Lancashire Heeler Association

Vulnerable Native Breeds Open Show (hosted by the Lancashire Heeler Association) 

24th August 2025 - Otterhounds and Welsh Springer Spaniels 

A pleasure to judge at this lovely, well run show. Very nice to have the Otterhounds & Welsh Springers outside in the large grassed ring, although it had heated up quite a lot by the time we got in the ring at midday. Many thanks to the exhibitors for coming and also to my very capable steward.

Otterhound

Puppy (2, 0)

1st) Porter’s Ottaryx Chaos (AI), headed a class of two nice puppies who turned out to be litter sisters; this one has a very good shape and size, liked her head and eye & good length to her ears; excellent balance, good front & feet, well boned throughout and very sound on the move; using herself well and most typical in profile. Very promising I thought. BPIB.

2nd) Porter’s Ottaryx Cobweb (AI), another very nice one and I thought she would have been the winner on first glance. Very well balanced, similar head and eye to Chaos and her ears were good to; well made in front, firm topline & very accurate up and back; not quite as together as Chaos in profile and a little more reluctant to use herself but one with a lot of potential.

Special Yearling (2, 1)

1st) Luckett’s Ottarys Bronson, upstanding hound and quite imposing, good balance to head and skull, well made in front if perhaps could have a little more return of upperarm and I felt this showed on the move albeit only marginally; well ribbed & good for body and muscle, sound and free on the move and a super type all through I thought. Excellent jacket and well handled. RBOB.

Limit (1, 0)

1st) Lerego, Sands and Sands’ Tecklegarth Kracken, a very typical hound in good coat & looking a picture of balance. Lots to like on going over him, his head and eye are good, as is his expression, but I think he could be better in ear for ideal. Good forehand, firm topline & well ribbed; used himself well on the move & went with good freedom and power, in a typical unhurried fashion. Lots to like.

Open Bitch (1, 0)

1st) Lerego’s Ch Tecklegarth Ebony, liked her as soon as she stepped foot in the ring, very admirable for shape and balance. Has strength but femininity in head and her ears are good; a mite heavy over the shoulder today but perhaps carrying a few extra lbs. Well made in body & in great nick; very good all over & quite sound and free on the move. Felt the heat a little more than some of the other hounds & by this time it was quite hot, so a little less willing to move out in the challenge. A lovely bitch and a pleasure to judge.

Veteran (1, 0)

1st) Ottaryx Quinevere, mother of Chaos and Cobweb & you can see it; excellent for shape and type, good head and eye, so much to admire on going over her, well made throughout, good forehand, firm topline & good ribs, used herself well on the move from all angles & went with a typical gait. I liked her lot and she coped with the heat better than some of the others by this point, a lovely hound at the zenith of maturity. BOB & BV.

Spaniel (Welsh Springer)

Puppy (3, 0)

1st) Harrison’s Glenbrows Aurora, bred in the purple & shows every possibility of following in her parents footsteps, excellent shape and type, beautiful head and eye, so typical and excellent to go over, full of muscle & in peak condition. Moved with a good, free and easy stride up and back & in profile looked a picture as she carried herself so well. Presented to perfection. BPIB & RBOB.

2nd) Burchmore and Bowd’s Lenamore Renegade (AI), a touch longer and rangier than the winner even at this stage for ideal balance, good head and eye, masculine expression & good to go over, perhaps could carry a mite more body but he is a young male. Very well made in front & quite sound there, but a little careless with his hind action as yet. Well handled.

Special Yearling (4, 1)

1st) Harrison’s Glenbrows Time Will Tell, another beautiful bitch from this kennel presented to perfection & gleaming in the sunshine; lovely head and expression, super front and shoulders, well ribbed, firm topline & good tail for both et and carriage. Beautiful to go over, so well made and in first rate body condition. Sound and free on the move and a class act in profile. Easy choice for BOB.

2nd) Smith’s Nyliram Hold My Hand at Isfryn, another nice one, looked a little less balanced than the winner standing and moving, but young yet & plenty of time to mature. Good head and eye, very expressive and feminine; well made in body & firm topline, a little more severe in croup than the winner but a sound, free and active mover from all angles.

Open (3, 1)

1st) Tew’s Pamicks Dream With Me, very good shape and type, lovely head and eye, well laid shoulders and depth to chest, good ribbing & firm topline, well angulated behind and in great body condition, a little less reluctant to show off her virtues than she otherwise might have been, but I put this down to the heat today; very sound both ways if a little reluctant to open up in profile.

2nd) Cooper’s Gilstonia Snow Moon, I thought perhaps a better shape stood & wondered if she might be the winner, good head and eye; very expressive, not the front angulation of the winner being a little more forward in shoulder and shorter in upperarm and this was visible on the move. Notwithstanding that, she was quite clean both directions and was presented and handled beautifully. Lovely girl.

Evan L Ryan (Cavallibrook/Feorlig)