Irish Setter Breeders Club

IRISH SETTER BREEDERS CLUB

Saturday 6th December 2025, Kennel Club Building, Stoneleigh Park

Bitches - Judge: Ronny Blomme

Firstly thank you to the committee for the invitation to judge on this prestigious show and putting on a fabulous Christmas show.

Of course it was with mixed feelings as we all know why but I have really enjoyed it. For sure Theresa would have loved it too. My thoughts were with her that day.

Heartfelt thanks to the exhibitors for entering their girls which was very much appreciated.

I enjoyed my day, but before coming to the individual critiques I wish to express my general impression on the breed today. Of course I can only speak for the bitches.

Movement really is the topic to start with, which I am sorry to say, in general was really very disappointing. Lack of extension and reach in front, lack of strong drive from behind, narrow and weak. Needing more straight forward and parallel legs in front. Irregular and crossing, lack of temperament and attitude. This is a galloping gundog breed and you expect to see a lot more energy, power and strength.

Only a minority today showed an effortless and correct gait, with good reach in front and good drive from behind, neither narrow in front and behind, with front legs moving parallel and forward, hindlegs extending and pushing well back. With a topline held straight and firm, head high, completing the picture of an energetic dog with temperament showing what I call “attitude”.

On the other hand I was very pleased to see a positive evolution in 2 other major breed points which have been a problem for some years, such as heads, balance and proportion, which I hope it will continue that way.

Nice balanced heads in general are back, and I was really very pleased to see: long and lean with correct proportions skull to muzzle and depth, correct oval eye shape and that soft expression under correct eyebrows. There were really beautiful heads. Only a few I found were too deep in head or too short in muzzle, a few expressions too hard.

Balance an proportions, has improved, although there are still many I wished to see with more length in front legs, shorter bodys, shorter in loin, with a firm, straight topline, gently sloping topline. Let’s continue this way please. It’s one of the major hallmarks of this breed: racy. The word racy is crucial for this breed as it can also be found in a few other breed standards such as Irish Terrier, which is definitely not on short legs with a long body.

I was really pleased to see several as how I like them to see: very “racy”, elegant, good length of neck, on good legs, compact build, short loin, with a firm and straight topline which led them to the highest places in their classes.

Note this is only a personal perception, not criticism.

BABY PUPPY BITCH 1/1

PRANGLE, Miss C J, 92 HEATHCLARE FABERGE – 1st

A very nice type with a good general appearance. 6 months old and looking nicely balanced at this growing stage. Nice feminine head but like to see refining with age. A little round in eye. Excellent forechest and well sprung well sprung ribs, well matured for age. Nice strong bone and good feet and nice angulations for this age. Racy outline. Firm topline but at this stage only a little round in croup. When she manages to keep 4 legs on the ground she moves very well with good straight forward reach and strong drive. She has a nice future ahead.

MINOR PUPPY BITCH 3/2

BOTT, Mrs Marita, 13 BARDONHILL AS YOU LIKE IT – 1st

Nice type, racy Irish outline on good length of legs. Nice feminine head, long and lean with soft expression. Excellent forechest and well sprung ribs, already well matured in body. Nice straight and firm topline to good tail set. Good bone and compact feet, well angulated, nice layback of upperarm bringing elbows well under body. She is moving very well for this age with a correct topline, tail set and tail carriage. She is nicely balanced and proportionate. Prefer coat a little flatter.

WHITE, Mr A J, 119 PADUAN TRUE LIGHT – 2nd

Elegant and racy type. She will need some more time to get in better balance and proportions. Will need more time to mature in body, deeper in chest. Don’t worry about this. She has a nice feminine head, long and lean. Good expression. She has good length of legs but prefer feet to be more compact. She moves rather narrow behind and irregular in front. Correct coat structure.

PUPPY BITCH 6/4

CROCKER & FROST, Mr B A, Miss A, 28 RIVERBRUE KINKY BOOTS – 1st

She shows an elegant general appearance, racy outline, although I prefer a little shorter in body. She excellent length of legs. Very nice feminine head long and lean with nice and happy expression. Excellent neck, nice arch of neck to shoulders. Excellent forechest and well sprung ribs, well matured body, good depth of chest. Nice topline and tail set. Very nice angulations, nice length of upperarm and well angulated, elbows under body. Good bone and compact feet. She moves well behind, good parallel but she needs time to be more regular, steady and forward in front. Nice coat and colour. Liked to see her a little more free and confident on the move.

