South Wales Championship Show 2014

Dachshund (Miniature Long Haired)

Judge : Mrs J A Norris

My first appointment with CCs in Dachshunds, and met with similar butterflies as my first ever CC appointment!  My thanks to the exhibitors for their sporting acceptance of my decisions, and to George Webster, my lovely steward, not only for keeping things moving, but cheerful too!  As most of you know, I am an ‘incomer’ to Dachshunds from the Toy Group, and to Miniature Longs via Standard Smooths.   However, my priorities have never changed – first and foremost always and ever will be correct construction, (this is the building block on which everything else depends), closely followed by sound and correct movement. 

I was happy that all dogs were about right for weight, given their frame and development, and temperament on the whole was good.  I do not mind a dog that fidgets on the table, as long as I can fully assess it, and provided it is perfectly happy on the floor.  I understood that many would not be happy at my being at ground level when they were moved back to me, and none were penalised for being cautious or standing back at that juncture. 

I was a little disappointed in the overall quality, which meant that I could not look for much overall uniformity in my line up.  A dog may look outstanding and impressive stacked, but it is so disappointing when you get hands on and move them and they do not live up to the promise.

My winners for the greater part met the standard, and therefore I am not going to repeat the points as a critique.

Minor Puppy – Dog (2)

1st     Johnson’s Charpurdy Just Andy, B/T, at this stage slightly less finished in coat than two, but was more true on the move holding his outline.

2nd    Woodage & Halsall ‘s Totonian Dolore  B/T  Close up to 1, and although slightly older not yet as masculine, not as true behind on the move.  I would have liked a little less loin on both.

Puppy – Dog  (1)

1st     Totonian Dolore 

Junior – Dog (2)

1st     Ralines One Of Those, cream, had just about everything I was looking for, angulation, ribbing, substance, sound moving with proud head carriage showing off his neck, always in the reckoning in the challenge but was naughty, dropping his topline at times, which just cost him today. 

2nd    McCarthy‘s Nagshall Wots It Alabout  another cream, who was just not quite as correct as the first, and therefore did not move out quite as well.  In other company he would look more impressive.

Post Graduate – Dog (3), a disappointing class.

1st     McCarthy‘s Nagshall Mr Tambourine Man, cream verging on red, did nothing to help himself, reasonable angulation, but stood close, but carried himself well on the move..

2nd    Green’s Neertanauf Jack Jones  lovely dark shaded red, looked a little on the leg at times, and did himself no favours fidgeting on the stand, losing concentration and messing about on the move.

3rd     Lawrence’s Silflay Mele Kalikimaka

Limit – Dog (2)

1st     McCarthy‘s Nagshall Just Santana JW  Another cream, although slightly longer, I preferred his better hind movement, angulation, front and underline.

2nd    Johnson’s Charpurdy's Gold McNugget B/T, dare I say he confused me, I liked his overall outline and yet somehow it did not quite fit together enough to give correct movement all round, looked short in neck.

Open – Dog (3)

1st     Turner ‘s Ch Rafthouse Herr Flick, silver dapple, he stood away in outline, construction, movement, and as for attitude, he may be a Veteran, but he came meaning business, and he showed many of the youngsters what and how!   A clear winner, I was pleased to award him the CC and BOB

2nd    Broad‘s Neertanauf Sea Magic JW, ShCM  shaded red, close between him and cream 3^rd, but he just put it all together more, looked good on the stack, and moved out marginally better.

3rd     McCarthy‘s Nagshall Oklahoma Sunrise JW

Veteran – Dog  (2)

1st     Ch Rafthouse Herr Flick 

2nd    Young‘s Ch Willowheath Hendrix, a B/T boy I like a lot, and for me he has improved with age!  Slightly different type, but good substance and overall construction, Herr Flick just outmoved him today – or perhaps it should be ‘outmanoeuvred’.  Nonetheless a delight to award him the Reserve CC

Minor Puppy – Bitch  (3, 1a).

1st     Lockett-Walters & Walters’  Ralines Kandi Kisses, shaded red, nicely put together, good angulation  and showed off her attributes moving out true both ways.

2nd    Poole‘s Findowrie Dixie Rose, red, only 3 days younger than 1, not quite as good on the move but she needs more time to fill into herself and reach her potential. 

Puppy – Bitch  (3)

1st     Worswick‘s Dolyharp Coppelia,   cream, an eye-catching puppy, looks quite finished, but with some maturing to do, she is well put together, has balance, great substance and moves out freely.  I am not a fan of promoting puppies, but in the challenge she just kept it all together, held the best outline, moved out freely - she was irresistible in this company today.  CC, RBOB and Best Puppy in Breed.

2nd    Brown‘s Devoncream Diamond Trinket, nice cream baby who was just outclassed today, but she looked very immature against 1, so hopefully will come together as she grows up. 

Junior – Bitch (5)

1st     Brown‘s Xemxija Ice Mimosa Is Devoncream, cream, with her correct make and shape she had balance and elegance plus sound movement, a really nice bitch who did enough to earn the Reserve CC 

2nd    Brooks’  Lyndarlea Little Pearl, cream, a nice enough bitch, I was not convinced about her on the stack but her profile actually looked better on the move.

3rd     McCarthy‘s Nagshall Loralei

Post Graduate – Bitch (9, 1a)

1st     Willowheath Gabrielle, red, nicely made, she held her shape and balance and moved out freely, keeping her topline.  Not the most immediately eye-catching, but always correct,

2nd    Palin‘s Sanmik Ice Queen cream, did not always make the most of herself, but she had a nice outline and shape, and earned this place on her movement.

3rd     Welton ‘s Eldmour Heaven Sent To Chelane

Limit – Bitch (10, 1) all 5 places could so easily change on another day

1st     Graham’s Jadag Fancy That, B/T, slightly lower to ground than I would prefer, but otherwise she put it all together here to win the class, neckline slightly obscured today by heavy coat.

2nd    Young‘s Willowheath Lulu, B/T another nice bitch with a good front and movement, very close up to 1.

3rd     Poole‘s Findowrie Darcia Rose

Open – Bitch (4)

1st     Holmes’ Tammera Just Elegant, a really nice shaded red, with balance and elegance, easy winner of this class, but lost her shape on the stack in the challenge..

2nd    Latham-Jackson’s Urishay Geranium B/T who just could not be denied this place on her ultra sound movement, not quite the elegance of winner.

3rd     Paterson’s Our Pride And Prejudice 

Veteran – Bitch (1)

1st     Green’s  Eldmour Electra, an attractive balanced, shaded red, but did not have the reach and drive I look for on the move.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme – Bitch (2)

1st     Paterson’s  Our Pride And Prejudice, cream, reasonably made and therefore steady mover.  

2nd    Green‘s Neertanauf Lucia Rijker, B/T  rather lean in make, and not the angulation I look for, which spoilt her movement too.