My thanks to the committee for the invitation to judge at this prestigious show, to my very efficient stewards who kept things moving along nicely, but particularly to the exhibitors who brought me some beautiful dogs to assess. I was really pleased with my super entry of over 100, and it was encouraging to see some new exhibitors in this breed.

There were quite a few dogs who were over the desired weight , which I accepted when it was a few ounces, but not when it reached a pound! Presentation was excellent, teeth were clean and there were no bad mouths. I found a few upright shoulders, and some short ribs, but these were in the minority. My biggest concern today was the hind movement. Dogs that looked beautiful stacked on the table were completely different when asked to move. Hind legs flicked out, hocks bowed and the drive from the hindquarters was lost. Sadly, this was present in quite a few exhibits

I was really pleased with my winners. Some classes were particularly difficult to assess as the depth of quality was so good, and it was just my personal preference on the day.

Minor Puppy Dog 6 (1)

1 Blackburn-Bennett Stargang Terrafirma Smart red boy, just 6 months old. Beautiful head, good shoulders and well filled front. Ribbing was long and well sprung and he moved well. A little soft in topline at the moment, time will correct this. Nice puppy.

2 Barrett Ayseebee Twinkling Star Another nice boy, B/T with the same lovely angulation and ribbing of 1 and moving well. Very little to choose between these two lads, and I’m sure they’ll change places in the future.

3 Roberts Denver Darling Rupert Bear

Puppy Dog 5

1 Protheroe Royalmaple Fiddle Sticks Smart B/T boy with good front assembly and long ribbing. Nicely angulated hindquarters, and good movement. He was a little unsettled in this noisy hall today but could not be denied his 1^st place.

2 Burke Bonavoir Blackjack Another nice B/T with good head, tight front assembly and sound free movement. I just preferred the slightly heavier bone of the winner.

3 Stephen Bedu Stars and Stripes

Junior Dog 4

1 Melbourne Marvale in Cahoots with Melriding Heavily boned, red boy, just out of puppy, and similar in type to my CC winner. Masculine head, good front assembly and well angulated, strong hindquarters. He moved well keeping a good profile and was close up for the RCC, his time will come.

2 Shutt Melriding Captain Cook of Donnadoon Lighter built than my winner, but with good construction and strong movement. I just preferred the heavier bone and better ground clearance of my winner, but a nice youngster.

3 Jennings Duddondax Judge Jude

Special Beginners Dog No Entries

Post Graduate Dog 5 (1)

1 Ergis Siouxline Jacob JW Smart, well balanced red with good head and expression and long well arched neck. Correctly angulated fore and aft, with tight elbows and long well sprung ribbing. Moved soundly with good reach and drive.

2 Blackburn Stargang Sea Bird Another well balanced red boy, with the same sound construction of one, and very similar in type. I just preferred the slightly longer ribbing of the winner.

3 Mutton Ygela Ustinov (imp)

Limit Dog 3

1 Roberts Wingcrest Supersonic to Denver Attractive B/T with lovely head and good front assembly, long ribbing and strong hindquarters. Loved this boy for his sound construction and his free flowing movement, but he tends to tense on the table, it’s only when he is moving that you can fully appreciate his good qualities. RDCC

2 Blackburn Bennett Stargang Baracuda Nicely constructed red with lovely head, good reach of neck, well laid back shoulders and long ribbing but I just preferred the hind movement of my winner.

3 Williams Wilmerella Go West

Open Dog 6

1 Carroll & Paget Ch Marvale Up With the Lark My notes say Wow!! This boy was everything I was looking for. He has a strong masculine head, good reach of neck, excellent shoulders, long well sprung ribbing and correct hindquarters. On the move he comes into his own with his power and drive, poetry in motion and pure quality all through. I was proud to award him the CC and BOB

2 Protheroe Royalmaple Anky Panky Nicely constructed dog slightly lighter in build to my winner Nice head, well arched neck and with good angulation all through. Presented a lovely outline at all times, and moved well.

3 Barrett Ch Ayseebee Rumour Has It

Veteran Dog 1

1 Nolan Kelmbeck Lord of the Dance at Eddyval 9 years young, with good dentition and sparkling clean teeth. Attractive head, long neck and strong well sprung ribbing. He was very well muscled for his age, in good coat, and moved well. A lovely old gentleman, and a credit to his owner. I just wish I’d had a sausage to give him.

