South Eastern Welsh Springer Spaniel Championship Show 20th October 2024.

 

I would like to thank the committee and members for asking me to judge the dogs at this friendly and well-run show. Although not a large entry, the quality of all the dogs was incredible. Thank you to all the exhibitors for giving me the pleasure of going over their beautiful dogs. I had a wonderful day. Also a huge thank you to my two excellent stewards Netty and Pam who kept the ring running so well.

 

Baby puppy dog No entries

 

MPD (3,1) 2 very promising puppies.

1st Grahams Nyrilam Born This Way. Well grown male 8 months old. Lovely head and expression. Lovely shape. Good front and rear angulation. Moved well. A very promising puppy who I’m sure has a bright future  BPD and with the agreement of my co-judge delighted to see him go BPIS.

2nd Gaylor and Robertsons  Gilstonia Red Rum For Aprilflash. Another very nice puppy. Well off for bone. Very similar to 1 but not as settled on the move. Very happy boy, again one to watch in the future.,

 

PD (1)

1st Grahams Nyrilam Born This Way. See MP

 

JD. No entries

 

YD (1) Absent

 

MD No entries

 

ND No entries

 

GD (2)

1st Barkleys Jacranella Galahad of Cherryheath(AI) JW.Well grown male. Lovely head and expression. Good coat. Good angulation and spring of rib. Moved well.

2nd Levys Cerysan Limited Edition. Smaller mould than 1. Good head and expression Good front and rear assembly. Moved well. Shame to meet 1 today, but I’m sure they will change places another time.

 

PGD No entries

 

MLD (4)

1st Stones Kidenoan Mark Time for Merrem JW. Well grown male. Lovely head and expression. Well off for bone. Good angulation front and rear. Moved well to win this class.

2nd Grahams Don’s As Bold As Brass with Nyliram (Imp. Sweden) JW. Very nice male. Little unsettled today. Finer than 1. Good coat and condition. Just preferred movement of 1.

3rd Primmers Amanshe Lone Ranger

 

LD (5,1)

1st Allens Eiriandylis By George. Lovely dog. Most beautiful head with soft, melting expression. Good angulation and spring of rib. Lovely coat and condition. Moved really well. Very close for top honours.

2nd Jones Trosley Tamoshanta. Another lovely male. Good head and expression. Similar remarks to 1. Just preferred movement of 1 today, but I’m sure they will change places.

3rd Wrights Taihang Hawthorn

 

OD(3)

1st Stevensons  Mymmsbrook Matador with Blythway JW. Upstanding male. Most beautiful head and expression. Good front and rear angulation.Lovely coat and condition.  Tight feet. Moved really well to win this class. CC which was his 3rd. Congratulations. Delighted that with the agreement of my co-judge RBIS and BOS

2nd Leachs Islanza Hey Dude. This dog is now maturing very nicely. Close up to 1.Similar remarks to 1. Well presented. Moved well. Unlucky to meet 1 on such good form today.

3rd Buckwells  Killena Shadow Dancing.(AI)

 

Champion Dog (5,2)  - Very difficult class, all worthy show champios.

1st Gaylor & Robertsons Sh.Ch. Heniveruce King of Brewers for Aprilflash. Striking dog in beautiful coat and condition. Beautiful head with soft, melting expression. Good front and rear angulation. Good spring of rib. Moved really well to win this class. RCC

2nd Millards Sh.Ch. Ferndel High Comand at Rubylea. Another beautiful dog. Shorter coupled than 1. Very happy showman. Lovely head and expression. Good angulation both front and rear. Moved well. Unlucky to meet 1 on such good form. Again I’m sure they will change places many times.

3rd Wrens Sh.Ch. Llon Lewys at Gwynmarren.

 

VD (8,1) A wonderful class with all dogs being a credit to their owners. Very difficult class to judge.

1st Browns Bowdonia Ozzie VW. This dog seems to get better with age. I judged him as a puppy and he did well then. He has the most beautiful head and expression.Good angulation both front and rear. Moved really well, not showing his age at all. BVD, delighted that with the agreement of my co- judge BV in Show

2nd Wrens Llon Derwen Dar at Gwynmarren. Another lovely dog. Close up to 1. Similar remarks to 1 but preferred movement of 1 today. Unlucky to meet 1 on such good form.

