West Of England Ladies Kennel Society

My sincere thanks to the committee for the kind invitation to judge these three lovely breeds, to my hard-working stewards who kept all three rings running smoothly, and to the exhibitors for the entries and for accepting my decisions in such good spirit. It was a particular privilege to judge this trio of breeds, each of which holds a special place for me — I have owned American Cockers myself; my parents kept Irish Water Spaniels and I grew up with a great love for them; and the Curly Coated Retriever is a more recent but no less genuine delight. To be entrusted with judging all three on the same day was a real honour. The day itself was notably warm, but every dog I had under me coped admirably, was presented in good order and showed the true character of its breed. 

Spaniel (American Cocker)

Top Honours

BD & BOB: 4487 Sh Ch Nujax Happy Halloween (Manser & Nelson)

RBD: 4481 Alibama That's My Boy (Jennings & Bedding)

BB: 4491 Kenoula No Regrets (Sunter & Pinchen)

RBB: 4489 Mycalleys Jasmine (Morris & Jefferson)

BP: 4478 Americlass Macchiato with Almondsbury NAF (Clay & Dummett)

BV: 4479 Afterglow Bang Tidy (Edwards)

The American Cocker is, to my eye, the most glamorous of the gundogs — but I was delighted to find that beneath all the beautiful coat and presentation, every dog under me today was merry, sound and very much still a gundog, exactly as the breed standard calls for.

Class 1631. Veteran Dog (Entries 1, Absentees 0)

1st – 4479 Edwards's Afterglow Bang Tidy

Veteran dog who has retained his type well. Compact and sturdy in outline, refined head with rounded skull and pronounced stop, low-set well-feathered ears, and clean neck of sufficient length running into sloping shoulders. Coat well-presented. Moved soundly for his years. VD 1, BV

Class 1632. Puppy Dog (Entries 0, Absentees 0)

No entries.

Class 1633. Junior Dog (Entries 1, Absentees 0)

1st – 4481 Jennings & Bedding's Alibama That's My Boy

Stylish young dog with style in spades who pushed his older kennelmate hard for top honours — a very close decision in the end, only pipped at the post on maturity and that touch more steadiness on the move that comes with experience. Compact, sturdy and well-balanced, standing well up at the shoulder with the typical sloping topline running into strong, well-rounded quarters. Refined head with rounded, well-developed skull, pronounced stop, square even jaws, and full soft expression from round, full, dark eyes looking directly forward. Long lobular ears set no higher than a line to the lower part of the eye, leather fine and well clothed with long silky hair. Clean arched neck of sufficient length flowing into well-laid sloping shoulders, deep chest reaching to the elbows, well-sprung ribs, strong loin, well-bent stifles, and hocks well let down. Coat silky, flat with slight wave, profuse feathering of correct texture, and beautifully turned out. Moved with drive and showmanship. JD 1, RBD

Class 1634. Yearling Dog (Entries 1, Absentees 1)

No exhibits present.

Class 1635. Post Graduate Dog (Entries 1, Absentees 1)

No exhibits present.

Class 1636. Limit Dog (Entries 3, Absentees 1)

1st – 4488 Morris's Mycalleys Sirocco JW

Sturdy dog of pleasing type, standing well up at the shoulder with the typical sloping topline. Refined head with kind expression, low-set well-feathered ears, neck of good length flowing into well-laid sloping shoulders, deep chest, and well-bent stifles. Coat of correct silky texture, well-feathered. Moved out well. LD 1

2nd – 4480 Edwards's Moonmist I Spy Wilbur

Compact dog of pleasing breed type. Refined head, low-set ears, sloping topline running into well-rounded quarters with hocks well let down. Coat in good order. Moved soundly. LD 2

Class 1637. Open Dog (Entries 1, Absentees 0)