Minor Puppy Bitch 13 (1)

1 Blackburn-Bennett Stargang Fairy Wren Feminine red bitch with good head, well laid back shoulders, long ribbing and strong hindquarters moved well keeping a good outline

2 Hunt Carpaccio Clarice Cliff Attractive B/T bitch with good angulation all through, long ribbing and sound movement. I just preferred the slightly longer neck of my winner, but a close decision between these girls.

3 Bullis Amaffrey Good Golly Ms Molly

Puppy Bitch 8

1 Blackburn Stargang Sea Serenade feminine red youngster with beautiful head and expression, long neck running into correct front assembly, good length of ribbing and decent hindquarters. She moved well keeping a good outline, and I thought she was a very elegant, well balanced bitch. A star of the future I’m sure. BPIB

2 Shutt Donnadoon Carolina Moon Another nice youngster, slightly taller than my winner. Nicely constructed all through and with good free movement. Two beautiful girls who could easily change places on another day.

3 Protheroe Royalmaple Evil Edna
 

Junior Bitch 10 (1)

1 Williams & Moes Cwmdharian Prty Lika Rushn Loved this youngster, just out of puppy. Typical hound head, good reach of neck, and excellent well laid back shoulders. Her ribbing was long and well sprung and she had strong hindquarters that powered her around the ring. She had the elegance and femininity that I was looking for, and I was delighted to award her the BCC. I’m sure her others will soon follow.

2 Blackburn – Bennett Stargang Song of Ice N’Fire Slightly taller bitch who was well angulated and had good construction all through. She moved well keeping a good outline at all times.

3 Reed Deercroft Daybreak
 

Special Beginners Bitch 8 (1)

1 Dear Moragden Dizzy Lizzy at Onadaire Attractive red bitch with nice head, enough neck, and strong well sprung ribbing. She had well let down hocks and moved with drive. Happy to award her BSPIB and pleased to see her awarded 3rd Best Special Beginner in Show

2 Bullingham Bowetts Carminia Nice B/T puppy Well constructed nicely angulated fore and aft, with good length of ribbing Moved well.

3 Bullis Goodtry Ruby Tuesday at Amaffrey

Post Graduate Bitch 12 (1)

1 Roberts Wingcrest Bridget Jones to Denver Attractive B/T bitch, litter sister to the RDCC winner. She is beautifully made with good length of neck, sound front, well laid back shoulders, long ribbing and strong hindquarters. Moved well with good front extension and rear drive, and kept her outline at all times.

2 Hutchings Stargang Hot Cross Bun for Collidach Pretty brindle girl, a smaller type to 1, soundly made all through, Prominent front, enough neck, and well angulated hindquarters, she moved with drive keeping a good topline

3 Blackburn Stargang Simply the Best

Limit Bitch 13 (2)

1 Worswick Dolyharp Sonata Loved this red girl Good head, nicely placed shoulders, with good length of upper arm and tight elbows. She has long well sprung ribbing, and strong hindquarters, used to advantage on the move.

2 Salisbury Brocklewood Black Orchid Well constructed black and tan with very sound construction and excellent movement. She flowed round the ring keeping a good profile at all times. Two beautiful girls who could easily change places on another day.

3 Protheroe Picollo Teckel Never Say Never At Royalmaple (Imp)

Open Bitch 7 (1)

A difficult class as there were some beautiful, quality exhibits, every one worthy of their champion status. It just came down to my own personal preference in the final placings.

1 Hunt Ch Carpaccio Midnight Lace JW Small compact red bitch. Attractive, feminine head, good prosternum, well constructed front assembly and strong, well sprung ribbing. Her hind quarters were strong and well muscled with neat well let down hocks. RCC

2 Blackburn Bennett Ch. Stargang Cherry Berry Similar in type to 1 with the same strong construction, long well sprung ribbing and good outline, I just preferred the slightly longer neck of my winner, but these are two beautiful girls.

3 Protheroe Royalmaple Daphne Blake

Veteran Bitch 3 (1)

1 Kent Lokmadi Hidden Dragon Red bitch, 8 years old and still moving well and enjoying herself . Nice front assembly , good ribbing and sound hindquarters. BVIB

2 Coxon D’arisca Damsel in a Dress B/T 7 year old, lovely girl, just beginning to show a little grey around her muzzle, which added to her character. Nicely constructed all through and moving well.