Weimaraner Club Of Great Britain

Weimaraner Club of Great Britain Championship Show 23/5/2026

I was delighted to have the honour of judging this show, held in conjunction with Bath Championship show, on what was the hottest day of the year so far. My sincere thanks go to the Committee of the WCGB for their kind invitation, and to my efficient stewards, Anthony & Shirley who kept everything running smoothly throughout the day. Most importantly, thank you to the exhibitors for the excellent entry that awaited me: 62 dogs making 82 entries, with only 3 absentees and 1 withdrawal from the Special Beginners bitch class as the exhibitor had to dash off to the Special Beginners Group at Bath having won the class there. A couple of general observations, it was pleasing to see that the majority of both dogs & bitches were of moderate size and well balanced. In recent years I’ve felt some exhibits becoming rather too large, so it was encouraging to see a return to more moderate proportions. There were a few level bites rather than the desired scissor bite which I was surprised to see, something breeders should keep an eye on. Colour overall was very good with many more pale-grey examples than I’ve seen for some time. Temperaments in the ring were exemplary and movement, on the whole, was sound and efficient. The atmosphere around the ring was delightful and I hope exhibitors enjoyed their day as much as I did.

Baby Puppy Dog (1): 1. Burgess’s Sharnphilly Sterling to Hantzburg just 5 months old and a lovely prospect, I liked his head and he is well boned with correct construction on which to grow He already has sufficient forechest and depth for his age. Once settled he moved very well and was overall just a little more together on the day than his litter sister who won the next class. I was pleased to award him Best Baby Puppy in Show

Baby Puppy Bitch (2): Two very different pups here despite only a couple of weeks separating them in age 1. Upton-Lovett & Upton’s Sharnphilly She’s a Cracker with Roydack, when she wasn’t giving her handler a hard time, this girl presented a lovely outline. Slightly finer all through than 2 but with sufficient bone. She has good layback of shoulder and, like her brother, possesses good depth for her age. Nice tight feet. Once settled she moved well and was only narrowly denied Best Baby Puppy by her brother who was just a little more together on the day, I will watch the future development of both these babies with interest 2. Kerr’s Brownbank Florentine another attractive baby. A chunkier girl than the winner with plenty of bone, although not quite the shoulder placement of 1, excellent depth, standing on good feet but was rather erratic on the move

MPD (1): 1. Crowther’s Hundwith Gullfoss just over 6 months and at his first show so understandably a little overawed by the occasion, however, when he moved he quite literally took my breath away. He has a lovely head for his age with correct earset and length, good forechest and has plenty of depth, well boned legs leading to lovely, tight feet, and he is well angulated both fore and aft. His movement is exceptionally positive, displaying reach and drive way beyond his tender age. He just needs to gain confidence and I believe he will trouble the best in future, I was delighted to award him Best Puppy Dog and Best Puppy in Show. I was not surprised to learn he’d also taken BPIS under the Bath judge. If I had to take one exhibit home today, this would have been the one!

JD (5): 1. Dobbs’s Theondale Hopeful Heart JW I have watched this boy at several Open Shows and he has always impressed, just turned 14 months he is maturing along the right lines. He is a pleasing size, of correct colour and possesses a lovely masculine head. Balanced throughout, he moves with ease, there’s nothing overdone about him and I’m sure he will gain his title in time, strongly considered him for top honours but not quite the maturity of the CC & RCC winners, his time will come 2. Pearman’s Weipowa Shaken Not Stirred to Britmans, I’m sure these two will change places many times over the years. I judged this youngster at 10 months old and admired him then, now at 14 months he really is maturing very well indeed. A lovely size, he grew up quickly but now everything has fallen into place nicely. He has a lovely head & expression, elbows held tight to his deep chest and well-sprung ribs. He wasn’t quite as settled on the move as 1 but when he gets going he powers round the ring on well boned legs & tight feet, unlucky to meet 1 today but another promising youngster, 3. Tullett’s Rivertone The Wizard

YD (1): 1. Kerslake’s Sabsky Karlstejn, Res in JD felt this boy could carry a little more weight to advantage, head acceptable with a good length of neck flowing into well-laid shoulders, slightly lacking in forechest but with enough depth, longer in loin than I prefer, good rear angulation, moved ok

GD (3): 1. W Shaken Not Stirred to B – 2nd in JD this win gave him his final points for his JW, congratulations, well deserved 2. S Karlstejn 3. Litster-Huckle’s Akwamar Zitara At Faltliath

