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It seems that Karen's report has not appeared in the press. I emailed it to both papers shortly after the show. For those who want it, here it is in unabridged form as it should have appeared on our website if the webmaster would only get on with his job.
The papers got a shorter version, but I thought some would enjoy Karen's thoughts on the differences between US and British whippets.
[SIZE=14pt][/SIZE]
O East Anglian Whippet Club Open Show Critique
Judge: Karen B. Lee, Surrey Hill, USA
I was honored by the size and depth of this entry, which was the largest entry of my breed I have ever judged by a factor of nearly two. Most exhibitors who approached me after the show were interested to know the differences between a US entry of representative size, and this one.
I did not find it difficult to adjust to judging the entry on the stack to the Kennel Club Standard, which differs in only a few particulars (size, pigment, and some description of the shape of the head) from the American standard. My greater difficulty was in assessing gait, as we are used to both a different style of moving the dog and a looser-lead presentation in the States, and I appreciate the cooperation of handlers who complied with my requests to alter their speed slightly or loosen their grip. It did pay off in the cards for many.
Height is really not the factor some might imagine. This entry was missing a few of the larger extremes we allow in the USA, and had some quite small examples we would not show, but about 75% of it fell into the same range of sizes that the majority of our show Whippets do. Some were much larger than I expected to see. Pigment and ear carriage was a difference, the former I did not penalize here as I should not, but the latter I did—not to the exclusion of all else, but I refuse to utterly disregard something that is in the written standard. The same was true for head properties and neck. I penalized some dogs for being too close-set between the eyes; the UK standard asks for some width there but did expect the overall substance of the head to match the rest of the dog.
Movement coming and going was on average superior going away to what I see in a large US entry. Many of the rears were fairly clean and true and I had fewer of the fronts wide at the elbow and toed-in that one finds so often back home. Some exhibits came at me tied at the elbows and a-framing, but not often to the extremes I see in the US. There were some wide fronts, but again, not quite as many as are becoming a problem back home. There were few perfect movers, but for an entry this size there was a relatively small percentage of truly poor movers.
Side gait was level in most cases, but not generally on par with what we have in the USA. Some dogs even had a shuffling gait, but there was little excessive lifting or breaking at the pasterns. I think part of the reason for this is that your standard revision which now specifies sufficient length and return of upper arm to create more extended side movement has not been in effect long enough to cause huge changes in front end structure, and because the handlers in general are not moving the dogs on a loose enough leash and the speed that we generally do. While upper arms were often a bit short and more upright, shoulders, pasterns, and body style were superior and far more consistent. So, that is very admirable.
Necks were often problematic—I wasn’t looking for swans or giraffes, but the UK standard does use the word “longâ€, and many necks did not have an arch, widen gracefully, and flow smoothly into the shoulders, and heads often did not conform well to the even the terse requirements of the UK standard. Because of this, there were many sound and honest specimens that lacked the style and class to lift them out of the cards and into the realm of the top contenders. I admire the consistency of thought and opinion on the correct topline in the UK (something we have utterly failed at in the USA), but I found more variation in topline than I expected, while underlines were amazing in their consistency. I also think there should be more latitude for acceptable variation so long as the topline matches the overall style and make of the dog. On the move, one can tell if the topline is strong in loin, functional, graceful, and natural, or if the dog’s outline must “fall to pieces†in order to trot.
The thing I believe I most appreciated about my UK entry was that the vast VAST majority of exhibits had just exactly the right amount of bone and substance in body for size of dog. This is something we are doing a terrible job of in the USA, with many winners who have huge, round bone which is atypical, and we still are trying to breed them neither too slab-sided and light, nor too bossy and massive. Well done on the substance and bone issue—I would say you’ve for the most part got that one nailed.
One thing that never seems to change no matter where I judge is that there are always those dogs who come into the ring and I think I’ve found my ultimate winner, and then when I send them down and back, I find to my dismay I can scarcely use them at all. I guess it is true wherever you go that some of the most beautiful and stunning members of our breed really don’t trot down and back all that well. And some of the boxy, plainer ones are sound as a bell. I was lucky in this entry that in most classes, I was able to find dogs with smooth and balanced outlines and a quality look whose movement faults, if any, were trivial or minor. I am neither an up-and-backer nor a side gait fanatic. I try to find a Whippet who gets the job done smoothly without major faults in any of the three directions—coming, going, from the side.
