Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

Critique Deerhounds Darlington 2026

Veteran Dog (1)

1st: Flaxside A Will To Live 

Almost eight years old, masculine dog. He has a very pleasing head and expression. Slight stop, excellent rose shaped and small ears. Pleasing rise of neck. Rather upright in his upper arm and needs more forechest. Covers good ground with his body standing and with some arch over his loin and drooping quarters. Could do with some more muzzling in his hindquarters. Pleasing coat quality. Looked his best in movement as he has an attractive cadence and is well coordinated. 

Junior Dog (2)

1st: Kaleginy Massi Ferguson

An upstanding, elegant dog. At 14 months, he has a very pleasing outline and proportions, but obviously still has some maturity to do. Very elegant head with dark expressive eyes, a little more stop than ideal. Quite good ears. Long neck, well set. Pleasing layback of upper arm and already has some forechest. Quite shapely in his topline and underline. Moderately angulated behind. In a good coat, quite light in his colour which is fine. Very nice and easy on the move, keeping his shape and outline as well as sound coming and going.

2nd: Kaleginy Land Rover

Tall dog, well up on legs. Also 14 months old. Head of proper size, again with more stop than I prefer. Excellent rose ears. Long neck with an attractive nape. Not the front angulation of the fill of forechest of the winner and needs to develop some more spring to his ribs. Attractive topline, medium length of loin. Moderate and balanced angulation behind. Expellant coat quality. Moved well from the side, needs to stabilize both ends. 

Post Graduate Dog (2,1)

1st: Kilbourne Rossie 

Very sound and functional, workmanlike dog. He scores in substance and masculinity, even without being tall. Typical head on the stronger side with very pleasing length and an attractive slight roman nose. Very good ears. Strong neck. Shapely in his body. Balanced angulation both ends, he is a really sound and efficient mover form all angels, much in sync with his handler. Excellent coat quality. 

Limit Dog (5)

1st: Antonius Vertragus The-ngong-hills (imp Fra)

A very attractive, shapely dog, scoring in elegance, but also with enough substance. Small head, even smaller than ideal and could be slightly more masculine in that department. Pleasing ears. Very good rise of neck. Excellent topline and underline, indeed a very attractive silhouette. Typical drooping quarters. Moderately angulated in front and could do with slightly more, but it obviously balances out well as he is an outstanding mover, very co-ordinated indeed and with a very pleasing spring to his movement and kept his outline and balance at all times. It did not cost him anything to move around the ring. Reasonably good coming and going as well. Very good coat. CC

2nd: Stranwith Tor

An instantly attractive dog, upstanding and with a long neck. He scored heavily in breed type and has a lot of quality about him. Attractive and well shaped head, but his eyes could be darker. Well shaped rose ears. Rather upright in his upper arm. Excellent topline with particularly good fallaway. Pleasing coat quality. A bit stressed in his temperament and took some time settling in his front movement. Could be improved both ways moving. But with type like this you tend to be forgiving. 

3rd: Vin De Chateau Du Triple Bois

Open Dog (3,2)

1st: Ch Kilbourne Daniyal 

A very sound, well constructed, strong and masculine dog of excellent type, scoring in substance over elegance. Typical head that fits the rest of him. Pleasing expression. Rose ears. Strong neck with some nape. Well angulated and filled in front. Deep and capacious chest. Shapely enough in his outline. Balanced angulation behind. Excellent coat. It is in movement that he truly excels, very balanced and well extended, truly athletic and sound from the side and in front. Reasonable from behind. ResCC.

Veteran Bitch (2)

1st: Kilbourne Louisa Chick To Kirjojax 

A bitch with excellent proportions, well up on legs dn covering very good ground both standing and moving. Attractive head with very good length and a slight roman nose. Super small and well shaped rose ears. Long neck with some nape. Deep and capacious chest. Could do with somewhat more arch over the loin. Well angulated behind. Excellent coat quality. She moved very well from the side, impressive for a nine years old. Best Veteran.

