Birmingham Afghan Hound Club

Birmingham Afghan Hound Club Open Shows 8th Feb 2026

Thank you to the committee for this appointment, it means a lot to be invited to a breed club open show as a non breed specialist. Thank you to the exhibitors for your entry and for allowing me the privilege of going over your beautiful hounds. Thank you also to my steward Tina Cullen, for keeping me in check and for keeping the ring flowing. 

I am really pleased to say that overall, the entry was of super quality and I had some ‘hair splitting’ decisions to make. There were a couple of exhibits that I would have preferred a bit more weight and condition to them, but otherwise the entry overall was excellent. I had the privilege of going over some beautiful examples of the breed and I thoroughly enjoyed my judging - thank you. To pilots of male exhibits, please rest assured that I checked each and every dog for the presence of two apparent testicles. I do not make a big song and dance about checking testicles and I do not man handle the dogs, I check testicles swiftly, subtly and gently - this is as a result of having had my own dogs put off in the past, by judges who are rough in this area.

Morning Open Show - Dogs

Baby puppy (0,0)

Minor Puppy (2,2)

Puppy dog (1,0)

1 - Parsons’ Shukriya Fade To Black Nice raw 10 month old boy. Lovely head, dark eye with correct shape. Strong neck into sloping shoulders, good return of upper arm and elbow under withers. Good spring of rib and ribbed well back. Level top line, strong lion and good proportions through out. Moved nicely when settled. Thrilled that he went BPIS under breed specialist David Roper

Veteran (2,0)

Both lovely condition veterans - a credit

1 - Winters’ Ch Pashtari Lord Tennyson Tokando JW nice 10year old boy, loved his head and expression. Strong neck into good front nicely boned throughout. Level topline held on the move, correct tailset and carriage. Moved out nicely and soundly covering the ground with proud head carriage. BVD and subsequently BVIS under breed specialist David Roper

2 - Gardner’s Ch Drishaun Said Tiger to Lily Nearly 8 year old boy, Loved his head and character. Good neck into good shoulders, in top condition with excellent muscle tone. Nicely ribbed and well back, good strong topline. I just preferred the movement on 1 today.

Junior (7,2)

1 - Moore’s Cloudside Black Hawk 12 months boy, correct mouth, loved his masculine head and eye shape. Strong neck into well laid shoulder. Good upper arm and tight elbows. Good depth of chest, spring of rib. Strong short loin, good pin bones. Good length and turn of stifle and short straight hocks. Loved his movement and action when settled. Correct tail set and carriage. Loved his attitude and character 

2 - Newton’s Cloudside Red Sky Over Shimalma Lovely masculine head, good mouth. Strong neck into well laid sloping shoulder, sloping upper arm. Good topline, good length of thigh nice hocks. Nice bone through out. Moved well when settled.

Yearling (3,1)

1 - House & Hinchliffe’s Cloudside Soul Prince For Jodak JW Nice young dog, would have preferred a little more weight on him. Lovely head, nice correct eye shape and colour. Correct bite and strong jaw. Strong neck into well laid shoulders and correct upper arm, elbow tight. Good depth of chest and spring of rib. Good strong topline, nice pin bones. Good length and turn of stifle, short hocks. Won the class on his movement.

2 - Gardner’s Drishaun Consider This Baby JW Loved his head, lovely masculine look and nice expression. Good strong neck into good shoulders, nice level topline correct tail set and carriage. A little straight behind which came through on his movement but a nice overall picture on the stack and in profile movement.

Novice (5, 1)

1 - Bellringer’s Cloudside Ebony Prince at Johda JW Nice young dog, in lovely coat and condition. Particularly liked his head and expression and eye shape. Correct bite, Nice neck into good shoulders, Nicely balanced throughout, elbows tight, depth of chest and spring of rib. Correct topline and prominent pin bones. Nice length in hind quarters. Good tailset and carriage.

2 - Moore’s Cloudside Black Hawk - see junior dog

Graduate (1,0)

1 - Kidd’s Cloudside Prince of Light JW nice young dog. Loved his head and eyes. Excellent coat in good condition throughout. Lovely neck into well places sloping shoulder, sloping upper arm. Good depth of chest and spring of rib. Nice strong topline, held on the move with strong loin. Good length in rear quarters, short hock and well turned stifle. Moved nicely when settled in all directions.

