South Wales KA 2013

I've not judged the Mini Longs since Bath 2009 and, overall, I felt the quality of the dogs today had improved since then. Plenty of the entry was under the desired maximum weight of 5kg and many were nearer the Breed Standard ideal weight of 4.5kg. No dog's body condition gave me cause for concern and, on the evidence today, it is perfectly possible to breed a good quality miniature dog or bitch of the correct size. As a breed, upright shoulders and short, stuffy necks still need to be addressed; the latter completely spoils the desired profile of the breed. Too many had flat feet, were down on their pasterns and were in soft condition indicating that a bit more exercise would not go amiss. A couple of dogs were slightly nervous and a few were tummy-tapping, but less than I have seen previously. I was pleasantly surprised that the majority of the entry was not excessively long in body and most dogs had the required ground clearance. Coats were mostly of the correct length, with none of the excessive profusion that obscures the overall shape. We had a good sized ring and it was therefore possible to allow the dogs to demonstrate their movement. My winners all stepped out and covered the ground well and with drive.

MPD(2) 1 McCarthy's Nagshall Mr Tambourine Man. Red dog of just 6 months. Correct proportions and good ground clearance. Reasonable length of upper arm. Could do with a bit more length of neck. Adequate hind angulation and moved more true going away, than second. Tended to run up slightly behind when on the move, but stepped out with good drive. 2 Passey's Ambyth Dizze Rascal Via Cagebrook. Slightly longer and more elegant type than first, but not the length of ribbing, nor did he have keel extending as far back. Held a better topline in profile on the move than first. Not so much drive behind and moved rather wider behind when going away.

PD(3) 1 McCarthy's Nagshall Mr Tambourine Man. 2 Green's Neertanauf Jack Jones. Good overall balance and type, with acceptable ground clearance, but slightly longer in body than first. Not the length of upper arm of first. Rather flat front feet. Good reach of neck, but would prefer better length of ribbing. Held a good topline in profile movement. 3 Lawrence's Silflay Mele Kalikimaka.

JD(5) 1 Hallsworth's Abydachs Aniseed. Lovely proportioned dog with good balance and type. Would prefer a bit more layback of shoulder and reach of neck. Good head with dark eyes. Correct amount of coat. Well angulated behind which meant he was easily the most driving mover in this class. Held a good topline on the move. 2 Brooks' Ralines Romeo At Lyndarlea. Slightly longer type than first, but again with good ground clearance. Rather looser in front construction than first, but more length of upper arm and layback of shoulder than third. Correct amount of coat. Would prefer his keel to run back a bit further and he was longer in the loin than first. Moved true both coming and going away. 3 Bell's Tollberg Super Ted.

PGD(2, 1) 1 McCarthy's Nagshall Just Santana JW. Correct size and proportions. Good length of upper arm and reasonable shoulder placement. Correct, tightly fitting elbows. Would prefer a bit more length of neck. Rather down on his pasterns. Didn't quite hold his topline, with a dip behind the shoulder. Moved very true coming towards me and going away.

LD(4) 1 Angear's Ridgegrove In Disguise. Lovely black and tan with excellent front construction; everything fitting neatly in the right place. Good amount of forechest. Held a correct topline at all times, in profile. Very well angulated behind and lovely bunchy hind feet (a rarity here today). Very free movement with good reach in front and drive behind. Moved true coming and going away. RDCC. 2 Cawley &King's Summerview Make Way For Roo. Red dog, again of lovely type with correct proportions. Slightly more upright in shoulder than first and not quite the length of neck. Adequate ground clearance and lovely neat underline. Moved parallel going away. Kept a good topline in profile movement. Correct amount of coat. 3 Johnson's Charpurdy's Gold McNugget.

OD(4, 1) 1 Graham's Jadag Heir Apparent. Handsome chocolate dapple who really steps out round the ring and moves with drive. If I had to be picky, I'd prefer him a touch shorter in body. Really good front construction, good amount of forechest and one of the few with good reach of neck, flowing into a firm topline which he holds at all times. Well angulated behind. Very true movement in both directions. His owner seemed rather shocked to be awarded the CC, the dog's third and well deserved. DCC, BOS. 2 Holmes' Ch Tammera Touch Of Class. A quality dog of slightly taller type than first, and not quite the front construction, so he moved with a bit more crook coming towards me. He was overall more elegant than third. Good length of ribbing, short coupled and excellent topline. Well angulated behind which he used to drive with purpose. 3 McCarthy's Nagshall Oklahoma Sunrise JW.

