Bath Canine Society

Thank you to Bath Canine Society for the invitation to judge my first set of CCs in Afghan Hounds. My thanks also to my stewards, Julie and Lisa, for keeping everything running smoothly, and to the exhibitors for their entry and for accepting my decisions sportingly.

The weather conditions were exceptionally challenging, with record breaking temperatures throughout the day. I tried to keep the dogs in the shade wherever possible and to minimise what was asked of them in the ring, however the heat inevitably affected some exhibits as the day progressed. I particularly felt for the bitches, who always have the later part of the day and unfortunately this is when conditions were at their worst. Despite this, I was pleased with the overall quality of the entry and especially with my principal winners, who I felt were very worthy representatives of the breed.

Veteran Dog (1,0)

1. Gardner’s Ch Drishaun Said Tiger to Lily

Brindle boy who I’ve done well for previously and who still appeals. Masculine head with typical expression and good eye. Good length of neck into correct front assembly with excellent depth of chest and well sprung ribs. Strong level topline, with good croup and tail set and good rear angulation. Presented in excellent condition. Was unfazed by the heat at any point, moving with good reach and drive. BVIB

Minor Puppy Dog (1,0)

1. Reis Siqueira’s Madelion Lord Edmund Zeus

Black masked gold and, at just 6 months old, a very raw baby but enjoying his day out. He has a masculine head, underneath his puppy whiskers. Balanced front and rear angulation, with good depth of chest for his age. Still developing in overall proportions but he has time to grow into himself. Prominent hip bones and ringed tail. He moved well once settled.

Puppy Dog (1,0)

1. Reis Siqueira’s Madelion Lord Edmund Zeus

Junior Dog (4,1)

1. Bastow’s Cloudside Bright Flame Karandikar

Really liked this boy for his outline and style. Lovely masculine head with a beautiful expression and good eye. Good length of neck into well laid shoulders with good return of upper arm and good spring of rib. Level topline, good rib to loin ratio, correct croup, tail set and ringed tail. Good rear angulation with good length from hip to hock. Impressed on the move, covering the ground with good reach and drive. Just needs time to mature all through. Will follow his career with interest.

2. Parsons’ Shukriya Fade to Black

Different type to 1. Balanced masculine head. Good length of neck with good lay of shoulder. Good hipbones, croup and rear angulation. Nicely ringed tail. Still needs to mature in body but presented a balanced outline. He was quite exuberant on the move, giving his handler a hard time but showed good reach and drive when he put his mind to it.

3. Reis Siqueira’s Madelion Lord Edmund Zeus

Yearling Dog (3,1)

Two litter brothers here, both with many admirable qualities.

1. House & Hinchliffe’s Cloudside Soul Prince for Jodak JW

Black and silver boy whose huge coat can at times hide his impressive outline. Really liked his overall balance on the stack. He has a masculine head, with lovely expression, good eye and good length of neck. Good front construction with well laid shoulders and return of upper arm, matched by complementary rear angulation. Good depth of chest and spring of rib with well-muscled loin. He comes into his own on the move, covering the ground effortlessly while holding his topline well. In excellent condition and handled to get the best out of him. Liked him a lot and considered him for the RCC, just losing out on maturity. Another I will watch with interest.

2. Bellringers’ Cloudside Ebony Prince at Johda JW

Smaller than his brother and slightly longer cast, but similar in terms of overall construction and with lots to like. Masculine head with good eye. Good front and rear construction, well defined hip bones and good fallaway. Another who impressed on the move, covering the ground with style and ease.

Novice Dog (3,0)

1. Bastows’ Cloudside Bright Flame Karandikar

2. Parsons’ Shukriya Fade to Black

3. Reis Siqueira’s Madelion Lord Edmund Zeus

Post Graduate Dog (4,1)

1. Gunns’ Katanga's God of Thunder JW

Appealed in this class for his overall shape and balance. Good head, eye and expression. Long neck with balanced front and rear. Good depth of chest, short loin, prominent hip bones into good fallaway with correct tail set. He can be a bit lazy with his topline on the stack but carries it better on the move. Handled sympathetically to get the best out of him and was the best mover in the class.

2. McLays’ Chinzaes Tartan Express

Giving a lot away to 1 in terms of maturity and overall development. Masculine head with balanced front and rear angulation. Level topline, good fallaway and ringed tail. Was a bit exuberant on the move and tended to pace at times.

