King Charles Spaniel Club

KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 3.8.25

An excellent entry numerically for these times and there was no shortage of quality though I felt there was a little more depth in the bitches than the males. I am old enough to remember when many of the Charlies seen in the ring were quivering wrecks and far from sound but breeders have over the years improved dramatically and it was a joy to see so many dogs, happy and proud and moving soundly.

The star of the day was Bowles-Robinson’s tricolour bitch, Baldragon Remember Me, still a Minor Puppy, who won her three classes and ended up taking the CC and then BIS over her kennelmate. She is exceptional in every respect from her exquisite headpiece to her ever-wagging tail and despite her youth she already shows ample bone, great rib and body condition. She stands free on four good legs and on the move was a delight, covering the ground freely and accurately on a loose lead with great poise and presence. Going over her on the table was a delight. Her head and expression are copybook with noticeable dome, dark expressive eyes, well finished mouth and great strength of underjaw. She has ample neck, well filled forechest, good spring of rib, impeccable topline and optimum angulation at both ends. Cobby and short-coupled she has a quality coat that is well broken. Her temperament is outgoing yet sensible and she excited me more than anything I saw all day. I could be forgiven for assuming that this was her first CC at rising 9 months but was amazed to hear that she had the previous day won the ticket at Paignton. I suspect she has a truly glorious future ahead of her. I absolutely loved her.

Reserve BIS went to the winner of the Reserve Bitch CC, Lovel’s Ch Lovetrac Kamilla, fully mature and again a well-broken tricolour she matched the CC winner well for type, size and general stamp. Her head is essentially typical, utterly feminine and she handles so well on the table being so well put together and beautifully conditioned. A little between coats but she has nothing to hide. Whilst she moved soundly in the challenge she didn’t quite have the poise and carriage of the precocious baby but her many breed qualities and instant appeal of a Toy Spaniel still warranted the Reserve spot and I am sure she will have many better days in the future.

The Dog CC was won by Bowles-Robinson’s Ch Baldragon Shoots He Scores, yet another tricolour and there is no questioning his sex as he has a stallion look about him yet still an air of quality and class. Pleased in head but ideally I would like a little more depth and strength of underjaw. Well bodied and muscled, he has bone and rib, is well put together and his conformation reflects in excellent movement and standing free on four good legs. It would appear he is already making his mark as a sire which was no surprise as he has a lot to give.

The Reserve Dog CC went to Clarke’s Headra’s Bohemian Rhapsody at Poltomic, completed a quartet of well broken tricolours and he radiates type and quality. Excellent head details with well filled skull and good finish of muzzle, he is well constructed with excellent angulation throughout which enables him to move freely and true. He could be a tad shorter coupled but as he matures and bodies up – which he should do being just 15 months – this should be less noticeable. Held himself so well on the move and has perfect tail carriage.

Best Veteran was Boyer’s 7 year old bitch, Ellinghurst Kiki Dee, yet again a well broken tri! Beautifully balanced and detailed head with engaging expression, plenty of bone and rib and cobby throughout. Excellent overall conformation and still holds a firm topline both standing and moving. Nicely conditioned she certainly didn’t look her age.

VETERAN DOG (2, 1 abs) 1. Tuesley & Swaine’s Ch & Am Ch Marsward My Masterpiece, 8 year old ruby in wonderful condition for his age carrying just the right amount of body. Excellent head type with well-placed eyes and ears and just enough strength of underjaw. Moderate length of neck, firm topline but could be a tad shorter coupled. Very sound mover up and down and he holds his outline well on the go-around with correct tail carriage.

MINOR PUPPY DOG (1) 1. Constable’s Mitapip Persevere, 7 months ruby with some potential if at the rangy stage when he needs to fill out his excellent frame. Pleased in basic head type if he could have a little stronger underjaw. Very well constructed all through with optimum angulation of front and rear. Firm level topline, looks a little long in loin at the moment but when he bodies up this will be less noticeable. Moves true up, down and around but tail needs to settle.

PUPPY DOG (3) 1. Mochrie’s Chacombe Harry On Downsbank, 9 months well broken tricolour of excellent overall type with a pleasing head, sufficiently well domed with true expression. Very nicely put together with moderate angles front and back and already good spring of rib. Firm topline which he holds on the move and goes soundly in all directions. Best Puppy Dog. 2. Sidgwick’s Chacombe Hank at Paulian, litter brother to 1 and again a well broken tri of quality if a little lobger cast than his sibling. Well-proportioned head with kind expression, good length of neck, firm topline and well angulated throughout. Moving a little close behind and tail carriage could be more settled. 3. Maddison’s Milapip Macallan, 9 months black & tan looking less forward than the tris which is often the way with this colour at this age. Unexaggerated head of good basic type and he is essentially well constructed and balanced, giving a good account of himself on the move when he settled.

