Lichfield Canine Society

Lichfield Canine Society: Two Day Premier Open Show

Irish Red and White Setters and English Setters.

May I thank the Committee for asking me to judge their very well organised, show. After what was a very trying and difficult journey, because of the snow, it was impressive the nature the committee pulled together and put on such a well-done show. Congratulations.

Also, many thanks to the Stewards, Finn and Joanne, who admitted to being very new to stewarding. Their inexperience did not show and kept the ring moving excellently. Well done and thank you both.

I am very grateful to those exhibitors who braved the very bad weather to come under me, especially with me having to take on another breed at the very last minute.

I was very happy to report that the exhibitors presented the charges on show, very well, especially considering the terrible weather on coated dogs. With movement being high on my priority list, I was very pleased to see many of the exhibits, moving quite well indeed.

English Setters

Class 379: Puppy (3,1)

1. 937 - Welburn’s OSHOWA JUST A DREAM – 9-month bitch very much of a muchness between 1st and 2nd here as 2 lovely girls. However, movement and maturity at this time, won the class for this Blue Belton girl. Very nice head and sweetest expression. correct in head proportions and clean finish to muzzle. Prominence to stop without being overdone. Good rise to brows and more than ample chiselling to foreface. All surrounding a beautifully dark brown eye, very much in keeping with coat. all giving rise to a lean and appealing female head. Ears set on low close to that typical setter neck, showing that slight arch, leanness and clean. Well-constructed shoulder assembly, with correct angulation and proportions. Good amount of bone but remaining a bitch. Lovely depth to chest, down at elbow. Correct in sprung ribs for age and good strength to loin. excellent width over croup, of good length and fall. Good width to upper and second thigh for stage of development. Rear angulation very much in proportion with that to front. Moved better than her sister in all respects. Can see why the owner has retained both of these girls. A very nice prospect BP.

2. 938 - Welburn’s OSHOWA LOVE TO DREAM – 9-month bitch that was litter sister to my 1st. An absolute fidget for her handler, but a lovely little girl in the making. Sweetest of disposition and expression. Many of the good attributes that I have commented about in her sister’s critique can be said of this girl too. Blue Belton girl again. Feminine in head. lovely workings below, dark brown eye that was highly expressive. Prominence to stop that raised into a head that was oval from ear to ear. Correct in ear placement, which hung neatly next to neck of good length, strength and slight arch. Front construction and angulation appealing, but maybe a little more open in shoulder than her sister. Strong in body with good depth to chest, spring to ribs and strength to loin of good length. Good topline that didn’t falter on the move. Lacked slightly the width to thigh to that of her sister, which also showed on the move. She didn’t drive out as well, but this was only slight. Balance seen between front and rear angulation. Lovely feet. Really not much between the two exhibits, but with 1st looking like she has matured more quickly in the rear and mentally, this pushed this still lovely girl into 2nd. Couldn’t fault her enthusiasm. Another good prospect.

Class 380: Junior (5,4)

1. 929 – Howell’s WANSLEYDALE BEE IN A BONNET – a tri-coloured 16-month bitch, that was a little more compact and lower in the breed standard than that of the other exhibits on show, on the day. Stronger in female head, but still very appealing and falling within the breed standard easily, with leanness and balance in lengths/ proportions. Good oval shape between ears. Rise to stop with excellent workings to foreface. Dark brown to eye, which made the head even more appealing as it mirrored that of the tan tones to brows and rest of muzzle. Pigmentation around eyes also made you want to look into her eyes further. Correct in ear set that hung close to moderate neck. Good front construction, that was balanced in length to rest of body. Well ribbed. Good width across croup. Would prefer to see a little more muscling to rear quarters, but she is still a young girl, and I am sure this will come with time. Moved a little unsteady on the up and back, but got into her stride and went well around the ring. Only beaten by BOB in this department. Head carriage was lovely to see. Hitting bread standard in terms of temperament beautifully. Happy to give RBOB.

Class 381: Post Graduate (5,3)

1. 936 – Welburn’s OSHOWA DREAM COME TRUE – 3.5-year-old Blue Belton bitch, mother to my 1st and 2nd in puppy. Instantly caught my eye on entering the ring. Much of her qualities have been passed on to her progeny. A well-balanced girl in the stack. Very pretty in head. Rather lean, long, and well balanced. Feminine in appearance with a good amount of workings that were enhanced by the markings. Very nice head planes. Dark, large nose and pigment to match throughout. Rich, dark eye of oval shape, in line with ear placement, that were of an appealing length. These hung very neatly next to elegantly long and well-muscled, slightly curved next. This free flowed into very good front construction. Well angulated and of correct lengths/proportions. Good, rounded bone, short pasterns. Tightly toed. Spring of rib was clear to see, with level topline and strong loin. Yet again width to croup of very good length and fall to correct tail set. Best width to thigh on show today, with upper and 2nd thigh well-muscled also. Short hocks. Moved with elegance and true in both the up and back. Footfall was correct on the around. Drove out well with reach also. Tail did not stop moving and head carriage showed she enjoyed her time. In a lovely coat. Very worth BOB. Also won AV Post graduate vulnerable stakes.

