Southern Pointer Club

The Southern Pointer Club Open Show

March 15th, 2026

Judge: Duncan Busuttil (Berseydale) – Malta

I was delighted to be invited by the Committee of the Southern Pointer Club to judge my favourite breed at your Open Show, and I sincerely thank you for the opportunity. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable day, enhanced by the excellent organisation and the warm, generous hospitality you extended to me. 

My thanks also go to my stewards, whose help and efficiency in the ring were very much appreciated. I would also like to thank all exhibitors for their support and for bringing forward such a lovely entry. I was very pleased with the overall standard, with many exhibits of real merit, which made my task both enjoyable and challenging.

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 Minor Puppy Dog (3,1)

1st Oliver’s Wilchrimane Florin to Olivesong – Reserve Best Puppy in Show - A very promising youngster of correct proportions, with pleasing bone and developing muscle tone. He has a good head with just sufficient convergence of planes and a correct bite. He looked very balanced due to his sound front and rear assemblies. Very well laid shoulders and topline. Good oval bone. Moved well for his age, covering the ground with confidence.

2nd Isherwood’s Wilchrimane Miso Happy Taf – A slightly younger dog of very good substance and overall balance, with pleasing proportions and angles throughout. He moved well, although understandably a little loose in front at this stage of development. With maturity and strengthening, he should improve further and prove competitive.

Puppy Dog (2,0)

1st Oliver’s Wilchrimane Florin to Olivesong – As above.

2nd Healey’s Lambleaze Ceanothus – A dog with a pleasing head and expression, carrying good bone and substance. Full of character, although rather unsettled on the day and reluctant to stand, which affected his overall presentation. With more ring training and time to settle, he should show to better advantage.

Junior Dog (4,0)

1st O’Neill’s Tenshilling Hello Stranger – A quality young dog with a good head showing correct planes, lovely round lips, correct bite and fine, thin leathers. He has a well-developed body with good substance and correct oval bone, well-sprung ribs and a strong loin. Correctly angulated throughout, he moved very well around the ring, making good use of his tail.

2nd Booth & Oddie’s Lundgarth Fly the Flag JW – Another very pleasing dog with lovely chiselling to the head, a well-defined stop and correct ear set. His neck flows nicely into well laid-back shoulders and a clean topline. A dog of real quality, but I felt the winner had the advantage in rear construction. Moved very well.

3rd Siddle & Mazzeo’s Wilchrimane Cereal Killer.

Yearling Dog (2,1)

1st Stilgoe & Fox’s Teisgol Sweet William JW Jch – A dog with a good head showing correct planes, bite and ear set, although the stop could develop further with maturity. Has a correct neck and shoulder placement, standing on straight parallel legs with good front and rear angulation. Well-sprung ribs and a pleasing tuck-up giving him a flowing underline, leading into a well-bent stifle. Correctly tapered tail, well set on and carried properly on the move.

Maiden Dog - No Entries

Novice Dog (3,1)

1st O’Neill’s Tenshilling Hello Stranger – As above.

2nd Healey’s Lambleaze Ceanothus – As above.

Graduate Dog (6,1)

1st Millett’s Laveto Remember When – A very pleasing male of quality, with a beautifully chiselled head and lovely expression. Well-defined stop, fine thin leathers and correct ear placement. Has a well-muscled body with good substance and ribbing. Correct front pasterns, straight legs and angulation, and with good bend of stifle and well let-down hocks at the rear. Moved well, although still a little loose in front, which should tighten with maturity.

2nd Matthew’s Sonham Just The Ticket (AI) JW – Another quality dog of correct size and proportions. Well made throughout, with a good head, excellent front and rear angulation, and a body with ample substance and well-sprung ribs. Good oval bone, correct tail set, used well on the move. I just preferred the head of the winner.

3rd Wilcox’s Harvestdale Fire And Ice Through Merynjen JW.

Post Graduate Dog (2,0)

1st Hoffman’s Teisgol Patronus With Camairo – A nicely balanced dog of good size and proportions. Correct head planes and bite, although I would have preferred slightly more lip. Nevertheless, he is a worthy winner with a sound body, and good bone, correct front and rear angulation, well laid shoulders and accurate movement.

