length of neck going into an excellent front with very good feet. Lovely spring of rib of good length with short strong loin and excellent coat texture. Balanced hindquarters and lovely free and easy mover. Unlucky to meet the Grand in this competition but was delighted to award him Group 3 in the hound group.

3rd. Richardson and Wood’s Ch Mombatongoempress Euginie of Cooperland JW (Imp Ita) (Basenji)

Hound Group

Group 1: Allchorne’s Nelgus Thyme Flies (Basset Hound)

Group 2: Norman’s Silvae State Secret (Wire Haired Dachshund). Quality Wire with super head and expression, excellent front with well laid shoulders, balanced return of upper arm and good prominent sternum. Excellent feet and good depth of chest with good length of rib and nice strong loin. Super topline with balanced strong hindquarters and excellent free movement with super drive from the rear.

Group 3: Skerritt and Betts Beaujons Vagabond of Monkhams (Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen)

Group 4: Ashby, Cappelaere and Samways Kurriera Krystal Amethyst. (Pharaoh Hound)

Puppy Group

Group 1: Collier’s Jayanel Alfabeti Spageti (Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen). Quality Grand puppy with super masculine head, excellent eye shape and expression and nice square muzzle. Lovely long ears set on low and super length of neck going into an excellent front. Well laid shoulders with balanced return of upper arm and good feet. Good length of rib and forechest, just needs to spring which will come with age. Strong balanced hindquarters with lovely stern set on correctly and of good length. A quality young hound, superbly handled, who is showing plenty of promise and will go far without a doubt.

Group 2: Threadgold’s Laakso Katja (Norwegian Elkhound).

Group 3: Rushforth’s Charterwood Icon of Campionfield. (Beagle)

Group 4: Hamilton’s Artilily Bronte. (Saluki)

AV Good Citizen Dog Scheme Stakes (35 entries)

1st. Latherton and Trenchard’s Sh Ch Fynder Reacher ShCEx (Irish Water Spaniel). Quality Champion male who I have judged before. Lovely masculine head with excellent eye shape and ears. Super strong neck going into an excellent front with super depth of chest, well sprung ribs and excellent coat texture. Lovely topline with strong hindquarters and good tail. Lovely sound clean movement and an excellent example of his breed.

2nd. Stuchbury’s Avaness Lights Up Kutula (Tibetan Terrier). Quality black bitch with super head proportions and lovely eye shape. Excellent front with well laid shoulders and overall excellent square outline. Lovely mover and presented in excellent coat and condition.

3rd. Tomkins’ Pasgal Reach Out and Touch (Staffordshire Bull Terrier)

David Knights (Lelaps)