Scottish Kennel Club

HUNGARIAN WIREHAIRED VIZSLA

SKC MAY 2011

It was my pleasure and privilege to judge the breed in the first year of them being awarded CCs and to be the first breed specialist to do so.

Junior – Dog

Entries: 2 Absentees: 1

1. Whiting’s Cragvallie Copper

 What a well made dog this is. Good shape, well boned, neat feet, straight front with good length of upper arm. Deep in brisket, plenty of lung room and well made quarters. Sadly he lacks almost all trace of wire coat with only a very few long hairs along his back and there was a definite sheen to it. This is a coated breed (the clue is in the name) and must be judged as such. I can see where those who are more familiar with the Hungarian Vizsla and don’t understand the breed specific points of the Hungarian wirehaired Vizsla, would find him very attractive and place him highly but we are charged with judging to the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla standard and so must remind ourselves that this breed is as different from the Hungarian Vizsla as the German Wirehaired Pointer is to the German Shorthaired Pointer. He stood alone here hence his place.

Post Graduate - Dog

Entries: 4 Absentees: 1

1. May’s Amiryck Vega. This 20 month old couldn’t have been more different in coat if he’d tried. Golden sand in colour with facial furnishings to give the typical square appearance, his body is completely covered in harsh, wire coat with undercoat to give the protection for which the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla was bred. I have found that many judges will penalise this lighter coloured coat under the false impression that because it is lighter it is not harsh and wiry. Isn’t a West Highland White Terrier white? Or a Wire Fox Terrier? He possesses a classic head, strong, well muscled neck, good return of upper arm and lay back of shoulder. Deep brisket with elbows close to body and well ribbed up. His overall excellent angulation allows him to move on a long easy stride. Res CC.

2. Allison’s Monkstrod Hornet. Well proportioned head having the desired slightly shorter foreface, dense eyebrows and lively expression. Well boned with good front angulation he is not as well ribbed back as 1 and is shorter coupled giving him a cobby appearance. Strong over the loin and well muscled behind his movement is good but doesn’t match the length of stride of 1.

3. Whiting’s Zoldmali Vadasz At Cragvallie (Imp). I found this dog to be far too short and cobby and lacking all facial furnishing although his russet coloured body coat was harsh to the touch but very short and without undercoat therefore not giving the requisite protection.

Limit - Dog

Entries: 5 Absentees: 1

1. Dowell’s Leiborschy Ekko. I like this dog very much and find him to be of very good Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla type. He is moderate all through with excellent forehand and strong muscular neck into well laid shoulders. Plenty of heart and lung room, strong, level topline and slightly sloping croup. Sadly his movement let him down today as he was short stepping on his left rear and, whilst I could forgive him in the class because of his excellent type, I could not take him any further.

2. Edminson’s Kisdons Well To Do. I love this dog’s head with its square, striking appearance. Good angulation fore and aft with well developed pro-sternum. Correct length to height ratio and stands on strong bone with arched, tight feet. He is another very nice type but his elbows are not as close to his body as those of 1 and he lacked some body coat.

3. Cameron & Gartland’s Morrinos Golden Broom. Another very nice type but oh does he give his handler a hard time!

Open - Dog

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1. Holman’s Silvanus Oh Oh Seven. He has the most beautiful yet masculine head with an expression that is oh so soft and gentle giving an insight into the loyal and sensitive nature that he must have. On the stack he commands attention with his strong and well proportioned body and striking outline. His russet gold coat is harsh and close fitting with excellent undercoat. Belying his 8 years he moves round the ring like a train. He is simply stunning and so deserves the CC that I was honoured to award him. BOB.

Puppy - Bitch

Entries: 4 Absentees: 0

1. Aldridge’s Ginger Lillie Around Oakberrow. Good length to height ratio and very well balanced. Strong, level topline, good feet and firm slightly sloping pasterns. Very pretty head with the desired dense eyebrows and beard and an excellent golden sand coat. Moves very well indeed, just needs to spring some rib to perfect the picture.

