As it is 2 ½ years since I last judged Wires, most of the dogs in this numerically good entry were new to me.  On the last occasion, I was concerned about poor hind movement in the breed.  This seems to have improved, with most dogs able to move with parallel action viewed going away, however, this improvement has been at the expense of front construction and movement, I feel.  This time, there were a proportion of dogs displaying close front action coming towards me.  There were also a lot of forward placed, upright shoulders and short upper arms in evidence.  Presentation also left a lot to be desired.  There were far too many dogs shown in profuse, shaggy coat, reminiscent of a Shetland pony in winter coat, and with ragged underlines and far too much hair on their legs.  This made movement difficult to assess properly and cost some otherwise lovely dogs higher awards.  My hands were also completely filthy by the end of judging.  This is, after all, a dog show and presentation should come into the equation.  Another cause for concern were two bitches with faulty mouths.  One puppy had ingrowing lower canines, and an otherwise lovely adult bitch who I thought would be my class winner, had an overshot jaw.  That said, my main winners pleased me enormously and I could have watched the dog and bitch CC winners move all day.  

Minor Puppy Dog (1, 1 abs)

Puppy Dog (1)

1st Bates & Maes-Jones’ DEROCHAISE VERSACE

Harsh-coated dark brindle with lovely elegant outline and so well constructed throughout.  Masculine head with keen expression, carried proudly on good reach of neck.  Good shoulders, top and underline and well angulated hindquarters.  Kept his lovely outline both in stance and profile movement and was parallel in up and back movement.  Looked immature in the dog challenge against the older exhibits, but I predict a very bright future for this boy. Pleased to award Best Puppy In Breed against his lovely litter sister.  Lucky breeder to have two such promising pups in the one litter.

Junior Dog (4)

1st Vine’s CISHELVINE CAUGHT OUT

Lengthy brindle with quality conformation.  Appealing head and eye.  Lengthy, elegant neck runs seamlessly into firm, level topline which he held in profile on the move.  Well angulated quarters complete the picture.  Strode out freely round the ring to take this class.  For my personal preference I would like slightly less length of body, but a very pleasing dog overall.

2nd Shaw’s TENDROW MOONDANCE

More the balance of length to height that I was looking for, but couldn’t match 1st for shoulder placement or topline, having more upright, forward placed shoulders and consequent dip in backline.  Harsh dark brindle coat, but it was a bit too profuse and in need of tidying up.  Good bone and substance throughout.

3rd Arthurs’ HOTOTO’S BARK AT THE MOON

Post Graduate Dog (3)

1st Vine’s DEROCHAISE JUSTIFIED FOR CISHELVINE

Well-bodied dark brindle, who is slightly lower-stationed than I prefer, but could not be denied 1st place for his overall quality of conformation and free movement.  A little untidy in front action coming towards me, but held his outline well in profile.  Well boned throughout and has good balanced fore and hind angulation.

2nd Carter’s ROMANCHI STARGAZER

Somewhat anxious in demeanour as was 3rd in class.  Elegant light brindle with excellent texture coat that was well presented.  Pleasing head and expression, good length neck and well laid shoulders.  Not quite the hind angulation of 1st and as a consequence runs up slightly in profile on the move, although he strode out freely round the ring.

3rd Baldwin’s AVENTINE SCOTTS BLUFF

Limit Dog (7, 1 abs)

1st Wharton & Pughe’s DEROCHAISE BLACK TARQUIN

Litter brother to 1st in Post Grad and the third of four exhibits from the Derochaise kennel to win a class today.  Shares many of the same qualities as his brother, but is slightly more elegant overall and holds a firmer topline going round.  He is correct for size and catches the eye immediately for his lovely outline in both stance and profile movement.  Well angulated behind and moves parallel going away, but is slightly close in front action coming towards and has rather flat-footed, splayed forefeet, sadly.

2nd Sorensen’s JETHARD JUST JIVE

Compact, well boned dark brindle with attractive head and expression, good body shape, top and underline.  Balanced angulation in fore and hindquarters and holds his shape well in profile on the move, but unfortunately as he gets into his stride up goes his tail which is carried vertically at times and this detracted from his overall outline.

