Midlands & Northern Rhodesian Ridgeback Club

I would like to start by thanking the committee for the honour and privilege of inviting me to judge at your friendly and well-run show. Thank you also to the exhibitors for your entries and for giving me the opportunity to judge your beautiful hounds. I must apologise for the delay in completing my critiques, which was due to some testing personal circumstances. I am truly sorry. All dogs had good temperaments and correct bites. A few would have benefitted from a good wash, which I was a little surprised by. Throughout the day I was looking for a well-balanced, moderate Ridgeback, with good feet and sound muscling, and the majority of today’s entrants met this picture. The ring was a fabulous size for our breed, although I felt the floor surface, while not slippery, did affect the free movement of a few exhibits. The majority, however, were unaffected. Baby Puppy Dog (1,1) Baby Puppy Bitch (2,0) 1. Maidment’s Amahle Just Be Awesome Pretty wheaten 4½-month-old with a lovely dark eye and feminine expression. Nice length of ribbing and loin, with a pleasing topline for one so young. Clean through the throat, standing on tight feet, with good forechest and correct tail set. A happy little wriggler who enjoyed her day and moved out nicely for a baby. 2. Hall’s Nyasharose Let’s Dance Red wheaten 4-month-old with a lovely dark mask and round dark eye set in a pretty feminine head, complemented by well-set ears. Good bone and a correct ridge. Currently a little bum high, as expected at this age. Correct tail set and tight feet. Initially a little uncertain, but she soon settled and gave a pleasing account of herself. Minor Puppy Dog (4,0) 1. Farleigh’s Kinabula’s Milky Bar Kid Moderate-sized 6-month-old with a lovely dark round eye and well-placed ears. Clean neck flowing into a balanced outline, with good length of ribbing and loin and pleasing proportions throughout. Balanced angulation front and rear, close elbows and low hocks. His feet need to tighten a little, which should come with maturity. Moved beautifully for one so young and showed plenty of promise. 2. Hanson & Addersley’s Tambyssa’s The Starman to Ilizulu Light wheaten 7-month-old with a clean masculine head and dark eye. Good ears and clean neck, standing on good feet with balanced angulation and correct tail set. A little uncertain on the day and made his handler work hard, but there was much to like underneath. Puppy Dog (3,0) 1. Raymond’s Sofala Jack of All Trades Well up to size wheaten 10-month-old with a masculine head, good ear set and lovely dark round eye, giving a typical expression. Clean neck, tight elbows and good feet. Good depth and length through the body, with excellent length of ribbing and loin. Impressive ridge. Moved out freely, covering the ground with ease. Delighted to award him Best Puppy Dog and Reserve Best Puppy in Show. 2. Whitney’s Voorlooper Raadi Mosi Moderate-sized 9-month-old with a handsome head, dark eye and dark muzzle creating a lovely expression. Tight elbows and correct tail set. A pleasing youngster who moved well, but I preferred the topline and overall balance of first on the move today. Junior Dog (2,0) 1. Doughty’s Rubiltra Farshirovannaya Handsome wheaten male of 17 months and correct size. Good length of ribbing and close elbows, with balanced angulation throughout. Correct croup, tail set and well let down hocks completed the picture. Moved with good reach and drive, maintaining a balanced outline. 2. Spratling’s Diamondridge Dragonstone Smaller stamp 18-month-old with a masculine self-coloured head and a kind dark eye. Good topline, croup and tail set, with plenty of substance and standing on good feet. Nice depth of chest and forechest. I would prefer just a fraction more length of body. Moved well, maintaining his topline, but I preferred the overall balance of first today. Graduate Dog (1,0) 1. Pritchard Jones’ Mission Wild Wind of Luanda at Affrhoda (Imp Svk) Correct-sized 20-month-old red wheaten with a lovely masculine head, good depth of muzzle, dark round eye and correct ears. Deep chest with good length of ribbing. Correct croup and tail set, with well let down hocks. Once settled, he showed lovely effortless movement. Post Graduate Dog (5,1) 1. Maidment’s Amahle Wolfric The Wanderer Well-balanced wheaten male of correct size. Attractive masculine head with good ear set and kind expression. Tight elbows, good feet and excellent length of ribbing. Moderate balanced angulation and correct croup. Moved with purpose and covered the ground well. 2. Geeves’ Kiromol Knight of The Realm JW Lighter wheaten male. I preferred the head of first today, but there is much to admire here. Good ears and dark eye, with plenty of bone, excellent tight feet and correct pasterns. Well let down hocks