Taunton & District Canine Association

My thanks to everyone who braved the cold and icy weather to attend this event, and to the Taunton Committee and their lovely team who put together this super two day show which is always so well attended. Thanks also to my two Stewards, Vicky and Levin, who both had a very long day and were absolute stars. I was truly spoilt for choice with some high-quality exhibits and was more than delighted that my Hound Group winner eventually took the Best in Show win in very strong competition. 

Hounds 

The group was one that was filled with quality exhibits and this was reflected hopefully by those short-listed; the winning Rhodesian Ridgeback was outstanding on the day, he has a full critique from his class win below. The second placed dog was the magnificent red/white Borzoi who was shown in peak condition, he was very breed typical, & pulled out the stops to move so well here with a smooth free low stride; the third placed was the beautiful fawn Whippet bitch shown in superb condition, so feminine and showing off her curved lines & holding that shape with good daisy cutting action around the ring; the fourth placed smooth-haired standard Dachshund had such a good clean outline & was another shown in good hard condition with gleaming coat, moving out so well with clean forward action & good drive.

Hound Group

HG1 – Barnes Diamondridge Dreadnought (Rhodesian Ridgeback)

HG2 – Logvinenko’s Lynx Faster Than Light of Noldoli JW (imp Swe) (Borzoi)

HG3 – Howgate & Hull’s Tervanty Dragon Song at Palmik JW (Whippet)

HG4 – Stark’s Gobannium Made of Honour JW (Std.S/HDachshund)

Puppy Group

HPG1 - Breeze’s Parkebreeway Buckle Bunny (Beagle)

HPG2 – Granum/Cadmore’s Soletrader Sybil Fawlty (Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit))

HPG3 – Cooper’s Ballauren’s You Got It (Whippet)

HPG4 – Kilroy’s Janacop Sweet Child Of Mine (Mini Wire-Haired Dachshund)

Best of Res.BOB Stakes

Carter’s Ir. Ch Aabidah De Polvo Magico (imp Aut) Cw24 Cjw24 (Sloughi)

Basset Fauve de Bretagne

Open (3)

1. Carter’s Gouvier Expresso Martini red wheaten with good harsh coat on him. He has an attractive nicely balanced head, great expression & attitude, displays a lovely overall shape and comes into his own well on the move with lovely stride & lots of enthusiasm. BOB

2. Horn’s Mochras Mahqueen most attractive puppy with lovely outline when she settled, dark eye with good expression, shoulders & front set nicely, well bodied & angled rear for age, took a while to get into her stride but when she did she showed good action. At only 6 months she has good promise.

3. Horn & Betty’s Mochras Mahjesty

Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit)

Graduate (2)

1. Granum & Cadmore’s Soletrader Sybil Fawlty, very appealing tri-colour who must have a bright future. Still developing however overall shape is so well balanced, good ratio from beautifully put together construction that is dignified by a well carried domed head that is also nicely balanced. Took off across the ring soundly with free energetic gait, excellent carriage, tail carried aloft, nice rough coat, beautifully presented. BOB

Open (2)

1. Granum & Cadmore’s Soletrader Prue Leith, sable/white and breed typical with nice head & good expression, low ear-set, would prefer stronger forelegs/pastern but had good overall balance in profile; this was a tricky class but this one scored with a more lively performance, reaching out well & using those hocks.

2. Fordham’s Elsfie Monsieur Oakley, on the stack this one was nicely balanced with good shape to skull & balance of foreface, nice expression, had well placed shoulders & good front with well angled rear, tail set well, was unfortunately overweight & put on a lack lustre performance which was a shame as I liked him.

Finnish Spitz

Open (3)

This was a delightful class 

1. Rolfe’s Ch Enkelini Hopeinen Ukkonen beautifully conditioned male full of life & enthusiasm, displayed a very breed typical look with good bone a super hard condition. Head was clean with good slightly narrow muzzle, good dentition, excellent pigment, dark eye ever so slightly exotic & very good ear placement, square in body, good forehand & sound rear, springy gait & nice dense coat, quality exhibit. BOB

2. Rolfe’s Ch Salsaaren Salmiakki via Valokki (imp Fin) another very nice exhibit from the same kennel, preferred the forehand of the winner, & was not in quite the same peak of condition but nevertheless has many good breed typical qualities, tended to over-reach & pull slightly to one side on the move.

3. Rolfe’s Enkelini Alla

Ibizan Hound

Open Dog (3) 1 abs

Lovely class

1. Carter’s Ch L-Wynd’s Where The Shadow Ends (imp USA) red/white male who has good breed type displaying a good overall picture. He has a good flat skull, strong jaw & scissor bite, ears of good size and set well, not using them as well as I have seen previously, strong neck with slight arch, is moderately & narrowly built standing on good feet, he uses his assets so well when moving, today he was controlled covering the ring & gaiting well, he is a good quality hound. BOB

2. Carter’s Ch Nevah’s Radical Dude (imp USA) super looking male & many of the above comments apply, his chest depth slightly lower than his kennel mate with a tad more spring on the ribs, has excellent muscle but prefer the free movement of 1.