Post graduate (3,1)

1 - Gilchrist & Maclennan’s Khwari Purple Reign Beautifully turned out 3 year old male. Beautiful head, so balanced and lovely dark eye with correct shape. Strong neck into well placed sloping shoulder. Correct upper arm and nice tight elbow. Good chest, spring of rib. Strong topline, nice pin bones. God length in the rear quarters with good turn of stile and correct hock. Moved out lovely and covered the ground. RBD and went on to RBIS under breed specialist David Roper

2 - James’ Katanga’s Captain America Liked his head and eye shape. Good neck into OK shoulders. Nice chest and spring of rib. Good topline and correct tail set and carriage. Very excited on the move but moved nicely when settled.

Limit (5,0)

1 - Thompson’s Drishaun Rock Me Baby Gothika- Nice mature boy, beautifully turned out and in excellent condition. Loved his balanced head with slight stop and ear correct eye. Strong neck into well laid shoulders, strong topline and loin. Elbows tight, good depth of chest and ribbed well back. Prominent pin bones, correct tail set and carriage. Good length in rear quarters with good turn of stifle and short hock. Loved his movement, so effort less and powerful.

2 - Heritage’s Amaserwah Anyway The Wind Blows At Jazzmeenah (IRC) Nice boy, slightly smaller stamp than 1. Loved his head good dark eye, Good neck into well laid shoulders. Nice strong topline and loin. Tail set and carriage correct. Good depth of chest and ribbed well back. Nice tight elbow and good bone throughout. Moved soundly in all directions.

Open (3,0)

1 - Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Ch Drishaun Baby’s in Black JW WOW what a beautiful example of the breed, obvious male and such a regal presence. Absolutely stunning head, lovely eye shape and colour. Strong neck into correct sloping shoulders, correct return of upper arm placing elbow tightly and below withers, good strong topline, strong loin and prominent pin bones. Lovely length in rear constriction with straight short hocks. Movement was beautiful covering the ground correctly and soundly with ease. Shown in beautiful condition and coat, just beautifully turned out! BD Delighted to see him later go BIS under breed specialist David Roper

2 - Drage’s Shimalma Drambuie Isjulees Loved his head and eye shape. Good neck into well laid shoulders, nice bone throughout. Good depth of chest and spring of rib. Good strong topline and correct tail set and carriage. Lovely length in rear construction, nice staring hock. Moved nicely in all directions.

Afternoon open show - bitches

Baby Puppy Bitch (0,0)

Minor Puppy Bitch (2,0)

1 - Reany’s Istani Miss Jackson at Andazraq’s 8 month baby very raw. Loved her head and expression. Nice neck into welllaid shoulder, tight at elbow and good topline with prominent pin bones. Nice rear angulation. Preferred her rear movement and movement overall. BPB and she went on to BPIS under breed specialist Derek Keates 

2 - Kirk-Vickers& Hughes’ Istani Liza Minnelli With Finkime 8 months, litter sister to 1 and shared many attributes - pleasing head and nice dark eye. Good neck into good shoulder. Nice depth of chest and ribbed well back. Strong topline, correct tai set and carriage. Preferred rear movement on 1 today.

Puppy (3,0)

1 - Reany’s Istani Miss Jackson at Andazraq’s See 1st MPB

2 - Meakes’ Affyneeta Pure Elygance at Cadmore Nicely balanced bitch. Loved her head and dark correct eye. Nice neck into good shoulder. Elbow tight. Good depth of chest and nice topline held on the move. Good strong loin, nice tail set and carriage. Moved well, preferred the overall movement on 1 today.

Veteran (4,2)

1 - Gunn & Cannon’s Int/Lux Ch Amal Salang Hey I’m The Star at Zushkhan (IMP) Lovely 10 year old bitch in fab condition. Looked at and through me, such a haughty expression on a feminine head with correct eye. Strong neck into well laid shoulders, good bone throughout. Level topline and correct tailset and carriage, ribbed well back. Loved her no nonsense attitude and movement. BVB

2 - Rhodes, Shaverneva & Garrad’s Shadowfax Threepenny Opera JW 7 year old Bitch of nice proportions, pleasing head and eye, good neck into well laid shoulder. Good bone throughout, ribbed well back with good depth of chest. Strong in topline and loin, nice tail set and carriage. Moved cleanly in all directions.

