Hadrian Basset Hound Club

                                              The Hadrian Basset Hound Club Championship Show

Thank you to the Hadrian Basset Hound Club Committee for inviting me to give my first set of tickets at their Annual Championship Show and to Lynn and Hannah for their professional expert Stewarding, helping to add to the pleasant atmosphere both inside the ring and ringside.

An added big thank you to all of the exhibitors for bringing me such a quality entry of top hounds. I was sincerely honoured. I mostly based my judging on quality and movement and am delighted to note and report, that every Basset had the ability to move in a way which meant they were ‘fit for purpose’ in this respect. I also learnt retrospectively that both of the top winners were on 2 CC’s and in gaining their 3rd were able to attend the Vet check and passed, resulting in both now holding the Championship status they both deserve (imo).

I saw no signs of any exaggeration or other serious problems in the breed and have given this feedback to the RKC via the required forms.

A nice way to begin the day was with the arrival of 2 quality Baby Puppies from the Diheath Team:-

BPD – 1. Melbourne & Murray’s Diheath Nutcracker Full of quality and confidence this charismatic 4 month old dark red puppy making the entrance we would all wish for at this young age. Excellent proportions, good outline, head planes and standing true on the ramp. Moved well with confidence around the ring / for and aft – its movement just very slightly better than 2 helping me today to make the difficult decision between 2 outstanding puppies. 2. Hirst’s Diheath Crackerjack For Kejana – 4 month old litter brother to 1 and another very promising puppy with outstanding qualities . Different in type a dark tri with a slightly deeper outline and without exaggeration giving plenty of daylight on the ramp. Beautifully presented in great condition with good head planes, pronounced occiput, inward folding ears and dark eyes shaped as required by the Breed Standard. A difficult decision on the day which I am sure as they develop will interchange.

MPD – 1.Millers’ Timpetoes Skyjo With Tayjinx (Imp Deu) A very promising male puppy with a lot to like. Well presented and in excellent condition he happily circled the ring - for & aft with confidence. Excellent outline with no exaggeration, masculine head, soft expression, correct planes and eye shape, strong neck. Smooth easy movement holding a level topline and high sabre held tail – one to watch.

PD. 1. Ellrich & Weston’s Rubens Grand Grades ( Cze Imp) A smart balanced and confident young male of excellent proportions, level topline and stunning on the move with powerful even drive. Well presented on the stack , breed typical head with good planes and prominent occiput, correct eye shape and colour, soft expression, strong neck and ribs well back. A super quality hound awarded Best Male Puppy, just preferred the front assembly of the Best Puppy Bitch in the Challenge.

JD. 1. Melbourne & Murray’s Diheath Cracker. A handsome quality Junior hound – sound on the move with excellent reach and drive holding his topline, confident and well handled. Balanced on the stack, good bone, length of upper arm and turn of stifle, ribs well back and no exaggeration. Typical head well domed with good proportions and planes , lozenge shaped eyes and the required length of ears softly turning inward all contributing to the soft expression of this fine young hound.

GD 1. Land’s Clanwillow The Jazz Singer An outstanding quality male with good bone and substance, well handled on the move with steady strong strides and a perfect stack. Excellent front assembly, would just prefer a slightly less open rear angle to give a more level topline and rear drive. Typical head, strong neck and ribs well back. Delighted they received the Special Beginners’ Award.

PGD – 1. Melbourne & Murray’s Diheath Chekhov – A splendid male with so much to like - full of character and breed type, completely fulfilling his early promise as a puppy. Striding around the ring with reach & drive – feet perfectly placed on the for & aft. Outstanding masculine head in profile and giving that unexpected soft expression typical of this breed - level topline, no exaggeration and a confident sabre tail. Delighted he has developed into a sturdy young male RCC / RBIS and pushed hard for the top award. 2. McNamara’s Burnvale Echoes & Shadows – Stunning Black Blanket – moving well with reach and drive, correct head with good planes, soft folding ears of correct length nice expression, strong neck, balanced,good tail set carried on the move.

LD. 1. Fekete’s Nagyhegyi Pajkos Taylors of Harrogate – Outstanding quality male, strong sound and well muscled, in beautiful condition and with excellent presentation, a dog with great bone and substance, a true stallion hound and one with much to admire. Good proportions plenty of daylight - slightly short in reach and would prefer a little more lay back of shoulder but doesn’t detract much from his movement in the ring with a particularly magnificent well developed rear giving that strong even drive, holding a level topline and a perfectly held sabre tail. 2.Cudlip’s Harvidene Festive Cheer – very small margins between 1 and 2 - an equally substantial quality male, excellent condition and moving with balanced and even reach and drive, sound in every respect, typical head with parallel lines, lozenge eyes and soft folding ears of the correct length – ribs well back and presented perfectly.

