Basset Hound Club

The Basset Hound Open Club Single Breed Open Show 04 July 2025

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for the honour of being invited to judge the Club’s prestigious Single Breed Open Show. As a non-breed specialist but a long-standing admirer of the Basset Hound, it was a true privilege to assess quality exhibits and to spend the day among such passionate enthusiasts.

I was particularly struck by the warmth and friendliness of the exhibitors, and I commend everyone for their genuine sportsmanship throughout the day. It was a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Baby Puppy Bitch 2

1. Freudenreich’s Lockolea Sweet Like Honey. 5 months. Tri. Very promising with good head planes, eyes and bite. Front developing. Well sprung ribs. Steady confident mover. Best Baby Puppy In Show.

2. Jones’s Clanwillow Kiss The Girl. Pleasing for type and conformation. At this stage just preferred head of 1. Coat was smooth and short. Body with enough depth and prominent breast bone. Moved well.

Veteran Dog 2

1. Shadbolt’s Sedonia’s Ambassador of Akura. 8 years. Pleasing head; clean bright eyes and long, well-set leathers. Good for neck. Broad well ribbed back. His back is broad with a good length of ribbing. Secure backline. Well bent stifles and low set hocks aided strong movement. In Super condition. Best Veteran In Show.

2. Melbourne & Hirst’s Diheath Really Cosmic At Kejana. Attractive head containing dark eyes. Ok for reach of neck. Ears correctly set, being fine and supple. Strong topline. Correct front with a prominent sternum. Felt he was carrying a tad too much weight. Good tail set.

Minor Puppy Dog 2

1. Melbourne & Murray’s Diheath Cracker. 6 months. Lovely baby and of a balanced size. Head contains clean attractive eyes. Super front assembly with correctly set shoulders. Well bodied. Tight well shaped feet. Good for body and clearance under. Moved very well. RBPIS

2. Lane’s Goldenessence Deep Inpact Over Lanebern (Imp PRT). 8 months. Another appealing youngster. Head still to mature. Large, well developed nostrils. Muscular, well set neck and developed ribcage. Firm topline. Large, padded feet. Nice disposition. Moved OK.

Junior Dog 2,1

1. Ellrich’s Malrich Shaken Not Stirred. 1 year. Lovely temperament. Liked his head with prominent occipital and clean well placed eyes. Well set neck of balanced length into smooth well set shoulders. Well-developed hindquarters for age. Tail is well set. Produces a balanced outline on the stand. Smart mover, covering the ground with ease.

Special Yearling Dog 3

1. Sutton’s Reveros Power of Love. 16 months and clearly approaching maturity. Nicely shaped head with good planes scores. Well placed fine long leathers. Overall a balanced, well-proportioned young male. Well bodied with ground clearance. Strong well assembled front. Developed correctly angulated hindquarters; correct tail set and carriage. Moved very well. RBIS.

2. Melbourne & Murry’s Diheath Chekov JW. R/W 23 months. Another really nice youngster, much heavier set than 1. Liked his overall balance and proportions. Attractive, clean well set eyes. Secure topline. Strong rear angulations proved powerful drive. Spitting hairs finally between two very nice young dogs, I just preferred the brow and clean head tapering of 1.

Post Graduate Dog 1

1. Jones’s Clanwillow Fire & Ice. 17 months. Head is masculine, being well-domed but not exaggerated. Clean, well-shaped eyes produces an endearing, expression. Large, well set nostrils. Correctly set ears of fine texture. Strong underjaw; good dentition. Lengthy, muscular neck. Well rounded ribs. Sound, purposeful mover.

Limit Dog 2

1. Ellrich’s Malrich Rude Boy. 2 year old eye-catching R/W. Masculine, well-balanced bone and substance being well-proportioned throughout. Noble head contains super eyes. Secure backline. Well angulated, strong hindquarters proved easy unexaggerated movement. Short smooth coat and supple elastic skin.

2. Allchorne’s Nelgus Golden Nugget. 2 years. Possess a clean front with well laid shoulders. Head not quite the proportions of 1. Dark, appealing eyes. Strong, clean dentition. Body with good depth of ribs and length of breastbone. OK for overall balance. Well set tail. Moved well.

Open Dog 6,1

A Quality Class

1. Blevins’s Ch/IR Ch/Int Ch Blevwil Kenny Dewitt Cen JW. 3 years. Tri. Unexaggerated and moderate. Balanced and beautifully proportioned. Upon examination his impressive conformation shines through. Body has a good spring of with a secure top-line. Muscular and fit, and could ‘go all day’. Completely new to me, I was delighted to have the pleasure to judge him. BD & BIS.

2. Jones’s Clanwillow The Emerald King JW. 3 years. Impressive red/white dog with slightly more bone and substance than 1. Defined head contains clean, dark eyes. Ok for muzzle. Strong, clean dentition. Below a well laid of neck his forequarters are most impressive. Easy moving throughout and decidedly accurate he is certainly fit for purpose. Of good balance and proportions. Super mover. Champion quality and unlucky to meet 1. RBD.

