Coventry & District Gundog Society

Coventry & District Gundog Society – 7 December 2025

I would like to thank the Committee for their kind invitation to judge a number of breeds and BIS/BPIS. This is the fourth time I’ve had the pleasure of judging at this show and the welcome is always super. My thanks to all the exhibitors for your entries and sporting acceptance of my decisions and to my stewards, both of the Anthony’s. I hope everyone enjoyed their day as much as I did and, once again, thank you to the Society for the invitation, the hospitality & the lovely gift.

I had some lovely dogs to go over and some difficult decisions, the BIS line-up was truly a pleasure to see with an almost full group, I think only the Labrador was missing. BPIS gave me some very promising puppies to go over.

GWP

PG (1): 1. Robson’s Glenquin Major at Yohenoak, 2.5yr B/W D, well grown with a pleasing head and good eye colour. Well-furnished eyebrows and beard. Strong neck flowing into correct shoulders and a level topline. Good depth of chest with well-sprung ribs. Excellent bone and nice tight feet. Moved soundly.

O (2): 1.Turnbull, Turnbull & Keene’s Glenquin The Colonel at Elagram JW Another 2.5yr B/W D, litter brother to the winner of the previous class. Many of the same comments apply. Masculine head with a lovely dark eye, well framed by good eyebrows. Correct length and set of ear and a good beard. Strong neck into a well-constructed front assembly, slightly better in forechest than his brother. Well angulated both fore and aft. Strong topline, which he maintained on the move. In the class he was a little full-on for his handler, who just managed to keep him sufficiently under control to show his positive movement. In the challenge, with a different handler, he settled and contained himself well enough to take Best of Breed 2. Turnbull, Turnbull & Keene’s Kimmax Two Kan Play at Elagram (AI) 4.5yr L/W B, pretty head & good eye, correct furnishings, well-constructed all through but a little narrow in front & quite fine bone, coat of good texture, well let down hocks which she used well on the move although she tended at times to throw her elbows out.

Spaniel (English Springer)

PG (2): 1.Williams & Toublic’s Cobhay Heavenly Hydrangea JW Bel JCh BJW24 2yr L/W B, lovely head with a dark eye and well-set ears of correct length. Strong neck into a well-laid shoulder and straight front, good depth of chest with tight elbows and well-boned legs down to tight feet. Moderately angulated behind with sufficient depth of thigh. Coat of correct texture, though a fraction more would complete the picture. A sound mover. RBOB. 2. Fugle & Cooke’s Eastriding Love in Black with Cumani almost 4yr B/W B, nice size girl, dark eye & ears of correct set & length, strong topline & correct tailset, good coat & feathering, slightly finer all through than 1, moved ok, preferred head and overall balance of 1

O (4,2abs): 1. Williams & Toublic’s Cobhay Dashing Dandelion JW, L/W D of just over two years with the most appealing head, a soft expression from dark eyes, totally masculine without any coarseness. Good ear length. Strong neck into well-laid shoulders, a strong topline and correct tailset. Well-boned legs down to well-padded, tight feet. Coat in full bloom with ample feathering. On the move he showed precise footfall both coming and going, and in profile. I had no hesitation in awarding him BOB 2. Williams & Toublic’s Cobhay Fancy Phlox 7-yr L/W B, dam of the winner, and the complete antithesis of him in terms of masculinity and femininity. Not showing her age at all, she has a pretty head with a sweet expression, framed by ears of correct set and length. Liked her for size and overall balance. Good angulation all round. She again has a super coat with a good amount of feathering. Moved soundly although going a little close behind at times.

Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)

P (4,1abs): Three puppies who would probably change places on another day, all at slightly different stages of development at the moment but close decision between them 1. Trickett’s Tollpepper Celtic Zephyr compact 8m D, was giving his handler a bit of a hard time but was the most balanced today, attractive head, eyes already darkening, uses his ears well, good length of neck into well laid shoulders, coat coming along well, enough bone & good feet, tending to stand a bit bum high at times but when stood correctly presented a nice picture, moved well, BP 2. Cross & Parfett’s Tollpepper Dawns Light litter sister to 1, pretty head, attentive, alert expression, slightly longer cast than her brother but good depth of chest and plenty of forechest, needs a little more infill in front, good bone & feet, another who moved well 3. Gregory’s Deltandamba Go West

J (2,1): 1. D. Go West, 8m D, 3rd in P, liked this boy for size and type, he has a good head at this stage, good angulation all round & enough forechest, a little up on his legs but just needs to drop back down into his chest, good bone & feet, nice rich colour, not quite the undercoat of 1 & 2 in puppy, moved ok

