I would like to begin this report by thanking the South Eastern Welsh Springer Spaniel Club for the wonderful opportunity to judge their Open show.  Next, I would like to recognize and profusely thank my stewards, Doreen Bowen and Ruth Waller.  They are two of the most pleasant and thoughtful women I have had the pleasure to work with.  They certainly could give lessons in ring management to a majority of stewards in America. Finally, I must thank all of those who entered their dogs and entrusted them to me.  Not every dog can win its class, but I hope that each owner felt that their dog’s assessment was fair, was done with a gentle hand and that the overall experience was positive.

 

            A few observations before I begin the critiques.  My first trip to the U.K. was in 1983. I met many beautiful Welsh Springers; the quality of dogs was deep and wide. I have visited many times since and over the years I have witnessed a concerning amount of temperament problems (mostly shyness, lack of confidence), movement problems, flat feet, and the very gradual shift of the honest, workmanlike dog to a very pretty, but incorrect, style resembling more a setter than a spaniel.  These concerns are not peculiar to England, it is happening here in the States as well.    I have not seen the British dogs since 2000 and was wondering what the state of the breed would be.

 

            I was pleased to see that the majority of dogs presented to me were typical Welsh Springers, temperament was sound and, overall, movement was good. I do recognize that the ring was the best it could be for the situation, but it was a bit small and it wasn’t easy for the dogs to move out, therefore, some compensation had to be made.  I did notice, however, that too many dogs were lacking the correct extension and return of the foreleg underneath the body when viewed on side movement.  This has nothing to do with the ring or with training or handling: the dogs themselves are losing the proper angles and balance in front to be able to bring their forelegs out for reach and back under for full forward motion.   Each dog allowed itself to be examined and except for a very small few, willingly approached me at the return of the down-and-back when I offered my hand. Bites were good, although many sets of teeth were quite dirty. Long loins are creeping in as are high hocks. Flat feet are still there, although grooming and trimming toenails could help to make them at least look better. Several dogs had incorrect sloping toplines.  Finally: Remember that the first line in General Appearance calls for a dog “obviously built for endurance and hard work”. Too many dogs were soft and out of condition; some healthy exercise would be advantageous to us all.

 

            I did prefer the bitches overall to the males, and since the strength of a breed lies with the bitches, you are in a good position. At the end, I had four bitches I could have given the win, but this time I chose Coedybrain Carys At Typica for Best in Show.   Reserve Best went to another bitch, Ch. Highclare Energizer. Best Puppy went to yet another, bitch Pamicks Wicked by Gracious of Cormallen.  The lone male to stand in the winners line-up was Typica Goldigger, JW, my Best of Opposite Sex.

 

 

Minor Puppy Dog (3,0a)

1st – Batey’s Amblelight Centauri – Happy boy.  Good bone and body development for his age. Pleasing head. Good upper arm. Good angles behind.

2nd -  White’s Fiergen Break Dancer – I preferred his cobbier body than #1. Good forechest.  A bit overdone in head for my taste.

 

Puppy Dog (4, 0a)

1st – Wakeman’s Sherdrew Echo Point – Moved cleanly coming and going but is a bit restricted on his side movement. Held his topline and undocked tail correctly on the move. Pleasing head. Good coat/colour. 

2nd - White’s Fiergen Break Dancer

 

Junior Dog (7,1a)

1st – Montague’s & Renouf’s Ranwold Delling – Another undocked dog. Good forechest. Good ribbing to loin proportions. Well developed thighs. Good coat/colour.  Needs more body but he is still young. Could also use more strength overall in the rear. Head is a bit too heavy for my taste considering this is a young dog.

2nd – Hills-Page’s Highclare Saddler’s Wells –Well boned, proportioned young male. Good depth of chest. Good silky coat with good color. As with #1, needs time to mature, fill out and get his muscling.

