Wickford Basildon & District Canine Society

Judging Report – Paul Dodd

Wickford, Basildon & District Canine Society – Open Show - Saturday 17th May 2025

Barleylands, Billericay, Essex, CM11 2UD

My thanks to the Committee of Wickford, Basildon & District Canine Society for the invitation to judge the Working Group at a show which I have enjoyed attending in one capacity or another every year it has been held since 2011. It is always a happy show with a welcoming atmosphere, good organization, nice big rings and excellent hospitality.

One could be forgiven for expecting ‘show dogs’ to be a bit soft in conditioning but in this case not a bit of it, these are working breeds and almost all the exhibits I had the pleasure of going over were presented well-muscled and in good hard condition – well done their owners.

AVNSC Working:

Puppy D or B (1, 0a)

1.    Wright and Cranfield’s ZEFATHER’S TWO FACES WITH IRIEUSDANE. Black masked fawn Great Dane dog only just 6 months old and very impressive for such a youngster. Excellent outline, head developing nicely with a 

chiseled well-proportioned muzzle, correct dentition, good length of neck, strong topline with well-set tail of good length. Moved very well for such a baby, demonstrating a good even length of stride. The driving power will come as he gets older but even now he has all the qualities to finish as a super adult and he is one I shall watch out for. BEST AVNC WORKING PUPPY and BEST AVNC WORKING.

Junior D or B (4, 3a)

1.    Campbell’s BRANDANERHOF ARAGON (IKC). Hovawart. 14 months old blonde male with a sweet head and endearing expression, ears well-set, excellent pigment. Nicely proportioned body, good turn of stifle and moved well holding his topline.

Limit D or B (No entries)

Open D or B (3, 0a)

1.    Sutton and Manning’s ABBIVILLE ROYAL BLACK DUKE AT BLIKSEMHUIS. 2½ year old Bouvier Des Flandres dog. Excellent compact outline, strong correctly proportioned head with impressive beard and moustache, dark eye. Good strong neck, not too long, excellent through withers, good lay of shoulder and well-ribbed. Dark grey coat of good texture and length. Balanced in angulation so he moved well. RESERVE BEST AVNC WORKING.

2.    Parker’s DRAXPARK CROWNING GLORY. Giant Schnauzer bitch 22 months old. A pretty bitch but a little light in bone. Feminine head, ears well-set. Good depth of chest and good topline and tail set. A little more rear angulation would improve her ability to drive on the move.

3.    Drake and Bishop’s Neapolitan Mastiff ELENA (Imp Esp).

AV Imported Breed Register Working:

Open D or B (No entries)

AV Working:

Puppy D or B (6, 3a)

1.    Moore and James’ STARNEWF MR DARK SKY. 11 months old black Newfoundland male. Almost out of Puppy he is maturing well and has good substance for his age. Good shape to skull with broad muzzle and clean lips, not overdone, his expression is confident but gentle. Strong neck, forechest and shoulder angulation good. Good depth of chest and spring or ribs, good topline, close coupled, correct slope to croup and tail-set with his tail correctly carried on the move. Moved with regular rhythmic strides which shaded this class in his favour.

2.    Fogarty, Paisy, Ingram, Ingram and Lack’s JOJAVIK SHAKE TO FAME. Just six months old brown Dobermann dog with correct rust red markings, still rather raw at this stage but good for size. Elegant classy head with almond-shaped eye, good depth of muzzle, excellent dentition, correct through stop, ears correctly set high. Neck of sufficient length, good depth of chest. Movement was untidy but I’m sure he will settle down with age and experience.

3.    Gauron’s Rottweiler JAVLADARE HEART GOES BOOM.

Post Graduate D or B (8, 4a)

1.    Riching’s BARQUEIRO AMORA. 2½ year old female black Portuguese Water Dog. A pretty head with dark eye and engaging expression. Profuse coat of good texture in typical breed trim. Good shoulder, correct croup, good length of metatarsals but only moderate turn of stifle which I thought might inhibit her movement whereas in fact it was her movement, active and balanced, which won her this class.

2.    Longley’s LIMKYNS MOONLIGHT TANGO WITH ATTOMIC. Red and white Boxer bitch just turned two years of age. Another pretty girl with a good skull shape, dark mask and dark eye, high set ears, good arched neck strongly set on withers, excellent well-muscled shoulder and good rear angulation, topline a little long but okay for a bitch. Close up to 1. but not quite the movement.