119 – 2nd

Idem

JUNIOR BITCH 7/6

BOTT, Mrs Marita, 14 BARDONHILL COTTON TREE – 1st

Very nice and racy, on good length of legs. Very nice feminine head and expression, long and lean, could be a little dryer in throat. Compact, in balance and proportions. Excellent forechest and well sprung ribs, well matured body. Good bone, feet could be more compact, nice angulations. Nice topline. Good coat structure and colour. Moving well front and rear, nice temperament, but tail not to be carried higher.

MUTCH, Mrs, 82 ASTLEYVIEW CRIMSON MOON – 2nd

Like this one too, she is a nice type. Racy in outline, on excellent length of legs. She is already well matured, excellent body. Good balance and proportions. Head long and lean, but prefer eye of first. Good bone and compact feet. Good angulations behind, but like to see better angulation in front with a little more length and layback of upperarm to bring elbows backwards under the body. Sufficient forechest, good ribs, good deep chest. Nice arched neck in fluent line to shoulders and firm topline. Correct coat structure. Could move more straight forward, more reach, a little narrow behind. Tail set must not be lower.

ROBERTS, Mrs Angela, 98 POLMENNOR PANDORA JW – 3rd

YEARLING BITCH 9/6

NEILL & ELLRICH & JONES, Miss C, Miss R, Mrs L, 83 GWENDARIFF FLIRT IN A SKIRT (IKC) JW – 1st

Very nice stylish bitch, racy outline, perhaps a little more length of legs in my opinion to give a little more slope in topline. Nice feminine head, long and lean. Nice eye and expression. Nicely arched neck to shoulders. She has an excellent body, fore chest, depth of chest and well sprung ribs. Nice straight and firm topline. Well matured for age, looking good. Good angulations, correct coat structure. Good bone and feet. She moved well front and rear.

NICHOLLS, Shaun and Julie, 86 RIVERBRUE STORM AT KRAKONASTORM JW – 2nd

She is a nice type with a correct coat structure and nice deep colour. Feminine head of good proportions. Good length of legs but prefer her a little shorter in body, which sometimes affects her topline that could be firmer. A little high in shoulder. Could have elbows a little more under body. She is already very well matured. Excellent strong bone and compact feet, good angulations behind. She is moving well, just a little narrow behind.

BERRY & MORRIS, Mrs B, Mrs L, 9 RIVERBRUE MYSTIQUE AVEC BRINARA JW - 3rd

MAIDEN BITCH 3/0

Absents

NOVICE BITCH 2/0

Absents

SPECIAL BEGINNERS BITCH 3/2

POPLAWSKA, Miss E, 91 SHELINDAIR SING TO A RAINBOW – 1st

Could be a little more racy in outline and topline. A little more length of legs. Head to be a little more feminine, a little more lean. The front is not parallel with feet turning out. Needs more forechest and front angulations with elbows more under body. Feet could be more compact. Like to see a little more slope in topline. Well matured and good well sprung ribs. Nice coat structure. She has excellent temperament on the move, with drive, but needs to improve behind and to be more parallel, more straight forward. Rather irregular in front.

WHITE, Mr A J, 120 PADUAN GOLDEN GIRL – 2nd

Racy and compact outline on good legs. Head is nice, feminine, long and lean with good expression. She is too narrow in front and needing more forechest. Feet should be more compact. Nice racy and firm topline neck to tail set. Excellent and correct coat structure with nice deep colour. Needs more extension in front when on the move, being too narrow front and rear. Liked to see a more free and confident temperament.

UNDERGRADUATE BITCH 4/4

ROBERTS, Mrs Angela, 99 POLMENNOR SPICE OF LIFE JW – 1st

Like this one, very elegant and racy. Good balance and proportions. Feminine head long and lean with nice expression. Needs a little more stop. Excellent firm topline from well arched neck to correct tail set. Excellent body with good forechest and well sprung ribs, good depth of chest. Nice angulations, elbows well under body, good bone and feet. Nice coat structure and colour. She has a good temperament and attitude on the move, a little narrow front and rear but with a good reach in front and drive from behind.

