MINIATURE SMOOTHHAIRED

 I always enjoy judging but not unusually I came away with mixed emotions. The third word in the standard is low. I know good ground clearance has become the ‘in phrase’ but in some cases the depth of brisket was less than the length of foreleg. Surely this can’t be what we want? We were always told that the bottom of the ear should not extend beyond the nose. The standard says the forward edge should touch the cheek but in several cases it was the bottom of the ear that reached the cheek. Feet were my other main concern. Hare feet to be a definite no but I found several usually with long trimmed nails. Movement was mixed, nothing specific but a lot of ifs. My final quote is ‘neck carried proudly forward’. I did wonder if there was any connection between the head being carried too high and flapping front feet. On a positive note I felt heads were good and in most cases coupling was short with well muscled loins. With the exception of nails all exhibits were presented in excellent body and condition and I did not find a single dirty or misplaced tooth. Temperament and showmanship was excellent. I felt as usual that the bitches were better overall but I was pleased with all my winners and in some of the classes some very good exhibits were unplaced.

MPD. (5). 1. Plant’s, Merehill Without Doubt. Sweet promising youngster. Black and tan. Pleasing head and eye. Compact. Good front and angulation. Low to ground. 2. Orton’s, Scalamor Winter Jazz Man. Red. Excellent coat. Pleasing head and eye. Good forechest. Short coupled. 3. Palin’s, Classic Mix.

PD. (1). 1. Humes’s, Zoflora Persia. Strong masculine dog. Excellent head, eye and forechest still needs to settle in movement.

JD. (3). 1. Shelton’s, Barisse Gentlemans Relish. Black and tan in excellent coat and condition. Masculine head, good length. Good front and underline. Sound free mover.

PGD. (7). 1. Newbury and Morris’s, Morris Man of Dalegarth. Black and tan. Compact, balanced. Good neck and underline. Pleasing profile movement. 2. Gaskin’s, Glorron Petrulengro at Doverstream. Black and tan. Pleasing head and ears. Good front and angulation at both ends. Balanced mover. 3. Widdop’s, Jondac Justin.

LD. (5). 1. Barber’s, Melriding Meruisti. Useful sort of black and tan. Pleasing head. Well shaped compact body. Nice feet. Sound free mover. 2. Luke’s, Corrieknowe Circassian. Black and tan. Nice masculine head. Good front and angulation. Plenty of width throughout. 3. Doran’s, Switherland Altarico.

OD. (5). 1. Callow’s, Garthorn Man in Black. Black and tan in excellent coat and condition. Pleasing masculine head. Clean strong neck. Good length. Pleasing outline. Scored on movement. CC and BOB. 2. Coxon’s, D’Arisca Way Down Low. Red with excellent coat. Well angulated. Good front and follow through. RCC. 3. Melbourne’s, Melriding Post Hac Meliora.

MPB (9). An excellent class which surely speaks well for the breed. 2. Gorman’s, Gordax Black Velvet. Ultra sound. Good head, eyes, ears and neck. Well laid shoulders. Good keel and follow through. Felt nice to handle. I will watch her career with interest. 2. Gaskin’s, Dovestream Limited Edition. Another very promising youngster. Pleasing head and eye. Good ears and neck. Strong keel with good follow through. Excellent condition. 3. Sharkey’s, Minimead Miss Starlight at Hyshope.

PB. (10). Another excellent class. 1. Mead’s, Minimead Maid Speically. Black and tan in excellent coat and condition. Pleasing head, eye and ears. Good forechest and excellent follow through. My notes say ‘nice bum with well set tail and carriage’. BP. 2. Callow’s, Garthorne Fennella. Another black and tan in excellent coat and condition. Ultra sound mover. Compact well constructed. Good bone and feet. Unlucky to meet winner who was more confident in the very noisy environment. 3. German’s, Gordax Black Velvet.

JB. (15). Another excellent class. 1. Coxon’s, D’Arisca Art and Design. Black and tan in excellent coat and condition. Well constructed, excellent front and follow throughout. Good angulation at both ends. Sound free mover. 2. Daykin’s, Barratini Magic Moment. Red with pleasing head, eye, ears and neck. Good front and follow through. Strong, broad well muscled rump. 3. Melbourne’s, Melriding Slack Alice.

PGB. (12). 1. Melbourne’s, Melriding Confederate Bobi. Sweet feminine black and tan. Pleasing head and eye. Good strong forehand carried through. Compact plenty of width standing and moving. Nice tight feet with good pads. 2. Orton’s, Scalamor Pussy Willow. Black and tan. Pleasing head and eye. Clean strong front. Full broad rump (nice round bum). Good front. Nice tight feet. Sound straight mover. 3. Shelton’s, Sarade Lady Tara.

LB. (6). 1. Mitchell’s, Bronia Lucidissima. Black and tan in excellent coat and condition. Pleasing head, eye, ears and neck on well laid shoulders. Good front and follow through. Plenty of width standing and moving. RCC. 2. Callow’s, Garthorne Leonie. Red feminine head and eye. EXcellent ears and neck on well laid shoulders. Good forechest and follow through. Unlucky to meet the winner. 3. Lombardelli’s, Kelmbeck Ebony Angel.

OB. (6). 1. Widdop’s, Jondac Golden Dream. A different type to all my previous winners but she filled my eye. Clear red in excellent coat and condition. Sweet feminine expression. Good head, eye and neck. Correct well placed and used ears. Compact body with good forechest and underline. Tight round feet with good pads. Plenty of width standing and moving. CC. Just lacked a bit of enthusiasm in the challenge for BOB. 2. Callow’s, Garthorne Lady in Black. Black and tan. Good head, eye, ears and neck. In excellent coat and condition. Good feet plenty of width throughout. 3. Hunt’s, Ch. Carpaccio Shopaholic JW.

Barabra Metcalfe