Junior (7,0)

1 - Hudson’s Sitana Miss Marvel Lovely feminine bitch, loved her head and eye. Lovely character, gave her all to win the class. Loved her clean movement, covered the ground effortlessly. Good neck into nice shoulder. Tight elbow, Level topline, correct tail set and carriage. Ribbed well back, a little long in loin, but loved her overall shape and presence.

2 - Nelly & Moore’s Cloudside Whispering Angel This bitch has such regal presence. Loved her head and expression, correct dark eye. Good strong neck into well laid shoulders, tight at elbow and good rear angulation. Moved soundly in all directions. Tight between top two today.

Yearling (4,0)

1 - Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Drishaun Consider It Done JW- lovely balanced outline presented with this bitch. Showing quality throughout. Loved her head, eye colour and shape. Good neck into well laid shoulders, tight at elbow. Good strong topline, held on the move with correct tail set and carriage. Good depth of chest, ribbed well back. Strong loin and correct rear. Moved with elegance and grace, covered the ground with ease. RBB

2 - Hudson’s Sitana Miss Marvel see 1st junior bitch

Novice (4,2 w/d)

1 - Drishaun Daucus Carota lovely balanced bitch, pleasing head with correct dark eye. Nice neck into well placed shoulder. Good bone throughout, nice and tight at elbow. Good depth of chest and spring of rib. Strong topline, prominent pin bones. Good rear angulation and straight hock. Moved lovely when settled.

2 - Golddragon Bubble Bounce Into Zushkhan nice young bitch, lost out on maturity. Elegant and femanine head, correct eye shape and colour. Good front and rear, strong topline. Lovely tail set, good feet and bone throughout. Moved out well.

Graduate (2,0)

1 - Nelly & Moore’s Cloudside Whispering Angel see 2nd junior

2 - Bloor’s Pretty Infinity A Touch Of Freedom At Pashtari (IMP DEU) Lovely balanced 2 year old bitch. Loved her head and expression. Good strong neck, strong in topline and loin. Good depth of chest and ribbed well back. Adequate bone throughout. Both of these bitches were super close, I just felt the movement of 1 was better today, but super close between these two.

Post Graduate (4,1)

1 - Lawson-Ball’s Sitana Mystique At Zarcar Nicely presented bitch, a bit more masculine in head than I would prefer but she won this class on her outline and movement. Good neck into well laid shoulders, nice depth of chest and well ribbed. Strong level topline and strong loin. Correct fore and aft. Moved the best in the class.

2 - Pond-Baker’s Altside Hot Nights loved this bitches head and eye shape and placement. Good neck into well laid shoulder. Nice topline and strength to loin. Good bone and nice feet. Liked her front and rear proprtions but pipped today by 1 on movement.

Limit (3,1) 

1 - Gilchrist’s Khawari Rasberry Beret Loved the profile of this bitch. Lovely balanced head, with super keen expression. Turned out in absolutely fabulous coat and condition, Well muscled and in hard condition. Lovely length of neck into well laid shoulders. Good strong topline and loin. Excellent bone throughout. Depth of chest and ribbed well back, great rear angulation. Moved out and covered the ground. I was delighted to discover she is sister to my RBD winner! BB and subsequently RBIS & BOS under breed specialist Derek Keates.

2 - Humphrey’s Ayoubkhan Porcelain Dove Lovely feminine bitch. Lovely eye shape and placement. Pleasing neck into OK shoulders, nice elbow tucked in and under withers Good topline, and strong loin. Correct tail set and carriage, just a little lack lustre on the move today.

Open (2, 1 w/d)

1 - Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Drishaun What Baby Wants JW Nicely sized bitch, loved her head and expression. Balanced throughout with good bone. Nice strong neck into well laid sloping shoulder and nice return of upper arm. Strong topline and loin, correct tail set and carriage. Nicely made and moved out well and covered the ground with ease.

Andrea Keepence-Keyte (Alandobel)