Birmingham Dog Show Society Ltd

Birmingham National Championship Dog Show 09.05.2026

Spaniel (Irish Water) 

My thanks to Birmingham National Committee for the invitation to judge my breed at this lovely show. My thanks also to the exhibitors for the lovely entry and for their patience while waiting for the judging of the 2 CC breeds scheduled in the ring before us to be completed. It made for a very long day for exhibitors and a much later start than usual for the Breed Club’s Open Show which followed afterwards in the same ring. 

My general observations of the breed overall were, in the main positive, with quality evident throughout the entry, especially in bitches where I was spoilt for choice with several contenders for top honours. Sadly, eye colour and shape are still a concern, the beautiful medium to dark brown almond shaped eye being hard to find. Mouths too need watching, level bites and dropped lower incisors appear to be more prevalent than when I last judged the breed 3 years ago. Temperaments were good across the board with none showing undue shyness or a reluctance to be handled. Overall presentation was good with all dogs presented in a clean condition and in general not overdone with plenty of curls and ringlets in evidence. For some reason almost all the males were more than a little ‘exuberant’ on the day, the joys of showing an IWS male!

PD (3 Entries) Abs: 1

What a lovely start with 2 quality youngsters to assess both approaching 12 months of age and both with lots to like, I am sure they will change places often in the future as they continue to mature. On the day I felt my class winner was a little more mature in body and more collected on the move.  

1st: Hackett & Williams’ Foulby Storm Warning – Lovely, masculine headed male with correct length and depth to muzzle, eye of good shape and colour, and low-set ears of good length. Balanced all through with strong neck set into well placed shoulders, good width to forechest already evident, enough spring of rib for age, strong short loin, well angulated hind quarters and low set hock, standing on well boned legs and large feet. Moved with reach and drive holding his topline well when settled. All topped off with a super coat of rich dark liver curls and ringlets. A pleasure to award him BPD and RCC

2nd: Hempstead’s Cuvana Red Streak – another lovely young male, correct head and eye, long low set ears as the standard requires, balanced from nose to tail and well-muscled for age, good coat of correct texture coming through nicely, carried himself well on the move as his construction allows, just needing time to fill his frame now and broaden all through. Another promising one for the future.  

PGD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Davies’ Stanegate Sweetest Thing at Shelseivad - Upstanding young male of 20 months, although standing alone he was a worthy class winner. Presented in a super coat of correct colour and texture. Lovely masculine head already showing the expression and refinement I was looking for, mature for his age, he has a good depth of chest and some depth to loin, he is well angulated all through presenting an impressive outline standing and, on the move, where he powered around the ring with an effortless stride on strong legs and lovely big feet. Just needing to broaden all through now as he continues to mature. 

LD (4 Entries) Abs: 0

Difficult class to assess with 4 males all at different stages of maturity. I felt my class winner was more balanced in terms of overall make and shape and more positive in movement on the day. 

1st: Bradley’s Nyllaup Oregon Sunstone - at just shy of 22 months of age this young male has time on his side. Presented a balanced outline both standing and on the move. Kind head and expression, good coat for colour and texture, just needing a little more of it at this stage for me, particularly on the legs. Would like a little more depth in loin, which should hopefully come with maturity. Shown in lovely hard condition and well-muscled. Moved out well in profile and sound coming and going. 

2nd: Margerison’s & Davies’ Foulby the Dark Knight at Kandrelli SGWC – 3-year-old male with lots to admire. Super head and eye, coat of good colour with plenty of curls and ringlets, a little on the soft side. Overall, he is well put together, would like a little more width all through especially over the rear. Moved out well in profile showing reach and drive, a little loose both coming and going on the day. 

3rd: Hewett’s Blue Jewel's Garvin

Res: Green’s Brown Snout

OD (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Smith’s Sh Ch Goldenacre Jubilee Lord of Leonardston – Loved this boy’s outline, no denying he is an IWS. All male, strong masculine head which is showing some refinement now as he matures. Low set ears of sufficient length, good dome to skull. The best of front assemblies he is well angulated all through as befits the breed’s purpose, good width to chest, super barrel rib carried well back, short deep loin which holds everything together enabling him to fully utilise his strong hind quarters to power around the ring with ease. Standing on good legs and feet. Well presented in excellent coat and lovely hard condition. A pleasure to award him the CC. 

2nd: Latheron & Trenchard Sh Ch Fynder Reacher ShCEx – Loved this boy’s head, a classic example of what this kennel is known for. A mature male, he is well up to size, moderate angulation all through, enough rib and good depth of loin. Would like a little more width over the rear. Moved well in profile with a long stride, a little untidy coming and going on the day. Super dense coat, well presented with curls and ringlets in evidence. Presented to advantage by his young handler. 

3rd: McCallum’s Bogbairns Down the Rabs at Weemaes – This 2-year-old male is maturing nicely. Lovely head and eye, long low set ears, coat of good texture and colour coming through. Starting to fill his frame now, good rib carried well back, just needs to strengthen in loin at this stage, strong hindquarters, moved well in profile and tidy coming and going, would like a slightly lower set to the hocks. Topped off with a lovely dark coat of curls and ringlets. Just giving way to maturity today in this class.  

PB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

Interesting to have the litter mates of both of my puppy dog entries in this class. 

