Guildford & District Canine Society

Guildford and District Canine Society Premier Open Show

Sunday 15th February 2026

My grateful thanks to the committee who invited me to judge today, the super-efficient stewards in both rings and to all the exhibitors for your entries and for taking my placings with good grace. The cold and wet conditions meant that some dogs were a bit unsettled, and the ring had some very interesting smells which some found a little distracting.

Susan Jones

Kooikerhondje

Post Graduate

1st TWYBROOK BARENHAUTER (Davies). Dog of nice size, well-proportioned and giving a balanced outline. Lovely shape to his head with curved skull and nice wedge to the muzzle. Well filled cheeks under correctly set, almond shaped eyes, giving the required friendly and alert expression. Correctly set ears, well feathered with black earrings. Lovely front with good angulation from the well laid shoulder and upper arm. Correctly sloping pasterns when viewed from the side but stood with forelegs straight. Good depth of chest reaching the elbows and adequate spring of ribs. Well-muscled hind quarters with good angulation. Tail of correct length and carried well on the move, which demonstrated good extension and drive. BOB, and one I will follow with interest.

2nd MOOIEKOOI’S DIZZY DELTA (Folan Murphy and Murphy). Bitch of smaller proportions but very feminine. Very attentive to her handler. Lovely feminine head of correct shape and proportions. Slightly upright in the front, so would prefer a little more angulation. Moved nicely.

Open

1st MILLHANGER KEMBOY (Davies). Dog of good size. Nice masculine head of good proportions. Defined stop and well filled cheeks. Correct eyes, with a friendly expression. Well feathered ears, sensitive in use. Nice front angulation with slightly sloping pasterns and close elbows. Chest reaching to the elbows and of sufficient breadth. Strong level back and slight tuck up. Hindquarters well-muscled with good angulation. Tail of correct length and carried well on the move. RBOB. Unfortunately, a change of handler in the challenge resulted in him being beaten by his younger kennelmate, but I was delighted to see him place 3rd in a strong AV RBOB class at the end of the day.

BSD Groenendael (1, 1 absent)

BSD Tervueren

Post Graduate

1st FABLEHAWK FARAMIR PBEG EX CDEX (O’Donnell). Dog of nice size and proportions. Standing square, gave the impression of graceful strength and intelligence. Beautiful head, held proudly, with parallel planes. Strong muzzle, well set eyes, alert and attentive, under erect ears of correct shape and size. Long forelegs parallel when viewed from the front and side with short pasterns. Correct angulation front and rear, allowing for brisk, economic movement. BOB.

Briard (1, 1 absent)

Lancashire Heeler

Junior (3, 1 absent))

1st FOVEAUX MAGIC DANCE JW (Webb). Dog of 18 months. Strong and masculine. Well matured for his age. Good head with flat skull and parallel planes. Eyes set wide apart, dark in colour and attentive to owner. Correctly shaped ears held erect. Shoulder placement correct with elbows against the well sprung ribs. Firm level back. Well-turned stifles and hocks parallel from the rear. Ample bone throughout. Move ok, but would have liked a bit more action.

2nd FRAGARIALEA SWEET CHARLIE (Gamble and Pullen). 8 month old dog who was a little unhappy on the table. Smaller in type than 1st but of nice shape and needs to just fill out and mature a bit. Good angulation allowing him to move with a brisk action.

Post Graduate

1st SRENSCEM EDRED’S EDIVA AT FRAGARIALEA (Gamble and Pullen). Liver bitch of small yet feminine proportions. Slightly longer in body. Lovely head in proportion to her body, with flat skull and sufficient space between the ears. Dark, almond shaped eyes of pale rims set wide apart. Good neck onto well laid shoulders. Elbows against ribs. Firm level topline, which was held on the move. Stifles well-turned with well let down hocks, parallel when viewed from rear. Moved with a smart brisk action, and gave the impression she could go all day. BOB.

2nd HOSCAR ISABELLA (Webb). Another liver bitch of different type to 1st. Very much enjoyed her time in the ring, with a constantly wagging tail! Larger in size with more bone, but still very feminine. Nice head with wide set, dark eyes and alert ears. Good neck. Forequarters good, with well laid shoulders and slightly turned pasterns. Well sprung ribs. At the rear, I would prefer hocks a bit more let down, but these were straight when viewed from behind. Moved ok.

Open (1, 1 absent)

Old English Sheepdog

Junior

1st LADAMIS PRINCE OF DARKNESS WITH MELLOWDEE (Porter). 7 month old dog of small size but plenty of time to grow. Stood square and of balanced proportions. Nice shape to head with good proportions to muzzle and head. Dark eyes set wide apart and correct small ears. Good length to his neck with a nice arch. Well laid back shoulders and correct angulation to the front, with sufficient bone in the forelegs, stood straight. Chest still needs to drop but this will come with age. Good rear angulation with a good turn of stifle and low set hocks. Rear pasterns parallel when viewed from behind. Compact round feet. Moved very well with drive from the rear and completely balanced. BP. Delighted to see him take the Pastoral Puppy Group. One I will watch with interest.

