Western Afghan Hound Club

Many thanks to the Committee for the invitation to judge this friendly show; to the exhibitors who brough their hounds and to my lovely stewards. The conditions were rather windy which some hounds found rather disturbing.

JD (3,2 abs) 1, Reed’s Cloudside Sunshine, self gold of 14 months, still in puppy coat, pleasing head with good underjaw, good front and shoulder, sweeping rear with ample turn of stifle, well balanced all through. Moved very nicely in profile, just a little exuberant which made him a little untidy coming at me.

YD (8,3) interesting class with some different types. 1, Gardner’s Drishaun Consider This Baby JW, most attractive brindle, excellent front and shoulder, good topline held on the move, in adult coat with saddle developing nicely, tail carried well with ring, moved with verve and proud head carriage; 2, Bellringer’s Cloudside Ebony Prince at Jodha, black, another appealing typy young hound, good shoulder and topline with pin bones evident, well-turned stifle with hocks well let down, in full coat though saddle yet to come in; just not quite as mature or settled on the move as 1; 3, Gleed & McPherson’s Chinzaes Tartan Tiger.

GD (4,2) 1, Reed’s Way Up Portofino, light brindle youngster, changing to adult coat and still has his monkey whiskers; typy head with plenty of work in it and good eye shape; nicely balanced with good shoulder and topline, well ribbed up with correct slope of croup and tail set with nice ring, coverd the ground nicely. 2, Bellringer’s Cloudside Prince of Thieves at Jodha, gold with balanced angulation, head refined and typy, good shoulder, well-angulated rear, moved quite well. At present he is a touch long in body for his leg length but still very much a youngster as yet.

PGD (1) 1, Gunn’s Katanga’s God of Thunder JW, masculine head with dark triangular eye, good length of neck and good height/length ratio. Balanced angulation but would like a bit more of it, and he is a touch soft in topline. Moved soundly enough though not the drive and reach of some.

LD (3,1) 1, Gizewska’s Shahfoladi Thunderbird (AI), this gorgeous b/t took my eye immediately and he did not disappoint on going over him. Masculine head with powerful jaw, dark, far-seeing eye and arrogant expression, carried proudly on a good length of neck which flows beautifully into a well laid shoulder. Well ribbed up and with excellent tail set and carriage. Lovely free flowing stylish movement, BD & BIS. 2, Hills & Thornton’s Absolute Afghans Djibouti at Karnak JW, ShCEx OSW (Imp Nor), b/m gold mature male, dark well-shaped eye, well balanced all through with profuse coat, moved reasonably well, just not with the style and reach of 1 and a touch proud of his tail.

OD (2) 1, Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Ch Drishaun Baby’s in Black JW ShCEx OSW, black/tan with a handsome masculine head, dark triangular eye, excellent upper line from long neck through well-laid shoulder to correct slope of croup with tail well set and carried, excellent free movement with proudly carried head and plenty of extension, RBD; 2, Harwood’s Ch Altside Too Hot to Handle JW, glamorous domino with a masculine, shapely head well carried, excellent front angulation and good length from hip to hock, tail well set and carried with the required ring, good coat and saddle, moved cleanly all round with style and panache.

VB (1) 1, Gunn & Cannon’s Int/Lux Ch Amal Salang Hey I’m the Star at Zushkhan VW (Imp Rus), one I have done well in the past and at 11 years old she has lost none of her appeal; so eyecatching with that look of eagles and with typical oriental expression that looks straight through you; head feminine but with strong jaw, darkest of eyes, long elegant neck and level topline held on the move, beautifully balanced all through with matching angles front and rear, strong sweeping quarters and well set tail, would just like a bit more ring to it. Smooth effortless movement that carried her to BV, BB and BOS.

MPB ( 2, 1) 1, BPB and BPIS, McLoughlin’s Unstoppable Colors of the Wind of Zantescwitch (NAF), delightful 6 months b/t baby, pretty feminine head, really good forehand with excellent return of upper arm, balanced outline with good turn of stifle, moved very nicely once she settled and took the wind and the long day in her stride.

PB (2) Both of very nice type but 1 coping better with the high wind. 1, Allisstone’s Threadgold Catch the Wind at Hergehill, black with a very nice head and outline, good front and fill for her age, nicely balanced and with feminine typy head and dark eye, moved quite well all round though somewhat disturbed by the conditions; 2, Steele’s Threadgold Cracklin Rose, b/m gold and of similar pleasing type, well made and constructed with a pretty head, but she was going wide behind and really unsettled by the blustery wind.

JB (3) 1, Gunn & Cannon’s Golddragon Bubble Bounce into Zushkhan (Imp Esp), very pleasing young b/m gold bitch with a lovely feminine head with strong jaw and dark eye, very good front assembly with ample fill for age, excellent flow over neck and shoulder, full saddle and correct coat texture, very classy; 2, James’ Cloudside Camomile at Simkhan, another very promising b/m gold, pleasing typy head and jaw, good front and shoulder, matching angles behind with good turn of stifle and well let down hocks, moved well enough but not quite the verve of 1, slightly unsettled; 3, Meakes’ Affyneeta Pure Elygance at Cadmore.

YB (6,3) 1, RBB, Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Drishaun Consider it Done JW, daughter of my RBD and very much a chip off the block, this B/T is well balanced all through with a strong jaw and dark eye, very good front, good fill and well ribbed up, pleasing saddle and coat texture, plenty of Afghan attitude and style on the move; 2, G Bubble Bounce into Z; 3, Dare’s Sitana the Eternal at Lakarnadream JW.

GB (1) G Bubble Bounce into Z.

PGB (2) 1, Lawson-Ball’s Sitana Mystique at Zarcar, b/m gold with quite a strong head though not coarse, with dark eye and good chiselling; quite a good front and profile movement was good, well-turned stifle but tending to roach in topline when stacked; 2, Bellringer’s Pramya Keep Your Eyes on Me JW (Imp Fin), very nice feminine head with plenty of work in it, dark eye, good coat texture and saddle, good length of neck, strong rear, not quite the sidegait of 1.

LB ( 2,1) 1, Fisher’s Shimalma Campari Goes to Ifmarif, petite b/m cream, lovely head, feminine but with good strong jaw, very shapely outline with balanced angles, good coat texture with saddle, good slope of croup and tailset though little in the way of a ring, moved very well.

OB (3,1) 1, Tanner & Link’s Rhajikhan Athena of Aleyazar, upstanding brindle with a typical head profile and a distinct arrogant look to her, good length of neck flowing into a well laid shoulder, strong rear which she used to good effect on the move, plenty of drive and clean all round. Would just like a stronger underjaw, ; 2, Lancashire & O’Donnell’s Drishaun What Baby Wants JW, preferred head of this attractive red and she is of overall lovely type but I don’t think I saw her at her best today, rather unsettled in the wind and her hind movement suffered as a result.

Lisa Tyler-Jackson