Oxfordshire Canine Society

Thank you to Oxford Canine Society for asking me to judge at this lovely show. Such a shame that the wind and rain won and Gundogs had to be judged indoors. So many ‘extras’ were thought about and provided by the committee to give the exhibitors a fun and enjoyable day. 

Golden Retriever 

Puppy (7,1) 1st Gargan’s Double Willow Orlando To Siagar. 10 month old dog of lovely type. Loved everything about this boy from his gorgeous, well chiselled, broad skull, through his strong neck with well laid back shoulders, straight forelegs and nicely tucked in elbows. Good spring of deep rib, and well developed, strong hindquarters. All these qualities made his powerful, driving, sound movement a joy to watch. BOB, BPIB, Gundog Group 1, Gundog Puppy Group 1. 2nd. Russell-Bond’s Rosinate Absolutely Fab. Just a baby at 7 months old, but oozing quality and soundness as did her sister who was just behind her. 3rd Russell-Bond’s Rosinante Mamma Mia.

Special Yearling (5,2) 1st Price’s Berrymeade Chardonnay. Pretty bitch with a lovely flow of head into neck, level topline and carried tail nicely. Sound movement. 2nd Cooper’s Amilone Don’t Mind If I Do At Dikeadaze. Re-entry from the lovely puppy class. Dog of slightly different type, with lots to like. 3rd Clarke’s Sunnyoak String Of Pearls. 

Post Graduate (4,1) 1st Price’s Berrymeade Chardonnay. 2nd Cooper’s Amilone Don’t Mind If I Do At Dikeadaze. 3rd Clarke’s Sunnyoak String Of Pearls.

Open (5,1) 1st Gargan’s Siagar Sinatra. Smaller dog, but with lovely head and pigment. Possessed a very attractive flow of topline, showing his correct conformation, demonstrating sound, string movement. 2nd Taylor’s Alibren Aldaniti At Tannadice JW SGWC . Very attractive Masculine boy with the most appealing head and expression. Only lost out to first on movement (which was sometimes difficult for gundogs with small rings and typical leisure centre flooring).

English Springer Spaniel

Small but quality entry.

Special Yearling (1) 1st MacBain, Harrison & Bellamy’s Moontorn Drops of Jupiter With Fecimus. Was rather taken by this young boy. His head was just gorgeous with enough work around the eyebrows and nicely squared off muzzle, deep in flew. When he stopped demonstrating his ‘spring’ (which I highly appreciated and showed his fabulous personality and merriment) his movement was sound in an easy and free manner. I particularly appreciated his driving hind quarters.

Post Graduate (2) 1st MacBain, Harrison & Bellamy’s Moontorn Drops of Jupiter With Fecimus. 2nd Williams & Toublic’s Cobhay Heavenly Hydrangea JW BEL JCH BJW24. Sweet bitch, but not quite in the hard condition and muscle of 1.

Open (4,3) Nicklin’s Daenerys Girl On Fire At Dexbenella. Most appealing bitch, with pretty head and expression, well coupled and racy with good spring of rib and strong loin all contributing to sound, typical movement. BOB, Gundog Group 2. 2nd Hydon’s Loxbourne Hustle and Bustle IR JCH. A different overall shape to 1st, but I very much appreciated her qualities. 

Cocker Spaniel

Puppy (2) 1st Clifford’s Chamford Eclipse Lunaire. Certainly fitting the breed standard for merriment and an ever wagging tail. He just had the best time. Glimmers of extra gorgeousness when his clever handler equally gave him freedom and got him under control on the move covering ground well and showing great drive BP and Gundog Puppy Group 4. 2nd Richardson & Blayachi’s Black Delja’s Brioche (IMP ITA) Pretty blue roan bitch, a little unsettled in her backend, but very happy and I am sure will swap places with 1st at other times. 

Special Yearling (4,3) 1st Phillips’ Zakova Merry Dancer, and wasn’t he just! Full of life and fun. Very well presented orange boy with a lot to like.

Post Graduate (3,2) 1st Hutchinson’s Kasordon Maid Of Fire For Bartomy. Black and Tan bitch with sweet expression, short in loin, nicely handled enjoying her day out. 

Open (4,2) 1st Clifford’s Wyncastle’s Saint Laurent Avec Chamford BEL/HUN JCH JW (IMP HUN) Masculine blue roan dog. Good neck and shoulders. Short in body with well sprung ribs. Low set hocks and moved with drive, shown in excellent condition. BOB. 2nd Kitchen’s Bhama Mama. Another blue roan boy, of a different type to 1. Gentle expression, held a firm topline on the move. I just preferred the front assembly on my winner today but he was very well presented. RBOB. 

