Midland Counties Canine Society

Firstly, I must thank all the exhibitors who entered and showed under me – I was hugely priviliged to have an entry of 41 from 37 dogs with only a few absentees. My stewards were excellent and kept things moving well in the ring. I had to think hard about some of the decisions as there was a lot of variation (as in most breeds nowadays). All had good mouths with big teeth; so important for a terrier breed. I was very happy with my principal winners and later found out that my BD sired the winner & 2nd in Junior bitch, winner of Post grad bitch and my best puppy today!

Puppy Dog (4/1) 1st Digelsa Don’t Look Back (Mr P D & Mrs J M Forshaw) A very appealing, handsome and masculine youngster who immediately caught my eye. On the taller side, but with a lovely blend of quality, elegance and substance. He has a long, arched neck into a good shoulder and enough return of upper arm. His chest has yet to drop, but his topline is good, with well-angulated quarters and a good set-on of tail carried well on the move. Plenty of strength to the head, with clean cheeks, ears set bang on top and a lovely dark, sparkling, almond-shaped eye, all combining to give a keen expression. His movement is still understandably loose and puppyish at the moment, but he is a very typey lad with much to look forward to, I’m sure. BP

2nd Marlablue Storm Douglas (Mrs B Stockton) Another smart puppy with super length of neck into reasonable shoulder and return of upper arm. Enough rise over the loin and low set tail. Not quite the rear angulation of 1. Clean head with good proportions and strength under eyes. I particularly liked his super, dark, small eye. Ears yet to settle as is his movement, but lots to like. 

Junior Dog (1/0) 1st Magicus Silvestris Prins Peter Pan (Imp Nor) (Ms L Bailey). A quality lad who presented a typical picture. On the taller side but elegant with substance. Lovely length of neck into good lay of shoulder and enough return of upper arm. Good depth of brisket. Strong, wedge-shaped head with plenty of fill under the eye. In shiny jacket with rich tan points and neat vent. Might prefer ears a little higher set and tad smaller, but he has a dark almond shaped eye and moved out well showing reach and drive.

Post Grad Dog (4/0) – 1st Rattustrap Beer Humbug (Mr R Earle) -This lad took the class on his strength of head, earset and dark eye. A good length of neck with strength and arch. Chest to elbow and straight front. He could be a touch shorter in body and have a little more rise over the loin. Moved reasonably well.

2nd Starryedge Titan Buck (Mr L & Mrs A Spain). A smart lad in great condition and of decent size. Not the length of neck of 1 or rear angulation and carried his tail a little high on the move. His head is masculine and has good proportions. Very nice, dark, well shaped eye. Ears a little unsettled. Moved reasonably well.

Open Dog (6/2) Two very worthy champions – a close decision.  

1st Ch Wystry Depths of Glory for Sizlin JW (Mrs J Walker) This top-class boy really appealed to me with his masculinity, compact outline, good size, substance with elegance, strong head and good earset. I particularly liked his depth of chest to elbow, leading to a lovely tuck up. His strong head has plenty under the eye, and his neat, well-set ears, and dark, well-shaped eye made for a keen expression. Presented in shiny coal black jacket, with good thumbprints and pencilling visible. He moved out well, showing pleasing reach and drive. Although well set, carries his tail a smidge high on the move, but this is a small point, which for me, his virtues outweighed today. BD & BOB

2nd - Ch Safiette Theos Doron (Mrs G & Mr P Bodsworth) Another top-class dog whom I have admired in the past, although has advantageously carried more condition on previous occasions. He has a strong crested neck, set well into a good lay of shoulder with enough return of upper arm. His compact outline, gentle rise over the loin and good tailset make for a very pleasing picture. I might prefer a little more depth of chest, but he has a straight, narrow front. His strong head is enhanced by a lovely dark, almond-shaped eye and well-set ears. He moved out well and remains a dog with so much to appreciate. RBD

Veteran Dog (2/1) 1st Ch Talanors Time for Fun ShCEx VW (Mr F Warner). 8yrs gentleman in super condition and coal black, shiny jacket, maintaining his rich tan points, thumb prints and pencilling. Presents a very typical outline. Lovely length of neck into well laid shoulder and enough return of upper arm.  Just a smidge down on his pasterns now but good rise over loin, enough bend of stifle and good tailset. Masculine head with plenty of strength and good proportions. Ears on the fly today. Moved out reasonably well. A credit to his owner and a worthy champion.

