Manchester Dog Show Society

Manchester Championship Show 2018

Welsh Springer Spaniels

My thanks to the Committee of Manchester for affording me this appointment to judge the breed for the first time at this level. I was delighted to receive such a large entry and thank everybody for bringing their dogs forward for my consideration. It was a quality entry to judge - although I did find quite a lot of diversity in type so in some instances comprises had to be made. In some classes there were some very close decisions and on another day placings would be different. I was very interested to see upon reading the catalogue that many of my top winners were related. 

MPD (4 Entries) Abs: 1 

1st: WORTH Mrs C A Sarabande Lord Of The Dance (ai). Good overall balance with true head and desired chiselling. Clean neck leading to well laid shoulder and return of upper arm. Correct topline and tail set. Excellent bone and feet. Needs to settle a little more on the move but he did enough to win the class.

2nd: MERCER Mrs M Amblelight Cassiopeia. Well balanced. Not quite the head of the winner. Well laid shoulder and corresponding length of upper arm. Correctly made hindquarters. Moved steadily.

3rd: BUCKWELL Mrs W A Killena Ghostrider 

PD (10 Entries) Abs: 0 

1st: GRAHAM, Mrs A J & HOGSTROM Ms A Don's Statement To Nyliram JW (Swed Imp). Very impressive puppy. Excellent outline. True head and expression and well chiselled beneath the eyes. Long, clean neck leading to good lay of shoulder. Well sprung ribcage with short loin. Excellent hindquarters. Moved with good drive. BPD

2nd: MORGAN, Mr A D & SCHOFIELD Mr D I Cwsscwn Who Knew. Close up to winner - just not quite the finish but on another day could change places. Excellent head and expression. Clean neck leading to well laid shoulder, deep chest and elbows tight to the brisket. Well ribbed back. Strong hindquarters. Moved well.

3rd: SMITH Ms T Isfryn Peeping Tom 

JD (4 Entries) Abs: 1 

1st: KEILLER Mrs F M Tammano Stoorworm. Well balanced. Pleasing head - could have a little more refinement in back skull and a little more chiselling beneath the eyes. Clean neck, well laid shoulder and return of upper arm. Elbows tight to brisket. Powerful hindquarters which he used to advantage on the move.

2nd: MCILWAINE & REYNOLDS Mesdames J & V Glenbrows Van Gogh For Benoveor. Different type to winner. His head had more chiselling than the winner. Good layback of shoulder and correct topline. Fractionally longer cast through the loin. Well off for bone. Moved well.

3rd: OLIVER Mr S Dash Oliver 

PGD (10 Entries) Abs: 2 

1st: RILEY Mr J & Mrs H M Ferndel Peanut Butter At Ravensworth JW. Excellent overall balance with true head and expression. Long, clean neck leading to good lay of shoulder and corresponding length of upper arm. Deep in chest with elbows tight to brisket. Strong loin. Powerful, well muscled hindquarters with good definition of second thigh. Excellent bone and feet. Powerful and accurate mover.

2nd: MCCANN Mrs J J Slapestones Tidal Force. Another top quality dog who pushed the winner very hard and it was just nitpicking between them. True head with excellent chiselling. Well laid shoulder. Elbows could be a fraction tighter to the brisket. Excellent rib and loin proportions. Excels in hindquarters, bone and feet. Moved out well with drive with good open side gait.

3rd: RILEY Mr J & Mrs H M Ferndel Buttermint At Ravensworth 

LD (9 Entries) Abs: 0 

1st: CLARKE Mrs C L Ferndel High Fidelity With Tigerrock NAF. I was very taken with this dog and when I saw his breeding later I realised why. Beautifully balanced - he presents a good outline both stacked and in movement. Excellent head with good chiselling. Clean neck leading to well laid shoulder and corresponding return of upper arm. Deep chest with tight elbows. Correct top line and tail set. Well made hindquarters. Moved well with drive. Pushed the Open winner all the way for the top award. Delighted to award him the RCC.  

2nd: MCILWAINE & REYNOLDS Mesdames J & V Kamunting Cast Away To Benoveor JW Slightly larger than winner but within the standard. Well balanced head with soft expression. Well laid shoulder with corresponding return of upper arm. Carrying a fraction too much weight today. Strong hindquarters. Moved well with good rear drive.

