Southern Afghan Hound Club

Southern Afghan Club Open Show 6 September 2026 

I would like to thank the Committee of the Southern Afghan Club for their invitation to judge at their open show, it was an honour to accept the appointment. I do apologise profusely for my ‘relaxed’ judging attire, my jacket and trousers were left hanging in my hallway, which I only discovered on checking into my hotel the night before. Very many thanks to my steward, Pauline Mullins for keeping me organised and to the exhibitors for their entry, it is very much appreciated. I had a really nice day with some stunning hounds to go over.

Dogs

Baby Puppy Dog (2,0)

What a lovely pair of litter brothers, just shy of 6 months old.

1st BBPD & BBPIS Seamarks & Nemoto’s Rhythm’n Blues A Touch Of Freedom (Imp Deu) Appealing, balanced black masked cream with a lovely head and dark eye. Long neck into well laid shoulders with good return of upper arm. Nice width and depth of chest for his age with elbows tucked in. Well sprung pasterns and big feet. Well ribbed back to short loin. Lovely spring to his stride showing good reach and drive. Pleased to award him BBPD & later BBPIS.

2nd Cannon & Gunn’s Ring Of Fire A Touch Of Freedom Zushkhan (Imp Deu) NAF Another attractive baby, brother of 1 but not quite the same width or depth of chest just yet. Balanced black with well laid shoulders and matching return of upper arm. Standing on good feet. Preferred his tail set and carriage. Moved straight out and back and steady in profile.

Minor Puppy Dog (1,0)

1st Hurl’s Karnak One More Time for Tarakhi. Balanced and typey black masked gold, at just 6 months old he was a bit of a fidget. Nice head with prominent occiput. Long neck into well laid shoulders and excellent return of upper arm with nice forechest. Well sprung pasterns and strong feet. Good depth of chest, well sprung ribs leading to well angulated hindquarters. He was a little unsettled on the move today but having a good time.

Veteran Dog (4,0)

What a quality class!

1st BVD & BVIS Gardner’s Ch Drishaun Said Tiger To Lily. I judged this stunning boy 2 years ago. I loved him then and still do now, he is still in his prime and certainly does not look his age. Dark brindle with super quality, balance and type. Masculine chiselled head, strong neck to well laid shoulders with upper arm to match. Straight forelegs with good bone and large feet. Level topline to short, strong loin and well angulated hindquarters used well on the move. He moved straight to and fro and with freedom and ease in profile. He pushed hard for BD & RBD, pleased to award him BVD and BVIS.

2nd Thompson’s Ch Drishaun The Vampire Lily via Gothika JW. Another superb masculine boy with quality, balance and type, and very little to choose between them, my notes say “lots of the same qualities”. Black masked gold with a lovely head and neck into good front construction with elbows close to his ribs. Level topline with close saddle leading to short, strong loin and prominent hip bones. Well made hindquarters with short rear pasterns. Moved straight out and back and with free and easy strides in profile, I just preferred the slightly better front extension of 1 today.

3rd Boydell’s Nightwind You Can’t Stop The Beat

Junior Dog (2,1)

1st Parson’s Shukriya Fade To Black. Lovely black and silver with quality and type. Nicely constructed forequarters with good width, well laid shoulders and long upper arm placing his elbows beneath his withers. Good for bone and well sprung pasterns with large feet. Level topline and well sprung ribs to short, strong loin. Nice hindquarters and short rear pasterns. A little unsettled on the move to and fro but came into his own in profile, with smooth springy strides. I shall watch this young lad with interest.

Yearling Dog (1,0)

1st Trainor’s Sitana Playing With Fire. Typey lad with a lovely head, nearly triangular eyes with oriental expression. Long, strong neck into sloping shoulders and matching upper arm placing his elbows well in. Good depth of chest and level topline with close saddle and good tuck up. Short rear pasterns. Would just prefer a little more angulation and bone. Moved straight to and fro but a little unsettled in profile, I did see some flashes of good reach and drive, and springy strides.

Post Graduate Dog (3,0)

1st Gardner’s Drishaun Consider This Baby JW. Lovely balanced and typey boy. Nice head and expression with strong jaw. Long neck into well laid shoulders and matching upper arm with elbows tucked close in. Good for bone and depth of chest. Level topline leading to well made hindquarters. Another a little unsettled on the move initially but moved very nicely when he decided to put his mind to it!