2nd: Flaxside Against All Odds 

A very elegant, snake-like and feminine bitch, almost eight year old. I would like some more substance to her. Very feminine and expressive in her head. Lovely temperament. Another with excellent ears. Elegant neck. Moderate angulation in front. Quite shapely in her body, but could cover more ground. Excellent coat quality. Moved quite well for her age, but not like the winner. 

Puppy Bitch (2,1)

1st: Alice Djuszes At Kilbourne Naf Taf 

At seven months old, this is already a cracking puppy. So very well proportioned, and shapely, covering excellent ground. She is well up her legs and has excellent length of body. Attractive, feminine head with lovely expression. Very good ears. Long nek, already with a crest. Fantastic temperament, she did not even mind the flapping tent and greeted me with a smile, which was returned. Well angulated both ends. Coat under development. At best she moved very well indeed. Definitely one for the future. Best Puppy.

Junior Bitch (2,1)

1st: Kaleginy Rolls Royce Of Flaxside

A very elegant, feminine bitch with pleasing curves and outline. She has to gain some more substance and width of body with maturity. Very elegant in her head, attractive expression from her dark eyes. Long neck. Moderate, but very balanced angulation both ends. Excellent coat quality. She moved very soundly coming and going and very light on her feet from the side, at all times retaining her shape and outline. 

Post Graduate Bitch (9,3)

1st: Kirjojax Thrilling Thistle 

A top quality, typey bitch. She is big and strong, still feminine. Quite strong head for a bitch, dark eyes giving a friendly expression, excellent ears. Strong neck. Moderate angulation in front. Shapely body with arch of loin and droop of quarters. Excellent bone and feet. Excellent harsh coat. A very strong, functional mover with excellent extension both ends, very dynamic and athletic. I liked her a lot and predict a future champion.

2nd: Ollandsheart Matilda 

A very feminine bitch with a beautiful outline and plenty of quality. She is however a bit too up legs and could do with some more depth of chest and layback of upper arm. Lovely proud, still very friendly attitude and excellent feminine head from the top drawer. Beautiful ears. Long neck with a crest. Excellent topline and drooping quarters. Moderate amount of bone. Moved very light on her feet, well synchronised and with pride. 

3rd: Hyndsight Like Never Before At Finix

Limit Bitch (5,2)

1st: Packway Cora Sundrop At Ollandsheart 

A truly beautiful bitch, very typey with ideal proportions and delightfully curvy without exaggeration. Bang on as for combination of substance with elegance. Lovely head and expression. One ear could be better shaped. Long neck with a typical nape. Moderate angulation in front, but still with a good forechest. Curvy in her outline and typical drooping quarters, all in moderation. Well angulated behind. Excellent coat quality. She moved totally soundly coming and going and very well extended from the side and kept her balance and outline at all times. CC & BOB.

2nd: Greyflax Minnie The Moocher 

Another excellent bitch of lovely type, strong , still feminine. Long head with dark yes, feminine enough. Pleasing ears. Strong neck. Excellent forechest. She carried some more weight than needed, making her look not quite as elegant as I am sure she could have. Well angulated both ends. Excellent front. Rather flat feet. Excellent coat quality. A sound and functional mover from all angles. 

3rd: Packway New York New York

Open Bitch (7,5)

1st: Ch Hyndsight For Your Eyes Only 

Bitch of lovely type and quality. She is instantly very attractive with her long neck and her very shapely body. Feminine head with excellent ears. Long neck with a lovely nape. Enough angulation in front, but I would not want any more angulation behind. Lovely shapely silhouette with highly typical drooping quarters. Excellent coat. She is indeed work of art, reminding me of photos of the great Aurora. This earned her the price for best type. Moved very well indeed from all angles. An excellent representative of her breed and sex, but lost in the end on her over angulated rear, even if she used it well. ResCC.

2nd: Ch Greyflax Miss Grace 

Another lovely bitch, if slightly anonymous standing compared to the winner. Typical head with attractive roman nose. Medium dark eyes. Good rise of neck with a nape. Balanced angulation both ends. Enough rise of loin and drooping quarters. She came alive on the move and moved very soundly, especially from the side and front the front. 

Espen Engh (Norway), judge