Thank you for the super entry, this variety is becoming quite cosmopolitan now, more so on the day with our Dutch visitor - I hope everyone took a good look at this dog’s fabulous coat. I enjoyed judging your dogs, not too many huge ones, which was good to see. Coats were mixed, rather a lot were very short of coat, some owners had obviously got the timing wrong when they stripped them out, other appeared to be an attempt to hide soft coats. No common problems running through the breed, temperaments were all good. I did think that the two CC winners stood away on the day, and made a great couple, which I guess they would, being litter mates. Thought the dog went well in the big ring, he really can use those hindquarters. I found the variety to be in a good way, if breeders can continue to blend in the best of the lines we have now, then the future is bright.

SpJD (3) 1 Mankin’s Birchman Bold Buccaneer. Very sound free moving dog, liked his head. Well made front if a touch overcrooked one side. Firm topline, coat coming through OK. Super rear, lovely ribs and a short loin. 2 Owens’ Watermans Cheering Brave. Nice outline on him, good head, long neck. Well laid shoulder, but is a touch short in uppearm. Good body and rib, holds a firm topline, well made rear and in super hard muscle. Coat OK.

PGD (12) 1 Borman’s Sonic Sir Gallahad. Very good dog for type, coat and size. Super head, lovely eyes, super neck. Best shoulder of the class. Front legs a touch crooked, long ribs and short loin. Topline OK, well made and muscled rear. Moved well - very true and free. Res CC. 2 Evans’ Saxonbury Double Diamond. Good coated dog, right down to leg hair. Super head, strong neck, has a good chest and a nice front. Topline OK, wee bit long in back. Strong rear with neat hocks. 3 Whalley’s Romanchi Papago. Nice type dog, good head, long neck. Has a well made front, good topline, strong rear. Plenty of ground clearance without being leggy. Wish his up and back movement was just as good as his profile.

LD (7) 1 Phillips’ Wells Sea Breeze at Tendrow. Good honest type of dog, sound and best of coats. Liked his head, nice front, well ribbed, holds a good topline. Nice rear, smart mover, holding his outline so well. 2 Moores’ Cloudside Copper Coin. Lovely sound dog, retains such a good outline, just a shame he is so dead out of coat. Nice head, good front, holds topline on the move. Strong rear. 3 Vines’ Cishelvine Auldlangsyne. Super coat, pleasing in head and neck. Nice front, well ribbed. Nicely made rear, more muscle would improve. Has a good free stride.

OD (8) 1 Johnstone’s Ch Silvae Pickwick. Stood away on the day in this class. Outmoved everything. Lovely head, strong neck, super shoulder, could have a shade more upperarm. Excellent body and rib. Firm topline, good coat, lovely rear. Dead true moving and so free in profile. Top size. CC and Best of Breed. 2 Harris’ Ch SA Ch Silvae Blacksmith at Ritlo. Wonderful coat and free stride. Although is the correct size, would like to see with less weight. Super head, lovely neck, super front. Feet a bit spread, grand. Good topline. Pleasing rear. 3 Williams’ Lieblings Pick N Mix. Good honest dog, but short of coat but the texture is good. Liked his head, well laid shoulder, good body. Topline OK, well angulated rear. I see her sired both CC winners.

VD (6) 1 Clifford’s Ch Ir Ch Ablebody Pizzicato. In excellent coat and condition, sound and free mover. Nice front and tight feet, well ribbed, just loses topline a touch now. Very good dog. 2 Matthews and Davies’ Acqudex Morning Mist at Baniastre. In excellent coat and good hard condition. Balanced angulation, holds a firm topline. 3 Gibson’s Ch Lesandnic Seaczar. Super outline standing and moving, dead out of coat on the day.

SpJB (6) 1 Derry’s Ritterburg Lady Guinevere at Andlouis. Super for size, coat just coming in but texture is good. Lovely head and so very feminine. Good neck, super ribs. Topline can firm. Very true moving, neat rear, strides out well. 2 Mankins’ Birchman Dusky Lady. Very nice for type, correct size but is carrying a little too much weight. Lovely head and eye, balanced angulation, holds a level topline, Not quite the stride moving of winner. 3 Rowes’ Boloria Black Magic. Nice coat, honest sort. Head spoilt by marginally light eye, balanced angulation, good body.

PGB (13) 1 Johnstone’s Silvae Picnic. Absolutely glorious bitch, super for size and so sound. Holds her outline on the move, good head, strong neck. Nice front, harsh jacket. Super body and topline, better moving than stood. Excellent rear, can tighten a touch. CC. 2 Ryder’s Sonic Knight Sky to Jaskar. Lovely coated bitch, super head, strong neck, better in front than 3. Good body, strong rear. Holds herself well on the move. Shame she was missing to challenge for Res CC. 3 Moore’s Cloudside Toucha Class. Nice for type and a very free moving bitch. Pleasing head, long neck, coat coming in. Very nice rear. OK out and back mover.

LB (6) 1 Harris’ Ritlo Jewel In Ebony. Lovely make and shape and strides out so well holding a firm topline. Do like her head very much. Long neck, super shoulder, nice chest with long ribs, well made rear. Little short of coat but the texture is correct. Flies tail a touch. Res CC. 2 Pughe and Fraser’s Bystock African Queen. Eyecatching bitch, stands and holds herself well on the move. Long head, a shade broad in skull. Long neck, not the shoulder of the winner, hence a touch long in the back. Ribs good, neat rear, sound mover in super coat. 3 Salisbury’s Brocklewood Clementine. Really super to go over, but very soft in muscle so loses topline and not as good on the move as she could be. Shame, as otherwise super. Grand head, long neck, well ribbed, nice front, neat rear. Excellent coat.

OB (5) 1 Patton’s Lesandnic Lucky Song. Nice type and sound bitch. Lovely head, super neck. A touch lacking in angulation but so balanced. Topline OK, good body, super coat, moves true. 2 Lerego’s Tecklegarth Echo. Long head and good eye. Little forward in shoulder, topline firm on the stack. Nice rear, good hard condition, coat coming through. 3 Withheld.

VB (3) 1 Denley’s Lankelly Elisabeth Dora. Correct size bitch in super coat. Liked her head, strong neck, nice angulation. Well ribbed, nice rear and moves OK.

Jeff Horswell