Special Beginners (2/1) 1st Erkenwyne Aphrodite (Mr D & Mrs J Bird) BSB. I really rather liked this little girl. She scored highly for me in her sound, free movement. Lovely front and rear angulation with good topline, rise over loin and good tuck up. Presents a very nice, typical outline and feminine head. Ears yet to settle, but lovely dark almond eye. Once she settles, I think she’ll do well.

Puppy Bitch (2/0) 1st Erkenwyne Aphrodite (Mr D & Mrs J Bird). As for Special Beginners.

2nd Rosettia Touch of Class (Mrs V & Miss L Sharpe). Raw baby but lots to like. Lovely length of neck into good lay of shoulder and enough return of upper arm. A tad bum high at the moment but reasonable rear angulation and tail set. Lovely head, and ears are high set and carried forward above her dark, almond shaped eye giving a correct expression. Movement needs to tighten, but as I said, still very raw and has plenty of time.

Junior Bitch (5/0) 1st Cacwn Cornflower (Mr N & Mrs M Rotherforth) Very smart, compact elegant girl of good size with lots to like. Good length of neck with arch, set into shoulders well. Lovely rise of the loin to a low set tail and good bend of stifle. Straight front and good thumbprints and pencilling. Feminine head with strength. Ears a little unsettled but showed me glimpses of a good set on and keen expression. Moved out well.

2nd Cacwn Blackbird (Mrs K J Hay). Litter sister to 1. Similar attributes, if perhaps a shade longer. Nice depth of chest to elbow. Feminine, but strong head. Ears a little unsettled today. Moved out well. 

Post Grad Bitch (4/1) 1st Cacwn Starling (Miss A Whitwell) The third litter sister to my two junior winners and another very smart one. I liked her substance with elegance. Enough reach of neck into good topline and bend of stifle. Chest to elbow. Not the rich tan of her sisters and thumb prints a little faint. Moved straight both ways and with reach and drive. 

2nd Ambranera Bella Bia (Mrs A Robuta-Swiedrych). Presented a typical outline with decent lay of shoulder and return of upper arm. Enough rise over loin and good bend of stifle. Front needs to tighten. Preferred the darker eye and strength of muzzle of 1 but super set ears, used well.

Open Bitch (9/2) 1st Ch Kentwone Lyra at Janmark JW (Mr M & Mrs J Walshaw)  This top-drawer girl impressed me from the moment she entered the ring and, for me, she combined breed type, balance and quality which tipped the scales in this strong class and ultimately took her to BOB. I loved her near ideal size, shapely, elegant outline and strength of head. She has a good length of neck, well arched into a super shoulder with enough return of upper arm. Her chest is to the elbow, and she has a lovely tuck-up, enough bone for her size and super semi-hare feet with clear thumbprints and pencilling. Her head has strength without losing femininity, complemented by dark eyes and ears set right on top to give a keen, varminty expression. On the move she was straight both ways and showed drive while holding her topline and carrying her tail well. BB & BOB

2nd Ch Rosettia Keepsake JW (Mrs V & Miss L Sharpe) A super, quality girl and clearly a worthy champion. Shapley outline with very good front and rear angulation, chest to elbow and good tuck up and tail set. Not quite the clear pencilling of 1 but thumb prints present. She has a lovely feminine head, with enough strength, excellent eye shape and ears well set. Moved out with drive. Pushed hard in the challenge.

Veteran Bitch (2/1) 1st Digelsa Dark Velvet ShCEx VW (Mr M A Rudd) I was immediately drawn to the lovely make and shape of this quality lass, who presented such a pleasing picture despite her age. She was good for size, with enough length of neck, well arched, into a well-laid shoulder and good return of upper arm. Her chest is to the elbow, and her topline rises gently over the loin to a low-set tail, carried well on the move. Thumbprints and pencilling visible on a very good semi-hare foot. Her lovely feminine head is clean through the cheeks, with strength of foreface and plenty under the eye. Although her ears are a little unsettled now, they are very well set, high on, and combined with her super, small, dark eye this gives her a keen expression. She moved smoothly around the ring and her overall balance and head quality just tipped the balance for me among some lovely bitches in the challenge to take her to RBB & BV.