Welsh Springer Spaniel Club Of South Wales

Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of South Wales – Championship Show – 29th March 2026

I would like to thank all of the exhibitors for accepting my placings with such good humour, I thoroughly enjoyed my day.

For my class winners I was looking for, wherever possible, what I considered to be typical Welsh Springer Spaniels with heads showing stop and chiselling below the eye and soft and kind expressions together with sound and happy movement.

For personal reasons I asked all of the handlers to show their dog’s mouths and as a criticism here please do learn and practise how to do this as this was a weakness in the presentation of some of the exhibits.

I was pleased with the quality of exhibits and several that I have done well for in the past didn’t do quite so well this time, but may do better on another day. Equally, I am aware that several owners came and were very surprised by their high placings.

When entering - Do remember : you should be entering because you trust both in your dog and the judge and want the judge’s opinion plus dogs do change over time but most importantly as is always said “it’s on the day.”

Veteran Dog – (4)

This class started the day positively with dogs that I have done well for in the past and still liked.

1. Brown’s - Bowdonia Ozzie VW. Now 11 years old, a favourite of mine, good overall shape with exceptionally pleasing head just greying but still showing that kind eyed expression required for the breed, lovely rich coat, straight front, good shoulders and hind angulation, good spring of rib, moved happily with good driving action on nice tight feet. Just showed with slightly more attitude than 2 to win the class. 2. Graham’s - Sh Ch Taimere's Twister Round Nyliram JW ShCM VW. Also 11 and now also greying slightly, well presented, balanced overall shape, typy head with good stop and chiselling with kind eye & expression, good depth of chest, clean neck & shoulders, good front & hind angulation, coat in good condition, well developed hindquarters and drove out well with reach & drive on tight feet, close decision.3. Douglas’ Chanangel Yorkshire Gold To Santallina. 4. Woodhams’ - Glynell Jiffy

Special Working Dog – (0)

Baby Puppy Dog – (0)

Minor Puppy Dog – (2) Two very different types, neither moving to their potential today but still young, preferred head of 1

1. Harrison’s - Glenbrows Manuscript. 7 months old, a pleasing typy head & expression, good reach of neck with a firm body, straight front, good shoulders and well angulated hind, lovely rich red coat, moved OK on tight feet but seemed a little unsure of himself today. 2. Douglas’ - Chanangel Hypnotised By Santallina. Just 6 months and wasn’t at his happiest today, well presented with coat slightly lighter in colour than 1, well boned and excellent front and hind angulation, just needs to build up his confidence as he is of a good compact shape so I will watch his progress.

Puppy Dog – (1)

1. Rees’ - Merchinetes Taliesin At Typica. An 11 month old boy that I could happily provide a fireside for at home. Such a fabulous head with seriously naughty eyes, balanced shape, well boned, bodied and coated, good shoulders and rear angulation allowed him to move out happily (giving owner some slight problems as his naughtiness did appear at times on the move) on tight well padded feet, gleaming red coat completed the picture. BPD and later BPIS considered for RDCC - his time will come

 Junior Dog – (1, 1abs)

 Novice Dog – (4) 1. Rees’ - Merchinetes Taliesin At Typica 1st in PD. 2 Wren’s - Glenbrows The Time Is Now At Gwynmarren. 19 month old boy with lovely head and expression, well coated with good body and bone, good angulation front & hind, moved soundly round the ring , his tail carriage improved the more he moved as he started the class a little unsure. 3 Bennett’s - Gilstonia Wreck It Riley For Flyboron. Have watched this boy since he first appeared with his owner and love his head and expression, well bodied and so, so happy and gives his owner a hard time. Would like a little more height. 4 Mercer & Mercer’s - Amblelight Oleander

Graduate Dog – (3) 1 Rees’ - Merchinetes Taliesin At Typica 1st in PD. 2. Johnson & Langley’ - Santallina Coroebus JW 19 month old boy who presents a good outline although if I am going to be a tad critical would like slightly more body, lovely typy head with kindly eye, well coated, straight front, good shoulders and well angulated hind, moved happily on good feet but front movement just not quite as true as 1. 3. Mercer & Mercer’s - Amblelight Oleander

Post Graduate Dog –(1)

1. Gaylor & Robertson’s - Gilstonia Run Red Rum For Aprilflash. Stood alone but deserved this class on overall compact & balanced shape together with his happy driving movement and wagging tail carried correctly, good shape head with such a pleasing expression, excellent bone and good shoulders, tight well padded feet, a gleaming red coat completed the picture.

