Manchester Dog Show Society

MANCHESTER CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

________________________________________

DANDIE DINMONT TERRIER

Judge: Mr Paul Eardley

How can you not enjoy a morning judging Dandies. Their temperaments are such a delight.

I was pleased with the entry and there were enough good ones to make my task interesting. Good males are a bit thin on the ground which is a bit of a worry for the future. In bitches there were 4 youngsters who, I believe, are all more than worthy of their titles and that augurs well for the future.

From the ringside I have been worried recently that some exaggeration is creeping in and that more emphasis is being put on presentation rather than correct proportions. A Dandie does need to be weaselly but in my opinion not tubular. Without balance it starts to lose breed type and become a caricature of itself. Today I was pleasantly surprised so maybe that is being addressed. There were one or two who are a bit flat in topline and that will need to be watched.

Thank you all for the entries and thank you to my stewards Sue Joyce and Megan Roberts who were both charming company.

SBD (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: BELL, Mr Stuart Cloverwood Total Legend-nice typy pepper boy to start things off, good head, ok in skull, shapely but not overdone, good tail carriage, moved well in rear, a bit wide in front.

2nd: KENYON, Mrs Tracey Elizabeth & KENYON, Mr Andrew Ceilmear Close Encounter-lovely temperament, good rear, a bit flat on top, in good body.

PD (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: SLEIGHT, Miss L Finamor's King Of The Road At Bonnybeck-10 month old boy and mature for his age, fabulous skull developing, ok in outline, good rear, ok in front, body will need to fill out. Best puppy today.

2nd: BELL, Mrs Susan Reidswire Liddesdale Lad-a real baby and giving too much away to a mature 10 month old, lovely type of baby, good outline, moved ok when he decided to cooperate, really well pigmented which we don’t see quite so much nowadays. I shall watch how he matures with interest.

JD (1 Entries) Abs: 1

PGD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 1412 BELL, Mr Stuart Cloverwood Total Legend

LD (7 Entries) Abs: 0

Not the easiest class to judge as there were things to like and dislike about them all. However they all displayed lovely Dandie temperament and were a delight to sort out.

1st: BAKER, Miss Gillian Cloverwood's Storm Shadow-very much my type and he caught my eye more as the class went on. Examined well on the table, lovely headed boy, not the most masculine and could perhaps have a little more shape, sound mover.

2nd: DAVIES, Miss K & KETTLE, Mrs A Bettyhill New Kid In Town- slightly flashier than the winner, better in outline and moves well. Good head with correct head proportions. Was a bit short in topcoat but it was of good quality.

OD (4 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: MILTON, Mrs B & KURG, MRS B Ch Barton Dandies Charles Darnay (imp Esp)-very much my type of Dandie, beautifully animated which draws you in, so correct in body proportions, lovely outline on the move, splendid head with melting expression, excellent rear, pins a bit in front. However overall quality and typical Dandie temperament earned him the CC.

2nd: BUTCHER, Miss Sophie Ch Mishahda Mischief Managed-very stylish and eye catching boy. Moved really well in all directions. Was a bit short of coat today making him look a bit long. Soundness won him the Res CC

VD (2 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: SHARMAN, Mrs Teresa The Norman Conqueror-this boy is all male and full of testosterone. Good condition and a great ribcage. A bit untidy on the move. In true Dandie fashion carries his age well.

SBB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: KENYON, Mrs Tracey Elizabeth & KENYON, Mr Andrew Puddockswell Cox's Pippin (ikc)-decent type, good proportions, I liked her head, correct double coat. Is showing real promise. Not a bad mover and front movement won her best special beginner. Well done.

PB (4 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: GIANNETTI, Mrs Jennifer Puddockswell Elkie At Glenaska (ikc)-good outline, really good shoulder placement, head developing well, shows promise. Has plenty of time on her side.

2nd: FOX, Miss J Ashenfox Going Solo- another real baby. Excellent type, her head shows promise, not overlong in body and good short loin. I was pleased to see some tan on her legs.

JB (3 Entries) Abs: 0

The first two in this class were both quality girls as can be seen from their awards at the end of the bitch classes. I really enjoyed assessing them and both are of clear champion quality.

1st: KURG, Mrs B E Etsill Swannay-what a lovely mustard girl. So feminine, the prettiest of heads, beautiful eyes, decent skull under that glorious topknot, her body is so shapely and she holds her outline in stance and on the move. Moves well in all directions and is an excellent profile mover demonstrating reach and drive. Well presented without being overdone. Nothing could get past her today hence a well deserved CC, which I believe made her up. Her movement carried her through to BOB. She later made the cut in the group and I was not surprised on this form.

2nd: MILLS, Mrs Cherry & MILLS, Mr Malcolm Lairdship Lickity Split-close up today and this one is knocking on the door as well. Scores heavily for type and animation, lovely showgirl, good proportions and outline, powers round the ring and has a good rear, good tail carriage. Good double coat of correct crisp texture and well presented. Res CC and very well deserved.

PGB (4 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: KURG, Mrs B E & MILTON, Mrs B Etsill Evie-the pepper litter sister to the CC winner and she too is a quality girl. Very feminine, lovely expression, good outline, correct proportions and moves well. Is another knocking on the door and she should make it once she settles a bit on the move. She is only young so there is better to come.

2nd: KENYON, Mrs Tracey Elizabeth & KENYON, Mr Andrew Puddockswell Cox's Pippin (ikc)-

LB (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: MILLS, Mrs Cherry & MILLS, Mr Malcolm Lairdship Lickity Split

2nd: FOX, Miss J Puddockswell Queen Of Scots Ashenfox- lovely headed girl, quite a strong type, is a touch long but because of her strength she carries it well. Moves ok. Reasonably shapely.

OB (3 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: BUCKLEY, Miss H Lovelettie Full Of Beans-she really is full of beans, lovely feminine girl, super outline, nice shape, well presented and moves well with lovely reach and drive whilst holding a good outline. Head is developing and she is clearly a slow maturer. Another that is of clear champion grading and was seriously considered for the Res CC.

2nd: SLEIGHT, Miss L Ch Danchester's Can You Hear Me Roar For Bonnybeck-quality girl who has done it all. Still exudes quality, super head and good outline. Was carrying a bit of excess weight today which pegged her against the younger girls.

VB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: SLEIGHT, Miss L Mishahda Where It All Began-this girl has got better with age and looks good in maturity. I placed her in the veteran group at National Terrier last year so I obviously like her. Scores in outline, well presented, moves well, particularly in rear. Best veteran.

2nd: WEAVING, Mrs M & Mr A Ir Ch Dentgate Silk Threads-this girl is in hard workmanlike condition, very crisp coat, lacking some furnishings, super temperament, is definitely fit for function.

Paul Eardley

Judge