Scottish Kennel Club

I had looked forward to this, my first CC appointment in my beloved breed, for what seemed like forever and in the event, I thoroughly enjoyed my day. My thanks go to the committee of the Scottish Kennel Club for their invitation to judge, to my hard-working stewards Calum Twaddle and Carol Gouck and of course, to all the exhibitors who allowed me the privilege of assessing their dogs. I had a lovely entry of 68 with only a few absentees on the day. As with any entry, quality and type were varied and I saw a number of dogs with insufficient return of upper arm, reducing their forward reach. Ears which were neither small nor fine were also prevalent. There were however a good number of quality, well-constructed dogs and these were suitably rewarded. I was delighted with all my main winners and thrilled to see BOB, BP and BSpB also rewarded in the Group ring.  MPD (1, 0) Beckett-Hughes’ Starceylon He's Just A Rogue of Mulranny. Stood alone but what a lovely baby. At just 8-months of age and at his first show, this elegant and refined, well-constructed, young black and white dog strode out confidently around the ring with a classic daisy-cutting action. Presented in gleaming condition, he has a bit of maturing and filling out to do, but time enough for that. Nice for size at this age, he held his topline well for one so young. Balanced angulation and true coming and going. BPD, BP by agreement with co-judge and later HPG2.  PD (7, 1) 1 Chaytor & Halliday’s Aarminias Made in Chelsea at Ramita. This 9-month-old fawn brindle is so well put together. Built on a larger frame than the MP winner, he has a pleasing head and expression, long elegant neck and is nicely proportioned throughout. Good amount of bone for his age. Ribbed well back with a short strong loin. Bladed bone and well knuckled feet. Moved well in all directions. 2 Green & Ratcliffe’s Italo Disco Soulad by Arrodare (Imp Cze). Another promising youngster with a pleasing overall shape. Fawn brindle of same age but finer than 1 and not such a tidy mover at this stage. Moderate throughout with a gentle rise over the loin. Nicely proportioned rear with hocks well let down. Moved smoothly and well in profile. Pasterns should tighten up as he matures and with that, front movement will improve. 3 Smith’s Collooney Devils Advocate.  JD (4, 1) 1 Doherty’s Silkridge Jingle My Bells. Eye-catching 16-month-old red brindle wh/trim. Elegant neck and good shoulder placement. Pasterns with just the right amount of spring. Good length of rib and depth of brisket. Strong loin. Moved with good reach and drive holding his topline. 2 Frick’s Cherubim's Royal Talismann. This nice-for-size 12-month-old fawn brindle pushed hard for this class. Moderate throughout with a super front, he moved well all ways. Just preferred overall shape and substance of 1. 3 McCuish’s Cill Chuillinn’s Leda Blue Moon (Imp USA). YD (2, 0) 1 Mallinson & Mallinson’s Edenwhip Oregano JW. Up to size but well packaged red fawn brindle male of 20-months. Lovely head and expression. Smooth shoulder and good return of upper arm. Well filled in front and good depth of brisket. Gentle rise over loin. Balanced angulation front and rear. Moved purposefully around the ring. Liked him very much. 2 Price’s Kierpark It’s Now or Never among Silkdance JW. 16-month-old lightly brindled fawn wh/trim. Another quality male but with more length than 1. Fine, rose-shaped ears, strong neck, good layback of shoulder and nicely muscled, broad back. Well-developed first and second thighs. Not quite the movement of the class winner.  GD (7, 0) 1 Murton & Murton’s Cyangrange Carpe Diem. Standing alert, this 2-year-old pale fawn brindle male presents a pleasing outline. Now approaching maturity, he is generally well-proportioned with an elegant neck, good infill, spring of rib and depth of brisket. Would have preferred a little more length of ribbing and a shorter loin as when moving in profile he had a tendency to lose his topline. Steady mover. 2 Beattie Nash & Beattie-Nash's Railfield Rainstorm. 2 ½-year-old fawn brindle male of nice shape although I would’ve preferred more bone and substance. Curvy topline which he carried on the move, good rear angulation and muscle which he used to advantage. 3 Martin’s Crosscop Waterloo.  PGD (7, 1) 1 Robertson & McVey’s Zigouse Fly Me to The Moon via Kastrach 5-year-old fawn brindle wh/trim dog. Good for size and moderate throughout. Pleasing head and expression. Fine ears. Shown in good muscular condition with just the right amount of coverage. Moved well in profile and true coming and going. 