South Wales Kennel Association

South Wales Kennel Association – Championship Show – 8th October 2026

Afghan Hounds

I am grateful to the South Wales Kennel Association for the invitation to judge at this show, and to my two stewards, who kept the ring flowing perfectly. Although it had only been 4 years since I last judged dogs, it had been 11 years since I judged bitches, so I anticipated quite a change! Size in both sexes needs to be watched, but there is still plenty of quality, and I was delighted with my final placings. Many thanks to all exhibitors for the lovely entry, especially as it was mid-week and in a venue that was exceptionally cold on the day.

VD (2, 0)

1. Neilly’s Ch. Way Up Walker to Cloudside (Imp Ita). Black, aged 7 years. I have admired this boy since he was a puppy, but this was my first opportunity to go over him, and I was not disappointed. He is soundly constructed, in great muscular condition, and moved effortlessly around the ring. He has a balanced head with pleasing expression, dark eyes, and an attractive beard. His long neck flows into his well-laid shoulders, his topline is level, and his hip bones are prominent, with excellent fallaway to the rear. He has large feet, a deep chest, a super coat and a correctly ringed tail to complete the picture. BV.

2. Millward, Ferguson & Race’s Ch/Aust Ch. Tahkira Affogato. Another black, aged 8 years, with great ring presence and immaculate coat presentation. He has dark eyes, a balanced head, good length of foreface and the longest ear fringes imaginable! He has well-laid shoulders, and as expected, he was in superb muscular condition. He is shorter in back than 1, but with a great length of neck, and moved around the ring with style. He is a great ambassador for the breed, but on the day, I preferred the movement and outline of 1.

MPD (6, 0)

1. Gilbert’s Affietar Atomic. Brindle, 7 months. I was very impressed with this young man. He was very well-bodied, with a lovely shoulder, good forechest, excellent return of upper arm, and well-angulated rear, with low hocks. His masculine head is well-balanced, with the correct eye shape, plenty of underjaw and delightful monkey whiskers. His long neck flows into a level topline, with deep chest, prominent hip bones, excellent croup, and a ringed tail. On the move, he used his long legs to cover the ground really well. He is still very raw, but I will watch his progress with interest, and I am sure he will mature into a stallion!

2. Cannon & Gunn’s Ring of Fire A Touch of Freedom Zushkhan (Imp Deu). Solid black, 6 months, with a well-balanced head, dark eyes and attractive monkey whiskers. He has a decent length of neck and a pleasing outline, and whilst he does not quite have the angulation of 1, he is well-balanced front and rear. He has a good depth of chest, level topline, correct fallaway and ringed tail. He moved well for his age, with light, steady movement, driving well from the rear. On the day, he lost out on maturity and did not quite have the presence of 1.

3. Mitchell & Scott’s Karnak Rhythm of My Heart.

PD (2, 1)

1. Cannon & Gunn’s Ring of Fire A Touch of Freedom Zushkhan (Imp Deu). See previous class.

JD (2, 2)

1. Absent

YD (3, 0)

1. Bovey’s Sitana Infinity Stone at Karianca. I really liked this b/m cream boy. He has a gorgeous, masculine head, with dark eyes, correct underjaw, slight roman nose and a beard. He was so well-balanced throughout, well-presented, with a natural saddle and deep chest. He moved beautifully, with an easy, ground-covering gait.

2. Moore’s Cloudside Black Hawk. B/tan, shorter in back than 1, appealing head with tan markings and dark, well-shaped eyes. He has a deep chest, prominent hip bones, correct fallaway and ringed tail, carried correctly on the move. He was very well-muscled and moved powerfully with reach and drive. On the day, I preferred the outline and gait of 1.

3. Bastow’s Cloudside Bright Flame Karandikar.

PGD (4, 0)

1. Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Drishaun Autumnal King JW. Quality, sh/m gold, with a gorgeous red saddle. He has a well-balanced head, with dark, triangular eyes, chiselling to his long foreface, good underjaw and attractive mandarin beard. He is not exaggerated in any way, with balanced angulation front & rear, a good length of neck, level topline, visible hip bones and the correct croup. His ringed tail is well set and was raised in action. He is very well-muscled and covered the ground easily with his light, flowing movement. He was beautifully presented.

2. Bellringer’s Cloudside Ebony Prince at Johda JW. Black, with a pleasing head, dark eyes, long, silky topknot and the desired expression. He has balanced angulation front and rear, with the correct croup and a well-set, ringed tail. He was presented in great condition and moved with both reach and drive.