3rd Langridge’s TENDROW ELBERTA

Open Dog (6, 1 abs)

1st McPhearson & Paterson’s CH. FRANSIN BRASILIAN TP PANETTONE

This light brindle was my reserve CC winner when I judged the breed at Crufts ‘14 and I was delighted to have the opportunity to judge him again as a fully mature Champion.  Correct for length to height ratio and has good ground clearance.  Attractive, well proportioned head with keen alert expression.  Good reach of neck flowing into well placed shoulders and good length of upper arm, enabling him to stand and move absolutely true in front.  Lovely body shape with firm, level backline and pleasing sweep of underline to complement.  Well angulated hindquarters complete the picture.  Comes into his own on the move and covers the ground with free-striding, effortless action in profile and displays parallel action up and back.  Beautifully presented and handled to advantage. Delighted on this occasion to award CC and Best of Breed.

2nd McCalmont’s CH. SILVAE FARRAGO

This beautifully presented brindle has immediate appeal for his lovely well balanced outline and impressive free-striding profile action around the ring.  Correct for size and length to height ratio.  Also has good ground clearance and excellent hind angulation.  Masculine well proportioned head, good reach of neck and shoulder placement, however he is a shade short in upper arm and displays a little too much crook in forelegs viewed head on and this was reflected in his front action coming towards me, where he moved a bit too close.  Reserve CC.

3rd Phillips’ CH. WIRETAP HERE I AM

Minor Puppy Bitch (4)

A difficult class to judge as these immature young pups were all at different stages of development and I’m sure will look a lot better in a few months’ time.

1st Warren’s WAGSFORD JENNIFER

Promising dark brindle let down by poor coat presentation.  Held the best outline on the move viewed in profile and underneath all that hair was an attractive, feminine head, good body shape and well angulated hindquarters.  Movement was erratic, but this is to be expected in a young pup.

2nd Pughe & Fraser’s BYSTOCK AMARETTI

Total contrast in coat presentation.  This exhibit was immaculate and had a lovely harsh textured light brindle coat.  She is of different type to 1st being slighter in build and a little shorter in body.  Looked good stacked, but just rising behind in profile on the move at the moment.  Hopefully her topline will settle as she grows on.  Preferred the head type of 1st.  Moved with parallel action up and back.

3rd May’s WAGGINGTON AVA

Puppy Bitch (5)

1st Bates & Maes-Jones’ DEROCHAISE ELUSIA

Easy winner of this rather mixed class.  Litter sister to 1st in puppy dog and very like him for type and construction.  Beautifully presented dark brindle with attractive head, reachy neck flowing seamlessly into well placed shoulder and displaying plenty of forechest as a consequence.  Well angulated hindquarters to match.  Holds her shape well in profile on the move and covers the ground freely, displaying parallel up and back action in addition.  Best Bitch Puppy.  Just preferred the harsher texture coat and firmer topline of her litter brother in the Best Puppy Challenge.  Two super quality pups.  

2nd Dean’s EX SENTIA SHE’S THE ONE FOR BRONTILLOW

Lengthy light brindle with much softer coat.  Has a reasonably good topline and well angulated hindquarters, but is straight in shoulder and consequently lacks forechest in comparison with 1st.  Moved steadily in profile and kept her outline well.  A little unsure on the table examination.

3rd Davies’ EX SENTIA SOMETHING NEW FOR ATAHIRA

Junior Bitch (5)

1st Dean’s BRONTILLOW GRACE DARLING

Harsh coated dark brindle I have admired from the ringside.  Thankfully, appears to have come through an awkward “teenage” phase to regain the quality she had as a pup.  Is so sound and well balanced with good bone and substance throughout, yet retaining her femininity.  Attractive head with dark eye and keen expression.  Good reach of neck and well laid shoulders.  Excellent body shape and firm topline which she holds at all times in stance and on the move.  Well angulated hindquarters are in balance with her forequarters.  Moves steadily keeping her outline and is sound out and back.  Pleased to award Reserve CC in a line-up of quality bitches.