PG (4): Parker, Parker & Hipkiss’s Skysaria Blaze of Hope with Deltandamba JW 2Yr D, mature example of the breed, well balanced head with ears of the correctly size & set, strong neck, well-laid shoulder, good in forechest and depth, standing on well boned legs down to tight feet, well coated with undercoat and nicely feathered without being overdone, carries his tail correctly on the move which he did with reach and drive, BOB 2. Gregory’s Exetollers What’s This Intro Ex 4yr D loved his soft gentle expression, liked him for size and shape, well balanced with good coat & undercoat, moved well and pushed hard for 1st but pleased to award him RBOB 3. Trickett’s Cfyre’s High Tea at Tollpepper JW (Imp Can) 4. Minshull’s Cedarlake Golden Hind

O (3,1): Two very different types1. Parker’s Tollpepper Echo’s Hope for Skysaria AW(B) 5yr B preferred the head of 1 to 2, lovely dark eye, well set ears which she used to effect, good layback of shoulder, well boned legs, a fraction wide in front, good hind angulation and width of thigh, good coat & undercoat of rich colour, moved soundly 2. Trickett, Trickett & O’Connor’s Cfyre’s Spellbreaker at Tollpepper AWB (Imp Can) 6yr B, well-coated with plenty of undercoat, little plainer in head than 1 but nice dark, expressive eye, another who was a little wide in front, angulation ok all round, good neck & depth of chest, moved ok

Spanish Water Dog

P (2): 1. Wood’s As Good As It Gets Wavelet with Sinduda super Br/W D of just 9M, well developed head for age, eye colour good for age & will likely darken further, short strong neck into well-laid shoulders, tight elbows, good depth of chest for age and ribs well-sprung, well boned legs down to tight, round feet, moderately angulated all round and carrying a coat of woolly curls, natural bobtail, positive movement for such a young dog, BP, RBOB & delighted to award him Best Puppy in Show, must have a very bright future 2. Searles’ Cravessa Snoopy W/Br D just a couple of weeks older than 1, balanced head & muscular neck, would like a little more angulation all round, well boned legs & good feet, a little longer cast than I would like, coat clipped off but of good texture, would like to see a straighter front when viewed head on, moved ok in profile but was wide in front and close behind away and back.

J (2): 1. Hodgkinson-Rutherford & Rutherford’s Rainethyme Rerite The Rules for Chanderhill JW super Br/W D of 17M, lovely balanced head of correct parallel planes, excellent front assembly with good forechest, good depth of chest with elbows held close to body, well boned legs to tight feet, strong topline & correct tailset of his bobtail, all held correctly on the move which was precise & ground covering, BOB 2. As Good As It Gets Wavelet with S.

O (5,1): 1. Darwesh’s Chanderhill Smart Edition for Elizad JW 2yr D Br/W, not a big lad but correct height/length ratio, nice head with dark eye, strong neck into well laid shoulder, he does have a tendency to rock forward over his front, coat of good texture, nice hind angulation which he used to good effect with his sound, positive movement 2. Searles Rommy De Ubbadat JW (Imp Esp) 2.5yr Br B, larger size but balanced, nice head & dark eye, strong, short neck into good front assembly, well boned legs and tight, round feet, well set ears used to good effect, nice straight front when viewed head on, strong topline & correct tailset, a little straight in hind angulation, moved ok 3. Wood’s Chanderhill Eagle Eye Sinduda 4. Parackova’s Sh Ch Agemera Dotty

AVNSC Gundog

O (3,1): 1. Dummett & Vikhrova’s Nova Story Boogie Woogie JW (Imp Mne) – Am Cocker D of 2.5yr, B/W&T, loved this boy for balance and type, super masculine head with expressive dark eyes, strong muscular neck into well-laid shoulders, good depth of chest and plenty of forechest, strong legs and well padded, round, tight feet, strong topline & correct tailset, put down in super condition, on the move he goes with drive, covering the ground well, his well set & carried tail never stopped wagging BAVNSC 2. Williams & Drozdova’s Sh Ch Cze Ch Bonapartist Peaky Blinder avec Aukskara ShCEx O/W roan Brittany of almost 6yr, substantial D without being overdone, in hard condition & well-muscled, masculine head with kind expression, strong neck of medium length into well-laid shoulders, well boned legs to good feet, short in back & loin with strong topline which he holds well on the move, a dog deserving of his titles but unlucky to come up against 1 today, RBAVNSC

