Boston & District Canine Society

Boston & District Canine Society Championship Show

Saturday 4th July 2026

Saluki

It was a long, and somewhat winding, road to the day where I awarded CCs in Salukis for the first time. Thank you to Boston for their continued support and kind invitation and to the exhibitors for a very respectable entry by today’s standards. Gone are the days – and even I remember them in my short time, compared to others, in the breed – of entries around 100 at general championship shows, nonetheless I was very pleased by overall quality of the entry on the day. I feel I cannot go without saying thank you to those who have supported me in Salukis over the years, my involvement in this beautiful breed would not have been possible without them; Alan, and the late, Gloria Burternshaw, Sheryl Steer, the late Barry Mansell, and my dear friend, Jocelyn Duddell.

Puppy Dog (2,0)

1. Littlechild’s Allievo Faa Ig Rashuqa. Litter brothers here but quite different. 1 is certainly less forward than his brother but I preferred his refinement, smoothness over the shoulder and overall balance in angulation. Pleasing head and eye, long neck, excellent layback of shoulder and super return of upper arm. Needs to drop and fill his frame but has time on his side. Typical top and underline. Balanced rear which he uses to drive on an easy and flowing stride once he settles. Promising youngster. BP.

2. Ayrton’s Allievo Faa Ig Raa’I’ah. Stronger than his litter brother, and quite different in type really. Masculine head, with good length, correct eye shape and pleasing colour. Long neck but not quite the angulation in front of 1, even if still quite reasonable in the entry. Super depth and spring of rib, strong loin, though as long as I’d like. Maximum rear angulation but his quarters have super overall strength with very good width of thigh. Quite impressive on the move, where he has a super carriage and lengthy, powerful stride.

Yearling Dog (2,0)

1. Martin’s Savuka Shaquille for Stalwart. Still a young dog with maturing to do but he has typical qualities to admire. Pleasing head and expression, dark eye and correct ear set. Perhaps too moderate in angulation fore and aft but he is balanced. Shapely top and underline, though can appear a little hunched up before he settles on the move. He is a fraction square in overall proportions for preference, I’d like a touch more length through the body. Super bone and feet. Pleasing croup, tail set and carriage. Moved on an active and light stride but would prefer his action to appear a little more effortless and supple.

2. Ullyatt’s Yamadan Kn Aijaz Haalim (Imp USA). Still a very raw dog with time to mature, though I’d like more size and substance throughout for a male. Beautiful head, eye and expression. Correct ear set and carriage. Pleasing neck and front angulation. Holds a firm and typical topline standing and moving. Smooth and elegant underline, quite impressive for a male. A little flat in croup and tail carried rather too fondly. Would prefer more strength and angulation in the rear for balance. Excellent feet.

Post Graduate Dog (1,0)

1. Sanders Parker’s Heart and Soul Jp Northern Dancer at Classicus (Imp JPN). Still just a junior, he is such an attractive dog with an overall look of quality. I liked his proportions and balance. Handsome head, long, detailed and well balanced. Beautiful dark eyes and pigment. Long neck set into smooth and well laid shoulders, in fact his overall angulation fore and aft is superb. Already quite pleasing for depth and fill of chest. Typical topline standing but I would prefer it to be slightly more consistent on the move. Bladed bone and correct spring of pastern. Uses his rear on the move so well, his action is light, yet powerful. He can be a little proud of his tail but I forgave this for his youth and excellent temperament, and he eventually charmed his way to the RCC. RDCC.

Limit Dog (4,0)

1. Sanders Parker’s Heart and Soul Jp Northern Dancer at Classicus (Imp JPN).

2. Stenson’s Qulaib Koah Al Djiibaajah (Imp DEU). I note he is a son of the DCC winner and he shares many of his attributes, not least his beautiful head and expression. Long neck of good strength. His whole front is very pleasing, excellent layback and angulation, correct width and fill of forechest, bladed blone, correct spring of pastern and typical Saluki feet. Super depth of chest and particularly pleasing for length of ribcage. His topline is very typical from withers to pinbones, but is a little too steep in croup. Well angulated rear with good width of thigh. Light in his action, but not the strength in rear movement or overall powerful stride of 1 which ultimately made the decision, but it was not clear cut.

3. Hamilton, Garratt & Oakey’s Cayna Oberon.

Open Dog (6,0) A class full of quality Champions, not easy but a pleasure to sort out. Some places could definitely change on another day, performance had to play a part here.