OD. 1. Bailey’s Longmynd Cedric Smartson by Bromp – Standing proud with a noble presence on the ramp a quality black blanket male. Great substance and outline, balanced, good lay back of shoulder and deep turn of stifle tight well padded feet. That unique mixture of a strong masculine head with prominent occiput the darkest of eyes yet the sweetest of expressions. Strong neck and ribs well back. Just as exciting on the move with strong balanced strides and perfect foot placement. Loved him as a puppy and pleased he has developed into a sound hound - thrilled to be able to award him Best Male and Best of Breed. 2. Freudenreich’s Lockolea Rocket Man – Outstanding r/w male good proportions level topline excellent condition well handled with reach & drive, perfect stack, confident and good natured. Typical head low set ears soft and curling, good bite and enough prosternum, ribs well back a sound hound in every respect.

SBs’ 1. Land’s Clanwillow the Jazz Singer as above.

PB. 1.Bailey’s Chique to Chique A Story With A Tail for Longmynd - Balanced on her initial stack in the ring and immediately eye-catching on the round with her showgirl style, she moved with strong reach and drive and such flair she gave the distinct impression we just might have something special in the ring; she didn’t disappoint. Beautifully presented on the ramp in top condition no exaggeration and plenty of daylight, good length of upper arm and turn of stifle, good tail set with sabre shape- I may add not once did she fail to carry it well. Soft feminine expression parallel head planes and enough pro sternum. However, it is her energetic yet graceful show- style that sets her apart from the rest; at one with her handler they give such a positive vibe as they move together around the ring for & aft. I was delighted to award her Best Puppy Bitch and Best Puppy in Show. An excellent example of the breed.

JB. 1. Unett’s Harvidene Breaking Dawn – Smart junior black tri bitch medium bone free easy movement with reach & drive, good foot placement on the for & aft holding her level top line on the stack and on the move. Sweet expression, good head planes & bite, ribs well back good turn of stifle best junior bitch – one to watch. 2. Fexete’s Nagyhegyi Pajkos Double Or Nothings At Houndria( Imp Hun) Super quality and elegant young female, clean lines, moving well with reach and drive. Top condition, well handled both on the round and on the ramp. No exaggeration plenty of daylight, breed typical head with good planes, strong neck – would prefer more level topline behind the withers – ribs well back and excellent turn of stifle.

PGB 1.Johnston’s Burnvale Echoes & Dreams – Feminine r/w bitch with so much to like, sound & balanced with excellent front assembly good length of upper arm, prominent sternum good well back ribs and deep turn of stifle, correct tail which sometimes she didn’t carry. Great bone and substance, beautiful feminine head melting expression just needs a little more confidence on the move. 2. Unett’s Harvidene Cuckoo In The Nest – Similar in type to JB 1 – with slightly more bone and in excellent condition – another good mover, confident, great outline, balanced, no exaggeration feminine with soft expression good head planes ears set well velvety in texture and turning inward, Foot placement excellent on the fore & aft well handled on the move and stacked well.

LB 1 Ellrich’s Mallrich Foxtrot – A quality black tri bitch style and presence immediately apparent as she entered the ring. Free easy movement on the round, feminine in every aspect, head held high strong neck level topline and well held sabre tail,perfect sidegate and foot placement on the fore & aft. Balanced on the stack with excellent front assembly and deep well muscled rear. A melting expression to complete the picture of a beautiful representation of the breed. RCC pushing hard for first place in the challenge. 2. Miller’s Mandala Z Sennej Krainy Of Tayjinx (imp pol) – A smart black blanket bitch, sound and moving true on the round, good foot placement, well presented and confident. Breed typical feminine head with soft expression, good natured and in excellent condition, neat prosternum ribs well back, would prefer a less open rear angle as topline slightly rises on the rear, nonetheless giving good reach and reasonable drive.

OB. 1. Cudlip’s Harvidene Moonstone – Eye catching black tri bitch showing so much type and style that she stood out for me as she entered the ring. Having loved her as a puppy and pleased to see her develop with full promise I was delighted to award her the bitch CC her third. Sound on the ramp, excellent outline and depth of body, feminine head with good planes, strong neck, well muscled, ribs well back and excellent turn of stifle. Moving around the ring with pace, using the efficient easy movement I love she ran her handler out on the third round!! 2. Hard’s Ch NI CH Mellow Molly Van Grunsven At Braemoray ( imp NLD ) A quality balanced bitch in immaculate condition, another I have admired from her puppy days. Strong sound movement with super reach & drive, her lovely length of body giving an elegant sense of flow as she moves around the ring. Always shown to her full advantage and often giving us a masterclass in how a basset can be shown. Perfect foot placement on the free stack closely focused on her handler with the sweetest of expressions. An outstanding example of the breed in every respect.

VB. Woferlow Mara Jade - Standing alone but nonetheless so well deserving of her Best Veteran award. Balanced and alert, moving with pace and reach & drive, good foot placement on the fore & aft. Well settled on the ramp, clean eyes, low set ears, good bite, neat prosternum and a gentle & sweet expression, still well muscled with deep turn of stifle. Proud to give this immaculate Veteran the top award she deserves.

Carolyn Coultas