3. Finch, Hopper & Parker’s Gezancol Hey Jude with Khatira.

LD (8, 1)

1. Gleed & McPherson’s Chinzaes Tartan Tiger. Brindle. Not the smallest, but beautifully constructed and perfectly balanced front & rear. He has a most attractive head, which is well-balanced, with dark eyes. His long neck flows cleanly into a level topline, which has a gleaming saddle. He has prominent hip bones, a well-defined croup and his ringed tail is correctly set. He moves with reach and drive, which is balanced front and rear. His presentation is top class. I had him down to my last 3 in the Challenge, but he lost out on maturity. However, I am sure he will be awarded top honours soon.

2. Gizewska’s Shahfoladi Thunderbird (ai). B/t, of pleasing type. He has a masculine, well-balanced head, with dark eyes and a good length of neck, flowing into his level topline. He is well balanced front & rear, with a deep chest. He was well-conditioned, with excellent muscle tone and prominent hip bones. His long coat was well-presented, and he moved well, but I would have preferred to see more of his correctly ringed tail.

3. Hills & Thornton’s Absolute Afghans Djibouti at Karnak JW ShCEx OSW.

OD (5, 0)

1. James’ Ch. Syrdarya Darjeeling Chai of Simkhan. Impressive, sh/m gold, of classic breed type, with an excellent, balanced head, good length of foreface and skull, correct underjaw and fabulous eye shape. It was pleasing to find chiselling on his foreface, and his attractive beard completed the picture. He has a lovely outline, with his neck flowing into his level topline, prominent hip bones, correct fallaway, ringed tail and great sweep from hip to hock. On the move, he displayed excellent reach and drive, balanced fore and aft. He was very well presented, with a natural saddle and shown in great muscular condition. I was delighted to award him the CC.

2. Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Ch. Drishaun Baby's in Black JW ShCEx OSW. Striking b/tan, with a heavily marked foreface, which enhances his ‘look at and through you’ expression. He has dark eyes of the correct shape, a long neck, level topline and prominent hip bones, with the correct fallaway and a ringed tail. He is a taller dog than 1 and slightly less angulated, but he was extremely well-muscled, and covered the ring with a light, ground-covering movement. I was pleased to award him the RCC.

3. Lees’ Altside Micah Hot Prophet JW.

GCD (0, 0)

1. No entries

VB (1, 0)

1. Rhodes, Shaverneva & Garrad’s Shadowfax Threepenny Opera JW. Attractive cream /domino, 8 years young! She has an arrogant expression, with very dark, triangular eyes, balanced head, good length of neck, excellent spring of rib, deep chest and ringed tail. She was well-presented and has a clean saddle. She is well-balanced front & rear, holds her topline on the move and displays a light, springy movement. She definitely doesn’t look or act like a Veteran!

MPB (4, 0)

1. Hughes’ Karnak Lady Luck for Gezancol. Most attractive b/m gold, just 7 months and living life to the full! She presents a lovely outline, with a pleasing, well-balanced head, excellent underjaw, dark eyes, good width and depth of chest, good angulation to the front and rear, low hocks and a ringed tail. When she got her act together, she moved really well, showing a lot of promise for the future, and I was pleased to award her BP.

2. Gilbert’s Affietar Sunday Girl. Brindle, 7 months, similar in build to her brother. She has a feminine head, with good underjaw and attractive monkey whiskers. She is soundly constructed, with good forechest and a deep chest. She has a pleasing outline, with good length of back, level topline, excellent sweep from hip to hock and the correct fallaway. On the move, she is very light on her feet and covers the ground well.

3. Miitchell’s Karnak She Makes Me Happy. 

PB (2, 1)

1. Gilbert’s Affietar Maria. Sh/m gold, 7 months. She is very feminine, with a balanced head, good expression, dark eyes of the correct shape and good underjaw. I loved her monkey whiskers! She has a sound front, with good depth of chest, correct length of back, level topline and a ringed tail. She displayed plenty of scope on the move and was well-handled and presented. 

JB (4, 2) 

1. Millward & Race’s Aust Ch Tahkira Violetta to Alouann (ai) (Imp Aust). Very striking black, with attractive shading. She has a feminine head, with good length of foreface, balanced skull, dark eyes, good length of neck and is well ribbed with plenty of spring and a short, broad loin. She has a clean saddle, level topline, well-defined hip bones and the correct croup, with a ringed tail to complete the picture. Her angulation is well balanced fore and aft. She is well off for muscle, has a very light movement, and carries her head & tail proudly on the move. I will be interested to watch her progress as her coat and body mature, and I am sure she will be a stunner!