A few exhibits were not clean or had visible tartar in the front of their mouths (one suspects the molars would be dreadfully caked), but I know I’m not the first judge to point this out. But most were beautifully prepared for the ring and shown in fitter condition for the most part than I was expecting.
Before critiquing the classes, I will close by thanking my exceptional Ring Stewards, Pat Dufty & Ray Morland without whom I would have had not the slightest chance of finishing remotely close to time.
There were 213 entries at this show that were present for their classes, out of 280 entries, total. Not too shabby for an Open Show, or so I’m told. Congratulations to the EAWC on such a turnout.
Minor Puppy Dog (4)
1. Cox’s Rearsbylea Recruit
Smooth rose fawn particolor dog, nice topline, gaited true, carried outline well on go-around but either not enough extension or moved too slowly to show it. Balanced and pleasing overall to go over.
2. Griffith’s Wyfordby Whiteheart
Slightly less substantial brindle particolor, very Whippety, neat feet, and did eventually settle enough to assess gait. Obviously still quite a baby.
Puppy Dog (4)
1. Head’s Demerlay RockNRoll
Very balanced mover, powerful gait, strong rear, good depth for age. More compact than I generally go for, but definitely a fine example of the style. Size was good. Red brindle parti. Best Puppy Dog.
2. Same as 1st in Minor Puppy.
Junior Dog (7)
1. Ormond’s Denimonde Weaving a Dream
Silver Brindle, very neat package, clean mover, a bit wide between blades at top. Sweet expression, which was still bright and keen. Correct in all essentials.
2. Newton’s Nave of Spades of Nevedith
Very pleasing dark brindle, nice shape, feet, substance, and tail carriage. Preferred head properties of the winner.
Yearling Dog (15)
1. Cutter’s Washbanks Wellington
Smooth, strong, balanced blue fawn dog, standing well within his structure, good feet and neck. I would call this an honest dog with little to fault seriously.
2. Keenan and Keenan’s Stormburst Sparkling Water at Citycroft
Very stylish, long dog, nice mover on side, but less settled on the line than winner, preferred winner’s fit of neck into shoulder, should mature out very well. He was white with dark brindle patches. Expect them both to win a lot, only they will each have to find “their†judges.
Maiden Dog (4)
1. Same as 1st in Minor Puppy, but a bit more relaxed this time on the move.
2. Cawthorn & Collier’s Runaround Mr Bojangles
White and blue fawn parti, elegant but a bit raw today, leggy, but sound. Good feet and pasterns, needs more time. Showed better in this class than in the first one I saw him in.
Novice Dog (7)
1. Long’s Blandings Earl Grey
Pale silver fawn brindle with white trim. Topline better moving than standing, well-angulated behind, moved smoother than when shown in Yearling, beautiful underline, lean head.
2. Levy & Levy’s Culumalda Comte de Falcon
Charming blue fawn dog just a bit shorter-cast, but shapely, fairly sound, lovely ring attitude.
Post-Graduate (11)
1. Smith & Smith’s Steveila Patrick Folley
Balanced, but compact, red brindle parti. Sound mover, a bit lighter through ribs, but pleasing in most regards throughout. Great feet, pasterns, low hocks. Well-handled and presented to this win.
2. Bell’s Chrispan Crown of Gold for Windsdream
Smooth, pretty dog with best side movement in class, but a bit less mature in front coming.
Limit Dog (6)
1. Mixedes & Mixedes’ Mossbawnhill Supersonic at Yialousa
Blue brindle, stylish, clean lines, very fit, moderate at each end and fairly true. Held his topline strongly on the go-around.
2. Brown’s Courthill Chain Reaction of Hazeacre
Silver brindle with white trim, a bit much rear for front, but the more stylish and elegant dog. If he is taken around at a brisker pace, he uses his rear much better. Quite a good head.
Open Dog (12)
1. Fulcher’s Khandibah Kizmet
Stylish beautiful flowing silver brindle, of good proportions and a real stallion. Needed gaiting at a slower pace up and back, which when complied with, movement went back to true. Lean, long head which still had adequate width between the eyes, good ears. Up to size.