2. 933 – Ross’s BAILSBEEDALE LADY ANNABELLA – 18-month Blue Belton bitch that has quite a few qualities, that when she finishes maturing could provide a very pretty picture. Yet another exhibit with a lovely expression that was full of pathos. Head stronger in style, but still very much a bitch. Brilliant dark, wide nose. Lovely finish to muzzle. correct shape to skull that fit in the hand well. Excellent rise to stop and well browed. Eyes slightly lighter brown than the other dogs on show, tending towards dark hazel, well within the breed standard and very much in keeping with the pigmentation and coat colour. Excellent strength to moderately long neck. good front angulation and good bone. Good strength to loin and excellent width to croup. Correct tail placement. Good width to upper thigh for age. movement was sound on the around with width to rear, seen on the away. Coat coming in well. With a little work and maturing, has a lot of the right characteristics to better herself.

Class 382: Open (2,1)

1. 933 – Ross’s BAILSBEEDALE LADY ANNABELLA – repeat, please see critique for 2nd in Post graduate.

BOB - 936 – Welburn’s OSHOWA DREAM COME TRUE (from Post graduate)

RBOB - 929 – Howell’s WANSLEYDALE BEE IN A BONNET (from Junior)

BP - 937 - Welburn’s OSHOWA JUST A DREAM (from puppy)

Irish Red and White Setters

Class 407: Puppy (1,1)

Class 408: Junior (1,0)

1. 976 - Ward’s ROANJORA CRÉMANT DE LUX COPPERWHITE – dog of some 18-months, that I believe, shows a great deal of promise even at such a young age. The skeletal construction is clearly there ready for his further development. Strong in obvious male head, which was lovely to see. Very kind expression. Excellent in head planes and proportions, with good rise to stop, clean in muzzle. Correct eye shape and rich, brown eyes. Ears well laid back, and down at eye, hanging neatly and framing the head nicely. Neck very much in keeping of the breed standard, with characteristic slight arch, strong, but without throatiness. Seamless transition into very good front assembly, showing good angulation and proportions. Depth to chest, that was down at elbow, ribs showing good spring for age. Strong over loin, that was in balance with rest of dog. Lovely topline. Width over croup of pleasing decline. Width to upper and 2nd thigh could do with filling out, but any larger at this stage of development would show imbalance. Good balance between front and rear angulation. Correct in tail placement. Pleasing in colour placement and proportions. Excellent in richness to coat colour and texture. Balance certainly was the case in this young boy. Free flowing movement around the ring. Good footfall on the around, and width behind on the up and back was pleasing. Good reach. Happy to award BOB.

Class 409: Post Graduate (2,0)

1. 976 - Ward’s ROANJORA CRÉMANT DE LUX COPPERWHITE - repeat, please see critique for 1st in Junior

2. 975 – Ward’s CORNADORE BONITO BECOMES COPPERWHITE (IMP POL) - 6-year-old dog shown in fine, full coat. Very nice in strong male head with lovely workings to zygomatic arch. Good finish to muzzle. Balance in head proportions, with not too severe a stop. Good breadth to cranium. Correct in ear position. Excellent strength to moderately long neck. Very strong in front construction. Depth to brisket and well sprung ribs, showing good length to thoracic region. Strong in loin. Decent width across croup. Didn’t quite have the movement to that of first in terms of drive or that of the up and back and would prefer a little more balance in the aft to the fore. However, provided an athletic profile in the stack. RBOB.

Class 410: Open (3,2, 1W/D)

W/D 974 - Taylor’s LAOIREBAY MONTE CARLO - I felt I had to write a little on this one as it was such a shame on this one having to withdraw. A very nice 7-year dog in the stack and moved very well, but very difficult to go over him. Something spooked him in the ring. After judging, he was very keen for me to go over him. Such a shame as a lot of qualities for a lovely boy. Happy to see that in the AV Gundog veteran stakes, he was able to get it together and went Reserve in a strong class of 24 entries.

BOB – 976 Ward’s ROANJORA CRÉMANT DE LUX COPPERWHITE (from Junior and Post graduate)

RBOB - 975 – Ward’s CORNADORE BONITO BECOMES COPPERWHITE (IMP POL) (from 2nd in Post graduate)

Dr. Hefin Jones (Pencastan)