Firstly may I thank The Committee of the Show for inviting me to judge. The hospitality was first class, and I very much appreciated the efficiency of Meriel Hathaway’s ‘little helpers’. It is some 7 years since I last judged Long-haireds, on the whole I enjoyed my appointment. I was though, quite taken aback, by the lack of quality in this breed on the day. Many exhibits lacked length of muscle, forward placed shoulders on the rib cage, short in ribbing, narrow through and lack of second thigh in the quarters, this showing in the lack of follow through on the move. May I say, without too much criticism, would breeders be careful when doing a complete outcross, this may seem at the time, a good idea, to say bring the size down, but at what cost! you must really study the pedigree’s way back, to see what attributes it can bring to your lines, and also what you may be losing. Size over the past years has been a problem, but to lose this at the cost of good conformation and quality, I feel, will then take generations to achieve quality. I was very pleased with my overall winners, and also pleased to find out that my BOB was short listed in the Group.

PD (7,2) 1 Oxley Owlary Destroyer. 8mth shaded red, good conical head with lovely dark eye, good reach of neck, well placed shoulders, a little short in ribbing but good hind movement of correct size, moved out with verve, very mature for his age. 2 Dare Bronia Classic Cool at Darsoms. 11mth red, real roly poly baby just how a puppy should be! lovely head & eye, good keel, well ribbed with good quarters which he used on the move. pressed hard for 1st place, just needs a little more maturity, sure to have a bright future. 3 Hutton & Hutton Frankanwen Suremagic. 

PGD (7,1) 1 Johnson Tiendawn Velvet Commander at Africandawns. 22mth very pleasing shaded red dog, good head & eye reach of neck with quality shoulders, good keel & length of rib, nice angulated quarters, good tight feet, moved out true. 2 Metcalfe Metadale Major Decision. 21mths Red dog, smaller dog than 1, nice head & dark eye, good shoulder and keel, a little short in ribbing, good quarters, moved well. 3 Jordon & Nightingale Swansford Gryffindor at Rodima.

LD (3,0) 1 Mitchell Bronia Patriarch. 20mth Red dog. A true Champion in the making, well balanced in all attributes, good reach of neck, excellent shoulders good ribbing, nicely let down quarters, lovely tight feet, moved with verve using all the ring. This kennel just goes on and on producing excellent stock. CC and BOB. 2 Oxley Owlery Valentine JW Sh CM.  2yr 3mth shaded red dog. Lots to like about this dog, lovely head & eye, good keel, shoulders slightly forward placed and a little short in ribbing, but good quarters which he used on the move. Nice to see this relatively new kennel making ground, good luck and keep it up. 3 Hutton & Hutton Owlery Majestic.

OD (6,1) 1 Metcalffe Ch Metadale Macquarie. 4yrs 6mth. Worthy Champion, very compact, lots to like about him, nice head & reach of neck, would have preferred better placed shoulders and ribbing, but good quarters which he used on the move rec CC. 2 McFaul Ch Ir Ch Int Ch Darsoms Zwagerson. 7yrs shaded Red. another  worthy Ch. Elegant boy with super ring presence. The best of heads and dark oblique eye, good reach of neck, shoulders rather forward placed, good ribbing and quarters that he used on the move. 3 Roberts Swansford Lyrenstan Picasso.

PB (7,2) 1 Dare Fragglerock Rosy Martini at Darsoms. 10mth Red bitch. Ouses quality, again another roly poly baby! Good shoulders, well ribbed, nice quarters with lovely short hocks, moved with drive, would have preferred a more refined head, this may come with age, but did not distract from the overall picture. BP. 2 Mitchell Bronia Classy Chassis at Imirika NAF. 11mth shaded red, another quality bitch, nice head & eye, well placed shoulders, good ribbing, nice quarters, moved well, although a little unsettled today, hopefully this will come with maturity. 3 Boyle & Barrow Zarcrest Special Effects for Frankanwen.

JB (1) 1 Johnson Brynalyn Bitter Sweet at  Africandawns. 14 mth shaded red. this quality bitch took my eye as she entered the ring, lovely conical head, oblique eye, dark pigmentation, tight feet, well placed shoulders on good ribbing, excellent quarters with lovely short hocks, a little reluctant at times on the move, but this I am sure was due to the noise in the hall which did not distract me from awarding her her 1st CC. This one must have a very bright future. good luck!

PGB (6,1) 1 Metcalfe Metadale Maid from Michigan. 2yr 6mth. Well made quality bitch, shaded red of correct size, lovely conical head, dark eye, good reach of neck on well placed shoulders. lovely keel, good ribbing and good quarters which she used on the move. 2 Furber Dorysa Starry Night. 2yrs shaded red compact bitch of correct size, well ribbed, nice quarters, moved well, a little short in upper arm and I would have preferred a more feminine head. 3 Mitchall Brynalyn Fancy Free at Imirika NAF.

LB (4,1) 1 Harris & Harris Zaecrest Oh Gosh I’m Posh. 17mth Red, immaculately presented, good coat, very impressive bitch, moved round the ring with verve, good keel and quarters, a little overloaded in shoulder and short in rib, although this did not distract from her overall presence. 2 Geeson Abydachs Hot Summer Nights JW. 2yr 2mth shaded red. Overall quite pleasing, would have preferred a more feminine head and better placed shoulders, these are rather upright, good ribbing and quarters which she used on the move, well coated. 3 Plevin Saucy Sara at Rodima.

OB (6,2) 1 Mcfaul Ch Ir Ch Dachville Perfect Blend. 2yr 6mth B/T. another quality bitch from this kennel of correct size, very feminine head, good shoulders and keel, correct ribbing, nice short hocks, moved with verve Rec CC. 2 Mitchell Ch Bronia Carmelita JW. 2yr 7mth red bitch. another quality bitch from this kennel, lovely head & eye, good keel, good shoulders, correct ribbing, nicely let down quarters with short hocks, moved well but not as fluent as 1. 3 Metcalfe Metadale Make it Happen.