Championship Breed Show

21st november 2010:  dog Judge : albert wight

It was a delight to be invited to judge the males at this excellent show and the entry of 98 dogs was seemingly about right for the area and time of year.  The venue is light and spacious but it was one of the coldest halls I have ever judged in.   It was like standing next to an industrial sized refrigerator with the doors open   Despite several attempts by the officials to have the heating turned up, each was thwarted with the response that the heating was already on!!

This breed is very much at the cross roads as I can’t ever recall quite seeing such a variation in sheer type.   Heads come in all shapes and sizes and I do feel the standard needs clarification as it could so easily be mis-interpreted.  “Muzzle short and strong” seems to contradict “skull and foreface approximately equal in length”  However, I know what I look for and was lucky enough to find heads that I liked for my class winners.  Ears remain a problem, a number quite large and out of proportion to the head

Then several which appealed on the stack and were shapely and looked like they would have a smooth athletic stride, then became bum high and short stepping on the go around and/or had high stepping front action.    My co-judge and I chose to let the decisions for BIS and BPIS to be decided by the referee and Club Patron, Mrs.Purnell-Carpenter, who awarded the dog Sh.Ch.Janbell Jamieson BIS with a very pretty bitch Sh.Ch.Altricia Fancy Free at Tudorhurst as Res BIS and BPIS to the dog Croxlea the Wizard of Oz

VETERAN DOG (7-1)

Every exhibit had a perfect mouth with sparkling teeth

1. RESLEAP CHRISTMAS CRACKER ShCM  This chap looks well short of being a veteran. Handsome headpiece, brightest of eyes and expressions, in lean, hard condition, good angles, so light striding as he moved around the ring and in gleaming coat.  Add being a natural show off helps.

2. SH.CH. WIZALAND LIVING SOUL JW   What a charmer, another which matched the smooth drifting side action of the winner and looked like he could go all day. Beautiful skull, eyes and expression, so well ribbed and well weighted bone.  Ran the winner so close.  Easy to see why he is titled.

3. HALLADOWN ROCK LEGEND

VINTAGE DOG (4-1)

1. Reserve Best Vet/Vintage in Show.  SH.CH.AM.CH.BORDERFAME I AM I SAID (USA) Another which looked like he could still compete in Open. Striking in stance as he is so well balanced in length/height proportions.  Delightful head, good width in skull, well defined stop and excellent expressive eyes.  Remains fleet of foot around the ring and was clearly enjoying himself.

2. SNOWMERE TARN JW AW  Dead out of coat and not really the muzzle finish I like, but certainly fit for purpose on this display, but he is a real lean machine strength in body, good angles, well moulded croup, harmonious outline and the keen expression of a real worker with attitude.   Not the lovely type of the third but much smoother and active on the move.

3. SH.CH.ANSCOT CAMERON

MINOR PUPPY DOG (8-1)  

1. BPIS  CROXLEA THE WIZARD OF OZ.   Providing this delightful youngster doesn’t grow on much more then he should have an exciting career.  Broad skull vary dark, well placed and shaped eyes, good bone with little knuckle left in front, nicely moulded croup with a good tail set and his front and rear angles please.  Sound and effective side action and presented in gleaming jacket.  Played up something awful in the challenge, but settled in the BP challenge to win the day.  Could finish really well

2. CALEYKIZ I GOT RHYTHM TOO  Just 7 months old and not nearly so advanced and settled as the winner, but I thought him a delight.  Classy head, excels in eyes and expression, neat ears, ample neck with a level backline and well moulded croup.  Stands firmly in front and circled the ring with a positive, even stride.  Once he learns to extend a little more than will finish the picture

3. DETANIA GOLD SOVEREIGN

PUPPY DOG (8-2)

1. BORDERBEAU SNOW BUSINESS  Another nice b/w puppy with that instant attraction appeal.  Loved his size, really well ribbed, good shoulder and upper arm, feet OK, ribs carry well back to a good loin and he has a decent bend of stifle.  A little loose on the up and down but in profile he retained his shape and balance,  Immaculate coat presentation.

2. To be announced upon results of KC enquiry

3. To be announced upon results of KC enquiry

JUNIOR DOG  (8)

1. TONKORY VICEROY JW  Classicly marked b/w with the blaze and full collar adding to his appeal.  Medium size, ideal bone, eye-catching outline as he used his neck so well, the back is clean and the croup moulding so smooth.  He just needs a little more weight in muzzle to complete the picture, as his backskull and eyes are a delight

2. LITTLETHORN CORSAIR AT RESLEAP  I found him to be beautifully constructed and a pleasure to go over.  Nice head, eyes and expression, well set ears, firm in backline, good tail set and so lithe on the move.  Is still young and hopefully will gain a little more fore-chest and bodyweight as he matures.  A smart fellow

3. WIZALAND OVER TO YOU LACEWAY

YEARLING DOG  (9)

1. Reserve C.C. TONKORY UP AND COMING  I liked him on sight and was not disappointed when I went over him.  Middle sized, owns the ring on the move with his free, reachy action which is seemingly effortless and suggests he could go all day.  Beautiful head, ample broad skull, beautiful eyes for size, colour and expression, good length of neck, so well ribbed and a really good bend of stifle to firm hocks. Gleaming in coat he was the obvious winner and despite some strong opposition in the challenge, I could not resist him for RCC 