RUTHERFORD, Mrs P J, 103 CLONAGEERA SUMMER MOMENTS JW – 2nd

She is a nice type with good balance and proportions, sound and strong. Head could be more feminine, a little longer, a little more length in muzzle. Also prefer a softer expression. She has a nice neck to topline but could have a little more slope and back firmer. Nice tail set. Excellent bone and feet and angulations. Correct coat structure and nice colour. She carries a little too much weight today which affects her topline and outline, and rolling back on the move.

HADFIELD, Mrs Marion, 52 MARZANNES HAPPY RETURNS - 3rd

GRADUATE BITCH 10/10

DANKS-KEMISH, Mrs R D, 32 ALOLFRANA ELECTRA – 1st

I do like this bitch very much, very much what I like and want to see as an Irish Setter outline. She got my eye from when she entered the ring and was for me the clear winner of this class. She is very racy overall and elegant. Excellent length of legs and proportionate body, nice balance, nice proportions. Nice feminine head long and lean. Correct parallel and straight front. Elbows well under body. Strong and parallel behind. Correct topline with firm and gentle slope. Excellent angulations, bone and compact feet. Excellent on the move, what a character and attitude. Excellent reach and drive, temperament, head high, correct tail carriage, only a little wide in front. Correct coat structure although not in best coat and featherings which I truly wished better on this day.

STURROCK, Mrs S & Misses N & J, 108 FORFARIAN FANCY ME J.W. – 2nd

Another racy and elegant bitch, Irish Setter outline as I like to see, on good length of legs, proportionate in body. Nice feminine head and expression, long and lean. Nice length of neck flowing well into shoulders. Good fore chest, well sprung ribs and body, good depth of brisket. Correct gentle sloping racy topline. Nice angulations and bone, prefer feet a little more compact. Very nice balance and proportions. Correct coat structure. She moves well in style, head high, good reach in drive but could be more regular and parallel in front.

WILLIAMSON, Mr M J & Mrs L C, 122 CASKEYS UNITED WITH BLUESPRINGS JW. – 3rd

POST GRADUATE BITCH 9/8

COLEMAN, Mrs S L, 22 CAMALING ROSE ROYALE – 1st

Nice bitch, nice type. Could be a little more racy, more legs and shorter in loin, stronger in back. She has a very nice feminine head and expression, long and lean. Good fore chest and well sprung ribs, good depth of chest. Good angulations and bone, prefer feet more compact. She is moving very well, very good reach in front and drive from behind but could hold her topline firmer. Nice coat and colour.

HALL, Mrs K, 56 RIVERBRUE OPHELIA LOVE GLENNARA JW – 2nd

She is a very nice type. Racy outline on good length of legs. Very nice feminine head and expression, long and lean. Good fore chest and well sprung ribs in which she will develop furthermore. Found her a little too narrow in front. Good angulations and bone, but also here prefer the feet more compact. Good racy topline. Good coat structure and colour. She could be more regular and stronger on the move front and rear.

DALE, Mrs G, 30 TREFAINE AURORA OF AUBANJON – 3rd

MID LIMIT BITCH 6/5

RUTHERFORD & PRANGLE, Mrs P, Miss C, 102 CLONAGEERA TAKE A CHANCE JW – 1st

Lovely type, racy and compact in body. Strongly and very well made overall with firm topline and good tail set. Prefer the head a little more feminine, more long and lean. Prefer softer expression. Good fore chest, excellent well sprung ribs. Strong loins. Nice angulations. Strong bone, feet just to be that little more compact. Excellent parallel and straight front. Excellent strength and width in hindquarters. She is a very good mover front and rear with style and attitude. Correct coat structure. A little out of featherings today.

CORLESS, Mrs S S, 27 SWIFTLARK ILLUSTRIOUS JW – 2nd

A nice sound bitch, very well matured. Feminine head and expression, but that could be a little more long. Liked to see a little more length in front legs to give a more racy sloping topline. She has excellent fore chest and well sprung ribs, good depth of chest. Nice parallel straight front. Nice bone and feet. Well angulated. Nice coat and rich deep colour. She moves well front and rear, could show a little more temperament today.

PETERS, Miss L M, 90 CORRANROO HOT SENSATION AT SHIRLILAH – 3rd

LIMIT BITCH 6/6

BOTT & ALLEN & MORGAN, Mr P, Mr G, 11 QUENSHA JOKER AND THE QUEEN – 1st

Liked this one, nice type. Nice type and quality. She is very feminine, racy with a compact body. Just liked to see only a little more size from legs which may give a little more slope in topline. Firm and strong in back with good tail set. Feminine head and expression, long and lean. Excellent fore chest and well sprung ribs. Nice depth of chest. Good bone, feet could be more compact. She moves very well, front and rear, regular with parallel legs. Liked the excellent temperament, style and head carriage. Good reach and drive. Correct coat structure. Felt today she needs to mature a little more.

