Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Of Scotland

Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of Scotland Open Show Saturday 12th April 2024 A sincere thank you to the Officers and Committee for the invitation to judge this breed club open show, I was delighted with the entry and very pleased that exhibitors stayed to support the show, hence a very low absentee rate. I think we would all agree a larger ring would have benefitted the dogs, but this was outside of the RRCS’s control and they had attempted to lay mats out in the ring earlier in the day. Many thanks indeed to the exhibitors for your entries and good sportsmanship, as is ever the case in this breed. Puppy Dog (2,0) 1. Catharell’s Kinabula’s Making Magick for Faahac. Judged this puppy as a 6 month old and commented on how raw he was, and even if he still has a long way to go, I was pleased to see how he is developing into his super frame and proportions. Lovely proportions and detail to his head, with super eye and expression. Well angulated and balanced in angulation, would prefer a touch more slope of pastern though. A sound, free mover and better up and down than 2. Hope he continues to grow on and develop. Best Puppy in Show. 2. Geeves’ Kiromol Knight Of The Realm. A more mature and masculine puppy. Masculine and good balance to head, but a little plain. Doesn’t always stand over himself but when he does, displays his well angulated front and correct outline. In super body and condition. Not quite the freedom of action of 1 on the move today but a quality dog nonetheless. Junior Dog (1,0) 1. Jolly’s Priorpark William Wallace for Clanbruachan. Excellent overall balance, proportions and outline. Masculine head, but would not want any more stop. Long neck into a fairly well angulated front. Would like him to stand more true in front. Moderately balanced hindquarters and good width of thigh. Moved very true in front, a touch close in rear, a balanced profile stride holding topline. Excellent temperament. Post Graduate Dog (3,0) 1. Mulholland & Cunningham’s Walamadengie Heart Throb. Lovely proportions and outline which I preferred over 2. Masculine head of excellent balance and proportions. Lovely neck into shoulder, could have slightly more return of upper arm and neater elbows, but he was still better made in front than 2. Excellent topline. Moderate and balanced rear quarters, lovely tail set. A really lovely outline held on the move, sound mover but he could put more into it. 2. Smith’s Leteela Locksmith. Taller and more square in proportions. Balanced head of good length and not too strong. Good length of neck and fairly well laid shoulder, not quite the upper arm of 1. Need more infill and width of forechest as stands a touch narrow. Well angled rear with well let down hocks. Not as clean up and down as 1 but moves very well in profile and overall, is very active and free on the move. 3. Geeves’ Gabisa Hob Nob With The Baron. Limit Dog (4,2) 1. Darnell’s Rubiltra Gunna B Victorious. This male presents a very clean and smooth outline, and is of the correct overall proportions. Preferred his head to 2 which has good length and correct width of skull. Enough neck and fairly well laid shoulders, balanced return of upper arm too and good slope to patterns. Would like a touch more angulation and ‘let down’ of hindquarters. A free mover holding his outline, even if he could have a touch more drive from the rear. 2. Mitchelson’s Amahle Red Hot Zephyr at Voortrekker. Another well proportioned dog of good type. Solidly made and all of a piece. A bit strong in back skull for ideal, really lovely neck into shoulder and has excellent upper arm too. Well developed body. His construction suggests he would move very well but unfortunately, he was very unhappy with the floor today and not showing himself off very well at all. Open Dog (4,0) 1. Shaw’s Negasi Radagast JW. Judged him before and he is now perhaps almost fully mature, slightly more masculine than 2 which I preferred, holds an excellent outline both standing and moving. Lovely masculine head with correct planes and balance. Really admire his flow of neck into shoulder and has completely balanced upper arm, excellent pasterns and feet. Good body length and proportions, standing over lots of ground. Would not want any more hind angulation but his rear has good strength overall and he uses it very well on the move. A true mover up and down and balanced, free stride in profile. Best Dog and Reserve Best in Show. 2. Parsons’ Priorpark Par The Course JW. This male is totally balanced with excellent proportions, but thought he could be a touch more masculine in his company today. Excellent construction all through, particularly good hindquarters. Lovely expression. Very sound mover and is balanced in his stride, even if not quite the stride of 1. Lovely type and quality. Reserve Best Dog. 3. Muir’s Ch Jimanns Ace Of Spades. Veteran Dog (2,0) 1. Whiteside’s Jimanns The Doctor. Many things to admire about this male, none less than his excellent angulation, both fore and aft, which I appreciated a lot. Excellent crest of neck with smooth flow into shoulder, plenty of forechest too. Very pleasing head and expression. A touch long for ideal proportions, but he is very well made all through. Defied his years on the move. Best Veteran in Show. 2. Muir’s Ch Saadani Show Off. Better for proportions than 1. Masculine head with good length, though he could have more width/strength of muzzle. Not the angulation of 1. Excellent topline. Good length of ribcage and short loin. Excellent bone, pasterns and feet. Not quite as settled into his stride on the move as 1. Puppy Bitch (3,0) 1. Cunningham’s Walamadengie Aurora Storm. Built on a taller and slightly more rangy frame but she is well angulated both ends and holds a good topline. Flat skull and correct length proportions to head, but would prefer a touch more depth to muzzle. Long neck into well laid shoulders, excellent return of upper arm and slope to pastern, good feet. Lovely length of body and well sprung ribs. Uses herself extremely well on the move with width up and down. Coat a little soft. Best Puppy Bitch. 