Hunt, Point & Retrieve Gundog Association

HPRGA Premier Open Show 20th  September 2025 

Such a lovely, well run show, with a good surface and great size rings.  Many thanks to my stewards Kim and Llŷr who kept everything running smoothly. It was really encouraging to hear so much of the exhibits were competing in a GWT the following day.  I hope it proved successful.  All exhibits were shown in good condition, and all with correct bites.

Weimaraner  Always such a wonderful breed to judge and today was no different, with a lovely entry, full of quality exhibits and thrilled to see the BPIB go on to be awarded BPIS. PD (3.1) 1st Dobbs’ Theondale Hopeful Heart 6mth – at his first show and looks more mature than his age. Really liked his balance and bone and presented a harmonious picture stacked.  His head was moderate throughout, kind in his eye, correct length of ear all combined to present the aristocratic requirement of the breed.  Clean in his neck, leading to well placed front angulation.  Already has a good depth to his chest. Ribs well back into a strong, short coupled loin.  Moderate rear angulation which balanced with his shoulders.   On the move he was a little loose, but this is to be expected for his age, has lovely front reach, rear drive and good side profile, holding his topline and excellent tail carriage.  Should have a good future.  BPD and RBPIB pushed the PB hard for BPIB, but maturity proved the difference. 2nd Porter and Porter-Manning’s Wallaroo Betelguese 8mth – although older than the winner, he presented as a tad more raw and very much at the rear high stage.  Slightly lighter in bone than 1st but still all male. Lovely in the head, correct length in the muzzle and head.  Kind eye and correct ear length.  Clean in the neck.  Balanced front and rear angulation. Ribs well back.  Like the winner, loose on the move and with a little higher tail carriage. PB (4,1) What a super class of PB.  1st Maskell and Rayner’s Enjager Elegance for Brownbank JW – 12mth very pretty, super balanced young bitch, presenting a far mature picture than her age. Really liked her bone whilst remaining feminine throughout both staked and on the move, light on her feet, excellent front reach and rear drive from her balanced front and rear angulation.  Such an aristocratic, pretty correctly proportioned head. Kind in the eye and correct ear length.  Clean in the neck, deep in her chest, well sprung in the ribs, reaching well back to short couplings.  A wonderful side gait, held her topline and tail carriage.  Pushed hard for BB, pleased to award her BPIB and RBB, thrilled to see her go BPIS, thoroughly deserved, well done.  No doubt she will have a very good future. 2nd Hostler’s Theondale High Hopes – 6mth at her first show, litter sister to the PD winner and certainly enjoying her first time out, made her handler work hard, but always enjoyable to see happy pups.  Not the maturity or balance of the winner, but still lots to like.  Liked her bone.  Moderate in her front and rear angulation which should used well on the move but was a little erratic at times.  Super head with all the correct proportions.  Not quite the depth of chest of the winner, but has plenty of time on her side.  Ribs well back, strong in the loin.  All of the pups in this class I am sure will have good futures.  SYD (0,0) SYB (0,0) PGD (0,0)  PGB (1,0) 1st Spavins’ Weipowa Wild Flush for Ashtern 19mth – Yet another lovely, feminine bitch who just needs to fully mature.  Really liked her aristocratic head, with a super expression, kind eye and correctly proportioned throughout.  Clean in the neck leading to moderate front angulation, but I would prefer it to be more balanced with slightly more length to her upper arm.  Her chest needs to drop fully.  Ribs well back leading to moderate rear angulation.  She was very balanced on the move but will tighten up as she matures.  LD Spavins’ Ashtern Delphinius 5yr real extrovert of a dog showing his full character in the ring which was lovely to see.  Presented a balance picture stood and on the move of a mature, well boned male.  Liked his head which is all male but in no way overdone or coarse.  Moderate front and rear angulation, maybe just a tad more length to his upper arm.  Liked his depth of chest and strength to his front pasterns.  Ribs well back, short coupled which showed on the move holding his topline.  Pushed hard for BD.  LB (2,1) Maskell and Rayner’s Brownbank Willow with Raystans JW – 19mth – a young bitch presenting a balanced outline stacked, moderately angulated front and rear which she used well on the move.  Nice in the head, kind eye and correct ear length.  Deep chested with well sprung ribs.  Just needs to strengthen in both her front pasterns and loin and then her front movement will be tidier and she will hold her topline on the move. OD 2 lovely males in the class (3,1) 1st Porter and Porter Manning Wallaroo Kynki Bootz JW – 3yr A well boned dog presenting a picture of all male but without any coarsness.  Lovely in the head and eye. Well balanced, moderate front and rear angulation, preferred his length of arm to 2nd.  Depth of chest ok.  His ribs are well sprung and back to a strong loin with short couplings which he uses well on the move to hold his topline.  Clean in his neck and shown in muscular condition.  Good front reach and drive on the move, with a pleasing side gait. BD and RBOB. 2nd Carpenter’s Ashfahl Kepanye JW – 2yr another nice male with very similar qualities to the winner, I actually preferred his depth of chest to the winner.  Lovely in the head, good depth to his chest, well sprung ribs and moderate front and rear angulation, just a little shorter in the upper arm to the winner.  A suggestion to his handler, he has good rear angulation but at times he can be overstretched which makes him look straight in the stifle.  Movement won on the day and he has good front reach and drive just not quite the balance as the winner. OB  (2,1) 1st Dobbs’ Kalimor Summer Love JW – 4yr a lovely feminine bitch, liked her bone and balance with so much to like, from her classic head with correct proportions, super kind expression.  Clean in the neck, enough depth to her chest.  Strong in the front, with strong pastern.  Super length of upper arm to well laid front angulation.  Well sprung ribs, well back and liked her strength to her loin which really showed in her strong topline, both stood and on the move. Moderate in her rear angulation.  On the move she is very balanced, excellent front reach from a strong rear driving action.  Pleased to award her BOB. 

