Paignton & District Fanciers' Association

PAIGNTON 2026

BASSET HOUND

Judge: Pauline Luxmoore-Ball

BEST OF BREED & DOG CC: 3158 SUTTON, Mrs Rebecca L & SUTTON, Mr Lee, Ch Reveros Power Of Love JW

RESERVE DOG CC & BEST PUPPY: 3143 CUDLIP, Ms E, Deucecoupe Good Vibrations At Harvidene

BITCH CC: 3140 CUDLIP, Miss H, Harvidene La Bambola

RESERVE BITCH CC: 3165 WOODWORTH, Mrs M, Woodrich Precipitus Prudie

BEST VETERAN: 3132 ALLCHORNE, Mrs C, Nelgus Thyme Flies

My sincere thanks to the officers and committee for their kind invitation to judge Basset Hounds at Paignton Championship Show, and to my excellent stewards for keeping the ring running so efficiently throughout the day.

Immediately following the completion of judging, whilst the final cards were being written out, I was approached by experienced members of the Basset Hound community who wished to speak with me about my judging, breed health and the future direction of the breed. It was an interesting and valuable discussion, particularly around the balance between addressing areas of concern whilst retaining the essential virtues and characteristics of the breed. In striving to correct one fault, we must be mindful that we do not inadvertently lose a virtue.

Throughout my judging I paid particular attention to the Royal Kennel Club's Points of Concern for Special Attention, namely eyelids not in normal contact with the eyeball, excessive ear length, signs of dermatitis or irritation in skin folds, inadequate ground clearance, incorrect bites, excessive weight and excessive skin on the head, body or legs.

I was particularly encouraged by the considerable improvement in mouths since I last judged the breed. This was a real positive and demonstrated progress in an area which has previously been of concern.

There were a small number of exhibits where the amount of skin was bordering on excessive or was more than I would ideally wish to see. However, in some of these dogs there was sufficient length of leg and adequate ground clearance to maintain overall balance and functionality. Breed improvement cannot address everything at once, and whilst we should continue to move away from exaggeration, it is equally important that we do not lose the virtues and essential characteristics that make a Basset Hound a Basset Hound.

The Breed Standard calls for a short-legged hound of considerable substance, but importantly reminds us that this is a working hound which must be fit for purpose, strong, active and capable of great endurance in the field. This requirement for fitness and function remained at the forefront of my decision making.

I appreciated the cleaner outlines and heads in a number of exhibits, although I felt some heads were becoming finer and rather snipier than I would prefer. I was also concerned to find some loss of correct shoulder construction, which inevitably affected forward reach. In some instances, dogs which were cleaner throughout could not match others for the movement and functionality required by the Breed Standard.

Where exhibits were otherwise closely matched and satisfied the important health considerations, movement frequently became my deciding factor. The Breed Standard rightly places considerable emphasis on this, requiring smooth, powerful and effortless action, with forelegs reaching well forward, powerful thrust from behind and true movement both front and rear. Those exhibits which best combined breed type, substance, moderation, sound construction and functional movement rose to the top of my cards.

PUPPY DOG (3,0)

1st 3143 CUDLIP'S Deucecoupe Good Vibrations At Harvidene

Sturdy and promising puppy presented in excellent muscular condition. Pleasing head and eye, good bone and sound feet. Well balanced throughout and held his topline nicely on the move. Clean coming and going with an easy, efficient and ground-covering stride in profile. A quality youngster with much to like. Best Puppy in Breed & Reserve Dog CC.

2nd 3152 JONES & JONES' Clanwillow Love And Dreams

Another promising puppy with a clean, pleasing head and lovely expression. Good feet, bone and overall balance. Moved with an easy, efficient gait in profile. Not quite as tidy going away as the winner today, but nevertheless a very pleasing youngster.

3rd 3148 HIRST, HIRST & MELBO'S Diheath Crackerjack For Kejana

YEARLING DOG (1,0)

1st 3153 LANE'S Goldenessence Deep Impact Over Lanebern (Imp) Port

24 months, black tri. Good bone and proportions with a balanced head and good leathers. Tidy feet and pleasing overall balance. Clean and easy in profile. Satisfactory coming towards me, although I would prefer greater accuracy going away.

POST GRADUATE DOG (3,0)

1st 3160 THORN'S Zukecoda Lord Vetinari

2 years, black tri. Substantial dog with good feet and bone. Balanced overall, although I would prefer a more typical lozenge-shaped eye and more forechest. A touch heavier in bone than my ideal, but maintained his balance and moved satisfactorily in profile.

2nd 3138 BECKETT'S Beckshounds Kelly's Hero

2 years. Lovely head and expression with much to appreciate. Carrying rather more loose skin than I would prefer at present, which cost him the class today. Easy action in profile and much to like overall. These two could readily change places on another day.

3rd 3139 BECKETT'S Beckshounds Bronco Billy

LIMIT DOG (4,1)

1st 3150 JONES & JONES' Clanwillow Fire And Ice JW

Balanced dog who maintained a firm topline on the move. Sufficient forechest, good feet and useful forward reach, allowing him to cover the ground efficiently. Eye not quite my preference, but his overall balance, construction and movement won him the class.

2nd 3144 GAMBLING'S Dizandra Carpe Noctem

Good bone and substance. A little short and steep through the croup for me, which affected his overall balance and efficiency behind. Profile movement otherwise satisfactory.

3rd 3134 ALLCHORNE'S Nelgus Golden Nugget

OPEN DOG (5,1)

1st 3158 SUTTON & SUTTON'S Ch Reveros Power Of Love JW

2 years. Quality, balanced dog with a clean masculine head and pleasing expression. Lovely forechest, good bone and strong, tidy feet. Well muscled and presented in fit condition. Level topline which he retained on the move. Particularly impressed in action, clean coming and going with an easy, ground-covering stride in profile, combining forward reach with effective drive. For me, he successfully combined substance and breed type with the sound, functional movement required of a working hound. Dog CC & Best of Breed.

2nd 3164 WOODWORTH'S Ch Armardio Against The Wind

3 years. Another quality dog with a clean head and sufficient forechest. Balanced and easy moving in profile with good forward reach. Not quite as clean going away as the winner today, which ultimately separated them.

3rd 3141 CUDLIP'S Harvidene Festive Cheer

VETERAN DOG (2,0)

1st 3132 ALLCHORNE'S Nelgus Thyme Flies

8 years. Balanced angulation and still moving with purpose although would prefer better forechest. Clean head and eye, pleasing topline and good tail carriage maintained on the move. Carrying a little more loose skin than I would ideally prefer, but retained sufficient ground clearance and his movement and overall balance won him the class. Best Veteran in Breed.

2nd 3157 SAUNDERS' Wellsbayview Sorrento

7 years, black tri. Good feet and bone with pleasing substance. Could not quite match the purposeful movement of the winner today.

PUPPY BITCH (2,0)

1st 3142 CUDLIP'S Deucecoupe Darlin At Harvidene

10 months. Feminine youngster with a pleasing head and expression. Nicely balanced overall with complementary front and rear angulation. Easy gait in profile. Still showing some understandable puppy looseness on the move, but a promising bitch.

JUNIOR BITCH (2,0)

1st 3162 UNETT'S Harvidene Breaking Dawn

Promising youngster with good feet, adequate bone and a pleasing front. Nicely muscled and moved easily in profile. A touch untidy behind on the day, but plenty to like overall.

2nd 3137 ARMSTRONG & ARMSTRONG'S Lauralee Mystical Magic

Much to like. Clean head and pleasing expression. Finer throughout than the winner but maintaining good overall balance. Moved well in profile, although also untidy behind today.

YEARLING BITCH (1,0)

1st 3136 ARMSTRONG & ARMSTRONG'S Lauralee Magic Image

Pleasing proportions with a clean, feminine head and expression and good leathers. Well balanced with pleasing angulation front and rear. Moved with an easy, ground-covering stride in profile.

POST GRADUATE BITCH (3,0)

1st 3151 JONES & JONES' Clanwillow Kiss The Girl

20 months. Clean head and eyes with a pleasing expression. Good bone and forechest, moderate and balanced throughout. Good feet and sufficient muscle. Moved well with an easy, functional action.

2nd 3133 ALLCHORNE'S Nelgus Coco Pop

3 years. A little too aware of her surroundings today. Clean head and eye with a pleasing expression. Good bone and feet. When settled, showed a pleasing and easy gait in profile.

LIMIT BITCH (4,0)

1st 3165 WOODWORTH'S Woodrich Precipitus Prudie

Quality bitch with a clean, feminine head and pleasing expression. Well balanced throughout with a good forechest. Good bone and feet and moved out particularly well, displaying an easy, efficient gait in profile whilst maintaining her shape. A very pleasing bitch combining breed type with functional construction and movement. Reserve Bitch CC.

2nd 3146 HAMPTON'S Astra V Grunsven At Bassluxe (Imp NLD) JW

Clean head and expression, although I would prefer a little more strength through the muzzle. Good feet and bone with pleasing overall balance. Moved well in profile but could not quite match the winner today.

3rd 3163 WILDING & NIXON'S Nelgus Crunchy Nut At Brackenacre

OPEN BITCH (3,0)

1st 3140 CUDLIP'S Harvidene La Bambola

2 years. Quality bitch with a balanced, feminine head and pleasing expression. Good bone, substance and overall balance. Showing a little haw, but within acceptable limits. Particularly impressive on the move, maintaining a good topline and displaying an easy, smooth and ground-covering action in profile. Her combination of breed type, balance and functional movement secured the class and Bitch CC.

2nd 3156 SAUNDERS' Beckshounds Luminara JW

4½ years, black tri. Pleasing make and shape with good feet and overall balance. Maintained her topline nicely on the move and presented a pleasing picture in profile.

3rd 3147 HIRST, HIRST & HIRST'S Diheath Tinsel At Kejana

VETERAN BITCH (1,0)

1st 3135 ARMSTRONG'S Ch Lauralee A Kind Of Magic

7 years. Clean head and expression with pleasing overall balance. Good topline and tail set. Sound in profile, although I would prefer considerably greater accuracy behind and more forward reach to give the smooth, effortless and ground-covering action I was looking for.