Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

 DARLINGTON DOG SHOW SOCIETY CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 

18TH SEPTEMBER 2026

IRISH SETTERS

I would like to thank you all for taking the time and effort to present your dogs in good order and for making the journey to show your lovely dogs under me, and with very few absentees it was very much appreciated. Big thanks to my Steward Cathy Loughlin for a sterling job well done. It’s been a few years since I last judged Irish Setters and I had some lovely exhibits which it was a pleasure to go over and there is nothing quite like the feel of a good dog in your hands. The breed standard is the strong foundation of this beautiful breed and should never be ignored. The Irish Setter should be full of quality, the head is a thing of great beauty, long and lean, and oval from ear to ear, not wide in skull giving a course appearance or round eyes giving a stark expression and this should never be allowed to creep in. That beautiful eye shape, soft and appealing and raised brow giving a soft, yet quizzical expression creates that “look of Eagles” that no other possesses. Balance is everything, that thoroughbred raciness and clean unexaggerated outline. This is what I was looking for. An Irish should be fit, not fat, and some were carrying a little too much weight. Movement on the whole was good.  

VETERAN DOG (6)

1ST RUSSELL SH CH LYNWOOD HOCUS POCUS AT SETTESOLI JW

A lovely class of Veterans all deserving of a place. Lovely upstanding dog 9 years young, good head with the right amount of work, well balanced with kind eye and correct occipital bone, strong, clean arched neck into good shoulders, firm topline, gently sloping to correct set on of tail, well angulated quarters, moved out so well. Best Veteran

2ND HEMMINGS SH CH ORLANSET A NEW FLAME

A lovely outline to this boy, with good angles fore and aft, he has a lovely head with planes of equal length, ears set on low, strong arched neck into well placed shoulders, deep chest, firm gently sloping topline to good tailset, lashing on the move

3RD BOYD-MCNEIL & EDWARDS GWENDARIFF BEAM ME UP SCOTTY

MINOR PUPPY DOG (2)

1ST BOX FERNSTART LIONHEART.

 Lovely boy of almost 7 months, his sire is my BOB winner. He has a lovely head and dark eye with raised brow, low set ears, lovely arched neck, cleanly into shoulders, enough depth to chest, good front and feet and nice angles, a fidget on the move which you would expect at this age, but settled long enough to see his capabilities

2ND BERRY & MORRIS FORFARIAN THE UNCLOAKED

Another raw baby of 8 months, more rangy than 1, head long and lean with low set ears, nice dark eye, good neck sitting cleanly into shoulders, well boned, longer in loin than 1, but good angles and moved well

PUPPY DOG - NO ENTRIES

JUNIOR DOG (1)

1ST RUSINEK, HARDY & HARDY CAFOTALIENA PLAY WITH FIRE

Stylish dog built on flowing lines, loved his head of equal planes, good occipital bone, dark eye, raised brow and low set ears, lovely firm neck slightly arched into clean shoulders with good layback, deep chest and lovely topline and tailset, well bent stifles, moved well with driving action, very promising

NOVICE DOG – NO ENTRIES

GRADUATE DOG (2)

1ST FOSTER IXIA BOYS DON’T CRY AT SHANOAH JW

Two lovely dogs which were close up. Lovely head, dark eye of good shape, arched neck of good length, set cleanly into shoulder, deep chest, nice spring to rib, short coupled, firm sloping topline to correct set on of tail, good sweep of stifle and moved well off strong hocks

2ND HEMMINGS ORLANSET SLAVE TO LOVE JW

Built on flowing lines, just preferred the leaner head of 1, although his head is well balanced, with low set ears, lovely shoulder placement and deep chest, firm topline sloping gently and with good angles front and rear he moved well 

POST GRADUATE DOG (4)

1ST LORRIMER GWENDARIFF DISCO DAZZLER (IKC) JW

Loved this boy when he went around the ring on the first go round, with driving action and lashing tail. Lovely head, with melting expression, kind dark eye, raised brow, low set ears, clean arched neck, well placed into shoulders, good depth of chest and lovely flowing topline, at just under 3 years, he has more to come