3. McLays’ Chinzaes Tartan Highlander

Limit Dog (4,0)

1. Thompsons’ Drishaun Rock Me Baby Gothika

This gold boy stood out for his overall balance, style and presence, both standing and on the move. He presents a beautiful outline with nothing exaggerated or overdone. Masculine head with beautiful expression and good eye. Good length of neck flowing into an excellent front assembly, with well sprung ribs, short muscular loin, correct croup, and ringed tail. His rear complements the front with excellent sweep from hip to hock. Presented in excellent muscle and coat condition. Once moving he really came alive, covering the ground with a light, effortless gait and looking capable of going all day despite the heat. He can be a handful at times, but his handler got the very best from him today and he could not be denied the CC and BOB. I am sure the other two won’t be too far behind.

2. Gizewska’s Shahfoladi Thunderbird (ai)

A different type to 1 but pushed him all the way. He has matured a lot since I last judged him and blossomed into a lovely hound. Balanced masculine head with good eye and expression. Good length of neck flowing into well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm. Well ribbed with good depth of chest, level topline, strong loin, defined croup and correctly set ringed tail. Another presented in excellent condition and sympathetically handled to get the most from him. Covered the ground with ease. I just preferred the overall style of 1 on the move, but a very worthy RCC winner today.

3. Macmillan’s Sitana The Winter Soldier

Open Dog (4,1)

1. Lancashire & O'Donnells’ Ch Drishaun Baby's in Black JW ShCEx OSW

Black and tan dog, whose colour gives him a striking expression. Masculine head with nice eye shape and good length of neck. Good lay of shoulder and return of upper arm. Well ribbed back with muscular loin, correct fallaway and ringed tail. Complementary rear angulation and good sweep from hip to hock. Presented in hard muscular condition and shown in gleaming coat condition. Moved well.

2. Lees’ Altside Micah Hot Prophet JW

Masculine head with good expression and eye. Excellent length of neck, with well-balanced angulation throughout. Would prefer more ribbing. Level topline, with good fallaway and correct tail set. On the move he is a showman, he covered the ground with good reach and drive and was shown to advantage by his handler.

3. Harwoods’ Ch Altside Too Hot to Handle JW

Veteran Bitch (1,0)

1. O'Donnells’ Ch Drishaun Faith Is Like A Lily for Javidan JW

Brindle bitch and another I’ve done well for previously. Lovely feminine head with typical expression and good eye shape. Long neck leading into good front, with good depth of chest and spring of ribs. Level topline, good croup and tail set. Her rear angulation complements her front, with good sweep from hip to hock. In beautiful coat and excellent muscle condition. Covered the ground well on the move but was reluctant to use her tail in the heat.

Minor Puppy Bitch (3,0)

1. McLoughlin’s Unstoppable Colors of The Wind of Zantescwtch

Black and silver puppy who stood out as the most balanced puppy here today. She has a pretty feminine head and long neck. Good lay of shoulder and return of upper arm with corresponding well angled rear. Level topline, correct tail set and carriage. She took time to settle, as you’d expect at this age, but once she did, she moved very well for her age. BPIB

2. Webb’s Madelion Lady Dementer

Feminine puppy who is very immature throughout compared to 1. Feminine head with good eye and expression. Not the shoulder placement of 1, however she has good return of upper arm and pleasing depth of chest for her age. She has a tendency to stack a little high in the rear at present but held her topline on the move once settled. Tail carriage not her fortune but she coped well in the difficult conditions.

3. Reis Siqueira’s Madelion Lady Athena

Puppy Bitch (2,1)

1. Reis Siqueira’s Madelion Lady Athena

Third in minor puppy. Pretty head with good length of neck and balanced front and rear. Needs to come up in the leg a little but she’s only a baby and has plenty of time. Would prefer a better tail carriage. Moved well.

Junior Bitch (2,0)

1. Parsons’ Shukriya The Memory Remains

Shaded mask gold. Reminds me a lot of her sire. Balanced head with good eye shape and length of neck. Balanced angulation fore and aft. Still needs to mature, but good depth of chest and spring of rib for her age. Level topline and tail set, completed with a ringed tail. She is very strong willed and gave her handler a hard time, but when she settled, she moved well.

