West Of England Ladies Kennel Society

Many thanks to the ladies of WELKS for the kind invitation to judge Mini Wires, Cotons, Stakes and all of the Veteran Groups at this years show. The hospitality was second to none and the weather was likewise! Blessed with good sized rings, friendly faces and some wonderful dogs, it truly was a great experience and one which I will remember for a long time to come. 

Veteran Groups 

Hound Veteran Group

G1 221 - Ch/Ger Ch Dialynne Peter Piper Ww17, Breed: Beagle (Mrs M Raymond)

Delighted to get to judge this lovely Beagle, belies his years & is a super make and shape. Lovely head and eye, now showing the wisdom of his years; beautiful front & superb feet, excellent forehand, super ribbing and body. In superb condition and it can be no mean feet to keep a dog of his age in top form, carries his stern well & uses himself so well from all angles; followed closely by the SL Dachs that I have always admired, but I could not get passed Peter Piper’s carriage on the day. Loved him & he ultimately ended up with RBVIS on the final day, where he put up a strong challenge.

 G2 319 - Ch Swansford Gabrieldor, Breed: Dachshund (Long-Haired) (Mr D Roberts)

I have always loved this beautiful Shaded Red S/L, and gave him a CC on my first appointment in the variety. He is the dog of a lifetime for his clever breeder/owner & my opinion of him has not changed in the last 3 years. Beautifully made all through; well-constructed in front with good keel & he does have enough ground clearance throughout; I thought he was absolutely smashing on the move; and presented in a beautiful jacket. A lovely dog.

G3 741 - Nuthouse Abracadabra, Breed: Rhodesian Ridgeback (Mrs G J Little)

This Ridgeback caught my eye on first glance for balance and overall make and shape, lovely head and eye, super chest & forehand; well made in front and well ribbed back; lovely topline and hindquarters and a really powerhouse on the move, going with a solid, effortless and free action.

G4 83 - Ch Mochras Mahcushla Ir Jch, Breed: Basset Fauve De Bretagne (Dr A & Mrs E Leech & Thornton)

Completing the quartet was this lovely Fauve, beautiful head and eye; excellent body quarters & in a good harsh jacket. Sound and free on the move, with such a lovely, easy action; carrying her stern well and looking a picture in profile.

Toy Veteran Group

G1 1770 - Ch Rhodenash Stella Dreams of Eivisah JW, Breed: Pug (Mrs G & Mr S Pike)

The winner here was a very attractive Pug bitch, lots to like about her; good head and eye, not overdone but so expressive; good neck and shoulder; cobby body, lovely tail & carriage; sound on the move, particularly in profile, with a typical pug action. In super coat and condition.

G2 1495 - Ch Harlouville Uptown Girl JW, Breed: Japanese Chin (Mrs T & Mr A Quinn)

Lovely bitch, lots to like about her; beautiful head and expression, wished she had opened her eyes a bit more but the sun was bright by this time; well made throughout, lovely bone and body, beautiful feet; super topline and tail & in great coat and condition. A credit to her owner.

G3 1243 - Ch Aristodemos Spaceman Nikitos, Breed: Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) (Mr J R Hobbs)

Caught my eye when he came in for his attitude and style; lovely head and eye, super ears; well made in front and he stands on good legs and feet; good topline and tailset; sickle tail carried well and went with a brisk action both directions; and I liked his outline and carriage in profile.

G4 1331 - Ch Witchstone Not Apache On Me for Peopleton VW, Breed: English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) (Mr J & Miss W Francis & Blatchford)

Very smart chap, lots to like about his head and expression, good ears; excellent neck and shoulder, correct topline and tail set; very good front action but I might have preferred him a little tidier behind, well deserved his place here.

Terrier Veteran Group

G1 2037 - Ch Janski Bugurovski VW, Breed: Cesky Terrier (Mrs W Tobijanski)

Super Cesky, excellent head and eye, strong muzzle & good expression; lovely neck and shoulder and not bad in front, super topline and ribbing; carried his tail well and was in the most pristine coat and condition. Came to life on the move, very accurate away and back & in profile a real star. Lots to like about this one.