1st – 4487 Manser & Nelson's Sh Ch Nujax Happy Halloween

Outstanding mature dog who took my eye and held it throughout — quality from end to end. Compact, sturdy and well-balanced, standing well up at the shoulder with the typical sloping topline running smoothly into strong, well-rounded quarters. Beautifully refined head with rounded, well-developed skull, pronounced stop, square even jaws, and the full, soft expression so essential to the breed coming from round, full, dark eyes looking directly forward. Long lobular ears set no higher than a line to the lower part of the eye, leather fine and well clothed with long silky hair. Clean arched neck of sufficient length to allow the nose to reach the ground easily, flowing into well-laid sloping shoulders, deep chest reaching the elbows, well-sprung ribs, short strong loin, well-bent stifles, and hocks well let down. Coat silky, flat with slight wave, with profuse feathering of correct texture, presented in immaculate order. Moved out with the maturity and steadiness that just edged him ahead of a very promising junior. Delighted to take him through to BOB and thrilled to see him shortlisted in the Group. OD 1, BD, BOB

Class 1638. Veteran Bitch (Entries 1, Absentees 0)

1st – 4485 Luczynski's Baladeva Scarlet Letters for Kanara ShCM ShCEx VW

Veteran bitch holding her type and condition well. Feminine head with full soft expression, low-set well-feathered ears, clean neck running into sloping shoulders, sloping topline, and well-rounded quarters. Coat presented in good order. Moved a little reluctantly as is her right at her age in the heat of the day! VB 1

Class 1639. Puppy Bitch (Entries 2, Absentees 0)

1st – 4478 Clay & Dummett's Americlass Macchiato with Almondsbury NAF

Promising puppy showing lovely breed type already. Feminine head with full soft expression from round, full, dark eyes, low-set well-feathered ears, clean neck flowing into sloping shoulders, sloping topline, and well-bent stifles. Silky coat coming along nicely. Showed well for one so young, and very little to choose between her and her classmate. PB 1, BP

2nd – 4475 Beet's Americlass Americano with Thistlefinch

Equally promising puppy and very close in type and quality to the winner. Feminine refined head, low-set ears, balanced outline with sloping topline and well-angulated quarters. Silky coat developing well. Just edged out today but a lovely youngster. Needs a little more ringcraft that 1 but these two could be any way around. PB 2

Class 1640. Junior Bitch (Entries 2, Absentees 0)

1st – 4489 Morris & Jefferson's Mycalleys Jasmine

Feminine bitch of pleasing type. Refined head with full soft expression, low-set well-feathered ears, clean arched neck flowing into well-laid sloping shoulders, sloping topline running into well-rounded quarters with well-bent stifles and hocks well let down. Coat silky and well-feathered. Moved out well. JB 1, RBB

2nd – 4482 Jennings & Slack's Alibama Gossip Girl

Pleasing young bitch of correct type. Feminine head, low-set ears, neck of good length, sloping topline, and well-angulated quarters. Coat in good order. Moved soundly JB 2

Class 1641. Yearling Bitch (Entries 2, Absentees 0)

1st – 4491 Sunter & Pinchen's Kenoula No Regrets

Bitch of correct breed type, compact and well-balanced. Feminine head with full soft expression, low-set well-feathered ears, clean arched neck running into well-laid sloping shoulders, sloping topline, deep chest, well-sprung ribs, and well-bent stifles with hocks well let down. Coat silky with profuse feathering, presented well. Moved out soundly. YB 1, BB

2nd – 4477 Clay's Jaclee High Society Americlass

Pleasing bitch of correct type. Feminine head, low-set ears, sloping topline, and well-angulated quarters. Silky coat in good order. Moved well. YB 2

Class 1642. Post Graduate Bitch (Entries 1, Absentees 0)

1st – 4476 Beet's Jenrene's Hot Chocolate at Cutiepooch JW

Bitch of pleasing breed type. Refined feminine head, low-set well-feathered ears, clean neck flowing into sloping shoulders, sloping topline running into well-rounded quarters. Coat silky and well-presented. Moved soundly. PGB 1

Class 1643. Limit Bitch (Entries 1, Absentees 1)

No exhibits present.

Class 1644. Open Bitch (Entries 1, Absentees 1)

No exhibits present.