I enjoyed judging this numerically high entry and was spoilt for choice in several classes, most notably in Post Grad and Limit bitch.  As usual with this variety, the quality of conformation was good, however I feel front movement in some instances needs improvement as there were a proportion of dogs moving with protruding elbows and also displaying a bit too much crook in their forelegs, causing them to move close in front coming towards me.  Also, some slightly wide hind action in evidence moving away.  Not so many nervous dogs as the last time I judged the breed 3 years ago, which was good to observe.

Minor Puppy Dog (3, 2 abs)

1st Callow’s GARTHORNE GAVIN

Smart black and tan, showing much promise for the future.  Strong, masculine head with keen expression, good reach of neck flowing into well placed shoulders with good layback.  Held a level topline both in stance and on the move and strode out freely covering the ground well.  True movement up and back.  I see he is a son of my bitch Reserve CC winner and he shares many of her qualities.

Puppy Dog (3)

1st Ergis’ SIOUXLINE THE MUSKETEER

Captivating compact light red.  Well bodied with quality conformation throughout.  Attractive head with cheeky expression. Well laid shoulders with good forechest in evidence, lovely spring of rib and overall body shape with good topline for his age and lovely sweep of underline.  Well angulated quarters complete the picture.  Loved strutting his stuff each time he was asked to move and has real attitude.  Covered the ground soundly and with ease, keeping his shape in profile.  On a purely sentimental level, leaving aside my view as a judge, this is the one I would dearly have loved to take home!  Best Puppy in Breed.

2nd Rudkin’s DYNASTYDAX PETER PAN

Shaded red with super head and dark, correctly shaped eye.  Good neck leading to reasonable shoulders, but slightly short in upper arm and this was reflected in slightly high-stepping front action viewed in profile.  Moderate hind angulation.  Held his topline and overall body shape well going round, which put him ahead of 3rd, but was a little close in front action viewed coming towards.

3rd Beach’s BEACHDAX BLACK MAGIC

Junior Dog (3)

1st Phillips’ STARGANG DEVIL-MAY-CARE OF ROBINSWOOD

Quality shaded red who caught my eye immediately on first circuit of the ring.  Beautifully constructed throughout and this is reflected in his movement where he held his shape at all times both in stance and movement.  Well proportioned masculine head with pleasing expression, good neck leading to well placed shoulders.  Firm topline and good sweep of underline. Hindquarters in balance with front angulation.  Free mover in profile and parallel up and back action.

2nd Yeomans’ KLYNERBYNER TRADEMARK

Compact, shorter-bodied chocolate and tan.  Good head and neck, and reasonable shoulders, but topline falls away a little over his croup and he has a tendency to move with hindquarters a bit high viewed from the side, but moved soundly up and back.

3rd Sterry’s BARISSE ASARABACCA

Post Graduate Dog (9, 1 abs)

1st Muggleton’s MOSIARTO MISTER VALENTINO

Attractive, compact red with quality conformation throughout.  Handler gets the very best from him allowing him to show off his attributes in both stance and movement.  Well proportioned masculine head, good reach of neck flowing seamlessly into topline.  Lovely body shape with firm, level backline and good flow of underline to complement.  Well angulated in both fore and hindquarters.  Strides out freely with animation in profile and moves parallel out and back.  Held his outline on the move the best in this class.

2nd Phillips’ ARBENNIK ST THOMAS OF ROBINSWOOD

This black and tan gave his handler a hard time, especially on the table, but did allow me to handle him and displayed his qualities better on the move.  Well constructed throughout with appealing head and expression and reasonable angulation at both ends.  Moved freely, but topline rises slightly over the hindquarters in profile movement in comparison with the winner.

3rd Scott’s WOLFERLOW WILL SCARLET

Limit Dog (8, 2 abs)

Strong class of quality dogs who could easily change places on another occasion depending on the judge’s personal preference for type.  Some were a little affected by the noisy conditions in the hall and didn’t give of their best.

1st Callow’s GARTHORNE JACKSON

Beautiful black and tan dog of quality.  Fabulous outline which caught my attention on the first circuit of the ring and he didn’t disappoint on closer examination on the table.  Strong masculine head with keen, alert expression, good reach of neck leading to correctly placed, well laid shoulders and good forechest as a consequence.  Firm, level topline held at all times in stance and movement, and well angulated quarters complete the picture.  Free mover with lengthy stride viewed in profile and absolutely true up and back.  Reserve CC.

2nd Melbourne’s D’ARISCA FLAUNT IT AT MELRIDING

Not a flashy dog at first glance, this quality red has to be gone over to appreciate his many qualities.  Lovely head and eye,  good reach of neck and correctly placed well laid shoulders.  Super body shape and overall outline.  Held his topline going round, and moved true in front, but just a shade close in hind action compared with 1st.  

3rd Roberts’ DENVER DARLING DOCTOR WHO

Open Dog (5)

1st Barrett’s CH. AYSEEBEE RUMOUR HAS IT

Stunning black and tan who owns the ring with his powerful, ground-covering free action and has attitude to go with it.  Compact, well structured dog with appealing head and expression, good length of neck, well placed shoulders and super body shape held at all times on the move.  Firm, level topline, short loin and well let down quarters with correct angulation.  Comes into his own on the move, absolutely sound up and back and lovely length of stride in profile.  Handler gets the very best out of him.  Well deserved CC.