with good width to first and second thigh. Moved steadily, but lacked just a little of the reach shown by first. Limit Dog (9,3) 1. Jeffery’s Negasi Thorin at Rexgrove Moderate-sized wheaten male presented in excellent condition. Masculine, clean head with good depth of muzzle, kind dark eye and lovely ears. Good reach of neck leading into a well-balanced outline. Strong topline, held on the move, with nice moderate angulation, correct croup and tail set, excellent feet and well let down hocks. Moved steadily and accurately. A quality male deserving of Reserve Best Dog. 2. Hicks’ Nuthouse Mastermind Masculine liver nose male with good depth of muzzle. Would prefer a slightly larger eye. Correctly set ears, tight elbows and good feet. Good depth of chest and excellent length of ribbing and loin. Balanced moderate angulation throughout and an excellent ridge. Another good mover. Pleased to award him Best Liver Nose in Show. Open Dog (16,4) 1. Murray’s Kinabula’s Bonjangles of Dellared Very handsome masculine wheaten male with good depth of muzzle. Lovely kind expression, enhanced by a dark round eye and well-set ears. Excellent reach of neck, good forechest and depth of chest. Good length of ribbing and loin, with a strong level topline maintained on the move. Correct croup and tail set, with well-developed first and second thigh and nicely let down hocks. Presented in fabulous fit condition and powered around the ring with effortless reach and drive. Delighted to award him Best in Show. 2. Shaw’s Negasi Radagast JW ShChEx OSW Lovely moderate wheaten male with a handsome clean head and intelligent dark eye. Good bone and excellent feet. Good length of ribbing, with balanced moderate angulation throughout. Correct croup and tail set, with well let down hocks. Presented in hard fit condition and moved with reach and drive. Veteran Dog (3,0) 1. Whiteside’s Jimanns The Doctor What a powerhouse this 9-year-old male is. Masculine head with lovely dark eye and correct ears. Excellent substance, with good forechest, depth of chest and length of ribbing. Strong level topline held well on the move. Balanced angulation throughout, with well let down hocks, tight feet and correct pasterns. Moved with power, purpose and impressive drive. A worthy winner of Reserve Best Veteran in Show. 2. Raymond’s Sofala Lightening Strike Another lovely veteran boy, slightly taller in outline than first. Handsome clean head with good reach of neck, free from throatiness. Good bone and moderate balanced angulation, with correct croup, tail set and well let down hocks. Moved well, but today lacked the drive and power shown by first. Special Veteran Dog (1,0) 1. Little’s Ch Sofala Joe The Lion Handsome 10-year-old with good depth of muzzle, lovely dark eye and correct ear set. Kind, typical expression. Good bone and excellent length of ribbing. Moderate balanced angulation, with well let down hocks, correct croup and tail set. Would prefer a slightly longer ridge. Moved beautifully for his handler and was a pleasure to watch. Minor Puppy Bitch (4,1) 1. Adderley’s Tambyssa’s The Temptress Very attractive light wheaten 7-month-old of pleasing type. Lovely round dark eye and good ears giving a pleasing expression. Good reach of neck flowing into a level topline, which she held on the move. Tight elbows, good feet and good length of ribbing, with correct pasterns and good bone. Correct croup and tail set completed a balanced outline. Moved out well. 2. Farleigh’s Kinabula’s I Will If You Will Very attractive 6-month-old wheaten bitch with an attractive head and lovely dark round eye. Good balanced angulation, correct pasterns and good feet. A little less settled on the move today and made her handler work, but there was much to like. Puppy Bitch (7,1) 1. Akers’ Carlincox Laters Taters 9-month-old wheaten bitch. What a lovely girl. Feminine head with good depth of muzzle and lovely reach of neck. Good forechest and depth of chest, with good bone and great feet. Good topline, maintained on the move, with correct croup and tail set and well let down hocks. Beautifully handled and moved with purpose. Delighted to award Best Puppy Bitch and Best Puppy in Show. 2. Barker’s Delianza She’s Timeless 9-month-old red wheaten bitch of a larger stamp than first. Nice dark eye and good ears, although I preferred the slightly more feminine head of first. Good overall balance and substance, with good length of ribbing and loin. Correct topline, croup and tail set, with well let down hocks. Another who worked well for her handler and covered the ring well. Junior Bitch (1,0) 1. Nevison’s Bikquest Envy Blazingstar JW 15-month-old red wheaten bitch of moderate size. Feminine head with good ear set, although I would prefer a little more definition to the stop. Shown in good fit condition. Correct pasterns and good feet, with good first and second thigh. Moved with precision. Novice Bitch (6,0) 1. Nigro, Rice & Rice’s Nuthouse Shall We Dance Correct-sized wheaten bitch with a lovely dark eye and well-set ears. Good depth of muzzle and good reach of neck, leading into a level topline held on the move. Correct croup and tail set. Good depth of chest and length of ribbing, with well let down hocks completing the picture. Moved with drive. 