Pointer

Puppy (1) Tregaskis’ Caithpoint Keep The Heid With Moenfair. Alone standing alone, I was very happy to award this young black and white bitch BOB and BP. For one so young I was impressed not only with the correct construction, but the maturity of body and muscle. This allowed her, when her brain engaged, to move with drive and vigour easily, elegantly and smoothly covering the ground with a long, unhurried stride. 

Labrador Retriever

Puppy (2) 1st Kennett’s Magnavalleys Mojito. Chocolate /liver boy of 10 months with personality plus! Handsome head with broad skull and defined stop. Good strong, clean neck, into well laid back shoulders and good, straight forelegs. Level topline with well set on otter like tail. Excellent hindquarters with good turn of stifle and let down hocks. BOB, BP and Gundog Puppy Group 2. 2nd Edwards’ Chelmscote Daddy’s Boy. Another 10 month old boy, black in colour and not dissimilar to 1. Hard choice between the two exhibits and many of my comments on 1st also apply.   

Special Yearling (2,1) 1st Kennett’s Magnavalleys Mojito. 

Post Graduate (3,1) 1st Kennet’s Magnavalleys Mimosa. Chocolate/liver bitch very keen to please her owner. Good head, and clean neck. Good depth of chest, with well-sprung ribs. Level topline. 2nd Arnold & Dobson’s Jenberry Shield At Treecave. The opposite type to one, but I appreciated her excellent condition and muscle. 

Open (1,1)

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 

Special Yearling (3) 1st Oscroft’s Sinsircariad Dragon Fruit. Really pretty slightly wedge shaped head, with an alert and friendly expression. Correctly made in front with strong, muscular body and nice tuck up. Springy and jaunty gait as is typical of this breed and so very attractive. BOB, Gundog Group 4. 2nd Fisher & Wallsworth’s Tollpepper Morning Dawn. Another lovely bitch with a lot to admire. Slightly richer in colour, moved with purpose. 3rd Lashly’s Tollisty Thrymheim of Citanabel. 

Post Graduate (3,1) 1st Oscroft’s Sinsircarias Dragon Fruit. 2nd Lashly’s Tollisty Thrymheim of Citanabel. 

Open (4, 1) 1st Adshead’s Sh Ch Afonbach Syrax. RBOB. Lovely bitch who demonstrated the breed standard well, although from this all-rounder’s point of view was a slightly different type to BOB who I felt fitted the breed standard with the extra little something in her playfulness. 2nd Lashly’s Tollsty Blow Your Mind at Citanabel. Both had a lot to admire and I appreciated the opportunity having been interested in this breed for a number of years. 

Hungarian Vizsla

Post Graduate (1) Gammon’s Glenbrows Opera D’Arte JW Really liked this bitch, although she is slightly lighter boned than my personal preference, however her correct conformation could not be overlooked and she looked like she’d be able to work all day if asked. When nitpicking for BOB, I preferred this girl’s moderately deep chest with prominent breast bone and flowing movement.

Open(1) Gammon’s Glenbrows Reminiscent. Having now looked in the catalogue I can see why the Post Grad winner and this bitch appeared to be so similar! Pretty bitch with a lot to like, but just pipped for BOB by her younger half sister. 

A.V.N.S.C Gundog

Puppy (7,2) 1st Bishop & Norbury’s Bedeslea Fifth Of November. Lagotto Romagnolo. This lively, intelligent, 11 month old boy kept his excellent young handler on his toes. I loved his head, correct bite, and attentive expression. For me he demonstrated the breed standard really well with his strong, compact body, straight topline, tail set on slightly sloping croup. Absolute showman with his free and smooth movement. Best AVNSC Gundog Puppy, Gundog Puppy Group 3. 2nd Prangle’s Heathclare Love Me Do. A baby Irish Setter at just 6 months old, displaying excellent attributes, such as correct scissor bite, melting head and expression, moderate neck length, into a gentle sloping topline and carried tail well. Moved with drive for one so young. 3rd Field & Burgess’ Seasham Tupelo Honey at Adhemar. 