2. Newton’s Nevedith Lord of the Rings SH CM
Fabulous side mover, one of the best of the day, but wider coming and going and not quite as smooth in outline. Beautiful head and strong throughout, looks more like a stud dog than a show dog, in some regards. Fawn brindle particolor.
Special Racing and Coursing Dog (4)
1. Noel-Smith’s Spiders 'n' Spoons
Beautifully long-cast dog, white with irregularly-placed gold fawn patches. Smooth body, nice on go-around, with better gait on line he’d have gone far in Open, too.
2. Reed’s Dejare Cobweb (staying with the spidery theme, I guess)
Very pleasing lavender brindle. Good type, clean mover, gave to the winner on side gait and overall length and flow of outline. Really a good head profile and liked his underjaw but due to UK standard making no mention of such, was not able to reward him much for that. Pity.
Special Beginner Dog (6)
1. First in Yearling
2. Second in Novice
Veteran Dog (7)
1. Faber’s Ousebank Royal Arrow of Sufeina
Very sound solid honest blue dog, still quite fit and just outmoved the rest. Had to go with the soundness of this Veteran. I am always impressed when youthful movement holds up into this class.
2. Smith & Smith’s Steveila Ted Edward
Stunning breed type dog, elegant and beautiful, movement not holding up as well as on class winner. A littermate also placed. Wish I could have seen him when younger.
For Best Dog, I took the Open. I loved his strong outline, and the side movement he showed when allowed to open up on the go-around. Just a handsome, strong dog very much my taste.
Reserve Best Dog went to the impressive Puppy, which was impeccably presented and a moving machine. It is nice to see a dog who is very masculine, but not at all big. There was much to like about this promising youngster. Also a strong dog, built for work and speed.
Minor Puppy Bitch 8
Both these bitches moved freely from the side.
1. van Raalt’s Spinning Queen at Suchini
Orange brindle, compact, small, balanced bitch with a strong back for her age, and moved cleanly for a baby. Recent laceration w/sutures did not appear to affect gait, so was disregarded in judging.
2. Wilton-Clark’s Shalfleet Scephora
Pretty type, smooth, nice length and shoulder, preferred movement coming on the winner. Softer in back and not as together as winner, but really promising. Fawn.
Puppy Bitch (11)
1. Mason’s Aphrael Damhan-allaidh
White with brindle, very smooth and nice, clean, level mover, underline superb for age. Would win anywhere. Best Puppy Bitch.
2. Cooke’s Elbryden Damselfly at Shandaff
Very sound blue of correct size, nice ring demeanor, smooth under the hand, just a little less finished than class winner.
Junior Bitch (11)
1. Randall’s Spinneyhill Cinnamon at Hammonds
Blue brindle, balanced, particularly correct in substance and bone for size of dog. Feminine, yet appeared strong. Stood very comfortably within her frame, and moved that way as well.
2. Newton’s Nevedith Mfa Madam
Striking blue brindle with white trim, lovely type, generous outline, but less settled in gait up and back. Good head profile.
Yearling Bitch (14)
1. Hunter’s Mossbawnhill She's Eleqtric at Salatini
Beautiful side movement on this orange brindle. Smaller bitch. Low hocks, stood well within frame.
2. Crosse’s Jayglo Just the One
Classy fawn, a lovely bitch with a beautiful body, gave on pastern and neck to the winner. Tended to rack back standing, else could have topped the class.
Maiden (12)
1. Puppy Bitch class winner
2. Minor Puppy Bitch class winner
Novice (7)
1. Gray’s Veredon Naughty but Nice with Lanakeshena
Smooth and appealing fawn bitch. Feminine and classic, adequate mover, needs a bit more neck to balance out her nice long body.
2. Jull’s Linalkin Blue Meadow
Brindle, a bit squared-off in croup on go-around, clean gait on the line, showed much better in this class than the one prior, I felt. Pleasing underline and expression.
Post-Graduate (22)
This was the largest class, and by far my most diverse. I ended up with different styles of bitch in my final lineup, but there was much to like about all of them.
1. Burgess’ Welstar as You Like it at Monelli
Good side movement, very smooth, beautifully conditioned blue fawn. Won this huge and deep class rather easily as even though she did not have THE truest gait in the class, I simply could NOT deny her type.
2. Bennett’s Dumbriton Moon Flower over Stormburst
A dark brindle parti, gave a bit in croup to winner, but a very strong side mover, impressive angles, plenty of substance for height, expect she’ll win a lot.