PGD (1): 1. Martinez’s Meinweg Autumnal Frost AW(S) smaller size boy, head ok, a little throaty, carrying a little too much weight particularly over the shoulders. He has good depth, strong topline and moderate rear angulation. Moved ok but carries his tail too high on the move which detracted from the overall picture

LD (9,1abs): 1. Sayer & Wallwork’s Braefell Blackthorn JW I liked this boy for size. He has a lovely balanced head with such a kind eye, correctly angulated fore & aft with well-let-down hocks, a slightly arched neck flowing into correct shoulder placement, a strong topline & good tail set. Lovely tight feet, he moved soundly with drive but had a tendency to move a little wide behind when going away 2. Goord’s Dartview Formula One, similar in type to winner. Good depth, a pleasing head and expression, and well angulated throughout. Moved well but I preferred the overall balance and presence of 1 3. Osborne-Farndon’s Silberliss Bombadier

OD (4,1abs): 1. Phillips’ Sh Ch Rivertone Retrograde another dog I’ve admired from the ringside and was pleased to get my hands on. Slightly longer in loin but balanced throughout, he has a lovely head with well set ears, gentle expression. A strong slightly arched neck flows into well-laid shoulders. He has an excellent front assembly with elbows held close to a deep chest and well-sprung ribs. Strong, level topline leading to correct tail set, with well boned legs and tight feet. Lovely angulation throughout allowing him to move with excellent reach and drive. I initially thought he would be my CC winner but on this occasion he had to settle for the Reserve CC. A dog fully deserving of his title 2. Carpenter’s Aschfahl Kepanye JW very different in type to 1, shorter in loin giving a squarer outline but balanced with a strong topline & correct tail set. Nicely angulated fore & aft, not possessing quite the front assembly of 1. A sound, honest dog with well-muscled hindquarters who moved well round the ring 3. Heuston’s Parhelis Corrino

ChD (2): 1. Isherwood’s Sh Ch Gunalt Schweppes at Caleydene JW, I don’t think it’s any secret to some that I have always admired this dog. I previously awarded him a Gundog Group at an Open Show and have often competed against him with him with my own Champion Vizsla. I particularly like his moderate size and overall balance. He possesses a lean, aristocratic head with the softest of expressions and correctly set ears of good length. His clean, strong neck flows into well-laid shoulders and a level topline leading to a correctly set tail. He has good depth of thigh and sweep of stifle, together with correct forechest and depth. Standing on strong legs and good feet, he moved soundly both coming & going, while in profile he simply flowed around the ring, I don’t think I’ve seen him look better and was delighted to award him Dog CC, Reserve Best In Show & Best Opposite Sex 2. Hill’s Sh Ch Weipowa Double O’Seven JW an impressive, upstanding dog, larger throughout than the winner but still well within the Breed Standard and maintaining excellent balance. Broader in head than 1 yet without any coarseness. Strong neck into well-laid shoulders, correct angulation fore & aft, well-muscled and standing on strongly boned legs and tight feet. His movement was sound and powerful, two super boys, on the day I preferred the slightly more moderate size of the winner.

Sp Breeders D (1): 1. D Formula One, 2nd in LD

Sp Working D (1): M Autumnal Frost AW(S), 1st PGD

Sp Beginners D (2): 1. M Autumnal Frost AW(S), 1st PGD & Sp Working D 2. S Karlstejn, Res in JD, 1st YD 2.

VD (2): I do have a soft spot for our Veterans and wish that they were celebrated more. 1. Kerr’s Sh Ch Kalimor Hudson last time I judged I awarded this boy the RDCC, having just turned 7 years of age he certainly doesn’t look like a veteran. Well balanced throughout with a lovely head that is typical of his breeding, such a kind expression. He has good forechest and depth, is well angulated front and rear and stands on excellent feet. He moved soundly with drive and forward reach, unlucky to come up against his half-sister for Best Veteran today but still a lovely dog, not at all surprised that he achieved his title, Best Veteran Dog 2. Mutlow’s Braefell Goshawk JW approaching 9.5 years old and wearing his age well. Slightly heavier in head than 1 but nonetheless it is a nice head with a kind expression. Well constructed and balanced with good angulation fore & aft maintaining a strong topline & correct tail carriage. Still moving well and striding out round the ring, just preferred the width in front of 1 and his overall ring presence

MPB (2): Two real babies at just 6 months of age. Litter sisters many of the same comments apply to both. 1. Charlish’s Gunalt Rememberance of Harelferg at this stage she was just a little more confident & forward than her sister. Sweet lean head with good ear set & length, good neck flowing into strong topline and down to correct tail set. Sufficient bone and better feet than her sister. Once settled she moved soundly, Best Puppy Bitch 2. West’s Gunalt Reverence, very similar comments apply, she just needs time to gain a little more confidence. Nice bone, good feet and a sound mover, I’m sure these two will swap places many times in the future.

