National Gundog Association

I was extremely honoured to have National Gundog as my first CC appointment, especially during a year which has turned out to be so important for the breed. Thank you to the Gundog Societies who nominated and voted for me, and the Clumber Spaniel Club for their support. My biggest thank you goes to the exhibitors who entered their dogs under me; I was truly humbled by the entry - both in numbers and quality - and grateful for your excellent sportsmanship on the day. Having shared 25 years of my life with Clumbers and spent 35 years watching them in the show ring, I can reflect honestly on the changes we have seen. In my view, the breed has every reason to be incredibly proud. This is not to say that every dog is perfect, but regarding the health and soundness of a vulnerable native breed, the progress made over this period is commendable. I have no doubt that progress will continue, provided you all work together. 

From the dogs I assessed on the day, I did not find a single case of ear irritation. Some eyes could be constructed better, Rome was not built in a day, but they were all cleanly presented. One dog gave me slight concern regarding hind movement, but I was extremely impressed with the quality of rear movement generally, compared to what I have seen in the breed historically. There were a couple of incorrect bites (both sexes); however, the seriousness with which a fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree, its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work. I therefore view this in proportion, especially when other qualities abound, always bearing in mind that the breed must be capable of cleanly retrieving game. Underneath their beautiful coats, some dogs continue to carry too much fat; however, there does seem to be more moderation now than in years gone by. While there were exceptions, I would have liked to feel more muscle tone on many dogs, particularly in the higher classes, though I do appreciate that this year’s weather has made it very difficult to exercise them properly. Temperaments were, without exception, excellent. 

While writing this critique, I have enjoyed studying the pedigrees of some of these dogs. Having lost our last Clumber a decade ago and no longer exhibiting in the breed, I found this interesting and hope you will forgive me for including a few details. 

Many of my decisions were incredibly close. I had dogs present which I greatly admired, but ended up placing down the line on the finest of margins, such was the quality throughout the entry. For the sake of both dogs and owners, I did my best to judge efficiently, as it was a warm day with the Club Show to follow. Thank you to Ian and Eunice for their stewarding assistance. I was delighted to see that my Best of Breed and Best Special Beginner won placings in their respective groups. Congratulations to all the winners across both shows and thank you again, to you all. 

VD (no entries)

PD (4,0) 1. Monaghan’s Tweedsmuir Boulevardier. 10 ½ months. The second dog I went over on the day and what a standard he set! Square head with dark amber eyes and enough working without being overdone, giving a delightful thoughtful expression. Muscular neck set into strong, well laid shoulders. Tidy at the elbow, well boned forelegs, I preferred the strength of his pasterns to the 2nd and he has well shaped feet. Good depth and spring of rib carried well back, holding a strong topline. Muscular loin, enough angulation in hindquarters with room to develop a little more. Tail correctly set and carried. Loved his overall proportions. Moved true and with drive, already a showman. I found him more mature in body than the bitch pup, with over a month’s extra growth on his side. BPD, BP and he moved too well to resist him for the RCC. 2. Blackburn’s Tweedsmuir Manhattan. Litter brother to 1st and sharing many of his good qualities. Broad head with well developed brows and strong jaws. Well angulated, balanced quarters with excellent bone and nice feet. Deep chest, well sprung ribs, good development in body for his age and low set tail. Liked his strong topline and preferred his bend of stifle to 3rd. Straight and true when moving away, with a very pleasing side gait, just needs to tighten up in front. 3. Dronsfield’s Vanitonia Spectre Of Whitbraith. 4. Vallance’s Vanitonia Smart Move.

JD (1,0) 1. Monaghan’s Tweedsmuir Boulevardier. See 1st in Puppy.

ND (2,0) 1. Blackburn’s Tweedsmuir Manhattan. See 2nd in Puppy. 2. Morrison’s Elskerwoo Solar Flare. There is so much to like about this 2 year old, with a little more attention to his presentation he could go places. Large, square head with orange markings, well defined occiput, heavy brows and good length of muzzle. Good reach of neck. His front is strong and well angulated. There is plenty of muscle through his body and loin, with deep chest and well sprung ribs carried well back, holding a strong topline. Nicely balanced and I liked his overall proportions. He is headstrong and was consequently rather wayward on the move and a little proud of his tail. Needs some guidance, but he is a lovely boy.

GD (3,0) 1. Monaghan’s Tweedsmuir Boulevardier. See 1st in Puppy. 2. Dronsfield’s Vanitonia Spectre Of Whitbraith. 3rd in a strong Puppy class, 9 months old and with lots to like. Good head with developing brows, deep stop and square muzzle. Strong, sloping shoulders and well boned forelegs, just needing to tighten up a little around the elbows and pasterns, which is very typical for his age. 6 weeks can make so much difference and the parts that need to grow on and firm up almost certainly will. Good spring and length of rib, with strong loin. Hindquarters are strong with room to develop a little more. He outmoved a well constructed and considerably more mature dog to secure his place in this class. 3. Crittenden’s Malbecmogs Tiger Eyes At Clumberdor. 