Import Register – Always a joy to judge the Import Register breeds, such a lovely entry but sadly a lot of absentees.  JD/B (4,4), PGD/B (2,1) 1st Draj’s Forrests Impah into Griffonview (Korthals Griffon) –2yr  A compact, well boned, super balanced bitch with fantastic furnishings and superb harsh coated jacket.  Her head was of correct proportions, large but in no way course.  Moderate in her stop, kind, dark eye in harmony to her coat colour, ears correctly set on level with her eye. Has a moderate length to her neck, clean in its outline.  Good depth to her chest, strong in her pasterns, ribs well back.  Short coupled and strong over her loin.  Balanced in her front and rear angulation with a good length of upper arm to well laid shoulders, her rear angulation presented moderate in the stifle and muscular.  Good in her tail set.  Excelled on the move, front reach, rear drive, strong in her topline, correct tail carriage and lovely side profile.  BB and BIR. 

Puppy Stakes (4,1) What a puppy stakes class.  1st Maskell and Rayner’s Enjager Elegance for Brownbank JW (Weimaraner) 2nd Dobbs’ Theondale Hopeful Heart (Weimaraner) 3rd Northey’s Tito Saggio at Kingsoak Ex Libris (Imp NLD) (Bracco Italiano) 11mth orange roan – enjoying his time in the ring, well handled to settle him.  When he did, on the stack presented a correct square outline, masculine, boned without a hint of coarseness.  No mistaking he is male in his head, well chiselled, correct divergence head planes, and presenting correct proportions throughout – however I would not want to see any more breadth to his skull.  Low set ears and kind expression.  Moderate in his dewlap, chest of good depth for his age.  Strong in his forelegs with strong, slightly sloping pasterns.  His ribs are well back and he is short coupled.  Balanced in his front and rear angulation, with well laid shoulders and moderate in his stifle.  High in the withers with correct width to his shoulder blades.  His topline is correct stood with a very slight upward rise to his croup, he does tend to lose the topline on the move but this will be due to his age, as he matures he will continue to strength.  On the move his is a little loose but nothing more than to be expected of a pup, presented front reach and rear drive with a super side profile.  Unlucky to meet the 2 Weimaraners today, but thrilled to hear he was awarded RBPIS well done.

Junior Stakes (3,1) – Samria’s Winterwell the Card Player (AI) (GSP) – 12mth dog – what a super dog this is, who should have a good future.  Solid liver in colour, really liked his bone and shown in fabulous condition.  Mature for his age, presenting a wonderful outline stacked, which he totally held on the move.  Super head, dark in eye, clean in his neck, good depth to his chest.  Well laid shoulders, balanced by his lovely rear angulation.  Ribs well back, short coupled.  On the move he had front reach and great rear driving action to cover the ground well.  2nd Winkworth and Woodcock Silvestre Fit as a Fiddle (HV) – 16mth bitch – beautiful, feminine balanced HV.  Lovely russet colour, well balanced with good front and rear angulation.  Pretty in the head, totally feminine with a kind eye, correct proportions and well set ears.  Clean in the neck, good depth of chest, liked her spring of ribs which were well back.  Strong in his pasterns and hocks. Just not the balance or rear drive on the move to match the GSP but should mature well.

Judge Keeley Newman-Jones