Ruthin Canine Society

A really enjoyable afternoon at the Ruthin Canine Society Premier Open Show held at Llangollen Pavilion in Denbighshire which is a great venue. There was a warm welcome from the hardworking Officers and Committee and the show had a grand atmosphere. The group judges had sent forward some lovely dogs and I was blessed with two excellent stewards.

Best in Show was the Cocker, Wildman’s Glantraeth Ovation to Oktumi. A really high-quality young bitch with a lovely head with a gentle, kind expression, good eyes. Clean neck and well laid shoulders. Well boned with compact, well-padded feet. Really good ribs and body, well angulated with a nicely rounded rump. On the move she has some drive and really displays her merry, lively temperament. Shown in excellent condition.

Reserve BIS the Border Collie, Webb’s Borderbrook Fire and Flame ShCEx. Beautifully balanced and the ultimate showman. Well balanced head with some breadth of skull and an intelligent expression. Lengthy, strong neck. Good depth and breadth of chest. Well set tail of good length. On the move he is so typical with a free, very easy action.

Best Puppy in Show, Copper’s Min. Schnauzer, Copellastar Go With The Flo. Feminine with a pleasing head; keen, alert expression enhanced by her neat, well carried ears. Clean neck and shoulders with some depth and breadth of chest. Good ribbing, typical topline and well angulated hindquarters. Shows to advantage and her harsh jacket was well presented.

Res. Best Puppy in Show, Bettis’ Sealyham Terrier, Whooperhill Sand Dollar with Ornella. A promising youngster, not quite as mature as the Miniature Schnauzer but he has all the essentials at this stage. Pleasing head with a strong, workmanlike jaw. Good length of neck and excellent forehand. Well let down with good ribbing and perfect topline and tailset. Moved out soundly with some drive evident.

A really strong Veteran Group was topped by Tobijanski’s Cesky Terrier, Ch. Janski Bugurovski. Beautifully balanced and absolutely typical. Good length of head, large, open nostrils and well-carried ears. Strong bone. Well ribbed with some strength over the loins giving him a good topline. A lovely temperament and he moved soundly with some drive.

Some lovely, top quality dogs in these well filled Stakes Classes.

John & Moyra Swift Memorial Puppy Stakes.

1. Pritchard Jones’ Mission Wild Win of Luanda at Affrhoda (Imp. SVK.) Rhodesian Ridgeback. Masculine but not overdone with some strength and very pleasing balance. Really pleasing expression, decent forehand and good bone and very good feet. Distinct crowns and ridge. Strong loin. Well angulated and moved out well with an easy, fluid action.

2. Moore & James’ Starnewf Mr Dark Sky. Newfoundland. A handsome well grown youngster. Good breadth of skull, neat ears and lovely clean eyes. Good breadth and depth of chest and pleasing topline and breadth of back. Sound and free moving.

3. McManus-Barthram’s Danru Olyimpia’s Iris Star. Retriever (Labrador).

Margaret Brasher Memorial Junior Stakes.

1. Entwistle’s Ch. Dorenty Textututango. Chihuahua (L/C.). A real eye-catcher who every time I looked around was on her toes and absolutely alert. Very pretty head and expression, good dentition. Well balanced with good ribbing and a well set and carried tail. Brisk and smart on the move, it’s easy to see why she has her title.

2. Pryce’s Cenaybach I Do. Glen of Imaal Terrier. I admired him a couple of wells ago at Bath, he’s a lovely character, strongly made and with a grand head and expression. Typical outline with strong loin and well set tail. Moved well with plenty of drive.

3. Reed’s Way Up Portofino (Imp. Ita.) Afghan Hound

Margaret Brasher Memorial Open Stakes

1. Reed’s Ch. Cloudside Sunstrike JW. Afghan Hound. He has a real air of quality with his proud carriage and aloof elegance. Long head with strong jaw. Excellent neck and shoulders. Excellent forehand with good sized feet. Well angulated and quite short from hock to heel. Sound and stylish on the move.

2. Fazenfield’s Owlspoint Askin For Trouble. Bracco Italiano. Hansome and well made, grand head with divergent planes and large nose pad. Decent forehand with good bone, legs and feet. Very typical topline and strong, well angulated hindquarters. Good carriage on the move.

3. Kirkwood’s Cazcade Can’t Catch Me. Glen of Imaal Terrier. This lovely Glen was my BOB winner at Bath last month which gives an indication of the quality here today.

Veteran Stakes

1. Morris’ Sh. Ch. Riondel Candyman. Spaniel (Cocker). A smashing dog I have admired in the past. Lovely head and kind, gentle expression. Good bone and compact, well-padded feet. Great spring of rib and he is compactly made and nicely balanced. On the move he is so typical with his merry, bustling action. Shown in excellent coat and condition.

2. Robert’s Ch. Magical Love Elvikam JW OSW VW (Imp. Pol.) Australian Shepherd. Presents an immediately appealing outline and on closer inspection she doesn’t disappoint. Nicely balanced head with expressive, well-shaped eyes. Good ear carriage. Excellent forehand with oval bone and good feet. Good depth of chest, well ribbed and these extend well back. On the move she is unexaggerated and free moving.

3. Humphries’ Penparc Skyfall. Welsh Terrier.

Rare Breeds Stakes

1. Byrne’s Aavuuta Qimmiq Akiak ShCEx (Imp. Can.) Bel. Ir. Jr Ch. Canadian Eskimo Dog. He was my Reserve Best Dog from a good quality entry at Darlington last year, he impressed me then and again today. Masculine and in hard, muscular condition, he looks capable of a day’s work. Good breadth of skull. Neat, well furred ears. Strong jaw. Good depth and breadth of chest with good ribbing and a stong loin. Moves well.

2. Whateley’s Lyckalotte Enzo Ferrari at Arkadian. Bolognese. Presents a lovely square outline. So typical in head and expression with excellent pigmentation and good sized eyes. Unexaggerated with a good body and excellent coat. Moved well with a very easy, fluid action.

3. Hough’s Secret Agent with Sufayre. Hamiltonstovare.

Judge: Tom Mather