JB (4): 1. Dyer & Oddie’s Rivertone Wicked for Sharnphilly JW this was my stand-out winner in this class, thought her lovely as she came into the ring and wasn’t disappointed on closer inspection. Lovely size & balance with an attractive head and sweet expression, enhanced by her lovely pale-grey colour. She has a correct front assembly, good depth, a strong topline and correct tail set. Well angulated throughout, allowing her to move with drive and precision. A strong contender for top honours today 2. Morgan’s Madreliath Seeker for Parhelis on first impression this girl doesn’t immediately catch the eye, largely because she was very tense and not showing herself to advantage at the start of the class. Slightly smaller than 1, with a lovely head & expression, well-boned legs, I would prefer slightly tighter feet. Nicely angulated fore and aft. Once she relaxed she looked an entirely different dog with a strong level topline and nice easy movement 3. Lord & Broomfield’s Chilternway Coriandrum

YB (5): 1. Rayner & Maskell’s Enjager Elegance for Brownbank JW this class headed by two lovely bitches, and I was really splitting hairs between first & second, ultimately I preferred the slightly more compact outline of the winner. She has a lovely head, strong neck flowing into well-laid shoulders, good forechest and depth with elbow held close to the body. Strong topline, correct tail set & carriage and sound and reaching movement. She pushed hard for top honours by the winner of JB but I was pleased to award her the Reserve Bitch CC 2. Phillips Rivertone Defying Gravity litter sister to the winner of JB but in a slightly larger frame. Lovely balance and similar remarks apply to her as for her sister and the first in this class, I actually felt she had slightly better feet than the winner but not quite as compact overall. A lovely stylish mover 3. Charlish’s Harelferg Happy Hour

MB (1): M Seeker for Parhelis, 2nd JB

NB (2): Hillen’s Weipowa License to Thrill a nice, moderate bitch with a lovely head and such a soft expression. Slightly arched, strong neck flowing into correct shoulder placement and a good topline. Moderate angulation throughout and moving soundly with drive 2. Jenning’s Wallaroo Red Dwarf Res in YB, sweet head, good ear set & length. Sufficient forechest & depth of chest but needs to strengthen in topline as she tends to lose it both standing and on the move. Drove away well from behind but was rather flappy in front coming towards me

GB (5,1abs): 1. Hostler’s Theondale High Hopes JW at 14 months old this youngster has a bright future. I liked her head and expression, clean strong neck and correct front assembly. Good depth and spring of rib with elbows held close. Balanced throughout and moving well off correctly angulated hindquarters, with lovely profile. I note she is litter sister to the winner of JD, a lovely pair of youngsters and seeing what lies behind them in the pedigree, it is easy to understand why they appealed to me 2. W License to Thrill, 2nd in NB 3. Jefferies Rivertone Athena over Silvermeer

PGB (5): 1. Hostler’s Theondale Margot JW my notes say “similar remarks to winner of the previous class” so it came as no surprise to discover from the catalogue that they are actually half-sisters with their dams influence clearly evident. Another bitch of lovely size and balance, well angulated, with strong bone and a well-developed second thigh, moved soundly & with plenty of drive 2. Sayer & Wallwork’s Braefell Briar JW slightly paler in colour than 1 and a particularly pretty girl. Fractionally smaller throughout than 1 but balanced and in proportion. Lovely head, strong neck into well- laid shoulders, strong topline maintained on the move with correct tail carriage. Well boned legs leading to tight feet, unfortunate to meet such strong competition today 3. Hayes’s Longlox Celestial Star at Falconwoodz JW

