South Western English Springer Spaniel Club

South Western English Springer Spaniel Championship Show – May 3rd 2026

Thank you to the Officers and committee of the South Western English Springer Spaniel Club for inviting me to judge at what was their third Championship show, along with my steward Laurie Hunt. Despite the dire forecast throughout the week, the weather was kind and it turned out to be a warm day. We managed to complete all judging along with photos of the major winners outside, with the rain just starting as everyone was leaving. The entry wasn’t large, but there were some quality dogs on display. When you have an entry which maybe isn’t representative of the total showing population, it is difficult to generalise, however I was alarmed by the number of exhibits who lacked forechest, our standard calls for a well-developed deep chest. It isn’t something that I noticed when I last judged three years ago. The quality in the bitches was much stronger than the males today. It goes without saying that true springer movement is now becoming an exception rather than the rule. All that said, I did enjoy my day, and it was a pleasure to be able to go over your dogs, I thank you for your entries.

Minor Puppy Dog (2)

1 Moontorn Drops of Jupiter with Fecimus (MacBain, Harrison & Bellamy)

Young man of six and a half months who is starting to learn his trade, his head was balanced with good fluting, kind eye and square muzzle, ears of good length set correctly, sufficient in neck, he has a straight front with good feet, good chest and rib for age, showing strength in loin, not too overdone in rear with well let down hocks, tail carried correctly on the move, at present he has that typical puppy roll which should dissipate as he strengthens and develops.

2 Alhambian’s Kenny Everett at Beresford (Topliss)

Upstanding male of nearly nine months, larger frame than one, strong masculine head, which was balanced without coarseness, square in muzzle and sporting a kind eye, well set on ears, well bodied up all through, with deep chest and strong loin, more rear angulation than one. Well let down hocks, moved OK.

Puppy Dog (1)

1 Dexbenella One More Time (Walker)

Black and white, eleven months, he sports a masculine head, balanced with just the right amount of rounding, strong square muzzle, dark eye as you would expect with a black and white, strong in neck into well placed shoulders, he has a straight front with tight feet, good ribbing for age, strong in loin, moderately bent stifles which was nice to see, well-muscled up, moved out well, would have preferred more positive rear movement, beat the minor puppy for Best Puppy Dog on maturity.

Junior Dog (2,1)

1 Peasblossom Eros (Watts)

This sixteen month old black and white male, has a masculine head, would have preferred a little less width, balanced in muzzle, dark eye, ears well set, strong neck, well boned straight front and tight feet, good rib, would have preferred a tighter elbow, good length to back with good rib for age, balanced in rear, not overdone, moved ok for and aft, good in profile holding a level topline.

Novice Dog (1)

1 Peasblossom Eros (Watts)

   See Junior

Post Graduate Dog (3)

1 Gleadsbury Mad About the Boy (House)

Young liver and white boy coming up two, his head is masculine and balanced, just enough fluting, square in muzzle, ears set correctly in line with the almond shaped eye, sufficient in neck, and sporting a straight front, still to mature in body, strong in loin moderately bent stifles, with low set hocks, shown in hard condition allowing him to move positively, easy winner in this class.

2 Ashring’s Love Touch for Recondy (Scotting)

Male coming up five, stronger all through than my winner, reasonable head, good ear, straight front, well off for bone, acceptable length to body, made his young handler work hard for her place.

3 Russell at Cumani (Fugle & Cook)

Limit Dog (8)

1 Gleadsbury It Is Destiny for Anacapa (Merry)

Symmetrically built three and a half year old male, balanced head proportions with sufficient stop leading to a square muzzle, defined chiseling, ears set on correctly of good length, straight front, tight feet, good depth to chest, tight in elbow, ribs well sprung, balanced in back, strong in loin, moderately bent stifles with low set hocks, moved well in all directions, to be critical on the day a couple of pounds less would finish the picture, that said a clear winner for the Dog CC, the owner told me it was his third, well done, fully deserved, pleased to award him BOS in the final challenge.

2 Beresford Stand N’Stare (Topliss)

Younger male, not quite two of different type to the winner, more racier in build, masculine head, but nothing overdone, balanced in length and width with just enough rounding, good length to hear, strong neck of good length, he stands on a straight front with tight feet, like the winner good depth of chest, which was lacking in many, balanced in back with strength in loin, personally would have preferred a little less angulation in rear, however his hocks were low, correctly set on tail, good front movement, not as positive behind, a good profile mover, more than happy to call him back in for the reserve dog CC.

