Hitchin & District Canine Society

Hitchin & District Canine Society

19th April 2026

Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge at their show. A fantastic entry of quality dogs across the breeds I judged, making for some tough decisions. A well run show with 2 fantastic stewards keeping the ring flowing well. 

Collie (Rough) 

Puppy (2/0)

1st Cooper’s KELEKONA PEARLS OF HOPE

6 month old bitch, correct bite, head developing well at this stage, not using her ears to her advantage today but when she did created that typical expression. Well angled throughout with ample bone for her size and tidy feet. Moved well covering the ground with clean action. Presented in good coat and condition, pleased to award her BP. 

2nd Cooper’s AMBARTR HEARTS OF STEEL FROM KELEKONA 

7 month old dog, scissor bite. Pleasing head of good proportions. Ears well set. Good angles fore and after with ample bone for size, strong topline and well set tail. Lacked confidence today which showed on the move but lots to like about this young male. 

Junior (0/0)

Post Graduate (0/0)

Open (2/0)

1st Wray-Ramsden’s BEL CH TAKHISIS LADY OF MYSTERY BW24/25

4 year old bitch, scissor bite. Clean dark eye of good shape. Classic headpiece with well set ears and typical expression. Well angled fore and after with strong loin to support her top line. Presented in good condition. Moved well with clean efficient action. Pleased to award her BOB. 

2nd Cooper’s KELEKONA HEARTS OF GOLD JW 

4 year old male, scissor bite. Lovely head shape with clean dark eyes. Ears well set and used to complete expression. Well angled throughout with tidy feet and ample bone. Steady mover, covering the ground with effortless action. Presented well. Pleased to award him RBOB. 

Collie (Smooth)

Puppy (0/0)

Junior (0/0)

Limit (0/0)

Open (2/1)

1st Benton’s CH BLAMORDER DOUBLE OR QUITS OF OAKESTELLE JW 

2 year old bitch who oozes quality. Scissor bite, head of correct proportions and typical expression. Ears well set and used to advantage. Good length to neck, onto well laid shoulders. Strong top line and well angled rear. A real pleasure to go over and certainly didn’t disappoint on the move, covering the ground with clean effortless action. A real highlight of the day.

Gordon Setter 

Puppy (2/0)

1st Mazzeo & Warren’s BENBUIE’S LAST AFFAIR TAF

7 month bitch, scissor bite. Clean eyes of dark colour and correct shape. Head developing well with pleasing expression. Well angled fore and after, ample bone for size and tidy feet. Creates a lovely shape on stack and moved well once settled. Pleased to award her BP. 

2nd Sandiford’s HERNWOOD REPEAT AFTER ME 

6 month old bitch, scissor bite. Another lovely youngster, head developing as expected at this age. Well boned throughout with good angulation fore and after. Tidy feet. Needs to settle on the move but when she did she had good reach and drive. 

Junior (0/0)

Limit (4/0)

1st Poynter, Poynter & Collins-Pitman’s AMSCOT ANGELS AND DEMONS JW

20 month old male. Scissor bite, pleasing head piece with good depth to skull. Good length to neck, set onto well angled shoulders. Well boned with tidy feet, strong top line and ample rear angulation. Steady mover covering the ground with effortless action. Handled to advantage. Pleased to award him RBOB. 

2nd Sandiford’s HERNWOOD SUPERSTITION JW 

14 month old bitch, scissor bite. Pleasing head with correct ear set. Strong neck with good angulation fore and after. Steady mover, covering the ground with clean action. Another lovely youngster. 

Open (3/1)

1st Sandiford’s HERNWOOD ETERNAL FLAME 

2 year old bitch, scissor bite, head of good proportions with dark eye of good shape and well defined stop. Ears set well. Good length to neck with correct angulation fore and after. Ample bone throughout. Sound mover, covering the ground with effortless drive and really came into her own in the challenge. Pleased to award her BOB. 

2nd Upton-Lovett & Upton’s ROYDACL PORTRAIT OF A LADY

6 year old bitch, finer in type than 1, scissor bite and clean head piece. Well angled fore and after with good bone for size. Strong topline which was supported on the move. Steady mover with good reach. Handled well and presented in good clean condition. 

Irish Setter 

Puppy (0/0)

Junior (0/0)

Post Graduate (3/1)

1st Parson’s QUENSHA WOMAN IN LOVE AT BRANSETT

2 year old bitch, scissor bite, clean eye with ears well set. Good length to neck with good angulation fore and after. Ample bone for her frame with tidy feet. Steady mover covering the ground with clean effortless action. 

2nd Gisby’s MARRLAND LILY ON THE VALLEY BY SUTERESETT JW (IMP NDL) TAF

2.5 year old bitch with prettiest of heads, dark eye of good shape with enough brow. Well made throughout with good angulation fore and after. Let herself down today on the move with unsteady action once settled but lots to love about this girl and on a different flooring I think she would have shown herself to her advantage. 

Open (3/1)

1st Parson’s QUENSHA THINKING OUT LOUD AT BRANSETT JW 

Mature male with pleasing head and expression. Dark eye of good shape. Good length to neck set onto well laid shoulders with tidy elbows. Well boned throughout with strong topline which he held on the move. Tail set well with good carriage. Steady mover covering the ground with clean action. Pleased to award him BOB. 