JUNIOR DOG (1) 1. Headra’s Bohemian Rhapsody at Poltomic (see preamble).

YEARLING DOG (44) 1. Melville & Jackson’s Amantra Tomatin, 20 months Blenheim with plenty of head type, sufficient dome and well finished muzzle giving a typical expression free of exaggeration. Enough bone, well broken in colour, firm topline and well angulated front and rear. Moved with enthusiasm and soundness. 2. Austin’s Baldragon Pardon My French, 19 months cobby tricolour with lots of quality if a little heavily marked. Typical in head, excellent basic shape with optimum angulation, moved soundly and displayed a steady temperament. 3. Morley’s Baldragon Dream Chaser at Lizlanmor, another quality tricolour of excellent overall type, pleasing head and expression but again a littlke heavily marked and could be shorter coupled. That said, the overall construction and angulation were impressive and he moved steadily.

NOVICE DOG (4,1) 1. B. Pardon My French. 2. C. Hank at Paulian. 3. Graves’ Milapip Jackflash Macduff, black & tan yearling who wasn’t entirely comfortable on the table but seems to be growing in confidence. Quality head of good proportion, basic construction and balance is there but he can still body up with maturity. He definitely has enough attributes to persevere with.

POST GRADUATE DOG (4,1) 1. Matches’ Baldragon French Connexion at Fochai, cobby tricolour of excellent overall type with a well-balanced masculine head, typical expression, well filled forechest, good spring of rib and strong bone. Nicely angulated and he moved well with a level topline. Colour could be a little more broken but so much to like. 2. Dunford’s Headra’s Bruce, another tricolour with a look of quality, pleasing headpiece, enough substance but a little longer-coupled than 1 so not so cobby. Moved out well using his excellent angulation at both ends. 3. Boyer’s Olaf Ot Nevskogo Hobbita at Ellinghurst, black & tan of high quality but needing to body up and come back into coat. Excellent size and shape with correct overall balance and a real Toy Spaniel. In peak condition could do some interesting winning.

LIMIT DOG (5) 1. Austin’s Baldragon Blinkin Hell, tricolour of excellent size, type and shape. Pleased in head and expression if the tan could be a little richer. Ample bone, good width of chest, well sprung ribs and short coupled. Really pulls himself together on the move, going around with style and purpose. Colour could be a little more broken but an excellent overall package. 2. Clarke’s Milapip Special Edition at Poltomic, ruby full of quality and confidence, standing well on four good legs. So self-assured, his excellent overall construction was evident on the move when he held his outline well. Nicely detailed head and calm expression, just needs to body up a little. 3. Matches’ Ellinghurst Xmas Kracker at Fochai, well broken tricolour of excellent size and shape, well filled skull with wholly typical expression and basically good construction. Sound and steady mover but could carry a little more bodyweight to fill out his frame.

OPEN DOG (4,2) 1. Maddison’s Justacharm Northern Magic, tricolour full of personality and very much on his toes. Well broken in colour if the facial tan could be a little richer. Good basic head type, well filled with good finish of muzzle. Ample bone, well angulated front and rear and his movement is sound and steady. 2. Olaf Ot Nevskogo Hobbita at Ellinghurst.

SPECIAL OPEN BLACK & TAN DOG (3) 1. Mochrie’s Downsbank Indian Ink, cobby and of ideal size, well put together and balanced in outline with a pleasing head full of quality with wide open nostrils. Moved soundly with happily wagging tail. 2. Constable’s Tucherish Andrew Carnegie, another handsome male full of himself, well boned and ribbed who holds his outline at all times and moved soundly. A little stronger than 1 in backskull and slightly longer coupled but he makes the absolute best of himself. 3. M. Jackflash Macduff who I was happy to see gradually gaining confidence.

SPECIAL OPEN TRICOLOUR DOG (5,1) 1. Ch Baldragon Shoots He Scores (see preamble). 2. Whitman & Tarabad’s Ch Cofton All I Hav To Do Is Dream With Khatibi, intense quality and I loved his size. Very typical in head and expression (when he opened his eyes … it was a sunny day!), good straight forelegs, well filled forechest and well ribbed with nicely broken colours. Holds a firm topline on the move and has a natural style about him. Tail could be a little straighter but well deserving of his title. 3. H. Bruce.

SPECIAL OPEN BLENHEIM DOG (2) 1. Stewart’s Ch Monleon Made By Magic for Marchog, well bodied and ribbed with an essentially typical head and enough bone but could be a little better filled in front. Well broken in colour and a sound and steady mover. 2. Bailey’s Aldoricka The Hustler, well bodied and well broken with a balanced head but pigment could be stronger. Good spring of rib and moved steadily.

