Mansfield & District Canine Society

MANSFIELD & DISTRICT CANINE SOCIETY PREMIER OPEN SHOW

9 August 2026

Judge: Lini Owen (Svetllen)

Many thanks to the committee for inviting me to judge Polish Lowland Sheepdogs, Bearded Collies, and the Handling classes, and to my efficient and hardworking steward Julie Warwick who coped admirably with several curveballs including a strong wind intent on making off with anything that wasn’t nailed down! Finally a special thanks to all the exhibitors who allowed me the honour of going over their lovely dogs today and accepting my decisions with grace.

POLISH LOWLAND SHEEPDOG

Open D/B (2,1) 1st Squires’ Mybeards Starstruck Charming 3 year old b/w male of good breed type. Presents classic cobby outline with medium-length strong neck. Bright, oval, dark eyes with tight rims and profuse coat on forehead, sides of muzzle, and chin come together to give typical expression and outlook. He has appealing head features of good proportions, with high-set drooping ears, a broad and gently domed skull having clear furrow, nicely defined stop, and black nose. His lips are closely fitted and he has a correct scissor bite. Muscular neck flows into well laid shoulders. He has good rectangular proportions with gently sloping short croup and well angulated hindquarters, with a correctly set and carried tail, and is covered in abundant coat of correct shaggy, harsh texture. Could just be a little leaner with slightly more muscle, but I do appreciate the hot weather has presented its challenges. Handled well and moved out nicely on strong oval feet, covering ground smoothly and soundly. BOB.

BEARDED COLLIE

Puppy D/B (3,0) 1st Woolley’s Astuce de Vauboison For Aratika (IMP FRA) Pretty 9 month old slate and white bitch. Typical head features, with broad skull and strong muzzle punctuated by a good stop. Eyes are well set apart, large and dark, and have a soft and enquiring expression. Muscular neck flows into shoulder of good layback and level topline. Ribcage carried well back to a compact loin, and her rear is strong with good bend of stifle. Could take just a little more length to body. Tail to hock joint, carried correctly standing and on the move. She sports a good coat lying flat to the body, of shaggy texture. Stands on well-boned legs and oval, thickly padded feet. Handled well today and moved to good advantage in this strong class, showing off smooth and steady ground-covering gait that was straight and true fore and aft. BP and RBOB.

2nd Waldron and Gray’s Snowmead Secret Service Lovely 8 month old male, slate and white, good head proportions with typical beard and strength to muzzle, and kind, dark eyes giving affectionate and inquisitive Beardie outlook. He is well covered in shaggy, harsh, close-lying coat of correct texture for his age and good length. Pleasingly arched medium-length neck fits well into well-laid shoulder. His legs are well boned and straight, flowing into correct oval feet covered well with hair. Good set on of tail, of correct length to hock joint and with upward swirl at tip, carried low standing and moving. His rear is well made, with good bend of stifle and clearly defined hock. Overall a nicely constructed appealing puppy and sound mover but giving away a little in maturity at this age; he will no doubt tighten up as he matures on. 

3rd Butler’s Clovabrae Echo At Baxilby

Junior D/B 1st Waldron & Gray’s Snowmead Secret Service – see notes for 2nd in Puppy

Open D/B (1,0) 1st Butler’s Calowych Moana at Baxilby JW Quality 5 year old slate bitch; fills the eye on the stand. Proportions slightly over 5:4, correct for a bitch, she has a typical outline and is covered with shaggy coat of correct hard, straight texture to guard hairs, with plenty of daylight underneath. Well ribbed up with strength to topline and presented in well-muscled condition with taut compact loin. She has an appealing head with dark, affectionate eye, strong muzzle and broad skull of equal length separated by well-defined stop, and typical soft and enquiring Beardie expression. Stands on straight and well-boned forelegs and strongly padded oval feet. Good bend of stifle and low-set strong hocks which she used to advantage to power round the ring with long-reaching, smooth strides, accurate and true on the down and back, tail of correct length extended behind on the move but never carried over her topline. Pleased to award her BOB. 

