Southern Counties Canine Association

Southern Counties Canine Association – Afghan Hounds

I thoroughly enjoyed judging at the Southern Counties Championship show and would like to extend my sincere thanks to my stewards for their invaluable assistance. The weather was ideal for the dogs, albeit a little windy, but the ring was on the small side. The entry was typical of what I would expect as, having owned and bred the same type for five decades, exhibitors guess at what I am likely to appreciate. It was heartening to see some quality puppies coming into our rings, so lacking in recent times. I found the quality good overall, but there were many lacking in correct front angulation. I did not find any coarse heads, but conversely, there were a few that were overfine. Afghans are, after all, a hunting breed, and a certain amount of strength in the head is a must.

Veteran Dog (3, 1 abs)

1. Tulak Fast And Furious (Trainor & Rogers)

8-year-old gold male with a classic houndy outline. Refined but masculine head with an arrogant expression. Strong neck and correct lay of shoulders and upper arm. Level top line with sweeping quarters and strong hocks. Positive and reachy gait.

2. Cloudside Sunking (McClay)

Strongly made gold male with a lot to like about him and with plenty of substance. Pleasing head and dark eye, strong neck and adequately angled fore and aft with ring tail & correct tail carriage. Sound coordinated movement.

Minor Puppy Dog (6, 2 abs)

1. Cloudside Ebony Prince At Johda (Bellringer)

Black & brindle, almost 9 months. A surprising puppy this one, as he does not jump out at you when you are looking around the class. However, he has an attractive head and eye and the correct layback of shoulder with well-angled upper arm. Level topline and sweeping quarters with low hocks and well set on ring tail. He puts all this to use on the move as he is true coming and going and covers the ground well.

2. Sitana Playing With Fire (Trainor)

A 7-month-old cream baby with a lovely head with a shaded mask. Proving to everyone that he is just a baby because there was no way he was going to do anything but play on the move. Lovely outline with a good return of upper arm, correct length of back with a loose ring tail. Balanced quarters with low well-angulated hocks.

3. Cloudside Soul Prince For Jodak (House & Hinchcliffe)

Puppy Dog (5, 1 abs)

1. Drishaun Autumnal King (Lancashire & O’Donnell)

Red puppy, almost 10 months old. Very collected for his age and in great condition. Going through the leggy stage but standing foursquare and presenting a lovely outline. Lovely head and good length of foreface with strong underjaw. Reachy neck leading into balanced shoulder and upper arm. Level topline, correct sweep from hip to hock and a ring tail. Movement is true and very coordinated for a baby.

2. Sitana Johnny Blaze At Karianca (Bovey)

Cream litter brother to the 2nd in Minor Puppy with a dark mask. Lovely head and eye, balanced angles fore and aft and a level topline. Sweeping quarters with well-angled hocks. Once he settled, he exhibited his reachy movement.

3. Chinzaes Tartan Express (McClay)

Yearling Dog (1, 1 abs)

Post Graduate Dog (6, 3 abs)

1. Drishaun Rock Me Baby Gothika (Thompson)

This handsome dark masked pale gold dog has come on in leaps and bounds since I last saw him. Now presenting an impressive balanced profile with correct rib to loin ratio and a wonderful textured coat that was presented to perfection. Masculine well-proportioned head with a lovely eye, angles matching fore and aft with prominent hipbones and a ring tail. Reachy movement with style.

2. Zendushkas Born To Run Isjulees (Drage)

Self-masked gold boy with good head properties, excellent expression and strong underjaw. Providing a balanced outline with sweeping quarters and low hocks. In good condition and moved very well with a coordinated gait.

3. Katanga’s God Of Thunder (Gunn)

Limit Dog (6, 1 abs)

1. Drishaun Baby’s In Black (Lancashire & O’Donnell)

Upstanding and elegant black and tan male dog in outstanding condition, as is every dog from this kennel. Long, lean head with keen expression, arched neck leading into well-placed shoulders, balanced with the upper arm. Well off for bone with a strong level top line and correctly set on ring tail. Sweeping quarters leading into well-angled low hocks. This male came into his own on the move, sweeping round the ring with powerful, long, raking strides. I was pleased to award him the RCC.

