National Gundog Association

National Gundog Association

Irish Red & White Setter — Judge’s Critiques

Judge: Tania Gardner (Danwish)

Sunday, 2 August 2026

It was a privilege to judge my breed at National Gundog . Thank you to those who entered today . We have some lovely puppies in the breed at the moment. Which is good for the future. My main awards went to the veterans today. I make no apologies for this , we are a slow maturing breed and the dogs should be coming into their prime at 5/ 6years. I changed my thoughts on some dogs once they moved. It is a breed , bred to work and muscle tone and construction should reflects this. Overall we have dogs of correct breed type and sound temperaments. Which is so important and we should always look for positives as a judge and not be dragged down by fault judging . It was very interesting to have a student judge in the ring with myself. I think it’s an excellent opportunity for them to assess dogs and then discuss their findings with their mentor.

Thank you to Anita for persevering in 3 groups with the intense heat at Malvern .

Delighted to see my veteran winner take group 2 .

Veteran Dog — 3 entries 

1st — Sh Ch Carrick Shadow Dog at Alanea (Imp Pol) — Mrs A Tattersall

A dog who is certainly better with age. He is a lovely example of the breed . Masculine head with good breed type and expression. Super front, good overall balance and lovely tail carriage. Moved very well and truly, showing good reach and drive. A quality veteran who thoroughly deserved the class and went on to win the Dog CC, BOB and Best Veteran.

2nd — Sh Ch Daithi Shadow Dog with Ferngate (Imp Pol) — Mrs A B & Mr S H Catton & Cook

A very typical Irish Red & White Setter with an excellent breed head and good overall proportions. Well-balanced angulation and a lovely breed outline. Showed excellent reach and drive. A very worthy champion and a close decision between two lovely veterans.

3rd — Sh Ch/Int Sh Ch/Multi Ch Terne Des Coris Qalimero at Coolfin (Imp Bel) JW VW WW23 — Miss P Jakins

A lovely veteran with plenty of breed type and worthy Sh Ch Presented well and a credit to his owner.

Puppy Dog — 2 entries

1st — Alanea Pennine Way — Mrs A Tattersall

A very promising, well-grown puppy who has much of the quality I was looking for in my CC winner. Excellent forechest, good reach of neck, tidy feet and a lovely overall outline. Very good breed type for his age and a super puppy with an exciting future ahead.

2nd — Alanea Cast A Spell over Killora — Mrs B & Miss C Allen

Litter brother to 1st and a rawer youngster at this stage, but full of potential. Lovely kind expression and good breed type. Moved truly once he got himself organised. Needs time and maturity, but there is plenty to like.

Junior Dog — 2 entries

1st — Alanea Pennine Way — Mrs A Tattersall

Repeat of Puppy Dog

2nd — Alanea Cast A Spell over Killora — Mrs B & Miss C Allen

Repeat of Puppy Dog.

Post Graduate Dog — 1 entry

1st — Coolfin Whiskey in The Jar at Mackney — Mrs J E O'connor

A nice type of dog with a masculine head and soft expression. Good overall outline and a pleasing example of the breed. Super fore chest .Would like him to rib up a little more and develop further through the body. Moved well, maintaining a good topline throughout. Liked his flowing stride.

Limit Dog — 3 entries

1st — Coolfin Clancy with Ferngate — Mrs A B & Mr S H & Miss P Catton & Cook & Jakins

I liked his overall type and moderate proportions. Good head proportions, well-laid shoulders and a pleasing breed outline. Moved well when he got himself organised, showing good freedom and balance. A very nice dog who will have his day.

2nd — Hodgehall Don't Stop Me Now with Rogansrock — Mrs E Holgate

An upstanding young dog with a good masculine head and dark eye. Firm level topline and correct tail carriage. A pleasing young dog with plenty to like.

Open Dog — 3 entries

1st — Sh Ch Daithi Shadow Dog with Ferngate (Imp Pol) — Mrs A B & Mr S H Catton & Cook

Repeat Veteran Dog.

2nd — Roanjora Cremant De Lux Copperwhite JW — Mrs L R Ward

A dog I liked very much for overall type. Strong, level topline with a good finish to the croup and strong rear quarters. Moved freely and fluidly with good drive. A very nice dog, but today I preferred the reach and overall side gait of 1st.

3rd — Sh Ch Gilliegrae So Berry Excited JW — Mr G J & Mrs G A Hart

A young champion who needs time to mature and develop fully. He has all the potential to become a very good dog and I look forward to seeing him mature.

Special Beginners — 1 entry

1st — Aislingwood Amber Fields — Mrs K Clark

A pretty young bitch with a lovely outline and good topline. Dark eye and a pleasing expression. Moved with nice style and good breed character. Still needs to develop and drop through the chest, but a promising youngster.

Veteran Bitch — 1 entry

1st — Sh Ch Zendarric It's A Kind of Magic Within Wroxham JW — Mrs E E Walker

A total surprise and a very welcome Veteran CC for this lovely bitch. She has a super, typically feminine outline with excellent depth through the ribs and strong rear quarters. Moved beautifully, showing excellent reach and drive, carrying herself with great style and maintaining a firm level topline. A really enjoyable veteran to judge and a thoroughly deserved CC.

Puppy Bitch — 2 entries

1st — Alanea Summer Legacy — Mrs A Tattersall

I absolutely loved this young bitch. Very pretty and full of potential. She is still raw and has plenty of maturing to do, but has a lovely breed outline and the qualities to develop into a beautiful bitch. One I will watch with interest as she matures.

2nd — Aislingwood Amber Fields — Mrs K Clark

Repeat of Special Beginners.

Junior Bitch — 1 entry

1st — Alanea Summer Legacy — Mrs A Tattersall

Repeat Puppy Bitch.

Post Graduate Bitch — 2 entries

1st — Coolfin Baltic Turn The Page — Miss P Jakins

A very nice bitch with a lovely head and good overall proportions. Good reach of neck and pleasing breed outline. She has plenty of potential but just needs to mature further through the body. Moved well and showed herself nicely.

2nd — Alanea Emerald — Mrs A Bloxham

Good overall body proportions with a lovely expression. Deep chest and well-ribbed back, giving good substance and body. I would prefer a cleaner colour pattern. Moved well and steadily.

Limit Bitch — 2 entries

1st — Talintyre Fomhar Thyme via Berryessa — Mr J & Mrs D Jones

A lovely example of the breed with a good outline and classic head proportions. Nicely balanced angles and good overall breed type. A quality bitch who moved well, although today I preferred the side gait and overall movement of my Veteran Bitch. Presented very well .

2nd — Coolfin The Ecstasy of Gold at Caradilis — Ms D & Mr A O’kelly & Hancock

Litter sister to my Post Graduate winner and sharing many of the same qualities. Slightly more mature in body and a pleasing bitch overall. Today I would just have liked to see a little more drive from behind and for her to carry herself around the ring.

Open Bitch — 1 entry

1st — Ir Sh Ch Talintyre Winter Starlight at Killora An Ch 22 Cen W — Mrs B & Miss C Allen

A mature bitch in full coat with the prettiest of heads and a lovely feminine expression. Well-ribbed back and strong rear quarters. Moved with super reach and maintained a good level topline. I would prefer a better finish to the croup. Her ample coat perhaps hides some of her qualities, but underneath it is a very nice bitch with plenty of breed type.

Tania Gardner

Danwish