HANDLING CLASSES 

Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge the Handling classes; the standard of handling was very impressive across all ages with lovely rapport evident between handlers and their dogs, and good sportsmanship all round. A few general comments to note: it is worth getting to grips with the Points of a Dog; an understanding of how your dog is put together is useful in showing them to best advantage. Many good handlers lost out on higher placings as they broke the Golden Rule (i.e., never to obstruct the judge’s view of the dog) or did not set off or return in accordance with my position in the ring. Bait is an excellent tool but should be used subtly. Several breeds present today have fascinating origins or were created to do remarkable jobs; handlers should come prepared with good understanding of their breeds’ original purpose. Finally, do thank the judge: it can be difficult to remember to do this when juggling a few things at once, but can make the difference in placing between otherwise equally matched handlers. 

JHA (6–11 years)

(8,4) 1st Meadow McDonald handling a Whippet. Meadow is a very smart and composed young handler who set up her Whippet quickly and efficiently as soon as she entered the ring and continued to hold her dog’s focus to the end, without detracting any attention to herself. She answered my questions correctly and showed me her dog’s bite neatly, noticing when I placed a leg out of position right away and correcting this with minimal fuss. She shadowed me as I went over the dog, keeping one careful eye on me at all times to make sure she never obstructed my view of her dog. Meadow followed my instructions to the letter, setting off from my feet and executing a correct neat triangle with tight corners. She made note of my position as she set off on the return from the down and back to bring her dog back in a sharp, straight line, and ensured excess length of lead was folded away neatly in her palm at all times. A very polished performance, well done Meadow.  

2nd Hollie McDonald handling a Beagle. Hollie is a calm and confident handler who put on an excellent performance today, setting up her Beagle quickly and then letting the dog take centre stage, speaking quietly to her dog for reassurance when needed. She answered my questions correctly and showed me the dog’s bite neatly and without fuss. Hollie’s lead work was excellent and she moved her dog at the correct pace, setting off from my feet, executing tight and tidy corners, and noting my position to ensure she returned in a straight line. Another excellent performance with lovely rapport between dog and handler, very well done Hollie!

3rd Isabelle Allsopp handling a Shetland Sheepdog

JHA (12–16 years)

(3,0) 1st Rhiarna Rodgers handling a Pom. A classy handler, nothing overdone or exaggerated, and she coped well with the challenges of handling a toy breed on a very windy day. She set up her dog smartly and quickly, and then stood the correct distance away to let the dog shine. Rhiarna answered my questions correctly and followed my instructions well, setting off to complete a neat triangle from my feet, moving her dog at the correct pace and taking corners tightly. Although keeping an eye on her dog on the move, she made note of my position as necessary to keep her lines straight and tidy on the return. Rhiarna made sure she never obstructed my view of her dog and kept any excess length of lead neatly bundled away in her palm, presenting a neat and polished picture at all times. Maintained her dog’s focus and interest throughout to win this class, very well done. 

2nd Zoe Sirrell handling a Chinese Crested. A quality handler who came close to winning the class today. Zoe put on a very smart performance, standing her dog well at all times and at the right distance away. She showed me her dog’s bite neatly and without fuss, answering my questions correctly and shadowing me as I went over her dog. She set off from my feet and completed a neat and tidy triangle with tight corners, noting where I stood in the ring to plot a nice straight line on her return. Tidy lead work and a lovely, polite manner. My only advice would be: if unsure whether to go straight ahead on the down and back or to the corner of the ring, check with the judge to make sure you get it right. Otherwise a super performance with lovely rapport evident between dog and handler, well done Zoe. 

3rd Izzi Blackburn handling a Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Adult Handling 17–35 years

(7,4) 1st Emily Rice handling a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. A foot-perfect performance from this smart and well-dressed handler, one of the best of the day. Lovely effortless hands-free stacking with an exceptional knack for working out--without seeming to even look--whether her dog was standing four square and which leg to correct if not. Emily spoke quietly and reassuringly to her dog at all times without distracting me or the other handlers when doing so, keeping her dog keen and interested throughout the class and demonstrating excellent rapport with her charge. She answered my questions correctly and with enthusiasm for her dog’s working purpose and function, which was lovely to see. Showed me her dog’s bite calmly and correctly, and shadowed me subtly. Emily followed my instructions accurately to execute the required patterns neatly and at the correct pace to show off her dog’s movement at its best, setting off and returning to my feet in true and straight lines. Kept her lead tidy at all times and maintained appropriate but not excessive smiling eye contact with me. A stellar performance, very well done Emily-- a real shame you didn’t return for the Best Adult Handler Challenge!