1. Stenson’s Ch Micattura All For Me. Though it is hard to believe, at 9 years old, this male presents an impressive, fully mature picture of type and quality. Excellent overall proportions and balance. Glorious head and expression, epitomising faithful, far-seeing eyes. Long, supple neck set smoothly into excellent layback of shoulder. So typical in topline with excellent depth and length of ribcage. His underline is perhaps the only indicator of his age, it could be somewhat more tucked up now. Balanced rear angles with excellent width of first and second thigh. Super feet. In excellent overall condition with a lovely coat texture and feathering. Perfect tail set and carriage. Still so light on his feet with a lovely lift to his action, always holding his outline. Particularly pleasing when viewed from the front and the side with effortless reach and drive. My pleasure to award him the CC. DCC.

2. Campling’s Ch Classicus Octavius. A different type to 1, quite a classic, workmanlike look. Such an attractive and typical outline throughout, really super shape to top and underline. Not quite the head and expression of 1, I would prefer him just a little more refined here. Very well constructed with balanced angulation fore and aft. A very honest dog whose sound construction and movement earned him this place in a hotly contested class. Called back in and seriously considered for the RCC but just lacked the lift and animation on the move of the Limit winner.

3. Aldous & Glaister’s Ch Jay JP Sea Bird El Panjsher (Imp JPN).

Veteran Dog (1,0)

1. Quadling’s Ch Classicus Alron with Malenkhai. Judged this male as a youngster and he is now benefitting from full maturity, presenting a very pleasing and typical outline. I would prefer a touch more of him throughout, but that said, he is all in proportion and very balanced. Very attractive head and expression with well set ears. Long neck into well angulated front construction, lovely return of upper arm and neat elbows. Excellent underline for a veteran male. Pleasing rise over the loin. Balanced rear. A light mover with a free stride.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog (1,0)

1. Schafer’s Tin Soldier. Built on a lighter frame, I would prefer more substance and masculinity throughout. That being said, he is well proportioned and has a very athletic look to him with a shapely outline. Pleasing head with a dark, well shaped eye. Very moderate, but balanced in angulation. Would prefer better feet. Moved on a light stride.

Minor Puppy Bitch (1,0)

1. Garratt & Oakey’s Caryna Deva By Design. A striking young bitch who is a lovely size and very well proportioned overall. Feminine head, still with adequate strength and moderate width to skull. Perhaps a bit full in eye, but they are dark. Strong neck into well laid shoulder, and good return of upper arm. Would prefer more spring of pastern. Firm topline with pleasing shape, though would prefer a longer ribcage as she appears to cut up a little in underline. Excellent width of thigh to her rear quarters, where she has good strength and lovely low hocks. She has lots of maturing to do still as expected, but particularly needs to settle in front movement.

Puppy Bitch (1,0)

1. Ayrton’s Allievo Faa Ig Rajiyyah. Attractive puppy who has a super frame to grow into, she has excellent proportions and lovely angles fore and aft. Pleasing head, eye shape and expression. Wouldn’t like her ears set any lower. Lovely long neck into a well made front. Typical in topline, and developing well through the body. Really liked the strength in her rear which she used to full advantage on the move. Her stride was so free and light in profile, just needs to settle up and down which I’m sure she will. Close call with her litter brother for Best Puppy. Best Puppy Bitch.

Junior Bitch (1,0)

1. Sanders Parker’s Ch Heart and Soul Jp Nashwa Classicus (Imp JPN) JW. Totally fell for this beautiful young bitch. Her overall appearance is so very attractive and she simply oozes quality; excellent size, well proportioned, balanced in angulation and very typical in outline. Head, expression and dark eyes to die for. Long neck set into well angulated front construction. She has ideal width and of forechest and already well filled. Lovely bone, pasterns and feet. Pleasing topline with slight rise over the loin and correct croup and tailset. Super rear quarters with strength and width throughout. In excellent condition. Still coming together in front movement, though it was more than reasonable in this entry. Her profile movement is so light and effortless with an unexaggerated, balanced stride. Unsurprising to see her already titled and I’m sure she has more ahead of her. I thought she was quite special. BCC & BOB.

Post Graduate Bitch (3,0)

1. Bryla’s Ravensett La Duquesa. An elegant and refined bitch built on quite a light frame, though it is well proportioned and balanced. Feminine head, even if I’d prefer a little less stop. Pleasing eye shape and colour. Lovely feathering but ears a bit too low set. Long neck set into smooth, well laid shoulders. Stands a little wide at the elbow and could have a touch more spring of pastern. Pleasing shape to her top and underline, with smooth curves throughout. Stands true in her rear with balanced angulation. Good profile mover with a fairly light action, would prefer her to be more tidy coming and going.

2. Dugdale’s Gayledale Hurricane Of Hera. Quite a moderate bitch but pleasing for size and substance. Feminine head with good length, well set ears. Good neck, would like more angles throughout her front. Really beautiful top and underline. Good length of ribbing. Moderate rear with good width of thigh. She too could be more true coming and going and didn’t quite have the balance in stride of 1.