Limit (14)
1. Bird’s Blandings Incandescence
Silver brindle, nicely angulated, well-balanced in quarters, not too tall, but substantial. Always stood well and comfortably within her frame.
2. Mixedes & Mixedes’ Jzan Zee Zee with Yialousa
Stunning smooth fawn, long, angulated rear, just wouldn’t stop rocking back on the stack. Loved her look, though.
Open (9)
1. Randall’s Hammonds Maigold
Fawn bitch with smooth lovely lean head, long cast, and otherwise hard to fault standing or moving, other than being up to size. It doesn’t hurt she has wonderful ring attitude, posing on her own and using her ears and neck when asked. She stands so comfortably and owns her bit of ground, as well she should.
2. Dixon’s Hammonds Mary Rose over Millwold JW
Sound, balanced, blue fawn brindle, a lovely overall package and would have won any class in which she was not so unlucky as to have met her sister under me on the day. Gave up the first today on neckset, but both these sisters were well-presented by their respective owners. I was very surprised to find out they were littermates after the show. Both are superb quality.
Special Racing and Coursing Bitch (5)
1. Price & Long’s Silkstone Butterfly at Silkdance JW
Balanced, sound, solid fawn. Not the best neck fit, but neat and tidy throughout and well-conditioned. Old-fashioned and sensible sort of bitch, in my book.
2. Null-Smith’s Peaches 'n' Dreams
One of the most beautiful outlines I judged all day, just not sound enough on the line to win this class. Loved her look. Such elegance.
Special Beginner (9)
1. Bunney’s Bunehug Little Echo
Balanced petite smooth-moving blue brindle, did better in this class with gait than when she was shown earlier.
2. Johnson/Day/Siemet’s Jasarat Gold Star
Paler brindle, not quite the upper arm of the winner, but of similar style. Very Whippety.
Veteran Bitch (4)
1. Whitaker-Crosby’s Mulcair Miss Mollee
Just little to critique on this magnificent older fawn bitch, holding her outline and gait so well for being over 10 years old, and she is wearing her years very lightly. Could still beat youngsters head-to-head, I think.
2. Di Dio & Di Dio’s Nevedith Zedfa Zeeta of Kushka
Exquisite silver with white trim bitch, beautiful on the stack, preferred headpiece of the winner.
This class contained four very fine Veterans who could have placed well or won in much larger class.
Best Bitch went to the Open Class winner, with strong challenges from the Veteran Bitch and interestingly, the Junior Bitch, who was not even under consideration when I began the challenge, but who brought herself to my attention upon further examination. The beautiful Post-Graduate Bitch seemed to be content with her large class win, while the Junior Bitch came on very strongly, and the Veteran was still showing well and moving with energy. But I could not deny the Open Bitch, who had the edge in maturity, showmanship, presentation, and style.
Reserve Best Bitch went to the Junior Bitch. I preferred her shoulder assembly to most, she had a smooth outline of a different, but equally-valid, style to my winner, was of the exact right substance for size, while still exhibiting femininity.
Best in Show went to the Bitch winner. The dog is very good, but the bitch’s topline and ring presence was undeniable on the day. She literally never looked anything other than perfectly set up and composed whenever I wanted to look at her. At this point in a competition of this size, presentation and ringcraft did, and should, pay off.
Reserve Best in Show went to the dog, after a strong challenge from the Reserve Bitch.
For Best Puppy, although the Puppy Bitch was more my style, the Puppy dog definitely earned the nod with showmanship and presentation, moreover, he was in super condition and closer to ideal size without sacrificing masculinity and substance. Like my Best in Show winner, this dog and his owner/handler really are a TEAM. It was great to see them work.
Best Veteran went to the Veteran Bitch. Although the Veteran Dog’s soundness and strength are impressive, I just thought the bitch had more breed type in outline, which is certainly how it often goes in our breed, which is a bitch breed, really. But congratulations to both, they really are superb Veterans and show the results of much good care at home.
Best Racing/Coursing went to the white and fawn dog. I am always impressed by a bit of glamour in the field classes, as this is something I strive for back home.
Best Blue/Black I thought would go to my Veteran dog, but he seemed to have had just about enough of this dog show. I was happy to see my pretty little second place in Puppy Bitch come back, and she sparkled her way to the win at the end of a very long day for us all.
