Bournemouth Canine Association

TOY GROUP Bournemouth Championship Show 2026

My thanks for the committee for the invitation, it was a real pleasure. Considering the heat they were coping with, I think the all dogs put in an exceptional performance and I fully understand that some owners chose to take their dogs home rather have to sit in the heat for a long time waiting. My final line up was a pleasure, each top quality examples of their breeds.

Shortlisted but unplaced were the Bichon Frisé, Smith & Coad’s Ch Pamplona Rumour Has It. Beautifully presented, balanced Bichon with a lovely head, dark expressive eyes and excellent pigment. Firm and level in topline, with a well-carried plumed tail, moving effortlessly in that excess heat. The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan), Haffenden & Wood’s Ch Nasabe Play The Game JW ShCEx OSW. So smart and elegant with lovely clean lines. A most appealing head, dark eyes and correct ear carriage. Beautifully balanced and moved with good flowing action. The Griffon Bruxellois, Swinge & Price’s Ch Marquant Remember Me JW. Square, compact and cobby with a very typical head, large dark eyes and a wonderful Griffon expression. Short in back, high-set tail and full of character. King Charles Spaniel, Bowles-Robinson’s Ch Baldragon Shoots He Scores. Charming and in hard condition. He has a nicely domed head, large dark eyes and lovely soft expression. He excels in movement, very sound and confident. The Pekingese, Puttick & Brown’s Witchstone Ace Of Spades. A quality Pekingese, compact and shapely with a broad head and large, dark lustrous eyes. Lovely typical outline with a high-set, well-feathered tail and the dignity and presence the breed demands.

But choices had to be made and today I had no hesitation awarding Group 1 to the Löwchen (Little Lion Dog), Graham’s Ch Jameneli Back To Black. He is an exceptional dog and, for me, today he presented the complete package. Strongly built, beautifully balanced and with the correct compact, essentially square outline. A most attractive head, with lovely dark, round eyes giving him such an alert, intelligent and quite inquisitive expression, a strong neck flowing cleanly into his shoulders. Firm and level in topline, with a well-set tail carried correctly over the back, completing a most typical silhouette. His movement is a particular joy: free and parallel coming and going, completely effortless and absolutely characteristic of the breed, totally unphased by the heat. Presented and handled to absolute perfection and looking every inch a top-class show dog. The more I watched him, the more I liked him and he was a convincing Group winner. I was thrilled to see him go on later in the day to make breed history as the first Löwchen to win Best in Show at an all breed championship show. He simply did not put a foot wrong.

Pushing hard and doing her best to please, I gave Group 2 to the Papillon, Robb’s Ch Gleniren Miracle Starmaker. She is from the top drawer and is quite exquisitely pretty. Dainty and refined and very balanced and soundly constructed. A most appealing feminine head, with dark, correctly placed eyes giving the sweetest, intelligent, slightly flirty expression. Her very large, mobile are beautifully set and carried correctly with ample fringing that gives the unmistakable butterfly appearance. She has a level topline and a high-set, beautifully fringed tail to complete the picture. Her abundant, fine, silky coat was presented to absolute perfection. Light, free-flowing and positive on the move, covering the ground well and remaining completely composed. I judged her as a young puppy and had high hopes, she didn’t disappoint.

Storming his way to Group 3 with such sound, confident and purposeful movement was the Pug, Pike, Hill & Mallinson’s Ch Eivisah Sonnentanz JW. A really superb Pug, he is cobby but in no way overdone, well knit and hard in condition without being low on leg. His is an excellent, masculine head, relatively large and round, with a short, blunt, square muzzle, clearly defined wrinkles and small, soft ears. His dark, round and lustrous eyes give the, solicitous expression which is so important in the breed. Strong neck, level topline and a compact body, with his tail set high completing the classic Pug outline. Despite the heat he never let up and held his own in the final line-up. He used his forelegs strongly, putting them well forward, was true behind and used his stifles to great effect, purposeful, steady and seemingly able to go all day. A lovely example of the breed.

Finally to Group 4, Smith’s characterful Pomeranian, Ch Sueacres Catch A Dream JW. A very smart, quality Pomeranian, compact, short-coupled and well knit. Lovely foxy head, bright, dark, correctly shaped eyes giving an intelligent expression. Small ears carried perfectly erect. He is lovely and compact in outline, with a short back and the essential high-set tail carried flat over the back, helping to create that distinctive Pomeranian silhouette. Presented in immaculate condition. Free, brisk and buoyant on the move and showed himself off to full advantage to complete an exceptionally strong final four.

TOY PUPPY GROUP

Some real stars of the future in here, I expect to see many of these dogs taking top honours. My Puppy Group 1 was the Miniature Pinscher, Beves, Corr & Venezi’s Hawksflight That's A Wrap At Stecal. I could have watched this bitch move all day. A beautifully balanced, compact and elegant puppy, square in outline and short-coupled, with all the animation and spirited presence the breed demands. Lovely elongated, clean head with keen eyes giving an alert expression. Strong yet graceful through the neck, clean through the shoulders, with a well-developed forechest and straight front. Particularly pleasing in profile, with the correct straight backline sloping towards the rear and a well-set tail to complete a very nicely balanced outline. Her front action was quite exceptional; probably the best I have seen in a Miniature Pinscher for many years. A true, precise hackney action with wonderful lift, yet crucially completely clean and straight coming towards me. She is an exciting puppy.

Puppy Group 2, Olof’s Papillon, Tarnock Enchanting Eevee. So deserving of her name, she is absolutely delightful and quite captivating. Dainty, beautifully balanced and exceptionally pretty, she simply oozes breed type. A lovely feminine head, finely pointed muzzle and dark, correctly placed eyes giving the sweetest expression. Her large, mobile butterfly ears are beautifully positioned and already nicely fringed. Lovely overall proportions, slightly longer than high, with a level topline which she holds both standing and moving. Her high-set, well-fringed tail arches beautifully over the back and completes a most typical outline. Exceptionally sound, moving light, free and positively with legs parallel coming and going. There is so much quality here and, although still a baby, I have no doubt she will be a star.

Puppy Group 3 went to Parkinson’s Bichon Frisé, Delbrupar's The Gambler. A very pleasing Bichon puppy, beautifully balanced with the smart appearance and happy outlook that immediately identify the breed. Lovely head, with dark, round, forward-looking eyes, black rims and good pigment. Ears well set and carried close to the head. Proud in head carriage with a pleasing overall shape and a firm, level topline. His well-set tail is carried raised and curved gracefully over the back, the plume completing a very typical Bichon picture. Soundly constructed and particularly pleasing on the move, balanced and effortless with easy reach and drive while maintaining that steady, level topline. Presented in excellent coat and condition and thoroughly deserved his place.

Puppy Group 4 was Leonard’s English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan), Witchstone Speak No Evil. A very promising youngster with the elegance, clean lines and refinement I want in an English Toy Terrier. Lovely long, narrow, wedge-shaped head with a keen, alert expression so characteristic of the breed, using his ears to great effect. His topline and correctly set tail give him a lovely profile. He is particularly pleasing on the move, showing the flowing quality and soundness required of the breed, with good extended fore-action and smooth, precise hind movement. A quality puppy, a lot of him to like.

Derfel Owen