2. MIRAJE TOP SPEC  Another which will have loads of success.  Again a lovely height with good shoulder and hind angulation, so well ribbed, straight fore limbs above tight well cushioned feet and he too is blessed with a smooth, purposeful side action.  He is blessed with the full markings which always assist the neck and outline.  Kind eyes set in a balanced head and he looks intelligent.  Just preferred the winner in having that smoother croup line, but a handsome dog

3. FLORAUNA THE COUNTRYMAN

NOVICE DOG  (4)

1. STARSIDE GABRIEL   Nicely headed, really good eye shape, colour and the wisest of expressions, enough reach of neck, lovely temperament, nice spring of ribs and he moved out quite soundly

2. THREJAYS TARAN ISDS  Not very enthusiastic as a showman and he stands looking a bit bored!   Eye a little round but it is a good size and colour, scores in skull width and stop definition with a decent muzzle.  Once he finally settled on the move he showed a reasonable side action.

3. DETANIA GOLD SOVEREIGN

POST GRADUATE DOG  (10-5)

1. TONKORY TAKE OVER BORDERBECK JW  Benefited from being in immaculate coat which was spotless in presentation.  Well handled to get the best of out of him.   He is not the biggest male in the world but is undeniably masculine in head, eyes and expression, excellent neck and backline and on the stack his flowing outline from his good shoulder and rear angles harmonise to give and attractive shape.  I would like him a tad firmer in front but side on  he did nothing exaggerated, just smooth and even stepping.  I see he is the third winner with this prefix out of the last 4 classes

2. VALECROFT SPRUCE  Sadly out of coat and not quite the softness in eye and expression of the winner.  However, he is built on really athletic lines, clean cut, flowing outline from the back of his skull to his firm hocks.  On the move he excels with his light positive step

3. LITTLETHORN FALCON TO SKYEDOWN NOV.EX

MID-LIMIT DOG (9-2)

1. ROSSBROOK CHASING SHADOWS JW   I liked this very handsome, full collared dog whose narrow blaze enhanced his appeal.  Medium sized.  Well defined withers, good layback in shoulder and enough length of upper arm.  His ribs carry well back to a good loin and his rear angulation is so good.  His head handles well, lovely stop and strong muzzle with a well shaped, dark and so alive eyes and expression.  Almost stealthy in action and so sound in profile

2. HUCCLEBON HANG IN THERE   Different in type to most I placed as he is taller than I would normally like, but he owns a beautifully balanced head, so kind in eye and expression, really well angulated both ends, ample ribbing and in good jacket.  His correct action moved him up to this spot, relaxed unfussed and effective

3. CALEYKIZ DANCE TO THE RHYTHM

LIMIT DOG  (17)  

1. BELWEY MUCHACHO  Prick eared fellow, which I thought had a balanced head, nice eyes and expression and so correct in construction, lovely outline, using his neck to advantage and impeccably handled by a young lady who got every last ounce out of him.  He can move out and she knows it, but can take him too fast so he loses his backline.  I told her once to move him less speedily and hey presto, she listened, it worked and they won!

2. ETHERIAL UP IN LIGHTS   Bit of a problem for me as he is rather heavier all through than I like, but he is just so lovely to go over.  No doubting his sex and this head, stunning eyes and excellent ears.  He has excellent ribbing and forechest, the straightest of forelegs, a hint of a slope in pastern and moved out with real reach and drive.  Not in the best of blooms and will look better  I see he sired the BPIS

3. FOXBARTON TAITTINGER JW ShCM

OPEN DOG  (10-1)  A lovely class with some really smart dogs.  The first four are all                                                 worthy Champions, so the competition was hot

1. CC & BIS  SH.CH.JANBELL JAMIESON   I awarded him G3 at Manchester this year in a very strong Group.  I have always admired him and was delighted to go over him again.  I love his head, so correct with a stunning expression   He is so well ribbed, beautiful shoulders and upper arm, straight front, the tightest of feet and just enough hind angulation.  He moved out soundly both ways and does just enough in profile to keep his shape yet cover the ground well.  On the stack he is a handler’s dream.  Never put a foot wrong and is ever attentive

 2. SH.CH.CALEYKIZ MYSTICAL DRAGON   Turned out to be the big disappointment for me as on sight I thought he could be the class winner.  He is very much my type of Border, looks classy, has an air of style, his neckline flows so smoothly and curvily and he has a long, low set tail with a beautiful croup.  Loved his head balance, eyes for shape and colour and he was spotless in coat.  For some reason he appeared unhappy and keep leaning back in stance  or tucking his hocks in rather that stretching out.  On the move he showed reach forward and drive aft so I know he is sound.  Perhaps it was the echoes in the hall, or the floor covering, but whatever it was it cost him.  In the challenge for RCC I called him back but he still had that unhappy look.  I hope to see him outside somewhere where perhaps I will see the real him

3. SH.CH.WIZALAND COOL NIFTY FIFTY JW

Judge:     ALBERT  WIGHT

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DOG CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE

SH.CH.JANBELL JAMISON JW

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RESERVE DOG CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE

TONKORY UP AND COMING

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BEST PUPPY DOG

CROXLEA THE WIZARD OF OZ