Karen Lee (judge)
The papers got a shorter version, but I thought some would enjoy Karen's thoughts on the differences between US and British whippets.
[SIZE=14pt][/SIZE]
O East Anglian Whippet Club Open Show Critique
Judge: Karen B. Lee, Surrey Hill, USA
I was honored by the size and depth of this entry, which was the largest entry of my breed I have ever judged by a factor of nearly two. Most exhibitors who approached me after the show were interested to know the differences between a US entry of representative size, and this one.
I did not find it difficult to adjust to judging the entry on the stack to the Kennel Club Standard, which differs in only a few particulars (size, pigment, and some description of the shape of the head) from the American standard. My greater difficulty was in assessing gait, as we are used to both a different style of moving the dog and a looser-lead presentation in the States, and I appreciate the cooperation of handlers who complied with my requests to alter their speed slightly or loosen their grip. It did pay off in the cards for many.
Height is really not the factor some might imagine. This entry was missing a few of the larger extremes we allow in the USA, and had some quite small examples we would not show, but about 75% of it fell into the same range of sizes that the majority of our show Whippets do. Some were much larger than I expected to see. Pigment and ear carriage was a difference, the former I did not penalize here as I should not, but the latter I did—not to the exclusion of all else, but I refuse to utterly disregard something that is in the written standard. The same was true for head properties and neck. I penalized some dogs for being too close-set between the eyes; the UK standard asks for some width there but did expect the overall substance of the head to match the rest of the dog.
Movement coming and going was on average superior going away to what I see in a large US entry. Many of the rears were fairly clean and true and I had fewer of the fronts wide at the elbow and toed-in that one finds so often back home. Some exhibits came at me tied at the elbows and a-framing, but not often to the extremes I see in the US. There were some wide fronts, but again, not quite as many as are becoming a problem back home. There were few perfect movers, but for an entry this size there was a relatively small percentage of truly poor movers.
Side gait was level in most cases, but not generally on par with what we have in the USA. Some dogs even had a shuffling gait, but there was little excessive lifting or breaking at the pasterns. I think part of the reason for this is that your standard revision which now specifies sufficient length and return of upper arm to create more extended side movement has not been in effect long enough to cause huge changes in front end structure, and because the handlers in general are not moving the dogs on a loose enough leash and the speed that we generally do. While upper arms were often a bit short and more upright, shoulders, pasterns, and body style were superior and far more consistent. So, that is very admirable.
Necks were often problematic—I wasn’t looking for swans or giraffes, but the UK standard does use the word “longâ€, and many necks did not have an arch, widen gracefully, and flow smoothly into the shoulders, and heads often did not conform well to the even the terse requirements of the UK standard. Because of this, there were many sound and honest specimens that lacked the style and class to lift them out of the cards and into the realm of the top contenders. I admire the consistency of thought and opinion on the correct topline in the UK (something we have utterly failed at in the USA), but I found more variation in topline than I expected, while underlines were amazing in their consistency. I also think there should be more latitude for acceptable variation so long as the topline matches the overall style and make of the dog. On the move, one can tell if the topline is strong in loin, functional, graceful, and natural, or if the dog’s outline must “fall to pieces†in order to trot.
The thing I believe I most appreciated about my UK entry was that the vast VAST majority of exhibits had just exactly the right amount of bone and substance in body for size of dog. This is something we are doing a terrible job of in the USA, with many winners who have huge, round bone which is atypical, and we still are trying to breed them neither too slab-sided and light, nor too bossy and massive. Well done on the substance and bone issue—I would say you’ve for the most part got that one nailed.
One thing that never seems to change no matter where I judge is that there are always those dogs who come into the ring and I think I’ve found my ultimate winner, and then when I send them down and back, I find to my dismay I can scarcely use them at all. I guess it is true wherever you go that some of the most beautiful and stunning members of our breed really don’t trot down and back all that well. And some of the boxy, plainer ones are sound as a bell. I was lucky in this entry that in most classes, I was able to find dogs with smooth and balanced outlines and a quality look whose movement faults, if any, were trivial or minor. I am neither an up-and-backer nor a side gait fanatic. I try to find a Whippet who gets the job done smoothly without major faults in any of the three directions—coming, going, from the side.