2nd O’Neill’s Tenshilling Shboom JW – A pleasing male of correct size with a lovely head and expression, fine thin leathers and correct eyes. Good oval bone, standing on straight front legs, and correct angulation front and rear, strong loin and a lovely tapering tail. I felt that 1 had a slightly better movement.

Limit Dog (5,1)

1st Millett’s Riowood Orange Twist – Reserve Best Dog - A very attractive male with a beautifully chiselled head and slight convergence of planes, giving a lovely expression. Correct eyes and ear set, making for a striking headpiece. Well balanced throughout, with correct proportions, oval bones and angulations. His neck flows into well laid shoulders, producing a pleasing topline. Correct tapered tail and well set which he used very effectively on the move.

2nd Webb’s Tenshilling Jimmy Mack JW – A good-sized male with correct head planes, eyes and ear set, along with a correct bite. Fine leather ears, well placed. Sound angulation front and rear, well-sprung ribs and good depth of chest. Moved well around the ring.

3rd Rose’s De Las Navazuelas Stormcloud at Ridanflight (Imp Esp)

Open Dog (3,0)

1st Adams’s Sh Ch Carofel Wings Of Hope JW WW23 Swiss Jch – Best in Show - A very elegant and aristocratic dog who immediately caught my eye. Of correct size and proportions, with a pleasing head and kind expression. Correct eyes, ears and bite. With a strong neck and excellent layback of shoulder create a distinctive topline. Good oval bone, well arched toes and a well angulated front and rear, he carried himself beautifully on the move, showing powerful reach and drive, with excellent head carriage and correct tail action. A very eye-catching dog throughout.

2nd Philo’s Sunhouse Black is Black at Salmonmist JW (AI) – Another quality dog of correct size and proportions, with a pleasing head and expression. Good substance and bone, strong front, well laid-back shoulders and well-sprung ribs. Short-coupled with correct rear angulation. I just preferred the presence and overall carriage of the winner on the move.

3rd Preece & Gilding’s Sh Ch Harvestdale Light Of Peace

Special Beginners Dog (2,0)

1st Coombes’s Tenshilling Mack The Knife - A good-sized dog of correct proportions, although slightly straight in upper arm. Thought he wasn’t carrying enough weight on the day but he moved soundly around the ring.

2nd  Allen & Betts’s Hawkfield King’s Ransom – Different in type to the winner and carrying better weight. Good length of neck and well sprung ribs. Correct in front and overall bone. Although he looked strong in his upper thigh,  thought he has a longer second thigh, that threw off his rear angulation, resulting in a less balanced outline. Moved with a somewhat hackney action.

Special Veteran Dog (7-9 yrs) (4,1)

1st Bowen-Brooks’s Tenshilling Blowin Smoke – Best Veteran in Show - A well-sized dog of correct proportions with a pleasing head and expression, correct bite and a lovely dish to the head. Sound angulation front and a well bent stifle on the rear, well-sprung ribs with good depth of chest and moved very well for his age.

2nd Philo’s Fydal Caprio At Salmonmist JW ShCM OSW ShCEx VW – Similar in many respects to the winner, but I preferred the head and powerful rear of 1. Still a worthy exhibit, and moved well.

3rd Lowe’s Lowsmoor Crazy For You JW

Special Veteran Dog (10 yrs +) - No Entries

Show Working Gundog Certificate Dog - No Entries

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog (3,1)

1st Stilgoe & Fox’s Teisgol Sweet William JW Jch – As above.

2nd Angus & O’Neill’s Tenshilling Catch The Wind - A good-sized dog, slightly short in upper arm. He has a pleasing head and expression, well-sprung ribs and good depth of chest, a well bend of stifle and correct tail carriage on the move.

Minor Puppy Bitch (3,1)

1st Oddie’s Sharnphilly Euphoria For Riowood – Best Puppy in Show - A truly gorgeous young lady of great quality and promise. She has a beautifully chiselled head without exaggeration, a correct bite, well-defined stop and occiput, all contributing to a very kind and typical expression, enhanced by good eyes and well-set ears. She carries a lovely neck flowing into well laid shoulders. Correct in substance, oval bone, with firm feet and sound angulation both front and rear. Finished with a lovely tail of correct length, which she carried confidently and correctly on the move. A very promising youngster and definitely, one to watch.

