West Of England & South Wales Airedale Terrier Club

Thank you for inviting me to judge at this lovely, friendly club open show. There was such a lovely atmosphere, so much work had been put into the preparation, layout, raffle and free refreshments, offering great hospitality. It was a super idea providing Pet Airedale classes to involve all Airedale enthusiasts and their dogs in the show. One or two of the pet dogs were certainly worth taking part in the main show.

Thank you to my steward for keeping everything in order and lastly the exhibitors for showing me their lovely dogs. Thank you for my super plant. I hope I do not let it die; it will remind me of my lovely day.

I found all exhibits had good temperaments with the usual Terrier attitude, good hard, wiry coats and good mouths. Some had denser coats than others and some had larger teeth. One had a good scissor bite but small teeth for the size of the dog. It is a shame the ring was not larger to give these large terriers a chance to move out better.

RUTH MILLAR MEMORIAL STAKES OPEN DOG/BITCH (5)

1. Webber’s Kaolin Little Miss Fabulous. Won on maturity and finish, at 6 years old. Correct shape, size and general outline. Well bodied, correct shaped head and ear set. Straight front and correct hind angulation. Shorter in neck and not so much style as her sister shown later. Moved a little close behind.

2. Simpson-Jones’ Cwmplentyn Spirit in the Sky. A promising puppy with an outgoing confident personality. Immature in head, which I understand is normal for this breed, when maturity can be as late as three years old. He is of the correct shape and type, with well laid shoulders, short back and level topline. Well set on tail. The curled tail detracts for me, but it should be ignored, as it is carried gaily and is strong. He moved well for his age. I look forward to seeing him when he grows up.

PUPPY DOG (1)

1. Simpson-Jones’ Cwmplentyn Spirit in the Sky. AS ABOVE.

JUNIOR DOG (1)

1. Edington-hall & Ballinger’s Est Etiam Novus Angelus Mit Wendaire (IMP UKR). I have judged this chap when he was a puppy and he is developing nicely. Correct square muscular outline. Head of good shape and length, with correct ears, well set. Clean, muscular, strong neck. Well laid shoulders and straight forelegs. Short level back, conditioned and well-muscled, well ribbed. Long, muscular thighs, with stifled well bent. Good tail set. Moved very well when settled.

GRADUATE DOG (2)

1. Edington-hall & Ballinger’s Est Etiam Novus Angelus Mit Wendaire (IMP UKR). AS ABOVE.

2. Simpson-Jones’ Cwmplentyn Jack of Hearts. Nearly 6 years old. A nice type but not so cobby, being slightly long in coupling. A heavier type of head with a broader skull. Ears detract from the finish of his head. They are the correct shape and size, but I would have preferred them to be carried better with top line of fold slightly above level of the skull. Good neck, flowing into nice shoulders. Straight front, level top line, angulated hindquarters and good tail set. Hard to assess his movement in a small ring.

LIMIT DOG (2)

1. Edington-hall & Ballinger’s Est Etiam Novus Angelus Mit Wendaire (IMP UKR). AS ABOVE.

OPEN DOG (2)

1. Hacker & Jenkins’ Muliebrity Blue Beret at Sherifs. An impressive three-year-old dog, matured and full of quality, strongly made and fits the breed standard well. Super square outline, muscular and on his toes. Especially when facing his opposition. Good long, ‘brick’ head and correct ears. Some of the best eyes of the day, dark, showing keenness and intelligence, giving a terrier expression. Good length of neck and lay of shoulders, with well-boned, straight front legs. Super deep chest, in line with his elbows, but not broad. Firm, level top line, held on the move, ribs well sprung and strong, muscled hindquarters. Excellent tail set and carriage. Moved very well in a small area but I could see he could really stride out if given the chance. Super small, round, compact feet. I was very pleased to award him Best Dog and Best in Show. He deserves his crown.

2. Turner’s Crillee Carry on the Legend. Quite a different type of dog, coming up to maturity, with more maturing to do, but a lot to like about him. To me, I considered he had a wonderful head and neck. Well-proportioned, balanced ‘brick’ head, with long flat skull. Foreface and skull on equal planes. Strong jaws, tight lips and black nose. Super ears, well set and used. Dark eyes full of terrier expression. Muscular, slightly arched neck flowing into well-laid shoulders. I just preferred the depth of chest of the dog above. Shapely body with a good spring of ribs and well angulated hindquarters. Moved very well, as expected. Presented very well in hard muscular condition and in good coat, giving a lovely stylish outline, with everything flowing so well. Nice feet and tail set. Pleased to award him Reserve Best Dog.

