Many thanks to the exhibitors for giving me a numerically strong entry to judge and to the Hound Association for their hospitality. Also thanks to my 2 stewards who did an excellent job. I was conscious of needing to crack on to get through the entry in a timely manner for the club show to begin afterwards without rushing any of the exhibitors.

As a variety I found that the dogs presented to me today were a real mixed bag with so many different types that some classes felt more like any variety mini smooth. There has been a lot of imports from many different countries in recent years in this variety and I think it is going to take some time and careful breeding to consolidate type. I was looking for a well made hound with the correct height to length ratio and not too low to ground, I prefer a bit of elegance and for me they have to be able to move with a long free flowing stride, very few here today had correctly laid shoulders with lengthy upper arms which allow them to have the desired long front stride with little lift of the front legs. The ones that I did find to have this had more ground clearance. In some classes (Open dog, junior and limit bitch in particular) I was spoilt for choice and could have happily awarded CC’s to many in these classes.

Minor Puppy Dog – 4 entries, 1 absent

1.       Dunhill’s Gellijams Russian Sun – 6 month S/R baby with a promising shape. Lovely head and length of neck. Good layback of shoulder and length of upper arm. Well angulated rear. Moves true coming and going with good reach and drive in profile when settled. Needs to develop in body.

2.       Reed’s Deercroft Dream Chaser – Lovely head on this puppy, good length of neck and layback of shoulder but not the length of upper arm of 1^st. Ok length of ribbing and well angulated rear. Needs to tighten on move which I am sure will come with age.

3.       Jennings’ Jenivon Mr Mischief

Puppy Dog – 2 entries

1.       McLennan’s Cheguevar Paddington Bear – 10 month clear red dog with a lovely head and good length of neck. Well laid shoulders and balanced rear angulation. Would prefer slightly longer ribbing. Excellent on the move with parallel front and rear movement and super reach and drive in profile. Best Puppy Dog.

2.       Smith’s Wolferlow Tipping Point – S/R with a good head and length of neck. Moderately angulated shoulders. Good length of ribbing. Well angulated rear. Topline needs to settle. Moved with ok reach and drive in profile but was a little narrow coming towards me today.

Junior Dog – 5 entries

Lovely class with the top 3 being of high quality

1.       Hunt’s Wolferlow George Brown at Carpaccio – C/T with an excellent head, good length of neck leading into well laid shoulders and correct length of upper arm. Good length of ribbing. Neat rear angulation. True coming and going and with good drive from the rear.

2.       Mason’s Teckeltown Something Magic – B/T with a lovely head and excellent length of neck. Well laid shoulders but not the upper arm of 1^st. Good ribbing and body. Excellent rear angulation. Moved soundly with good drive.

3.       Starkey’s Carpaccio Black Obsidian For Hamoura

Special Beginners Dog – 2 entries

1.       Mason’s Teckeltown Something Magic

2.       Baker & Clements Duke Midnight William – C/T 4yr old dog with a good head but slightly round in eye. Moderate length of neck leading into ok shoulders. Good length of ribbing. Very good rear angulation. Looked better when free standing than when stacked. Moved well.

Post Graduate Dog – 5 entries

1.       Rudkin’s Siouxline Ross for Dynastydax – S/R with excellent pigment, lovely head and eye shape. Well laid back shoulders and correct length of upper arm, correct length of ribbing. Well angulated rear. Moved soundly coming and going but would like to see him put a little more effort in at times as he can be a little sluggish.

2.       Bullis’ Amaffrey Betcha By Golly Wow – B/T with a lovely head and good length of neck. Well laid shoulders but not quite the length of upper arm of 1^st. Well angulated rear which he used well on the move. True coming and going with plenty of reach and drive in profile.

3.       Jennings’ Duddondaxs Judge Jude

Limit Dog – 6 entries

1.       Barrett’s Ayseebb Twinking Star – B/T with an excellent head and length of neck. Well angulated at both ends. Good length of ribbing. Moved really well showing correct reach and drive in profile and parallel action front and back. Would just prefer him a touch more compact in body as for me he is slightly too long.

2.       Roberts’ Wingcrest Supersonic to Denver – B/T with another excellent head and neck. Well angulated front and rear with adequate upper arm. Would prefer longer ribbing. Moved soundly with good reach and drive in profile.

3.       Protherroe’s Royalmaple Fiddle Sticks

Open Dog – 8 entries, 1 absent

This was a super class with quality right down the line, I would have happily awarded a CC to any of the placed dogs.

1.       Coxon’s CH Distinctly So D’arisca – S/R who is so sound and smart on the move. At 5 years old he is in his prime and he never stopped showing. Good head with correct length of neck. Excellent front construction with well laid back shoulders and correct length of upper arm. Lengthy ribbing so lacking in many in this variety, short strong loin and balanced hind angulation. On the move he is true coming and going with excellent reach and drive. His stride never faltered and he topped this lovely class. Pleased to award him the CC

2.       Mitchell’s CH Bronia Biaggio – Lovely young B/T boy who looks a picture stacked. Beautiful head and correct length of neck, excellent shoulders and return of upper arm. Super length of ribbing. Correctly angulated rear. True coming and going and showing good reach and drive in profile. He pushed hard in this class but the maturity and steadiness of 1^st won through on the day. RCC

3.       Ergis’ Siouxline Jacob JW

Veteran Dog – 1 entry, 1 absent

Minor Puppy Bitch – 8 entries, 1 absent

1.       Metcalfe-Bilgin’s Metadale Legacy To The Lark – This beautiful puppy is sure to make the top flight, beautiful red with gorgeous head and length of neck, superb angulation both ends, lengthy ribbing and exceptional movement for one so young. Add to this a precocious attitude and you have in my mind a future star. I loved her father and see he has passed on so many of his qualities. So close up in the challenge but her time will come. BPIB

2.       Coxon’s D’arisca So Scrumptious – Another top class bitch shown in excellent condition. B/T with a beautiful head, good length of neck. Well angulated shoulders and good length of ribbing. Neat balanced rear. Moved true coming and going with plenty of reach and drive. I am sure she is another who will reach the top flight, unlucky to meet 1^st in such fine form.