2. Mcloughlin’s Unstoppable Colors of The Wind of Zantescwtch (Imp Swe). Very feminine b/s. She has an excellent outline, with a lovely front, level topline, prominent hip bones and well-defined croup. She moves with a very light, springy movement, but unfortunately did not raise her tail sufficiently today, and her body still needs time to mature. I liked her a lot, and she was very unfortunate to come up against 1.

YB (3, 0)

1. Dare’s Sitana The Eternal at Lakarnadream JW. Gorgeous sh/m cream, who I have admired from the ringside. She has a beautiful, well-balanced head, with fabulous expression, dark, well-shaped eyes, slightly roman nose, good underjaw and a delightful beard. She is so well balanced, with well-laid shoulders, good return of upper arm, deep chest, correct length of back, correct croup and matching rear angulation. She was well-presented, with a deep saddle and ringed tail. On the day, she pulled out all the stops and moved effortlessly around the ring, displaying both reach and drive. I was pleased to award her the RCC.

2. James’ Cloudside Camomile at Simkhan. Another attractive bitch, sh/m gold with a lovely red saddle. She has a good length of foreface, with balanced skull, good underjaw, dark eyes and correct eye shape. She has a good length of back and a deep chest, with well-defined hip bones and the correct croup. She is well-balanced, front & rear and moved well, but was a little unsettled on the day. A lovely bitch, but not quite the maturity of 1. 3 Gunn & Cannon’s Golddragon Bubble Bounce Into Zushkhan JW (Imp Esp).

PGB (5, 0)

Two litter sisters who could easily change places on another day.

1. Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Drishaun Consider It Done JW. Feminine b/t, with attractively marked foreface, balanced skull and well-shaped, dark eyes. She has a long, straight coat and is beautifully presented. She has a pleasing outline, with the correct length of back, prominent hip bones and desired croup. She is not over-angulated, but covered the ground well, with a light, easy movement, displaying excellent reach & drive. To complete the picture, her well-set, ringed tail was raised in action.

2. Humphrey’s Drishaun Consider Me Taken. Brindle, litter sister to 1. She has a dark foreface of good length, well-shaped, dark eyes and a balanced skull. She has good angulation to the front and rear, a deep chest and is well-balanced. Her topline is level, and she has an attractive saddle. She moved well, when her handler was able to keep her head off the floor, and fully deserved her place in a strong class.

3. Neilly & Moore’s Cloudside Whipsering Angel.

LB (5, 0)

1. Howie & Leitch’s Chinzaes Touch of Tartan. Striking b/s with feminine, balanced head, dark eyes and excellent underjaw. Her neck flows into her well-laid shoulders, with the correct return of upper arm, and a level back. She has a deep chest and is well-ribbed back, with a short, broad loin. She has a correct saddle, the desired fallaway, hind angulation that is well-balanced with her front, and a ringed tail. Her coat was well presented, and she moved effortlessly around the ring, with a light, balanced action. I liked her a lot and was pleased to award her the CC, which I later discovered made her up! BOB.

2. Rhodes, Shaverneva & Garrad’s Alaqadar Ariodante of Shadowfax (ai) (Imp Aus). Well-shaped black of good size, with a balanced head, dark eye, slightly roman nose and beard. She is well-angulated to the front and rear, with a level back, prominent hip bones, excellent croup and ringed tail. She was rather exuberant on the move, but I appreciated her character, and she covered the ground well.

3. Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Drishaun What Baby Wants JW

OB (4, 1)

A quality class and any would have been worthy of the red card, but on the day it came down to performance and personal preference.

1. Hall’s Ch. Saxonmill Majic Mirror. Black, of correct size and lovely breed type. Her head is feminine, well-balanced, with strong underjaw and dark, well-shaped eyes. She is compact in body, with a natural saddle, deep chest, well-sprung ribs, and is well-muscled. She has a sound front and is well angulated to the rear. She moves with a light, springy gait and covers the ground with ease. Her correctly carried ringed tail completed the picture.

2. Gilbert’s Ch/Ir Ch. Altside Hot As Hell at Affietar. Attractive brindle, with an arrogant expression, good length of foreface, balanced skull, and dark, triangular eyes. She has a long neck, leading into her level topline, with the correct saddle. She is very sound in construction, with a good front and is well-angulated to the rear. Her coat is very well-presented. She carries herself proudly and covered the ground well, with a light, springy action.

3. Bastow’s Ch. Cloudside Muineira to Karandikar (ai).

GCB (0, 0)

1. No entries