HUMPHREYS, Mr. P. & Mrs. J., 72 RIVERBRUE OPHELIA BONGOS AT HENALEAS – 2nd

Nice quality feminine bitch, lovely type. Strong competition with first. Feminine head, long and lean, preferred eye shape of first. Nicely arched neck to shoulders. Good fore chest and well sprung ribs, nice deep chest. Good bone, prefer feet more compact. Excellent angulations behind. Like to see a little more angulation in upperarm to bring the front and elbows more backwards under the body. Could have a little more length in legs to a little more racy sloping topline which could be firmer. She has an excellent temperament and attitude on the move with excellent drive from behind, and nicely parallel. Needs to be more regular and reach in front. Correct coat structure.

BAYNE, Mr G C & Mrs J J, 2 CORRANROO RAINBOW SHIMMER – 3rd

OPEN BITCH 9/7

ROFFEY, Miss S, 101 SH CH GWENDARIFF SKYS THE LIMIT (IKC) – 1st

Lovely bitch, very well matured. Nice type, feminine. Very nice feminine head, long and lean, nice proportions. Good eye and expression. She has a nice straight and parallel front, good bone and compact feet. Good fore chest and well sprung ribs. Nice strong and parallel hindquarters. Correct coat structure. Good condition with correct amount of featherings not to spoil the correct outline of an Irish Setter. Just wished a little more length in legs to give a slightly more racy and sloping topline. Correct tail set. Good angulations front and rear with no exaggerations, nicely angulated upperarm which brings the front and elbows well back under the body. She moved with style and attitude, good reach and drive, correct parallel and straight both front and rear. Good temperament and nice tail action.

There were some who came very close to her for the CC, as for the ResCC as well, only little details making the difference.

CC Bitch, BOB, BIS.

STURROCK, Mrs S & Misses N & J, 109 SH CH FORFARIAN SOO LUSH JW – 2nd

This one is very much the type I like, for her elegant and racy outline with a straight, firm, gently racy sloping topline, standing on good length of legs. Very nice neck to shoulders and topline with nice tail set. Very nice feminine head, long and lean, nice eye and expression. Excellent forechest and well sprung ribs. Nice angulations, nice layback of upperarm with elbwos well under body. Excellent bone but feet could be better compact, needs shorter nails as it affected her front movement. Correct coat and lovely deep colour. Excellent attitude, style and temperament on the move, with good reach and drive. I wished she was more regular and steady in front. Correct tail carriage and action.

She was a strong opponent to first in this class who became the CC winner but I was really very much pleased to award her the Reserve and later also ResBIS.

ResCC Bitch, ResBIS

HALL, Mrs K, 57 GLENNARA CHERRY COLA JW – 3rd

VETERAN BITCH 8/4

BAYNE, Mr G C & Mrs J J, 3 CORRANROO ONE MORE KISS – 1st

This is a very nice type and is what I like to see. She is racy, has a nicely sloping and firm topline to correct tail set. Nice neck to shoulders and topline. Good length of legs. Feminine head, long and lean with excellent eye and expression. Nice parallel and straight front, and hindquarters as well. Excellent forechest and well sprung ribs. Well made and strong overall without loosing elegance. Good bone and nice compact feet as they should be. She moves well with great style and attitude, good temperament and head high. She could have more reach in front. She is very balanced and proportionate overall but as a personal preference I prefer a little less in size. She is in super physical and coat condition, not looking her age at all as I noticed later she will be 9 in a few months.

EDWARDS, Mrs S E, 42 SH CH GWENDARIFF ITS NUMERO UNO AT BONHOMIE – 2nd

A lovely bitch with a balanced outline, sound and strong. Good proportions, standing on good legs. Feminine head, long and lean, soft expression. Excellent forechest and well sprung ribs. Nice depth of chest. Good firm topline and correct tail set. Good angulations, bone and has nice feet. She moves well front and rear. Will be 9 soon and in good condition.

HEATHER, Mr J E and Mrs M E, 62 SIXOAKS LEADING LADY – 3rd