I always look forward to this show for its excellent organisation and facilities, and this year I felt honoured to be judging Smooth Dachshunds. In general I found the dogs to be better than the bitches, the latter including a number where a lack of angulation in the hind quarters even among those in the top classes does not give the strong rounded structure necessary for good driving movement and also creates an unbalanced appearance. Upright shoulders and short upper arms were also in evidence among both sexes, but on the plus side good heads and lovely almond shaped eyes, level top lines and tight elbows were so universally present that I have not mentioned these in my individual reports. I only found one suspect scissor bite and temperaments were good.

PD (7). 1 Bethel’s Hampdach Joint Venture. Striking b/t with lovely outline, elegant and well boned, with good driving movement from his strong well shaped hind quarters, BP; 2 Burke’s Hampdach Total Eclipse at Bonavoir. Another b/t, heavier type but again good outline, strong hind quarters and true movement; 3 Norton’s Matzell Mateus.

JD (2). 1 Rawson’s Twyhill Forceful Freddy for Roskenet. Nice chocolate of good type but moved a little close.

SpBegD (3). 1 Tomlinson’s Topthorne Koko. Deep chocolate of nice size and outline, moving a little close behind.

PGD (7). 1 Norris’ Criscan Finagle. Heavy boned b/t, good outline, strong hind quarters and a fair mover; 2 McCarthy’s Seatris Seeking Success. Nice chocolate but not quite the outline of 1. Fair movement and a particularly lovely head; 3 T Koko.

LD (8). 1 Hosegood’s Lauralee Tiger Woods T’soff at Hydax. Elegant b/t, good bone and outline. Especially nice front and shoulder placement. Good strong hind quarters and moved well; 2 Turner’s Ralines Hercules. Heavier type with not quite the front of 1 but generally pleasing outline and moved well; 3 Goad’s Cevadoch Storm King by Rosenport.

OD (9). What a thrill to find I’d had 7 champions in this class, they were a pleasure to see and it was a pity there could only be 1 winner. 1 Bethel’s Aus Ch and Ch Laen Rumourz Run Riot of Hampdach, Imp. Gorgeous red with super outline, head carriage and ring presence. Really good hind quarters and didn’t it show in his driving movement, he just flowed round the ring and could not be denied the CC and BOB; 2 Cooper’s Ch Sontag Savour The Flavour JW. B/t of heavier type, good outline, front and hind quarters. A worthy champion, RCC; 3 Lovick-Gibb’s Ch Roleta Playright.

PB (6). 1 Bethel’s Hampdach Autumn Glory. Really lovely elegant red, sister of pd winner. Super front, shoulder, angulation, hind quarters and flowing true movement. In the challenge her brother had more maturity but this young lady must be one for the future; 2 George’s Queensbrook Magic Star. Well made deep chocolate. Not quite the ring presence of 1 but moved nicely.

JB (11). 1 Cooper’s Sontag See Fit. Very nicely built b/t on elegant lines presenting a balanced picture. Moved truly and freely. Did just enough to win this class and eventually the RCC; 2 Turner’s Meganhol Apocalypse Now Rafthouse. Well constructed bitch of heavier type. Good front, shoulder and angulation. Moved well; 3 Goad’s Meganhol Abracadabra.

SpBegB (4). 1 Dunne’s Sydunne Lamais Dior. Elegant b/t, very nice shoulders and front, moved well; 2 Walkley’s Follycott Angel One Five. Heavier type b/t that moved well. A bit unsettles probably by a noisy dog outside the ring; 3 Graham’s Fuzaketa Actasia at Gameron.

PGB (9). 1 Burke’s Bonavoir Kildalty Dancer. B/t with lovely balanced outline, no exaggerations, good shoulders, angulation and strong well rounded hindquarters giving her positive flowing movement. I was pleased to award her a first CC; 2 Lockett’s Ralines Reflection. Quality b/t with lovely front and shoulder. Not quite the hind angulation of 1 and did not present such a balanced picture; 3 Rawson’s Rosenket A Star Is Born.

LB (7). 1 Rawson’s Rosenket Zcotch Mist, Lovely rich deep chocolate of good construction and outline. I liked her very much and thought she might have gone further but in the challenge she did not move so well; 2 Pogson’s Kiss The Rod. Big red in super condition, good front and shoulder and a balanced outline. Just preferred the size and elegance of 1; 3 McCarthy’s Roleta Plays The Aces with Seatris.

OB (7). 1 Cooper’s Sontag Silly Season. Big b/t with good front, movement and ring presence; 2 Rawson’s New Spring Time Girl by Rosenket. Another big b/t, lovely shoulder and angulation. Moving a little close all through; 3 Turner’s Ch Marictur Marnie.

S M Shuker