English Ibizan Hound Club

ENGLISH IBIZAN HOUND CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

3.10.26

I first judged for this Club on the 1st of October 2006 when the entry for that show was up in the thirties. Now - exactly 20 years on - the Club was delighted with my entry of 26, considering the way that entries have been going. 

We enjoyed beautiful sunny weather, so were able to judge outdoors, always an advantage at Baginton Village Hall.

Although numbers have never been great in this breed there has always been quality to be found and today was no exception, the challenge for the Bitch CC being particularly strong. Unlike many breeds, the percentage of hounds present for whom I would happily have signed a Challenge Certificate was very high. Looking at the catalogue it would appear that several breeders are very keen to expand the gene pool as I see several imports figuring highly either directly or via their progeny.

Whilst overall quality was high and type quite consistent there were a few minor issues which breeders may wish to think about. Some otherwise very impressive examples were slightly long coupled which does detract from the breed specific balance of the Ibizan. Similarly dramatic rear angulation may be the fashion in many breeds but it is not required with the Ibizan for very practical reasons so please be mindful of the need for moderation. The Breed standard is quite specific about the prominent breastbone but I noticed a few dogs where it was barely perceptible.

Whilst most of the dogs exhibited were in fit, hard condition there were a few that would have benefited from a little extra body weight, even allowing for the narrowness and fine build required. 

Overall handling and presentation was of a high standard.

PUPPY DOG (2) 1. Vescan’s Viskanis Star Of The North, he was the first dog I set my hands on and he certainly set a benchmark. At the end of this class I told myself that if I saw nothing else all day I had a CC winner! 7 months chestnut with white trim who is a sudden impact dog, having such a clean perfectly balanced outline, Intense quality all through and a mischievous character which comes through when he relaxes. His head and expression are most engaging having a classic profile and perfectly set large ears which flow cleanly into an elegantly crested neck. The angulation of both front and rear are spot on, he has a perfect top line with the requisite fallaway and a gentle underline with noticeable tuck-up. He handles so well, having a long flat rib cage and optimum bone. He was in beautiful condition and was very skilfully handled, demonstrating the correct action for the breed on the move. Even in this entry where quality was high he was the dog that thrilled me most and consequently he won the Dog CC, later beating the remarkable Veteran Bitch CC winner for BIS. I am sure he has a great future ahead of him. 2. Phair, Moore & Egan’s Vancouver Baltas Vejas (Imp Ltu), 9 months chestnut with white trim Who has a look of quality about him and is of excellent basic type. Perhaps a little more rangy at the moment than the winner and needing a little more body condition but he has a well-balanced head With the correct contours, large well set ears and a most appealing expression. Long clean gently arched neck and optimum bone for his size though his breastbone could be a little more prominent. Typical in angulation front and back and the overall proportions are excellent. His profile movement is stylish but out and back he wasn’t as collected as the winner. 

POST GRADUATE DOG (1) 1. Worthington’s Abbotsoak Ghost Of Magnus, virtually white with that primitive look that comes with this colour and I mean that in the nicest possible way! Well balanced head with large ears that he uses well and the most engaging expression. Long, dry, reachy neck, quality bone, firm hard backline and correct underline with distinct tuck-up. Typical angulation front and back making a classy overall package but he moved better behind than in front.

LIMIT DOG (1) 1. A. Ghost Of Magnus.

