Rotherham & District Cocker Spaniel Club

Rotherham & District Cocker Spaniel Club

Breed Open Show

02/05/2026

I would like to thank the committee for their invitation to judge at this splendidly organised breed open show. It was an honour and I very much enjoyed my day and the delicious lunch. The committee worked like a well oil machine from start to finish and made everyone feel so welcome. Special thanks to Dawn and Sam, for taking such good care of me before and after the show and to my ring stewards Ria and Bob keeping me on track throughout the long day. I had a great entry in quality and quantity; hence, many hard decisions had to be made. My overall priorities were type and balance, and I was very pleased with the line up in the challenge. Huge thank you to all exhibitors for giving me the opportunity to judge your lovely cockers and for accepting my decisions with good grace.

Baby Puppy

BPD (1) 1 Stokes-Harrell Chezza’s Bad Boy Banderas Sturdy baby boy. Very well developed body and chest for the age. Great bone and substance. Moderate, strong neck into well placed shoulders. Good return of upper arm and matching hind angulations. Moves happily with lovely reach and drive. Overall, a very promising and balanced boy. Best Baby Puppy.

BPB (5 1) 1 Shinkfield & Lester Quettadene Festive Star This smashing 4-month-old black, headed a really lovely class of promising baby girls. One of the most balanced puppies I have seen at this tender and challenging age. Very pretty feminine head. Everything seamlessly in the right place and proportion to her body. Shows promising movements when settles but is not yet convinced that trotting around ring is a sensible use of her time. 2 Kengyelics Hebdene Hyacint Bouquet Eye-catching golden girl already well up on her legs. Well proportioned, compact and mature outline for the age. Lovely, clean neck into well laidback shoulders. Lovely, round body. Strong hindquarters. Parallel, free movements.

Veteran (7 1) 1 West Sheigra Simply a Star JW ShCEx OSW VW Gorgeous 9-year-old black girl heading a great class of quality veterans. Pretty much perfect proportions for me. Balanced, feminine head. Kind, soft expression. Beautiful neck into the best of shoulders. Lovely depth in chest and body, short loin. Matching angulations front and back that allow her to move effortlessly around the ring. Such a well build cocker with the most pleasing temperament. The name says it all: simply a star. Excruciatingly tight decision in the challenge; Reserve Best in Show and Best Veteran in Show. 2 Marsden Chativore Winter Solistice Upstanding blue boy of 8,5-years. Handsome masculine head with parallel head planes, square muzzle and gentle expression. Muscular neck, well placed shoulders. Straight, well boned front legs on well padded catlike paws. Strong, well developed hindquarters powering his ground covering, free movements. Holding his topline strong and level stacked and on the move.

Any Solid Colour 

SpP (3 2) 1 Pendlebury Zheridons Lady of the North at Sandabys Strong black girl with loads of substance. Kind expression. Very well developed chest and deep body for the age but carrying a bit too much weight today. Slightly long in loin. Well set tail. Parallel movements. 

SpG (3) 1 West Edasiy Dream Upon a Star by Sheigra (IMP CAN) Happy and mischievous 16-months-old golden boy. Very nice proportions. Dark eyes, kind expression. Good, moderate neck into well placed shoulders. Compact body, short loin. Chest and body still developing but he has plenty of time to fill his balanced frame. Moves well with drive and reach. A great character, made me smile and kept his handler on her toes with his shenanigans. 2 Ward Whinburn Northern Lights Over Wensum Very typy, moderate golden bitch. Balanced proportions. Feminine head. Lovely neck and shoulders. Well ribbed body. Good bone and overall substance. Parallel movement.  A lovely girl, I just preferred the drive and attitude of the first.

