Ashford Faversham & District Canine Society

Ashford, Faversham & DCS Open Show 12th January 2025

AVNSC Gundogs, AV Veteran Gundog, Pointers, ES Spaniels, GSP, Flatcoats, Cockers, GUNDOG GROUP, PUPPY GROUP

ASHFORD, FAVERSHAM & DCS

Maidstone

12th January 2025

Thank you to the Committee for the invitation to step in to judge, it must be devastating not only for the Show but also the judge when they are unable to fulfill their contract after entries have closed. However I was honoured and privileged that the exhibitors were friendly, patient and understanding and there were very few absentees also considering the temperature of -5 degrees!

My two stewards were exemplary, Amy Jenkins and Sally Hills, and made my job possible. I kept warm by constantly moving, they did not have that advantage.

The two most important sections of Breed Standards for me are Characteristics and Temperament.

The depth of quality of the Gundogs today was impressive, only a few were not showing the confidence that a gundog should, some had runny eyes and there were a few with hocks and back pasterns not as strong as are essential in a gundog..

AVNSC GUNDOG 

Puppy (10,3a)

Quality class, very difficult to choose between these super, happy puppies. 

1 Hunts Wakaduze Dotame, Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling) BEST AVNSC GUNDOG PUPPY

Beautifully balanced girl, from her well-laid back shoulders to strong hindquarters, excelling in her pretty, typical expression and flowing movement. Showed like a dream at one with handler, wonderful example of her breed. 

2 Horler and Sandiford’s Hernwood Bleu Spirit to Rackens (Gordon Setter)

Gorgeous Gordon boy with a striking clean-cut outline standing four square on straight, true, legs. The most beautiful of balanced heads, and gleaming coat. Flowed around the ring, maturity just right for age.

Special Yearling (14,4a)

1 Tye’s Irisbel The Greatest Showman at Tymora JW (Spaniel, Field) BEST AVNSC GUNDOG, BEST GUNDOG 

This quality boy stood out in this super class, such an impressive outline with great reach and flow of neck, and handsome, majestic head. Masculine throughout with maturity, so balanced with well-muscled body, he covered the ground with strength and ease, proud, calm and confident. Just as impressive in the Group and worthy of Group 1 in an excellent line-up. Certainly living up to his name!

2 Salvage’s Unveiledjaclee Ace of Hearts (Imp Fra) (Spaniel, American Cocker)

Another striking example of his breed, not overlong in hind quarters, moderate, balanced construction fore and aft, quality coat, dead straight topline held on the move, showed and handled beautifully.

Limit (9,4a)

Again, spoilt for choice in this quality class.

1 O’Kelly & Hancock’s Caradilis Sparks Will Fly JW (Gordon Setter)

Feminine lady with such a super front construction with long upper arms, long, well-laid back shoulder blades. Strong topline, short couplings and covered the ground evenly with ease. In super condition in coat and body, standing on strong, straight limbs.

2 Mayes Woolibourne Nick of Time among Elskerwoo (Spaniel, Clumber)

Majestic lady with good balance in body, strong quarters and deep in chest, not overdone, loved her centre of gravity over the withers, enabling free and easy strides across the ring. Intelligent character.

Open (9,3a)

1 Moon’s Deanway Proper Charlie (Spaniel, Sussex) RB AVNSC

Impressive, masculine boy without coarseness, such an impressive, unique head, typical of the breed, deep muzzle and gorgeous, warm eyes in correct stop. He moved with drive from his muscled quarters, holding his topline, balanced throughout, wagging his tail non-stop. 

2 Beasley’s Wansleydale Amaretto at Latjeata (English Setter)

Aristocratic lady oozing quality with her beautiful coat and melting expression. Impressed with her topline and tail carriage held on the move, with powerful drive.

AV GUNDOG VETERAN (19,7a)

A wonderful class of quality seniors, any of which could have won on the day. 

1 Clifford’s INT/SRB CH Serci After Dark at Shadow Amor of Chamford ShCExVW(IMP SRB)(Spaniel, Cocker)

This striking boy stood out for his character, looking and acting like a two year old, moving around the ring like a train. He stood four square with good, correct, angulation, in gleaming coat and condition, the most gorgeous of heads. 

