Oswestry & District Kennel Association

I received a warm welcome from the show team on arrival and was ably supported by two outstanding stewards who deserved medals for their efforts in such testing conditions. Gundogs were judged outdoors with relentless rain, which had saturated the ground and left deep, muddy troughs that often forced dogs to detour, inevitably affecting movement. Despite these challenges, everyone coped admirably, and I think we were all relieved when a free ring became available and judging could continue indoors.

Cesky Terrier

O (1): 1 BOB Tobijanski’s Ch Janski Bugurovski VW, grey dog of 8 years, super quality, alone but lovely & would make his presence felt in any company. Strong neck into shoulders, good bone through the forearms, ribs extend well back, correct topline & turn stifle. In good condition & motored around the ring.

Pointer

J (3, 2a): 1 RBOB Martin’s Sunhouse Quintessential, b/w dog of nearly 12 months, he was feeling the cold but it couldn’t hide his quality. Appeals standing with lovely clean lines, strong clean neck into sloping shoulders, taut loin, good rear angulation, strong rear pasterns, steady mover.

PG (6, 2a): 1 BP, BOB, G1 & PG1 Martin’s Sunhouse Quintessence, b/w bitch of 12 months, litter sister to Junior winner, nice to go over, stands up & looks the part in outline – clear winner, good bone for size yet feminine, well balanced front & rear, good turn of stifle, strong rear pasterns, she carried herself well across the muddied ground, head held proudly & tail lashing. She is quality; 2 Weaver’s Jilony Zelda, b/w bitch of nearly 3 years, looks nice in outline, clean neck into sloping shoulders, strong over the topline, well handled. Preferred the movement & head of 1; 3 Astbury’s Raigmore Leap Of Faith to Dorbury.

O (5, 2a): 1 Martin’s Sunhouse Black T’Square One AI, b/w bitch of 3 years, soundly made, appeals standing, brisket down to elbow, good angulation fore & aft, clean lines in outline. Not so good moving as her kennelmates but I appreciated that traversing muddy ground was difficult for all; 2 Martin’s Sunhouse I’ll Be Black AI, b/w dog, litter brother to 1, scored on movement but I preferred the finesse of 1. Clean neck into sloping shoulders, moderate bend of stifle, good muscled condition; 3 Weaver’s Dappleline Chance for Anniezu.

English Setter

J (2): 1 RBOB Forrest’s Elvistar Falling In Love, elegant blue belton & tan bitch of nearly 18 months, full of joie de vivre, clean neck, strong bone through the forearms, stands on tight, feet, strong topline, well-turned stifle with good muscle tone, rear pasterns vertical to the ground. Moved well in profile; 2 Waddilove’s Kanietter Golden Nugget, orange belton dog of 15 months, thought he had such a handsome headpiece, & full of mischief with it which was endearing to see. Clean neck into well laid shoulders, holds a strong topline & good rear angulation. Preferred rear movement & tail carriage of 1.

PG (1): 1 E Falling In Love.

O (2): 1 BOB Owen’s Marwessett Ysobel Enigma at Cornsett JW, orange belton bitch of 3 years, pretty head, clean neck into well laid shoulders, good bone for size yet still feminine, strong topline, good ribbing & taut loin, correct bend of stifle, in good body & coat condition. Moved well despite the conditions. Well presented; 2 Forrest’s Elvistar A Boy Named Sue, orange belton dog of 3 years in good coat & with lots of personality, well made through the front quarters, strong topline, good bend of stifle with good muscle tone. Preferred the neck & rear movement of 1.

Retriever (Labrador)

J (2, 1a): 1 RBOB Long’s Baldevs Keep Sake, black bitch of 14 months, appealing head & kind eye, nice outline, stands on compact feet, clean over the topline, good ribbing, correct bend of stifle, nice & firm over the thighs, moved well.

PG (4, 2a): 1 Young’s Fourjays Comets Carnival, black dog of 19 months with powerful physique, strong bone, brisket down to elbow, good ribbing & rear angulation, scored on movement – his handler did well to steer him around in such muddy conditions; 2 Williams’ Serengoch’s Interstellar, chocolate bitch of 19 months, stands on compact feet with good rear angulation & strong rear pasterns vertical to the ground. She lacks front extension on the move.

O (6, 4a): 1 BOB Long’s Carpenny Pheya at Baldevs, black bitch of 8 years, appeals in head & won on movement. Very soundly made, nice to go over, brisket down to elbow, strong bone through the forearms, good ribbing, bend of stifle & muscled quarters. Doesn’t look her age at all; 2 Young’s Huntress Happy Kiss at Fourjays (Imp), yellow bitch coming up 3 years, good bone, feminine, good ribbing, strong loin, correct bend of stifle & muscled quarters. Moved with her head down but otherwise her footfall looked good despite the uneven muddy ground.

Spaniel (Cocker)

P (2, 1a): 1 BP Ciupa’s Velvet Petalwhisp, very outgoing blue roan bitch of 9 months, kind eye, square muzzle, holds a good topline, good bend of stifle with good muscled thighs. Happy on the move. Patiently handled.

PG (4, 3a): 1 RBOB Hirst’s Manlinson Dotty Dot, blue roan bitch of 19 months, very soundly made, nice to go over, well made through the front quarters, clean neck into well laid shoulders, in good coat & body condition – coat also glossy, good ribbing, correct bend of stifle. Outgoing temperament, happy & merry on the move. Has presence. Attentively handled.