2. Shimalma Jagermeister (Newton)

A very elegant dog, quite different to the 1st in many respects. A beautifully presented silky cream coat enhances his balanced outline. He has a lovely head with an arrogant expression, a shaded mask and a beard, and a long neck leading to well-set shoulders. Firm topline with a well-defined croup and correctly set on tail and sweeping quarters to low hocks. He moved very well.

3. Shimalma Disaronno At Tazkindi (Dunstan & Waterhouse)

Open Dog (5, 1 abs)

All stunning champions in this class, and I was splitting hairs.

1. Ch Syrdarya Ceylon Chai At Simkhan (James)

Shaded mask red grizzle dog that I have always loved and was so honoured to have the chance to judge him. I love everything about him. He has a glorious head that displays strength yet refinement with an exquisite expression and detail. Your hands just flow over him. Everything fits so well together, and his conformation is so balanced and presents a stunning picture. Correct layback of shoulder with a long sloping upper arm, strong level topline and sweeping quarters to low, well-angled hocks. Deep chest and correct loin to rib ratio, and a ring tail completes the picture. He comes into his own on the move, just eating up the ground as he sweeps around the ring. I was delighted to award him the CC and Best of Breed.

2. Ch/Int/Lux/Nld Ch Popovs Aladdin At Sarakhan (Pascoe)

Well-known gold sable dog who has made a name for himself in the show ring, and going over him, it is obvious why. Displaying a lovely profile on the stack with complementary angulation fore and aft and strong hocks. Handsome head with arrogant expression, deep chest, red saddle and a ring tail. Moved with style and purpose and expertly handled.

3. Ch. Ayoubkhan Silk Road (Gosling)

Special Beginners (1)

1. Pramya Keep Your Eyes On Me JW (Imp) (Bellringer)

Dark masked gold bitch with a feminine head and eye. In good body with balanced angulation. A little longer cast than some but nicely made with a ring tail and giving a good account of herself on the move. Placed 4th in the Special Beginners Stakes at the end of the day.

Veteran Bitch (4)

1. Ch/Int/Lux/Ir/Nld Ch Popovs Sazerac At Sarakhan (Imp) JW (Tromp)

Outstanding and beautifully balanced red bitch who certainly does not look a veteran. Feminine head held proudly on a long neck leading into correct forequarters. Strong topline with balanced rib to loin ratio and sweeping quarters, correct croup and tail set. She presents an excellent, unexaggerated picture and moves with style and panache. I was pleased to award her the RCC.

2. Cloudside Sunset (Fairburn & Roberts)

Brindle bitch, a favourite of mine but today she could not match the verve of the winner on the move. Feminine head with a good outlook, and she presents a lovely overall shape that is nicely balanced fore and aft. She obviously enjoys her dinners, but she moved out well enough.

3. Ch Zandahar Just Tiger Lily JW ShCM VW (Adams)

Minor Puppy Bitch (5)

1. Sitana The Eternal At Lakarnadream (Dare)

Cream baby of just over 7 months but already presenting a flowing picture, both stacked and on the move. Pretty feminine head with a delightful expression. Her beautifully presented coat enhanced her lovely shape, balanced throughout and with a level topline. Sweeping quarters and low hocks match her front angulation. She moved steadily with reach and drive. Best Puppy.

2. Sitana Beautiful Dreamer (Sanghera)

Litter sister to 1st and very similar in lots of ways, slightly shorter coupled but not quite as together at the moment, albeit presenting a balanced picture. There is plenty of time, and I am sure that both girls will develop into worthy representatives of our breed. Feminine head with a plethora of monkey whiskers, loving her day and making sure that I only had the odd glimpse of her movement.

3. Cloudside Whispering Angel (Moore)

Puppy Bitch (3, 1 abs)

1. Drishaun Dacus Carota (Lancashire & O’Donnell)

9-month-old pale red puppy with a refined head and exquisite expression. Conformation balanced throughout and in superb condition with a red saddle already in evidence. Sweeping quarters with low hocks and a correctly carried ring tail. Moved well with confidence.

