Devon & Cornwall Cocker Spaniel Club

Show – Devon & Cornwall Cocker Spaniel Club

Date – 18 May 2025

Judge – Lynda Nicholas (Nickarlyn)

Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge at such a friendly show. My 2 stewards - working especially hard as the classes progressed as there were lots of repeat entries. Thanks to all exhibitors, many of whom had travelled quite some distance to attend. Exhibits all presented in clean condition, however there was quite a variety of size and type.

BIS – Wightroche The Bee JW

RBIS- Merrysoul Donatella Versace with Bocablue

BOSIS – Deracor Duty Paid

BPIS & BMPIS – Gilcar After Midnight

BVIS – Cooleela Operation Dynamo Wightroche

Veteran D/B – any colour (1,0)

1 Blackley & Salero – Cooleela Operation Dynamo Wightroche

8 yr old black dog spot on for size and substance – all male but nothing course about him. Lovely balanced head and soft expression - the darkest of eyes. Clean neck leading to well laid shoulder and correct return of upper arm. Good depth of chest, ribbing reaching well back and a short loin. Super bone ended in the best of feet. Balanced front and rear angulations that he used to full advantage on the move – covering the ground with ease. BVIB

Minor Puppy D/B – any colour (5,0)

1 Birkenshaw – Gilcar After Midnight

Very smart blue lad of almost 9 mths. Lovely quality with lots of substance, gorgeous head and soft expression. Excelled in bone. Big ribs, short wide loin, nicely rounded backend, with short hocks. Well set carried tail. Moved with drive and purpose. His shape and co-ordinated accurate footfall took him all the way to BMP & BPIB

2 Pop – Merrysoul Everbody’s Talking at Bocablue

Another puppy with lots to admire. Well grown red, with style and substance. Balanced head, square muzzle with soft expression, dark eye. Strong neck into well placed shoulders with matching upper arm. Depth to brisket, excellent bone and tight feet. Not fully settled on the move. Just preferred the balance and carriage of 1 today.

3 Craig – Riondel Amadeus

6 months old blue baby giving away everything in age and maturity. Sweetest of heads. Balanced proportions - square and cobby with good angulations. Correct bone and substance for size - time will be his friend. Well up on the leg, and neat tight feet. Happy and moved well.

Puppy D – any colour (1,0)

1 Defuyck – Paris Nat Hales

9 mths black not wanting to say goodbye to puppy coat that completely hid his make and shape. Soft expression coming from square muzzle, dark eye but stop needs cleaning out to enhance. Little upright in shoulder and would benefit from more rear angulation. Merry attitude, well set tail, used well.

Puppy B – any colour (1,0)

1 Bradborn – Chikoritas Puzzle at Lealhunds

10 mths petite blue. Balanced head, a darker eye would soften expression. Decent neck, shoulders finely knitted but could have more lay back. Prefer to see her carrying more body at this age. Confident moving using tail to advantage.

Black/Red/Golden/Liver/B&T/L&T

Puppy D/B (3,0)

1 Pop – Merrysoul Everbody’s Talking at Bocablue (rpt MP) - more settled in this class.

2 Bradborn – Lealhund Kallos Aphrodite

Red 10 mths bitch built on finer lines but balanced body proportions. Kind dark eyes with tight rims gave a pleasing expression. Confident moving out.

3 Defuyck – Paris Nat Hales

Graduate D/B (5,1)

Headed by two beautiful black bitches that had so much to offer.

1 Pop – Merrysoul Donatella Versace with Bocablue

13 mths well-balanced black with beautiful silhouette flowing from nose to tail of excellent proportions. Feminine head, plenty of chiselling, well-shaped dark eye giving a melting expression that I really fell for. Moderate neck into decent front, excellent ribs and short strong loin. Good bone and ribbing. Kept a level topline, rear quarters having plenty of width, providing necessary drive and great tail action. RBIS

2 Shapland – Deracor Diamond Glow

13 mth that was unlucky to meet 1 on top form today. Appealed for balance, shape and type. Balanced head, dark eye, square muzzle. Lovely neck flowing into textbook front assembly. Well off for bone. Big ribs. Slightly longer cast that 1. Balanced front/rear angles. Footfall could be more accurate as not fully settled today.

3 Trestrail – Maybe Your Baby by Faith (IMP SRB)

Open D/B (2,1)

1 Blackley & Salero – Wighroche The Bee JW

Black female. Full of breed type with super balance and proportions from all angles. Lovely well-balanced head, dark eye giving a melting expression, nicely arched neck flowing to good shoulders, straight front with deep brisket. Cobby body, ribs reaching well back with short loin. Well off for bone down to tight feet, good turn of stifle and short below the hock ensured she moved out well with reach and drive Well-made hindquarters, moving true in all directions with enthusiasm with merry tail action. Presented and handled beautifully all the way BIS

Any Other Colour

Puppy D/B (1,0)

1 Walker – Spindlesway Heart and Soul

Blue bitch at top end of puppy - good body and bone. Square muzzle dark eye and distinct stop give an appealing expression. Ribs reached well back and short loin. Could benefit from less furnishings – it detracts the eye from what was accurate footfall coming from balanced front and rear angulations. Happy and confident in the ring.

