My thanks to my stewards and the WEDA committee for their hospitality and for giving me the chance to judge this delightful variety.  I wish the Club the very best for the future in their new challenge of holding their Champ. Show with Bath.  I haven’t had the pleasure of judging ms for some years and thank exhibitors for their good entry and accepting my decisions which were very close in some classes.  I feel hind movement is the biggest problem of this variety just as it was when I judged before.  In some exhibits it may be due to a too long second thigh.  Generally, front movement was far superior with very little high stepping.  As the depth of quality was high in some classes, my final decision came down to soundness of movement and personal preference after assessing for breed type and correct size.  I was pleased to see all exhibits were well covered at all weights and in all classes with just two a fraction over the required weight.  It can be done!   A quality entry with many good youngsters, dogs and bitches, which augers well for the future of the variety.  I was very pleased with my top winners and so thrilled to find I had given both the Dog and Bitch CC winner their 3^rd crowning ticket on the day.  Many congratulations to you both.

MPD  (6)  All very promising well covered puppies who need to strengthen in hind movement.  A lot to like about them all.  1 Hughes’ Clentry Copper Glow at Julidachs 8 month red puppy with good head and neck, forechest and length of ribbing.  Well angulated front and rear and a firm topline which he maintained on the move.  Sound front movement.  2  Blackburn’s Stargang Sea Bird Another red 7 month puppy – litter brother to my 1^st MPB.  Similar remarks apply as to my winner.  Just preferred Copper Glow’s overall movement on the day.  3  Kent’s Lokmadi Bowetts Testarosso.

PD (4)  1 Blackburn-Bennett’s Stargang Barracuda  10 month red puppy sired by the same dog as my DCC winner.  Handsome well bodied puppy with conical head and dark almond eye, good length of neck and ribbing and prominent forechest.  Well angulated fore and aft.  Presented a lovely outline standing and on the move.  Won this class on his more positive movement. BPD 2 Burton’s Swingletrees Warpaint (Res. in MPD)   A lot to like about this 7 month puppy.  Good head and eye and overall body proportions.  Just not so settled at present and tended to roach his back a tad when standing.  He has time on his side.

JD (3) 1 Rudkin’s Dynastydax Peter Pan  Sound moving shaded red with correct height to length ratio.  Pleasing head, neck and forechest.  Well angulated at both ends but just tended to turn his left foot out when standing.  Firm topline on the move and in stance.  Looked good in profile when moving. 2 Dunhill’s Gellijams Aldaniti Another well bodied b/t with good overall outline and masculine head, good forechest  and firm topline standing.  Movement unsteady behind and tended to lose his outline on the move.  Perhaps he needs more practice moving on the grass.

PGD (5) 1 Startup’s Curtisey Head Gardener  Shaded red with good head, neck, topline and shoulder placement. Well angulated, sound, workmanlike exhibit who moved out well with his handler but was stronger in front movement than rear.  Looked good in profile movement.  2  Rudkin’s Dynasydax Secret Agent  B/t of larger mould to Head Gardener.  Overall good proportions and pleasing outline with good head and forechest.  Moved steadily but not so positively as my winner. 3 Starkey’s Carpaccio Just my Luck with Harmoura.

LD (2) Phillip’s Abernik St. Thomas of Robinswood  Although he stood alone he deserved his placing.  Sound, well covered b/t who decided to play his handler up today.  Pleasing head and eye, good forechest and length and depth of ribbing.  Sound young man who moved out well when co-operating.  He kept a good outline standing and on the move.

OD (5) Good class of quality dogs of different type.   1 Protheroe’s Royalmaple Anky Panky  Smart red dog with good bone and compact, well proportioned body.  Lovely to go over, nothing overdone, very well balanced.  Masculine head with dark eye, good front assembly, forechest and feet.  Correct length of ribbing and short loin.  Moved out well with his handler with good parallel movement covering the ground with ease.  Lovely  outline both standing and on the move. Pleased to award him the DCC.  Just lost out to the bitch for BOB as I preferred her feminine elegance and tad longer neck.  Definitely a dog to be proud of. 2 Blackburn’s Stargang Tiger Feet  Another quality dog from this kennel.  So much to like about this b/t.  Masculine head, good front assembly and shoulders and lovely body proportions.  Similar remarks apply to him as I have said with regard to the winner. Just preferred Anky Panky’s overall free movement on the day but no hesitation in awarding him the RDCC.  3 Barrett’s Ch. Ayseebee Rumour Has It.

VD (1)  Kent’s Barrantini Jeeves at Lokmadi JW  Stood alone but well deserved his placing.  I have awarded him high honours before from Veteran.  Smart, nearly 9 year old b/t who isn’t showing his age.  Good masculine head and reach of neck, firm topline standing and moving. He moved  round the ring , on a loose lead, with verve and good reach and drive.  Can still show the youngsters a thing or two on showing technique.  Well handled. B Veteran.