SpO (3) 1 Woods Plaiglen Biker Babe to Helenwood JW Lovely 2,5-years-old black girl. Clean, feminine head with soft expression. Beautiful neck into sloping shoulders, good return of upper arm. Deep and long ribcage, short loin. Would prefer a silkier coat quality. Creates a balanced outline when stacked but it is on the move when she really comes into her own, won this class on her beautiful, effortless movements. 2 McShane Meggiemac Black Pearl Handsome black dog that commands your attention when stacked. Striking outline highlighted by his gleaming, well prepared coat. Masculine head without any coarseness, kind expression.  Strong body and muscular hindquarters but would prefer a bit less length in loin. He wasn’t a fan of the floor surface we had today and did not want to show off his best movements.

Any Other Colour 

SpG (5 1) 1 Collings Aylesmead Blu Rose at Colmandakev I have judged this pretty girl before and was pleased to see how well she has matured. Ultra feminine and super compact. Feminine head, soft expression. Lovely overall balance from every angle, she is not the biggest of girls but everything is well proportioned to her size. Moves freely with nice reach in her step, which secured this class for her. 2 Darby Allert’s Don Viking at Classicway Strong blue dog who has an air of style in his clear-cut outline. Handsome, masculine head but I would prefer a bit more parallel head planes. Well shaped dark, tightly rimmed eyes. Beautiful neck flows into his well placed shoulders. Well ribbed and proportioned body, excellent hindquarters and outstanding muscle condition. At my initial look of this class, I thought he would be my winner; not sure if it was the floor surface putting him off, but he just did not want to display those movements his make and shape suggested. 

SpO (5) 1 Mitchell Glowhill Sweet Magnolia Substantial blue bitch. Beautiful, balanced outline. Lovely, feminine head, parallel head planes. Lovely neck nicely connected to her sturdy well ribbed body. Nice length in upper arm, matching hind angulations. Slightly out of coat today. Moves well when settled. 2 Collings Chativore Sea Pebble at Colmandakev Strong, compact blue girl. Excellent bone and overall substance. Balanced head, distinct stop and square muzzle. Nice chest and good depth in her body. Upper arm could be a tad longer. Well rounded, strong hindquarters, good bend of stifle, short below the hook. Moves freely and happily with appropriate reach.  

Any Colour

MPD (5 3) 1 Pearce-Gudger Pearkim Phlicker Typy blue roan boy with lovely proportions. Good head for the age. Moderate neck into sloping shoulders. Compact body already rounded nicely, short in loin. A very balanced boy who moves well when settled. 2 Fenwick Alisma Alcaraz Happy and lively blue boy. Somewhat longer cast than the class winner. Nice, clean neck. Head in progress. Very good bone and hind angulations. Moves freely around the ring and having the greatest day out. 

MPB (9 1) 1 Pearce-Gudger Pearkim Phreckledy  Beautiful blue girl. Great proportions. Moderate neck and well placed shoulders. Body developing but already nice roundness in it, short in loin. Parallel angulations. Creates a very pleasing and typical outline. Moves well when settled. I really like her a lot. Best Minor Puppy in Show. 2 Taylor-Kistner Frieljoanipa Enya Dreams Well proportioned black baby girl just 6-months. Head is shaping up nicely, eyes slightly round. Lovely neck and upper arm. Well developed body for age. Very good hindquarters. Such a great mover, loads of reach, drive and attitude. Full of happiness and well contained mischief. 

PD (0)

PB (4 3) 1 Stokes-Harrell Chezza Marnier Crush Eye-catching orange and white girl. Very square in outline. Feminine head and kind expression. Lovely moderate neck into well placed shoulders. Great body proportions, well rounded body for the age. She glides around the ring when settled. I just love her sassy attitude and breed typical temperament. Fully enjoying her time in the limelight. Best Puppy in Show.