2. Hall’s Msingi Fancy That at Cynami. Has more growing on to do but she has a really lovely frame with better proportions than 1. Lovely size, balance and outline. Feminine head, but perhaps still yet to break and develop. Not having one of her best days I think, her construction definitely indicates she could have moved better. Nice quality. 3. Scanlon’s Kinabula’s Beat Of My Heart. Junior Bitch (2,1) 1. Shaw’s Negasi Goldbery. Up to size for a bitch but is still fairly well proportioned. Head is of balanced proportions but would not want it any stronger. Long neck with beautiful crest, her front is also one of her main virtues, excellent layback and angulation. Chest to elbow and ribs carried well back. A touch high in the hock, could have more development of second thigh but moves very true in the rear and has a good stride in profile holding her outline. Post Graduate Bitch (5,1) Difficult class to split. 1. Rossini’s Kensesqui Touch Of Love. A moderate bitch in hard condition. Feminine head with pleasing expression, but could have a touch more strength of muzzle for ideal balance to head. Balanced, but almost too moderate in angulation both fore and aft. Lovely flow of topline from neck, over shoulder and back, though a touch steep in croup. Excellent length and spring of ribcage. The most free on the move in this class. 2. Pratt’s Carlincox Cream Of Society. A stronger bitch in substance, another in hard muscle condition. Lovely head proportions and pleasing expression, though could have a touch more fill under the eye. Well arched to neck and decent shoulders, could have better upper arm. Not the flow of outline of 1 but preferred her outline to 3. 3. Dick’s Amahle Funny Cide. Limit Bitch (7,2) 1. Whiteside’s Jimanns Tavullia. Whilst she can ‘round off’ over the croup in topline, she is well proportioned and balanced. Loved her head and expression. Long neck into excellent layback of shoulder and return of upper arm, with neat elbows and some slope to pastern. Well ribbed back, doesn’t need to be any longer in loin. Excellent hindquarters, well angulated with well let down hocks, particularly liked her width to second thigh. Sound mover in all directions, really free and effortless. Reserve Best Bitch. 2. Black & McKinlay’s Asharaa Stars In Your Eyes at Gileeja JW. Another quality bitch, on the contrary to 1, almost a little too ‘squared off’ at the croup in outline, but she too has correct overall proportions and holds a firm topline. Really lovely head, flat skull, correct planes and of fair length. She too has a very good neck into shoulder and decent return of upper arm, but not as neat in elbow as 1. An active mover holding her outline well. 3. Jolly’s Negasi Elberith for Clanbruachan JW. Open Bitch (2,0) 1. Parsons’ Priorpark Proof In Pudding JW. Super bitch of excellent proportions and balance. Has strength yet is so feminine and is of a good size. Lovely balance of head with dark, well-set eyes. Flowing neck into a very well made front. She is still young and can drop in chest a touch more, but is well ribbed back with a short, muscular loin. Super rear with moderately balanced angulation. Impresses on the move, true fore and aft with a free and easy profile stride, plenty of drive from the rear, all with a natural carriage holding her outline. Full of quality. Best in Show. 2. Black & McKinlay’s Rottzridge Perihelion a Gileeja. Another free moving bitch who shows herself off so well. Would prefer a touch more strength in muzzle for ideal balance of head. Good length and strength of neck, set well into good shoulders and return of upper arm, if not that of 1. Super topline and excellent croup. A very good outline which she holds on the move and flows around the ring, if a little unsettled in front. Veteran Bitch (2,0) 1. Smith’s Sweet Little Wallflower of Leteela. Won the class here on balance and outline. Typical head proportions, though wouldn’t want it any stronger, lovely eye and expression. Well angulated front with well laid shoulders and return of upper arm. Ribs carried well back. Good croup and hindquarters, where she was more moderate than 2. True up and down and went freely in profile even if she didn’t have the drive in the rear as 2. 2. Scanlon’s Kinabula’s All About The Bass JW ShCEx OSW. Have judged this bitch a few times before and didn’t feel she was having the best day today. She really excels on the move where she comes alive, moving with excellent drive and holding her outline. Unfortunately today, she was really sinking into her rear on the stack losing her balance and outline completely. A close decision. Mr L A Johnston