G2 2073 - Ch Kerrykeel Aobheann, Breed: Irish Terrier (Mrs K J & Mr A R Oliver)

Very nice Irish of a lovely size who ran the winner close, good head and expression, tidy ears; clean neck and shoulder; very good chest and forelegs; good pads; well ribbed and firm in topline, carries his tail well and is a really accurate mover away and back; and a very tidy mover in profile. In excellent jacket and very well handled.

G3 2122 - Ch Talanors Time for Fun ShCEx, Breed: Manchester Terrier (Mr F Warner)

In great condition and belies his years, correct head and expression; super quarters and correct angulation both ends, firm topline and neat underline; good markings & goes with a considered action in all directions. Another nice one.

G4 2292 - Ch Catstaff’s Used to, Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Mr D Manito)

Completing the four was this lovely Stafford, a late arrival to pre-judging and I really admired him. I liked his head and eye, very good chest and feet; super ribbing and quarters; very typical mover and very accurate; I liked him a lot.

Utility Veteran Group

G1 2870 - Ch Khinjan Bellisima JW, Breed: Lhasa Apso (Mrs S J Hattrell)

A front runner from the start & my hands on examination did nothing to convince me otherwise; beautiful head type & mould; so feminine and expressive, lovely neck and shoulder adding to and aiding her outline, excellent forlegs and chest, super ribbing, high set tail carried well over her back, in glorious coat & condition, free and jaunty on the move in all directions and I could find nothing to beat her in this good group. In pristine coat and condition. Close up to the final 2. 

G2 2811 - Ch Kichigai’s Only The Lonley VW ShCEx, Breed: Keeshond (Mr C & Miss N L Hickson)

Lovely Keeshond in super nick and condition, wedge shaped head as viewed & perfect dentition for age, sparklers! Lovely shape and outline, compact body & clearly all male. Very confident in his carriage and sound and free on the move. Lovely.

G3 2782 - Ch Snowshoes Belle of The Ball, Breed: Japanese Spitz (Mrs J E & Miss J Smith)

Rather grew on me as the group went on & not surprised to see this beautiful bitch, like those above her, carries her title. Lovely head and the most beautiful expression, with wonderful pigment. Good neck and shoulder, firm topline and underline and carries her tail so well on the move. A beautiful mover, especially in profile.

G4 2562 - Ch Buffrey Hanky Panky by Dalleaf JW, Breed: Dalmatian (Mrs S-A & Miss S Neath-Coyne & Baker)

Lovely Dalmatian bitch, well spotted; very crisp shape and outline, lovely to go over and so sound and free on the move, particularly in profile. In the peak of condition and full of muscle. Truly lovely to judge.

Gundog Veteran Group

G1 4009 - Sh Ch Feldkirk Dior of Kazval, Breed: Retriever (Flat Coated) (K Anderson)

I felt tremendously lucky to have such a quality group here and what a headache it gave me! A wonderful experience to go over top class representatives of their breeds & after a final go around, the winner of this very strong veteran group was this FCR bitch, beautifully headed, super chest and front, excellent topline and carriage and virtually foot perfect, up back and in profile; tail going non-stop even in the blistering heat. In perfect condition, I thought she looked wonderful with the sun on her back, perfect outline and balance when standing & it was a great pleasure to give her this Veteran Group, and the next day she returned looking in even better form, if that was possible; and ended up as BVIS. A beautiful bitch.

G2 3955 - Sh Ch Sharnphilly Boondoggle JW, Breed: Pointer (Miss Oddie)

Really lovely Pointer dog who like the FCR continued to show in this blistering heat, super head and eye, well made in front and behind, excellent carriage particularly in profile with his tail lashing non-stop; in the peak of fitness and condition & perfectly handled, beaten by a whisker and he ultimately beat another real favourite too.

