Cocker Spaniel Club Of Scotland

Critique for Cocker Spaniel Club of Scotland Open Show

Sunday 19th October 2025

Many thanks to the Officers and Committee for the privilege of judging at their October 2025 breed open show also to the exhibitors for entering their dogs and accepting my placings graciously. Thanks also to my stewards who kept the ring running efficiently. The quality of exhibits was high and necessitated several difficult choices. I did note that there were one or two exhibits with marginal bites and slack rims which will have been reflected in their placings.

COCKER SPANIEL VD 1,(0) 1. Mrs M Cleland’s BELLTREES CANDYMAN 8 year old red dog, excellent bone and good deep chest. Short in loin and good shoulder placement. Masculine head but in no way harsh. Gentle expression with bright eyes and tight rims. Merry on the move demonstrating that he was still enjoying his day in the ring. BVD & BVIS

MPD 1,(0) 1. Mrs G & Miss C Clelland’s LOCHELLEN RALPH LAUREN 6½ month old blue boy, nice and short in loin and with good rib and bone for his age. Fine featured but head still to grow and mature. Good bite. Very merry on the move although easily distracted by the buzz in the hall. BPD & BPIS

PD 1,(0) 1. Miss A Burnett’s ALAN PARRISH OF SHAGGY LOVE (Imp Fra) 9 month old blue boy, slightly narrow chest and would benefit from more rib but may just be slower to develop. Dark eyes with tight rims. Could use his tail to better advantage on the move.

JD 4,(1) 1. Miss J & Miss K MacLean & Scotland’s LYNWATER MOON WALK 16 month old blue boy, short in loin with well sprung ribs. Nicely shaped head with gentle expression. Moved well holding a level topline round the ring. RBD 2. Mrs R Williams’ SENSQUI DOUBLE RAINBOWS 1 year old red boy, nice square shape with well sprung ribs and good depth of chest. Gentle head and expression with appealing dark eyes. Slightly lacking in feathering but reds often need time to develop their jacket. Confident on the move. 3. Mrs K Brennan’s CHARBONNEL CHAPERONE AT KERRIJOY

YD 3,(1) 1. Mrs K Brennan’s CHARBONNEL CHAPERONE AT KERRIJOY 14 month old black boy, short and cobby, gentle expression with tight dark eyes. Low set hocks and nicely padded feet. Level topline on the move but carrying his tail a bit high today. 2. Mrs K Brennan’s KERRIJOY KING OF THE CELTS 14½ month old black, finer in body than the winner. Good bone and well padded feet. Well developed head with distinct stop but stronger features than the winner. Gave his handler a hard time today which slightly spoiled the overall appearance.

MD 0,(0)

ND 2,(0) 1. Mr P Carpenter’s CHALLODOWN BACK IN TIME FOR RUPHILL 16 month old orange boy, short and square shape with good bone and low set locks. Gentle expression and kind eye. Level topline on the move but carrying his tail slightly high. 2. Miss A Burnett’s MABELHOPE RULE THE WORLD 2 ¾ year old blue dog, slightly longer in loin that the winner but with well sprung ribs.

GD (B/R/G/B&T/L/L&T) 1,(0) 1. Mrs S Duncan’s LYNSHOW KARTER 2½ year old black dog with nicely proportioned head and tight dark eyes. Substantial bone and well let down hock. Moved in harmony with his handler and carried a level topline round the ring.

GD (AOC) 0,(0)

PGD 0,(0)

LD 3,(1) 1. Ms S Watson’s QUETTADENE STARS ALIGNED OVER BORDACITY JW I have previously judged this 2 year old black dog as a puppy, giving him best puppy in breed, and he has matured into a splendid example of the breed. He presents a balanced outline throughout with good reach of neck, well muscled body and good bone structure. Well developed head with tight dark eyes but with no hint of harshness and a gentle expression. Presented in excellent condition. He was a little unsettled in his class today but his performance in the challenge could not be denied and fully deserved BD & BIS 2. Mrs S & Mrs F Duncan & Hacking’s EASTRIDING BLUE AMBITION 4 year old blue dog, nice square outline but less reach of neck than the winner. Well sprung rib but would prefer a little less covering over the body. Nice rear angulation.

OD 2,(0) 1. Mrs M Wilson’s KENWAD WILBERFORCE 5 year old black dog, well proportioned throughout. Good depth of chest and good bone. Masculine head but not harsh with kind dark eye. Level topline on the move. 2. Miss J & Miss K MacLean & Scotland’s LYNWATER HAMILTON 4 year old orange dog, nice square outline with good bend of stifle, straight well boned forelegs and well padded feet.

BPB 3,(1) 1. Mrs C Hunter’s CRIDHEMOR HAUD YER WEESHT 5 month old orange boy, square shape with well padded feet and good turn of stifle. Well balanced head with distinct stop and good depth of muzzle. Silky coat with rich orange colouring. Merry on the move. BBPD 2. Miss J MacLean’s LYNWATER FIYERO another orange boy, four months old. Good bone and ribs for his age. Nicely marked head and sweet expression. Not quite as exuberant on the move as the winner.