Graduate D/B (4,2)

1 Cowles – Regaltav Valentine to Shenjela

15 mth feminine light blue expertly presented to enhance her attributes – presenting a balanced silhouette. Good head proportions and stop, dark eye but could be a little softer to enhance expression. Moderate neck into well laid shoulders and return of upper-arm. Stands on good legs and feet. Maybe feeling the heat today – would like to see a bit more animation on the move.

2 Walker – Ryallcourt Angelica Pickle at Spindlesway

Classically made B&W – of good size and substance. Good balance in head but could benefit from a little more work. Dark well shaped eye. Decent ribs that extended well back. Good tail set and carriage. Natural silky flat coat. Moved with freedom but not the drive of 1

Open D/B (1,0)

1 Craig – Alisma Aloonah

3 ½ year blue of good breed type. Balanced head, distinct stop and dark eye. Excellent substance giving a short, cobby silhouette. Stands on excellent bone and tight feet. Short, wide muscular loin. Rear angulation needs to be handled to be fully appreciated, markings a little deceptive. Moved true in all directions with accurate footfall, using herself to advantage.

Any Colour

Junior D/B (4,0)

1 Pop – Merrysoul Donatella Versace with Bocablue

2 Whitehead – Ryallcourt Grand Slam (AI)

Striking B&W boy just a year old with much to admire. Square muzzle and dark well shaped eye – all male. Textbook front assembly, moderate reach of neck, well off for ribs and deep brisket. Excels in bone. Did not seem totally settled today – preferred the composure and silhouette of 1

3 Cowles – Regaltav Valentine to Shenjela

Yearling D/B (1,0)

1 Trestrail – Maybe Your Baby by Faith (IMP SRB)

Black bitch – 19 mths Decent head, dark eye with square muzzle. Little upright in shoulder. Enough ribs and brisket. Well presented silky coat but moving rather close behind today.

Maiden D/B (3,0)

1 Pop – Merrysoul Donatella Versace with Bocablue

2 Stangroom – Riondel Artemis into Lappakia

6 months old blue baby. Most feminine expression. Lovely neck, balanced proportions with matching angulations. Seemed happier free stacking producing an admirable silhouette for one so young. Outgoing and confident.

3 Trestrail – Maybe Your Baby by Faith (IMP SRB)

Novice D/B (5,1)

1 Pop – Merrysoul Donatella Versace with Bocablue

2 Whitehead – Ryallcourt Grand Slam (AI) – moved with more collection in this class showing his profile gait to advantage.

3 McCabe-Bell – Grandtully Biddy Ford

Tyro D/B (4,1)

1 Pop – Merrysoul Donatella Versace with Bocablue

2 Salmon – Crimcar Blu Diamond

14 mth blue bitch - finer in bone and thoughout than 1. Feminine head with good muzzle and dark eye. Matching front and rear angulations. Prefer a tad shorter loin. Moved soundly but a little close behind. Presented to advantage.

3 Newstead – Alisma Annabelle

Undergraduate D/B (4,2)

1 Salmon – Crimcar Blu Diamond

2 Newstead – Alisma Annabelle

Almost 3 yr old blue bitch. Good muzzle, dark eye with tight rims but prefer a little more chiselling. Short and compact sturdy body with well sprung ribs though a little upright in shoulder. Moved well holding a steady topline and good tail carriage.

Post Graduate D/B (2,1)

1 Craig – Alisma Astirist

Blue bitch – almost 3 yrs. Feminine head and soft expression. Presenting a typical cobby outline – body short, strong and sturdy – standing on good legs and feet. Correctly textured, well-presented jacket and handled to full advantage. Would like to see a little more animation on the move – using wide hindquarters showing plenty of drive from short strong hocks.

Special Beginners D/B (6,3)

1 Cowles – Regaltav Valentine to Shenjela

2 Stangroom – Riondel Artemis into Lappakia

3 Trestrail – Maybe Your Baby by Faith (IMP SRB)

Open D (3,1)

1 Shapland – Deracor Duty Paid

20 mth mature dark blue appealed for size, type and balance. Good head proportions gentle expression, dark eyes/tight rims and correct stop - all male without coarseness. Excelled in bone. Big ribs, short wide loin, nicely rounded backend, with short hocks. A bit of a fidget on the stack – but moved well showing drive from behind.

2 Salmon – Crimicar Indigo Eclipse ShCEx

Beautifully presented blue 4 ½ years with jacket of correct texture. Square muzzle, decent stop but prefer a shade darker eye. Enough ribs and brisket. Longer cast that than 1. Moved with drive and accurate footfall. Preferred the overall balanced silhouette of 1 today.

Open B (0)