G3 4576 - Sh Ch Coedcernyw Calendar Girl JW, Breed: Spaniel (Cocker) (Mr I & Mrs S Hillier)

I have long been a fan of this glorious Cocker bitch, love her head and expression, so feminine and she is so expressive; well made in front, lovely legs and feet; super topline and ribbing, well set tail going merrily all the while; beautiful mover from all directions & was just feeling the heat a little more than the other two, delighted to get to judge her, what an ambassador for the breed she is.

G4 4827 - Sh Ch Ferndel High Comand at Rubylea, Breed: Spaniel (Welsh Springer) (Mr M & Mrs J Millard)

This Welsh always had to figure for his action up, back and in profile. Excellent head and eye, very gentlemanly & he has a lovely expression. Beautifully made at both ends & in the peak of fitness and condition, so sound and accurate and so lovely to go over. No disgrace standing fourth here, I thought he was lovely.

Pastoral Veteran Group

G1 5794 - Sh Ch Arrodare It's Now or Never JW, Breed: Border Collie (Mr N & Miss J Smith & Ratcliffe)

When his owner said this Border was 12.5, I thought I had misheard him! Excellent head and eye, still with good dentition, keen expression and still looking like he could go all day, clean neck and shoulder, well ribbed back & still keeps his topline perfectly, when asked to move, he really did go – head down & motored round the ring like he was ready to go all day. Certainly, a dog of great endurance and a real credit to his breeders and owners. In peak coat condition and fitness, I thought he was lovely.

G2 6074 - Ch/int/nld/swiss/bel/lux Ch Vigilat's Rhapsody in Blue via Bumblebob (Imp Nld) Ir Jch Bw23, Breed: Old English Sheepdog (Mr I R, Ms H & Ms L Pointon, Woods & Bull)

When I first clapped eyes on this Old English, I knew he would have to figure in the final few; typical shape and outline, perfectly presented coat of the correct texture over his head and body, very expressive, good dentition and lovely pigment; well made all through and sound, accurate and free on the move. Perfectly presented and handled, and such a self-assured confident chap. Really smart.

G3 6288 - Ch Tanellis Bloomin William, Breed: Swedish Vallhund (Mr K M A Jones)

One I have judged fairly recently, I liked him then and continued to like him today. Very typical in head and expression, well made in front, firm topline and underline, lovely size throughout and goes with a very typical carriage, holding his tail well. In great condition throughout.

G4 5713 - Overhills Double Impact, Breed: Beauceron (Mr Isaac Preddy)

A late arrival & I was glad she came, thought she was lovely, very solid and muscular, she has strength to head and skull, chest to elbow; well ribbed for both spring and length, excellent condition to her body, plenty of hind angulation and she goes with an effortless and free action. Very well presented and handled.

Working Veteran Group

G1 5220 - Swnydwr Wassap, Breed: Dobermann (Mrs A J & Mr W M Samways)

A good winner of the final group, really smart Dobermann, lovely shape and outline, masculine head and expression, well made in front & has a good chest, stands on beautiful legs and feet; excellent topline and underline, very sound and accurate on the move with excellent carriage; in the peak of body condition, I thought he was lovely.

G2 5350 - Kanukalos Burletta VW, Breed: Hovawart (Mrs C & Mr J Mclure)

Very smart Hovawart, typical head and expression, feminine but retains strength; good to go over and all of a piece, in excellent body and condition for her age; beautifully made and so sound and free moving, presented in great condition and in good coat, well deserved her place here.

G3 5419 - Nurburgnewf Cayman ShCEx VW, Breed: Newfoundland (Mr K & Mrs S Crosier)

Lovely outline and balance, typical head and eye, good to go over, lovely angulation to his forehand, firm topline and good ribbing, enough hind angulation and moved with good accuracy up and back and carried himself well in profile. Lots to like.

G4 5578 - Ch Wangdak Cherry of Baarnayotms, Breed: Tibetan Mastiff (Mrs H & Miss R Asquith)

Completing the four was this lovely Tibetan Mastiff, lovely shape and outline, good head and eye, excellent forehand and chest, firm enough in topline, well set and carried tail & used herself very well on the move in all directions; lovely bitch & I felt she well deserved to be in the final 4.

Evan L Ryan (Cavallibrook/Feorlig)