Merioneth Agricultural Society

Merioneth Agricultural Society 2025 (20th August)

I always enjoy the hospitality this lovely show provides, nothing is too much for the committee and they run a truly great show, year after year. Many thanks to the stewards and exhibitors, who always support and keep the show going. 

Pointer

Junior (2, 1)

1st) Swannell’s Sharnphilly Black Abbott, very well headed, typical of his breeding, good shape and type both standing and moving. Very clean up and back & moves with good reach and drive in profile. BOB.

Open (3, 1)

1st) Swannell’s Sharnphilly Black Abbott, repeat of Junior.

2nd) Swannell’s Sharnphilly Rio Bella, older and now starting to show her age a bit, but a very sound and typical mover; and keeps her shape at all times. A grand old lady.

Spaniel (Welsh Springer)

Junior (2, 0)

1st) Philipson’s Menstonia Endless Dreams, very well grown for his age, but presents a good shape standing and moving. Very well knit, good head and eye, quite clean up and back and a good profile mover. Lots of promise. BOB, BPIB & PG1.

2nd) Griffiths’ Merchinetes Padrig, older not quite so as advanced as the winner. A good headed dog, and moves quite soundly in profile, even if could be a little cleaner up and back.

Graduate (4, 0)

1st) Lewis’ Eiraindlys Strange Magic Von Trannon JW, I thought this lovely moving bitch might be my BOB winner as she is very feminine and typical. Lovely head and eye, well made in front and behind and used herself well in profile. Threw it away a little on the up and back as she became quite slack behind, but she is in many ways more ready than Endless Dreams and I am sure will have better days. RBOB.

2nd) Ellis’ Ffrind Ffyddlon Voan Raamvleit (IMP NED), close up and also quite a good sort. Longer and rangier than the winner very typical and a tidy, sound mover.

Open (2, 1)

1st) Lewis’ Kdenoan Behind Marek Von Trannon, a lovely shape and size and a very typical Welsh. Good to go over, kind expression and quite gentlemanly in outlook. Not using himself particularly well on the move today; but quite economical and sound when he got going.

Hungarian Vizsla

Open (2, 1)

1st) Hardcastle and Bradley’s Castledogley Firenze JW, lovely Vizsla who I imagine could hold her own in any company. Very good head and eye, shapely, well knit body and so sound on the move, going with a good free and easy stride from all angles. Lovely girl. BOB.

Whippet

Puppy (2, 0)

1st) Perkins and Van Der Schaaf’s Silkridge Mistletoe Smooch, beautiful bitch, so elegant and shapely; excellent head and eye, beautiful front & body, so well knit and all of a piece, super to watch up and back and on the go around, didn’t faulter for a second. Loved her today, RBOB, BPIB, PG1 & BPIS.

2nd) Prices’ Kierpark It’s Now Or Never Among Silkdance, a very sound moving dog but for his age, for me, he is already much too big. Liked his head and eye, and kept his shape in profile both standing and moving.

Graduate (3, 0)

1st) Lloyd’s Penwincoed Mr Magoo, very nice shape and type, with the best outline in the class both standing and moving; accurate and eyecatching in profile but could have had a better front when coming back to me.

2nd) Spicer’s Jothryn Muchacho, lots to like about this one when moving, perhaps marginally better in front that the winner & fairly equal in hind action; not quite the head of the winner and I found it broader and perhaps a little shorter in muzzle.

Open (4, 0)

1st) Perkins and Van Der Schaaf’s Silkridge Black Caviar, beautiful hound and so typical, admired his static balance & also the shape he kept when moving; lovelt head and eye, so typical and correct all through, flowing lines & stole BOB from Mistletoe Smooch by a whisker, BOB, G1 & RBIS.

2nd) Lloyd’s Penwincoed Amazing Grace, also a very good hound, lots to like and so typical both standing and moving. Good to go over, well angulated in front and behind and in good body condition, but had a difficult task to match the hindquarters of the winner.

Beagle

Graduate (1, 0)

1st) Cornell’s Braveair Pawsforthought from Bronllys JW, very typical and masculine dog, lovely head and eye, good front and forehand, firm topline, used himself well on the move and was a touch more accurate than the open winner, so deserved his BOB.

Open (1, 0)

1st) Greenough’s Borywood Tobias at Jalhar (IMP ROM), a little plainer in head than ideal but still attractive there, good shape and size, very good profile mover and very true in front; but not quite so clean behind as Pawsforthought.