VETERAN DOG/BITCH (1)

1. Edington-Hall’s Wendaire Kissed by an Angel JW ShCM ShCEx VW. A lovely looking 9-year-old bitch, who does not look or act her age. Well presented in coat and condition. A credit to her owner. Lovely outgoing and confident personality. Good length of head, well proportioned, with flat skull. Powerful and strong jaws, but still feminine. Well placed ears and correct eyes. Moderate length of neck with well laid shoulders. Nicely boned, straight fore legs. Strong back, level topline and well-muscled hindquarters. Stifles well bent and hocks well let down, giving great propulsion. Her grizzle coat is still good for her age. Well-constructed and muscled, giving very good movement. She well deserved Best Veteran in Show.

PUPPY BITCH (2)

1. Simpson-Jones’ Cwmplentyn Lookin for Lynda. Sister to the Puppy Dog, with a lovely outgoing confident friendly personality. She should grow into a very nice type. She has a very good square outline and tail set. Fore quarters developing well, with straight fore legs. Nicely shaped head with dark eye and correct mouth. Ears well set but tend to fly at the moment, spoiling the head profile. Nicely bodied with level top line and hindquarters coming well. Moved extremely well, bearing in mind the size of the ring. Super coat texture. More mature than her brother, pleased to award her Best Puppy in Show. Once she matures and gets her ears under control, she should turn out to be very nice.

GRADUATE BITCH (1)

1. Du Toit’s Bellamunro Royal Pied Piper. Bitch of a very good type. I would prefer her back to be a little shorter, resulting in it not being level at all times. A good head with small eyes and correct shaped ears. Well laid shoulders and straight well boned fore legs. Nicely bodied, good hindquarters and tail set. Well-presented coat. Moved very well. Came alive with change of handler in the challenge.

LIMIT BITCH (2)

I found this a difficult decision. I considered there were good and bad points with both bitches. If I took the good bits from each, I would have had the perfect dog!

1. Du Toit’s Crillee Carry on Baby Be Mine with Bellamunro. This bitch had a squarer outline and nice level topline. She had a shorter neck. Chest was narrower and she stood with front legs very close together. When checking, there was not a lot of width there. Good ‘brick’ head and super ears. Deep chest and well bodied. Moderate hindquarters. Nice to go over. Well-presented coat. Moved extremely well.

2. Richardson’s Airechien Savanna. This one was longer in body allowing the topline to go. Nice length of muscled neck. Chest and set of front legs wider. She also had a good length of head, with dark, keen eyes. Well-placed shoulders and deep chest. Pleasing hindquarters with a well-developed second thigh. Well- presented in body condition and coat. Also moved extremely well.

OPEN BITCH (2)

Another difficult decision, with bitches of quite different types.

1. Webber’s Kaolin Little Miss Sparkle. Fully mature at 6 years old and sister to the winner of the first class. Upstanding and on her toes. Shorter in height and not so cobby in body. Lovely to go over with everything flowing. Well-proportioned long head with flat skull and dark, keen eyes. Super arched, muscular neck flowing into well laid shoulders. Deep chest, level topline and well ribbed body. Well-muscled thighs, well bent stifles and hocks well let down. Good tail set. Moved very well. Presented in wonderful body condition and grizzle coat. Pleased to award her Best Bitch and Reserve Best in Show.

2. Hacker & Jenkins’ Sherifs Blue Angel. Another very nice bitch, who was lovely to go over. Not quite in the peak of condition as above. However, I preferred her shape. She was beautifully construction, with excellent lay of shoulders and straight front legs. Short back, level topline, well sprung ribs, deep chest and good tail set. Well-proportioned head with small dark eyes and well-placed ears. Moved very well. Pleased to award her Reserve Best Bitch.

BEST IN SHOW - Hacker & Jenkins’ Muliebrity Blue Beret at Sherifs.

RESERVE BEST IN SHOW - Webber’s Kaolin Little Miss Sparkle.

BEST PUPPY IN SHOW - Simpson-Jones’ Cwmplentyn Lookin for Lynda.

BEST VETERAN IN SHOW – Edington-Hall’s Wendaire Kissed by an Angel JW ShCM ShCEx VW.

Felicity A. Snook

JUDGE