Coventry Ladies Kennel Society

Coventry Ladies Kennel Society 1st January 2025

Cocker Spaniels

Thank you to Coventry Ladies Kennel Society for allowing me to judge Cocker Spaniels for the first time at their fantastic show that was well supported by the dog show fraternity kicking off the new dog show year! I was absolutely thrilled with my entry being the largest on the day and the quality of it was a sheer delight. As I think every judge should, I entered the ring without fear or favour, and I set out to judge the ‘whole dog’. I was looking for a Strong, Sturdy, Merry and Compact Cocker with a gentle intelligent expression that also kept its outline on the move. I certainly found that in my principal winners in abundance. Thank you to my stewards Vikki Grindley and June Redfern for making the ring run smoothly and some laughter along the way! My wholehearted thanks to the Cocker Spaniel folk for there support and allowing me the honour of appraising their dogs in the formative years of my Cocker Spaniel judging career and for taking my decisions sportingly, it was a great learning experience for me. Without exception, all dogs were beautifully presented, as a dog groomer you all have my utmost respect, on the first day of the year that is no easy feat!

Class 45 Puppy 7:9

What a challenging start to my assignment, both sexes lots of different colours and all at different stages. I have to say the size of the ring was frustrating at times when trying to assess movement. I’m looking forward to watching them all develop in the future and I’m sure they will all swap places.

1st Sewall & Hunt’s Lynwater Mad Hatter at Quattrozampe – 6-month-old sweet orange roan boy, stood out on the first go round straight away, so altogether on the move, he has great carriage. On closer inspection on the table, he has a lovely head developing with good proportions, correct dentition and a sweet expression coming from his dark eyes. Well made, good angles fore and aft. He has great well-rounded ribs giving plenty of heart room and great bone for his age. He already has good width of thigh and a lovely roundness to his rear, which he uses to advantage on the move. Loved his compact feet. I would think he has an exciting future, and I couldn’t wait to look up his breeding. BP I was delighted to hear he went gundog puppy group 3 well done!

2nd Ward’s Whinburn Walk The Moon to Wensum My notes say ‘gorgeous black boy’ who also took my eye on the first go round with lots to like. He moves very true when shown at the right speed. Lovely dark eyes, head proportions, chiselling and gentle expression. He has good shoulders and is well bodied with great ribs, bone, width of upper thigh and rounded quarters. I’ll watch his career with interest. Today he could not match the confidence and consistent carriage of the winner.

Class 46 Junior 4:6

Close up between first and second which turned out to be litter sisters!

1st Nicolas’s Nickarlyn Midnight Voodoo – A feminine 15-month-old black and white who is truly beautiful all through and as a breeder I really appreciate how hard this is to achieve. Gorgeous dark eyes that draw you in on a lovely head. Well bodied, great ribs and angles, happy and free on the move with correct carriage and a beautiful straight and silky coat at this point she was my one to beat. Surely one to watch for the future, I really liked her.

2nd Nicolas’s Nickarlyn Voodoo Magic Close up between these two lovely sisters! What a great litter this must have been. A touch longer cast than her sister but many of the same attributes apply, for me they are both so worthy.

Class 47 Post Graduate 9:14

1st Ryallcourt Twis Tan Shout – thrilled to get the opportunity to over this champion quality 14-month-old Tri boy. His outline is breathtaking, he is strong, sturdy and compact. Lovely head and eye, he has fantastic bone, body, muscle tone and width all through. On the move he just screams cocker spaniel from his true gait that covers the ground so well from his well-rounded quarters and his tail action completes the picture. RBOB

2nd Brotherwell’s Wissant Dear Darlin - This dark blue feminine lady was unlucky to meet 1st today as I really liked her, she has so much to like– She has a lovely head and lustrous dark eyes. Took my eye on the stack and did not disappoint on the move. She moves with style and cocker bustle, just my type, a real showgirl full of merry energy and exuberance. I just wanted a bit more upper thigh.

Class 48 Limit 6:8

1st West’s Sheigra Super Secret -I could not resist the true profile movement of this feminine golden lady. She has a melting expression, and her super construction means she could certainly go all day. She has lovely angles and ribs that are correct for her size. A delightful girl.

2nd Pearces Kenwad Black Grouse at Miska Handsome black with lots to like, lovely dark eyes, well bodied with great ribs, fabulous width to his upper thigh and a happy showman.

Class 49 Open 4:8 This was a very nice class with tough decisions to make.

1st West’s Sheigra Simply a Star JW Quality black feminine veteran lady who bellies her years, she powered around the ring with such look at me attitude. She is so stylish and has a strong neck into fine sloping shoulders and is full of cockery substance. My notes actually say, ‘in a class of her own’ For me she has a wonderful head and expression and the darkest of eyes, I found her mesmerising. It was a tough decision between this ultra feminine lady and the all-male youngster but today she just had the edge and I couldn’t deny her BOB . I was surprised to see she didn’t have a crown, what a joy she must be to own.

2nd Randall’s Plaiglen Sunshine with Fengrange -Gorgeous feminine blue, she is well bodied and has a lovely straight silky coat. She has a lovely feminine head with dark eyes, she has a good rear and true bustling movement, however it was her fabulous profile movement which just edged her over another quality girl in the last go round.

Jenny Nolan

(Jernito/Castlewytch)