Devon County Agricultural Association

Devon County Show Premier Open Dog Show

21st - 23rd May 2026

Judge: Jak Titchener

23rd May 2026

Handling Classes: A enjoyable set of classes with some very promising young handlers on show. It was pleasing to see good sportsmanship throughout and a genuine rapport between handlers and their dogs across all age groups.

Junior Handling Association:

6–11 Years (1 2) 1 Kaycee-Mae Turton, age 10, Stood alone in the class. From the outset, presented a very good unobstructed view, using the full space of the ring whilst remaining consistently aware of the judge's position which is a pleasing ring craft instinct for her age. Movement and stacking were both good. Individual assessment and pattern work were well executed. One small point to work on which is when returning to a stand, stepping a little further from the judge would allow the dog to be fully assessed to best advantage. Correctly identified two required points of the dog when asked.

12–16 Years (2 3) 1 Harriet Bruford, age 15, A very good unobstructed view from the moment she entered the ring, which set the tone for a polished performance throughout. Movement was very good; the one area to refine is the transition between hands - changing sides at the corner would make this considerably cleaner and is well worth practising. Groupwork was good. Individual assessment and pattern work were both good. Sportsmanship was particularly noteworthy as she was quick to congratulate fellow competitors, which is always a credit to a handler. Correctly identified three required points of the dog as requested, though "occiput" was pronounced as "occupus" - a minor point, but worth noting for future competition at a higher level. 2 Molly Whisker, age 12, Presented a very good unobstructed view throughout. When moving up and down the ring, the line tended to veer slightly rather than staying straight. A useful tip here is to use the ring barrier as a guide and aim directly for a fixed point at the far end, such as a post in the ground, to keep the line true. On groupwork, it would be worth ensuring all fellow competitors are settled and ready before moving off as a group. All other sections were very good and she handled herself with confidence. Correctly identified three required points of the dog, though the choices were on the more straightforward side, pushing towards less obvious anatomical points in future will strengthen the overall assessment.

Adult Handling Association:

An extremely competitive set of adult classes, and the 40+ class in particular was one of the most difficult I have had to judge with four handlers that were performing to an almost identical standard with very little between them. As several dogs had just completed their breed classes on a very hot day, I chose to move them only for a short period, but sufficient to assess each handler fairly.

17–39 Years (2 6) 1 Paige Edens, Delivered a very accomplished performance throughout. Unobstructed view, movement and stacking were all very good, and she maintained a good distance from the judge at all times to allow the dog to be fully assessed. Sportsmanship and rapport were both good. There was very little to fault on the day. Particularly impressive was her individual assessment as she identified five required points of the dog with clarity and confidence, demonstrating an excellent knowledge of canine anatomy. 2 Niamh Woodhouse, Good unobstructed view. When asked to move in a straight line up and down the ring, there was a tendency to deviate towards the judge rather than maintaining the line requested. Similarly, leaving a little more space when returning would allow the judge to fully assess the dog to better advantage. Individual assessment and pattern work were good. Sportsmanship and rapport were good. Correctly identified four of the five requested points of the dog however "bite" was offered in place of "dentition," which, whilst not incorrect in meaning, is the less precise anatomical term and one to be mindful of at a higher level of competition.

40+ Years (5 6) 1 Tristan Rycroft, A near-faultless performance in an exceptionally close class. The standout quality was his unobstructed view. He was the only handler in the class who kept the dog on the judge's side from the very moment he entered the ring, which immediately caught the eye. Movement was very good throughout, and even with the dog feeling the heat he encouraged him to keep going sufficiently for a full assessment. Groupwork was exemplary, he checked with fellow competitors to ensure everyone was ready before moving off. Individual assessment and pattern work were very good. The only minor observation is that a little more distance when returning to the stand would allow the judge to assess the dog fully, but this was a very small point in an otherwise excellent round. Correctly identified five required points of the dog and notably chose five particularly demanding ones, demonstrating real depth of breed knowledge. 2 Rena Barrow, Good unobstructed view, though when stacking in line as a group it is important to ensure the judge has a clear sightline all the way down. Executed the reverse triangle correctly as requested, including returning to the specific point asked for by the judge, and maintained clean, straight lines around the ring throughout. Groupwork and individual assessment were both good. Sportsmanship and rapport were good. Correctly identified five required points of the dog as requested. 3 Sarah Rycroft, Good unobstructed view and very good movement throughout. Stacking was very good. The one point to note on groupwork is to allow a little more space between dogs when stacking as a group, to give the judge room to move between them comfortably. Individual pattern work was very good and sportsmanship and rapport were good. When completing the reverse triangle and returning to the start point, there was a slight tendency to veer towards the judge as they had moved, keeping the original start point fixed in mind regardless of where the judge moves will help here. Correctly identified five required points of the dog as requested.

Jak Titchener