Hampshire Gundog Society

Hampshire Gundog Society, 26th July 2025

Thank you to the hard working committee for such a warm welcome to their well run show, and the invitation to judge three Setter breeds. The weather stayed fine and it’s always a pleasure to see gun dogs moving freely in big flat rings. Dennis and Sandra, the two ring stewards, were very capable and efficient. I send them my thanks.

English Setter Special Yearling (3)

1) Bennet’s Wansleydale Busy as a Bee at Caprow JW. Such a happy youngster aged 23 months, She has good body proportions, well balanced and built on flowing lines. Feminine head with kind appealing expression. Very steady on the move. RBOB

2)  William’s Wandsfell Keep me Close. Just 17 months old. Gave way on maturity to one, but I was really taken with his handsome, masculine head, dark eye and melting expression. Shown in good coat, but needs time to body up. A lively mover.

3) William’s Wandsfell Keep it Hush

Post Graduate (2) 

1) Wynne-Evans’ Droveborough Blue Pearl, A dark blue roan bitch, just out of Yearling. Lovely head. She combines elegance and femininity with balance, good bone, and well muscled firm body. Correct angulation fore and aft, which enabled true movement. Coat coming back just after her season.

2) William’s Wandsfell Keep me Close.

Open (1) Harris’ Bridgella’s First Edition with Konakalela JW ShCEx OSW

I have admired, and judged, this handsome orange belton boy in the past.

Really scores in stunning masculine head, with dark expressive eye. Strong neck, into good shoulder placement. Firm body, deep brisket, strong over the loin. Good spring of ribs. Clean in outline, balanced, with plenty of bone and substance. Used his strong quarters to advantage to power round the large ring. BOB.

Gordon Setters Special Yearling 

(1) Tye’s Roydack Black Knight at Tymora.  This young upstanding dog has all the attributes needed for a promising future. He’s quite a big lad, and will in time fill out his solid frame. He has good head properties, having a well defined stop, and a quizzical intelligent expression. His abundant coat and feathering was in fabulous shining condition, with correct tan markings. Thought he presented the true profile of a strong Gordon, having long reach of neck, straight front, great depth to brisket, well sprung ribs and firm level topline. At first he was rather lively on the move, but settled into his stride when handler slowed the pace down. BOB

Open (1) Nagaty’s Marlbeck Maldini. Well balanced head, showing warm friendly expression. True tan spots over his eyes. Good bone and muscle throughout. Level topline and correct angulation fore and aft. Well presented and shown in lovely condition. Moved steadily around the ring.RBOB

Irish Red and White Setter Open

 (1) McDonald’s Roanjora Cremant D’Alsace JW. This bitch caught my eye as soon as she entered the ring. Nothing exaggerated about her, everything is as it should be, so sound, flowing and balanced. She is more mature than her litter brother, she presents the ‘finished’ picture. She is feminine, but also projects strength and power. She looked as if she could happily work all day. All body properties were sound, with correct particolour and fine texture of her coat. Strong muscular neck into well laid shoulders, firm strong topline, good depth of brisket to elbow and sweep to well muscled loin. Powerful quarters, good bend of stifle, straight hocks enabling athletic, effortless movement. Shown in excellent condition. A top quality bitch and most worthy BOB.

(2) McDonald, Westwood and Westwood’s Cremant De Savoie Avec Eusanit. Litter brother to BOB. A free moving vibrant young dog. Balanced head with domed skull. Correct eye and has a ‘devil may care’ Irish expression. Similar body properties to his litter sister, well built, with strong bone and substance, correct colour with solid patches of red He, like most Setter dogs, will continue to mature in his own time. Will look forward to seeing him develop over the next few years. RBOB. 

Adrienne Callister

Judge