3 Dexbenella It’s Only Me (Walker) 

Open Dog (1,1)

Abs.

Champion Dog (1,1)

Abs.

Special Beginners Dog (2)

1 Peasblossom Eros (Watts)

   See Junior

2 Russell at Cumani (Fugle & Cook)

Coming up four and a half, balanced in head with ears set on correctly, sufficient length to neck with arch, balanced in back, correctly set tail, low set hocks, moved ok.

Minor Puppy Bitch (1)

1 Moontorn Dare to Dream with Dexbenella (Walker & Bellamy)

Six and a half months, litter sister to the winner of minor puppy dog, she has a feminine head, balanced all through, nothing overdone, square in muzzle, good kind eye, correct ear set, adequate length of neck, straight front, sufficient chest for age, good body for age, strength in loin, moderately bent stifles, low set tail, moved well fore and aft and in profile for one so young, in the challenge, the dog being nearly twice as old scored in maturity, but there was just something about this young lady which said pick me, and on the day she couldn’t be denied, I will watch her progress, best puppy bitch and best puppy in show.

Puppy Bitch (1)

1 Moontorn Dare to Dream with Dexbenella (Walker & Bellamy)

    See Minor puppy.

Junior Bitch (1)

1 Sieger’s She’s A Classic For Wythnick (Bellamy, Nicklin & Nicklin)

Fifteen month old Tri-bitch, feminine in head with good shape to skull and balanced in muzzle, ears set on correctly and of good length, standing her front is straight and her body in proportion, stifles not overdone and hocks set low, tail set on low, moved well fore and aft.

Yearling Bitch (4)

1 Beresford Stand On Ceremony (Topliss)

Feminine bitch coming up two, balanced in head, not too broad, good eye shape with sufficient chiseling below, ears of good length, straight front, she has a good spring of rib and depth of chest, strong in loin, moderate rear, tail set on low, low set hocks, excelled in movement in profile which won her the class. 

2 Forgespring Nobody’s Fool At Blissenbea (JW) (Proctor)

Black and white, also coming up two, one I have judged before, her head is feminine and balanced, sufficient stop with square muzzle, dark eye with good pigmentation, good length and width to ear, clean throat and sufficient in neck, straight front, slightly longer in back than one, without losing balance, her rear is moderate with a low set tail, didn’t move with the verve which I have seen before in this class, however was far more with it in the challenges at the end, was happy to proclaim her Best Black and White in show.

3 Forgespring Fool Me Once (Stephens)

Novice Bitch (2)

1 Forgespring Fool Me Once (Stephens)

Litter sister to the second in in Yearling, black and white, smaller all through, feminine in head, kind eye, she had a reasonable depth of chest, short-coupled and had moderate rear angulation giving her balance, low set tail, moved OK

2 Dexbenella Dream Dancer (Murdoch)

Young lady of 21 months, rangier than one needing more time to fill her frame, her head is feminine with a dark eye and good length to ear, she has a good length to back, moderate rear angulation, low set hocks, moved ok.

Graduate Bitch (3)

1 Meonstoke Wild Cherry At Harvancourt (Turvey & Murray)

Young lady who has just turned two, balanced feminine head, kind eye with good length of ear, clean in neck with good lay of shoulder, her chest is deep with elbows tucked in, slightly longer cast without losing her balance, moderate stifles, low set hocks and low set tail, moved with front extension and drive, presented with a gleaming jacket.

2 Cobhay Rosa Meg (Glass)

Slightly older bitch of different stature, feminine head good depth and width of skull, would have preferred a slightly longer muzzle, sufficient in neck, well laid shoulders, shorter in body than one, balanced in rear with well let down hocks, unfortunately she was not in her best bib and tucker today. 

3 Eastriding Love In Black With Cumani (Fugle & Cook)

Post Graduate Bitch (7, 2)

1 Daenerys Girl on Fire At Dexbenella (Nicklin)

Nearly two, balanced feminine head, good length to ear, sufficient in neck good lay of shoulder, she stands on a straight front, her elbows are tight and she has a deep chest, her ribs are well sprung and she has strength in loin, would have preferred a little less rear angulation, her hocks are set low and she moved out well.