2 Pounds-Longhurst’s Rosgar Dolly O’Dare among Mossburn

Stood out for her superb balance, everything flowing into everything else, no exaggerations, moved as expected by her conformation, conserving energy with her free and easy gait. Perfect body condition with straight topline held on the move. Happy, intelligent expression. Not quite in the gleaming coat condition of the winner.

SPANIEL (COCKER)

Puppy (4,1a)

1 Griffin’s Griffial Back to Black BP, BEST GUNDOG PUPPY

Absolutely cracking little 6 month old black girl, personality personified. She loved every minute of her time in the ring and brought that later into the Gundog Puppy Group, it must have been a long day for her, and a worthy winner of the Group in great company, and handled to perfection. Compact and balanced in body, the Characteristics and Temperament guidelines could have been modelled on this girl.

2 Covington’s Delightful Hunter Legendary at Silverdust 

Loved the gorgeous head, eye and expression on this blue roan lad, also moved with drive holding his topline, just right for his age, just preferred the younger dog on the day. Responsive and happy boy.

Special Yearling (4,1a)

1 Randall’s Fengrange Defender Boy BEST OF BREED

Another handsome boy showing good width across quarters, good muscling and condition, standing on strong legs and moving out well. Good depth of muzzle in lovely head, confident and responsive.

2 Kotanen’s Yokotai Queen of Chaos JW 

Smaller as a girl would be, compact and balanced, less chiselling in the head than first, however a happy character who moved freely with drive. 

Limit (3,1a)

1 Griffin’s Griffial Make It Count JW 

Best of head and expression on this happy lady, moved out with confidence at one with handler, balanced angles and gorgeous coat

2 Rofe’s Villaspaniol Gold Flash

Cheeky, well-made golden lad who decided he was going to pace at every given chance! 

Open (5,2a)

1 Hutton-Baber’s Esqueen Following Star at Babtonkelpie (IMP POL) JW RBOB

Attractive, confident girl excelling in layback of shoulder and good sweep of neck into correct stature.

Best, correct movement in class.

2 Randall’s Plaiglen Sunshine with Fengrange

A girl with very similar construction and condition to first with an appealing expression, not quite as confident in the ring on the day.

POINTER

Puppy (1)

1 Droveborough’s Hells Bells BEST PUPPY

Very impressed with the balanced, moderate construction of this liver and white. Confident girl with good layback of shoulder into straight topline held on the move. Equal strides took her easily across the ring with no exaggerated front action. Feminine, balanced head, at one with handler.

Special Yearling (6,2a)

1 Droveborough’s Hells Bells

2 Perren’s Evaluna For Your Eyes Only at Mistin

Very attractive colouring on this happy girl, just out of puppy. Covered the ring with ease from her good construction excelling in correct bone and strength in quarters.

Limit (5,1a)

1 Welch’s Hookwood Starman JW

Upstanding, masculine three year old boy, correct head construction, well ribbed back chest and strong, straight fore leg bone, handsome, imposing dog who covered the ground effortlessly.

2 Wynne-Evans’s Droveborough Frost Queen

Gentle eye on this feminine girl, good in body and moved with ease from good muscling and condition, just preferred overall balance of first.

Open (6,1a)

1 Welch, Drake & Hazeltine’s Clamerkin Jubilee Surprise at Hookwood JW BEST OF BREED

Two and a half year old lady with nothing exaggerated, imposing stature with long, ground-covering strides from strong loins and correct bone, super feet. Great character.

2 Perren’s Evaluna Chasing Rainbows with Hookwood JW RBOB

Appealing expression on this girl, while just as balanced as first I she was less coordinated in gait than first. Good muscling and condition.

SPANIEL (ENGLISH SPRINGER) 

Puppy (3,2a)

1 Proctor’s Forgespring Nobody’s Fool BEST PUPPY

Beautifully balanced six month old girl with flowing movement, correct front reach, just needs to tighten up on hind movement. Gorgeous head with a kind, dark eye. Excellent double coat and gorgeous colouring.