 

Special Yearling Dog (7,0a)

1st – Rees’ Typica Goldigger – Type and picture of Welsh that I prefer. Balanced overall.  In good condition.  Good feet. Good point of buttock. Good bend of stifle and lovely low set hocks. Good bone. Moved easily with good drive from behind and good foot fall. For his head I would prefer a bit less skin, more chiseling under the eye and I would prefer him to be cleaner in throat, but I felt his head fit him and was in balance to his body. When set up he tends to fall away behind, but on the move his correct topline returns.

2nd – Tew’s Pamicks Sign of the Times -  Good forechest and lay of shoulder.  Balanced overall.  Good coat and rich red colour. Better in the backskull than #1. Would prefer lower set hocks.

 

Novice Dog (3,0)

1st – Robinson’s Fiergen Silver Dollar – Pleasing head. Good forechest. Good neck into lay of shoulders. Good meaty rear.

2nd – Watkins’ Llon Carreg Cennen – More up on leg than #1. Handles himself well on side movement. Good coat/colour.  Still needs time to body up.

 

Graduate Dog (5,1a)

1st – Knox’s Parkmist Master Plan – Pleasing head and expression. Good balance of body. Good ribbing to loin proportion. Adequate bone, although I would prefer a bit more for a male.

2nd – Leary – Hillpark Hallmark at Haselmount – Preferred his coat and colour to #1. Good bone. Uses himself well when moving.  Good forechest.  Good muscling behind.

 

Post Graduate Dog (4, 1a, 1w)

1st – Popkin’s Julita American Redway – Good wide loin (i.e. width not length) Good size. Pleasing head. Side movement was better when handler let dog go on its own.  Tail never stopped wagging.

2nd – Pigeon’s Norlington Rhythm N Blues – Well up to size. Good long rib. In good shape and condition.  Still a bit lanky for a three year old.

 

Limit Dog (9,0a)

1st – Wright’s Amblelight Redshift – It turns out this was a nine year old dog. He was a bit big for my preference but he had such a lovely head with the desired chiseling and sweet, kind eye.  He had a nice long ribcage although he could be a shade shorter in loin. He held his topline when moving.  Good colour, even if going a little grey.

2nd – Barnes’ Barhi Crouching Tiger – Another dog on the larger side. He had a good forechest. Good bone. Good neck into shoulders. Good long ribbing, but as with #1, I would prefer him a bit shorter in loin. Movement was relatively clean, but I would prefer he used himself (and his tail) more when going around the ring.

 

Open Dog (9, 1a)

1st – Troth’s Taimeres Turnabout for Collinsmoore JW – I liked this dog for his forechest, good point of shoulder, good neck into shoulder, and when on his own, would stand properly over himself. Pleasing head and expression. Good coat and colour. Good ribbing. Was a bit high in the hocks and moved a bit narrow behind, but on side movement he used himself well and converged properly underneath.

2nd – Rees’ Typica Fieldsman – Definitely a different type from #1.  A cobbier, more workmanlike dog. Good ribbing, bone, condition.  Movement displayed good strong drive and proper footfall. 

 

Veteran Dog (7, 1w)

1st – Barkley’s Sh. Ch. Parkmist Mr. Jinks – 10 ½ years young. I love his type and style. Compact dog. Good forechest, ribbing, width of thighs. Merrily drove himself around the ring. I can see this spaniel being able to work the full day in the fields without tiring. 

2nd – Vines’ Albadora March Storm – Almost 11 ½ years.  Lovely head. Good legs. Good proportions, good depth of body.

Both of these veterans had good drive from the rear.  On side movement, both boys had good reach and subsequent return of foreleg underneath. 

 

Special Beginners Dog (7, 0a)

1st – Wakeman’s Sherdrew Echo Point –

2nd -- Smith’s Ambleight Mercury –  Immature boy, still a bit lanky and uncoordinated in his movement. Pleasing head and expression. Good straight front legs.