MPB(5, 1) 1 McCarthy's Nagshall Sweet Molly Malone. Attractive black and tan of correct proportions and with adequate ground clearance. Good amount of forechest and length of upper arm. Could do with more layback of shoulder. Did tend to run up slightly behind. True movement coming toward me. Toeing in slightly with right hind leg when moving away. Stepped out very freely in profile movement. 2 Graham's Jadag Fancy That. Lovely size. Another correctly proportioned bitch with good length of upper arm and tight fitting elbows. Very good length of ribbing, compared with third. Preferred the ground clearance and freer movement of first. 3 Johnson's Charpurdy Just Willow.

PB(5, 1) 1 Cawley &King's Summerview Tittle Tattle. Dark shaded red with correct balance and proportions. Good ground clearance and tidy underline. Good reach of neck and prominent forechest. Could do with slightly tighter fitting elbows, but still moved quite true when coming towards me. Adequate hind angulation. BP. 2 Johnson's Charpurdy Just Ification.Overall shoulder placement was further forward than first, but she had tighter fitting elbows. Coming toward me, she was not as neat or true as first. Kept a better topline on the move than third. Good hind feet. True, parallel movement going away from me. 3 McCarthy's Nagshall Sweet Molly Malone.

JB (9, 1) 1 Rowell's Tolberg Tia Drop At Emmajesk. What a really striking black and tan bitch who moved so freely and with drive at both ends. Really well constructed in front, both forechest and shoulder placement. Lovely feet. Good length of ribbing and a very tidy, flowing underline. Excellent topline on the move, in profile. 2 Angear's Ridgegrove Bell Of The Ball. A slightly more compact type and not quite as bold as first. Good amount of ground clearance. Reachy neck. Very good front construction, as with all from this kennel. Well angulated behind and her movement going away was more true than first. Lovely hind feet. 3 McCarthy's Nagshall The Rhthym Of Love.

PGB(7) 1 Poole's Findowrie Darcia Rose. Shaded red with absolutely correct proportions and good ground clearance. Reachy neck. Prominent forechest. Tightly fitting elbows. Lovely neat underline. Topline maintained on the move. Correct, true movement coming towards me and moving away. 2 Brooks' Hanishan Eezzy Magic Nite At Lyndarlea. Longer type than first and not quite so bold. Good, prominent forechest. Elegant length of neck. Correct amount of ground clearance. Slightly loose in elbow on the right and a bit more crook coming towards me than first. Topline held at all times. Well angulated behind which she used to drive well. 3 Sainsbury's Ridgegrove Constance At Boscolla.

LB(7) 1 Sainsbury's Ridgegrove Chocolate Drop At Boscolla. Beautiful chocolate dapple, again with the correct proportions and good ground clearance. Lovely length of neck. Good ribbing. Tightly fitting elbows. Very free moving and she steps out with good drive, more so in the front. Could do with a bit more bend of stifle. Moved true both coming and going away. RBCC. 2 Cawley &King's Little Miss Honeybun For Summerview. Similar proportions to first and with equally correct ground clearance. Not quite so tight in the front construction. Very good forechest. Good topline. Could do with keel extending further back and more length of ribbing. Slightly better hind angulation than first, with more bend of stifle. 3 McCarthy's Nagshall The Power Of Love JW.

OB (7, 1) 1 Boyle's Doujac Erin At Zarcrest. Beautiful cream who excels on the move and has much to be admired when she is driving round the ring. Very well balanced and with correct proportions. Good ground clearance. Lovely tidy underline. Excellent tight bunchy hind feet. Tightly fitting elbows. Being picky, would prefer a bit more forechest. True movement in both directions. Turned out to perfection. BCC, BOB. 2 Angear's Ridgegrove Jasmine. Well constructed in front with tightly fitting elbows. Not over long. Not the ground clearance or reach of neck of first. Good length of ribbing. Preferred her front movement to third, as it was more true. 3 Geeson's Abydachs Absolutely.

VB(1) 1 Sainsbury's Boscolla The Lady Isabella. In amazing condition for nearly 13 and a credit to her owners for keeping her in such fit condition. Slightly taller type, with perhaps more depth of body than desired, but overall has the correct length-height proportions. Tightly fitting elbows. Reasonable length of ribbing. Lovely parallel movement going away from me. A bit more crook than I like to see coming towards me.

Ian J Seath