South West Hound Club

South West Hound Club

Sunday 6th of April 2026

What a lovely friendly show run by local hound enthusiasts for hound loving owners. Thank you for my lovely gift, already planted out ready for the summer flowers to appear!

I was delighted to be asked to judge best in show and had a fabulous line up to choose from thank you to the other judges for sending through some lovely representatives of their breed

Best in show was the young Afghan hound, Sitana the Eternal at Lakarnadream JW- she is a lovely young bitch who I'm sure will have a very bright future. She caught my eye as she came in the ring for her very balanced outline, easy movement and style of high order. Clearly not in full jacket yet, lovely saddle and such a melting afghan expression I could not deny her top spot. Will watch her future with interest.

Reserve Best in show was another youngster, this time a lovely young whippet Cobyco Capture the Look at Redfoxia JW. Such a lovely size and absolutely nothing exaggerated on him, handled with sensitivity by her handler, really bloomed going around the big ring

Hound Group three was the very smart and fit standard wirehaired dachshund Covellyn’s Cecil at Silvae. Clean lines, superb jacket, and lovely balance

Hound Group four was the deerhound, Ch Fritzens Zareef at Wolfcastle – I had judged him earlier in the day and he really came into his own in the now much bigger ring.

Best Puppy in Show was the whippet Palmik Raindrop, another whippet of nice size, clean smooth lines and move with daisy cutting action and powerful propulsion from rear

Reserve Best Puppy was an Afghan, Unstoppable Colors of the Wind of Zantewcwtch NAF a real baby but oh so coordinated for one so young.

Best Veteran in Show was the beagle, CH Dufosse Honestly of Parkebreeway, who had earlier one an AV class under me as well – Smart, well balanced, lovely expression, and lovely clean movement

Reserve Best Veteran in Show was CH Adnerabs Won Vision of Gobannium JWW OSW – a very smart and fit smooth haired dachshund, nicely balanced fore and after, and held his topline really well as he moved out with purpose belying his years

BORZOI

Postgraduate 3, 1abs

1. Pinkertons BRUTUS GRANABRAZO AT MENIGMA Imp SVK Impressive youngster to start the day with. He had a masculine head with dark eye and good veining, nice, neat ears. I preferred his front and bone to 2. Excellent pasterns. Excellent depth , particularly nice in rear, with good width. He moved out cleanly with power

2. Thomas and Pinkertons’ MENIGMA STAY WITH ME AT ROCKYHILL Very pretty and feminine hound but lacks the maturity of winner. Would like to see a little more bone, has good depth, clean shoulders. Prefer a little more hind angulation to complete picture, nice vertical hocks and had light effortless movement

Open 5, 4

1. Pinkerton, Novotny and Cattoni-Sarmans’ MENIGMA REY’S INFATUATION Stallion hound appearance with a lovely head, nice eye and shape, clean shoulders and overall lovely outline. Stood over plenty of ground and good hindquarters. Nice positive and graceful movement BOB

DEERHOUND

Special Yearling 3,0

1. Wilce Quintons’ KIROJAX THRILLING THISTLE This hound was more mature and put together than 2 today. Presented a nice outline, good bone, neat feet, lovely deep chest, and spring of rib. Good well-muscled hindquarters and moved out with grace and style

2. Brodie and Owen’s FRITZENS GUNHILD AT WOLFCASTLE (imp Ger) Lots to like on this youngster, I preferred her return of arm to winner. At the moment still needing to get her nice outline to sink into her frame. I like her balanced outline, good tuck up and has a good jacket, lovely, neat feet, graceful clean profile action.

3. Richardsons’ KILBOURNE PURE MAGIC – Loved the make and shape of this young bitch, who apparently had not been shown previously – she was a happy soul but overawed – please take her to a training club as so pretty

Post Graduate 2, 1

1. Richardsons’ CLAONAIGLEN LUSSA Pretty head, with good eye shape and colour, nice small ears. Balanced outline, good bone in front, deep chest, neat feet. Steady controlled movement in profile, a little close in rear. Would prefer a harsher jacket.

Open 6, 1

1. Brodie and Owen’s CH FRITZENS ZAREEF AT WOLFCASTLE Mature hound with lovely clean lines and presented in lovely clean and fit condition. He is balanced, clean shoulders, would prefer a tad more spring to pasterns, lovely neck and crest, good depth and has a kind yet masculine head. Has good shapely hindquarters. Clear winner for me today. Moved out with style and grace as befitting this lovely breed

2. Llewellyns’ KILBOURNE OCEAN BLUE OF MATAHARI Mature four-year-old hound who too had a lovely outline. Expressive head, lovely neck with crest, good bone, perhaps a tad longer in body than winner, good, neat feet. Loved her underline and topline. Moved well

3. Wilce Quintons’ KIROJAX HARRIS

FINNISH SPITZ

Special Yearling 1,0

1. Rolfe and Rolfes’ ENKELINI ALTA not quite eight-month-old puppy who was certainly enjoying her day out and making her handler work! To quote the standard certainly she indicated liveliness! Had the darkest of eyes, nice small, pointed ears. Nice muscular neck and had good straight front. She had decent width to her square body. A nice jacket coming through. Really hard to assess fore and aft movement but with a nicely balanced body and maturity no reason to suspect won’t move cleanly.