3rd: CALDWELL, Mrs A P & MCDOWELL Mrs M Bowdonia Only The Brave For Cerysan  

OD (9 Entries) Abs: 2 

1st: GRAHAM Mrs A J Sh Ch Taimere's Twister Round Nyliram JW Sh.CM. A privilege to have the opportunity of judging this dog. The first thing that one notices is his true outline and superb balance. Then his head - totally true to type - balanced, soft, pleading expression and extremely well chiselled beneath the eyes. Long, powerful neck, free from any throatiness leading to copybook forequarters - with deep chest and elbows tight to brisket. Correct spring of rib leading through to strong loin and well made hindquarters with well let down hocks. Strong driving movement with excellent open side gait when viewed in profile. Presented in excellent coat and condition. CC & BOB

2nd: HARRISON Mr T D & Mrs H L Sh Ch Glenbrows Picture Me Now JW. Another worthy title holder straight out of the top drawer. Well balanced all through. True head - although not quite the chiselling of the winner. Excellent layback of shoulder and return of upper arm. Good spring of rib. Well made hindquarters. Excellent bone and feet. Moved well. In close contention throughout.

3rd: CHANDLER Mrs A Chanangel Sticky Wicket JW Sh.CM 

VD (4 Entries) Abs: 0 

1st: COCKING, Miss J L & BARNABY Mr P R Bushwacker Thriller. Excellent overall balance and typical outline. True head and kind expression. Correct layback of shoulder and return of upper arm. Deep chest with tight elbows and well sprung ribcage. Well muscled hindquarters. Moved with drive with extremely good hind action.

2nd: THOMAS Mr D & Miss G Coedyberwyn Afon Fach. Well balanced all through. Typical head with very kind expression. Well ribbed back with correct loin. Well made hindquarters. Steady mover - not quite the drive of the winner.

3rd: MCILWAINE & REYNOLDS Mesdames J & V Sh Ch Glenbrows Band Of Brothers For Benoveor JW ShCM 

MPB (7 Entries) Abs: 0 

1st: PLACE, Mrs M L & PLACE Miss A L Aarminias For The First Time. Lovely puppy with everything correct for her age. Balanced head with good chiselling beneath the eyes. Well laid shoulder. I would like a fraction more length to the upper arm. Well ribbed back leading to short loin and well made hind quarters. Moved the best to win this class.

2nd: WORTH Mrs C A Sarabande Dance To The Rhythm (ai). Well balanced with excellent head and expression. Better in forequarters than the winner. Good depth of chest and correctly sprung rib cage. A little longer cast in the loin and not the accuracy on the move as the winner but on another day could change places.

3rd: REVILL, Mrs J & TAYLOR Mrs J Julita Rhubette 

PB (11 Entries) Abs: 2 

1st: MORGAN, Mr A D & SCHOFIELD Mr D I Cwsscwn Deja Vous. What a cracking puppy this is. Well balanced with true head and expression and well chiselled beneath the eyes. Excellent forequarters - with deep chest and elbows tight to the brisket. Good spring of rib with strong loin and well made hindquarters with good second thigh and well let down hocks. Excellent bone and feet. On the move she was true fore and aft and showed a good open side gait when viewed in profile. BP and PG4. 

2nd: WALLER Miss R Isfryn Lady Godiva At Fireglow. Another quality puppy with good overall balance. Well shaped head with soft expression. Correct layback of shoulder with corresponding length of upper arm. Not quite the movement of the winner today.

3rd: ELLIS Mrs S Vannelmead Branwen At Blithbrook 

JB (6 Entries) Abs: 0 

1st: TYLER, Miss L & SHIELS Miss N Highclare Made Of Honour At Eiriandylis. This young bitch was my “find of the day”. I thought she was absolutely cracking. Excellent balance with a true head and soft, pleading expression with the desired chiselling beneath the eyes. Clean neck leading to well laid shoulder and elbows tight to the brisket. Correct rib to loin proportions with strong well made hindquarters and well let down hocks. Excellent movement both fore and aft and in profile. She is immature which held her back from top spot but for me she ticked all the boxes and deserved the RCC. I later learnt that she is the daughter of my BCC winner. I will be very interested to see how she progresses in the future.