2. Riley’s Fassfields Queen Breha. 6 months and giving her handler a really hard time. She has good bone and substance, lovely facial furnishings and a correct golden sand coat. With plenty of strength behind she eventually settled to show how well she can move.

3. Revell’s Falcongreen Guba. Quite leggy and untypical she has a lot of daylight underneath. More upright in shoulder than 1 & 2 she is quite difficult to assess because her handler free stands and baits her.

Junior - Bitch

Entries: 3 Absentees: 1

2 very nice youngsters. 1. Cairns’ Incahoots At Galicar. A totally new one to me and I am utterly smitten. Moderately broad in skull, moderate stop and intelligent expression, in fact she is a picture of moderation with the strength in body and limbs to do a good days work. Strong level topline, her underline is typical of the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla in only having very slight tuck up. Too many today have too much tuck up. She flows from nose to tail and glides around the ring with animation and a long, free stride. I now see she is litter sister to the puppy class winner and daughter of the open class winner. Pushed hard for the CC but at 12 months old I wouldn’t have been doing her any favours and so the Res CC was hers.

2. Howes’ Firefrost Amethyst. I love the head and expression of this youngster; she has terrific spring of rib and moves very well although she doesn’t quite have the rear angulation of 1. Her coat colour is at the very lightest end of the standard and with judicial stripping will darken over time. Even though it is light she does have a wire coat and it can be worked on whereas one can’t do anything with a coat that isn’t there.

Post Graduate - Bitch

Entries: 9 Absentees: 2

A good class. 1. Holman & Moss’ Silvanus Modesty Blaise. Such balance, elegance, strength and substance with a very distinguished appearance. Strongly developed chest, elbows well let down, good depth of brisket and strong bone. Well ribbed up with strong thighs and excellent second thigh development. Moved effortlessly and expertly handled to take the CC. At the higher end of the height standard and in the challenge stood taller than the dog but such is the anomaly that is the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla breed standard. The standard says medium sized but so is a Duck Toller and a German Wirehaired Pointer whose height standards are smaller and taller than the HWV. Where there is a height standard it must be considered as with all other breed points; surely it can’t be for judges to decide otherwise?

2. Edminson’s Kisdons Xena. Lovely type with a beautiful head and facial furnishings. Good depth of chest, strong quarters but not the 2nd thigh of 1 and elbows not as close. Moved very well.

3. Irvine & Massom’s Falcongreen Durcas. Another good type with harsh, golden sand coat. Not as mature as 1 & 2 nor the quarters.

Limit - Bitch

Entries: 4 Absentees: 1

1. Summerfield’s Miadsc Diamond. Just one look at her beautiful head and you can see that she is by my Dog CC winner. She displays excellent balance, very good return of upper arm and shoulder placement. Slightly sloping croup with correct tail set. Moved well but did not give her all in the challenge.

2. Edminson’s Kisdons What A Dancer. This breeder certainly knows how to turn out fabulous heads. Pleasing for overall type but she tends to roach her back when stacked. Her coat could do with some stripping but at least she has coat and it can be worked on and improved. Not the second thigh development of 1 but nevertheless will always be in the reckoning.

3. Riley’s Kenmillix Metope At Fassfields . Pleasing enough with lots of breed type but is wide in front and doesn’t have the front movement of 1 & 2.

Open - Bitch

Entries: 5 Absentees: 0

1. Smillie & Cairns’ Farnfield Pussy Galore Of Galicar. Super, very well known bitch and deserves to be highly placed. Displays the strength and robustness that is required of the HWV but without coarseness and retaining femininity. She carries an excellent, harsh, wire jacket of russet gold and powers her way round the ring. In the challenge I preferred the heads of my CC & Res CC. winners.

2. Harper’s Tragus Chinook Wind Of Pitswarren. Built on strong and flowing lines she has a gorgeous head and strongly developed chest with excellent pro-sternum. Her coat is not at its best right now but it is good in texture. On the stack she tends to be tense behind but her movement is fluid and effortless.

3. Aldridge’s Gamepoint Cupcake. A lovely bitch that I have long admired. Typical head, strong neck and well laid shoulders. Well balanced but lacked the depth of brisket of 1 & 2.

Christine Morgan