J (5 2) 1 McShane Meggiemac Tan Tangfastics Pretty B/T girl just out of puppy. Appealing feminine head and gentle expression, tightly rimmed eyes. Really beautiful, clean tan markings. Balanced body proportions. Well structured hindquarters, lovely bend of stifle, short below the hook. Creates a beautiful outline, she just needs more time to fill the lovely frame. Steady, efficient movements. 2 West Edasiy Dream Upon a Star by Sheigra (IMP CAN) (see Any Solid Colour SpeG)

Y (5 2) 1Mitchell Glowhill Candy Corn Beautiful blue girl of 18-months. Lovely feminine head with parallel head planes, tightly rimmed eyes and kind expression. Moderate. clean neck and well placed shoulders. Straight legs, good bone. Very nice, well ribbed body for the age, short in loin. Beautiful, effortless movements. A really lovely girl that needs a bit more time to reach her full potential. 2 West Edasiy Dream Upon A Star By Sheigra (IMP CAN) (see Any Solid Colour SpeG)

N (2 1) 1 Nolan Oktumi Back in Time for Jernito  Sturdy blue girl. Creates a very typical outline when stacked. Feminine head, dark tightly rimmed eyes with kind expression. Very nice chest, would prefer a slightly longer upper arm to balance her lovely hind angulations. Well developed, cobby body. Good length of ribcage, short loin. Moves well and happily when settled, just a little softness behind the shoulders on the move.

PG (12 3) 1 Ward Whinburn Walk the Moon to Wensum JW I have judged this handsome black boy last year and it was a pleasure to see how he has further improved with maturity. Gorgeous head, the most melting, soft expression one can find. Great proportions and overall balance. Very well up on his legs. Beautiful neck into sloping shoulders. Well ribbed, cobby body. Strong hindquarters, nice bend of stifle, short below the hook. Produces good parallel movements but I would like him to display more animation and verve while on the move. Best of Opposite Sex. 2 Beever Dandyjan Dark Defender Handsome and sturdy blue boy with lots to like. Clean neck into well placed shoulders. Wonderful body and proportions, really well rounded ribs. Very nice chest and bone strength. Parallel angulations. Moves freely and with drive. I just preferred the head of the first. 

Bred by Exh (4 1) 1 Darby Classicway Chiming Bells This blue girl is such a wonderful example of the breed and could be summarised in just three words: typy, compact and balanced. Beautiful feminine head, soft expression and such a lovely, square, plush muzzle. Clean, moderate neck into very well placed shoulders. Well ribbed body of great proportions. Thickly padded, tight paws and bone strength well proportioned to her size. Parallel angulations and super muscle condition aiding her to move effortlessly and efficiently. Level topline stacked and on the move. She was a bit proud of tail when entering the ring but soon contained her initial excitement. I was splitting already split hairs in with my final five, but in the end I was just drawn to her unexaggerated, easy flowing symmetry and balance; hence, Best in Show. 2 Shinkfield & Lester Quettadene Queen of Stars JW Gorgeous black girl in a gleaming coat. Creates a very appealing silhouette. Ultra feminine head but I would like a bit more volume to the foreface. Beautiful neck into well placed shoulders. Very nice chest and well-ribbed body with good depth. Well structured, strong hindquarters, lovely bend of stifle, short below the hook. Moves well when settled but was not totally comfortable with the floor surface. Excellent coat preparation and presentation. 

Not Bred By Exh (8) 1 Bradby & Mather Kyna Crystal Clear Very typy blue girl with excellent proportions. Feminine head and kind expression. Moderate neck, well placed shoulders. Would prefer a bit more length in upper arm. Nice roundness in her body, short in loin. Level topline at all times, well set tail. Well structured hindquarters. Effortless, happy mover. A very balanced girl both stacked and on the move. 2 Collings Chativore Sea Pebble at Colmandakev (See Any Other Colour SpeO)

O (2) 1 Beever Dandyjan Tiny Dancer Cockery blue girl. Feminine head. Moderate neck into sloping shoulders. Excellent forechest, very well ribbed, deep body. Short loin. Correct angulations fore and aft. Moves very happily with nice reach, a bit wide from behind. I would prefer more level topline on the move. 2 Wildman Glantraeth Oviation to Oktumi Eye-catching dark blue girl in a super coat and condition. Elegant, long neck smoothly connected to her well proportioned body that is nicely rounded but she is not yet as mature in chest and body as the first. Well constructed hindquarters with strong angulations. Moves with drive, reach and great enthusiasm, but I would prefer more level topline on the move.

Riikka Kotanen (Yokotai)