Limit Dog – (6, 1abs) A fabulous class where on another day the placings could certainly change. 1. Douglas’ - Santallina Off And Running JW did this boy well last time I judged him and delighted to see how he had matured, typical balanced dog with excellent body & bone, handsome head with good stop and chiselling below the eye, soft and kind expression, clean neck with good front angulation, coat in good condition, good tailset, correct topline and tail carriage maintained on the move which improved as the class progressed. From the sidelines he can give the impression of nervousness when being gone over but silly boy just gets himself over excited and over wags his rear end. Deserved the RDCC. 2. Harrison’s - Glenbrows Turn Back Time JW. Different to 1 but equally just my cup of tea. Well presented and out of a taller mould but still a balanced overall shape, a very obvious masculine head, which by no means is coarse, with wicked but kindly eye, fabulous coat in amount and condition, good front & hind angulation, stood and moved on tight feet although really was not co-operating with his owner today. A shame 3. Johnstone’s - Glenbrows Erasmus For Gilpeta A previous BPIB but unfortunate to meet 1&2 today. 4. Reynolds & Mcilwaine’s - Benoveor The Show Must Go On 5. Levy’s - Cerysan Limited Edition

Open Dog – (4) Another class with different ‘types.’ 1. Gaylor & Robertson’s - Sh Ch Heniveruce King Of Brewers For Aprilflash ShCEX. A dog that I had never judged before and in fact he hadn’t previously appealed but today, aged nearly 6, was his day. He caught my eye on entering and moving round the ring, excellent balanced type, very pleasing masculine head – slightly greying now, clean neck with good front angulation, deep well ribbed body, well presented with rich red and white gleaming coat, tight feet, good shape held on the move with a constantly wagging tail. It was to be his day as he kept going through both challenges to win DCC & with the referee’s agreement BIS 2. Graham’s - Sh Ch Nyliram Born This Way JW . Out of a slightly smaller mould to 1. Well balanced and well coated, clean neck & shoulders, good front & hind angulation, lovely feet, moving happily with ever wagging tail and with drive. 3. Allen’s - Sh Ch Eiriandylis By George. 4. Hankins’ - Julita Rainmaker With Woodelrond

Special Beginners Dog – (2) 1. Bennett’s - Gilstonia Wreck It Riley For Flyboron 3rd in ND. Loved his head and temperament. Compact body, lovely coat, well angulated hind and good feet. When cooperating he paints a good profile picture on the stand and moved happily. 2. Levy’s - Cerysan Limited Edition compact in body presenting a balanced outline. straight front, good shoulders and hind angulation, Well coated and moved happily just rather too proud of his tail which lost him the top spot today.

Mr. Danny Pritchard Special Memorial Stakes - Bred By Exhibitor Dog – (1)

1. Attwood’s - Ir Sh Ch Kylowen Drym ShCM ShCEX Ir Vet Ch Very typy 11 year old dog, with a ‘Welsh’ head with good stop and chiselling below the eye now with a slightly greying face. However he still has good rich red/white coat over his body. well laid shoulders and good hind angulation, not the animation on the move today.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog – (3) 1. Gough’s - Julita Rukester Have done this boy well in the past and delighted to see him now as a nearly 10 year old veteran. He screams breed type, compact in shape, pleasing head – now greying but still showing that kind eyed expression required for the breed, good front & hind angulation, well coated, not quite as straight and silky as some of the youngsters but still with good colour. moved happily with good driving action on nice tight feet. You need to put hands on him and thus perhaps a RDCC on another day but had to give way to the youngsters today. Showed with more attitude and animation than the other veterans in the final challenge to be awarded BVD. 2 Bennett’s - Helgen Romeo The Lover For Flyboron 10 years old and still happy to be here today, well boned and coated, straight front and good shoulders, today he was carrying just a tad too much weight and wasn’t as willing as 1 to move out. 3. Levy’s - Cerysan Limited Edition

Sharon Barkley

Cherryheath