Bloodhound Club

Bloodhound Club Championship show

6.6.26

I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon with these friendly hounds and their sporting owners. It’s been a while since my last CC appointment and I was so impressed with the lack of exaggeration and total absence of unhealthy eyes. The breeders are obviously doing a great job in following the Kennel Club directives. Looking at the catalogue it would appear that this may be down to international cooperation with enthusiasts in other countries.

I try not to fault judge and aim to focus on merits but I do believe that a major part of the breed is its unique carriage and deportment. The Breed Standard is quite specific about tail carriage and some hounds could have done better had they been more confident with their sterns.

Junior Dog (1) 1. Howie, Avery & Miller’s Quiet Creeks Limelight At Millvery For Marksbury (Imp USA), 11 months liver & tan and a very exciting prospect who makes an impressive overall picture with excellent basic construction and good overall balance. Masculine head of good proportions with just sufficient wrinkle to maintain type but nothing is exaggerated and the eyes are clear with no obvious looseness. Strong bone, workable feet, well ribbed back with moderate angulation throughout. Irritatingly he has a tendency to stand rather straight behind at times but when he moves he demonstrates sufficient angulation to drive well. With maturity I am sure he will drop into his rear. That said, he is quite true out and back and covers ground freely in profile, carrying his stern proudly. Should have an interesting future. Best Puppy. 

 Post Graduate Dog (1) 1. Prior’s Houndseeker Falcon (AI), black & tan, a very handsome hound, masculine but still has quality with substance. Well balanced head with correct profile, not overdone in stop with no excessive wrinkle, clear eyes and perfect bite and good drop of lip. Well laid shoulder with moderate angles front and back. Fairly well ribbed back and he has good bone. At times has a tendency to overstretch behind but collects himself well with movement that is quite true out and back and he holds his stern well in profile, covering the ground well. For me he was good value for the Reserve CC.

Limit Dog (3,1 abs) 1. Adshead’s Farlap Kashmir, spirited black & tan with excellent proportions throughout. Quality head showing good length with clean eyes, no unnecessary wrinkle and very good balance of skull to muzzle. Well filled forechest, strong quality bone, straight forelegs, tight feet, optimum angulation front and back and well ribbed but could use a little more body weight just to give him an extra covering. When he settled was very accurate moving with great freedom. 2. Prior’s Houndseeker Dauntless, liver & tan who is a little heavier in general type than the winner and particularly in backskull but the eyes are clean and healthy. His general outline is pleasing with good proportions and correct angulation, strong bone and well ribbed back. On the move, he wasn’t quite as accurate out and back as the winner and he has a tendency to pace but soon rectifies himself. 

Open Dog (4,1) Clark’s Ch Farlap Keepsake, very handsome black & tan of excellent overall breed type, full of quality with no exaggeration whatsoever. Beautifully balanced head with no excessive wrinkle but still has a wonderfully noble and mild expression with the clearest of eyes and a good bite. Just enough neck, optimum angles front and back, reasonably well ribbed with a firm topline and the stern is well sat and carried. Goes away with purpose but could be a little more collected in front coming on. However his profile movement is exemplary with great freedom and elasticity and he has a natural nobility about him. Well deserved the CC & BIS. 2. Westron’s Farlap Kaleb, litter brother to 1 (as was the Limit winner so this must have been some litter!), again a black & tan but a tad leggier than his brother, not having filled his frame out to the same degree. That said, he is upstanding and impressive with lots of excellent breed qualities. Well balanced head with pronounced occiput and no excess wrinkle with clean healthy eyes. Ideal angulation both front and back and he moves very well behind if very slightly wide in front but uses himself well in profile and has a definite bearing. 3. Phelan’s Graceminster Reverance (AI).