AV Imported Register Gundog

G (1): Boughton’s Gameglow Back to Black, Braque D’Auvergne B of 20m, B/W ticked, head rather heavy but correct eye shape and colour, ears well set and a nice length, long slightly arched neck into good shoulders, enough depth, quite fine boned and feet are long and would benefit from nails being much shorter, level topline & good tailset, rather short in loin so not quite the balance I would like, good hind angulation, moved ok

O (3): 1. Adams’ Swiss Sh Ch Achouffe Philanderer ShCEx, SRHP 6yr D a dog I have admired from the ringside since he was a puppy, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to judge him—and I was not disappointed. A striking male with a beautifully balanced head and a soft, kind eye. His well-muscled neck flows smoothly into a strong, level topline, finishing in a correctly set and carried tail, both standing and on the move. Well laid shoulders and straight forelegs, with good width and depth of chest. Well-muscled hindquarters, if being picky, I would like a fraction more hind angulation, but he has more than enough to propel himself around the ring with ease. All finished off with a coat of correct texture, length, and undercoat. I have no doubt that if CCs were available for the breed, this boy would be a Champion—and then some. Best Import & Best in Show 2. Stilgoe’s Ir Sh Ch Perdizcyo Beatriz with Teisgol BJW18 JWW18, Portuguese Pointer 8yr B who is a substantial girl but still retains her femininity, sweet head with dark expressive eye, strong, slightly arched neck into correct front assembly, good in forechest and depth of chest, strong short loin, well angulated hindquarters, feet could be tighter, moved ok 3. Boughton’s Parkbalk Ariel Dianell Avec Brwynstep, Braque D’Auvergne

AV Gundog

J: (27,19abs): 1. Matthews’ Sonham Just The Ticket, Pointer L/W D of 16M, just loved this boys head and expression, a true pointer head, lovely straight front with good width, viewed in profile he has a strong neck into well-laid shoulders flowing into a strong topline & tailset, good depth, tight elbows, correct oval bone down to lovely oval feet, well angulated behind with good width of thigh, topped off with a coat of rich liver & white, on the move he covers his ground with smooth driving action 2. Challis’s Vizslanya Sarkany, HV, unlucky to meet 1 in this class this 10M D is mature in body with a lovely rich russet coat, just a little heavy in head for me but such a kind, gentle expression, super forechest, strong neck & well laid shoulders, correct moderate angulation all round, moves with reach and drive and pushed 1 hard for the top spot 3. Northey’s Tito Saggio at Kingsoak Ex Libris (Imp Nld), BI

Y (19,14): 1. Cooper & Mullin’s Gilstonia Maggie May, WSS, pretty B just out of J., nice head and expression, moderate neck into well laid shoulder, straight front, good depth of chest with plenty of heart room, strong topline & well set on tail, I liked her for size and balance, in super coat, best mover in the class 2. Sainsbury’s Elskerwoo Silver Lining, Spaniel (Clumber) just a couple of weeks older than 1 this B has a nice head with good eye colour, plenty of substance without being overdone, good strong bone, feet good but had a tendency to stand 10 to 2 in front, moderately angulated fore & aft, in good coat, moved ok 3. Kerr’s Latjeata Angel Blue, ES

PG (17,10): 1. O’Neill’s Tenshilling Shboom JW, Pointer, B/W D just turned 2yr, I was spoilt with the pointers today, another who I thought was so well constructed, he has, for me, a true pointer head with the correct slightly concave muzzle giving the desired appearance, strong neck into a well-made front assembly, good in forechest and plenty of depth, strong topline, well angulated behind with super muscle, again that lovely oval bone and tight oval feet with arched toes, all adding up to sound, positive movement 2. Challis’s Vizslanya Domenkos JW, HV another 2yr D who has the most beautiful head & expression, a strong, slightly arched neck into well laid shoulders, he is balanced all through with correct moderate angles all round, a strong topline, his tail is not only set on correctly but is also carried correctly on the move, straight off his back unlike so many in the breed now who carry their tails far too high, on the move he drives off strong hindquarters covering the ground with ease, a really close decision between 1&2 3. Stilgoe & Fox’s Teisgol Alohomora, Pointer

O (16,8): 1. Douglas’s Daffydown Dilly, IWS a mature girl of 6yr, I liked her size & balance, lovely correct head with dark eye, well-constructed all round with a coat of crisp curls and a good top knot, nicely angulated all round she was the best mover in the class 2. McDonald, Westwood & Westwood’s Roanjora Cremant De Savoie Avec Eusanit JW, IRWS almost 2.5yr D, upstanding male with a masculine head that is without any coarseness, good eye colour, well set ears, nicely constructed front, strong topline with a slight drop off at the croup allowing for a correctly set tail, his coat was fine & silky with well-defined red on a background of pearly white, personally I’d prefer to see him carry a fraction more weight to finish the picture but he moved out with drive and was well handled to get the best from him 3. Dewar’s Macarica Harry’s Rock JW, IS

