Welsh Kennel Club

Judge: Mrs Jacqueline Macandie-Hall Welsh Kennel Club August 2025 Belgian Shepherd Dog Tervueren Firstly, I would like to thank the committee of the Welsh Kennel club for the invitation to officiate at their show. A long-time favourite show of mine, set in the most beautiful venue, well-run and with such a friendly atmosphere and excellent facilities for exhibitors, judges and, most importantly, the dogs. I would also like to thank my two stewards, whose friendly and efficient manner made it a pleasure, both for the exhibitors and myself. Our breed, thanks to the foresight of the Welsh Kennel Club committee were, in all varieties, fortunate in being allocated experienced, knowledgeable breed specialists to officiate, a rarity these days. Yet sadly, from a breed and gene pool perspective, the entry figures were, for whatever reason, comparatively low compared to breed figures from even a few years ago. I do not know the answers but I do know it will be hard for our breed to continue under the present circumstances. I would sincerely thank all those exhibitors who entered for my opinion and for the generous way in which all the winners across the varieties were received, that was a feel-good factor to take away from the day. Thankfully, both from the point of view of the breed and me, the calibre and breed-type of those entering was of a very high level. Indeed, speaking with my fellow breed specialist judge after judging, we agreed it was uplifting to see such high-quality and typical exhibits across the three attending varieties to be put forward to represent our breed in the group. I was delighted that this quality and excellent breed type was acknowledged at Group level where my BOB was awarded Group 3, a fantastic achievement for such a young bitch. PGD 1st: 3172 DAVIES, Miss J Ambrajai Keep The Faith. Tall elegant young grey male, good colour with nice overlay beginning to develop; immature at the moment but showing lots of promise. Excellent breed type with good bone and substance. Nice body shape with good tuck-up, needs to drop and develop a little more in fore-chest. Nice firm top line, with good accentuation at the wither, slightly sloping croup. Nice well-arched neck with proud head carriage. Balanced head with good skull-to- muzzle ratio, nice flat cheeks and good parallels, well-split mouth. Well-defined black mask, nice dark expressive eyes, neat triangular ears. Moving, I would prefer a little more extension front and needs to develop more drive from behind. Nice open character, I would like to see him in two years’ time. LD 1st: 3173 PHILLIPS, Mrs Helen Fablehawk F'lessan***. Medium-sized rich fawn dog with excellent coat texture and overlay coming in. I would prefer a little more of him overall and a little more elegance to the overall picture. Nice short body, firm top line with nicely rounded croup, good tuck-up but needs more depth to his chest, good height at the wither and good pick-up. Nice head carriage and nice arch to his neck. Balanced masculine head with good skull-to-muzzle ratio, a little deep through well-split mouth, lovely dark eyes, excellent shape, nicely positioned and giving a good expression, would prefer more apparent chiselling under the eye. Neat triangular ears well- positioned and well-used. Angulation straight in front, good behind, standing and moving wider in front, and not extending in front on the move. Super attentive character. OD An impressive class with three very nice males. 1st: 3179 HODGSON, Mr K Ch Domburg Verstappen Can For Ddalrus. Tall, fawn male, who, for me, standing presents the most wonderful and so typically correct Belgian Shepherd silhouette; harmonious proportions, undeniably masculine, but with elegance, excellent bone and substance, with good length of leg, and the most wonderful body shape, very harmonious flowing lines. Excellent accentuated wither, very short firm top line, well-rounded croup, excellent underline with well-defined tuck-up and correct depth of chest. Super proud head carriage, nice well-arched and supple neck. His head is excellent, very balanced with correct emphasis on length of muzzle, lovely flat skull, nicely chiselled under the eye, well-split mouth, with good pull back, tight lips, beautiful dark eyes obliquely set giving a wonderful enquiring expression, ears are neat triangular and well-used. Balanced angulation front and rear. Excellent movement, good length of stride with correct extension front and rear, covering the ground with an economical quick, light action, importantly holding his top line on the move. He has a wonderfully typical open temperament, alert, on his toes, watchful and ready to spring into action, exactly what I look for. Delighted to award him the Dog C.C. 2nd: 3169 COOPER, Mrs G & POULTON, Mrs Hazel & POULTON, Mr D Ch Domburg Never Say Never*** Beautiful grey male, wonderful colour with excellent mask and super overlay, nice coat with correct texture, lovely ruff framing his head. Again, a masculine dog with such elegance, yet importantly with good bone and substance. Very nice body shape with short firm top line, nice accentuating wither, excellent underline, well defined tuck-up, needs to develop a tad more depth of chest, which should come with a little more maturity. Good length of neck with high, proud head carriage, nice arch to his neck. His head is excellent, skull-to-muzzle proportions correct with emphasis on length of muzzle, good chiselling under the eye. Nice flat skull, well-split mouth with good pull-back, excellent