Trent Boxer Club

Trent Boxer Club Championship Show in Newark on August 31, 2026

Dogs – Judge Tommy Dahlstrom

General Overview

My sincere thanks to the Trent Boxer Club committee for their very warm welcome and for the great honour of being invited to judge the dog classes at their annual Championship Show. I would also like to express my particular appreciation to my steward and to the club officials for their excellent support throughout the day. My thanks, too, to all the exhibitors, who showed great sportsmanship, were interested in my opinions and, most importantly, respectfully accepted my decisions. I thoroughly enjoyed my day with the Trent Boxer Club!

I was very pleased with an entry of 43 males, which I was informed represents a good entry by today’s standards. Some of the classes were inevitably rather small, with a few having only a single entry, which did not allow for meaningful comparison or the level of competition that contributes to a lively and enjoyable show atmosphere. In contrast, my Limit and Open classes were particularly strong, both in numbers and in overall quality. Indeed, many of the dogs in these classes had the quality to win their classes and would, in my opinion, have been quite capable of holding their own in strong international competition. Their quality is encouraging and demonstrates that the UK Boxer is in a strong position.

General Impressions

Type, balance and substance

I was pleased to see, overall, a very good balance between elegance and substance—one of the qualities for which the UK Boxer is frequently admired and can be proud. There was, however, a slight tendency among some males towards excessive size. We should always bear in mind that the standard describes the Boxer as a medium-sized dog.

Heads and expression

The general quality of heads was good, with many showing pleasing proportions and the correct length and depth of muzzle. In some cases, however, excessive wrinkles, together with somewhat thick skin, detracted from the desired clean and expressive head. Heavy, pendulous flews were also seen rather too frequently and could spoil an otherwise good expression.

Neck

I was particularly pleased with the number of well-shaped, clean necks of correct length. These contributed positively to the overall balance and elegance of many of the exhibits.

Construction, topline and movement

Movement was, on the whole, pleasing, with many dogs showing good flow, drive and purpose. Nevertheless, insufficient shoulder angulation with inadequate length of upper arm, was evident and had a noticeable effect on the quality and efficiency of movement.

A number of dogs also lacked the strong, firm back and topline that are so important to the Boxer outline. Weak or somewhat unstable backs with a slight dip behind the shoulders became particularly apparent when the dogs were moving and, in some cases, detracted considerably from an otherwise pleasing picture.

I was particularly delighted with my Best Dog and CC winner, Marbelton In The Mix, who, in my opinion, exemplified true Boxer type. He presented an excellent overall picture, with the balance, substance, elegance and distinctive outline that I look for in a Boxer. He was a dog who immediately gave me the impression of being unmistakably and thoroughly Boxer.

My Best Puppy Dog & Best Puppy in Show Geovanic Boxa Punch was a particularly promising youngster, expressing true Boxer type in his entire appearance and outline, qualities which I believe can take him a long way, and I will be very interested to follow his development and future career. 

The same applies to my Best Baby Puppy Dog Taranut Troubleshoot at Glenauld, who impressed me with his noble appearance and super head with attractive expression and beautiful eyes.

Class Critiques

Class 1 – Veteran Dog (4 entries)

1st: Kavanagh's Marbleton Evening Hall

This 10-year-old male stood out for his excellent overall type and well-maintained head of correct proportions, displaying a true Boxer expression. He still possesses a firm topline and remains well balanced throughout. Correctly angulated forequarters and hindquarters, with excellent feet. Moved soundly and with purpose, although understandably beginning to show a little of his age.

2nd: Murphin’s & Phillips' Greenwell Red Knight By The Far Valley

A 7-year-old male presented in excellent condition. Square-built with a strong topline and excellent forequarter and hindquarter angulation. Moved very well. His head was slightly heavier in wrinkle than I prefer, and I found the winner superior in overall type and expression.

3rd: Bole's Harvlin Hot Toddy

Class 2 – Baby Puppy Dog (3 entries)

1st: Mair's Taranut Troubleshooter at Glenauld

An impressive and elegant young puppy with an appealing presence. A noble youngster with a clean, well-arched neck. Attractive head with good skull development, correct proportions, and excellent muzzle length and depth. Beautiful eyes contributing to a superb Boxer expression. Well-angulated front and rear, giving a balanced outline. Excellent feet. Moved soundly with good drive. A highly promising youngster. Best Baby Puppy Dog

2nd: Pearce’s & Francis' Longsdales Dare To Dream

Another very promising young puppy featuring a typical head with an excellent, true Boxer expression and beautiful eyes. A tight match between these two excellent young babies, though he is not quite as square, nor yet as firm in back and topline, as the winner.

Class 3 – Minor Puppy Dog (3 entries)

1st: Fay-Smith's Lorrosa Uptown Funk

An eye-catching and very typical young male puppy with a super head of excellent proportions and beautiful eyes. Slightly too undershot for my preference and could carry slightly fewer wrinkles. Correctly square in outline with an outstanding topline. Moved powerfully and effortlessly.