2ND SHELDON BARDONHILL THAT’S ALL RIGHT AT DELSANTO

Another young dog, close up, with everything to like about him, he has a good head and nice dark eye, raised brows, correct amount of stop and chiseling, which gives him a kind but masculine expression, arched neck fitting cleanly into shoulders, with lovely sloping firm topline to good tailset, moved well off good hindquarters

3RD CORLESS SWIFTLARK INVINCIBLE JW

LIMIT DOG (8)

1ST LUCAS GWENDARIFF BACHELOR BOY

An easy winner in this class, he stood out as a well balanced dog, who flowed from his lovely appealing head, with dark well shaped eye and raised brow, correct head planes of equal length, low set ears, close to head, arched neck into flowing topline to his lovely tailset and with good angles he moved straight and true, a bright future

2ND CORLESS SWIFTLARK SPELLBINDER ShCEx

I liked this boy for his good head and appealing dark eye, raised brow, good clean neck into well placed shoulders, good front and feet and lovely rear angulation used on the move, slightly longer in neck than 1 and I just preferred the overall balance of 1

3RD RUSSELL TIROEN TOUCH OF MAGIC BY SETTESOLI (Imp KCJ) JW

OPEN DOG – (4,2)

1ST BOTT SH CH BARDONHILL MILLION TO ONE

These two dogs fill the eye. I loved them both and to see them stood next to one another was a joy. They are both worthy Champions. At almost 5 years old my winner is coming into his own. In full rich coat and condition, he has a beautiful masculine head, with that wistful expression with his lovely dark eye and raised brow which one is looking for. He has a clean neck of good length into well placed shoulders with good forechest and front assembly, arched feet, deep chest and sweeping topline to his lovely tailset, he is not overdone in any way and he moves off well developed hindquarters. Pleased to award him the CC and BOB 

2ND EDWARDS SH CH COPPER’S GET OFF MY CLOUD BY BONHOMIE (Imp Swe)

Another beautiful boy who stands over his ground so well, again he flows from nose to tail and everything in between is worth getting your hands on to appreciate his qualities, his head is so well balanced with that lovely Irish expression which he gets from his lovely shaped eye and raised brow and correct amount of stop and chiseling to foreface, his low set ears and clean neck arched and fitting cleanly into his firm slightly sloping topline sweeping down to his lovely tail set, and with good angles fore and aft he presents a lovely outline and movement to go with it. As a young dog I feel he has yet more to come Pleased to award him the RCC

VETERAN BITCH – (2,1)

1ST HEATHER & HEATHER SIXOAKS LEADING LADY

 Such a pretty bitch of 9 years, with lean head and good shape to her appealing eye, clean neck into shoulders, sloping topline and good angles, she presents a lovely outline and moved well

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (2)

1ST TILLETT MARGICO PALOMA LOFTY (Imp Pol) naf taf

2 raw puppies both giving their handlers a hard time. My first is a pretty little girl with lean head, raised brow giving her a nice expression, well boned with good feet, nice forehand, deep chest and lovely angles to rear, when she settled she moved well

2nd HOLMES CASSARLA CHEEKY VIMTO

This little girl was hard to assess as she wasn’t playing ball and she and her handler need to go to handling classes to get the best out of her, but she had an appealing lean head, nice shape to eye, and a nice outline when she did eventually settle. 

PUPPY BITCH (2)

1ST ALLEN, BOTT & MORGAN GLITTERATI LOFTY WITH QUENSHA (Imp Pol)

Such a pretty young lady of almost 11 months, presented in lovely condition, appealing feminine lean head with planes of equal length and correct occipital bone, lovely dark eye and raised brow, clean arched neck into lovely shoulders and she has the forechest that many lacked with a beautiful forehand and rear angulation to match, together with her lovely flowing topline and tailset she presented a super balanced outline and moved out so well Best Puppy and delighted to see her go Puppy Group 2, she has a very bright future

2ND HOLMES CASSARLA CHEEKY VIMTO - repeat

JUNIOR BITCH (5)

1ST STEVENSON GWENDARIFF CRACKLIN ROSIE FOR LOCHLORIEN (IKC)

Lovely bitch, very feminine with lovely lean chiseled head, dark eye and raised brow, clean neck of good length, slightly arched, into good layback of shoulder and return of upper arm, deep chest short coupled with lovely rear quarters, moved out well on short hocks