2 Loxbourne Hustle And Bustle IR JUN CH (Hydon)

Older than my winner she is a different type to one sporting a solid jacket, her head is feminine and of good balance, kind eye, good length to ear, she stands on a straight front, having balance in body, tight elbows and moderately angled rear, close up but couldn’t match the movement of one today.

3 Cobhay Heavenly Hydrangea JW nBEL JCH BJW-24 (Williams & Toublic)

Limit Bitch (4,2)

1 Siegers See Eye To Eye With Trimere (Corbett)

Nearly two and a half, this lady has a balance head with sufficient dome, good eye shape and colour, she stands on a straight front and tight feet, sufficient in chest, strong in loin, moderate in rear, shown in hard condition.

2 Petranella Perfick Bliss At Blissenbea (Proctor)

Different make and shape to one, she is feminine in head I would have preferred a touch more neck, straight front, balanced in back, she has strength in loin, moderately bent stifles, well-let down hocks.

Open (3,1)

1 Sh Ch Carlyquinn Winter Storm JW (Cokell)

Three and a half year bitch, her head is so well balanced with sufficient stop, good shape and colour to eye, ears set on in line of good length, sufficient length to neck, she stands on a straight front with tight feet, sufficient in chest, would have preferred a tighter elbow, ribs well sprung, her loin is strong and her rear stifles moderate, her hocks were low, with a low set tail carried correctly, moved well and excelled in rear drive.

 2 Petranella Perfick Bliss At Blissenbea (Proctor)

     See limit 

Veteran Bitch (3)

1 Cobhay Fancy Phlox (Williams & Toublic)

One who I have judged before, now seven and a half, her head is feminine and balanced with just the right amount of fluting and chiselling, dark eye with good pigmentation, ears set correctly in line with the eye and of good length, arch to neck, well laid shoulders, well boned straight front, cat like feet, she has a deep chest with elbows well tucked in, sufficient length to body with strong loin with correct arch, moderate back end, well developed second thigh, low set hocks, tail set on low and carried correctly, moved out well with the correct swing from shoulder, moves as one with her young handler, there is nothing flashy about this bitch, you need to get your hands on her to appreciate her virtues. Best Veteran in Show.

2 Clentonian Picture Perfect (Reynolds)

Older than my winner but still in tip top condition, feminine head with correct fluting, she is clean in shoulder and stands on a straight front, balanced in body with good rear angles, another purposeful mover from all angles.

3 Gleadsbury Dynamite (House)

Champion Bitch (2)

I was really splitting hairs here, two bitches out of the top draw on their best form

1 Sh Ch Trimere Time Fly’s (Corbett)

What can I say about this Liver and white, now five and fully mature, she has a feminine head all through with lovely fluting and chiselling, kind eye and square muzzle of good length, ears set level with eye of good length, her neck is clean with arch and not too long, she has a good lay of shoulder, straight front, tight feet, well developed deep chest, good spring of rib, strong in loin, moderate stifles, strong in second thigh with well let down hocks, her movement was true fore and aft, holding a firm topline at all times, I awarded her the Reserve CC last time I judged and couldn’t be denied the Bitch CC and Best in Show today

2 Sh Ch Melverley Iridescent (Smith)

Not four until August and of a different stamp to one, a little bit heavier, that said she has everything in the right place, and still eludes femininity , starting with her head which is balanced with good chiseling and fluting, lovely almond shaped eye, ear of good length, sufficient in neck, lovely lay of shoulder with good length to return, she stands on a straight front with tight feet, her chest is deep, elbows tight, good spring of rib, shorter coupled than one, not overdone in rear, well developed second thigh, low set hocks, tail set on low, moved with good front extension and drive behind. Close up, I had no hesitation in awarding her the Reserve Bitch CC, Reserve Best in show along with Best Tri in show for good measure.

Special Beginners Bitch (2)

1 Forgespring Fool Me Once (Stephens

    See Novice, Best Special Beginner in Show.

2 Eastriding Love in Black with Cumani (Fugle & Cook)

Four year old black and white, feminine head, straight in front, balanced in body with strength in loin, moderately bent stifles correctly set tail, would have preferred more positive rear movement.

Paul W Osbourne (Judge)