Open Bitch (2)

1. Carter’s Ch Afilador Room On The Broom ShCM ShCEx VW very feminine 10 year old, noble head & good expression, large ears used well, straight front & moderate rear, very good condition to her body & looks good in profile, took off with good enthusiasm & soundness.

Norwegian Elkhound

Open (3) 1 abs

1. McMahon’s Ir.Ch Seasara High Flyer masculine with good wedge-shaped head, lovely dark eye & good ear-set, good strong front & good feet, square shaped body with excellent coat, strode around with good verve, a nice exhibit. BOB

2. McMahon’s Frigg Pride of North via Seasara (imp Pol) giving away a lot in maturity being just around 7 months, was very attractively marked almost with eyeliner, she had a very good head shape, lovely dark eyes, has good potential and when settled into showing with her young handler should do very well.

AV Imported Breed Register Hound

Open (2)

1. Gombas-Juhasz Venise Des Vallees Longeronnaises (Basset Bleu de Gascogne) very nicely balanced bitch, good domed head, length of ears, nicely set shoulder, half crooked front, good ribcage, level back, good overall length, has good rear action & good gait going around with sabre tail carried well. BOB

2. Gombas-Juhasz Vegas Des Vallees Longeronnaises (Basse Bleu de Gascogne) male who excels in head & expression, he strikes a good outline when stacked & is presented in good condition, his young handler did very well to keep him in check on the move, well done.

AVNSC Hound

Open (2)

1. Barnes Diamondridge Dreadnought JW (Rhodesian Ridgeback) impressive symmetrical red wheaten male who cannot fail to catch your eye with such a clean and well put together frame, very male in look with strong good length of neck to perfectly laid shoulders, straight front well filled, excellent feet, ribs, body just right with marble hard loin & clean muscle tone, good rear angulation & tail set, moved out with long free flowing strides, using his hocks very well. Clearly defined ridge with identical crowns, he looked quite majestic & his movement was outstanding, BOB, HG1 and later took Best in Show.

2. Carter’s Ir Ch Aabidah de Polvo Magico (imp Aut) Cw24 Cjw24 (Sloughi) very pretty and attractively marked pale red sand with black points, her head is exotic & shaped nicely, clean shoulder & front, underline arched up nicely, moderate hindquarters, moving with smooth even strides.

AV Hound

Puppy (21) 17 abs

1. Breeze’s Parkebreeway Buckle Bunny (Beagle) tri-colour at her very first show, lovely head & her expression was melting, good shape to her overall which came from her excellent construction, compact & sturdy with good bone, she sailed around with effortless easy action showing off her tail as she went, I’m confident we will hear more about her future successes. HPG1

2. Horn’s Mochras Mahqueen (Basset Fauve de Bretagne) – see breed class critique

3. Daniels Michelroy Earl Grey (Beagle)

Veteran (8) 3 abs

1. Stark’s Ch Adnerbs Won Vision of Gobannium JW OSW (StdS/H Dachs), 7 years so just in this age group & shown in terrific bloom; red with lean conical head, good eye, strong neck with well-placed shoulders, front wrapping around pro sternum, nicely ribbed back, strong loin, angled hindquarters, moving out very well with good clearance.

2. Carter’s Ch Afilador Room On The Broom ShCM ShCEx VW (Ibizan Hound) – see breed critique

3. Scarlett’s Michelroy Pizzazz (Beagle)

TDCA Veteran Stakes (Gundog/Hound/Terrier)

Both classes had nice cash prizes for all the placings which I am sure were well appreciated by the exhibitors, all donated by the association.

AV Veteran (13) 5 abs

1. Stark’s Ch Adnerbs Won Vision of Gobannium JW OSW (StdS/H Dachs) – see critique from previous class

2. Scarlett’s Michelroy Pizzazz (Beagle) new one to me she was nicely constructed & presented a compact sturdy outline, liked her head shape & expression, good stop & muzzle, ear-set; she had a firm front with good bone, well placed shoulders, nice depth & ribbing, she used her assets well on the move with good typical action.

3. Green & Brain’s Cachel Pop the Question to Meloneras JW (Cocker Spaniel)

TDCA Open Stakes (Gundog/Hound/Terrier)

AV Open (39)34 abs

1. Woodward’s Tervanty Magic Dragon JW (Whippet) fawn/white trim, she is developing her many assets well and has the classic grace & curves so desirable in the breed, moved off with nice clean action around the ring maintaining her outline as she went.

2. Logvinenko’s Lynx Faster Than Light of Noldoli JW (imp Swe) (Borzoi) white/red lovely elegant but strong hound shown in terrific condition & full coat, he had a masculine lean head of good length, infill under eyes & good dentition, liked his neck but would prefer slightly more layback of shoulder to be ideal, nice body proportion, terrific depth & nicely rising gently over loin, reasonably well angled rear, tail of good length, came into his own on the move with long low raking strides & was smooth & steady.

3. Salmon’s Crimicar Blu Diamond JW (Cocker Spaniel)

Jill Cross (Gilari)