OPEN DOG (2) 1. Vescan’s Ch Peacemaker Apache BaltasVejas (Imp Ltu), 

statuesque open marked chestnut who is a real eyecatcher with great ring presence and it is easy to see why he is a Champion. Has a stallion look about him yet there is no suggestion of coarseness. He is the consummate showman, perfectly schooled and in Immaculate condition. His head is entirely typical, essentially masculine, full of expression and he uses his large ears so well. His long, elegantly crested neck flows Into a rock hard backline and he is correctly ribbed back with a gentle underline. On the stack he will always draw the eye even though he can stand a little untidily in front and for the breed his rear angulation is a little extreme. Having said that, he moves very stylishly in profile but could be a little truer on the out-and-back. I was intrigued to discover that he is the sire of my BIS winner so he obviously has the ability to produce. 2. Carter’s Ch L-Wynd’s Where The Shadow Ends (Imp USA), lion with white trim, not as dramatic or poised as the winner but he has lots of breed type. Correctly proportioned head of good length with a typical expression and the overall balance of outline is correct. There may be the temptation to think he is a little stuffy in neck but this is not the case and purely down to coloration and optical illusion as he actually has ideal neck length, but I would like to see him with a little more pronounced breastbone. He handles himself well on the go around but is rather close behind. Presented in fit hard condition.

SPECIAL OPEN SMOOTH COAT DOG (1) Carter’s Ch Nevaeh’s Radical Dude (Imp USA), chestnut with white trim of excellent overall type and balance with correct angulation of front and rear. His head is essentially pleasing and correctly proportioned but I wish he would use his ears more as this would enhance his expression. Short-coupled with correct top and underline, he moves away true but comes on a little untidily and he could show a little more hover in profile.

SPECIAL OPEN MAINLY WHITE DOG (1) 1. A. Ghost Of Magnus.

VETERAN DOG (1) 1. Woodcock’s Ch Abbotsoak Any Dream Will Do, almost 9 years chestnut with white trim who appealed enormously for his classic type and overall balance. Beautiful head which has not coarsened with age and he uses his large ears well to create a totally typical expression. Long clean muscular neck flowing into firm top line and he demonstrates sufficient tuck up with optimum angulation of front and rear. I feel he would look better with a shade more weight as he does appear a little ribby but when he concentrated he showed excellent movement and carriage and on the day his many virtues and youthful enthusiasm took him through to the Reserve CC.

CHAMPION DOG (1) 1. Ch L. Where The Shadow Ends.

PUPPY BITCH (2) 1. Hall’s Kiwi Treasures Tennessee Whiskey for Hollybrook (Imp USA) 11 months chestnut with white trim, essentially feminine but in no way flimsy as she has ample bone and substance for her size and sex. Beautifully balanced head, so chiselled with perfect proportions and typical expression. She has excellent overall balance with perfect leg length, excellent top and underline and is sufficiently short coupled with ideal angles front and back. She can be a little flighty at times but when she concentrates and relaxes she makes a very striking picture and her movement is sound and typical. I am sure she will have a great future. 2. Vescan’s Wednesday Baltas Vejas (Imp Ltu), 8 months chestnut with much more white than the winner and she pushed her all the way. Very poised with a clean cut outline that just flows, she was more settled than the winner and was in beautiful condition. Excellent head type with charming expression, almost swanlike in neck and she has an immaculate front. Already her topline is firm and she has enough tuck-up but I would like a little less rear angulation. Stylish and sound on the move, she could show a little more hover but I am sure these two will change places many times.

JUNIOR BITCH (1) Morris’ Kiki La King Daida Los Delhi (Imp Deu), 17 months flashily marked chestnut who is very much a class act and a certain Champion. Handled with quiet efficiency she throws out the most striking outline which is guaranteed to catch the eye. Excellent head planes, large mobile ears and a charming expression, enough neck, firm topline with optimum angles front and back. To be picky she could have a little more breastbone and could be shorter coupled but she was in bandbox condition and made a very striking overall picture. Moves with style and personality but just needs to settle in front.

POST GRADUATE BITCH (1) 1. Woodcock’s Abbotsoak Miss Honey, chestnut and white who could have been more settled for the hands-on and she doesn’t always project herself to advantage which is a shame as she has lots to like. When relaxed and concentrating she has excellent overall shape and balance. Her head type is extremely attractive and the conformation is wholly typical. Although she goes a little close behind she was one of the few who looked better moving than standing as she holds herself very well on the go around.