2nd Voutsis’s Sharnphilly Aurora – A youngster who appeared in good health and condition; however, she was very unsettled in the ring, and I was unable to properly assess her. Despite gentle handling, she became uncomfortable, and in the interest of her well-being I chose not to proceed further.

Puppy Bitch (3,0)

1st Welch & Hazeltine’s Corotine Noir Blossom With Hookwood – A nicely balanced, feminine bitch of good size and proportions. She has a correct head and bite, with well-set ears of fine leather and a pleasing dish to the head. Sound in angulation both front and rear, with a correct tail set. She moved very well around the ring, covering the ground with ease and confidence.

2nd Collins’s Millpoint Spread Your Wings Over Vabisbrae – A bitch who requires a little more time to mature, but shows the essential balance and construction to develop well. Correct bite and eye pigment, with a pleasing topline and well laid shoulders. Good bone, depth of chest and moved well, showing promise for the future.

3rd Sherwood’s Lambleaze Sea Holly

Junior Bitch (6,1)

1st Hinton & Leman’s Fleurfield Betty Barclay – A striking young lady with a beautiful head and expression. Lovely chiselling, with a well-defined stop and occipital bone. Correct in size and angulation, with a lovely length of neck flowing seamlessly into well laid shoulders and a clean topline. Has good bone, straight legs and substance, correct front pasterns and a good depth of chest providing ample heart and lung room. Strong in loin with correct bend of stifle. She moved very well with a pleasing head carriage, presenting a very balanced picture.

2nd Kennedy’s Droveborough Black Magic JW – Another quality bitch of very similar merit, showing excellent balance from nose to tail. Correct head and expression, with good proportions and bite. Sound angulation front and rear, well-sprung ribs and correct tail set, carried well on the move. A close decision, but I preferred the head of the winner.

3rd Booth’s Lundgarth Ticket To Fly JW

Yearling Bitch (4,2)

1st Cardiff’s Tenshilling Let’s Pretend With Prosperity – A very pleasing, well-balanced bitch of good size. I was particularly taken with her head, showing a soft dish without exaggeration, lovely stop and almost perfect round lips - very attractive and typical. Correct bite, ears and eye colour. Well-muscled with good oval bone, correct depth of chest and sound angulation. Slightly longer in coupling than ideal, but she moved very well, maintaining a pleasing outline.

2nd Collins’s Raigmore Hermia Of Vabisbrae – A medium-sized bitch with a correct head and bite. I felt she was slightly light in bone and would benefit from more layback of shoulder, which gave her a somewhat straighter topline. Correct tail carriage on the move.

Maiden Bitch (3,2)

1st Sherwood’s Lambleaze Sea Holly – A typical bitch, presented in good health and condition. Unfortunately, she was unsettled and could not be fully assessed on the day, although she moved reasonably well around the ring.

Novice Bitch (6,2)

1st Millett’s Laveto Tennessee Whiskey – A very pleasing bitch of good size and proportions, with another striking head. Lovely head proportions with correct bite, eye and ear set, complemented by a well-defined stop and soft dish. A lovely neck flowing into well laid-back shoulders, with correct bone and angulations front and rear. Good feet and front pasterns. Finished with a correct tail, well tapered and used effectively on the move.

2nd Welch & Hazeltine’s Corotine Noir Blossom With Hookwood – As above.

3rd Cardiff’s Tenshilling Let’s Pretend With Prosperity.

Graduate Bitch (7,0)

1st Matthews’s Sonham Just A Pretty Belle (AI) JW – A beautifully balanced bitch, full of quality throughout. Lovely chiselling to the head, with correct proportions and expression, good eye colour and well-set ears of fine leather. Well-sprung ribs with good depth of chest, correct angulations front and rear, and nicely short-coupled. She carried a correct tapering tail, using it very effectively on the move. A very pleasing exhibit.

2nd Hinton & Leman’s Fleurfield Betty Barclay – As above.

3rd Kennedy’s Droveborough’s Hell Bells JW.

Post Graduate Bitch (2,0)

1st Cardiff’s Freebreeze Pixar At Prosperity – A well-balanced bitch with a pleasing head and expression. Correct bite and eye colour, with good head planes and fine thin leathers. Good strong neck and a well laid shoulders. Good body and substance with well sprung ribs and enough depth of chest. Sound angulation front and a good bent of stifles at the rear. Moved well around the ring with correct tail action.