2nd Crocker & Lewis’s RIVERBRUE OPHELIA WINKY JW 

Another lovely male with lots to like. Head of good proportions with good reach of neck. Well angled fore and after with tidy feet. Sound mover covering the ground with clean action. Proud of his tail today which detracted from overall picture. Pleased to award him RBOB. 

Retriever (Golden)

Minor Puppy (4/2)

1st Ward’s LAURENLEY LADY SYBIL 

7 month old bitch, scissor bite. Beautiful head developing and typical expressions. Well laid shoulders with strong top line. Tidy feet with ample bone for her frame. Good angulation to rear with well set tail. Moved well covering the ground with clean action. Pleased to award her BP. 

2nd Cowper’s LAURENLEY LADY MARY FOR GARMORAN 

Litter sister to 1 with many of the same attributes. Slightly less settled on the move compared to one but on another day could easily swap places. 2 lovely litter mates who the breeder should be proud of. Presented in good clean condition. 

Puppy (3/2)

1st Ward’s LAURENLEY LADY SYBIL12 1st in previous class. 

Junior (3/1)

1st Davis’s LYNSTE DREAM BOY (AI) JW

Loved this young male from the moment he walked in, scissor bite, head developing well with clean eyes of good shape and colour. Good reach to neck of neck onto well laid shoulders. Good bone for size, tidy feet. Balanced throughout. Steady mover covering the ground with effortless efficient action. Pleased to award him BOB. 

2nd Mears AMBERSUN WINTER STORM JW

Another lovely young male with lots to like. Scissor bite, pleasing head at this stage. Tidy feet and enthusiastic mover, covering the ground with drive. Would love to see him in another 12 months once fully mature. 

Special Yearling (2/1)

1st Mears AMBERSUN WINTER STORM JW 

See 2nd in previous class. 

Graduate (3/2)

1st Pett’s RUMWOOD SOLAR ECLIPSE 

3 year old bitch, scissor bite, clean head with dark eye of good shape. Smaller in type but well made throughout with ample bone for size. Steady mover, covering the ground with clean action. 

Post Graduate (3/2)

1st Wheeldon & Hurry’s DEWMIST DOLCE VITA WITH CATNNELS (IMP SWE) JW 

2 year bitch, scissor bite, head clean, would prefer more width to skull. Good bone throughout with tidy feet. Presented well covering the ground with reach and drive. Level topline which was maintained on move. 

Open Dog (1/0)

1st Barber’s MESSANO JUST GOOD FRIENDS WITH SWANSREACH 

5 year old dog, scissor bite, clean head piece with good reach of neck. Well angled throughout with tidy feet. Presented well and handled to perfection. Move well with clean steady action, would like more drive on the move to complete picture. 

Open Bitch (3/0)

1st Davis LYNSTE KINDRED SPIRIT 

7 year old bitch, scissor bite, correct eye of good shape and colour. Ample length to neck. Well angled fore and after with strong top line which was maintained on the move. Handled well and full of life. Pleased to note when looking through catalogue that she is the mother of BOB winner and I was pleased to award her RBOB. 

2nd Pounds-Longhurst MOSSBURN GOLLY MISS DOLLY JW 

5 year old bitch of smaller type than 1, scissor bite, clean head with good reach of neck. Moved well covering the ground with drive. Though smaller in type than 1 she has a beautiful shape and is constructed well throughout. Slightly soft in topline today on the stack but firm on the move. 

Ted Goodship Memorial Stakes for British & Irish Native Vulnerable Breeds

Puppy (2/0)

1st Benge’s BONA FAMA KAPRYS REJECTA (IMP POL)

6 month old Clumber Spaniel bitch, scissor bite, clean eye of good colour. Head developing as would expect at this stage with gentle expression and well set ears. Good reach of neck and lovely topline. Well boned throughout with tidy feet. Covered the ground with steady action, promising youngster. 

2nd Sandiford’s HERNWOOD REPEAT AFTER ME 

See breed class for write up. 

Junior (4/2)

1st Sandiford’s HERNWOOD SUPERSTITION 

See breed class for write up. 

2nd Wilkinson KALAJU DREAM A LITTLE DREAM 

12 month old OES, scissor bite, pleasing head with clean eye. Good reach to neck with level topline. Well boned throughout with tidy feet. Presented well. Steady mover, covering the ground with steady drive. Lots to like. 

Limit (11/7)

1st Mills KERJALEE ALL ABOUT ME 

OES bitch, 2 years old and oozes quality. Scissor bite, clean dark eye and good pigmentation. Pleasing head onto neck of good reach. Well angled fore and after with strong topline. Sound mover covering the ground with clean effortless action. Presented in top condition. 

2nd Tye IRISBEL THE GREATEST SHOWMAN AT TYMORE JW

Field Spaniel male. 3 years old. Scissor bite and clean head, dark eye of good shape. Good reach to neck and well angled fore and after. Ample bone for size and covered the ground with clean effortless action.

Open (6/1)

1st Foster’s LORELEILEE ME BASHFUL AT THOZOW 

Lakeland Terrier, scissor bite, clean head and throat. Well made throughout in firm fit condition. Strong topline and sound mover, covering the ground with clear action. Handled well to get the best out of him. 

2nd Mill’s CH KERJALEE EDNA

OES who again can’t be overlooked, 5 years old and in her prime with clean dark eye and scissor bite. Well boned throughout and covered the ground with reach and effortless drive. Handled well and presented in top condition