West Of England Ladies Kennel Society

West of England Ladies Kennel Society

Championship Show 25th April 2026

Large Munsterlander Judge: Karen Caile

Thank you to the WELKS team for the invitation to judge Large Munsterlanders at your 2026 Championship Show. It was an absolute pleasure to judge my own breed outdoors, in a large ring with beautiful weather. I was very grateful to my very efficient steward for her help.

My judging criteria focused on finding dogs with good bone, well-angulated front and rear, strong pasterns and correct feet. I was looking for dogs that appeared fit enough to work all day in the field, possessing strong mouths capable of carrying a variety of game.

While there was some good front and rear angulation, often both were not found on the same dog. On a positive note, most dogs were presented in great condition, even though coat textures varied. Temperaments across the board were excellent.

Making my final decisions was incredibly difficult, as every dog possessed some lovely qualities. Thank you so much to the exhibitors, especially those who traveled long distances to enter, and thank you all for accepting my decisions with sportsmanship and grace.

BD Sh Ch Graf Iii vom Busshof at Albadhu ShCEx (E & F Logie & Braidwood)

RBD Albadhu Force Be with You (Mrs J Jenks)

BB Almonrigg Sweet Honey Baby at Jendella's (Mr D A & Mrs B M Butler)

RBB Leriton Corvus Astron (Ms C & Mrs L Simpson & Johnston)

BOB Almonrigg Sweet Honey Baby at Jendella's (Mr D A & Mrs B M Butler)

BV Sh Ch Albadhu Pawsitive Vibes JW (E & F Logie & Braidwood)

Veteran Dog (1,0)

1 Powell and Murrell’s Sh Ch Crumpsbrook Woodrush 8¾ year old male. Masculine head and a friendly appearance with well set ears. Good reach of neck, well-angulated front assembly, and good bone, standing on nice feet. Deep chest with ribs reaching well back. A slightly long second thigh affects his rear stability when free standing. Lovely striding gait with a strong topline, though he carried his tail a little higher than desired.

Junior Dog (3,0)

1 Jenks’s Albadhu Force Be with You 13 month old male. Masculine head; I liked his alert and kind expression, dark eye and correct ear set. He had a nicely balanced outline, good bone, well muscled standing on strong neat feet. He had well laid back shoulders and a good depth to his chest, He held his topline well standing and on the move, with a good tail set. Reserve Best Dog

2 Pilkington’s Albadhu Playing with Fire at Baycross 2½ year old male. Nice masculine, friendly expression with good head proportions, correct scissor bite. Appeared a little wide in front. Good topline, short coupled and good rear angulation, well muscled hindquarters. Good coat with plenty of feathering, presented in excellent condition. Moved well in profile though his tail was carried higher than preferred on the move.

3 Thorne’s Echobase Star Man

Post Graduate Dog (1,0) 

1 Thorne’s Echobase Star Man 15 month old male. Placed 3rd in previous class. Pleasing head and expression with correct dentition and well set ears. Good length of neck reaching to a level topline. Movement was difficult to assess due to giving his handler a hard time even at a slower pace, however he seemed to be enjoying his day out. Hope to meet him again once he has matured and settled. 

Limit Dog (1,0)

1 James’s Darkensky Supremacy 6 year old male. He had an alert and happy expression, lovely clean teeth, large spongy nose and wide nostrils. High set ears, good length of neck reaching to well laid shoulders. He had a good balanced outline with a deep chest, good angulation hidden a little by the curls in his coat. Not quite as well muscled as some of the others but moved soundly displaying a lovely relationship with his handler.