 

Minor Puppy Bitch (3, 0a)

1st – White’s Fiergen Private Dancer – Just over 6 months old, but more mature than her competition.  She was good for bone, forechest, pretty head.  She had a good thigh and good point of buttock.  She is inclined to be too straight in pasterns.

2nd – Ellis’ & Lambert’s Amblelight Lapetus – just a few days older than the winner, still very much a baby girl.  Pretty, feminine head, good reach of neck into shoulders.  Good colour.  Not as much development in forechest and chest depth, though as #1 - which may be due to age.

 

Puppy Bitch (3, 0a)

1st – Bateman’s Pamicks Wicked But Gracious of Cormallen – Different type then I usually look for, but this young bitch had a lovely head, front and reach of neck.  Colouring was a deep red and white. She moved with drive and was light on her feet.  A good loin.  She is a bit weak in hocks and lacked second thigh – some will come with age, but it’s not her strongest point.

2nd -- White’s Fiergen Private Dancer

 

Junior Bitch (6,0a)

1st – Reeder’s Highclare Darcee Bussell – This bitch had a good point of shoulders, and good convergence underneath in side movement. Bone was good. Good rib and width of loin for age. Pleasing head.  I would prefer more depth of colour in her coat.

2nd – Morgan’s Amiro The Wild Swan – A different type than #1. She was cobbier in body, darker in colour, had a bit more bone.  She had a good reach of neck into shoulders.  I would like to see her use her tail more and needs a bit more drive in the rear.  With bitches one never knows if they are coming into or out of season and this may have been the case here.

 

Special Yearling Bitch (3,0a)

1st – Rees’ Coedybrain Carys at Typica – This bitch caught my eye the moment she entered the ring.  She was balanced front and rear. A sweet, feminine expression. Good head into neck. Long rib into loin. Good rear with the correct bend of stifle in to low set hocks.  Good feet. Good coat and colour.  I would have preferred her to be a bit more compact and it showed in her topline.  She could have used herself better when moving, however, I thought her virtues carried her through and even though she didn’t move with a lot of animation, her movement coming/going and side was true.  There was a lot of competition for Best Bitch and Best in Show, but I went with my gut and brought this young bitch forward.

2nd – Carr’s Highclare Lotto at Gemill – Beautiful head and eye, into neck and shoulders with a good forechest. She stood with her front legs set properly underneath her.  Her topline was inclined to slope, but overall a very nice bitch.

 

Novice Bitch (7,0a)

1st – White’s Fiergen Silver Lady – Cobbier girl who could use a bit more depth of body, She has good rib to loin.  Feminine head.  Her feet had good, high arched knuckles. She didn’t use her tail much when moving. I felt if she had been a little happier she would drive more in the rear.

2nd – Morgan’s Amiro The Wild Swan

 

Graduate Bitch (9,0a)

1st – Abbott’s Norlington Sugar N Spice – Compact, pretty bitch. Soft, feminine expression.  Better set hocks than a lot of the ones I saw. Good ribbing. Good coat/colour. Would prefer more between her front legs. Used herself well on the move.

2nd – Wren’s Glenbrows Playtime at Gwynmarren – More upright bitch than the winner.  Very feminine. Rich red and white colouring. Good front, neck set into shoulders.  Good muscling on the rear end.

 

Post Graduate Bitch (9, 0a)

1st – Frost’s Highclare Scrabble of Bushwacker – I quite liked this bitch.  She was a good sized bitch, but was able to appear feminine yet workmanlike at the same time.  She was a rich red and white. Pleasing head and expression. Good bend of stifle. I liked her overall proportions. Good depth of body. Good long rib. She could have moved with a bit more conviction, but as written previously, one never really knows what state a bitch may be in.

2nd – Tew’s Pamicks Saffron – Another pretty bitch, a bit more feminine than the #1. Good bone Good feet. Good proportion rib to loin. Lovely, soft feminine expression.  Colour rich red and white.  I would have preferred a bit longer upper arm on her to be more in balance with the shoulder blade, but overall she had good side movement and used herself well moving.