PGD (3,0) 1. Guy’s Suelynda Dream Dreamer To Jahanghir. Powerfully built 2 year old, honestly presented in lovely coat and condition. Large head with broad skull, plenty of working and well developed flews. Strong neck. Muscular sloping shoulders, good length to upper arm, tidy at the elbow with strong, well boned forelegs. Deep chest, well ribbed with a muscular loin and strong topline. Very well balanced, with good bend of stifle and low hocks. Moved well from all angles with no shortage of drive. I would love to see him with a runner who could match his big stride. 2. Husbands’ Bebecova Quicksilver. 3 ½ years old, beautifully presented with the happiest character and expression, he made me smile. Large head with broad skull and heavy brows, I would just like a fraction more length to his muzzle. Muscular neck of good length. Strong topline and well ribbed back, with enough spring to rib. Very well angulated forequarters which I preferred to the 3rd and well muscled hindquarters, allowing him to cover the ground with ease. I would like him a little tidier when moving away and towards, but time is still on his side and the best should be yet to come. 3. Tilston’s Maursett Menelaus.

LD (8,0) 1. Monaghan’s Kensesqui Nice At Tweedsmuir JW. I see he is the sire to my PGD winner and grandsire to my BP. 3 ½ years old and powerfully built. Strong, square head with orange markings and well developed flews. Muscular neck, excellent lay of shoulder, good length of upper arm and short, very well boned forelegs. I was splitting hairs in this class, but preferred his strength at the elbow and round feet to the 2nd. Fabulous deep chest and very well developed in body, though I would not want him carrying any more weight. Strong hindquarters with good bend of stifle and correct tail set. He moved with reach and drive, true from all angles, but a little less active on the move than those taking top honours in the challenge. 2. Wareham & Dustan’s Maursett Melwyn. Beautifully presented 5 year old, with a nice quality coat and orange markings. Square head with well defined stop, a good eye and flews well developed without being overdone. Strong neck of good length. Muscular, sloping shoulders with good return of upper arm and well boned forelegs. Deep chest, good spring of rib and a strong loin. Powerful hindquarters with low hocks. Moved extremely well to take this place in a strong class. 3. Lovell’s Clumbraise Your Song (Imp Nor). 4. Nesbitt’s Creeaark Austin Healey From Chabrouille ShCEx. 5. Taylor’s Creeaark Nereus At Mollynewf.

OD (3,0) 1. Gardner & Carter-Hunt’s Sh Ch Vanitonia Something Extra. 3 years old, firm, fit and capable of a day’s work in heavy cover. Not the largest head, but the correct square shape with clean eyes, square muzzle and enough working, with no hint of exaggeration. Well defined occiput, which was missing in some dogs present today. Correct bite. Powerful neck of good length, set cleanly into strong, sloping shoulders. Well constructed forequarters, with good bone and large, round feet. Deep chest and good spring of rib carried well back to a short muscular loin, well let down in flank. No excess fat and an abundance of muscle, all under a flawless topline. Powerful hindquarters and I preferred his short rear pasterns. Straight, silky coat with lemon markings, beautifully presented. An active and powerful mover, correct from all angles. DCC & BOB. Congratulations on Group 3 under Penny Williams (Bournehouse). His head, movement and something in his character reminded me uncannily of my family’s second Sh Ch. While the same could probably be said for a good proportion of the entry, including all 3 in this class, I was somewhat gratified to find his dam far back in the pedigree. 2. Blackburn’s Sh Ch Suelynda Let Me Be The One JW. A quality 3 year old dog, well worthy of his title. Masculine, square head with heavy brows, deep stop and well developed flews. I would not want his markings any darker, but he still has a kind expression. Lovely length and strength to his neck. He is a heavier type than my winner, very nicely constructed all through, well angulated and balanced with plenty of muscle, round feet and a correctly set tail. I liked his overall substance and proportions. Another powerful mover with good foot placement, but today he was less tidy at the elbow when moving towards than 1st. Pushed hard for the RCC. 3. Thorogood’s Anbrook Don’t Stop Me Now At Harrifield ShCEx.

SB (3,0) 1. Dronsfield’s Vanitonia Spectre Of Whitbraith. See 2nd in Graduate. Best Special Beginner and congratulations on Reserve Best Special Beginner In Show under Jinty Gill Davis (Rosecourt). 2. Vallance’s Vanitonia Smart Move. Litter brother to 1st. Lovely head on this pup, with heavy brows, deep stop and good finish to muzzle. Good reach of neck. His quarters are muscular and balanced, angulation just needs to develop a little more. Looking back to my critique on the 1st, unsurprisingly they are both at a similar developmental stage and I would expect both to mature well. He moved freely and secured his placing through excellent presentation and strong hind movement. 3. Morrison’s Elskerwoo Solar Flare. See 2nd in Novice.