2nd KALAJU DREAM A LITTLE DREAM (Wilkinson). 10 month old bitch of nice size. Good head of nice proportions and nice length to her neck. Front angulation ok, a little short in upper arm. Stood square with adequate rise over the loin. Depth of chest will come with age. Moved ok.

Open (5, 2 absent)

1st JELABOBS PACO RABANNE FOR DANTRECAR (Spurling). Dog of good size, stood solidly square with profuse coat and a pear shape to the body from above. Correct capacious head, slightly square in shape. Nice dark eyes set well apart. Small ears positioned well at the side of the head. Strong, square muzzle and wide nostrils on a large black nose. Strong, yet nicely arched neck. Straight forelegs when viewed from the front. Good angulation between shoulders and upper arm. Good depth of chest to elbows. Well sprung ribs with the withers lower than the loin. Hindquarters well muscled, appearing round. Good angulation at the rear, with low set hocks and legs straight when viewed from behind. Moved well, with good extension and drive from the rear, allowing for single tracking. BOB

2nd MELLOWDEE SAPPHIRE MOON AVEC MELDALE JW (Leggett). Bitch of nice size and shape, slightly long in body. Nice head with good muzzle to head proportions. Wide nostrils. Strong neck, nicely arched. Good front and rear angulation. Good depth to chest, with well sprung ribs. Nice rise over the loin giving the correct topline. Moved ok, just preferred the drive from 1st.

3rd MELDALE DIAMOND MOON (Leggett).

Pyrenean Mountain Dog

Junior

1st CHIA APALTASUNEZ AVEC KRICARNO (Tadd). 17 month bitch of top size. Beautifully feminine expression. Good ears and eyes of quiet intelligence. Slight curve to head, good proportions, nice muzzle. Short neck into good shoulders. Front and rear angulation good. Good length to her back, which was straight and level. She just needs to fill out more, but this will come with time. Would prefer a bit more drive on the move, but definitely ‘unhurried’.

Post Graduate (2, 1 absent)

1st AURVANDILL FREYA’S HEIDI (Cox) 4 and a half year old bitch. Beautiful feminine head of correct proportions. Top of skull equidistant in all directions, with a slight curve. Gentle slope down the face to the strong muzzle. Almond shaped dark eyes gave an elegant expression, of quiet intelligence. Fairly short neck onto a long and broad back and level topline. Forelegs straights, with sufficient bone for her size. Front angulation correct, with adequate width of stance and depth of chest between the elbows. Hindquarters had excellent angulation, with well muscled thighs allowing plenty of drive from the rear. Moved with easy grace and balance. BOB

Open (4, 2 absent)

1st MANGROVE XIPHOS SPARTAN SWORDSMAN AT DARMAROR JW (Reilly). 22 month dog of top size. Beautiful masculine head of correct proportions. Slight curve when viewed from the front and sides, with a gentle slope from the top of the skill to the muzzle, which was strong. Dark, almond-shaped eyes gave a soulful expression, with quiet confidence. Good short neck onto powerful shoulders. Strongly boned legs and well-muscled. Angulation at front and rear was mirrored. Still a bit of room for chest to drop a bit. Moved well with drive. RBOB

2nd KRICARNO KLASS KOMBINED (Tadd). Smaller dog in size to 1st. Head with slight curve to the skull and a gentle slope from top of skull to muzzle. Moderate angulation front and rear. Moved ok, but just preferred the overall balance of 1st.

AV Bred by Exhibitor (56, 11 present)

A long wait for a suitable ring, but I was pleased to see a variety of breeds from most of the groups, although the majority of exhibitors had decided not to wait.

1st COBHAY DASHING DANDELION JW (Williams and Toublic) English Springer Spaniel. 2 year old dog who caught my eye when he came in the ring and didn’t disappoint when I got my hands on him. Gave a pleasing outline on the stand, symmetrical and strong. Lovely masculine head with broad, slightly rounded skull. Good muzzle and nostrils. Nicely shaped ears, set in line with the eyes with excellent fringing. Dark eyes well set, giving an intelligent and kind expression. Good length to the neck, well muscled and nicely arched. Shoulders well laid back and sloping. Front legs well boned, straight with flexible pasterns. Good depth of chest and nice length to body. Hindlegs very well muscled, with broad thighs and a good bend to the stifle and hocks. Moved beautifully with balance and drive.

2nd CRAVESSA SNOOPY (Searles) Spanish Water Dog. 11 month old. Very nice pup of good size. Flat skull with parallel planes. Nice proportions between skull and slightly shorter muzzle. Wide nostrils. Eyes set well apart. Nicley shaped ears and set correctly just above the eye. Good front angulation above straight forelegs. Withers slightly higher than level of back. Slightly longer in body than height, but elbows equidistant between withers and floor. Reasonable depth to chest, but room to develop. Good angulation at the rear. Brisk action, with excellent drive from the rear.

3rd SH CH ROANJORA CRÉMANT D’ALSACE JW (McDonald) Irish Red and White Setter

4th ELSKERWOO CLOUDY SKIES JW (Sainsbury) Clumber Spaniel

5th EIRAKEE’S YOU GO GLEN COCO JW (Gauntlett) Siberian Husky