3.       Kent’s Lokmadi Catherine Wheel

Puppy Bitch – 4 entries, 1 absent

1.       Coxon’s D’arisca So Delicious – 8m B/T with a delightful head and good length of neck, well angulated front and rear with good length of ribbing. Moved soundly with good profile action.

2.       Price’s Samlane Happy As A Lark – Slightly hormonal S/R who has all the makings of a lovely bitch. Good head and length of neck. Excellent front construction, good ribbing, strong loin. Well angulated rear. Moved true coming and going and good in profile.

3.       Dalton’s Victor Paw Nami

Junior Bitch – 19 entries, 3 absent

Super class of young bitches, many of whom went away card-less.

1.       Dare’s Darsoms Zoe – B/T with a lovely head and the kindest expression. Lengthy neck leading in to well angulated shoulders with good length of upper arm. Excellent length of ribbing and short strong loin. Well angulated rear which she uses so well on the move. Very sound coming and going, with excellent profile movement. Not a flashy girl but so correct and won this hotly contested class and later the RCC in excellent company.

2.       Callow’s Garthorne Georgia – B/T with a lovely head. Excellent front construction and lengthy ribbing. Well angulated rear. Very true coming and going with good reach and drive. Pushed hard in this class and is very much of the type I like.

3.       Fossett’s Lokmadi Peggy Sue For Brysdax

Special Beginners Bitch – 7 entries

1.       Mason’s Teckeltown You’re The One – Stood away in this class, elegant B/T with lovely head and length of neck leading in to well angulated shoulders with good length of upper arm. Good length of ribbing, slightly long in loin. Balanced rear angulation which she uses well on the move. Well handled to get the most out of her.

2.       Bullingham’s Bowetts Carminia At Stoweytop – Red with a slightly plain head with more jowl than I prefer. Well angulated shoulders and good prosternum. Ribbing could extend further back. Balanced rear angulation. Moved soundly.

3.       Yeoman’s Pinedax Little Jewel Girl at Klynerbyner (IKC)

Post Graduate Bitch – 19 entries, 5 absent

This class was a real mixed bag with so many different types present making it difficult to sort out.

1.       Ergis’ Siouxline Rachel – Smart B/T bitch with an excellent head and length of neck. Super front angulation, good ribbing. Neat rear which she uses so well on the move to power round the ring. True coming and going with excellent reach and drive in profile. Pushed hard in the challenge 

2.       Blackburn’s Stargang Simply The Best – Red with a gorgeous head and excellent length of neck. Very well laid shoulders and excellent length of upper arm. Would prefer more ground clearance. Well angulated rear. True coming and going with plenty of reach and drive.

3.       Mutton’s Montone Be Brave

Limit Bitch – 18 entries, 2 absent

1.       Callow’s Garthorne Grace Kelly – This beautiful brindle bitch was everything I was looking for, beautiful conical head with correct length of neck giving her the elegance I like. Very well made front and rear with correct length to height ratio. Good ribbing. Moved so well, completely true coming and going with excellent reach and drive in profile. The more she moved the better she got. She pulled out all the stops to win this lovely class and went up a gear in the challenge to win her 1^st CC and BOB. Loved her.

2.       Mitchell’s Bronia Bellezza – Another lovely red with a good head and length of neck. Well angulated front and rear which she uses so well on the move, being true coming and going and having good reach and drive in profile. Just preferred the ground clearance of 1^st.

3.       Melbourne, Carroll & Paget’s Siouxline Goldilocks of Melriding

Open Bitch – 6 entries, 1 absent

1.       Protheroe’s CH Picollo Teckel Never Say Never at Royalmaple (IMP) – Elegant B/T of a type I prefer. Excellent head and neck, super front construction with lengthy upper arm. Good ribbing. Balanced rear angulation. Moving slightly wide behind today but looked excellent in profile with plenty of reach and drive.

2.       Williams & Moes CH Cwmdarhian Prty Lika Rushn – Red of a lovely type with a good head and length of neck. Well angulated front with plenty of prosternum. Excellent rear angulation which she uses well on the move. Slightly too low to ground for me and would prefer longer ribbing.

3.       Hunt’s Carpaccio Clarice Cliff JW

Veteran Bitch – 3 entries

1.       Callow’s Garthorne Miss Toffee – Lovely 7yr old red bitch with an excellent head and length of neck leading in to well laid shoulders and good length of upper arm. Excellent length of ribbing, short loin. Correct hind quarters. Parallel front and rear movement with good reach and drive in profile. Surprised she doesn’t carry her title as she is a lovely bitch. I later found out she is full sister to my CC winner. BVIB.

2.       Kent’s Lokmadi Paper Tiger JW ShCM – B/T brindle in excellent condition for 10yr old. Excellent head and neck leading in to well laid shoulders. Good length of ribbing. Moved true coming and going with good reach and drive in profile. Preferred the ground clearance of 1^st.

3.       Melbourne’s CH Golden Algonquinette of Melriding