3. Woodword’s Amardio Against The Wind JW.

Veteran Bitch 1

1. Allchorne’s Nelgus Cinnamon Spice VW. 9 years. Really impressive for her age. Liked her balanced, clean head. Still has lovely eyes which give a lovely expression. Clean forequarters; secure topline. Balanced in profile. Moved really well and has a lovely, happy temperament.

Minor Puppy Bitch 2

1. Hirst and Melbourne’s Diheath Tinsel At Kejana. 6 months. Head is well-constructed and portrays a feminine expression and nicely tapers to her muzzle which is correctly proportioned. Attractive correctly shaped eyes. Correct low set ears. Secure front and topline; well ribbed. Solid and balanced throughout. Once settled, she moved well.

1. Jones’s Clanwillow All That Jazz. 8 months. Scores in head qualities and balance. Ears being velvety in texture and of good length. Shoulders well laid. Strong well arched neck; secure topline. Not yet the spring of ribs or body width of 1.

Puppy Bitch 4

1. Munson & Ruddy’s Burnvale Echoes And Moments. 9 months. Nicely domed head with a slight stop and lean foreface. Good flews. Supple leathers. Good for eyes and expression. Shoulder blades well back. Body with rounded ribs, well sprung. Moved OK for age.

2. Ellirich’s Malrich Foxtrot. 11 months. Lovely balanced head with that gentle tapering to the muzzle which was lean with good finish and lovely eyes to complete the picture. Good length to neck and fits well into clean shoulders. Balanced and moved well. Not yet quite the overall bone and substance of 1. Close call.

3. Strudwick’s Kumamatata Calamity Jane.

Junior Bitch 1

1. Pearson’s Amazing White A Story With A Tail At Armardio (Imp NLD). 11 months. Scores in substance. Attractive expression from a well-balanced head containing correct, clean, expressive eyes. Super ears. Strong, balanced neck flows smoothly into a strong front assembly; breastbone is prominent. Well-rounded ribs extend well. Secure backline and tail well set and carried. Steady on the move. Certainly one for the future. RBB & BPIS.

Special Yearling 4

1. Pearson’s Amazing White A Story With A Tail At Armardio (Imp NLD).

2. Melbourne Murry & Fitzpatrick-Odahamier’s, Diheath Martha. 23 months. Lovely R/W coat. Produces a balanced outline. Appealing head of balanced planes which contains clean eyes and correct dentition. Lengthy neck; Shoulders well laid and good for chest and ribs. Moved well out and back. Not quite the overall substance of 1 but a close call.

3. Shadbolt’s Woferlow Storm Princess Into Akura.

Post Graduate Bitch 3

1. Lane’s Lanebern Truly Scrumptious. 2 years. Impressive head which is balanced and strong but not overdone. Good for forechest, ribcage and topline which was held securely on the move. I liked her overall shape and balance but would prefer a tad more substance. She moved OK.

2. Allchorne’s Nelgus Lucky Charm. 2 years Tri coloured with an attractive, balanced, feminine head containing dark lozenge eyes. Mouth with correct bite. A tad finer overall in substance than 1. Good reach of neck into well laid back shoulders, good length of ribs and a level topline. Lacked confidence on the move which was disappointing.

Limit Bitch 6,1

A challenging class to adjudicate.

1. Colvin’s Lagniappe Time To Shine. 3 years. Lovely Tan/White coat. Well-made throughout. Lengthy neck. Well bodied with good ribbing. Feet could be firmer. Moderate rear. Moved out very well. Her proportioned head, appealing eyes and overall expression gave her the edge over 2.

2. Melbourne Murry & Fitzpatrick-Odahamier’s Diheath Elvis. 4 years. Produces a pleasing outline and has good bone. Head with dark eyes and well set fine Leathers. Ok Front and Keel; Tight Feet. Well Ribbed. Preferred movement of 1. Close call.

3. Pearson’s Amardio Candle In The Wind JW.

Open 5,1

1. Turner’s Ch Devonhound Who’s That Girl JW ShCEx OSW. 2 ½ years. Produces an eye-catching profile. Good for body and substance. Balanced and well-proportioned head portraying a super expression. Clean strong front and pleasing angulations. Good feet. Firm body of good width; strong, secure top-line. Accurate and free moving making full use of a well set tail. BB & BOS.

2. Blevins’s Ir/Ch/Int Blevwil Ivana Twinkle. 3 ½ years. Well-made and sizeable. Clean, balanced skull giving a pleasing expression. Ears set low and of good texture and length. Correctly placed, muscular neck. Long and deep body with enough clearance. OK for spring of rib. On the move she holds a lovely outline and demonstrates strong reach and drive.

3. Pearson’s Armardio Wind Of Change JW.

Brace 1

1. Person’s Armardio Brace.

Tony Allcock OBE (Judge)