Brace (4,1): 1. McDonald’s IRWS, nicely matched girls who moved as one round the ring 2. Williams & Toublic’s ESS another nicely matched pair, not quite as together as 1 3. Bloxham’s Gordon Setter

Sp Field Trial/Working (4,1): 1. Fudge’s Fieldberry Secret Weapon at Rufusmoor JW SGWC a class of Gordon Setters who all definitely looked more than capable of a days work on the moors, headed up by a well-built, masculine D, attractive head, dark eye, strong neck & topline, well set tail, well boned legs and good feet, in good coat, moved well in profile but was toeing in a little in front 2. Thomas’s Chartan Little Black Dress this was the daughter of the 3rd placed girl and many of the same comments apply to both, nice heads, well-muscled, good coats, angulation ok, moved ok, I just preferred the front of 2 and this decided their placings 3. Thomas’s Chartan Maple Mayhem

BIS: I shortlisted to 10 and could’ve shortlisted at least 3 or 4 more such was the quality & choice! Shortlisted were the SRHP, Vizsla, Wirehaired Vizsla, Spinone, Pointer, Golden Retriever, IWS, Clumber, SWD and the GSP.

BIS - Adams’ Swiss Sh Ch Achouffe Philanderer ShCEx, SRHP. See Import Register above for full critique. In a fabulous BIS line-up this boy pulled out all the stops in a quiet understated manner to take top honours, totally at one with his handler, a joy to judge, thank you for the opportunity.

RBIS – Bradley’s Sh Ch Stangate Stage Debut (AI) ShCEx, IWS, this is a beautiful example of the breed, put down in the best of condition & handled to advantage, she has style and balance, super coat and great body underneath it all, sound and steady on the move she was unlucky to meet the Slovak on top form today but delighted to award her RBIS, well done.

BIS3 – Elliott’s Vizslanya Pafrany For Zinniaviz JW, Hungarian Vizsla, when you’re judging your own breed I think sometimes you tend to be even more critical but I was delighted to see this girl come into the ring as she’s one of my favourite youngsters in the breed, there’s nothing overdone about this one, the breed standard calls for medium & moderate throughout and this is exactly what she is, with a head with all the working in it that is missing in many, another who was handled to advantage and who shone on the way round the ring, I couldn’t deny her this place today.

BIS4 – Sainsbury’s Elskerwoo Cloudy Skies JW, Spaniel (Clumber), upon getting home and looking in my catalogue I was delighted to see that this was the same lovely Clumber that I gave BPIS to at South of England Gundog in March, a lovely size, correct head with good eye colour and no excess haw, super length of leg and in full bloom, she can certainly move and is maturing into a super girl and I hope her winning ways continue.

BPIS – Wood’s As Good As It Gets Wavelet with Sinduda, SWD, see full critique above. Again, I couldn’t deny this boy BPIS today, I think he’s a cracker and will watch his future with interest.

RBPIS – Wilson’s Enryb Tickle Me Purple, HWV 11m B who caught my eye in the line up and didn’t disappoint when I got my hands on her, from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail she is quality, when I saw her breeding I wasn’t surprised I liked her. Pretty head, correct earset & length, strong neck, correct front assembly, moderate rear angulation with a strong, level topline, coat of correct texture, well boned legs and good feet, another very promising puppy who I’ll be watching in the future

BPIS3 – Johns’ Curlycruz Wild Flower at Frommesbeck, Lagotto Romagnolo, 7M B, caught my eye in the BIS group but not the maturity there, here I felt she earned her place, despite her tender months she showed and moved so well, everything about her was balanced, super coat with the correct woolly curl, her movement was so positive if not a little exuberant at times which just made me smile, what a delightful baby she is and I wish her well for the future.

BPIS4 – Pearman’s Weipowa Shaken Not Stirred to Britmans, Weimaraner at almost 10M this boy is so mature, I’d not want him any bigger but he’s well within the standard and everything fits together so well, lovely head & expression, excels in forechest & depth, tight elbows, well boned legs & tight feet, super angulation fore & aft which saw him move round the ring with reach & drive, another promising youngster, I gave his grandsire BP, CC & BOB when he was just 11 months old and the genes have certainly been passed on down the generations, I hope this boy follows in his pawprints

Elaine Bradley (Judge)