Firstly, may I thank the committee for inviting me. The atmosphere at the show was lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed the day. Plus a huge thank you to the exhibitors for allowing me the privilege of assessing such a quality entry. I know some of you travelled a considerable distance.
Vet Dog 1- Brown’s Bowdonia Ozzie – Lovely balanced 7 year old dog, superb spring of rib and depth of brisket. Shown in good muscular condition. Moderate angulation both front and rear, good straight front and plenty of bone. Maintaining his colour well, just carrying the ‘George Clooney’ look in his face. BVD.
2 –Caldwell & McDouwell’s Bowdonia Only The Brave For Cerysan another nice 7 year old, more broken coated and longer in the body than 1. Well proportioned head with a nice dark eye and kind expression. Not the rear drive of 1.
Puppy Dog 1 – Batey’s Glenbrows Best Of Friends – Just coming up 9 month puppy with a lovely masculine and ‘well proportioned’ head without being course. Good angulation and correct tail set. Nice to see plenty of bone for a baby currently going through that ‘leggy’ stage. Put on a good performance for what I understand was both his and his handlers first outing – will definitely watch to see how he matures.
Junior Dog 1- Nicholl’s Benoveor Sail on To Antreth – One I have placed well before as a puppy and my opinion has not changed. Lovely masculine head with defined stop, dark and kind eye. Super angulation, just needs to mature in body. Freeflowing on the move. Glad to hear that this win gives him his JW.
2 – Stevenson’s Mymmsbrook Matador With Blythway – Very different type, longer in body, but another nice dog and a difficult decision. More mature in body with a lovely spring of rib and presented immaculately. Less defined stop and not the tail set of 1.
Special Yearling Dog 1 – Stevenson’s Mymmsbrook matador With Blythway (see 2nd in Junior Dog)
Graduate Dog 1- Stevenson’s Mymmsbrook Matador With Blythway (see 2nd Junior Dog)
2 – Primmer’s Amanshe Lone Ranger – Rangier in type and higher on the leg. Well angulated with good ear set. Nice dark eye. Holds his topline on the move.
Post Graduate Dog – 1 – Gough’s Julita Rukester – A dog you need to get your hands on to appreciate and he doesn’t always make the best of himself. Not a flashy dog, but well bodied with a super spring of rib and depth of brisket. True front and muscular loin. Nice tight feet, correct ear and tail set. All male without being course and lovely kindly expression.
Limit Dog – Cemis’s Taimere’s Talk About Me – 4 year old male who has really come on. Well balanced, good spring of rib. Lovely male head, well proportioned with plenty of chiselling and soft expression. Long muscular neck set into well laid shoulders. Moderate angulation both front and rear – nothing overdone. Pushed hard in the challenge, distracted looking for his Mum! RBD
2 – Gough’s Julita Rukester(see 1st Post Graduate Dog)
Open Dog 1 – Sutherland’s Jacranella Solo – Lovely compact dog, so balanced with moderate angulation. Well off for bone and nice short coupled. Good spring of rib and shown in superb muscular condition. All male head, but without coarseness and that lovely soft Welsh expression. He just comes alive on the move, powerful with so much drive from the rear. Could not deny him BD, RBIS and BOS.
2 – Wren’s Llon Lewys At Gwynmarren – this dog was giving his handler a hard time. Of larger mould, but well balanced. Good spring of rib, straight front. Well proportioned head with plenty of chiselling, kind eye. Nice tight feet, not the power on the move of 1.
Special Beginners Dog 1- Gough’s Julita Rukester – (see 1st Post Graduate Dog)
2 – Green’s Eurion Jasper – Rangier type and higher on the leg, good angulation and soft expression. Nice length of neck into well set shoulders. Not the substance of 1.
Good Citizen Dog – 1 – Caldwell & McDowell’s Bowdonia Only the Brave For Cerysan (see 2nd veteran Dog)
2 – Bennett’s Helgen Romeo The Lover For Flyboron – Heavier built dog and longer in the loin carrying a little too much weight over his shoulders today. Lovely head, all male, nice dark eye giving that melting expression. Good tailset and nice tight feet.
Vet Bitch – 1- Thomas’s Bowdonia Anastasia, lovely 7 year bitch. Compact and full of substance but remaining feminine. Super angulation, true front and muscular in the loin. Up against her litter brother in the challenge, she is slightly shorter in body and hence more compact, so happy to award her BVIS.
Puppy Bitch – 1- Thomas’s Bowdonia Truly Scrumptious – Just coming up 12 months puppy, lovely feminine head with plenty of work in it, dark eye and correct ear set. Good length of neck set into well laid shoulders. Just the right amount of substance for age and moved with purpose and drive. Kept topline at all times, must be one to watch for the future.
Junior Bitch – 1 - Coffin’s Hillpark Carys Gold – This young lady was certainly out to give her handler a hard time, but was thoroughly enjoying herself. Very pretty bitch, nicely balance head, feminine without being fine. Kept her topline on the move and showed plenty of drive when she had all four feet on the ground.
Special Yearling Bitch – 1 – Fergusons’s Julita Raindance AtTeaselwood – Finer built bitch who had a ‘fidget’ on today. Very pretty bitch, nice moderate angulation front and rear with correct ear set. Shown in good coat, just needs to mature.
Graduate Bitch – 1- Primmer’s Amanshe Mermaid’s Tears – Finer, rangier type, with unusual speckled markings. Very heavily coated. Good topline with slight arch over the loin and nice tight feet. Would prefer more width to the head overall.