2nd Protheroe’s CH. GRANDGABLES CRAFTY LIL DEVIL AT ROYALMAPLE

Awarded this handsome red boy a 1st as a raw puppy when I last judged this breed 3 years ago and pleased to see he has fulfilled his early promise and is now a Champion.  Another dog who comes into his own on the move where he strides out freely, holding his topline with good length of stride viewed in profile.  Attractive masculine and well proportioned head with dark eye.  Good reach of neck and well placed shoulders leading to a firm, level topline which he maintains in stance and movement.  Well angulated quarters.  Just not quite as parallel in hind action going away as CC and Reserve CC winners, but a lovely dog to be proud of.

3rd Hunt’s CH. CARPACCIO CASABLANCA

Minor Puppy Bitch (13, 4 abs)

A difficult class to judge as these young bitches are obviously still growing and developing and, as a result, there were a lot of less than good toplines.  This should alter and hopefully improve as they grow on and they will no doubt change places with maturity.

1st Shutt’s DONNADOON DREAMDUST

Light brindle who held the best shape in profile moving round the ring.  Attractive feminine head with keen expression, good reach of neck and good forequarter construction.  More moderate in hind angulation, but moved out freely holding a good shape and was a true mover up and back.

2nd Mitchell’s BRONIA JUANITA

Lovely black and tan who was very satisfying to go over on the table.  Well angulated fore and aft.  I preferred her hindquarters to 1st, but at present she needs to firm up a little in topline in profile on the move.

3rd Price’s SAMLANE DESDEMONA

Puppy Bitch (11, 1 abs)

1st Burton’s SWINGLETREES STAR ARNI DAHL

Well balanced black and tan who displayed elegance and overall good construction.  Feminine head, carried proudly on reachy neck which flows into a firm level topline that was held in stance and profile movement.  Well angulated at both ends.  Moved out freely and kept the best shape going round in this class.  Best Puppy Bitch.

2nd Rudkin’s DYNASTYDAX PERIWINKLE

Red with very attractive head and expression.  Good overall body shape with pleasing shoulders and forechest, top and underline.  Well angulated hindquarters.  Moved freely in profile keeping a good outline, but is a little high-stepping in front action which cost her 1st.  Littermate to 2nd in puppy dog.  Lucky breeder to have two such promising youngsters.

3rd Ergis’ SIOUXLINE DAPPERDAX DESTINY

Junior Bitch (6, 1 abs)

1st Hunt’s CARPACCIO BLITHE SPIRIT

Beautiful black and tan of super quality presented in gleaming condition and handled to advantage.  Caught my eye on the first circuit of the ring and didn’t disappoint on closer examination on the table where everything fitted together seamlessly and flowed under my hands.  Attractive feminine head held proudly on good reach of neck.  Correctly placed and well laid back shoulders with good forechest, super body shape with firm level topline and sweeping underline.  Well angulated quarters complete the picture.  She comes into her own on the move, covering the ground with effortless free striding action and moves parallel up and back.  Pleased to award her 3rd CC and Best of Breed.  Could have watched her and the Dog CC winner move all day.

2nd Paterson’s ZALITA LASTING PROMISE

More compact chocolate and tan with firm level topline held at all times standing and moving.  Well constructed with moderate angulation fore and aft.  Well handled to allow her to display her sound movement.

3rd Mills’ ONIASID TIGER TIGER

Post Graduate Bitch (13, 1 abs)

Spoilt for choice in this hotly contested class of quality bitches.

1st Ergis’ SIOUXLINE ESTHER ROSE

Royally bred red of 14 months who has quality stamped right through her.  Attractive head and expression, and is beautifully constructed with correctly placed well laid back shoulders, good forechest, super body shape and topline and well angulated quarters.  Her quality conformation translated into sound, free movement, where she held her shape in profile and was absolutely sound up and back.  In the challenge she looked a little immature still, in comparison to the CC and Reserve CC winners, but was close up and will I’m sure have a bright future.

2nd Smith’s WOLFERLOW MAID MARION

Naughty black and tan who played her handler up standing, but I forgave this as she moved so well, keeping her lovely outline at all times.  Very well constructed with pleasing head neck, body shape and hind angulation.  Not quite as compact as my 1st, but a lovely bitch of different type.

3rd Muggleton’s MOSIARTO MISS CALCULATE

Limit Bitch (10)

Another very strong class with quality right down the line and some difficult decisions to be made.

1st Callow’s GARTHORNE MISS TOFFEE

Beautiful shaded red I have judged before and think she has improved with age.  I see she is a full sister to my dog reserve CC winner and mother to 1st in minor puppy dog.  All three exhibits share many of the same qualities.  She has an attractive, feminine head with keen expression and carries herself proudly on the move displaying sound, active and free movement.  Correctly placed shoulders, firm and level topline and well angulated quarters.  Absolutely parallel up and back action and holds her shape at all times in profile movement.

Pleased to award Reserve CC.  I just preferred the more compact shape of the Junior in what was a hair-splitting decision for the bitch CC.

2nd Russell’s RUSSTECK PLUM DUFF

Lovely black and tan of quality.  Different in type to 1st, being deeper in body and of slightly heavier build overall.  Also has a super head and expression and is very satisfying to go over on the table where everything flowed under my hands.  Has correctly placed shoulders, lovely body shape and firm topline and well angulated hindquarters.  Strode out freely keeping a beautiful outline in profile and was sound up and back.  It was just my personal preference for type that placed her behind 1st, but she is of equal merit and one to be proud of.

Open Bitch (2, 2 abs).

SUE SEATH (Judge)