3rd Caldwell & McDowells Bowdonia Only The Brave for Cerysan

 

 SBD (2)

1st Primmers Amanshe Lone Ranger. 3rd in strong MLD.Larger dog than 2, but a very well balanced boy. Good head and expression. In lovely coat and condition. Moved really well in this class.

2nd Levys Cerysan Limited Edition. See GD.

              

Special Working Dog (1,1) Absent

 

Special Shooting Dog (1)

1st Wrights Amblelight Solar Flare. Unplaced in strong veteran class. Nice dog. Lovely head and expression. Good coat and condition. Moved much better in this class.

 

GCD. (6)

1st Bennets Helgen Romeo the Lover for Flyboron. Lovely dog. Good head with melting expression. Good front and rear angulation. Nice tight feet. Moved well.

2nd Wrights Taihang Hawthorn. 3rd in strong limit class, moved much better this time. Nice dog with good head and expression. Nice coat and condition.

3rd Barkleys Cherryheath’s Mr. Mojito JW

 

 

Gill Johnstone

Judge

Bitches

My thanks to the South Eastern Welsh Springer Spaniel Club for their invitation to judge bitches at their Championship Show.  I had two very experienced and efficient stewards in Pam Blay and Netty Morrissey.  Sadly, this was not the strongest entry, both in quantity and quality.  Still, you have to be in it to win it and there were a few absentees.  Thankfully, I was very happy with my principal award winners.

 

Baby Puppy Bitch (0)

 

Minor Puppy Bitch (2,1)

1 – Cooper & Mullin’s Gilstonia Maggie May – Sweet seven-month-old puppy with a good head and nice lay of shoulders.  Moved with drive.  Would prefer slightly more depth of chest, but this may come with time.  BPB

 

Puppy Bitch (3,1)

1 – Cooper & Mullin’s Gilstonia Maggie May – Repeat Minor Puppy

2 – Walton, Coffin & Patterson’s Hillpark Twist With Joy – Ten months old pup with a nice head, good depth of chest.  A little bum high at the moment, but time should be her friend.  Moved well, but preferred drive of 1.

 

Junior Bitch (1,0)

1 – Cochrane & Allen’s Eiriandylis Confusion – This thirteen-month-old gave her handler a hard time.  She has a good head with a sweet expression, good length of neck and good depth of chest.  At times she carried her tail a little high.

 

Yearling Bitch (1,0)

1 – Primmer’s Amanshe Enchanted Spirit – This eighteen-month-old has a nice head, but her markings don’t help her.  Good depth of chest and nice angulation.  It turns out that this bitch is happier being free stood than stacked, now her owner has to work out how to get her moving at her best. 

 

Maiden Bitch (1,0)

1 - Walton, Coffin & Patterson’s Hillpark Carys Gold – Nice feminine head leading to a good strong neck.  Good angulation and depth of chest.  She was really enjoying her day out and found it a little difficult to move as she was convinced there were loads of treats in her mum’s pocket!

 

Novice Bitch (2,0)

1 – Primmer’s Amanshe Enchanted Spirit – Repeat, Yearling

2 – Branagh’s Ferndel Water Fall – this very mellow girl has a nice head, good depth of chest and angulation, I just wish she was a little more enthusiastic in her movement.

 

Graduate Bitch (2,0)

1 - Branagh’s Ferndel Water Fall– Repeat, Novice

2 – Buckwell’s Killena One Moment In Time – sweet head, good strong neck, good angulation, nice neat feet, just preferred head of 1

 

Post Graduate Bitch (1,1)

 

Mid Limit Bitch (2,0)

1 – Tew’s Pamicks Dream With Me – Nice head, good strong neck, nice tail placement, moved ok, just wish she had a little deeper chest throughout

2 – Primmer’s Amanshe Mermaid's Tears – This workmanlike bitch was very happy doing her own thing.  She has a pleasing head, good strong neck and good angulation.  She has quite a lot of ticking in her coat.  Sadly, her movement was a little erratic.