Open Dog (2,0)

1 Logie and Braidwood’s Sh Ch Graf III vom Busshof at Albadhu ShCEx 2 ¾ year old male. Head of correct proportions, high set ears, correct scissor bite and sufficiently broad skull. Good forechest, lay back of shoulder and return of upper arm. Good depth of chest with ribs reaching well back to a strong loin. Handled well with his topline held well on the move to show a long, springy gait. Presented in superb condition. Best Dog

2 Horton’s Crumpsbrook Jay 6 year old male. He had a lovely, affectionate and gentle expression, perfect scissor bite and high set ears. Long, slightly arched neck. A balanced outline in profile when free standing, but this was spoilt when stacked with the hind legs outstretched too far. Sound on the move though he didn’t have the presence of the class winner and may have preferred a day out hunting.  

Veteran Bitch (2,1)

1 Logie and Braidwood’s Sh Ch Albadhu Pawsitive Vibes JW 8 ½ year old female.A lighter built bitch presented in super condition. Pretty head, affectionate expression, dark eye, good reach of neck. Good shoulder placement and front angulation. Good forechest and depth of chest, straight front. Would prefer more bend of stifle but she stands balanced and holds her topline well, moving with powerful drive. Presented in beautiful condition. Best Veteran in Breed.

Junior Bitch (2,0)

1 Simpson and Johnston’s Leriton Corvus Astron 15 month old female. Pretty head, good depth of muzzle and a large spongy nose with wide nostrils. She had a nice balanced shape with correct bone. Well laid back shoulders, holding her topline standing and on the move. Good forechest and depth of chest, ribs reaching well back. Good rear angulation and width of thigh. She was presented in well muscled and groomed condition. She had a lovely, dense coat with plenty of feathering. Reserve Best Bitch

2 Logie and Braidwood’s Albadhu I'm Addicted to You 13 month old female. Nice, well made head with a kind expression, correct bite, high set ears. She was a lighter build all through but has lots of time to mature. I will watch her progress with interest.

Post Graduate Bitch (2,1)

1 Logie and Braidwood’s Albadhu I'm Mad About You 13 month old female. Feminine head, with a kind and alert expression. More bone and muscle tone than her litter sister displaying a balanced outline. Just a bit long in loin, however, she had a strong level topline standing and on the move. Some more feathering to her good quality coat would finish the picture nicely. Looking forward to watching her mature.

Limit Bitch (2,0)

1 Butler’s Almonrigg Sweet Honey Baby at Jendella’s 2 year old female. This young female caught my eye as she has done before. Such a happy and kind expression. She stands balanced with good angulation, has good bone, a well developed forechest and lay back of shoulder. Her deep chest reaches to her elbows, ribs reaching well back. Well set tail. She has a lovely, happy demeanour, pleased to be showing herself off in the ring. She has plenty of coat for a young female which is well groomed and beautifully presented. Best Bitch and Best of Breed

2 Darby’s Crumpsbrook Anneke to Incadar 2 year old female. She had a lovely feminine, alert expression with dark eyes, correct bite and ear placement. Strong, slightly arched neck and well laid back shoulders. Straight front, strong pasterns and tight feet. Good angulation front and rear, slightly longer than ideal but well muscled and holds her topline well. Lighter boned and I felt was carrying a little too much weight today. She moved soundly with drive and was very attentive to her handler.

Open Bitch (2,0)

1 Powell and Murrell’s Tureagh Crystal Cider 5 ½ year old female. Nice balanced profile covered in a dense roan coat with plenty of feathering though a little untidy. She had an alert and kind expression with dark brown eyes.  Well laid back shoulders and good front angulation with correct return of upper arm.  Straight front and forelegs, strong pasterns with tight, rounded feet. Plenty of forechest and a deep brisket with ribs reaching well back to a strong loin, short coupled, broad hips. She was handled well by her handler and moved soundly.

2 Simpson and Johnston’s Ekkolander Persephone Red at Leriton 5 year old female. She had a lovely kind expression, dark eye, high set ears. Nice length of neck, slightly arched leading smoothly to well laid shoulders. Good front and rear angulation in profile; longer in loin, presented in fit, well muscled condition. Moved soundly around the ring.