2nd: Nason's Malbun vom Kaiserfelsen

Striking and well-grown 8-month male puppy in super condition. Excellent topline with correct front and rear angulation, a nice forechest, and a super, well-crested neck. Moved well. Lost out to the winner due to head expression, with eyes set slightly wider than ideal.

3rd: Payne's Seacrest Voltaire at Barleyvale

Class 4 – Puppy Dog (3 entries)

1st: Saafan's Geovanic Boxa Punch

This promising young male expresses true Boxer type in his entire appearance and outline. Square build with a firm topline. Very nice head of correct proportions with lovely eyes. Super neckline—clean and shapely. Excellent shoulder angulation and correctly angulated hindquarters. Moved with drive and good flow. Best Puppy Dog & Best Puppy in Show

2nd: Pynegar's Berwynfa Pole Position

An eye-catching and substantial young dog. Super outline with an excellent neckline, forechest, front, and hindquarters. Moved well, although needs to become a bit firmer in the back. Lean head of correct proportions, but I would have liked a shade less wrinkle. Preferred the expression of the winner. 

3rd: Spencer's Ashrona Mr Lover Lover

Class 5 – Junior Dog (4 entries)

1st: Mair's Lorrosa Dizzy Rascal at Glenauld

A striking youngster of good size and bone structure, with a correct outline reflecting true Boxer type.. Typical head of correct proportions with an absolutely correct length of muzzle. Dark eyes although, to be critical, I would have preferred them a shade larger. Slightly tighter flews would have further enhanced the head expression. Excellent, clean and well-crested neck. Square in build with a short, firm back. Excellent front angulation with correct layback of shoulder and well-angulated hindquarters. First-class feet. Moved with energy and stride. 

2nd: Willow Sparkling Bailey

An elegant dog shown with presence. Correct and typical outline with an excellent neck, sound shoulders, and good hindquarters. Square build. Typical head, which I would have liked a shade longer in muzzle. Must not become wider in skull. Moved soundly. 

3rd: Saafan's Geovanic Roamin' For Love

Class 6 – Yearling Dog (3 entries)

1st: Kavanagh's Marbleton Mix'N Match

A very typical medium-sized male with a lot of presence. Square build with a short, firm back and nice neckline. Very typical head with a true Boxer expression—clean and well-chiseled. Correct shoulder and hindquarter angulation. Moved soundly with drive.

2nd: Renshaw-Turner's Newlaithe Northern Soul at Sonshoby

A typical Boxer in outline and overall appearance. Square-build of correct size with an excellent neck, sound construction front and rear, and excellent feet. Head of good type with beautiful eyes and pleasing expression. A close decision, but the winner possessed slightly more quality in head properties.

3rd: Brooks & Tony's Jimi Hendrix at Jinnybox

Class 7 – Graduate Dog (1 entry, 1 absent)

1st: Taylor's Lottalove Joker Card at Wivendene

An attractive, square-build young male. Tall and somewhat rangy at present. Still needs to fill out a bit more. Could move with greater drive and strength. Lean, typical head with dark eyes, though I would prefer slightly fewer wrinkles.

Class 8 – Post Graduate Dog (1 entry, 1 absent)

1st: Lowery's Danlow Magic Bullet

Square build male of correct size. Typical head with dark eyes. Would have liked more angulation front and rear. Movement was a bit stilted and short-strided, suffering somewhat in drive and flow. 

Class 9 – Limit Dog (7 entries, 3 absent)

1st: Chell's Jimbreen Elite Legacy at Ludic

A dog of excellent type who immediately impressed with his elegant, clean-cut outline. Medium-sized and square-built, with good bone and correct chest development. Sound shoulder placement and well-developed, correctly angulated hindquarters. I particularly admired his head, beautifully chiselled and displaying true Boxer expression. Dark eyes. Moved very well with energy, reach, and excellent stride length.

2nd: Woods' Arkane Conqueror

Another medium-sized, square-built male of excellent type. Strong, firm back and correct angulation fore and aft. Excellent feet and an elegant neckline. Very good head of correct proportions, with good lip placement and dark eyes. 

3rd: Mair's Glenauld The Chase

Class 10 – Open Dog (8 entries, 2 absent)

1st: Kavanagh's Ch Marbleton In The Mix

An outstanding male of considerable presence who epitomises true Boxer type. His outline displays the ideal balance between elegance and substance. Clean-cut, square-built, with a short, firm back and excellent angulation front and rear. Well-chiselled head of correct proportions and typical expression. Moved soundly and effortlessly, covering the ground with ease through excellent reach and drive. Dog CC

2nd: McCarthy’s & Gething's Ch Boxania Romanoff to Jeddhi

A very square-built male possessing an excellent balance of elegance and substance. Super topline with a short, muscular, and firm back. Well-arched neck of correct length and correct layback of shoulder. Typical, clean head of correct proportions with beautiful eyes and excellent expression. Free-striding, ground-covering movement. Preferred the hindquarters of the winner; to be critical, I would have liked a slightly more developed and muscular thigh. Reserve Dog CC 

3rd: Van-Beck's Ch Newlaithe Respect JW