pigmentation. The eyes are wonderful - dark, very expressive, obliquely set. Excellent well-defined mask. Balanced angulation front and rear, overall excellent movement with correct extension front and rear; quick, light action, good drive from behind and covering the ground with great ease. Very open, attentive character with good pick-up. Very difficult decision between him and my eventual CC winner, he just lost out on maturity but delighted to award him RCC. 3rd: 3176 HALL, Mrs Nicola Shai Du Pre De La Sommerau At Vonandraste (imp Fra Puppy Bitch 1st: 3175 GROVE, Miss E Mary Shepherds O'f Paradise Rose Of Zarna (imp Fra) Lovely rich red puppy in excellent coat and condition, very sweet, happy and exuberant temperament. Coat profuse and of good texture. Nice size, she just needs to come up on her leg to give her a more balanced silhouette; that said, she has plenty of time. Excellent bone and substance, very feminine and pretty. Good body shape, nice firm top line with well-rounded croup, looking a shade long in loin at present, underline to develop fully. Nice neck with good arch and proud head carriage. Very pretty head, with excellent proportions good length of muzzle, good parallels, excellent well-defined mask, excellent pigmentation, well-split mouth with good pull-back, nice tight lips. Eyes are excellent, dark, superb shape and obliquely set, giving a lovely enquiring expression. Nice chiselling coming through. Ears excellent, nice shape and well-used. Movement a little difficult to asses due to her exuberance; however, as she settled more she displayed a good length of stride and was covering the ground with a typical light action. Delighted to award her Best Puppy. Class JB 1st: 3180 LESTER, Mrs L & PREDDY, mr Isaac & MACKIE, miss Ni Ch Domburg Hawksflight Love Me Back. A beautiful rich fawn and very typical young female, very feminine and so pretty. Shown in excellent coat and condition, coat of excellent texture. Medium-sized, balanced with a very good silhouette that shouts Belgian Shepherd. She has good bone and substance, combining elegance and strength commensurate for her sex and age. She has the most wonderful body shape, very harmonious flowing lines. Short firm top line, nicely rounded croup, her neck is well-arched giving her the correct proud head carriage. Excellent accentuated withers. Wonderful underline, well- defined tuck-up and already correct depth of chest. Super head, pretty, very feminine with correct skull- to-muzzle proportions, correct emphasis on length of muzzle, excellent parallels. Well-split mouth with excellent pigmentation, good chiselling under the eye. The eyes are beautiful, dark, correct shape and obliquely set, giving a melting, yet enquiring, expression. Beautiful well-set mask. Ears a neat triangular and well-positioned. On the move she excels, with correct extension front and rear and with a quick, light, very economical ground- skimming action. Holds her top line on the move. She has a very typical and animated temperament which I appreciated. I was delighted to award her Bitch C.C and BOB. She beat the male on her more overall complete picture, both in stance and on the move and her more correct parallels. LB 1st: 3182 PHILLIPS, Mesdames C & J Domburg Say That You Love Me At Tanje *** A very nice and typical fawn female of medium size with good bone and substance commensurate with her sex. She has a very nice body shape, very short coupled, nice firm top line and a nicely rounded croup. Excellent underline, well-defined tuck-up, needs to develop a little more in fore-chest. Nice, well-muscled arch to her neck, neck could be longer. Very pretty head with good length of muzzle, good skull-to-muzzle ratio. Good parallels, nice flat skull. Well-split mouth with good pull-back. Lovely, dark expressive eyes, of good shape and beautifully set. Melting and very kind expression. Neat triangular ears; I would prefer them a tad higher set and better-used. Well-defined mask. Balanced angulation front and rear. Nice, quick, light action covering the ground easily. She has a very sweet attentive character; however, I would just prefer a little more animation. Delighted to award her RCC. OB 1st: 3171 DAVIES, Miss J Ambrajai Eternal Dreams Lovely typical grey bitch who unfortunately had her summer coat on today. Coat is, however, of good texture. Super colour with overlay coming in nicely. She is a good size with nice bone and substance. Good body shape with well-defined tuck-up and good depth of chest. Nice firm top line with well rounded croup; would prefer a tad shorter in the loin. Head is very nice with correct skull-to-muzzle ratio and correct emphasis on length of muzzle, nice flat skull, nice flat cheeks, good parallels, well- split mouth and good pigmentation. Ears a little tall, although well-set. Angulation balanced front and rear, although a little open at the elbow. Covers the ground easily with a nice light action but lacking a little drive from behind. Super open and sweet character. Judge Jacky Macandie-Hall Best of Breed: 3180 LESTER, Mrs L & PREDDY, Mr I & MACKIE, Miss N; Ch Domburg Hawksflight Love Me Back Dog CC: 3179 HODGSON, Mr K Ch Domburg Verstappen Can For Ddalrus Res Dog CC: 3169 COOPER, Mrs G & POULTON, Mrs Hazel & POULTON, Mr D Ch Domburg Never Say Never*** Bitch CC: 3180 LESTER, Mrs L & PREDDY, Mr I & MACKIE, Miss N; Ch Domburg Hawksflight Love Me Back Res Bitch CC: 3182 PHILLIPS, Mesdames C & J Domburg Say That You Love Me At Tanje *** Best Puppy: 3175 GROVE, Miss M; Shepherds O'f Paradise Rose Of Zarna