Midland Counties 2015 - Miniature Smooth Haired

Miniature Smooth-haired A lovely entry of 72 with few absentees and some really smart examples of the breed. The CCs were hotly contested and I was thrilled to learn that the BOB had gone on to win G4 in a very strong Group.

MPD (5,1) 1 & BPD Lewis' Trixhund Bring Me Sunshine I felt this little red chap had the best head and eye which gave him such a delightful expression. Blessed with a good neck, firm back and well angulated hindquarters and he moved out with confidence. 2 Sheppard's Thystine Daiquiri Calypso just the 6 months and very much the baby. Skull needs to flatten out a bit yet, nice dark well shaped eyes and such good ears framing his face. He is nicely ribbed, has a decent sternum and his jacket shone. Not yet settled in front action but balanced in profile. 3 Shutt's Donnadoon Waterloo Sunset.

PD (3) 1 Williams' Wilmerella Wells Fargo lots to appreciate in this b/t. Pleasing head of length with a lovely muzzle and super teeth. Ample neck, good head carriage on the stack, keel deep enough and his underline is good. At present he is at that full of himself, bouncy stage in action and he is needing to settle in front. 2 T. Daquiri Calypso. 3 Shutt's Donnadoon Burning Ember.

JD (3) 1st & CC Hunt's Carpaccio Casablanca b/t with bags of style and looks every inch a top quality dog. Beautifully headed, long neck with that desired slight arch, well laid shoulders, good sternum definition and firm in elbow both on the stack and when moving. So well ribbed, supple loin and well let down hocks. His outline is so eye catching and he never put a foot wrong on the move, hence the DCC which I believe is his first. 2nd Protheroe's Royalmaple Anky Panky lots to like about this very promising red, I just wish he would take that worried look off his face! Nice size and shape, very good reach of neck, nice spring of rib but I feel they could carry back a shade further back so lessen the length of loin which is where Casablanca beat him. Side action so positive and good hock use. 3 Fieke's Lustrum Cushendall.

PGD (9/4)1 Barrett's Ayseebee Rumour Has It I felt this b/t won this class as he had the most appeal for me in his overall shape which is clean cut, reachy in neck, good head carriage, level in back and well moulded croup to strongly muscled hindquarters. Pleasing head, lovely teeth with a powerful muzzle. In good coat, he is another which needs to settle in front action. 2 Laidlaw's Russteck Figgy Duff long, lean head, well shaped so expressive eyes and an excellent muzzle finish. He has such a reach of neck, well laid shoulders with good withers, sternum appeals and his ribs carry well back. I feel he could just carry a little less condition as his backline rolls a fraction on the move. 3 Smith's Wolferlow Admiral Nelson.

LD (5,1) Headed by two quality red dogs. 1st & Res CC Mitchell & Antonopoulos' Ygeia No One Like You (Imp Swe) I liked almost everything about him as he is so well constructed and bodied, super neck and ribbing, short well muscled loin, lovely muscle definition in hindquarters which are well let down on to firm, straight hocks. On the move he is sound but he is just a bit unhappy looking on the stack and could project himself with more male dominance. I believe only recently arrived here so I hope once he is accustomed to his new home, he goes on to fulfil the potential he clearly has. 2. Carey's Swingletrees Abracadabra a little smaller all over but undeniably male in head and body development. He is a delight to go over on the table, ,lovely length of rib, short loin and on the move he is quite sound if a little loose in pastern. For some reason when he stacks he tends to hunch his backline a little, as though unhappy, which detracts from his appeal. There is nothing wrong with it as it is fine on the table! Another which just needs to come out of his shell. 3 Melbourne & Holdsworth's Melriding Perkin Warbeck.

OD (6) 1 Ergis' Ch Siouxline Flynn Rider lovely type and a worthy titleholder. I liked and admired most things about him and he has the air of a top quality dog. I felt those I put over him in the challenge had the edge in front where he was not as tight and straight as I would have liked. On the go around he is light, free striding and full of swank and swagger. 2nd Paget & Carroll's Bronia Valente of Marvale a most attractive b/t which is a lovely shape, super outline, in spanking coat and muscle condition and his profile action confirms how well made he is. A tad longer in hock than I like and I felt the winner had the edge in being that shade more refined in skull. 3 Protheroe's Ch Grandgables Crafty Lil Devil at Royalmaple.

