North Of England Welsh Springer Spaniel Club

NORTH OF ENGLAND

WELSH SPRINGER SPANIEL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

RIPON RACECOURSE

FRIDAY 18th SEPTEMBER

My thanks to the Officers and Committee for inviting me to judge their Championship Show. I thoroughly enjoyed the day. I noted a few incorrect bites, a concern that seems to be recurring, and a lack of cat-like feet in the breed. The flapping tent unsettled several dogs, particularly the puppies.

Dogs

Minor Puppy (3) 1st Lewis’s Don’s Constant Gardner Von Trannon (IM SWE). A happy boy who clearly enjoyed his day out. A good head and kind eye, with good front and rear angulation and cat-like feet. He lacked only a little muscle tone. He moved well and confidently around the ring. BPIS. I was delighted to award him the RCC. 2nd Dawson’s Glenbrows Motion Picture at Graefyn. Less outgoing than the winner, with a well-shaped head, good eye, clean front, good shoulders, stifles and feet. He was nervous on the move, unsettled by the flapping tent, but should gain confidence with age. 3rd Elli’s Iolo Goch Van Raamvliet. Another six-month-old puppy sharing the qualities of the first two, but unsettled by the flapping tent today. Hopefully he will become more comfortable with age; there is much for a young puppy to take in.

Puppy - No Entries

Junior (2) 1st Bonser & Hadfield’s Helgen Stratos. A lovely head and expression, with well-defined chiseling beneath the eye and correctly set ears. An excellent neck flowed into well-placed shoulders. Good bone and neat feet; short-coupled, with a muscular, slightly arched loin. He moved soundly and truly. 2nd Anderson’s Westaway Return Call to Kazval (IMP NOR). Not quite the quality of the winner. His head was slightly narrow and less pleasing to me, though it may improve with maturity. He lacked sparkle but moved adequately.

Yearling (1) 1st Bennion’s Menstonia Endless Dreams JW. A cheerful, outgoing dog with a pleasing head, straight, well-boned front and good shoulders. Strong and well-muscled, with a deep brisket. I would have liked tighter feet. He moved well around the ring with drive.

Novice - No Entries

Graduate (1) 1st Burchmore, Bowd & Smith’s Lenamore Renegade (AI). Very happy boy demonstrating outgoing temperament. Correct amount of bone, good feet, strong & muscular body with well sprung ribs. Moved a little wide in front, hind movement good and with drive.

Postgraduate (4) 1st Bennett’s Gilstonia Wreck It Riley for Flyboron. A well-built dog of correct size, balanced throughout. A correctly proportioned head and kind eye gave a soft expression. Good front and rear angulation; he maintained his topline on the move. 2nd Bennion’s Menstonia Endless Dreams JW (1st in Yearling) 3rd Gaylor & Robrtson’s Gilstonia Run Red Rum for Aprilflash. Nicely developed and balanced dog. Good head with soft expression, well-proportioned body, moved ok.

Limit (6) 1st Jackson, Ritchie & Jackson’s Slapestones Diminco. Lovely type and temperament. A superb masculine head with plenty of chiseling below the eyes and well-developed nostrils. A strong muscular neck set on well-placed shoulders, and a strong, muscular body with good spring of rib. Excellent bone, great feet and good front and rear angulation. A confident, sound mover who was handled well. Pleased to award him the CC & RBIS. 2nd Johnstone’s Glenbrows Erasmus for Gilpeta. A different type from the winner, with a balanced outline, lovely condition and good presentation. Well-constructed, with a pleasing head and expression, good bone and feet, and correct angulation. He moved well. 3rd Lewis’s Kidenoan Behind Marek Von Trannon. Another of pleasing type and quality. Lovely welsh head, balanced throughout, in good condition with good bone. Not so happy on the move.

Open (2) 1st Johnstone’s Glenbrows Erasmus for Gilpeta (2nd in Limit). 2nd Short’s Toftwood Ziggy Starman. Correct size, dense coat, compact body with deep forechest & spring of rib. Moved ok

Veteran (3, 1abs) 1st Yacoub’s Laithmoor’s Red Grenadine JW. A lovely, soft expression with well-defined chiseling beneath the eyes. Symmetrical, well balanced and well muscled, he moved with drive while maintaining his topline. 2nd Green’s Eurion Jasper. Well balanced, with a pleasing head and soft expression, and in good coat and condition. He moved well at 12½ years old; a pleasure to see oldies showing.

Special Beginners Dog or Bitch (2) 1st Withers, McDonald, McDonald & McDonald. Kenaspire Fairy Dust (Bitch). A promising puppy in good coat and condition, with a sweet head and expression. She was slightly nervous, which I attributed to the flapping tent, but should become more settled and comfortable with time. 2nd Ellis’s Ffrind Ffyddlon Van Raamvliet (IMP NL) (Dog). Less condition and bone than the winner. He lacked body and will be slow to mature.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog or Bitch (2) 1st Yacoub’s Laithmoor’s Felka (Bitch). A well-balanced head with good muzzle depth and a kind eye giving a soft expression. Well laid-back shoulders, ample bone and moderate stifle angulation. She moved well around the ring. 2nd Mole & Knox’s Jennifer Our Loyal Welsh at Edincraw (Bitch). Longer cast than the winner, with a well-shaped head and soft expression. Correct angulation front & rear, but her movement was lacking sparkle today.