LIMIT BITCH (3) 1. Hamilton’s Gala With Harrisclub (Imp Esp), rough coated, lion with white trim who needs to be handled to be appreciated. Excellent overall balance of outline with correct angulation throughout, she has a well-balanced head with typical expression and uses her ears well. Moved very soundly in her class but had a little moment in the challenge from which she thankfully recovered. 2. Woodcock’s Abbotsoaks Summer Nite, very classy chestnut and white who has a very impressive forehand with beautifully typical head, elegantly crested neck, correctly angulated fore and hindquarters with firm backline and very defined tuck-up. She is longer coupled than the winner and would benefit from a tad more covering over the ribs. Holds herself impressively on the move. 3. Taylor’s Yetti (Imp Esp).

OPEN BITCH (2) 1. Taylor’s Ch Abbotsoak Carousel, this impeccably conditioned chestnut and white could easily pass for half her nine years and what a credit to her owner she is. Beautifully schooled, she looked the part both standing and moving. There is plenty of her but she remains essentially feminine and never loses her outline. Classically headed with the most appealing expression, her neck is of ample length, dry and elegantly crested. Both top and underline are textbook for the breed as is her angulation at both ends but to be really picky I would like a little more obvious breastbone. A sound and steady mover, she fought off some tough opposition to take the CC, not her first apparently! She also won Best Veteran In Show and evidently her litter brother was the Reserve Dog CC winner. 2. Hamilton’s Heiedra La Princess Rosa De Podi With Harrisclub (Imp Slo), predominantly white rough of excellent overall type, substantial without being cloddy. Typical head with large mobile ears but could have a little more length of neck, good basic confirmation with no exaggeration and she moves soundly and steadily. 

SPECIAL OPEN ROUGH COAT BITCH (2) 1. Heiedra La Princess Rosa D. P. W. H. 2. Nicholls’ Willow, another mainly white bitch of good basic type. Nicely proportioned head but, like the winner, she could have a little more length of neck. She is correctly angulated front and back but her underline and tuck up are not as well defined as 1. Well conditioned body so she handled nicely but could be a little tidier in front both standing and moving. 

SPECIAL OPEN SMOOTH COAT BITCH (1) 1. Carter’s Ch Afilador Room On The Broom, 11 years old but she certainly doesn't look it! There is lots to admire about her in that she has so much breed type and is free of drama or exaggeration. Beautiful head type which has not aged at all and she uses her ears well. Just enough neck and she has a noticeable breastbone along with ideal angulation fore and aft. She has not lost either top or underline and is in admirable condition for her age. On the move she has style with characteristic profile and goes away beautifully but can be a little generous coming on which at her age is her privilege!

SPECIAL OPEN MAINLY WHITE BITCH (1)1. Vescan’s Gorgona De Entresaltos (Imp Esp), such an honest bitch in every respect, totally free of drama or exaggeration. She has a beautiful head and expression, ample neck that is elegantly crested and her overall construction is first class. Moves with a characterstic lightness of foot and was impeccably conditioned. Her overall correctness I felt warranted the Reserve CC. I now realise she is the dam of the exciting BIS winning puppy … what an inspired choice of stud dog on her owners’ part, using their Open Dog winner on her as they obviously complemented each other perfectly!

SPECIAL OPEN MAINLY CHESTNUT OR LION BITCHN(1) 1. Hall’s Ir Ch Ahram’s Hold My Hand With Hollybrook (Imp USA), a pleasing overall package who has an excellent headpiece which would be so enhanced if she used her ears more enthusiastically. Very well conditioned, she has enough neck, a noticeable breastbone and moderate angles front and nback. A little more length of leg would balance her up as she tends to look a little deep in brisket. Moves soundly and elegantly with a certain style.

VETERAN BITCH (1) 1. Hall’s Ch & Ir Ch Afilador Wheal Grace, rising 8 years and holding her age so well. Chestnut with white trim full of quality and feminine charm. Excellent head type with large mobile ears and she is very animated. Good straight front with elegant neck and very shapely body. Handled herself well on the move, going with style and presence.

CHAMPION BITCH (1) 1. Ch. A. Carousel.

ANDREW H. BRACE See less