Post Graduate Bitch (1) 1. Freer’s Immervahr Fryony, liver & tan of the highest quality who impressed at first glance when she just stood foot-perfect, confident and steady, needing no assistance from her unassuming handler. Constructionally she is so impressive, everything fitting and flowing with no humps or bumps and she can’t stand wrong. She has a well filled forechest, the straightest of forelegs and well knuckled feet. Her angulation of both fore and hindquarters is spot on and she is nicely ribbed back with optimum bodyweight. The overall balance is perfect and she has a beautiful headpiece with the most engaging expression, clear eyes and just enough loose skin to convey type. One of those dogs that is a joy to go over, having no drama just sheer correctness. She can be a bit of a fidget when her handler heads sternwise but at the end of the day she was the bitch who pleased me most, both standing and moving as she carries herself with great freedom using her stern effectively. Hence she won her first CC & Reserve BIS. I hope she finds two more judged to like her equally!  

Limit Bitch (2,1) 1. Hayden & Clark’s Farlap Krumble – another of that remarkable K litter I see! Black & tan of excellent basic type with a beautifully balanced head, healthy eyes, kind expression and just a suggestion of wrinkle in the right places and good drop of lip. She could have a little more neck and be a little more ribbed back but has good strong bone and ample substance. Her front is well filled and she holds a firm topline but could be better let down behind. Still she uses her stern well and makes the best of herself on the move.

Open Bitch (3,1) 1. Howie, Emrys-Jones, Avery & Miller’s Ch Marksbury Regina At Millvery, on the stack this black & tan really excited me as she is absolutely outstanding. I loved everything about her set up as she created the most beautiful outline. The forehand is magnificent with wonderful straight forelegs, well filled front and she has a gorgeous headpiece … perfectly proportioned with clear eyes and the most sagacious expression. She has optimum angulation throughout (her hindquarters being exceptional), is well ribbed back with a firm topline and great set-on. She was in the most incredible condition and, whilst she moved soundly, I just wish she’d jollied up and used her stern more enthusiastically but the overall type and quality were exceptional and I could not deny her the Reserve CC 2. Clark’s Boru’s Element Of Surprise, another black & tan of pleasing basic type and shape but not quite the overall finish of the winner …. though she did use her stern a little more enthusiastically. Well-proportioned head with clear eyes and there is sufficient stop helping to create a pleasing head profile. There is just moderate angulation front and back with sufficient bone but she could have a little more neck. Still she is a sound and steady mover.

Special Beginners Bitch (1) 1. Freer’s Witch Maple Bay Northern Star (Imp FIN), liver & tan of excellent overall type who stood confidently on four good legs, showing off her excellent forehand with good width in front and well filled chest. She is carrying plenty of weight but has strong bone, is well ribbed and coupled with balanced angulation. She also has a very pleasing headpiece with typical expression and clear eyes. She moved steadily and I see she is also the dam of the Bitch CC winner so clearly is a good producer too.

Working Trial Dog or Bitch (2) 1. Priestley’s Ch Marksbury Railway Of Quikotic, set up this is a very impressive black & tan stallion of a hound, totally masculine with lots of substance but giving away nothing in quality. Very masculine headpiece with pronounced occiput but no excess wrinkle. Wise tranquil expression with clear eyes and good drop of lip. Excellent bone, well ribbed and in fit hard condition with optimum angulation throughout. He is a sound mover but could use his stern a little more assertively but his overall type and quality are unquestionable. 2. G. Reverance, liver and tan, not quite as well trained as the winner and not with his finish of body condition but the basic shape is pleasing. More refined in head than 1 with no excessive wrinkle and clear eyes. Straight forelegs with moderate angles and when he concentrated, he moved quite well though clearly prefers sitting to standing!

Veteran Dog Or Bitch (2,1) 1. Priestley’s Ch Maplemead Malazar Of Quikotic, 7 year old black & tan male holding his age well and there is no mistaking his sex. Pleasing overall type and balance, essentially masculine all through but no suggestion of coarsenenes. Good basic head type with good lengths and proportions and clear eyes. Strongly boned straight forelegs, well ribbed back with moderate angulation front and back but could just use his stern a little more enthusiastically. Best Veteran In Show.

ANDREW H. BRACE