LB (8): 1. Crowther’s Hundwith Step in Thyme, on my first look round the ring she immediately caught my eye and my notes simply read “love her!”. She possesses the most beautiful head and gentle expression, framed by correctly set ears of good length. Strong neck leading into an excellent front assembly, with well laid-back shoulders and good forechest. Superb depth of chest providing ample heart room, and balanced throughout with moderate angulation fore and aft. On the move she maintained a strong topline, carried her tail correctly and powered round the ring with complete confidence & presence. Today she truly owned the ring and I was delighted to award her the Bitch CC & Best In Show. I understand this was her second CC and I hope her crown isn’t far away 2. Dennis’s Silverweis Sparkler 7 years young and certainly not showing her age. A lovely example of the breed with nothing exaggerated about her. Balanced throughout with a strong topline & correct tail set, lovely colour, strong legs and good feet. She moved round the ring with enthusiasm and style of a much younger dog 3. Maskell, Rayner & Maskell’s Brownbank Willow with Raystans JW

OB (4): 1. Hill’s Weipowa Ida JW another girl of a pleasing size and balance. I liked her head and intelligent expression. Good front assembly with well-boned legs and good feet. Balanced throughout and well-muscled with correct angulation producing sound movement and a well held topline 2. Dobbs’s Kalimor Summa Love JW fractionally larger than the winner but equally lovely balance. Sweet head, not quite the forechest of 1 but a strong neck flowing into correct shoulders, with a good topline & tail set both maintained well on the move 3. Balch’s Sh Ch Weipowa Severine

ChB (1): 1. West’s Sh Ch Gunalt Wavelength JW ShCEX OSW A worthy Champion of pleasing size and moderation. Balanced throughout with correct angulation front and rear, she has a lovely head & expression finished off by an attractive colour. A sound & effortless mover

Sp Breeders B (1): S Sparkler, 2nd in LB

Sp Working B (1): Carpenter’s Aschfahl Kepa Secret a feminine bitch with a gentle expression and lovely colour. Well constructed with good depth and ribbing. Correct angulation front & rear although her handler was tending to overstretch her behind losing her rear angles. Very well-muscled and producing effortless, ground-covering movement

Sp Beginners B (3,1abs,1w/d): 1. W License to Thrill, 1st in NB & 2nd in GB

VB (3): 1. Hostler’s Sh Ch Kalimor Daisy JW at 8 years of age this girl is showing very little sign of age. Dam of the winners of GB & PGB she has clearly passed on many of her virtues. I previously awarded her a RCC and delighted that she gained her crown as she deserved it. So very typical of the Kalimor line she is a lovely size and shape, excels in forechest and well-constructed all round. Strong bone, lovely feet, attractive head and eye, and still a sound mover. I was delighted to award her Best Veteran Bith & Best Veteran In Show 2. Dennis’s Liddycleve Lacy of Silverweis I could hardly believe that this lovely girl is 11 years old. She has the loveliest of heads with a kind eye and is nicely balanced with the correct proportions, presenting a lovely outline. Still fit and active she moved out well around the ring, just starting to show her age but fully deserving of her place amongst 3 lovely oldies 3. O’Keefe’s Ir Sh Ch Gunalt Instrumental to Balovein JCH JD

SpVB (1): L Lacy of Silverweis, 2nd in VB

SpO Longhaired B (2): Having spent over 30 years around Longhaired Weimaraners, including some outstanding top winning examples, I do find it a little sad that more are not exhibited. As these two bitches demonstrated today, there is certainly quality within the variety. I often wondered whether separate recognition, as in other countries, may have encouraged greater participation in the show ring 1. Reakes’ Ir Sh Ch Thrihyrne Love Letters, very much my type of LH. Lovely size, with the prettiest of heads & expressions, good bone & feet and beneath the coat a correctly constructed bitch with correct shoulder placement and good forechest. She has a strong topline, correct tail set, and a pale-grey coat of correct length, complemented by excellent furnishings on chest, legs and tail. At the end of a long, hot day I think her enthusiasm was understandably beginning to wane but she still moved soundly on a good stride. Best Longhaired In Show 2. L Celestial Star at Falconwoodz JW, 3rd PGB another attractive Longhaired girl, slightly larger overall than the winner but still balanced. I preferred the winners head, although this bitch is well constructed throughout and stands on well boned legs although I’d like slightly tighter feet. Presented in good coat, slightly darker than the winner, but again of correct length with furnishings on legs, chest & tail developing well. She moved out well but tended carry her tail a little high.

Elaine Bradley (Judge)