MPB (6) 1 Smith's Wolferglow Maid Marion b/t whose head has yet to finish but she is well constructed, has good shoulders and hindquarters, level back and enough neck which she uses well on the stack. Scores in spring of rib and a good sternum and she was the smoothest in action in this class, so settled and positive. 2 Protheroe's Royalmaple Beryl the Peril this red was not over happy in her surroundings which did little to aid her cause. She handles well on the table, is well made with good ribs and hindquarters. Just has that worried look and she moved up and down the ring too fast. 3 Allen's Kernowdax Hazel Rose.

PB (8,1) 1 & BP Melbourne & Holdsworth's Stargang Glimmer at Melriding what a charmer this delightful quality puppy is. Loved her head, clean cut, decent length, stunning expression and such important head carried with that "look at me" attitude. She is shapely, well proportioned, was in fabulous coat and she out moved the opposition. One to watch. 2 Reed's Deercroft Deep Secret pretty and delightfully feminine b/t whose head and expression will win many over. She is well constructed, has puppy looseness in front at present, but other than that the basics are there & she has the potential to win a lot. 3 Welham's Barryann Lady Jayne.

JB (9/1) 1 Thomas' Royaldach Aithorized Queen I liked this b/t a lot and she enhanced the line up for the BCC. Has an air of quality, super head, eyes and expression, long neck, keeps her shape so well both on the stack and when moving where she uses her hocks so well. 2nd Rollinson's Cwmdarhian Lady In Red for Diamonddax red, probably a shade more compact than the winner, pleasing head, well shaped eyes, good ears, probably not quite the reach of neck of the winner but she is well ribbed, excels in hind angulation and muscle development and she is so steady and rhythmic on the move. 3 Thompson's Flynlythe Saphire Oraysha.

PGB (8,1) 1 Beach's Beachdax Duchess Daisy Doo b/t whose outline catches the ye as she has such a reach of neck, is level in back, good keel and underline and in this class she was the smoothest profile mover. Pleased me in head, well shaped eyes and she was in superb coat. 2nd Peel's Wynndax Coco Chasca this choc is so much better than she believes and she could win more if she made more of her virtues. Once stacked she impresses with that good neck, well laid shoulders, lovely thorax and well padded feet. Good length of rib and supple loin. Never went with the dash of the winner and her front could be a tad firmer when fore viewed. 3 Shutt's Kissed by the Moon Quadros of Donnadoon

LB (6,2) 1 & Res CC Ergis & Melbourne's Siouxline Rapunzel with Melriding red of super quality and doubtless heading for a crown. She has style, shape, is beautifully headed, great outline, reachy neck and in super coat. She moves around the ring with such purpose and drive and I would think her title can't be far away. 2 Herrington's Chance Be A Lady I felt this light red looked at her best when moving where she shows a clean pair of heels, positive front and keeps her shape so well as she circles the ring. I liked her head properties, delightful eyes and expression. Not quite the reach of neck of the winner but other than that she is a really smart bitch. 3 Rollinson's Cwmdarhian Lady Marmalade by Diamonddax JW ShCM.

OB (7,2) 1st CC, BOB & G4 Blackburn-Bennett's Ch Lokmadi Sea Holly at Stargang simply outstanding in every way and I had no hesitation in sending her through to the Group. The best mini smooth I can recall judging and she was in superb form. Never put a foot wrong and whether on the stack or on the move, she is a class act. Delighted to learn she went G4 in what seems to have been a very strong Group. 2nd Protheroe's Am Ch Grandgables MS Ever So Yummy another very lovely bitch of Ch quality. Ultra feminine head of real quality and what an expression! Loved her make and shape, in super coat excellent reach of neck and she is sound in action. Certainly worthy of a UK crown in this form. 3 Williams & Moes' Picollo Teckel Gothika