2ND WILLIAMSON KELJARU EN VOGUE

Another very pretty young lady, not as mature as 1, with correct head shape and dark expressive eye, good ear placement, arched lean neck fitting cleanly, firm topline and good angles, neat feet

3RD MCLAREN KELJARU TAIF ROSE AT TEUSCHON

NOVICE BITCH (1)

1ST JERSBY KENBLOOM CORONA AUSTRALIS

VHC in Junior, tall, rangy bitch who needs time to mature, pretty head, but broader in skull than I would have liked, dark eye and low set ears, deep chest and moderate angulation, went well for her young handler 

GRADUATE BITCH (5)

1ST BOYD-MCNEIL & EDWARDS GLENNLOKHEN CHASING DREAMS

Elegant bitch with a beautiful feminine head shape, long and lean with correct head planes and gentle stop, lovely dark eye and raised brow, arched neck fitting so cleanly into shoulders, lovely firm topline gently sloping to her good tailset, she has lovely forequarters and rear angulation to compliment and stands over her ground well giving a beautiful outline, very pleasing to watch on the move and at just over 2 years I will watch her with interest as she matures

2ND BERRY & MORRIS RIVERBRUE MYSTIQUE AVEC BRINARA JW

Another young lady who flows from head to tail with no exaggerations. Lean feminine head, correct length of foreface, nice dark eye, ears low set and clean elegant neck, slightly arched into good shoulders, good front and feet, deep brisket, good couplings and well developed rear quarters, went well on the move

3RD HOLEHAN LOGANRISH WINTER PEARL MOON JW

POST GRADUATE BITCH (5,1)

1ST EDWARDS & OSTMAN’S EMMA COPPER’S MAHOGANY DREAM CATCHER

What a cracker! Elegant in outline and so feminine from her beautiful head, neck and shoulders through to her correct tailset. She has a kind dark eye giving that lovely Irish expression and chiseled features, good bone, deep chest and sweeping rear quarters, I considered her for the RCC but at just over 2 years old she has time on her side and will mature with grace and I look forward to seeing her in the future

2ND BORTHWICK DANWISH ARIA ON LOTUSHILL

Another built on elegant lines, just as it should be, I loved her sire when I judged him as a youngster and the outline is there to see, with nice head planes, kind eye, she has a good reach of neck, firm sloping topline to correct tailset, slightly longer in loin than 1, good angulation, fore and aft

3RD PETERS CORRANROO VIENNESE WALTZ TO SHIRLILAH

LIMIT BITCH (5)

1ST HARDY CAFOTALIENA SHE’S ON FIRE

Dam of my Junior dog, very nice bitch with no exaggerations, good head planes, gentle stop, dark eye with raised brow, correct occiput, good reach of neck, gentle slope to topline down to tailset with good angles to front and rear she moved very well off short hocks

2ND MCDONALD QUENSHA GALWAY GIRL

Nice bitch with feminine head of good proportions, kind dark eye, low ear set and good reach of neck, deep in chest and well ribbed to arched loin and lovely hindquarters

3RD WILLIAMSON BLUESPRINGS A KIND OF MAGIC AT KELJARU

OPEN BITCH (4,1)

1ST DANKS & KNIVETON SH CH ALOLFRANA ELECTRA

 I loved this stylish bitch of almost 3 years, who is maturing well; she has an elegant outline and head to match, long and lean, clean cut, with good occipital bone expressive dark eye and raised brow, the right amount of chiseling, good reach of neck fitting cleanly, with good forehand, deep chest, spring of rib, carried well back to slightly arched loin, her topline flows from withers to croup with correct tailset, and with good hindquarters she moved with drive, pleased to award her the CC 

2ND ALLEN, BOTT & MORGAN SH CH QUENSHA JOKER AND THE QUEEN

Another bitch of quality from all angles, with feminine head and sweet expression, dark appealing eye and raised brow with good stop, correct length of foreface, lovely low set ears, clean neck, good forehand and deep brisket, short coupled and well developed hindquarters and short hocks used to advantage on the move, pleased to award her the RCC

3RD HEATHER & HEATHER SIXOAKS MY FAIR LADY JW

MAUREEN MITCHELL (JUDGE)