VETERAN BITCH (4) What a lovely class! 1. E. Kiki Dee (see preamble). 2. Bowles-Robinson’s Ch Chacombe Marana Baldragon, another top class tricolour who looks so well for her 8½ years. Again a charming head and expression, essentially cobby with ample bone and substance yet still retains feminine charm. Sound and steady on the move but she tended to slacken a little in topline which eased the challenge. 3. Tuesley & Swaine’s Ch & Am Ch Marsward Black Magic Woman, black & tan who at 10½ years looks half her age as she has really held condition. Feminine head full of expression, solid and sturdy body, in full coat and clearly enjoying herself on the move.

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (3) 1. B. Remember Me (see preamble). 2. Rutherford’s Rignolla Devon Dreamer with Potbelli, 7 months Blenheim with lots of quality but far less forward than 1. Excellent basic type and shape, pleasing head and expression, well angulated all through and her colour is well broken. Moved soundly and with confidence. Should finish up well. 3. Boyer’s Ellinghurst Kiwirrkurra, 6 months black & tan with a lot of quality and type. Charming head but a little proud of her tongue at the moment. Excellent basic construction with enough bone, straight forelegs, well filled forechest, firm topline and correct angulation. Moved happily.

PUPPY BITCH (2) 1. B. Remember Me. 2. Hardman’s Mitapip Tatianna Tovarich, 10 months black & tan with a look of quality, lots of head appeal and engaging expression. Good basic construction with straight forelegs and moderate angles. Slightly longer coupled than 1 and needing to fill out, she still moved steadily holding her firm topline well.

JUNIOR BITCH (2,1) 1. Smith’s Headra’s Somebody To Love, 15 months tricolour with a lot of quality who has a very appealing and typical head and expression, utterly feminine but losing nothing in type. Very well built with excellent angles and straight forelegs and good overall balance. Needs to body up but the basic framework is there and she needs a little more lead practice.

YEARLING BITCH (3,2) 1. H. Somebody To Love.

NOVICE BITCH (3,2) 1. B. Remember Me.

POST GRADUATE BITCH (5,1) 1. Constable’s Milapip Bright Eyed Bridget, black & tan of excellent size and shape with a pleasing head, expressive eye and good finish of mouth. Nothing amiss in her overall construction but could carry a little more weight over her loin. When she concentrated, moved soundly and accurately. 2. Tuesley & Swaine’s Travtana Sound Of Thunder at Marsward, ruby, a little lower-built and longer cast than 1 but she still maintains so many elements of breed type. A little heavier in head than 1 but the angles are right and she makes the absolute best of herself on the move. The sort to produce well. 3. Hardman’s Tovarich Take Me Higher, black & tan of excellent overall type who wasn’t the most confident apparently due to a recent trauma on the table. Lovely head and expression, good overall balance and she demonstrated that she can move soundly.

LIMIT BITCH (5,1) 1. Constable’s Milapip Nightshade, black & tan full of quality and essentially typical. Very confident and composed she stands well on four good legs, has a very attractive headpiece and a well-balanced outline with moderate angles and a firm topline which she holds well on the move. 2. Boyer’s Ellinghurst Miss Saigon, very lively tricolour who was full of it. Excellent size and shape, very pleasing head, expression and general forehand, well boned and ribbed. Coat is well broken but a little open. Moved quite well when she settled. 3. E. Kiwikurra.

OPEN BITCH (4,1) 1. Whitman & Tarabad’s Ch Baldragon Centre Stage with Khatibi, mature well broken tricolour of excellent type all through and full of quality, excellent size and very shapely. Good basic head type, well boned with excellent spring of rib. When she concentrates pulls herself together and moves steadily. 2. H. Somebody To Love. 3. E. Kiwikurra.

SPECIAL OPEN BLACK & TAN BITCH (2) 1. Stewart’s Marchog Muffins For Tea, beautifully headed with excellent dome, large nose leather and good finish of muzzle. Well filled in front, strong bone, she stands well on her legs and is a positive mover.2. Boyer’s Evropa Ot Nevskogo Hobbita at Ellinghurst, not quite as assertive in her performance as 1 and whilst she is satisfying to go over constructionally I found her rather short in muzzle which upset the overall balance of the head and here 1 scored very definitely.

SPECIAL OPEN TRICOLOUR BITCH (3,2) 1. Bailey’s Aldoricka Sweet Victoria, loved her size and shape and her constantly wagging tail. She scores in outline, has a feminine head but could have a little more finish of muzzle. Moves better behind than in front.

CHAMPION BITCH (1) 1. Ch L. Kamilla (see preamble).

ANDREW H. BRACE (Judge)