BPB 1,(0) Mrs C Mason’s LYNSHOW APACHE this 5 month old gold girl caught my eye immediately she came into the ring. She has a gorgeous head and sweet melting expression. Good length of neck and nicely sloping shoulders. Smooth flowing movement round the ring. Although still quite immature in body, this young lady must surely have a bright future. BPB & BBPIS

Comment: Baby puppies are just that…babies. They are not fully developed and their shape not fully defined. As such I would only comment on features that are likely to be carried into adulthood and their initial performancce in the ring.

VB 5,(1) 1. Miss K Torbett’s KIRLINJIS MUDDY PUDDLE JW 7 year old liver lady with as much get up and go as a puppy. Short and cobby with good reach of neck leading into fine sloping shoulder and well sprung ribs. Good hind angulation. Very merry on the move. BVB 2. Mrs L Duncan’s KENWAD BLACK TULIP OF DUNHERL black 7 year old girl with good depth of chest and plenty of bone. Again excellent hind angulation and good turn of stifle. Unluckly to meet the winner today. 3. Ms N Rodger’s KENWAD BLACK OPIUM AT RAVENSGREEN

MPB 0,(0)

PB 1,(1)

JB 2,(0) 1. Miss K Torbett’s KIRLINJIS GOLD BEACH 16 month old orange girl, well sprung ribs and good bone. Well padded feet. Nicely proportioned head and pretty balanced markings. Perhaps slightly longer cast than second placed but presented herself well with a level topline stacked and on the move. 2. Miss K Scotland’s LYNWATER TIANA 16 month old blue girl, short square shape, well boned with good reach of neck. Nicely marked head with gentle expression and tight eyes. Very unsettled on the move today.

YB 5,(1) 1. Miss J MacLean’s LYNWATER SNOW MOON 23 month old orange, good reach of neck, good bone structure and well muscled hind quarters. Pretty head, nicely marked and tight eyes. 2. Mrs G Clelland’s LOCHELLAN PURE KAOS pretty 19 month old blue, slightly finer than the winner but with good reach of neck leading into short cobby body. Nice tight feet and good turn of stifle. These youngsters could easily trade places on another day. 3. Ms N Rodger’s RAVENSGREEN DIURA

MB 1,(1)

NB 3,(2) 1.Mrs C Hunter’s CRIDHEMOR CRANACHAN 3 year old liver bitch, good reach of neck and nice square shape, sweet expression with tight rims. Didn’t seem too happy on the move today.

GB (B/R/G/B&T/L/L&T) 3,(1) 1. Ms N Rodger’s RAVENSGREEN ABAIR IONGNADH 5 year old black bitch, nicely shaped head and shoulder placement. Tight well padded feet with short rear pasterns. Bustling movement but still holding a level topline. 2. J&A Carmichael & Bulmer’s TOTENKOPF DUTCH MIRROR SCRY 7 year old black bitch, short cobby body, a bit down on front pasterns spoiling her shape on the stack. Merry on the move.

GB (AOC) 5,(3) 1. Mrs L Duncan’s CORRALET OPERA OF DUNHERL JW 19 month blue bitch, good bone and well sprung ribs, straight well boned forelegs standing on well padded feet. Sweet expression with tight dark eyes. Confident mover. 2. Miss K Torbett’s KIRLINJIS GOLD BEACH see class 18.

PGB 8,(3) 1. Mrs L Crawford’s TOTENKOPF DUTCH DOUBLE DEUCE INTO BINIBECA 27 month old black bitch, good depth of body, good bone and substance throughout. Feminine expression with tight dark eye. Happy mover. 2. Miss K Torbett’s KIRLINJIS GOLD BEACH see class 18. 3. Mrs C Hunter’s CRIDHEMOR CRANACHAN see class 21

LB 5,(1) 1. Miss J MacLean’s LYNWATER MY FAIR LADY 4 year old orange bitch, good length of neck flows into correct lay of shoulder, short in loin with well sprung ribs and good bone. Pretty head with distinct stop, correct ear set and tight eye rims. Merry on the move. 2. Ms N Rodger’s RAVENSGREEN GAOL MO CRIDHE 6 year old black bitch, another cobby bitch with good rib and bone structure. Correct head and eyes, tight well padded feet. Very enthusiastic movement but maybe needs to slow down slightly to fully appreciate her attributes. 3. Miss K Torbett’s KIRLINJIS HANDMADE JW

OB 6,(1) Undoubtedly the most difficult class of the day to judge. 1. Mr B & Mrs B Sinclair’s CHATAWAY DRESS TARTAN AT DUCLARUS JW SHCEX OSW stunning 4 year old black bitch presented in excellent condition and just oozes breed standard. Moderate clean neck leading into fine sloping shoulders. Just the right amount of rib and bone with a head to die for. Moved with style. BB & BIS

2. Mrs K Brennan’s SPARKLETTE SHINES AT CHARBONNEL beautiful 2 year old black bitch who, on another day may well have gone BB. She was presented in excellent condition and has a short cobby body also with good reach of neck and good bone. Well padded feet and good turn of stifle. Very pretty head although slightly finer than the winner. RBB 3. Mrs M Wilson’s KENWAD CHANEL MADEMOISELLE

Susan MacFarlane

Cooleela