2. Reis Siqueira’s Madelion Lady Athena

Yearling Bitch (4,1)

Three lovely bitches but sadly not three first place cards, these three will change places on a regular basis.

1. Humphreys’ Drishaun Consider Me Taken

A very appealing brindle bitch who immediately caught my eye for her overall shape. Lovely feminine head, beautifully balanced throughout. Nicely constructed with good front and rear angulation. Level topline, good croup, strong loin and correct tail set, finished with a ringed tail. She can be her own worst enemy on the move, but when she gets there, she covers the ground with stylish long easy strides. Her handler just needs to work to get the best from her consistently and she will have a very bright future.

2. Lancashire & O'Donnells’ Drishaun Consider It Done JW

Black and tan litter sister to 1 and there is no mistaking her breeding. Has many of the same attributes of her sister, slightly longer cast but with a lot to like. She has good angles fore and aft with pleasing length from hip to hock, a strong topline and good croup and tail set. As with all the dogs from this kennel she was presented in excellent muscle tone and condition. Moved with style and coped well in the heat.

3. Dare’s Sitana The Eternal at Lakarnadream JW

Another with good construction and a lot to like, just preferred some of the finer details on 1 and 2 today.

Novice Bitch (1,0)

1. Parsons’ Shukriya The Memory Remains

Post Graduate Bitch (3,0)

1. Lancashire & O'Donnells’ Drishaun What Baby Wants JW

Self masked gold, who stood out in this class for overall balance and construction. She has a lovely balanced head and expression, with dark well shaped eye. Neck flowing into well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm. Well ribbed with matching rear angles and good tail set. Another from this kennel presented and handled to the highest standard. On the move she covered the ground with style and good reach and drive. Liked her a lot and was in strong contention for the RCC, I’m sure her time will come.

2. Bloors’ Pretty Infinity A Touch of Freedom at Pashtari (Imp Deu)

Black bitch with a feminine head with good neck and well laid shoulders. Would like a better return of upper arm. Good depth of chest, croup and tail set. She tended to drop her topline on the stack, perhaps due to the heat, but held it well on the move. Well-presented and at one with her handler, she put her conformation to good use on the move, covering the ground well.

3. Lorenzo Rivers’ Prestigious How Will I Know

Limit Bitch (5,1)

1. Sangheras’ Sitana Love and Thunder

My surprise of the day. Self-masked red patterned bitch, so what you see is what you get, and she has nothing to hide. The most appealing head, beautifully balanced and feminine, with good eye and that “look at and through you” expression. Good length of neck into excellent front construction with corresponding rear angulation. Good depth of chest and spring of rib, strong topline, good croup and tail set. Presented in hard condition with a lovely silky coat, her handler quietly got the best from her. She really came into her own on the move today, demanding attention and covering the ground with effortless sweeping strides. A standout in the lineup, I couldn’t deny her the BCC, I believe this was her third and much deserved crown, congratulations.

2. Humphreys’ Ayoubkhan Porcelain Dove

Last time I judged this lady I noted she needed time to mature, and she has most definitely done that. Feminine head with good eye. Good front and matching rear with good croup and fallaway. Finer throughout to 1, but she has good spring of rib and depth to her chest. Presented in lovely condition and covered the ground with smooth springy steps.

3. Callard’s Katanga’s Black Widow at Shimonay

Open Bitch (3,0)

1. Hall’s Ch Saxonmill Majic Mirror

Feminine black bitch with balanced head and excellent eye. Long and strong neck, well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm. Her rear perfectly complements her front, with excellent sweep from hip to hock. She has good depth of chest, well-muscled loin and a lovely ringed tail. On the move she covered the ground well, but I felt the heat meant I didn’t see her at her best today. Her overall quality and sound construction were enough to secure the RCC.

2. Cullen’s Cloudside Sevillana at Eweyisska

Black bitch with a pleasing outline on the stack. Feminine head which was well balanced throughout. Longer cast than 1 but she presents with a good lay of shoulder, return of upper arm and corresponding aft angulation. Level topline with good croup and tail set. Moved with good carriage albeit I’d like a little more enthusiasm, but I can forgive that given the conditions.

3. Bastows’ Ch Cloudside Muineira to Karandikar (ai)

I really liked the construction, balance and outline of this girl, sadly she was not happy on the move in the heat today.