2nd Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Drishaun Autumnal King JW. Attractive, masculine and typey self masked gold. Lovely head and nice shaped eye, prominent occiput and chiselled foreface. Straight forearms and well sprung pasterns. Level topline with close saddle and prominent hip bones. Nicely muscled hindquarters with good length between his hips and well let down hocks. Moved straight to and fro and steady in profile. Just preferred the width of front of 1 today.

3rd Holder’s Zendushkas Rolling Stone at Farakushk

Limit Dog (1,0)

1st Peek-Matar’s Yansukhim’s Sherbert Fizz. Appealing black lad being a little uncooperative today. Good head and long neck into well laid shoulders. Good for bone with good depth of chest and elbows well tucked in. Nice level topline leading to short strong loin and well angulated hindquarters with short rear pasterns. He was a little untidy out and back on the move but ok in profile showing good drive and springy strides.

Open Dog (3,0)

Another lovely quality class.

1st BD & BIS Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Ch Drishaun Baby’s In Black JW ShCEx OSW. I first saw this boy 2½ years ago when I gave him BPD and he went on to win BPIS. I said then I was sure he would trouble the best and he certainly has, growing into a super balanced, masculine boy oozing quality and type. As always he was presented to perfection in both coat and muscle condition. Lovely head with good chiselling and excellent expression. Long neck into the best of front construction, excellent bone, springy pasterns and large strong feet. Level topline with short saddle, good tuck up leading to short, strong loin, well muscled hindquarters and nice short rear pasterns. Moved straight out and back but really scored in his superb profile movement with reach in front and drive from behind. So very pleased to award him BD and BIS.

2nd RBD & RBIS Thompson’s Drishaun Rock Me Baby Gothika. Another boy who I’ve seen before, giving him BOB and HG1 2 years ago when he was still in junior. He has matured into a handsome, masculine hound still showing the super type and quality he had then. Lovely balanced head, good chiselling and prominent occiput. Long neck into well laid shoulders and nice return of upper arm, deep chest with good fill-in and nicely sprung ribs. Elbows set well under and close to his ribcage. Excellent bone and super large feet. Level topline with close saddle leading to strong loin and well angulated hindquarters. Well set and carried tail with a nice tight ring. Moved straight out and back and with good spring in profile. Pushed very hard for BD but pleased to award him RBD and RBIS.

3rd Gosling’s Ch Ayoubkhan Silk Road JW

Bitches

Puppy Bitch (1,0)

1st BPB & BPIS Bryant & Smith’s Madelion Lady Rhea. Appealing, balanced and feminine black and cream, with nice overall shape. A very raw baby under a heavy coat but nicely put together. Pretty head with a good strength to her jaw, correct angulations and straight front with spring to her pasterns and neat feet. Level topline leading to good hindquarters and very well let down hocks finished off with a lovely ringed tail. She was inclined to pace today but moved well when she put her mind to it and encouraged by her handler. Just needing some condition and maturity, but pleased to award her BPB and BPIS

Veteran Bitch (1,0)

1st BVB Gunn & Cannon’s Int/Lux Ch Amal Salang Hey I’m The Star at Zushkhan VW (Imp Rus). Quality black bitch with good type. Strong but feminine and balanced 11½ yr old who is amazing for her age and a credit to her owner. Good for bone and depth of chest with her elbows tucked in against nicely sprung ribs. Standing on good pasterns and feet. Level topline and shapely under line. Hindquarters just lacking a little strength but used well on the move. She was straight out and back with steady movement in profile showing true smooth and springy strides. Pleased to award her BVB she just lost out to a dog still in his prime for BVIS.

Junior Bitch (2,0)

1st Parson’s Shukriya The Memory Remains. Pretty, typey self masked gold with a nice head and prominent occiput. Sloping shoulders with matching upper arm placing her elbows below her withers, would just prefer a little more angulation. Well sprung pasterns and ribbing under a level topline leading to prominent hip bones and lovely ringed tail. Moved ok out and back but inclined to pace and was unsettled in profile.