 

Limit Bitch (4,1)

1 - Millard’s Ferndel Water Lily At Rubylea (AI) – this quality bitch is so typical of her kennel.  Good head with pleasing expression.  Good strong neck, well angulated fore and aft.  Great depth of chest and a good topline.  Moved with drive.  Pleased to award her the RCC.

2 – Popkin’s Julita Ryveeta JW – This bitch is a little more workmanlike than 1.  She has a lovely feminine head, good strong neck and well angulated shoulders.  I liked her topline.  Moved well.

3 – Cooper’s Gilstonia Snow Moon

 

Open Bitch (2,0)

1 – Ferguson’s Julita Raindance At Teaselwood – Nice feminine head, good strong neck, good angulation and topline.  I wish she was a little more positive in her movement.

2 - Branagh’s Ferndel Water Fall – Repeat, Novice

 

Champion Bitch (1,0)

1 – Graham’s Sh Ch Nyliram Telling Tales JW ShCEx OSW – This lovely bitch is out of the top drawer.  She has a fabulous feminine head with a melting expression, good strong neck which flows to a lovely lay of shoulder.  Good depth of chest, flowing top line and great rear angulation.  But it is when this bitch moves that she really shows she in a class of her own.  I always look for drive and boy does she drive! Very happy to award her BCC and in agreement with my co-judge, BIS

 

Veteran Bitch (3,0)

1 – Jones’ Sh Ch Julita Rumours At Trosley – This eight year old girl has a sweet head, good angulation, lovely depth and wagged her tail throughout.  She won this strong class on her driving movement. BVB

2 – Waller’s Isfryn Lady Godiva At Fireglow JW – This seven year old has a nice head, good strong neck, lovely angulation and depth of chest, all standing on lovely neat feet.

3 – Caldwell’s Hillpark Queen Bee At Cerysan AW(B)

 

Special Beginners Bitch (2,0)

1 – Cochrane & Allen’s Eiriandylis Confusion – Repeat, Junior

2 – Primmer’s Amanshe Mermaid's Tears – Repeat, Mid Limit

 

Special Working Bitch (0)

 

Special Shooting Bitch (0)

 

Good Citizens Dog Scheme Bitch (3,0) – This class highlighted the grooming challenges that a spayed Welsh Springer bitch can pose.  Congratulations to the owners for the presentation they have achieved.

1 – Caldwell’s Hillpark Queen Bee At Cerysan AW(B) – Third in a strong Veteran class.  This eight-year-old bitch carries her greying coat well.  She has a lovely head and is well put together fore and aft, so not surprisingly she moved well with drive.

2 – Barkley’s Cherryheath's Miss Velocity JW – This nine-year-old girl has a lovely feminine head, good strong neck and angulation.  Good depth of chest.  Moved well.

3 - Walton, Coffin & Patterson’s Hillpark Twist With Joy – Repeat, Puppy

 

Finuala Barnes (Barhi)

Judge

 

 

Special Classes

I would like to thank the Committee for inviting me to be the Referee at their 30th Championship Show & for the hospitality shown to me on the day.

I wasn’t needed to Referee as both Judges agreed final placing, but I did enjoy judging the Brace & Breeders Classes.

BRACE

Both exhibitors handled their dogs really well, both pairs performed well together, straight up & down & round the ring with their handlers looking in control of their Brace.

1st Mrs A Walton, Mrs GM Coffin & Mrs NA Patterson’s Hillpark mother & daughter pair, so very similar in appearance. Moved as one round the ring & stood beautifully together.

2nd Miss A Primmer’s Amanshe pairing, moved in unison round the ring, what a very happy pair.

 

SPECIAL BREEDERS

One exhibiting group was familiar with how to present multiple dogs in a Breeders Classes, the other wasn’t. I made a couple of suggestions to this group who very quickly got the idea how to present their dogs in this class.

All exhibits were presented in excellent coat & condition displaying powerful driving movement round the ring.

1st Cooper’s Gilstonia Mother, Daughter & Son group. Certainly all of a type, even size & balance. Peas in a Pod.

2nd Walton, Coffin & Patterson’s Hillpark group. There was a seven year age range to this group, a credit to their breeders.

Mrs Kathleen Abbott

Judge