Salisbury & South Wilts Canine Society

Salisbury and South Wilts Canine Society Thank you to the committee for a warm welcome on a freezing cold day. I very much enjoyed judging the stakes classes, my favourite part was actually how jovial all the exhibitors seemed. It really struck me that this is how dog showing should be, it should be fun and there should be smiling, happy faces on both the dogs and their humans. Thank you to my lovely stewards for keeping me on track. Class 43 AV Puppy Stakes (11/5) 1st 59 Finch & Bonner’s Belleville High Society for Dalticino. Fantastic, confident, happy little Norfolk Terrier. 8 months old and he’s a real charmer already. Compact, square outline. Wonderful head, good breadth of skull and strength in muzzle. Dark eyes, correct ear shape and carriage. Nicely boned, good lay of shoulder, very strong through his topline. Good bend of stifle, muscled up nicely already. Really dug down into the ground to push himself forward as he moves. 2nd 103 Partridge-Bebb’s Kaskae Show Me The Monet avec Keighanya. Handsome, cheeky 7 month old Alaskan Malamute. No mistaking that he’s a male with his strong head and plenty of bone and substance. Dark brown eyes of the correct shape. Small, triangular ears which were set well. Moderately angulated at both ends. Great depth of chest, strong through his loin into good tailset. Very good hocks which he used to move with purpose. Even though he was excited, his gait was easy and fluid. 3rd 38 Sandell’s Wanderhund Grand Illusion. Class 44 AV Valentine Junior Stakes (8/4) 1st 34 Leathart’s Ringmore Jocasta. Absolutely stunning 16 month old Whippet bitch. Such a beautiful elegant head, I loved her expression. Clean shape making such a fluid outline on the stand. Long, arched neck into well laid shoulders. Excellent forechest and depth of chest with plenty of heart room. Straight fores, good spring of pasterns, lovely bone for her size. Nicely arched toes. Topline was very good, she has that nice arch over the loin and excellent underline. Very well muscled on her hinds, with excellent angulation and strong hocks. Fabulous to watch on the move, again I say elegant and fluid but that’s what she is. I hope she has a bright future ahead. 2nd 48 Wand’s Wanderhund For My Next Trick. Just 6 months old but this handsome Dachshund is showing great promise up against much more mature dogs. Really lovely head, darkest of eyes and with a strong jaw. Used his ears well, giving him an endearing expression. Nicely arched neck, excellent forechest with front legs nicely placed right under him. Excellent feet. Ribs carried well back, very strong through his topline and clean underline. Good rear angulation with nicely muscled thighs. Moved so well both going around the ring and out and back. 3rd 15 Wareham’s Tweedsmuir Moonflower. Class 45 AV Open (14/10) 1st 105 Tuttle’s Laverko Defying Gravity. This five year old Rottweiler bitch is in her prime and was very happy to be showing today. Imposing on the stand with a strong head. Darkest of eyes of the correct shape. Strong jaw with the correct muzzle to skull ratio. Very strong neck into good front assembly. Loved her chest; broad and deep, with excellent fill in front. Well boned fores down to good feet. Excellent spring of rib. Strong topline both standing and moving, correct tailset. Excellent width of thigh with well developed first and second thigh. Great hocks which she used to drive around the ring with ground covering, economical movement. 2nd 98 Parker-Stokes’ Willowood Happy Ever After. Charming, pretty Standard Poodle bitch of 3 years old. Finely made, elegant head with dark eyes. Good length of neck into nicely constructed forehand. Excellent depth of chest, closely fitting elbows. Good ribbing, short back and good loin. Moderately angulated at the back end but well muscled. She was very light on her feet, covered the ground well and carried her head proudly as she moved. 3rd 25 Copperthwaite’s Alcaliphs Belisama. Class 46 AV Veteran (12/9) 1st 93 Finch & Bonner’s Sophtspot Hocus Pocus at Dalticino. Super 9 year old Dalmatian bitch who makes the most beautiful, flowing outline. Lovely size and well balanced bone and substance all through. Dark brown eyes, excellent black pigmentation on her pretty face. Nice arch of neck into good lay of shoulder. Depth of chest is correct and she has plenty of room for the needed lung capacity of a dog bred to run for miles. Excellent topline and tuck up, correct tailset and carriage. Good width of thigh and bend of stifle, still well muscled not giving anything away to age. Moved so soundly with great drive from her hocks, covered the ground easily whilst not wasting any energy. Pleased to award her Best Veteran in Show. 2nd 6 Harker’s Paradise Final Legacy at Ettrick. Such a handsome, gentle head on this Gordon Setter. He’s a real charmer with those big brown eyes. Good breadth of skull and length of muzzle. Long, arched neck into good slope of shoulder. Plenty of bone, good pasterns and he is still solid on his oval feet. Great chest both for width and depth, excellent spring of rib, holds his topline well with a strong loin. Well muscled hinds quarters, I really liked the strength in his hocks to give him a great driving action as he moved. 3rd 89 Bedwell’s Vicmars Smart Fella. Class 47 AV Qualified for Crufts 2025 (25/15) What an absolutely quality class! So many beautiful dogs to choose from. 1st 51 Wilkinson’s Rainster Eilex among Hunacres. Oh my goodness, how striking this Irish Wolfhound girl is! She looks strong and muscular but still retains her femininity. Long skull and muzzle, small ears which she used animatedly, dark eyes and well pigmented all through. Muscular neck, clean throat and long sloping shoulders. Excellent bone and muscle tone throughout. Strong, straight fores, down to good feet with well arched toes, tight even on the sandy floor. Elbows right underneath her excellent depth of chest and spring of rib. Robust topline and well tucked up underline. Great rear angulation with well developed first and second thigh. Covered the ground effortlessly with her fluid, rhythmic movement. 2nd 76 French’s Bincombefarm’s The Phoenix. I was absolutely smitten with this little black Pomeranian. In a ring with all the big dogs, she held her own with such ring presence and confidence. Compact in outline with a lovely foxy head, dark eyes and great ears. Short neck into good lay of shoulder, finely boned with cat feet. She has good ribbing, short through the back into correctly set tail. She has a strong back end which she really showed off on the move. Covered the ground with a light, active gait. 3rd 68 Newnham’s Grapevine at Penhildiris. Lauran Wheaton (Acinonyx)