O (2, 1a): 1 BOB Fleetwood’s Lararth Rosa Bleu, blue roan & tan bitch of 5 years, really lovely happy mover, kind intelligent eye, good front assembly, elbows snug to the chest wall, stands on good catlike feet, in good coat, correct bend of stifle. I preferred the head, neck & shoulders of BOB.

Spaniel (English Springer)

PG (3, 2a): 1 BOB & G3 House’s Gleadsbury Mad About The Boy JW, l/w dog of 21 months, nice boy, everything falls into place on the stack, appeals in outline with clean lines & well balanced angles fore & aft, good depth of flews, clean neck into shoulders, in good condition, moved well despite the small ring.

AVNSC Gundog

P (2): 1 Two lovely quality puppies. BP AVNSC & PG2 Gundog Burke’s Oculi Venator D’Ursus to Alcazar (Imp), white 7 chestnut Bracco Italiano bitch of 7 months, stacks up well, presents a nice outline with good rear angulation. Pretty head, clean neck into well laid shoulders, stands on tight feet, taut loin. Moved with another handler & really strode out. With maturity should do well; 2 Stone’s Sonnetend Brothers In Arms, black Field Spaniel dog of 10 months, quality exhibit. Really difficult to pick between these two - he holds a lovely level topline stacked & has a lovely sheen on his coat. He moved well & with character. Very well handled. With maturity should do well.

J (3): 1 S Brothers In Arms; 2 Pugh’s Gellini Special Edition, brown roan Italian Spinone bitch of 16 months, endearing head & eye, strong looking with good oval bone, correct topline, good bend of stifle; 3 Pearman’s Weipowa Shaken Not Stirred to Britmans, Weimaraner.

PG (3, 1a): 1 RBAVNSC Gundog Tilston’s Maursett Menelaus, white & lemon Clumber Spaniel dog of 2 years, won the class on his super movement, appealing head, so nice to go over, good topline standing & moving, balanced fore & aft, in super condition - body & coat, well handled; 2 Jones’ Sonnetend You Belong With Me at Pennybeck, liver Field Spaniel bitch of 3 years, also a lovely example of her breed but just not as precise moving away. Appeals in head, good front angulation, lovely shape overall & looks balanced in outline with a strong level topline, in lovely muscled condition.

O (11, 7a): 1 BAVNSC Gundog & G2 Moore’s Fantastic Field Shine Like A Diamond at Gadhelic JW (Imp), liver Field Spaniel bitch of 2 years, looks lovely standing with correct body proportions & a strong clean topline, well balanced angles fore & aft, nice bone for size, brisket down to elbow, correct bend of stifle, muscled quarters. Very well presented; 2 Taylor’s Pelenrise All Guns Blazing JW, liver & white ticked GSP of 4 years, in super fit & muscled condition. Correct length of body, good bend of stifle & width of second thigh, well presented; 3 Pugh’s Gellini Indian Moon, Italian Spinone.

Gundog Group

1 Pointer Martin’s Sunhouse Quintessence; 2 Field Spaniel Moore’s Fantastic Field Shine Like A Diamond at Gadhelic JW (Imp); 3 English Springer Spaniel House’s Gleadsbury Mad About The Boy JW; 4 Irish Setter Corless’ Swiftlark Spellbinder mature dog of 6 years, well presented, impressive standing with well-balanced angles fore & aft, good topline, moved co-ordinately.

Gundog Puppy Group

1 Pointer Martin’s Sunhouse Quintessence; 2 Bracco Italiano Burke’s Oculi Venagtor D’Ursus to Alcazar (Imp); 3 Golden Retriever Taylor & Tenn’s Strettonhills Bees Knees, bitch of 9 months, stands up well holding a good topline, correct rear angulation, strong rear pasterns vertical to the ground. Well presented.

4 Hungarian Vizsla Warner’s Nordicfield Lady Jaege, bitch of nearly 10 months with good body proportions, presents a pleasing picture in outline with good topline & rear angulation. Clean neck into well laid shoulders, moved well in the confined space.

AV Gundog

P (8, 4a): 1 N Lady Jaeger; 2 Salt’s Culcrieff’s Ferntower Glen of Wetnoses, Flatcoated Retriever, dog of 10 months, stands on tight round feet, strong bone through the forearms, in good condition, taut through the loin, good strength through the rear pasterns; 3 V Petalwhisp.

O (8, 6a): 1 Young’s Fourjays Sassy Said It All, black Labrador bitch of 19 months, in good condition, appeals in head, clean neck into well laid shoulders, good ribbing topline & rear angulation. Moved in sync with her handler; 2 Warner’s Nordicfield Dawn Run, Hungarian Vizsla, clean topline with correct body properties, good bend of stifle, strong rear pasterns. Would prefer more fill around the chest wall.

V (12, 10a): 1 House’s Gleadsbury Dynamite, liver & white ESS bitch of 7 years, looks good both standing & moving, good angulation to front pasterns, kind eye, strong over the topline, good bend of stifle, rear pasterns vertical to the ground; 2 Jones’ Ewtor Crazy Kinda Love at Pennybeck, liver Field Spaniel bitch of 9 years, looks nice standing with well-balanced angles fore & aft, holds a strong topline, good muscle through the loin. Not the verve on the move today.

DANIELA PINTO TRANQUADA (Judge)