Westmorland County Agricultural Society

Westmorland County Show.- 10th September 2026

I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge and my stewards for their fantastic job. It was a lovely day filled with quality handlers and dogs. I found outstanding issues with either of the breeds I judged. Thank you to everyone who entered and I hope everyone enjoyed their day.

Handling.

Class A: 6-11 Years. (2 Entries, 1 Absentee)

1. Freja Thompson. Age 6.

Handling a German Shorthaired Pointer. Taking into account the age of the handler she did very well at standing the dog correctly, showing her teeth and keeping straight lines on movement up and back, she had a good rapport with her 5 year old bitch and a bright future in handling.

Class B: 12-16 Years. ( 1 Entry, 1 Absentee)

For the remaining classes I asked handlers for a triangle or reverse triangle, up to the corner and back and round onto the end. While most followed these instructions, there were many that did not, listening to the judges specific instructions is the most important part of handling. But among this there were exceptional handlers with clean lines who had beautiful relationships with their dogs.

Class C: 17-30 Years. (5 Entries, 1 Absentee)

1. Chloe Cumberland. 

Handling a dog which was not her own, she did well with a young mischievous dog. While they need some more work together as a team, she handled the situation with grace and calmed the puppy. Good knowledge of the points of dog and stood her dog correctly and within a good time, clean lines and correct but not overdone shadowing.

2. Lucy Mallison. 

Lovely handler who blended into the background letting her dog shine. Good rapport between the two. Stood her dog correctly and showed its teeth gently with ease, took her a moment to remember her points of a dog but correctly pointed out the stifle. She moved with clean lines and well thought out hand changes.

3. Charley Lowe.

Class D: 31-60 (15 Entries, 7 Absentees)

1. Elanor Brown.

A worthy winner. Gentle and a calm relationship between the two, a brilliant team. She was quick to respond when asked for a specific point of the dog. She moved with ease at a good pace for her dog, beautifully clean lines and set her dog up correctly and efficiently. Kept her eyes on my movements without making it obvious.

2. Caroline Smith.

Handling a young puppy whom she has a beautiful relationship with, a very happy young pup. She had good knowledge of the points of a dog and moved with neat lines at the correct pace for her breed while still keeping the dog as calm as possible. 

3. Anna-marie Blenkarn.

Class E: 61+ (14 Entries, 7 Absentees)

1. Ria Nelis.

Another handler who blended nicely into the background and let her dog do the talking. Again a lovely relationship between the two. Identified the correct points of a dog. Correctly followed the shape and with neat lines while keeping a good pace with her dog. Set up her dog efficiently and praised her dog quietly.

2. Adam Ashby,

A worthy competitor to 1 but needs to listen a little more carefully to specific instructions, He showed good knowledge of the points of a dog, showed its teeth correctly. He also had a lovely positive attitude and it was lovely to see him interact with his dog.

3. Jo Sugden.

JUDGE: Miss Charlotte Robertshaw (AKENSCALES)