2nd Amber Simms showing a Chinese Crested. An excellent performance from this talented and polite handler, and she was one of the only ones on the day to thank me properly for my time. Amber showed a lovely bond with her dog, working hard to keep the dog’s attention and interest throughout. She showed me her dog’s bite neatly and answered my questions correctly, taking care not to obstruct my view of her dog at any point. Her pattern work was neat and accurate, with corners executed cleanly and tightly and my position noted at all times when planning her return. Amber moved her dog at the right pace, to advantage, and kept her lead tidy and unobtrusive. My only comments would be when getting your dog’s attention, try to avoid dropping bait or to be more subtle if you have to do this so as not to be distracting, and to check with the judge whether they would like the down and back to involve setting off straight ahead or to the corner. Lovely performance overall, well done Amber. 

3rd Ruby Rodgers handling a Pomeranian.

Adult Handling (36-55 years)

(7,2) 1st Sarah Downes handling a Lhasa Apso. A calm and confident handler who was dressed to complement her dog. She entered the ring and set up her dog without any fuss, at the right distance away, letting her dog shine and providing gentle reassurance when needed. Sarah answered my questions correctly and showed me her dog’s teeth neatly and quickly. As I went over her dog she shadowed me subtly, never breaking the Golden Rule. Tidy leadwork at all times. Sarah followed my instructions well, setting off from my feet to perform a neat and tight triangle, moving her dog at the right pace and watching for any changes in my position when plotting her return. I was impressed with this handler’s clear rapport with her dog and her unobtrusive way of keeping her dog’s interest and keenness throughout the long class. She executed a tidy reverse triangle and maintained her understated yet very effective handling style in the Challenge to win Best Adult Handler. Many congratulations Sarah!

2nd Sandra Smith handling a Beagle. Another smart and polished handler, Sandra set up her dog quickly and neatly, keeping an eye on me at all times and making sure her dog was presented well and standing four square when I was watching. She showed me the bite and answered my questions correctly, describing her breed’s working purpose with knowledge and enthusiasm. She shadowed me subtly as I went over her dog, and noticed and corrected the foot I’d moved out of place, right away. Sandra followed my instructions well and set off from my feet to perform a correct, tidy triangle, moving her dog at the right pace and maintaining a lovely rapport with her dog. Sandra came close to winning this large and competitive class, but just lost focus slightly towards the end to concede the win. A super performance nonetheless, very well done Sandra. 

3rd Dan Lawrence handling a Lancashire Heeler.

Adult Handling 56+ years 

(10,6) 1st Jane Thompson handling a Papillon. Jane is a calm and composed handler who worked hard to settle her dog who was a little overwhelmed on such a windy day. She maintained impressive rapport with her dog without being distracting, whilst keeping a close eye on my position to ensure her dog was presented correctly and my view of the dog was never obstructed. She was able to answer my questions correctly and show me her dog’s bite quickly and neatly, and she kept any excess length of lead well bundled away in her palm. Jane followed my instructions well and set off from my feet to execute the required patterns cleanly; another handler who made sure to note my position on the return to ensure her lines remained straight and true. In the Challenge for Best Adult Handler she performed a lovely accurate reverse triangle, my only advice would be to keep bait bags clipped neatly to your clothes or in a pocket for a tidier impression. Overall an excellent handler who won this class on her calm and reassuring handling style in the face of difficulties, very well done Jane!

2nd Donna Jackson handling a Tibetan Mastiff. Presenting a large and powerful dog comes with its own set of challenges but Donna put on a very polished performance, stacking her dog with ease and efficiency and continuing to present her dog to perfection throughout. Donna was dressed in striking colours to complement her dog, and her lead work was exceptionally tidy and neat. She showed me her dog’s bite quickly and cleanly, and shadowed me carefully to ensure the Golden Rule was never broken. Donna moved her dog at just the right pace to show off his movement and ground coverage while keeping her corners neat and tight, again not always the most straightforward with a large breed but she managed it with ease. My only comments would be to revise your Points of a Dog; when moving your dog, ensure you are setting off from the judge’s feet and noting the judge’s position on your return. A lovely performance from this cheerful and smiling handler who was clearly enjoying her time in the ring, well done!

3rd Debra Kay handling a Jack Russell Terrier.