Borzoi

Graduate (1, 0)

1st) Raczka’s Go Go Bolshoi Casiona Royal (IMP HUN), a very good type, a little heavy in front for perfect balance and this detracted a little from his outline both standing and moving, but otherwise a very nice hound, excellent head and eye & quite an accurate mover; in smashing coat and condition. BOB.

Open (3, 2)

1st) Thomas’ Moj Mily Polot Kharusso (IMP POL), another nice hound, good shape and type, topline a touch overdone even for a Borzoi which was evident standing and moving; quite accurate up and back and in great nick. RBOB.

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Graduate (1, 0)

1st) Whiting’s Glanbeuno Toute Seule, just over a year and full of herself! Typical Petit, good shape and outline and a very free, and active mover. Lots to like and shows lots of promise. BOB.

Basset Fauve De Bretagne

Open (1, 0)

1st) Humphrey’s Blevwil Kept Me Secret for Gloynbyw, quite a nice Fauve to go over, but just now beginning to show her age on the move & not using her tail as she otherwise could; in good muscletone and a happy soul.

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Open (3, 1)

1st) Pritchard Jones’ Affrhoda Athiyyah, very nice shape and type, strong but feminine and quite a shapely bitch, sound and free on the move and stands on good legs and feet, so typical in profile, even if she could have used her tail a little more. BOB.

2nd) Pritchard Jones’ Kalahari Sun of Luanda at Affrhoda (IMP SVK), another very nice hound and I wondered if she might be the winner, imposing and stands on good legs and feet knowing her worth, very good go to over but quite impossible to assess on the move today. RBOB.

AV Hound Veteran (7, 2)

1st) Lewis’ Trixhund Hi De Hi JW, didn’t recognise this S/L Dachs bitch & age has sat well with her; I completed with her several times as a youngster. Lovely head and eye, beautiful ear fringes – loved them. Very typical and sound on the move and such a gorgeous size, one to be proud of and close up for BVIS.

2nd) Raczka’s Jamarqui Alchemy Argent ShCEx, lovely Borzoi, so typical and sound; much to admire and looked a picture on the move. In super coat and condition.

Hound Group

1st) Whippet, see breed critique.

2nd) Standard Long Dachshund, Lewis’ Trixhund Ten From Len JW, upstanding silver dapple and tan dog; well deserved his place here on his accurate movement and confident carriage from all angles.

3rd) Rhodesian Ridgeback, see breed critique.

4th) Borzoi, see breed critique.

Hound Puppy Group

1st) Whippet, see breed critique. Stood alone, but could have competed in any company.

Welsh Terrier

Open (3, 1)

1st) Jones’ Cwnogion Eldra Aur, lovely Welsh bitch, so typical in shape and outline, good head with strength; very nice to go over and all of a piece, very good profile mover but a little untidy behind which cost her the group today. A strong contender in super jacket, BOB & G2.

2nd) Humphries’ Serbonche Breuddwyd Mam, 12 years old and what a credit to pedigree dogs, smashing full set of teeth & he moved with the accuracy of a dog even ten years younger than him; really super terrier; just not quite the shape of the winner on the day. RBOB.

Border Terrier

Graduate (3, 0)

1st) Dawson & Speake’s Haystoun Perfect Storm, good class of Borders, each with something to recommend them; the winner here was a little more advanced than the other two in terms of body & composure; very accurate, shapely and sound, with good pelt. Impressed a lot & went on to win the Group; in great jacket today.

2nd) Darley’s Otterbobs Rocky at Cymrygold, beautiful puppy & one with a future, so much to commend and very admirable to go over. Moving a mite more close than the winner which was the deciding factor, but a prospect for the future without doubt. RBOB, BPIB & PG1.

Open (3, 1)

1st) Davies’ Onthill Silver Star at Foxchapel, 3rd in graduate but not disgraced there; young yet and with a lot of promise, still needs to fill in body as is to be expected and topline could settle a touch; notwithstanding, a good mover and one who could do some useful winning in future.

2nd) Speake’s Pipruda Pink Gin, quality border with balance and type; just not the topline of the winner on the day & this told against her, in good coat & optimum condition.

Jack Russell Terrier

Graduate (3, 2)

1st) Bailey’s Twinan Raging Inferno with Bryndingo, full of himself and I loved it, typical Jack, so much to like and admire, particularly on the move where hew as free, easy and sound. Lovely chap. BOB.

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Open (1, 0)

1st) Sheldon’s Ringablok Huckleberry at Oozzoo NAF, lovely Stafford, super shape and size, very good to go over and a very typical mover both ways and in profile. A quite unassuming showman, handled to get the best out of him. BOB.