3.    Hewitt and Francis’ Rottweiler PRINCESS ISLA.

Open D or B (1, 1a)

Veteran D or B (5, 1a)

1.    Massey and McGeoch’s JOJAVIK KISSY SUZUKI, ShCM ShCEx VW. A top quality black Dobermann bitch coming up to 10 years old but not showing her age and in super condition. Lovely feminine head beautifully proportioned with dark almond-shaped eye, clean lipped. Excellent length of neck, strong parallel front, well angulated shoulder, sloping topline with no sag, good depth of chest, well-set tail, good rear angulation. Looked excellent in profile and didn’t disappoint on the move.

2.    Snelson’s Ch. SALAZKA’S MR ABERNATHY AT ASHTRAX. This black and white Siberian Husky dog is 7½ years old but in rock hard condition. I discovered afterwards that he still runs as a sledge dog and it came as no surprise. Quality head, excellent outline, strong topline, balanced angulation and moved like a dog half his age. 

3.    Garrood’s Russian Black Terrier UKUSA DOBRYNYA.

Working Group

1.    Kichenside’s DELTAROTT DIN DJARIN. Rottweiler male just coming up to 18 months but already conveying the power which typifies this breed both while standing and when he moved. Demonstrated an amenable temperament when being gone over – so import in this breed. Unmistakably masculine with a strong head but not overdone, dark eye, good mouth and strong jaw, thick strong neck, good forechest and depth of chest, well-ribbed. Level topline and balanced angulation. Well-muscled and presented to advantage.

2.    Ingram, Ingram, Tousent and Lack’s JOJAVIK SPANGLED MOB, JW. A quality black and tan Dobermann bitch 2½ years old. Super feminine head with dark almond-shaped eyes, ears correctly set, correct markings. Good length of neck, excellent front construction and matching rear angulation. Presented a lovely profile when stacked and came very close to the top spot.

3.    Hosie’s KING OF HELLULAND JUNGLE BOOK AT SHADOWRISE (Imp Svk), JW. Just turned 2 years old, this black Newfoundland is impressive for size and substance. More flew than ideal but sound in construction. In excellent coat and well-presented, the typical newfie-roll when he strides out catches the eye and earned him this place.

4.    Snelson’s AZGARD MONTICRISTO AT ASHTRAX. A black and white piebald Siberian Husky male 5½ years old. Another quality dog in fabulous condition. Attractive head and expression, good topline, full brush, very good balanced angulation which allowed him to move with purpose and seemingly without effort, as the standard indicates.

Working Group Puppy

1.    Wright and Cranfield’s ZEFATHER’S TWO FACES WITH IRIEUSDANE. See 1st in AVNSC WORKING PUPPY. Although very young this eye-catching Great Dane has so much to commend him. He stands tall and noble, is fabulous in profile and moves well, it was impossible to look past him.

2.    Moore and James’ STARNEWF MR DARK SKY. See 1st in AV WORKING PUPPY. A well-portioned, unexaggerated promising Newfoundland, very well presented.

3.    Fogarty, Paisy, Ingram, Ingram and Lack’s JOJAVIK SHAKE TO FAME. See 2nd in AV WORKING PUPPY. A lot to like but made life difficult for his handler.

4.    Austen’s AUSRIE’S BEAUTIFUL CRAZY. An 8 month old black and tan Rottweiler bitch. Feminine head, good neck, strong topline, well angulated, moved well.

Working Group Best Reserve Best Of Breed

1.    Moore and James’ STARNEWF MR DARK SKY. See 1st in AV WORKING PUPPY.

2.    Massey & McGeoch’s MANZART ZEBEDEE, JW ShCEx OSW. A brown and rust red Dobermann male 3½ years old. Typical head, dark almond-shaped eye, good length of neck and angulation fore and aft. Looked good in profile. Another well-muscled dog who demonstrated his strength in very good movement.

3.    Skipping and Gough’s GEENAWELL REALLY FRUITY AT NELBELLS. 4 year old brindle and white Boxer dog. Good head with dark eyes, good topline and depth of chest. Stood and moved well.

4.    Austen’s AUSRIE’S JABBA THE HUT. Black and tan Rottweiler dog just 22 months old but looks the part in head and profile. Correct in skull and dark eyes of correct shape, strong front and good angulations, a well-balanced dog who moved well.

Paul Dodd