2 Cahill & Timberlake’s Shine On Harvey Moon at Chipperlake. Nice for size, masculine head and expression with strong underjaw. Good infill, layback of shoulder and return of upper arm. Would’ve preferred a little more length of back but ribs and loin in proportion with definite tuck-up. Ribs well sprung. Moved well out and back. 3 Poole, Winkley-Balmer & Winkley-Balmer's Shulune Thrills N' Spills for Edenwhip.  LD (14, 2) Strong class in which several quality dogs had to go unplaced.  1 Perkins & Van Der Schaaf’s Silkridge Black Caviar. Not yet fully mature at 2 years of age, this young black wh/trim dog has a tremendous ring presence and just screams quality. Shown in excellent coat and condition, my hands flowed over him. He has super front construction and although a little longer in body and in the rear than I’d have preferred, he’s absolutely sound and wonderfully balanced. Moved with super reach and drive on the go around and so true out and back. RCC but pushed hard for the CC. 2 Allansson & Macdonald’s Zoraden Simply The Zest of Macalldon JW. Up to size, this moderate red fawn wh/trim dog of lovely proportions didn’t put a foot wrong. Rising 3 years of age, he’s really coming into his own. Dark eye, fine ear, long elegant neck and super front angulation balanced with the rear. Lovely outline and another who is wonderfully sound. It’s oft lightly said but he WAS very unlucky to meet 1 today. 3 Green & Ratfliffe’s Crosscop Smooth Operator with Arrodare. OD (9, 1) Another super class.  1 Short, Short & Fletcher’s Ch/Ir Ch Collooney We’ve Got This. And he has it in spades! I first saw this male as a baby puppy and he had star quality even then. Now almost fully mature, at just short of 3-years-old, this pale fawn brindle wh/trim has developed such a beautiful flowing topline with matching underline. I just loved his shape and balance. Shown today in tip-top condition, he is a dream to go over. Masculine head and expression, muscular neck leading to nicely angulated shoulder. Excellent length of ribbing, short powerful loin and strong, broad back. Nicely bladed bone and neat, well-knuckled feet. Lovely spring of pastern and, to the rear, broad thighs with hocks well let down. Everything in proportion and nothing overdone. It wasn’t the biggest of rings but his movement could not be faulted and he could not be denied the CC.  BOB on referee’s decision and subsequently HG2.  2 Winkley-Balmer & Poole’s Ch Edenwhip Can I Be Him. This classical 5-year-old fawn wh/trim is one I have admired from ringside. Sound as a pound and shown in good fit condition, he is nice for size, shapely and moderate in all departments. He flowed around the ring with ease. So much to like about this boy but for me today, he didn’t quite have the flair of the class winner. 3 Perkins’ Ch Silkridge Just Joey. VD (5, 2) 1 Allansson, Allansson & Macdonald’s Jasarat Salted Caramel of Macalldon JW. What a super veteran. Lovely head and expression, long elegant neck leading into a smooth shoulder, bladed bone with good spring of pastern. Pleasing topline with a delicate rise over the loin. Balanced and so nicely put together. Shown in good hard condition with flat muscle. Moderate angulation front and rear. This 8-year-old shaded fawn/white parti moved fluidly in profile and was true coming and going. BVD and BVIB by agreement with my co-judge. 2 Price’s Ch Wheelspin Silver Shadow among Silkdance JW VW. Quality 8-year-old fawn wh/trim who is the epitome of moderation.  Gentle but masculine expression, fine ears, elegant neck and smooth shoulder. Curvy male with a nice amount of bone. Gave the impression he’d rather be elsewhere today. 3 Web & Web’s Crosscop Shadow Dancing. SBD (7, 1) 1 Murton & Murton’s Cyangrange Carpe Diem. See above. BSBD. 2 Brander’s Windwalker Heart of Gold. Up to size, shapely 4-year-old fawn wh/trim. Straight front, good length of ribbing and strong loin. Would’ve preferred a little more infill and depth of brisket. Moved nicely in profile and absolutely true out and back. 3 Jones’ Starceylon Re Di Cuori of Silvergarth GCD (5, 0) 1 Brander’s Windwalker Heart of Gold. See above. Putting in his best performance of the day to take this class. 2 Price’s Kierpark It’s Now or Never among Silkdance JW. See above. 3 Jones’ Starceylon Re Di Cuori of Silvergarth.

Fiona Finch