Special Yearling (3,1a)

1 Williams & Toublic Cobhay Heavenly Hydrangea 

2 Williams & Toublic Cobhay Dashing Dandelion JW

Litter siblings, oozing in quality and attractive colouring on double correct coats. Sister beat brother today as I just preferred the overall balance of the girl. Both had the most beautiful, balanced heads with melting, appealing expressions, and both moved with confidence and drive, at one with handlers.

Limit (2)

1 Proctor’s Petranella Perfick Bliss RBOB

Quality lady with no exaggerations. Stood four square and moved with balance and drive. Very pretty expression, confident character.

2 Williams & Toublic Cobhay Heavenly Hydrangea 

Very similar attractive girl, just as lovely oozing breed type, just less mature or finished as first.

Open (3,1a)

1 Weyman’s More Than Amazing Wanna Be A Gangster at Spuffing JW (Imp Bel) BOB GUN GRP 2

Stunning boy with the most attractive tri-colour, thick, double coat. Handsome head with deep muzzle. He stood four square with great flow of neck into the best of shoulders, strong, straight topline and strong, muscled quarters with no weakness in pasterns. Enjoying the day, showing good front extension with drive from behind. Showing just as well at the end of the day and a worthy GRP 2

2 Williams & Toublic Cobhay Fancy Phlox

Another attractive girl with a beautiful head with deep muzzle, covered the ground with ease, excelling in coat and condition.

GERMAN SHORTHAIR POINTER

The most attractive colours on these quality, compact, well-muscled gundogs, all feeling the extreme cold conditions.

Special Yearling (2)

1 Edlin’s Mistcapel Storm Shadow BEST OF BREED

A wonderful, chiselled, masculine but soft head and expression, giving his all to his handler, smooth, even strides from strong, straight limbs combining with correct angles and deep chest. Filled the eye with his clean cut outline.

2 Dighton’s Amidala Cosmopolitan at Evaluna BEST PUPPY

Such a very attractive expression on this lovely puppy, she had a wonderful character and moved out well, just needs to tighten on hind movement. 

Open (2)

1 Edlin’s Graygees Tsarine RBOB

Such an attractive colour and impressive, balanced body, a happy girl with an intelligent, soft eye. Everything balanced with good muscling, covering the ground with ease.

2 Blay’s Sh Ch Barleyarch Skye at Longbarrow ShCM

VHC in the stunning Veteran class, quality, beautiful lady, so well balanced on strong limbs, I just preferred the flow of movement of the younger girl in this class.

RETRIEVER (FLATCOATED)

Blown away by these flatcoats with their unique,classic heads. 

Special Yearling (3,1a)

1 Bell’s Curlycrest’s Sweet Home Chicago(IMP NOR) RBOB

Majestic boy with noble head and kind expression. Well angled fore and aft, short in loin, enabling drive when covering the ground with ease. Perfectly handled.

2 Broadbent’s Gemswin I Am Sailing JW

Very similar in construction, just preferred hind movement of first. Again a confident, happy boy, never stopped wagging his tail, topline kept on the move.

Both correct maturity for their young ages, not overdone.

Open (2,1a)

1 Hinton & Brown’s Cuillinoir Edale Fire JW BEST OF BREED

Glorious 8 year old, unlucky in a huge, quality AV Veteran class, belying her age. She moved like a dream so late in the day showing her class, condition, great balance and typical merry character with perfectly moulded head. Feminine with strength in body without heaviness, her black coat gleaming with health.

GUNDOG GROUP

BEST GUNDOG

GRP 1 Tye’s Irisbel The Greatest Showman at Tymora JW (Spaniel, Field)

GRP 2 Weyman’s More Than Amazing Wanna Be A Gangster at Spuffing JW (Imp Bel) 

BEST GUNDOG PUPPY

GRP 1 Griffins Griffial Back to Black (Spaniel, Cocker)

GRP 2 Putjade Pit Stop at Riverscharm NAF (Retriever, Golden)

Handsome, masculine boy just right for his age. Strong bones and super feet. Shining, deep golden coat, dark eye and well-balanced planes of head. Moved effortlessly, happily and with confidence.

Janis Ward