1st: Hackett & William’s Foulby Chasing Dreams – I loved this girl’s overall make and shape. Balanced all through and just as you would want her at this age. Lovely head and expression, long low set ears, well angulated all through, moved with reach and drive and was positive coming and going. Lovely dark coat of good texture, presented to advantage. She pulled out all the stops to impress and take BP over her litter mate in the challenge. Lots of maturing to do obviously at this age but one to watch for the future. 

2nd: Hempstead’s Cuvana Gilliflower – Another promising puppy from this kennel. Lovely head and eye, long, low set ears, balanced all through, enough rib for age, moved comfortably and with ease as her construction would suggest, well-muscled for age. Topped off with a coat of good colour and texture with curls and ringlets evident. Another one to watch for the future.

JB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Roberts’ Curlyco Cosmic Girl (Imp Fin) – 13 months bitch of lovely type, sweetest of heads, eye colour dark enough for age, long low set ears complete the picture. She is balanced and well angulated all through, moved with purpose on good legs and feet. Coat of good colour and texture coming through nicely although a little short on the body on the day. Will be interesting to see how she develops.

2nd: Barnes-Moss Tullamore Dew – 17 months bitch of good type, finer in head than 1, lovely eye for colour and shape, low set ears of good length, coat of good texture and colour coming through, presents a balanced outline standing, a little longer cast than one, moved well in profile and tidy coming and going.

LB (5 Entries) Abs: 2

1st: Stoddart’s Cambridgcurl Aileen Fox – 4-year-old bitch of super type. Lovely head and eye, good length of muzzle, long low set ears, good dome to skull. Correct front assembly, lovely rib carried well back into strong loin of good depth, well angulated hind quarters which she used to advantage on the move, showing reach and drive in profile and positive both coming and going. Topped off with a lovely coat of curls and ringlets of good colour and texture. Well-handled and presented. A contender for top honours. 

2nd: Hempstead’s Scrumpy Dabinett at Cuvana – another 4-year-old bitch of lovely type. Lovely head and eye, good length of muzzle, low set ears of good length. Well angulated fore and aft, would like a little more depth to loin, super hind quarters, shown in lovely hard condition topped off with a good coat for colour and texture and well presented. 

3rd: Hardy’s Cúboglach Tufted Skipper of Babanoddraig

OB (5 Entries) Abs: 1

What a lovely class to judge! 

1st: Carruthers’ Sh Ch Stanegate Standing Ovation – 3-year-old quality bitch with all the attributes I was looking for. Feminine head, lovely small almond shaped eye of good colour, correct length and depth of muzzle, good dome to skull. Low set ears of good length. She is balance all through with a strong neck of good length into well placed shoulders, good width to chest in front and super barrelled rib cage carried well back. Strong deep loin into well angulated hind quarters and low set hocks. Moved effortlessly around the ring as befits her construction. A glorious coat of dense crisp curls and ringlets completed the picture. A pleasure to go over her and delighted to award her CC and BOB. 

2nd: Stirk’s Sh Ch Nyllaup Akoya Pearl for Grakar JW – 22-month-old bitch, another quality bitch of excellent type. She has the most exquisite feminine head with beautiful small, dark brown almond shaped eyes, something sadly that is all too rare these days. Long low set ears with good dome to skull. She presents a balanced outline all through with a strong neck into well laid shoulders through to her super hind quarters and low set hocks. She moved with reach and drive in profile and was positive both coming and going. All topped off with a super coat of dark liver curls and ringlets. Giving way to the maturity in body of 1 on the day. A worthy title holder and a pleasure to award her the RCC.  

3rd: Bradley’s Sh Ch Stanegate Stage Debut (ai) ShCEx – 6-year-old bitch. She has all the attributes one would expect in a title holder. Her head is feminine with a good eye for colour and shape; her muzzle is well balanced and typical. She is balanced in construction and moves with drive and purpose both in profile and coming and going. Her coat is a good colour and texture with curls and ringlets evident, would have liked a little more of this on the legs and ears on the day.

Res: Weaving’s Ir Sh Ch Stanegate Cast A Spell

VB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Hempstead’s Ch Riverforest Irish Eider at Cuvana SGWC WGC - This lovely girl still makes me smile, my BCC winner when I last judged and she still retains all the attributes I so admired back then. At 10 years of age, she still moves around the ring effortlessly with reach and drive as her sound construction and fit hard condition allows. Her classic head, correct eye colour and shape topped off by a topknot of curls and lovely long low set ears. She is balanced all through with correct proportions and presents the outline I was looking for that could only be that of an IWS. The addition now of the little white tip to her ever-lashing tail a pure delight for me. Only giving way to youth today in the challenge, she continues to be a credit to her owner handler. Best Veteran. 

2nd: Weaving’s Ir Sh Ch Kandalin Golden Storm CW23 – at 8 years of age this girl is another that has matured well. She has a breed typical head with good eye colour, long low set ears and sufficient dome to skull. Her neck is strong and of good length and sits into good shoulders, ribs are well sprung and carried well back. She has sufficient depth to loin and moderately angulated hindquarters. Moving she went well in profile and was tidy coming and going. Coat is a good colour, with plenty of curls and ringlets evident although a little on the soft side on the day.

Judge – Angie Biggs