3. Jowitt’s Barleymoon Zala.

Limit Bitch (3,0)

1. Knowles’ Qareen Mikah Al Djiibaajah at Mahziba (Imp DEU). So appealing for type and quality, she has excellent proportions and is ‘all of a piece’. Feminine head, though would prefer a touch more strength of underjaw. Unsurprising to see she is a relative of the DCC winner as she has the same beautiful eyes and far-seeing expression. Long neck and smooth shoulders, ok for return of upper arm. Typical bone, pasterns and feet. In super body with excellent depth, width and length of ribbing, and well muscled loin. Smooth over the croup with well set tail. Excellent rear. So light and free in her movement, with a lengthy and balanced stride.

2. Warner & Herrington’s Savuka Shakira. Another lovely bitch who scores for size and femininity. Still a yearling but quite mature. Pleasing head and expression, if not quite that of 1. Long neck set smoothly into well laid shoulders. Excellent feet. In good body with pleasing shape to her top and underline, though she is quite short in couplings. Excellent width of first and second thigh, and low hocks. A sound mover with a pleasing length of stride, but not quite the suppleness to her gait as 1.

3. Dugdale’s Gayledale Typhoon Of Artemis.

Open Bitch (6,1) Difficult to split 1 and 2 here, both with many qualities but really quite different.

1. Woolmer & Velickaite’s Ch Al Nafiseh Ivory Pearl. A beautiful bitch who appeared very classic in type and overall look. Very much liked her proportions and balance, and thought she was very typical in outline. Beautiful head with flat skull, slight stop and good strength to underjaw. Loved her expression too. Flowing neck into well laid shoulders, she has a super return of upper arm too, but I would like more spring of pastern. Long feet. So shapely in top and underline, with good ribbing and short loin. Moderate and balanced rear. She is a sound mover and holds her outline, but I just wanted to see more freedom and suppleness to her front action, and this is ultimately where she lost out in the challenge. Still, liked her very much for type.

2. Littlechild’s Ch Ravensett Mehrasa. This bitch scores very highly for her general conformation and soundness, however she is not as shapely and more rangey in proportions than 1. Long and feminine head, dark eyes and well set ears. Very long neck, but with good strength. Excellent layback of shoulder and return of upper arm. Her elbows are well under her body and very neat. Bladed bone, springy pasterns and typical feet. Pleasing underline and whilst she is firm in topline, she is a touch long in the loin and therefore flattens a little. Good strength in her rear. Very sound in all directions, with a long and lifting profile stride, where her topline remains firm. I can see why her qualities have been appreciated for her to be crowned a champion, I just preferred the slightly more classic and moderate type of 1.

3. Hamilton’s Artilily Bronte.

Veteran Bitch (4,0)

1. Aryton’s Ch Chisobee Faa Ig Farraar of Allievo. Beautiful veteran bitch who is so full of type and quality. Very shapely and typical in outline, built on correct proportions and of a lovely size. Really beautiful head, with excellent strength of muzzle yet retaining femininity. Long neck and well made front. Moderate width of chest and nicely filled. Super top and underline with curves throughout. Moderate rear angles with width right down to her second thigh. She uses her rear so well on the move to produce a lengthy, powerful and balance stride. Her overall action is totally effortless. She really pushed hard, having to settle for the RCC in bitches, but impressed me enough to take Best Veteran over the DCC winner. RBCC & BV.

2. Hamilton’s Ch/Int/LUX/BEL Ch Alishamar Roxane (Imp BEL) JW ShCEx OSW. I have long admired this bitch, and I hate to coin a phrase, but she was genuinely unlucky to meet 1 today. She scores very much for her moderation and functional build, and she is quite beautiful too of course. Balanced, feminine head, with beautiful eyes and expression. Moderate neck and front, perhaps not as good in forechest and depth as 1. Excellent bone, pasterns and feet. Typical top and underline. Totally moderate and balanced in the rear. Moves as you would expect on a balanced stride, if not quite with the power and lift of 1 today. A lovely bitch.

3. Williams’ Tigsisle Totally Unique.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch (1,0)

1. Jowitt’s Barleymoon Zala. A very feminine bitch built on a light frame. She is a little too square in proportions but has a pleasing outline with lovely curves throughout. Balanced, feminine head with typical expression and correct ear set. Good length of neck. Quite straight through the front and needs a lot more infill of forechest. Pleasing bladed bone, springy pasterns and typical feet. Good strength in her rear. Pleasing coat and delightful temperament. Could be tidier coming towards but has a light and moderate profile stride.

Mr L A Johnston