Coventry & Nuneaton District Kennel Association

Coventry & Nuneaton Open Show 17th May 2026 Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge their show, it was a lovely day with a lovely atmosphere. Thank you to my steward Mary for keeping everything on track and ensuring the smooth running of the ring. And last but by no means least, thank you to the exhibitors for their entries and for allowing me the privilege of going over their dogs. The quality of handlers today was very good, I am super pleased to see that people are still upping their game in handling and also pleased to see some new faces, giving it a go but at the same time performing as serious prospects. I was looking for pattern accuracy today and also I do prefer a more steady and calm handler. There was a lot of serious over shadowing that I, personally, find very distracting and off putting. Remember, handling competition is all about making your dog the centre of attention. I do think that a couple of handlers were disappointed and surprised that they were not higher up the line in my placings, but I am quite an old fashioned judge of handing and this new fad of almost prancing around the ring and over shadowing is not what I am looking for in a handler. Junior Handling 6-11 years (6,3) 1 - Evie Johnson Smartly presented handler who worked hard to win the class. Handling a border collie who worked well with the handler. Nice accurate pattern work, tighten up on corners and look at the judge when coming back on your up and down to ensure more accurate lines. Liked her cool calm presence and gentle way with her dog. RBJH 2 - Jacob Perfitt-Jones Smartly dressed young man handling a malamute. Did well with a larger breed and was aware at all times of my position. He did well and handled a more reluctant charge without fuss or panic. Needs to be more aware of his dog’s position and feet placement, which is always more difficult with a free standing dog, but tidy up on these areas and will push hard for top spot. Junior Handling 12-16 (2,0) 1 - Lacey Collins Nicely presented handler who did really well with her very excited charge. Very calm and unfussy, clean triangle but wondered a little on the up and down. Aware of my presence at all times and gentle with her dog. She knew the breed and what they are bred for, showed teeth really well and stood out for me as she just “got on with it” and showed her dog to his best even when he didn’t want to play ball! I would trust this young lady with any of my dogs (which is what I am looking for) as she was just so gentle and kind with her dog and took it all in her stride. Keep this attitude up and just tighten up on your straight lines and you are going to be one who is unstoppable BJH 2 - Matilda Memmott Nicely presented handler who was gentle with her dog. Over shadowed and over handled, remember less is more. Good pattern work although finished off to one side at the final present. My advice is to work on presentation without over handling, and your straight lines. However, overall a good handler who, with practice, will push hard for top spots. Adult Handling 17 - 39 (5,0) 1 - Hayley Reynolds Patient and calm handler, really showing her dog to his full potential. Unfussy and tidy, pattern work was the most accurate in the class. Just loved her approach to all that was asked of her. Straight lines and tight corners, stood spot on at the final present. Really good work and a worthy winner of the class. BAH 2 - Katie Dawson Another smart and unfussy handler, good accurate and correct pattern work, wondered slightly on the final up and down which cost the top spot. Always more challenging with a larger breed but coped really well with the ring size and moved her dog at the correct pace. Just tighten up on the corners and straight lines. Adult handling 40 years and over (12,5) 1 - Julia Marsden handling a bichon. Did everything correctly and with great accuracy. Moved her dog at the correct pace and used the ring to her advantage. Near spot on performance, would just prefer showing of teeth to be a bit cleaner, but overall a stellar performance- difficult to fault. 2 - Lynn Hodson Handling a border collie. A handler I have judged before, super strong in her performance just a little untidy on the final present. Otherwise, another super strong performance with little to fault. Whippets Puppy (1,1) Junior (2,0) 1 - Bayley’s Wolfscastle Mr Luva Luva at Hengilfach Nicely presented young male. Nice masculine head, correct ear shape and set. Good neck into well laid shoulders, Nice feet and pasterns. Ribbed well back and good depth, nice topline held on the move with correct tail set and carriage. Good front and rear angulation - moved nicely in all directions. BOB 2 - Memmott-Ruchardson’s Naamsacre Sumersault immature bitch of smaller mould. Pretty head and nice ears. Good neck into slightly upright shoulders. Good depth of chest, strong across the loin, good muscles throughout, nice feet. Moved nicely in profile. Post grad (2,0) 1 - Bayley’s Wolfscastle Mr Luva Luva at Hengilfach See 1st Junior 2 - Blackburn’s Mazargo Whole Lotta Trouble Nicely presented male, in fine fettle. Nice head and dark eye. Good ear shape and set. Nice neck into good shoulders, Nice depth of chest and ribbed well back. Strong in loin and topline, good feet and pasterns. Liked his front and rear angulation. Moved nicely in profile. RBOB Open (0,0) Kooikerhondje Puppy (2,0) 1 - Jones’ Moonhaven Sundborn Spirit Nicely presented bitch, pretty head nice dark eye. Good neck into well laid shoulders, nicely tight at elbow and good depth of chest, ribbing well back. Nice angles fore and aft. Good strong topline and correct tail carriage and set. Nice feet and pasterns, sound mover in all directions- pleasing puppy overall. BPIB 2 - Hall’s Twybrook Romeo’s Boo Smaller bitch, nice head with nice ear set and use. Good neck into well laid shoulders, nice tight feet and springy pasterns. Good depth of chest and ribbed well back, good topline held on the move. Moved nicely in profile Junior (1,0) 1 - Jones’ Moonhaven Sundborn Spirit See 1st Puppy Post graduate (3,1) 1 - Guy’s Middanwinter War Horse at Kerelkoor JW Beautifully presented male in fabulous condition. Loved his masculine head and dark eye. Good ears. Nice neck into sound shoulders, solid front angulation and good feet. Good depth of chest and ribbed well back, strong in loin and sound rear construction and tail set and carriage. Moved cleanly in all directions, pleased to award him a well deserved BOB 2 - Jone’s Gladsheim Savanna at Maplecoombe Nice bitch with pretty head and dark eye. Sound front, and good depth of chest, ribbed well back and good loin and topline. Correct front and rear angulation. Nice feet and pasterns Moved nicely in profile. Open (2,0) 1 - Guy’s Gladsheim Acer at Jumasue Lovely veteran boy defying his age. Lovely masculine head and dark eye. In fine condition, ribbed well back, nice neck into nice shoulders. Good feet and pasterns, strong loin and topline held on the move. Correct front and rear angulation. Moved the best in the class. RBOB 2 - Jones’ Valleyrise Inspiration at Maplecoombe Another veteran in excellent condition. Pleasing head and dark eyes, nice ear set. Good neck into well laid shoulders, ribbed well back. Good feet and pasterns, strong throughout. Moved soundly in all directions. Andrea Keepence-Keyte