Open Dog/Bitch

1. Rolfes‘ Ch ENKELINI HOPEMAN UKKONEN Two lovely hound headed this class, but for me this male was ahead in maturity and a quality act. Particularly liked his expressive head with good ears and eyes, He had good width throughout, good topline with decent depth of chest. In super jacket and by far the best mover of the day.

2. Rolfe and Rolfes CH ENKELINI KIRSLKAN KUKKA Feminine bitch, good ear shape, has a very strong neck, set into clean shoulders I particularly liked her topline, and she had nice depth of brisket. Good bone would have preferred slightly tighter feet, good tail and moved out well enough. Moved how she wanted to move today but could see enough that she had a nice clean profile movement and decent drive from rear.

3. Rolfes‘ SALSOOREN SALMIAKKI VIA VALOKKI (imp Fin)

HARRIERS

What fantastic support for the show from this exhibitor entering 7 hounds – thank you for bringing them, all. Perhaps slightly bigger than I am used to, but mostly white markings can be deceptive but all good honest representatives of their breed

Postgraduate 3, 0

1. Farrars’ HENISSY FIREFLY Won the class on his movement today. Balanced masculine hound, with super long neck. Good thick workmanlike jacket. Well laid shoulders, nice straight forelegs which were well boned. Nice tight feet. Possessed a deep chest to body with good spring of rib. Held topline well on the move , with a nice easy free stride. BOB

2. Farrars’ HENISSY FIDGET Preferred the head on this harrier to winner. Similar comments apply – clean outline, good neck and neat strong feet. Flowed around the ring nicely as well but slightly less drive from rear than winner.

3. Farrars’ FRENZY AT HENISSY Aw(S)

Open Dog 2, 0

Littermates

1. Farrars’ HENISSY FIVER Preferred the front assembly of this hound to his littermate as not quite so far forward set. Good head, lovely ears, nice close coats, excellent hindquarters and moved around the ring with good drive and energy

2. Farrars’ HENISSY FIREWORK Not so mature as littermate and needs time but plenty to like here. Nicely balanced outline, good depth, excellent bone. Nice head plains, and long clean neck. Moved out well with nice footfall, but lost topline a little on the move

Open Bitch 2, 0

1. Farrars’ HENISSY FARTHING Lots to like here with nice head proportions although perhaps her muzzle a little finer than the others. Clean neck and legs set well under. Nice deep chest, and excellent in topline, would prefer slightly less length but still very balanced. Good angulation to hind quarters. Easy free striding movement

2. Farrars’ HENISSY FANCY Preferred her head plains to winner, with better stop and depth of muzzle. Strong clean neck, clean shoulders, slightly wider in front than winner, and slightly longer. However, has good bone, feet and nice level topline with good strong loin. Moved out well

AV IMPORTED REGISTER BREEDS (Hound)

Graduate 2, 0

A chalk and cheese class

1. Rigbys’ UNE DAPHNE DES VALLEES LONGERONNAISES WITH BLUECOLLINE (imp Fr) Basset Bleu de Gascoigne Pleasing hound with appealing head, good length of foreface long folded ears, good nose and nostrils. Nice supple jacket. Well bodied, held topline well on the move. Nice profile action with drive from rear, albeit a little close in rear. Best Imp

2. Gunns’ Insolens Gemina with Katanga (Imp Rom) Azawakh Such a shame was not happy today but a lot to ask in this hall. I liked the elegance of this hound; she was balanced and had a lovely fine head. Nice high tuck up, beautiful jacket and fine skin. Nothing overdone. Difficult to assess movement today but appeared to have a typical light lifting movement.

Open 3, 2

1. Gunns’ Stonemartin Alibe with Katanga (Ikc) ShEx Azawakh Such a pretty feminine hound, with typical expression, melting almond dark eyes. Prefer less white on front, but in glorious jacket. Shoulders long, lean and muscular, with nice straight forelegs. Good tuck up, elbows held under well. Moved out with elegance and typical light movement.

AV HOUND MINOR PUPPY 10, 1

1. UNSTOPPABLE COLOURS OF THE WIND OF ZANTESWTCH NAF Afghan hound just six months, but very poised for one so young. I liked her overall balance and had super confidence. Expressive head liked her front assembly, good bone for size and nice large feet, Coat coming through nicely – Moved out so well for her age in all directions.