2nd Wharton’s GREYHAYNE BLACK VELVET

Just out of puppy and giving away a bit in age and level of maturity in this class.  Another I have admired from the ringside.  Well balanced light brindle with lovely harsh, well presented coat.  Attractive head, good reach of neck and well constructed forequarters.  Lovely sweep of underline and moderately angulated hindquarters.  Displays good ground clearance and free striding movement in profile and is parallel up and back.  

3rd Phillips’ TENDROW DANCING ON A DREAM AT CLIPPERDOWN

Post Graduate Bitch (10, 2 abs)

Hotly contested class of quality bitches.

1st Phillips’ TENDROW A PAGE IN TIME

Royally bred, beautiful red bitch of quality on top form today.  Lovely size (not too big) and displays an elegant, well balanced outline with correct ground clearance, holding her outline in profile on the move.  On the table, everything flowed under my hands.  Attractive feminine head with lovely dark eye.  Good length neck merges into well laid shoulders and lovely body shape with sweeping underline and firm topline.  Well angulated hindquarters in balance with front angulation to complete the picture.  Stands and moves absolutely true in front and behind and steps out freely with effortless side gait.  Pleased to award her second CC in as many weeks.  Hope the third comes along soon.

2nd Hastings’ LESANDNIC SLEEPYTIME

Totally different type quality light brindle with excellent, correct harsh-textured coat which was one of the best in this entry today.  Has immediate appeal for me as she is sired by a Larhjelm dog related to my own two Norwegian imports.  Correct size, and displaying the desired length to height ratio and good ground clearance.  She is very satisfying to go over on the table, having a good reach of neck, well laid shoulders and pleasing body shape and good hind angulation.  Moves with parallel action out and back but in profile movement her topline just rises slightly over the hindquarters.  

3rd Wharton’s LADY GISELLE OF GREYHAYNE

Limit Bitch (7, 1 abs)

1st McPhearson & Paterson’s BRUMBERHILL BELISSIMA

Beautifully presented brindle with good coat sired by my Dog CC winner, and he has passed on many of his qualities.  Just slightly larger size than I prefer, but that said she has much to admire.  Attractive feminine head, carried proudly on good length neck, firm level topline that never falters in stance or movement, well angulated fore and hindquarters and sound movement.  Covers the ground with freedom and good length of stride in profile holding her outline and is parallel up and back.

2nd Gibson’s ALLFREYS STERNCHEN ALRISHA

Judged this much smaller size dark brindle as a puppy and still admire her.  So well balanced with well laid shoulders, lovely firm topline and well angulated hindquarters.  Although she moves out freely in profile, today she was holding her head slightly low and forwards which could have been due to the noisy conditions in the hall.  This slightly spoiled her overall outline sadly.  Very true mover out and back.  

3rd Vine’s GRAVETYE KISS ME KATE CISHELVINE

Open Bitch (7, 1 abs)

1st Warren’s WAGSFORD LYDIA

This bitch has to be gone over to appreciate her many virtues.  She is beautifully balanced with a lovely outline.  Feminine head carried on good reach of neck flowing into well laid shoulders.  Firm topline and good flow of underline to complement.  Moderately angulated hindquarters.  Moves out steadily and freely in profile and holds her shape at all times.  Coat not at its best however, and needs hair taking off her forelegs and underline as this is spoiling her outline and making her front movement difficult to assess.

2nd Paterson’s AMBIESQUE AGNA

Another bitch I have judged before and still admire.  Extremely well presented dark brindle coat.  Attractive head, good reach of neck and balanced fore and hind angulation.  Lovely overall body shape with flowing underline.  Topline is firm, but just has a tendency to rise slightly over the quarters when moving in profile.  Moves freely round the ring and is sound up and back.

3rd McCalmont’s SILVAE SOLACE

Sue Seath (Judge)