2nd: GRAHAM Mrs A J Ferndel Cover Story About Nyliram JW. Another quality bitch. Slightly shorter on the leg than the winner. Excellent head and expression. Good layback of shoulder and return of upper arm. Correct rib to loin proportions and well made hindquarters with good width of second thigh. Excellent bone and feet. Moved freely.

3rd: GORMAN Mrs K M Bushwacker French Twist With Walgoreg 

PGB (12 Entries) Abs: 5 

1st: MORGAN, Mr A D & SCHOFIELD Mr D I Ferndel Bon Bon For Cwsscwn. Top end of the standard for height but very well balanced and so soundly made throughout. Pleasing head and expression. Would like a little more chisselling beneath the eyes. Good layback of shoulder and corresponding length of upper arm. Deep chest with elbows tight to brisket. Good spring of rib leading through to strong loin and powerful hindquarters. Carrying a fraction overweight. Strong hindquarters with good width of second thigh. Excellent driving movement.

2nd: WOODWARD Mrs J Sarabande Billie Jean At Hinxwood (ai). Very typical bitch. She scores in her head and was more chiselled beneath the eyes than my winner but lost out slightly in her forehand construction. Well ribbed back leading through to strong hindquarters. Good bone and feet and driving movement.

3rd: RITCHIE, Mr A & Mrs T & RITCHIE Miss D Sarabande Eternity At Slapestones (ai) 

LB (12 Entries) Abs: 2 

1st: TOLLADAY Mr & Mrs G & S Ferndel High Society To Bethersden. Quality bitch whom I have done well before and I see she is a litter sister to my RDCC winner. Very well balanced throughout. Feminine head with good chiselling. I would like a little more strength to her muzzle. Clean neck leading through to copybook forequarters. Deep chest with tight elbows. Well ribbed back. Correct topline and tail set. Strong, well muscled hindquarters. Powerful movement. In close contention for top honours.

2nd: FROST Ms J K Bushwacker Something About Mary. Another quality bitch who could change places with the winner on another day. Well balanced all through. I preferred her head to the winner in that she had more depth of muzzle. Excellent forehand construction and well made hindquarters. In excellent coat and condition. Not quite the drive of the winner on the move.

3rd: THOMAS Ms M Bowdonia Anastasia JW 

(10 Entries) Abs: 2 

1st: COCKING, Miss J L & BARNABY, Mr P R & TULLY Miss Sh Ch NL Ch Bushwacker Gregory's Girl At Highclare. For depth in quality this was my class of the day. This bitch was unknown to me but having now looked at her breeding it is no surprise that I liked her as I gave her sire a group and also loved her dam. For me she ticked all the boxes. Beautifully balanced with true head with such a soft pleading expression and correct chiselling beneath the eyes. Clean neck leading to well laid shoulders and corresponding return of upper arm. Deep chest with tight elbows and well sprung ribcage leading through to slightly arched loin and well made hindquarters with good definition of second thigh and well let down hocks. Excellent bone and feet. Moved accurately both fore and aft and with a good open side gait when viewed in profile. Totally at one with her handler. It would be true to say that she was not quite in her very best coat which I had to take into consideration when it came to the challenge for BOB but delighted to award her a well deserved CC.

2nd: HARRISON Mr T D & Mrs H L Glenbrows Memoir. Another quality bitch straight out of the top drawer. Well balanced with excellent head and expression. Not quite the forehand construction of my winner. Good spring of rib and powerful hindquarters. Excellent bone and feet. Moved well with accuracy and drive. Presented in tiptop condition.  

3rd: MILLARD Mrs J & Mr M Sh Ch Ferndel Fairy Tale At Rubylea 

VB (5 Entries) Abs: 1 

1st: FROST Ms J K Bushwacker Hot Gossip. Very well balanced and presents a true breed outline. Good head shape with correct amount of chiselling beneath the eyes. Clean neck leading to well laid shoulder and good depth of chest with elbows tight to the brisket. Powerful hindquarters with well let down hocks. Moved with drive. BV

2nd: CHANDLER Mrs A Glenbrows Paper Pageant At Chanangel. Well balanced all through. Pleasing head - not quite the chiselling beneath the eyes as my winner. Good layback of shoulder. Well ribbed back leading to strong hindquarters. Good bone and feet. Sound mover.

3rd: ATTWOOD Mrs B & Mr K Sh Ch Moorash Lady Ygraine of Kylowen 

Becky A Johnson.