2. LAAKSO LUMI Norwegian Elkhound Very Nice Norwegian elkhound, who is a tad long atm but very balanced in front and rear angulations. Typy head with good eye shape and colour. . Very nice mover

3. PALMIK RAINCHECK Whippet

AV HOUND PUPPY 12, 6

1. PARKBREEWAY BUCKLE BUNNY Quality tricolour beagle, very smart. Such a happy soul, tail was wagging throughout the class! Liked the head, ears long enough, good return of arm, nice topline held on the move as well, very balanced outline and very sound.

2. KILBOURNE PURE MAGIC Deerhound I judged earlier in the day and by now had settled a little more – very pretty outline, such a beautiful head, nice hindquarters and moved with much more precision and lightness in this class.

3. DEVONCREAM DUSTIN THYME

AV JUNIOR HOUND

1. ROZAMIE REFLECTION OF ROSENCRANTZ MWHD Nicely balanced and not overdone hound. Well boned and good feet, Deep keel, ribbed well back and good topline, held on the move. Decent hindquarters with good width to second thigh. Moved out well

2. WOLFCASLTE MR LUVA LUVA AT HENGLIFOCH Very nice whippet who was balanced, but on top edge of size for me. Expressive head , clean neck and shoulders, deep chest, good hindquarters, moves around the ring well but does flatten a little in topline.

3. GOLDDRAGON BUBBLE BOUNCE INTO ZUSHKAN (imp Sp)

AV POST GRADUATE HOUND

1. BRUTUS GRANOBRAZO AT MENIGMA (Imp Slv) Judged previously in breed classes and having a bigger ring this borzoi floated around the ring

2. OHOKA TOP TUPPENCE Unlucky to meet winner as such a classical whippet, beautiful head and expression, , clean neck and shoulders , deep chest and good hindquarters. Moved around the ring with easy and grace

3. AMORPAPOVER COPERNICUS

AV OPEN HOUND

1. GOBANNIUM MADE OF HONOUR JW A smooth haired dachshund. Typy, strong and full of joie de vie! Low enough to ground, super keel, excellent topline, feet good, moved fore and aft with precision and really good profile movement which won her the class

2. REFTON TIBALT AT WHIPSEARLE Imp SP Nicely balanced whippet – such a handsome head with plenty of makeup around the eyes! Nice deep chest and sweep of underline and good hindquarters, Moved out well in profile

3. PARKBREEWAY RUMOUR JW

AV VETERAN HOUND 7-10

1. CH DUFOSSE DRAGONFLY OF PARKBREEWAY JW Lovely melting expression on this beagle, so balanced throughout, good bone, neat feet and lovely clean shoulders. A little soft in condition, but I forgave this as so classic in outline and moved out really well

2. RINGMORE HECTATE Fawn whippet who was very typy and in super condition. Had a lovely classic outline, in super jacket and moved out well covering the ground with ease.

3. ZORADEN FIFTY SHADES DARKER JW

AV VETERAN HOUND 10+ 5, 2

1. CH RANGALI TIGGER I think I have judged this fauve before and now a happy and energetic veteran whose tail did not stop wagging!. Nicely balanced, and in good condition and jacket. Nice wide nostrils and correct fold to ears. Moved out with purpose and held topline well

2. RINGMORE DAY LILY Whippet Classic type of whippet with super fine jacket. At 11 half years, the oldest in this class but still holding her shape and could still do a days work. Balanced outline, neat feet, clean neck and still had a clean underline. Moved out nicely

3. WHITTLEARA TRULY SCRUMPY

AV HOUND BRACE

Wonderful class with so many entries

1. Farrars’ Brace of Harriers. Well matched couple, both in hard fit condition and they moved in lovely unison around the large ring

2. Carters’ Brace of Ibizan hound – whilst not quite matching in type, their movement shone as they hovered around the ring in unison

3. Ms Websters brace of beagle

AV HOUND CHAMPION

Another super class of some wonderful hounds to finish the day!

1. CH SHAHZAD TER DOLEN Imp Bel Saluki Elegant hound, clean lines, liked the far away look in the eyes, good plains to head. Clean neck and nice shoulders, Good bladed bone, ribbed well back and floated around the ring with style and elegance.

2. CH DEVONHOUND WHO’S THAT GIRL JW OSW ShCEx Basset Hound Lovey domed head, and strong neck. Nice straight front, good rounded ribbing, strong topline and loin held well on the move. Nice tail carriage and moved out well with purpose and drive.

3. CH SOLETRADER FUN TIMES FOR RANGLI JW

Clare Boggia (Boughton)

Judge