AV Terrier Veteran

1st) Humphries’ Serbonche Breuddwyd Mam, see breed critique – a lovely Welsh, looking so good for his age.

Terrier Group

1st) Border Terrier, see breed critique.

2nd) Welsh Terrier, see breed critique.

3rd) Staffordshire Bull Terrier, see breed critique.

4th) Jack Russell Terrier, see breed critique.

Terrier Puppy Group

1st) Border Terrier, see breed critique. The only puppy as the Skye Terrier puppy was not present, but a perfectly comfortable Puppy Group Winner.

AV Minor Puppy Dog Or Bitch

1st) Morris’ Do You Know Who I Am, Welsh Corgi Pembroke; lovely shape and type, glorious expression and a very accurate mover both ways and in profile.

2nd) Bluck, Davis and Walsh’s Rosschell Made of Frost, a very sound moving Australian Shepherd and certainly one with a future. Lovely puppy.

AV Puppy Dog Or Bitch

1st) Taylor and Tenn’s lovely Golden Retriever Puppy, Non-Stop Duncan MacLeod From Strettonhill (IMP HUN), thankfully he isn’t as long as his name & is a lovely shapely, well balanced puppy, very good profile mover with a lot to like & so well handled.

2nd) Price’s Kierpark It’s Now Or Never Among Silkdance, see Whippet breed critique.

AV Junior Dog Or Bitch

1st) Swannell’s Sharnphilly Black Abbott, see Pointer breed critique.

2nd) Leavy’s Wychwizard Painted Lady, lovely FCR, such a typical and outgoing bitch; very sound and accurate & using her tail all the time, just a bit bereft of coat at the minute.

AV Open Dog Stakes

1st) Thomas and Lusty’s Smooth Collie, Blamorder Side Hustle with Mournebrake, lovely youngster & so typical, won here on his free and easy movement which was virtually foot perfect. In peak condition and looked great.

2nd) Finnigan’s Reyakosa Brando, lovely GSD and if memory serves me right, not a new one to me; so free and easy on the move when gaiting & in peak condition and muscle. Well deserved his place here.

AV Open Bitch Stakes

1st) Williams’ Bullmastiff, Kierlaceyan Emma Jayne, a little heavy in front but her overall qualities outweighed this; a lovely bitch, choc full of muscle and in peak condition, so sound and free on the move.

2nd) William’s Irish Setter, Alolfrana Isadora Dances for Lavansands, lovely Irish Setter bitch, so feminine in outlook, free and easy on the moved and looked a picture in profile.

AV Brace Stakes

1st) Williams’ lovely and typy Bullmastiffs, a well matched pair and moving well together.

2nd) Perfitt’s Tibetan Spaniels, full of fun but so well matched & a great pair.

Best In Show

Bullmastiff, Roberts’ Ch Joybull Mister Bossman, completely new to me but caught my eye on the first go around; so typical and a picture of strength and masculinity. In peak condition & went with such a typical action, unassuming but knows just how good he is. Filled my eye & stood away, I could do nothing else but award him Best In Show.

Reserve Best In Show

Whippet, who I had judged earlier in the day both in the Breed and in the Group, Perkins and Van Der Schaaf’s Silkridge Black Caviar, I always think a B/W Whippet is a little harder to win with, but I think you could paint this one any colour and he would still be a good one, so free and easy on the move and challenged Mister Bossman all the way.

Best Puppy In Show

Whippet, Perkins and Van Der Schaaf’s Silkridge Mistletoe Smooch, another who I had judged earlier in the day both in the Breed and although she stood alone in the Puppy Group, I had a feeling that it may take something special to beat her & ultimately nothing did, so feminine & typical, I thought she was exquisite; a Ch for sure.

Reserve Best Puppy In Show

German Shepherd Dog, Brown Thomas, Thomas, Bibby & Cox’s Dillon Aus Silkenwood, a lovely moving dog gaiting freely & with perfect footfall; perhaps a marginally different type to my ideal but it would have been remiss of me not to appreciate, and reward his exceptional gait, class & presence when stood and moving. Another who will be a certain Ch.

Best Veteran In Show

Chinese Crested, Rees’ Parcauwen Secret Liaison, lovely Powderpuff dog & such a typical and correct example of the breed; so good to go over, lots to like on the table but particularly when moving he comes to life, so free and easy with good carriage and so typical of the breed, moderate and stylish; really liked him & beat some lovely veterans for this award.

Evan L Ryan (Cavallibrook/Feorlig)