Special Yearling (8,2) 1st Bellamy’s Moontorn Chasing The Dream. A racy, black Flatcoat bitch. Pretty head and correct, medium sized dark hazel eyes, with characteristic slight stop. Gorgeous overall outline and correct tail carriage. Lovely workmanlike movement, covering the ground with ease and that little bit ‘extra’ which won her Best AVNSC. 2nd Bryant’s Dazycutter Crownedbyfire. Irish Setter bitch, only just over a year old, but maturing nicely. Beautiful flowing topline into tailset, hed well on the move with good reach and drive fore and aft. 3rd. Lord & Broomfield’s Chilternway Coriandrum, Weimaraner.

Post Graduate (6,3) 1st Markillie’s Hopevalley Morning Minuet JW. Another beautiful Flatcoat bitch. Nice overall without exaggeration, especially moderate turn of stifle with well let down hocks. Moved well. 2nd Arnold & Dobson’s Roughyeds Regal George at Treecave WGC. Attractive, male Curly Coated Retriever. Although only 3 in the class, the standard was high could easily change on another day, 3rd Gardiner’s Perrorizado Isla Gracia, Spanish Water Dog. 

Open (7, 5) 1st Prangle’s Clonageera It’s A New Dawn at Heathclare JW. Irish Setter bitch of lovely rich chestnut coat colour. Good substance, but can still be described as racy and balanced. Moved soundly on a difficult floor, keeping her topline firm and carrying tail well. RB AVNSC 2nd Dennis’ Silverweis Sparkler, Weimaraner bitch. A breed I have always admired and this girl didn’t disappoint. Powerful and strong, covering the ground with ease. 

AV Imported Breed Register Gundog

Puppy (2) 1st Williams & Nelson’s Novaforesta Upside Down. Barbet Male of 10 months old. Great coat and beard, substantial bone, moved with exuberance for one his age, showing he was enjoying his day. 2nd Theobald’s Novaforesta Never Ending. Barbet bitch, litter sister to 1st. Just preferred topline and tail carriage of 1. 

Post Graduate (2) 1st Theobald’s Novaforesta Nobody’s Girl. Having previously studied the breed standard, I thought this girl fantastic. Presented in typical coat; natural curls, without stylisation, but clean and shown to best advantage. Loved her easy movement with typical medium strides. 2nd Williams & Nelson’s Novaforesta Adams. Large, brown boy, not the coat of 1, but a lovely happy lad. A very interesting breed to study. 

Open (1) 1st Walker’s Lindensgriff Summer Star To Baikel. Korthals Griffon. Beautiful example of the breed and my first time hands on. Correct head and eye with the well developed moustache and beard. Balanced throughout and moved with great drive, covering the ground with ease with a good length of stride and looking like she could work all day long. Best Import Register. 

AV Veteran

(13,6) 1st Dennis’ Silverweis Sparkler. Previously judged in AVNSC Open. 2nd Grist’s Kasordon Firestarter. Appealing, solid black male Cocker Spaniel of 7 years of age. Pushed 1 hard with his typical breed attributes, such as his short and strong body with well sprung ribs, correct fore and after, contributing to driving, merry movement with a continuously wagging, happy tail. 3rd Williams & Toublic’s English Springer Spaniel, Cobhay Fancy Phlox VW. 

AV Champion Gundog

(3,1) 1st Blair’s Sh Ch Eusanit Ever Fallen In Love. Duck Toller bitch oozing quality. Overall she is a medium sized, compact dog of great strength and with well defined muscle. A lovely shade of red/orange, with friendly almond shaped eyes. She moved with the correct reach and drive, head almost level with topline and tail slightly tipped. Delighted to hear she became Best Champion In Show, congratulations. 2nd Adshead’s Sh Ch Afonbach Syrax JW, another Duck Toller bitch of great quality. 

Gundog Group

1st Golden Retriever, Gargan’s Double Willow Orlando to Siagar

2nd English Springer Spaniel, Nicklin’s Daenerys Girl On Fire At Dexbenella.

3rd AVNSC, Flat Coated Retriever, Bellamy’s Moontorn Chasing The Dream

4th Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Oscroft’s Sinsircariad Dragon Fruit.

Gundog Puppy Group

1st Golden Retriever, Gargan’s Double Willow Orlando to Siagar

2nd Labrador Retriever, Kennett’s Magnavalleys Mojito.

3rd AVNSC, Lagotto Romagnolo, Bishop & Norbury’s Bedeslea Fifth Of November. 

4th Cocker Spaniel, Clifford’s Chamford Eclipse Lunaire. 

Judge – Hannah Bouttell (Ixia)