2nd Klaiber’s Hawkfield Scandalous – Similar qualities to the winner, but slightly longer in coupling, which affected her overall outline. Nevertheless, she moved well and showed good qualities.

Limit Bitch (6,0)

1st Oddie’s Riowood Tick Tick Boom To Sharnphilly JW – Reserve Best Bitch - A beautiful bitch of excellent quality and correct proportions. I particularly admired her head, with just the right amount of chiselling, well-defined stop and occipital bone. Correct eyes, ear set and bite. She has a lovely length of neck, well-sprung ribs and good depth of chest well reaching the point of elbows. Sound angulation throughout, allowing her to move with reach and drive,  lashing her tail correctly. Another very complete and pleasing exhibit.

2nd Stilgoe & Oliver’s Teisgol Heaven Sent JW – Another bitch of real quality in this strong class. She also has a lovely head and expression, with a soft, feminine outlook. Well made in front, with straight legs and correct pasterns. Well-muscled body, good oval bone and correct angulation. Lovely layback of shoulder and pleasing topline. She used her tail well on the move. Without detracting from her many qualities, I felt the winner had the edge in head and overall angulation.

3rd Voutsis’s Sharnphilly Aurora.

Open Bitch (1,0)

1st O’Neill’s Tenshilling To Sir With Love JW – Reserve Best in Show - A truly gorgeous bitch, with quality evident throughout. Of correct size and very well made, she presents a picture of balance and correctness. A very pleasing head with a gentle, kind expression, correct eye colour, fine leather ears and correct bite. Has good substance and good oval bone, correct angulation front and rear, and a good depth of chest reaching point of elbows. Well laid shoulders and a neat topline completes the picture. Her correct tapering tail was well set and carried beautifully on the move. A standout exhibit.

Special Beginners Bitch (3,0)

1st Klaiber’s Hawkfield Scandalous – As above.

2nd Collins’s Millpoint Spread Your Wings Over Vabisbrae – As above.

3rd Collins’s Raigmore Hermia Of Vabisbrae.

Special Veteran Bitch (7-9 yrs) (3-0)

1st Lowe’s Lowsmoor  Half A Sixpence JW – A lovely bitch who carried herself well and showed excellent composure. She has a pleasing head with slight convergence of planes, correct bite and good pigment. Sound angulation front and rear, correct front pasterns and well-sprung ribs. Still in very good condition and moved well, carrying her tail correctly.

2nd Drake’s Fleurfield Moonflower With Clamerkin – Similar in many respects, but slightly straighter in upper arm and moved with a touch of hackney action. Nevertheless, she has a pleasing head and expression and moved well around the ring.

3rd Welch, Maber & Hazeltine’s Sharnphilly Toggi With Hookwood JW.

Special Veteran Bitch (10 yrs +) (4,1)

1st Welch’s Ir ShCh Oxfordacres Trinity By Hookwook JW ShCM VW – A good-sized bitch with a pleasing head, although carrying slightly more lip than ideal. Correct bite, with a neck and body of good substance. Sound front, well-sprung ribs and good depth of chest. Slightly straight in rear and lacking some second thigh muscle, but very commendable for her age and moved well.

2nd Drake’s Clamerkin Bohemian Queen VW – A good-sized bitch, carrying sufficient weight. Understandably, age affected her ability to stand correctly, but she appeared in good health and moved happily around the ring.

3rd Drake’s Pipeaway Bewitching Coral.

Show Working Gundog Certificate Bitch (1,0)

1st Klaiber’s Sharnphilly Gingerbread SGWC – A good-sized bitch with a pleasing head and expression. Correct bite, eyes and well-set ears of fine leather, with correct head planes. Well-sprung ribs and good depth of chest. Sound angulation front and rear, with a correct tapering tail. Slight dip over the croup placing the tail a touch low, but she moved well with correct tail action.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch (4,0)

1st Cardiff’s Tenshilling Let’s Pretend With Prosperity – As above.

2nd Klaiber’s Sharnphilly Gingerbread SGWC – As above.

3rd Cardiff’s Freebreeze Pixar At Prosperity.

Brace (6,1)

1st Mrs J Bowen-Brooks 

2nd Mrs S Booth