Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

Darlington Championship Show  19 September 2026

Basset Hounds

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Darlington Dog Show Society for their kind invitation to judge Basset Hounds at this popular show.  The weather was kind, although very windy and the rings were large.

I must also thank the exhibitors, some of whom had travelled considerable distances, for bringing their dogs for me to judge.  

Having not been at the ring side at shows for some considerable time I can safely say that all the dogs were new to me.  It is always a pleasure to be with the Basset Hounds and I had a very enjoyable time judging some lovely exhibits.  On the whole, fronts had improved, teeth without exception were gleaming white and all coats were free from dirt.  One or two hounds would have benefitted from having their nails trimmed – long nails will always detract from the overall picture.  Eyes were acceptable and I had no hounds showing excessively loose skin.  All exhibits showed daylight underneath them.  In some classes there were close decisions to be made. Another show and another judge and positions could change.

I would also like to thank my 2 stewards who organised the ring.

PD  (4)  1  Cruickshank’s Culsamond Bling It Ron   9 month R/W A well grown puppy and well off for bone.  He has a masculine head, well set leathers and good depth to lip.  Tight at elbow and decent shoulder layback following on from a reachy neck.  Ribbing smooth and carried well back.  Good hind angulation enabled him to move out well, keeping a level topline and carrying his stern in true Basset fashion.  Sired by my DCC winner.  BPIB

2  Melbourne and Newman’s Woferlow Dettorri At Diheath   6 months Tri baby with lots of promise.  Good head planes, well set on leathers. Pronounced sternum.  Good angulation fore and aft.  Tight at elbows and smooth ribbing.  Tight feet.  Moved well.  

3  Gray’s Bassoto Rambling Rector  

JD  (1)  1 Cudlip’s Deucecoupe Good Vibrations At Harvidene  R/W  Masculine head, dark eye and good depth to lip.  Attractive outline.  Reachy neck leading to good layback of shoulders.  Smooth ribbing.  A level topline on the move and well set on stern.

PGD  (3)  1  Melbourne and Murray’s Diheath Cracker Jw  Tri   A lovely boy, presenting a good profile, with good head, kind eye and attractive mottling over his nose.  Prominent pro sternum and good layback of forequarters. Tight at elbow and body well covered with a tidy undercarriage. Moved well. 

2  Land’s Clanwillow The Jazz Singer  Tri   Closer coupled than 1 but similar in some respects and not a lot to choose between the two.  Attractive head and dark eye. Showing some forechest.  Well covered.  Held his topline on the move. 

 3  Roden’s Harvidene Love Potion

LD  (4,1ab)    1  Fekete’s Nagypajcos Taylors Of Harrogate (Imp) R/W  A lovely dog showing an attractive outline.  Dark eye giving a kind expression and good depth to lip and curling leathers.  Good shoulder layback coupled with strong hind quarters and neat pouches on the hocks.  Smooth ribbing carried well back.  Tidy underline.  Moved freely holding a level topline.  DCC

2  Gambling’s Dizandra Carpe Noctem  Tri  Smaller in build than 1.  Elbows held tight against ribcage.  Matching angulation.  Moved out well with a level topline.

3  Melbourne and Murray’s Diheath Chekov Jw

OD  (3)    1  Blevins and Blevins’ Uk Ch & Ir Ch Bromp Ronnie Smart With Blevwil Int Jun Ch Ir J Ch  R/W  Well built and well boned.  Attractive head, kind eye.  Lengthy neck flowed into firm front assembly with good angulation.  Elbows tight against well covered body.  Tidy undercarriage.  Moved out well and with purpose.  RDCC

2  Cudlip’s Harvidene Festive Cheer R/W  Dark eye and good depth of flew.  Good head carriage and prominent forechest ahead of well set shoulders.  Not quite the topline of 1.  Moved freely.

3  Sutton and Sutton’s  Ch Reveros Power Of Love Jw

VB  (1)   1  Thompson and Thompson’s Rakefoot Charazard  R/W  Sweet little 7 ½ year old girl.  Not too big.  Attractive head, leathers set on low.  Good length to neck.  Moved well.  BV

PB  (3,1ab)   1  Cruickshank’s Culsalmond Diamond Bling  9 months R/W  Litter sister to PD and they are like two peas in a pod.  Well boned and well grown showing clean lines and attractive outline.  Good reach of neck.  Elbows tight to body and well ribbed.   Beautifully angulated fore and hind quarters.  Tidy underline.  Well presented.

2  Colvin’s Lagniappe Roll The Dice  7 months Black blanket  A baby puppy here and unfortunately would not let me go over her.  Attractive head and ears set well.  I hope she gains some confidence.

JB  (2)  1  Armstrong and Armstrong’s Lauralee Magic Image  R/W  A very attractive bitch with clean lines showing off a lovely head and kind eye.  Good head carriage over a reachy neck leading to a well constructed front and prosternum with crook supporting chest.  Well ribbed, moved well keeping a level topline.  RBCC

 2  Bailey’s Chique To Chique A Story With A Tail For Longmynd  R/W  Not the length of 1.  Kind, dark eye, leathers set on well.  Tight feet.  Well ribbed and bodied.  Moved well.

PGB  (3)    1  Hirst, Hirst and Melbourne’s Diheath Tinsel At Kejana  Tri   A lovely little bitch.  Not the biggest but very feminine.  Attractive head, gentle outlook and neat front and shoulder assembly.  Well covered and tidy underline.  Ribbing smooth and rounded.

2  Armstrong and Armstrong’s Lauralee Mystical Magic  R/W  Longer cast than 1 but well put together.  Attractive head with appealing dark eye.  Reachy neck leading to well laid shoulders, decent crook, with tight elbows and smooth ribbing. Moved fairly well.  Litter sister to RBCC and has many similar attributes.

3  Melbourne and Fitzpatrick- Odahamier’s Diheath Marta

LB  (5)  1  Hampton’s Astra V Grunsven At Bassluxe (Imp Nld) R/W  A mixed class.  Another exhibit showing a lovely outline.  Attractive head and soft expression.  Good reach of neck leading into a level topline, tight at elbow and ribbed well back. Well bodied. Tight feet.  Moved well.

2  Cudlip’s Deucecoupe Darlin At Harvidene R/W   A nicely put together bitch showing a pleasing outline.  Lovely head carriage leading to good length to neck in turn leading to tidy front assembly.  Well ribbed, correct tail set.  Moved well.

3  Gray’s Short Legs Reijvi Light Up The Sky At Bassoto (Imp Nld)

OB  (1) Blevins and Blevins’ Ch & Ir Ch Int Ch Blevwil Ivana Twinkle Jun Ch  Tri  A lovely quality bitch in all aspects.  Just what you would look for in a Basset Hound.  Attractive head, dark eye, ears set on low.  Neat front with good forechest accompanied with good layback of shoulder giving a level topline.  Tight at elbow and smooth ribbing.  Neat hindquarters.  Moved out well.  Altogether a very attractive bitch.  BCC and BOB

Judge  Lesley V Elliott