Limit Bitch – 1 Waller’s Isfryn Lady Godiva At Fireglow – Nice compact 5 year bitch, in her prime. Free flowing movement with drive from the rear keeping her topline at all times. Excellent spring of rib, nice moderate angulation and shown in good coat. Pushed hard for RBB, just preferred the head of the open bitch.
2 – Caldwell’s Hillpark Queen Bee For Cerysan – Very feminine, finer type and longer in the body than 1. Very pretty head and shown in good muscular condition. Good angulation and correct tailset.
Open Bitch – What a class, any one could have won this class and I’m sure they will all change places on different days
1 Sutherland’s Jacranella Serenade – It is no secret that I have always greatly admired this bitch. She is so compact and full of substance yet remains feminine. Shown in wonderful muscular condition, superb angulation holding her topline at all times. Her footfall is perfection and she moves so effortless, it is a pleasure to watch. Her only fault is that she is not mine! Could not deny her BIS over her litter brother.
2 – Jones’s Sh Ch Julita Rumours At Troseley - Another super bitch, lighter in build with the prettiest of heads. Good length of neck, onto well laid shoulders. Moderate angulation and well balanced overall, holding her topline on the move. Nothing overstated. Could not match 1 on the move, but pleased to award her RBB.
Good Citizen Bitch – 1 Caldwell’s Hillpark Queen Bee For Cerysan (see 2nd in Limit)
2 – Woodward’s Sarabande Billy Jean At Hixwood – Bitch of a much finer mould shown in superb coat. Nice tight feet and dark eye with good topline. Would just prefer more of her.
Special Working D/B – 1 Smith’s Isfryn Peeping Tom – This dog certainly moves with power and purpose, drives from the rear effortless. Compact, powerful dog with a lovely spring of rib. Good angulation and correct tailset. Shown in excellent muscular condition.
Brace - 1 – Woodham’s – Quite different in type but both shown in immaculate condition and worked well together.
2 – Caldwell’s - Again quite different in type, not as practised as team in first place.
It was a huge honour to be invited to judge the Special Awards classes at this well-run and very friendly Club show. I couldn't have wanted for a warmer welcome and a nicer selection of dogs to judge. I was particularly impressed by the longevity of the breed, with some lovely Veterans entered. I would like to thank all the Officers, Committee, stewards and exhibitors for the opportunity to judge one of my favourite Gundog breeds and for your generosity in accepting a non-specialist judge into your midst for the day.
SPECIAL JUNIOR (3): Three lovely youngsters, at different stages of development:-
1st - Thomas' Bowdonia Truly Scrumptious, very pretty 11 months B who presented a compact, sturdy & symmetrical outline, feminine well-proportioned head & good length & shape of muzzle, dark eye with melting expression, good ear set, reachy neck into well-made shoulders, plenty of forechest, straight forelegs of good length, standing on neat round feet, deep through body which was not long, loved her firm topline with slight rise over loin, strong thigh, moderate rear angulation, correct tail carriage, her conformation showed in her smooth gait.
2nd - Nicoll's Benoveor Sail On to Antreth, liked this 15 month D very much, well balanced & unexaggerated in outline, masculine head with a delightful expression in his dark eye, excelled in length of neck, straight front with decent forechest, good angulation front & rear, very tidy feet, well boned throughout, strong & muscular in body, would benefit from a shade more maturity through body but he is still a teenager and this will come, another with a good topline, quick & active on the move, preferred his tail set & carriage over a good-looking well-bodied D in 3rd
3rd - Stevenson's Mymmsbrook Matador with Blythway
SPECIAL POST GRADUATE (3, 2 absent) :-
1st - Ferguson's Julita Raindance at Teaselwood, very feminine B approaching her 2nd birthday, built on finer lines, lovely shaped head & muzzle with the sweetest of expressions, good length of neck, would like a little more forechest, well-angulated in front, feet are correct round shape but could be enhanced further by more tidying, deep enough in chest, liked her short couplings & firm topline rising over loin, good rear angulation, moved steadily but would like to see a bit more drive, in beautiful coat & condition, overall she has a lovely outline, could just do with a bit more of her
SPECIAL OPEN (6) Super class, enjoyed the challenge of judging this quality entry:-
1st - Thomas' Sh Ch Bowdonia Anastasia JW ShCM, compact 7 years B who was the picture of moderation, strength & symmetry, well proportioned feminine head & muzzle, dark eye & kind expression, long strong neck into well laid shoulders & return of upper arm, plenty of depth in forechest, straight well boned forelegs standing on good round feet, deep in brisket, excellent spring of rib, short-coupled & strong through loin, powerful muscular thigh with moderate bend of stifle, true powerful movement topped off with a merry personality & ever-wagging tail, her overall balance was the hair that I had to split between 1st & 2nd
2nd - Brown's Bowdonia Ozzie, masculine version of 1 & so hard to split them as they share many attributes, loved his masculine head with slightly domed skull & the right amount of strength & depth in muzzle, such a warm intelligent & loyal expression in his eyes, long strong neck, plenty of depth of forechest, well boned, strong straight front & round feet, muscular firm & deep in body & flanks, well sprung ribs, strong couplings, firm topline rising over loin, muscular wide thigh, well angulated hindquarters, moved true & with drive, just preferred his overall presence over a lovely well-made D in 3rd
3rd - Cemis' Taimere Talk About Me
4th - Nicoll's Benoveor The Guardian for Antreth
5th - Woodhams' Tobermyn Minstrel Boy