 

Limit Bitch (10, 3a)

1st – Wren’s Ferndel Piaf at Gwymarren, JW – Good sized bitch, more upright than #2.  Lovely, feminine head and expression. Good depth of chest. Good coat.  Is a bit short in the upper arm and could use more forechest.  Used herself well on the side, but does need more strength in the rear.

2nd – Thomas’ Cleavehill Llyn Brianne – Used herself well on the move. Good ribbing,

good depth of body, good bend of stifle.  As with #1, she could use a bit more forechest

and fill in front.

 

Open Bitch (6, 3a)

1st – Tully’s Highclare Queen’s Logic – Larger bitch. Lovely head and sweet, feminine

expression.  Good coat and colour. Good reach of neck into shoulders. Good forechest.

Good width of rear. Good flow of topline. Moves easily and light on her feet.  She is a

bit too long in loin for me and I would prefer her hocks to be a tad lower, but overall

she is a quality bitch.

2nd – Baker’s Anisbesco Starlight Express – Similar bitch to #1. Getting a bit grey,

but then, don’t we all?  Carried herself well when moving, side gait open and easy.

Good forechest. I preferred her rib to loin proportions over #1.

 

Veteran Bitch (3, 1a)

1st – Barkley’s Parkmist Miss Temptation – Very sweet face. A compact

bitch. Good point of shoulder, depth of body and chest. Well ribbed, good loin.

Moved with drive but a bit of a hitch in the rear.

2nd – White’s Fiergen Snowdrop – Similar to winner in type and age. Another sweet

face. Good fill in the forechest. Deep rib, good loin.  Her feet were a bit flat and she

didn’t use herself as well when moving as did the winner.

 

Special Beginners – Bitch (7, 0a)

1st – Carr’s Highclare Lotto at Gemill  (special yearling 2nd)

2nd – Wren’s Glenbrow’s Playtime at Gwynmarren (graduate. bitch 2nd)

 

Special Working Dog or Bitch (6, 1a)

1st – Tully’s Ch. Highclare Energizer – I can’t pretend I didn’t know who this bitch was

when she entered the ring and was thrilled to be able to go over her.  She was presented

in beautiful coat, condition, weight and grooming (the grooming enhancing her points

without looking barbered).   She has lovely proportions, well-coupled. Good ribbing. 

Good bend of stifle and low set hocks. Her neck set went into well laid shoulders.

She is a bit broad in the backskull but her head fits her body. She moved with

efficiency, drive and used her tail when moving.  Every inch of her is a spaniel –

no wonder she has done so well for the breed.

2nd – Dean’s Kazval Castaway to Pasondela  -- Another lovely bitch in the working class.

Good coat. Sweet, feminine expression.  Good bone. Good point of shoulder.  Her nails

were clicking  when she was being moved and I thought perhaps she wasn’t using

herself as well as she could because of her footing.

 

Special New Members Dog or Bitch (1, 0a)

1st – Smith’s Amblelight Mercury – Very cute baby boy just over 6 months old. Sweet

face and expression, good straight bone on front legs.  Merry temperament. Needs

to body up and can’t quite control rear when moving yet.  Time and training should

help settle things into place.

 

Good Citizen Dog Scheme (7, 1a)

1st – Barkley’s Sh. Ch. Parkmist Mr. Frisk –  9 ½ years old.  Compact and cobby boy.

A head and expression I like, correct balance of foreface to backskull, chiseling below

the eyes,  kind, expressive eyes and a big, well-developed nose. Good bone.

Has good forechest.  Good feet. Would prefer a better lay of shoulders.

Standing he has a bit of a dip in his topline, but when he moves, the topline corrects

itself.  Happy little guy on the move.

2nd – Vines’  Albadora March Storm of Highclare (veteran dog 2nd)

I would like to state “thank you and well done” to all entries in this class.  In this day

and age of stricter dog legislation, you set a good example for all pet owners

regarding responsible ownership.

 

Adrienne Bancker

Judge