Bitches

Minor Puppy (3) 1st Williams Glenbrows Picture of Me. Presenting a well-balanced outline. Promising youngster with a pretty, feminine head and good neck and shoulders. Once settled, she moved well. BPB. 2nd Millard’s Rubylea Holland and Holland. Another promising bitch, with a well-shaped head, soft expression and good front and rear angulation. She was also unsettled on the move with the tent flapping. 3rd Green’s Trenzalore Wave of Hope. Less promising than the first two, but she may improve as she matures.

Puppy (3, 1abs) 1st Millard’s Rubylea Holland and Holland (2nd in Minor Puppy). 2nd Withers, McDonald, McDonald & McDonald. Kenaspire Fairy Dust (1st in Special Beginners Dog or Bitch).

Junior (1) 1st Dyer’s Islanza She’s a Peach among Tylwyth. A pleasing, balanced head and kind eye gave a soft Welsh expression. Good muzzle depth, well laid-back shoulders and moderate stifle angulation. She moved effortlessly, maintaining her topline.

Yearling (1) 1st Lemin’s Highslade Million Reasons for Bonvis. Another feminine bitch in good condition. Plenty of bone, good spring of ribs. Well-muscled with hocks well let down. Moved with drive.

Novice (2) 1st Lemin’s Highslade Million Reasons for Bonvis (1st in Yearling). 2nd Withers, McDonald, McDonald & McDonald S Kenaspire Fairy Dust (1st Special Beginners Dog or Bitch & 2nd in Puppy)

Graduate - No Entries 

Postgraduate (4, 1abs) 1st Cooper & Mulllins Gilstonia Maggie May. Soft expression with dark eye, slight dome with defined stop giving a pretty feminine head. Correct size, nothing overdone or exaggerated. Short coupled, moved soundly. 2nd Graham’s Slapestones Catoca. Not as good in head as 1. In good coat & condition, same qualities as 1 but just lacking movement. 3rd Mole & Knox’s Jennifer Our Loyal Welsh at Edincraw (IMP NLD (2nd in Good Citizen Dog or Bitch).

Limit (7) 1st Gibson’s Ferndel Rossana at Cadehill. My star of the day. A beautiful, typical Welsh with a compact, well-balanced body. A pretty, unexaggerated head with particularly appealing dark eyes and correctly set ears. Good forechest, neatly tucked elbows and just the right amount of feathering. Good front and rear angulation was evident in her movement. I was delighted to award her the CC and BIS. 2nd Tew’s Pamicks Dream with Me. Another lovely, unexaggerated bitch with a pleasing head, strong muzzle and kind eye, complemented by chiseling beneath. Good front and well-muscled hindquarters. She moved well, and I was pleased to award her the RCC. 3rd Lewis’s Eiriandylis Strange Magic Von Trannon JW. Nice head of good proportions, correct bite. Straight front, good bend of stifle, ample bone & neat feet. Moved well keeping topline.

Open (6, 1abs) 1st Graham’s Sh Ch Nyliram Telling Tales JW ShCEx OSW. Typical welsh, balanced throughout, in good coat with right amount of feathering completed the picture. Good head shape on to clean neck. Correct angles front & rear. Lost out for top honors today as carrying too much weight over her shoulders which showed when moving - made her move wide in front. 2nd Ward’s Glenbrows Flame for Tantaraviz. Another feminine bitch in good condition. Good spring of rib, plenty of bone, well-muscled, hocks well let down. Moved with drive. 3rd Ritchie’s Sh Ch Sarabande Dancing Queen at Slapestones JW. (AI) Plain in head for me, up to size & well bodied. Good clean reach of neck, ample bone, good bend of stifle. Move ok.

Veteran (7, 1 abs) A lovely class of veterans. 1st Dyer’s Benton Small Talk among Tylwyth (Imp Fin) VW. Well-presented and in superb condition at 11 years old. A very feminine, unexaggerated bitch with the right amount of bone. A well-proportioned head with dark eyes and a correct bite. Well laid-back shoulders, a straight front and good depth of forechest. A slight rise over the loin, good bend of stifle and neat, cat-like feet. She moved soundly. BIS Veteran. 2nd Mole & Knox’s Zaza Florence our Royal Welsh at Edincraw (Imp NLD). Lovely balanced head, good depth to muzzle, kind eye giving a soft expression. Plenty of bone, well laid-back shoulders. Moderate bend of stifle, moved well holding topline. 3rd Short’s Ferndel Fire Gem at Toftwood. In lovely condition, soft melting expression, good spring of rib, with plenty of muscle. Moved well.

Judge

Martin Greenwood