2nd Bryant & Smith’s Madelion Lady Rhea (see Puppy Bitch)

Yearling Bitch (2,0)

1st Dare’s Sitana The Eternal at Lakarnadream JW. Typey black masked cream, feminine but with good bone and substance. Lovely, well chiselled head and prominent occiput. Long neck into well laid shoulders with good return of upper arm. Well sprung pasterns and ribs leading to prominent hip bones and a nice ring to her tail. Good hindquarters just needing a fraction more angulation. Moved straight out and back and with super spring in profile. Pushed hard for RBB just preferred the balance of the Limit bitch.

2nd Gunn & Cannon’s Golddragon Bubble Bounce into Zushkhan JW (Imp Esp). Typey black masked gold not yet 2 years old and a slow maturer, just needing to fill out still. Pretty head with prominent occiput. Well sprung pasterns and standing on neat feet. Level topline with prominent hip bones, short loin and lovely short rear pasterns. Just prefer a little more width all through. A little close to and fro but moved out nicely in profile showing reach and drive.

Graduate Bitch (3,0)

1st Hirst’s Ayoubkhan Snow Cloud. Feminine and balanced self masked cream with good bone. Strong neck into well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm, good depth of chest and excellent fill in. Level topline to prominent hip bones and ringed tail. Moved well to and fro and steady in profile.

2nd Bryant & Smith’s Madelion Lady Rhea (see Puppy Bitch)

3rd Goff’s Drishaun Please Consider 

Post Graduate Bitch (3,0)

1st Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Drishaun Consider It Done JW. At just over 2 years old this stunning girl is really coming into her own. She has quality, type and balance, and is well angulated. Presented in super condition and well muscled but still feminine. Super, well chiselled head with strength and typical expression. Strong neck into clean, well laid shoulders with matching upper arm setting her elbows below the withers and close to her ribcage. Straight forearms and large feet. Level topline with close saddle to short strong loin and short rear pasterns. Lovely ringed tail carried well on the move. This girl scores highly in her true movement out and back, with free, easy, spring to her strides showing superb reach and drive in profile. Very pleased to award her BB and BOS.

2nd Lorenzo Rivers’ Prestigious How Will I Know. Nice brindle with good width and fill in, in front. Well laid shoulders just needing a tad more return of upper arm. Well sprung pasterns. Good level topline and curvy underline leading to well set and carried ringed tail. On the move she was tidy out and back and showed nice strides in profile.

3rd Bryant & Smith’s Madelion Lady Rhea

Limit Bitch (3,0)

1st & RBB Fisher’s Shimalma Campari Goes to Ifmaraf. Black masked gold. Balanced, feminine and typey with good bone and substance. Nice head with prominent occiput, gentle chiselling and good strength to her jaw. Well laid shoulders with matching upper arm placing her elbows well under and nice amount of forechest. Straight front legs down to good sized feet. Lovely topline with saddle to well angulated hindquarters. Moved straight to and fro and lovely in profile. Pushed hard for RBB by the Yearling winner, just preferred the balance of this girl, so pleased to award her RBB.

2nd Lawson-Ball’s Sitana Mystique at Zarcar. Balanced black masked gold with a nice head and well chiselled foreface. Strong neck into well constructed forequarters with good fill in. Excellent size to forefeet. Level topline to nicely made hindquarters. On the move she was straight away and back and pleasing in profile using her hindquarters well. I just preferred the femininity of 1 today.

3rd Bryant & Smith’s Madelion Lady Rhea

Open Bitch (3,0)

1st Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Drishaun What Baby Wants JW. Balanced and typey self masked gold with a nice head and prominent occiput. Strong neck into well laid shoulders and good width in front, just needing a little more return of upper arm to set her elbows under. Straight forelegs with good bone and nicely sprung pasterns. Close saddle to short loin and prominent hip bones with well let down hocks. Well set and carried ringed tail. Moved ok out and back and well in profile just needing a little more reach in front.

2nd Gosling’s Ayoubkhan Magnolia at Kabella. Balanced and well angulated, feminine self-masked cream. Pretty feminine head and long neck to well constructed forequarters with lovely big feet. Close saddle to good hindquarters and lovely ring tail. Just prefer a little more width all through to this girl. On the move she was close out and back but really scored in profile using her hocks to her advantage.

3rd Bryant & Smith’s Madelion Lady Rhea

Jo Beckett-Hughes (Mulranny)