A few exhibits were not clean or had visible tartar in the front of their mouths (one suspects the molars would be dreadfully caked), but I know I’m not the first judge to point this out. But most were beautifully prepared for the ring and shown in fitter condition for the most part than I was expecting.
Before critiquing the classes, I will close by thanking my exceptional Ring Stewards, Pat Dufty & Ray Morland without whom I would have had not the slightest chance of finishing remotely close to time.
There were 213 entries at this show that were present for their classes, out of 280 entries, total. Not too shabby for an Open Show, or so I’m told. Congratulations to the EAWC on such a turnout.
Minor Puppy Dog (4)
1. Cox’s Rearsbylea Recruit
Smooth rose fawn particolor dog, nice topline, gaited true, carried outline well on go-around but either not enough extension or moved too slowly to show it. Balanced and pleasing overall to go over.
2. Griffith’s Wyfordby Whiteheart
Slightly less substantial brindle particolor, very Whippety, neat feet, and did eventually settle enough to assess gait. Obviously still quite a baby.
Puppy Dog (4)
1. Head’s Demerlay RockNRoll
Very balanced mover, powerful gait, strong rear, good depth for age. More compact than I generally go for, but definitely a fine example of the style. Size was good. Red brindle parti. Best Puppy Dog.
2. Same as 1st in Minor Puppy.
Junior Dog (7)
1. Ormond’s Denimonde Weaving a Dream
Silver Brindle, very neat package, clean mover, a bit wide between blades at top. Sweet expression, which was still bright and keen. Correct in all essentials.
2. Newton’s Nave of Spades of Nevedith
Very pleasing dark brindle, nice shape, feet, substance, and tail carriage. Preferred head properties of the winner.
Yearling Dog (15)
1. Cutter’s Washbanks Wellington
Smooth, strong, balanced blue fawn dog, standing well within his structure, good feet and neck. I would call this an honest dog with little to fault seriously.
2. Keenan and Keenan’s Stormburst Sparkling Water at Citycroft
Very stylish, long dog, nice mover on side, but less settled on the line than winner, preferred winner’s fit of neck into shoulder, should mature out very well. He was white with dark brindle patches. Expect them both to win a lot, only they will each have to find “their†judges.
Maiden Dog (4)
1. Same as 1st in Minor Puppy, but a bit more relaxed this time on the move.
2. Cawthorn & Collier’s Runaround Mr Bojangles
White and blue fawn parti, elegant but a bit raw today, leggy, but sound. Good feet and pasterns, needs more time. Showed better in this class than in the first one I saw him in.
Novice Dog (7)
1. Long’s Blandings Earl Grey
Pale silver fawn brindle with white trim. Topline better moving than standing, well-angulated behind, moved smoother than when shown in Yearling, beautiful underline, lean head.
2. Levy & Levy’s Culumalda Comte de Falcon
Charming blue fawn dog just a bit shorter-cast, but shapely, fairly sound, lovely ring attitude.
Post-Graduate (11)
1. Smith & Smith’s Steveila Patrick Folley
Balanced, but compact, red brindle parti. Sound mover, a bit lighter through ribs, but pleasing in most regards throughout. Great feet, pasterns, low hocks. Well-handled and presented to this win.
2. Bell’s Chrispan Crown of Gold for Windsdream
Smooth, pretty dog with best side movement in class, but a bit less mature in front coming.
Limit Dog (6)
1. Mixedes & Mixedes’ Mossbawnhill Supersonic at Yialousa
Blue brindle, stylish, clean lines, very fit, moderate at each end and fairly true. Held his topline strongly on the go-around.
2. Brown’s Courthill Chain Reaction of Hazeacre
Silver brindle with white trim, a bit much rear for front, but the more stylish and elegant dog. If he is taken around at a brisker pace, he uses his rear much better. Quite a good head.
Open Dog (12)
1. Fulcher’s Khandibah Kizmet
Stylish beautiful flowing silver brindle, of good proportions and a real stallion. Needed gaiting at a slower pace up and back, which when complied with, movement went back to true. Lean, long head which still had adequate width between the eyes, good ears. Up to size.
2. Newton’s Nevedith Lord of the Rings SH CM
Fabulous side mover, one of the best of the day, but wider coming and going and not quite as smooth in outline. Beautiful head and strong throughout, looks more like a stud dog than a show dog, in some regards. Fawn brindle particolor.
