Aberystwyth & District Canine Society

Show – Aberystwyth & District CS – Open Show

Date – 4th May 2026

Judge – Lynda Nicholas (Nickarlyn)

Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge at this friendly show and to my steward Bunny. Thanks to exhibitors each entry was appreciated, time is at a premium over any Bank Holiday weekend. The venue was busy and noisy with a good atmosphere.

Australian Shepherd

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1 Rodgers – Blamorder Rebel Soul

Black tri dog – medium sized, moderate and sound. OK head proportions with good eye. Sporting excellent pigment. Balanced angulations. Moderate length to neck though a little upright in shoulder. Good width and depth to chest. Prefer a little more spring to rib. OK height to length ratio, moderate bone and good core body strength. Loin strong and firm. Balanced front and rear angulations. Could improve on feet and pasterns. Moved soundly in all directions, holding his topline. Well-presented.

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Border Collie

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Bearded Collie

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1 Steer-Eldridge – Gwalltafwyn Gwenllian

Black & White junior bitch. Appealed for balance, shape and type. Nothing exaggerated. Balanced head, broad skull and strong muzzle. Soft expression just draws you in. Moderate neck into well laid shoulders and matching return of upper arm. Enough rib reaching well back and strong loin. Spot on height to length ratio. Smooth and effortless on the move covering the ground with ease, she dropped into herself showing minimal foot lift, holding a level topline. Though in between coats, could not be denied BOB (beating her Mum)

2 Kitchen – Mollyfleck Gift of Gold

6 ½ yr brown & white dog. OK expression with eye colour toning with coat. Not quite the shoulder placement of winner. Enough ribbing and good loin and croup. Decent bone, feet and pasterns. Correct harsh double coat. Could not match the winner’s side profile on the move but could certainly do a day’s work.

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1 Steer-Eldridge – Ir CH Kakos the Happiest Days of Gwalltafwyn JW

4 ½ yr Brown & white female. Presented herself well. Good height to length ratio, agile and athletic looking. Balance in head, feminine expression coming from good eyes and well-placed ears. Well laid shoulders and matching return of upper arm. Decent depth of chest and length of rib with strong loin. Well-muscled hindquarters with correct bend of stifle on well let down, strong hocks. Just preferred the silhouette of her daughter today.

2 Kitchen – Ceilmear’s Wise Man

8 ½ yr black & white dog, this lad made me smile as he was so happy and pleased to meet everybody. Dark expressive eye gave an endearing expression. Good bone and substance for size but not overdone. Balanced front and rear angles. OK ribs and loin thought prefer a more rounded croup. Moved Ok but not quite the smooth co-ordination of winner.

Belgian Shepherd (Groenendael)

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1 Morris – Ch Domberg Can’t Say No to Cairbar ***

5-year-old full of breed type. Feminine shape, showing elegance and strength without any exaggerations with good muscle tone. Dark, keen, oblique set eye with chiselling below, good ear set, balanced head proportions on parallel planes with moderate stop. Enough underjaw. Decent arch to neck, OK shoulders and matching return upper-arm. Strong topline, moderate bend of stifle, correct croup and tailset. On occasion would stand under herself on the free stack. Movement – brisk, light and graceful covering the ground without exaggeration, holding her topline. Good coat texture.

Belgian Shepherd (Terveren)

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1 Davies – Ambrajai Keep The Faith

2 yr old dog with well-defined black mask of nice type with correct bone and substance displaying plenty of ring presence. Balanced head with good skull/muzzle on parallel planes. Enough underjaw. Dark expressive eyes, neat triangular ears. Arched neck with proud head carriage with a good height to length ratio. Firm topline that he kept on the move. Good musculature/body condition, balanced front and rear angulations ensured he covered the ground without any exaggerations

Swedish Vallhund

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1 Price – Pepperthyme Jeroboam at Coningsbear

2 ½ yr grey female with nice harness. Sturdy looking with good proportions. Wedge head with dark, oval eye and ears that provide typical expression. Level topline, slight tuck-up, standing on well boned legs. Happy on the move showing typical gait, at a steady pace on loose lead. Enough extension and drive without excessive lift. Not quite sure about this showing lark, but a great bond with handler– and wanting to please.

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Pointer

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1 Crowhurst – Raigmore Faith Restored

3 yr old O&W female showing soundness, style and type. Refined head with enough work and just the right amount of dished appearance. Soft eye giving kind expression. Body a series of curves, clean throughout neck and shoulders. Long muscular neck flowed seamlessly into good shoulders. Spring of rib reaching well back and correct loin and croup. Good bone and balanced conformation. Sound and steady round the ring holding her topline with good tail action.

American Cocker Spaniel

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Field Spaniel

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1 Harnett – Cwcnels Elderberry

Black junior female– the basics are all there but has a lot of developing/ finishing to do. Well-proportioned head - correct stop, gentle expression coming from dark eye with chiselling below. Good ribs reaching well back and a strong loin. Plenty of time to drop into frame - time will be her friend. Decent flat boned front legs with good pasterns, feet looked rather large. Moderate bend of stifle and well-let down hocks Lacked a little confidence with her surroundings today. Moved OK and should tighten up with maturity.

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1 Stone – Sonnetend Brothers in Arms

Puppy full of breed type who I fell for in a big way. Balanced head of good length and well pronounced occiput. Gentle expression from super dark eye with chiselling below. Strong clean neck into well laid shoulders and matching return of upper arm. Has time to drop further into his lovely frame, well sprung ribs reaching well back, strong loin, moderate rear angulation, correct tail set and carriage. Presented an attractive outline on the stack. In profile covers the ground well at a sensible speed with good length of stride, driving off strong hocks. Would love to see him once mature.

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These bitches could not be more different.

1 Shipton – Heartwood Mishules All is Possible with Calico (imp USA) JW

B&T on the heavier side of standard. Strong head type and would prefer more length. Nice eye giving gentle expression. Well angulated front and rear which allowed positive steady movement. Decent neck and front angulation, though loaded over shoulders. Deep well-developed chest, level topline, ribs reached well back, strong loin and correct tail set and carriage. Substantial bone and good feet. Strong hindquarters, moved out steadily. Coat was flat, glossy and gleaming.

2 Harnett – Redeswell Sweet Serendipity

Black female, racier type - well-constructed throughout, bone and body complements frame. Preferred her head properties over winner showing more length and chiselling. Body well put together presenting a good outline. Matched front/rear angulation and stands on well boned legs with good feet though a little slack in front pasterns. OK rear, on occasion tended to be overstretched behind. Would like to see more positive movement.

3 James & Vaux – Sonnetend Made You Laugh with Tippledal

Liver female - Very nicely handled by this young exhibitor as she was not being that co-operative today.