VB (no entries)

PB (5,0) 1. Cox’s Vanitonia Society Girl. Beautiful 9 month old, with a very similar stamp to my BOB, I see she is out of his litter sister. Unexaggerated head, square but feminine, with well developed flews and soft expression. Good length of neck, well muscled and cleanly set into well laid shoulders. Chest still developing, good spring and length to ribs for her age and well let down in flank. Well balanced, with good bone and lovely round feet. She impressed on the move, showing good reach and drive, holding a level topline. BPB. 2. Boden’s Tweedsmuir HankyPanky Among Suelynda. Litter sister to BP and so very similar. She has a lovely head with developing brows, I wouldn’t want her markings any darker, but she has a nice expression. Loved her forequarters, with excellent lay of shoulder, and well boned forelegs set well under the body. Preferred her development in body at this stage to 1st, slightly deeper in chest and well ribbed up. Strong hindquarters with hocks well let down and a correctly set tail. Just lacked the fluidity of the 1st on the move today. 3. Benge’s Bona Fama Kaprys Rejenta At Benginger (Imp Pol). 4. Wilson’s Vanitonia Strike A Pose At Winhampton. 5. Whitehouse’s Vanitonia Starry Night At Molvonia.

JB (no entries)

NB (no entries)

GB (1,1)

PGB (3,2) 1. Wareham’s Tweedsmuir Moonflower. This bitch needed to be of exceptional overall quality for me to award her a CC and without question, she is. Her head is classic Clumber without being at all overdone, with broad skull, deep stop, square muzzle and pale markings. Her eyes are dark amber, set under well developed brows giving the most beautiful expression. Powerful neck, super forequarters with well laid shoulders, good return of upper arm and tidy at the elbow. Correct length of leg, well boned with strong front pasterns. Loved her depth of chest and spring of rib, good length in body with no exaggeration and a muscular loin. Well developed, muscular and correctly angulated hindquarters. Tail set low and carried correctly. Loved her overall substance and balance, with a good quality coat and in great condition. She was passed between handlers for the challenge and her performance only got better, which says a lot for her temperament. On the move, she had decided it was her day, powering around the ring on an even stride, with all the strength, drive and energy I was looking for. BCC. I later discovered that she is bred out of the bitch I awarded Best in Show when I judged the Club Show. Like most of the dogs here today, I had no idea of her breeding until after judging. While it takes two to tango, many of the qualities I admired in her dam have been passed down. 

LB (4,1) 1. Dawson’s Beskerby Flora Finching JW. I liked this 3 year old bitch very much and she could certainly be worthy of a green card on the right day. Lovely expression, with good breadth to her skull, a nice amount of working and square muzzle. Very nicely balanced and I loved her well angulated quarters. Strong forelegs with enough bone and round feet. Good depth of chest, a nice spring of rib carried well back, excellent topline and low set tail. She moved well and today I preferred her hind movement to 2nd, but a little more muscle tone would tidy her up at the elbow and push her towards top honours. 2. Sainsbury’s Elskerwoo Cloudy Skies JW. Nothing cloudy about this 2 year old, she was clean and clear. Unexaggerated head with enough working, markings a little darker than 1st but well within the breed standard and she has a nice expression. Liked her overall proportions, well angulated quarters and strong topline with correctly set tail. Preferred her overall muscle tone to 1st, but she just needs some time to mature. A very stylish mover from the side, covering the ground well. 3. Nixon’s Stonielea Williams Charm At Glenbruetti.

OB (7,0) 1. Boden’s Sh Ch Suelynda Kreme Della Kreme. I last judged this bitch at the Club Show when she was 10 months old, and I awarded her RBB and BPIS. At 5 years old, she has matured beautifully. I see she is the dam of my PGD winner and grandam to my BP. Appealing head with heavy brows, thoughtful expression and strong jaws. Good reach of neck flowing seamlessly into a strong topline. Her quarters are well constructed, with good bone and round feet. Excellent depth of chest and good spring of rib, carried well back to a strong loin, finished with a low set tail. In good coat and beautifully presented. Her movement is sound and her foot placement correct, but she would benefit from a little less weight and a little more muscle. RCC and I must commend the owner on her sportsmanship towards the CC winner, which was so lovely to see. 2. Monahan’s Sh Ch Tweedsmuir She’s So Sheek. My BB and BIS when she was not quite 2 years. She is still chic at 6 years, but had to swap places with the 1st today. Beautiful head with well developed brows, dark amber eyes, deep stop, square muzzle and correct bite. Good length of neck, well set into sloping shoulders. Loved her balanced and well angulated quarters, with good bone and large, round feet. Excellent depth of chest, well sprung ribs and muscular loin, well let down in flank. Tail set and carried correctly. I preferred her overall condition to the 1st, she is firm and fit, but was a little reluctant on the move and this cost her the top spot today. 3. Wilson’s Winhampton Pandoras Box. 4. Nixon’s Sh Ch Knockhalon Put A Spell On You At Glenbruetti. 5. Wilson’s Vanitonia Some Like It Hot At Winhampton.