Special Racing and Coursing Dog (4)
1. Noel-Smith’s Spiders 'n' Spoons
Beautifully long-cast dog, white with irregularly-placed gold fawn patches. Smooth body, nice on go-around, with better gait on line he’d have gone far in Open, too.
2. Reed’s Dejare Cobweb (staying with the spidery theme, I guess)
Very pleasing lavender brindle. Good type, clean mover, gave to the winner on side gait and overall length and flow of outline. Really a good head profile and liked his underjaw but due to UK standard making no mention of such, was not able to reward him much for that. Pity.
Special Beginner Dog (6)
1. First in Yearling
2. Second in Novice
Veteran Dog (7)
1. Faber’s Ousebank Royal Arrow of Sufeina
Very sound solid honest blue dog, still quite fit and just outmoved the rest. Had to go with the soundness of this Veteran. I am always impressed when youthful movement holds up into this class.
2. Smith & Smith’s Steveila Ted Edward
Stunning breed type dog, elegant and beautiful, movement not holding up as well as on class winner. A littermate also placed. Wish I could have seen him when younger.
For Best Dog, I took the Open. I loved his strong outline, and the side movement he showed when allowed to open up on the go-around. Just a handsome, strong dog very much my taste.
Reserve Best Dog went to the impressive Puppy, which was impeccably presented and a moving machine. It is nice to see a dog who is very masculine, but not at all big. There was much to like about this promising youngster. Also a strong dog, built for work and speed.
Minor Puppy Bitch 8
Both these bitches moved freely from the side.
1. van Raalt’s Spinning Queen at Suchini
Orange brindle, compact, small, balanced bitch with a strong back for her age, and moved cleanly for a baby. Recent laceration w/sutures did not appear to affect gait, so was disregarded in judging.
2. Wilton-Clark’s Shalfleet Scephora
Pretty type, smooth, nice length and shoulder, preferred movement coming on the winner. Softer in back and not as together as winner, but really promising. Fawn.
Puppy Bitch (11)
1. Mason’s Aphrael Damhan-allaidh
White with brindle, very smooth and nice, clean, level mover, underline superb for age. Would win anywhere. Best Puppy Bitch.
2. Cooke’s Elbryden Damselfly at Shandaff
Very sound blue of correct size, nice ring demeanor, smooth under the hand, just a little less finished than class winner.
Junior Bitch (11)
1. Randall’s Spinneyhill Cinnamon at Hammonds
Blue brindle, balanced, particularly correct in substance and bone for size of dog. Feminine, yet appeared strong. Stood very comfortably within her frame, and moved that way as well.
2. Newton’s Nevedith Mfa Madam
Striking blue brindle with white trim, lovely type, generous outline, but less settled in gait up and back. Good head profile.
Yearling Bitch (14)
1. Hunter’s Mossbawnhill She's Eleqtric at Salatini
Beautiful side movement on this orange brindle. Smaller bitch. Low hocks, stood well within frame.
2. Crosse’s Jayglo Just the One
Classy fawn, a lovely bitch with a beautiful body, gave on pastern and neck to the winner. Tended to rack back standing, else could have topped the class.
Maiden (12)
1. Puppy Bitch class winner
2. Minor Puppy Bitch class winner
Novice (7)
1. Gray’s Veredon Naughty but Nice with Lanakeshena
Smooth and appealing fawn bitch. Feminine and classic, adequate mover, needs a bit more neck to balance out her nice long body.
2. Jull’s Linalkin Blue Meadow
Brindle, a bit squared-off in croup on go-around, clean gait on the line, showed much better in this class than the one prior, I felt. Pleasing underline and expression.
Post-Graduate (22)
This was the largest class, and by far my most diverse. I ended up with different styles of bitch in my final lineup, but there was much to like about all of them.
1. Burgess’ Welstar as You Like it at Monelli
Good side movement, very smooth, beautifully conditioned blue fawn. Won this huge and deep class rather easily as even though she did not have THE truest gait in the class, I simply could NOT deny her type.
2. Bennett’s Dumbriton Moon Flower over Stormburst
A dark brindle parti, gave a bit in croup to winner, but a very strong side mover, impressive angles, plenty of substance for height, expect she’ll win a lot.
