Shropshire Gundog Society

Shropshire Gundog Society Open Show

Date of show: Monday, 26th May 2025

Critiques for Irish Setters and Gordon Setters

Many thanks to the committee for their invitation to judge and to my stewards for their able assistance. Thank you to the exhibitors for their entries. I had some lovely dogs to go over.

Irish Setters

P (6,3) 1 Hopewell, Hopewell & Greenan, Riverwood X Written in The Stars (Imp Bel) Very promising baby of 6 months. Confident little girl who had a lovely outline with good reach of neck and correct front and rear angulation. Well bodied with nicely sprung ribs. Pretty head with dark, correctly shaped eyes showing a hint of mischief. Best mover in the class, very steady. Best Puppy. Delighted to hear she went on to achieve Puppy Group 4. Well done! 2 Rose-Hay, Shelindair Chocolate Flake Another 6-month-old baby at her 1st show. She was rather overawed and needs to gain confidence in the ring. She stood nicely but movement was very erratic. Pleasing balanced outline. Straight front and neat feet. She has a pretty head with dark expressive eyes. 3 Usmar, Ixia Friday I’m in Love

J (5,2) Difficult decision between two quality litter mates 1 Ashley-Turner, Riverbrue the Joker Dark coated boy of 13 months. Proportionate body length to height ratio. Straight front. Neck fits cleanly into shoulders. Firm, gently sloping topline, deep chest, correct tail set. Masculine head with raised brows, good stop and dark expressive eyes. Moved well using tail. 2 Berry & Morris Riverbrue Mystique Avec Brinara Close up to 1st. Very elegant in outline. Reachy, slightly arched neck fitting cleanly into well laid shoulders. Gently sloping topline. Good bend of stifle. Neat feet. Dark eyes and low set ears. Strode out well on the move. Just preferred head of 1st. 3 Usmar, Ixia Friday I’m in Love

PG (7,1) 1 McDonald, Quensha Galway Girl Quality girl, 3 years old on the day. She has a very well-balanced outline with well laid shoulders into a firm topline and good tail set. Correct angulation fore and aft, straight front, neat feet, strong quarters. Well sprung ribs. Beautiful head with dark, correctly shaped eyes, good stop and raised brows with chiselling under the eyes giving her a soft melting expression. Very sound on the move. Could do with more feathering underneath RBOB but was close up for BOB 2 Butler, Anlory Sovereign at Rubymoon Loved this boy for type. He has an unexaggerated balanced outline. Strong reachy neck into well laid shoulders, firm, gently sloping topline. He has forechest and a deep chest with well sprung ribs. Lovely tight feet. Moved steadily. Parallel head planes, dark correctly shaped eyes. Just preferred the refinement in head of 1st 3 Webb, Alolfrana Whole Lotta Love with Redeshka

O (5,1) 1 Webb & Danks-Kemish, Alolfrana Azzaro Beside Redeshka This boy has a racy outline. His neck fits cleanly into well laid shoulders and he has good return of the upper arm. Firm sloping topline and good tail set. Well bent stifle and hock joints. Nice dark coat. Attractive head with dark eyes and kind expression. Moved well especially in the challenge where he showed good reach and drive BOB 2 Rose-Hay, Cataluna Winter Wonderland Mature, 6 year-old girl with well laid shoulders and a sloping topline into correct tail set. Good bend of stifle and well sprung ribs. Lacking in feathering today. Feminine head with dark correctly shaped eyes and low set ears. Moved steadily. 3 Rose-Hay, Calaluna Sir Lancelot

Gordon Setters

G (4,1) 1 Beddall, Dwensantinis Dora of Artiiyo Feminine girl coming up to 3 years of age. She has a reachy neck leading to correct shoulders and a firm, level topline. Attractive well-proportioned head with good stop, correct tan markings and dark eyes. Well bent stifle, neat feet. Moved well. 2 Donovan, Amscot Angel on Fire Almost 9 months boy who needs time to develop. Nicely shaped head with parallel head planes showing stop and correct tan markings. Lovely coal black coat. He has balanced angulation fore and aft. Topline a little soft at present. Moved steadily when settled. BP. 3 Brandon-Lodge, Cottonstones River Sprite

O (3,0) 3 handsome mature boys in this class of differing types. 1 Ashley-Turner, Hernwood The Bottonist JW ShCEx OSW A big lad with good bone and substance in a full, well- presented coal black coat. He has a balanced outline with a firm, level topline. Strong neck into well laid shoulders. Good forechest and depth of chest. Well sprung ribs. Masculine head with good stop, dark eyes and deep muzzle. Strode out well in the ring. BOB 2 Butler, Sh Ch Red Admiral By Rubymoon JW Another quality dog built on a smaller frame. He too was very well balanced. Good reach of neck into well laid shoulders. Well angulated fore and aft. Strong topline into good tailset. Well sprung ribs. Coal black coat in good condition with correct tan markings. Lovely head and expression, Preferred him in head to first as he is less broad in the skull. Just lost out to 1st today as he was tending to drop his head on the final run round. Would like to see these dogs in a bigger ring where they would have more room to get into their strides. 3 Fudge, Fieldberry Secret Weapon at Rufusmoor JW SGWC.

Judge: Sandra Corless (Swiftlark)