MPB  (8)  Lovely class of well covered very promising puppies.  They could all change places as they develop.1  Blackburn’s  Simply the Best (well named for the winner of this class)nearly 8 month litter sister to 2^nd in MPD.  2 Worswick’s Dolyharp Sonata 8 months.  Both red with lovely outlines and firm toplines for youngsters.  Good head, reach of neck, shoulders and front and rear angulation.  My winner had an excellent  forechest – not overdone – which made her the winner today as both moved out well for their handlers.  Look forward to seeing their progress in the future. 3 Rollinson’s Diamonddax Bridget Jones.

PB (5) More quality puppies of different types.  Close decisions between them all. 1 Burke and Manston’s Radclyffe Acanthus 9 month puppy who excelled in her overall good movement for one so young.  Co-operated so well with her handler.   Good head, reach of neck and shoulders, well angulated front and rear.  Very sound youngster who moved out well today keeping a firm topline and lovely outline. BP. 2 Salisbury’s Brocklewood Black Orchid  11 month b/t .  I loved the look of her as she entered the ring.  An elegant, correctly sized well schooled puppy with a lot going for her.  She was all of a piece but just a tad low for my preference.  Attractive head and eye, good neck and shoulders and general overall body shape.  Although she moved out well she couldn’t match the drive and style of the winner on the day and just tended to be slightly soft in topline on the move.   Time on her side.  3 Blackburn Bennett’s Stargang Mary Rose.  

JB  (12)  Best overall class of the day of quality young bitches.  Close decisions between the first five in the line-up.  They could all change places on another day and probably will. Really spoilt for choice here.  It came down to personal preference and movement  as I was really splitting hairs.  All five exhibitors in the line up should be proud of their exhibits as they all were beautifully presented and in good condition.  1 Mitchell’s Bronia Juanita.  Stylish, well boned young lady with feminine head and dark eye, good reach of neck flowing into correct shoulders.   Good forechest and  depth and length of ribbing, lovely feet  and correct angulation front and back.  Lovely outline standing and moving in the class.   Well handled.   Liked her a lot, she pressed hard in the challenge  Moved out well and with style keeping her topline in her class but lost it a tad in the challenge.  2 Salisbury’s Brocklewood Black Orchid (2^nd in PB).  3  Hutchings’ Stargang Hot Cross Bun  (Same sire as my BCC, BRCC & 1^st in OB.)

PGB (10)  1 Rudkin’s Dynastydax Periwinkle  Well balanced red with good  feminine head and reach of neck, forechest and  angulation.  Pleasing general body outline standing and on the move.  She moved out steadily keeping her topline but needs to tighten behind.  2  West’s Archidax Bonneville  This exhibit has nearly reached veteran but has a lot going for her and similar remarks apply to her as I have said for Periwinkle. I think her handler would get more from her if she learnt to relax when showing her especially on the table. 3 Attwell’s Springfern Hermione.

LB (7) Another strong class.  My first and second both had the same sire and were very difficult to separate on the day.  Quality bitches and very similar in many ways.  I was splitting hairs in the first five placings which augers very well for the breed.  1 Russell’s Russteck Plum Duff.  What a cracker.  She took my eye straight away and everything was good after having hands-on.  Elegant, neat, well boned and balanced exhibit who held her good topline and outline all the time standing and moving right through to the challenge.  I liked her size and type.  Feminine head with dark eye, good length of neck, forechest and shoulders.  Correct length of upperarm, tight elbows, good angulation fore and aft, well covered and muscled body and strong quarters.  Well handled and moved out so well , she really drove round the ring.  She couldn’t be denied her placing today.  BCC & BOB.  2 Melbourne & Holdsworth’s Stargang Glimmer at Melriding.  Another quality, attractive exhibit.  Most  of the remarks I have made for Plum Duff apply to this bitch as well.  I just preferred the winners head and her reach and drive and outline in profile on the move.  Her time will come I’m sure. RBCC.  3 Rollinson’s Cwmdarhian Lady in Red for Diamondax.

OB (4) 1 Blackburn-Bennett’s Ch Stargang Star Anise Another bitch with the same sire as my 1^st and 2^nd in Limit.  A lovely girl up to size and a very worthy champion.  So much to like about her.  Quality b/t with good head and eye, forechest, shoulders and angulation.  Well off for bone and hammy quarters.  Lovely outline and moved well with reach and drive keeping a good outline  2 Kent’s Lokmadi Goodnight Irene JW   Another quality exhibit who has the same sire as my 2^nd in PB & JB.  Smaller cast b/t and a little lower to ground than Star Anise nevertheless  a very good representative of the breed.  Pleasing head and eye, good forechest, shoulders and angulation.  Firm topline standing and on the move.  Moved soundly.  Just preferred the head, movement in profile and ground clearance of Star Anise.  3 Protheroe’s Grandables Ms Ever So Yummy at Royalmaple.