Limit (14)
1. Bird’s Blandings Incandescence
Silver brindle, nicely angulated, well-balanced in quarters, not too tall, but substantial. Always stood well and comfortably within her frame.
2. Mixedes & Mixedes’ Jzan Zee Zee with Yialousa
Stunning smooth fawn, long, angulated rear, just wouldn’t stop rocking back on the stack. Loved her look, though.
Open (9)
1. Randall’s Hammonds Maigold
Fawn bitch with smooth lovely lean head, long cast, and otherwise hard to fault standing or moving, other than being up to size. It doesn’t hurt she has wonderful ring attitude, posing on her own and using her ears and neck when asked. She stands so comfortably and owns her bit of ground, as well she should.
2. Dixon’s Hammonds Mary Rose over Millwold JW
Sound, balanced, blue fawn brindle, a lovely overall package and would have won any class in which she was not so unlucky as to have met her sister under me on the day. Gave up the first today on neckset, but both these sisters were well-presented by their respective owners. I was very surprised to find out they were littermates after the show. Both are superb quality.
Special Racing and Coursing Bitch (5)
1. Price & Long’s Silkstone Butterfly at Silkdance JW
Balanced, sound, solid fawn. Not the best neck fit, but neat and tidy throughout and well-conditioned. Old-fashioned and sensible sort of bitch, in my book.
2. Null-Smith’s Peaches 'n' Dreams
One of the most beautiful outlines I judged all day, just not sound enough on the line to win this class. Loved her look. Such elegance.
Special Beginner (9)
1. Bunney’s Bunehug Little Echo
Balanced petite smooth-moving blue brindle, did better in this class with gait than when she was shown earlier.
2. Johnson/Day/Siemet’s Jasarat Gold Star
Paler brindle, not quite the upper arm of the winner, but of similar style. Very Whippety.
Veteran Bitch (4)
1. Whitaker-Crosby’s Mulcair Miss Mollee
Just little to critique on this magnificent older fawn bitch, holding her outline and gait so well for being over 10 years old, and she is wearing her years very lightly. Could still beat youngsters head-to-head, I think.
2. Di Dio & Di Dio’s Nevedith Zedfa Zeeta of Kushka
Exquisite silver with white trim bitch, beautiful on the stack, preferred headpiece of the winner.
This class contained four very fine Veterans who could have placed well or won in much larger class.
Best Bitch went to the Open Class winner, with strong challenges from the Veteran Bitch and interestingly, the Junior Bitch, who was not even under consideration when I began the challenge, but who brought herself to my attention upon further examination. The beautiful Post-Graduate Bitch seemed to be content with her large class win, while the Junior Bitch came on very strongly, and the Veteran was still showing well and moving with energy. But I could not deny the Open Bitch, who had the edge in maturity, showmanship, presentation, and style.
Reserve Best Bitch went to the Junior Bitch. I preferred her shoulder assembly to most, she had a smooth outline of a different, but equally-valid, style to my winner, was of the exact right substance for size, while still exhibiting femininity.
Best in Show went to the Bitch winner. The dog is very good, but the bitch’s topline and ring presence was undeniable on the day. She literally never looked anything other than perfectly set up and composed whenever I wanted to look at her. At this point in a competition of this size, presentation and ringcraft did, and should, pay off.
Reserve Best in Show went to the dog, after a strong challenge from the Reserve Bitch.
For Best Puppy, although the Puppy Bitch was more my style, the Puppy dog definitely earned the nod with showmanship and presentation, moreover, he was in super condition and closer to ideal size without sacrificing masculinity and substance. Like my Best in Show winner, this dog and his owner/handler really are a TEAM. It was great to see them work.
Best Veteran went to the Veteran Bitch. Although the Veteran Dog’s soundness and strength are impressive, I just thought the bitch had more breed type in outline, which is certainly how it often goes in our breed, which is a bitch breed, really. But congratulations to both, they really are superb Veterans and show the results of much good care at home.
Best Racing/Coursing went to the white and fawn dog. I am always impressed by a bit of glamour in the field classes, as this is something I strive for back home.
Best Blue/Black I thought would go to my Veteran dog, but he seemed to have had just about enough of this dog show. I was happy to see my pretty little second place in Puppy Bitch come back, and she sparkled her way to the win at the end of a very long day for us all.
Karen Lee (judge)
:cheers:
