Association Of Bloodhound Breeders

The Association Of Bloodhound Breeders Championship Show - 6th September 2026 - Judge - Richard Morris (Lascoed)

A delightful honour to be invited to judge this venerable breed club show thank you to Mary Fish chairman and the club committee for the truly warm hospitality and exhibitors for the welcome at this well organised event. It was a privilege to award the trophies to the deserving winners of at the show end. The dog CC was awarded Best Mover in show and achieved a popular third CC on the day the BIS bitch CC winner was awarded best head in the entry. Fine weather blest the day and I hope all enjoyed themselves with their lovely hounds as much as I did. Colours were mostly black and tan and I wish you all well exhibiting going forwards as you continue to fly the flag for this vulnerable breed.

LD (3,0)

1.  Rowland - Castledee Let It Snow

Two years eight months for me the head I preferred most in the class good length some width with depth without excessive skin folds correct planes pleasing dark eye colour shape and set muzzle strong with length nostrils full and open. Balanced clean outline standing well over the ground correct for size and scope tail well set high and raised on the move. Notably well constructed front with plenty of breast-bone on show width, strength and depth across the loins well sprung ribcage with length. The best of large strong bone feet firmly knuckled and thickly padded body condition not overdone fit and muscled. Super dense smooth clean weatherproof coat an easy flowing swinging profile mover.

2.  Prior - Houndseeker Falcon

Two years seven months balanced masculine head skull to muzzle proportions moderate stop eyes clear and well set good depth of brisket feet firmly developed with well arched toes. Good spring and length of ribcage strong hocks squarely set slightly longer in the loin couplings than I would have liked for overall balance. Short well textured weatherproof coat correct high tail set thick lengthy and well flagged on the move. Strongly rounded bone could tighten in front on the move in my opinion with nails a tad long on the day I considered.

3.  Howie - Quiet Creeks Limelight At Millvery For Marksbury (Imp USA)

OD (3,0)

1.  Westron - Farlap Kaleb 

Two years nine months upstanding noble young dog balanced and solidly constructed throughout superb quality of large strong round bone and the best of thickly padded well knuckled feet. Straight solid front construction well spring ribcage clean underline with depth of brisket hocks very strong correctly set square. Could carry slightly more body cover overall for me but the very best of parallel powerful movers with lengthy striding profile action and determined drive very free elastic action very muscled hindquarters with deep second thighs. Developing into a maturing dignified hound of quality standing well over the ground and taking I understand his third CC on the day & RBIS. Congratulations.

2.  Prior - Houndseeker Dauntless JW

Four years two months light red dog another super solid straight front with width and depth of brisket plenty of fore-chest on show a tad long in overall outline for me splendid large strong round bone running down through pasterns an impressive profile mover with reach and drive from well muscled hindquarters correct turn of stifles though rear legs appear to sit not quite settled to the pads. Slightly strong in head finish with an excess of folds for me personally super long reach of neck and powerful shoulder placement. Nostrils wide and open padded lengthy muzzle presented in good short coat pleasingly weatherproof textured.

3.  Mckenzie - Moorlander Dior

VD (1,0)

1.  Priestly - Ch. Maplemead Malazar Of Quikotic

Rising seven and a half years nicely squarely built outline pleasing for breed type and noble quality mature masculine dignified head with depth and length in profile wide open nostrils lovely dark eye colour. Excellent straight true front good large round bone and firm close feet low set thin ears pleasing length and soft texture good depth of brisket clean deep underline very breed typical top-line strong back and short coupled loins correct turn of stifles powerfully muscled hindquarters. Correct high tail set length and carriage presented in good condition for his age but unfortunately proved rather sluggish in action on the day in my opinion though a steady sound mover. BV congratulations.

W/TD (1,0)

1.  Priestly - Ch. Marksbury Railway Of Quikotic

Three years ten months typical hound head proportions solemn expression pleasing dark eye colour shape and set dentition acceptable notably good length of upper arm. Strong bone and pasterns the best of well sized firmly padded well knuckled feet excellent strong couplings and typical breed top-line back and loins strong correct high tail set. Super dense coat lying well correctly weatherproof smooth texture. A free flowing profile mover with a forward action I preferred over that of the rear where the hocks appeared somewhat close on the move on the day. RCC congratulations.

OB (3,0)

1.  Hayden - Farlap Krumble 

Two years nine months CC litter sister to dog CC for me the best constructed hound in the entry on the day stood fore-square naturally covering the ground well clean outline without any excesses on show. The best of feminine heads and affectionate expression lovely clean dark eye colour rims close and correctly shaped no haw on show. Lengthy head with proportionate narrowness noble appearance solemn expression with youthful character wide full nostrils on show slight dewlap long soft thin ears attractively folded long neck powerfully set into muscular shoulders. Super fit body condition without excess well spring ribcage with length of ribbing good depth of body defined underline wide deep powerful loins. Super hindquarter muscling with deep second thighs excellent large round bone feet well arched thick pads nails short. Complemented her brother in the challenge for soundness on the move, coat qualities and breed type though for me her head and eye quality took her to BIS, congratulations.

2.  Rowland - Castledee One In A Million

Two years eight months pushed the winner closely on many fronts on the day the best of dense smooth weatherproof coats on show feminine head and gentle expression not quite the head finish of the winner for me pleasing dark eye colour shape and set lovely breed balanced outline standing and moving in profile covered the ground well standing and moving. Powerful across the loins with fully developed muscular hindquarters and deep second thighs strong stifles well set. Movement was not quite as true on the day as the winner but acceptable once she got into her swinging stride RCC, congratulations.

3.  Howie, Emerys-Jones, Avery & Miller - Marksbury Regina At Millvery

W/TB (1,0)

1.  Harrington - Ch. Moorlander Cacharel

Rising six and a half years noble appearance generally pleasingly constructed though a tad straight in stifle in my opinion contributing to a lack of drive at the rear on the day. Dark eye colour wide open nostrils long strong neck slight dewlap set firmly into strong muscular shoulders long thin softly textured ears large strong round bone well knuckled feet thickly padded super thick lengthy tail well set delightful affectionate temperament. Presented in solid mature fit workmanlike body condition with powerful hindquarter muscling and deep second thighs on show though loosing coat on the day it appeared. Reaching well forward on the move with notably correct and sure front foot placement.

VB (1,0)

1.  Howie, Emrys-Jones, Avery & Miller - Marksbury Regina At Millvery

Three years eight months presented in splendid solid unexaggerated body condition good length to head but would prefer slightly more strength personally large strong rounded bone running down through pasterns and the best feet in the entry short strong nails the firmest of knuckled toes neat pads thickly soled. Good depth of body throughout underline though a tad longer in the couplings than suited me strong back with slight rise over broad deep powerful loins. Straight solid sound and true in front standing elbows firm stop somewhat deep I considered nostrils wide fully open. Sweeping ground covering elastic profile mover though slightly wide at the rear it appeared on the day in my opinion.

Judge - Richard Morris (Lascoed)