2. Thompson’s Sonnypride Honeycombe Another nice, well-balanced wheaten bitch. Good round eye and well-set ears. Good forechest and depth of chest, with good length of ribbing and a level topline. Correct feet and pasterns, well let down hocks and nice balanced angulation. Presented in lovely condition. Close to first, but a little less settled in her movement today. Graduate Bitch (9,2) 1. Mackfall, Mackfall & Mcintosh’s Africaner Zavanna Breeze JW Elegant, larger red wheaten bitch with an attractive feminine head and lovely round eye. Lovely reach of neck, good feet and correct pasterns. Level topline maintained on the move, with correct croup and tail set. Well handled and moved freely with drive. 2. Farleigh & McDonnell’s Droimdara Kiss The Blarneystone for Kinabula (IKC) Moderate and well-balanced bitch with an attractive head, lovely dark round eyes and well-set ears. Good balanced angulation, with good depth of chest, good feet and correct pasterns. Good length of ribbing and loin, with well let down hocks. Moved with precision, but with slightly less drive than first. Post Graduate Bitch (3,1) 1. Dickson’s Globalridge Eternal Flame Moderate, balanced wheaten bitch with a lovely dark eye and well-set ears. Clean neck with good reach. Good bone, depth of chest, feet and correct pasterns. Good topline held on the move, with a rise over the loin leading to correct croup and tail set. Well let down hocks. Moved with precision. 2. Tanner & Baldwin’s Barfordridge Magda Slightly taller, rangier wheaten bitch. Beautiful expressive head, enhanced by dark eyeliner and muzzle. Good ears set on well, with a clean neck and good reach. Good ribbing, croup and tail set. Level topline held on the move. Would prefer slightly more depth of chest. Moved out well for her handler. Limit Bitch (16,5) 1. Whiteside’s Jimanns Tavullia Attractive self-coloured moderate wheaten bitch. Kind expression enhanced by lovely ears. Good reach of neck. Balanced angulation, tight elbows, correct pasterns and correct tail set. Shown in good fit condition. Moved out well with good reach and drive. 2. Larkin’s Asharaa’s Hey There Georgy Girl JW Moderate red wheaten bitch with a lovely feminine head, good depth of muzzle, lovely dark round eye and well-set ears. Good bone, level topline and good length of ribbing and loin. Correct croup and tail set, with balanced angulation and well let down hocks. Beautifully handled, but moved with less drive than first. Open Bitch (5,3) 1. Ritchie’s Jimanns Hell On Heels ShCEx Powerful wheaten bitch that oozes strength. Shown in fabulous condition. Attractive head with dark eye and good ears. Lovely reach of neck, good forechest and depth of chest. Good length of ribbing and loin, with a level topline held on the move. Tight elbows, correct pasterns and good feet. Correct croup and tail set, with well let down hocks and strong first and second thigh. Moved with power and drive. Lovely female, well deserving of her Reserve Best Bitch. 2. Jolly’s Negasi Elberith for Clanbruachan JW Another lovely moderate wheaten bitch. Feminine, expressive head with a lovely dark, round eye and good depth of muzzle. Good reach of neck and good bone. Good depth of chest. Level topline leading to correct croup and tail set. Good feet and well let down hocks. Moved with precision but slightly less drive than 1st place. Veteran Bitch (6,1) 1. Farleigh’s Ch Kinabula’s Gucci Bloom Stunning 7½-year-old bitch shown in fabulous fit condition. Attractive head with good depth of muzzle, lovely dark round eye and well-set ears. Good reach of neck leading into a level topline, maintained on the move and flowing into a correct croup and tail set. Good forechest and depth of chest, great feet and correct pasterns. Her underline only just showed evidence of her recent maternal duties. Good length of ribbing and loin, with balanced moderate angulation and well let down hocks. On the move she flowed around the ring with precision and drive. Worthy winner of Best Bitch, Reserve Best in Show and Best Veteran in Show. 2. Hemstock, Sanjesh, Hemstock & Ashman’s Patemeliann Wicked Lady Jolihem 8-year-old red wheaten bitch, also shown in great condition. Lovely head with dark round eye, good ears and good depth of muzzle. Good reach of neck and good bone. Correct feet and pasterns, with correct balanced angulation and good length