2. Drishaun Please Consider (Goff)

Exuberant 10-month-old black and gold puppy leading her sporting owner a merry dance. Full of spirit, so her movement was difficult to assess but she presents an attractive balanced shape overall and has a lovely head and expression.

Junior Bitch (2)

1. Drishaun Carruba (Lancashire & O’Donnell)

Litter sister to the first in Puppy and there are many similarities. I loved her head and expression with chiselling already in evidence. Balanced angulation fore and aft with low hocks and a ring tail carried correctly. Came into her own on the move which won her this class.

2. Way Up Bombay Saphire (Imp) (Fairburn, Della Rocca & Joy)

15-month-old brindle youngster. She has a wealth of coat that is not doing her any favours at the moment. She has a most lovely, refined head and dark, expressive eyes and she is nicely made throughout, presenting a balanced outline. She moved well, although a little unsettled at times.

Yearling Bitch (1)

1. Drishaun A Gift of A Thistle (AI) (Lancashire & O’Donnell)

Well, where do I start with this exquisite bitch. I could have stood and looked at her all day – she brought a lump to my throat as she is my absolute interpretation of the standard! Deep red saddle and silky pale red coat enhanced her beautiful outline, and I loved her head, with its exquisite expression and lean foreface. In great condition with a firm topline and her angulation perfectly balanced fore and aft with strong sloping pasterns and low hocks. A ring tail completed the picture, and she strode around the ring with perfect action. My only complaint is that she is not mine! I was delighted to award her the CC.

Post Graduate Bitch (9, 5 abs)

1. Alaqadar Ariodante Of Shadowfax (AI)(Imp) (Rhodes, Shaverneva & Garrad)

Black bitch with balanced conformation and in excellent condition. Feminine head with a mischievous expression and a nice outline with a strong firm topline, sweeping quarters to low hocks and finished with a ring tail. Strode around the ring with strong, purposeful strides, keeping her handler well on his toes.

2. Prestigious How Will I Know (Lorenzo Rivers)

I liked this rangy brindle bitch, and she has a long reachy drive but I would prefer her to be in harder condition. She has a lovely head and a good eye shape, and a balanced conformation finished with a correctly set on ring tail.

3. Pramya Keep Your Eyes On Me (Imp) (Bellringer)

Limit Bitch (5)

1. Sitana Love And Thunder (Sanghera)

What you see is what you get with this red bitch. Lightly coated and in excellent condition, her movement is exemplary, with long, raking strides. Classic head with a good expression and correct length to foreface. A strong neck and excelling in shoulder and upper arm, with corresponding rear angulation, with low hocks and a ring tail. Considered her for the RCC and I am sure that her time will come.

2. Drishaun Don’t Gild The Lily JW (Lancashire & O’Donnell)

Stunning red bitch with the most beautiful classic profile and natural saddle. Another in tip-top condition with an elegant head and typical expression. Balanced throughout with a correct front, sweeping quarters and low strong hocks. Presentation first class and I thought she was my winner, but unfortunately, she did not want to cooperate fully on the move.

3. Shimalma Campari Goes To Ifmaraf (Fisher)

 Open Bitch (4)

1. Ch Drishaun Don’t Call Me Baby (Lancashire & O’Donnell)

This young self-masked red bitch has recently gained her crown, and it is easy to see why. Another superb example from this kennel, every one of them in tip-top condition and presented to perfection. I loved her head and expression, her long neck and her overall balance and correct tail carriage. Handled expertly, and she moved with extension and drive.

2. Ch Drishaun Faith Is Like A Lily For Javidan JW (O’Donnell, Ms & Mrs)

Compact and feminine brindle bitch with a wealth of beautifully presented coat. Balanced throughout with a refined head and expression, and in great condition. Strong, firm topline, low hocks and she moved truly and freely in complete sync with her handler.

3. Tulak Driving Miss Daisy To Sitana (Sanghera)

Lesley Busby

Judge