Richmond Dog Show Society

Richmond Championship Dog Show

September 2026

Veteran Groups

It was my pleasure to judge all of the Veteran groups over the three days, taking over from Mrs Christina Bailey to whom I send my best wishes. My thanks to the hardworking committee led by Darren Clarke who worked indefatigably as a team to produce a great event. 

When the seven winners came into the big ring on the final day, I thought they looked super. All gave their all both standing and on the move. The decision was not easy but the beautiful Golden Cocker shone right from the start - such a showgirl, looked like a four-year-old and is a fabulous mover – she was BVIS. The ultra typical Boxer bitch, Celia Deal, still looked good after a busy and successful day, a super model of the breed who deserved RBVIS.

Terrier Group - Veteran

1st : 361 SATHERLEY, Mrs C & SATHERLEY, Mr C W Ch Silkcroft Never Miss A Beat - SOFT-COATED WHEATEN TERRIER bitch of just over 7 years of age, what a lovely example of the breed and not looking a veteran, typical head with good ears, moderate neck set into good shoulders, excellent body properties and well set on tail, coat of good texture and colour, looked super on the move, so sound out and back and carried her lovely outline covering the ground in profile;

2nd : 26 BISHOP, Mrs Paula Jean Ch Chaselyne About Thyme - BEDLINGTON TERRIER bitch of 7 years, beautiful typical head and correct eye, well-made front and rear with correct topline and underline, very balanced and unexaggerated, sound true mover, beautifully presented;

3rd : 431 MANITO, Mr David Catstaff's Used To - STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER – 7 years dog that is a very typical example of his breed, no exaggerations but muscular and strong, good head and excellent body with good couplings and well sprung ribs, wide front, good hindquarters from which he drove, shown in superb condition;

4th : 503 GRIFFITHS, Mrs J Ch & It Ch Violent Warrior Vertragus (imp Ita) - WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER – 10 years dog in hard condition, with a lovely head shape, typical eye, well boned, correct ribs, well ribbed back, level back, really good coat texture, sound on the move;

Gundog Group - Veteran

1st : 1286 HILLIER, Mr I & HILLIER, Mrs S Sh Ch Coedcernyw Calendar Girl JW - SPANIEL (COCKER) – this is a glorious golden bitch who looks nowhere near her 9 years, all Cocker in type and temperament displaying the merry Cocker attitude with constantly active tail, superb construction – big ribs, super bone and feet, strong in topline and superb hindquarters with well let down hocks, shown and presented in immaculate coat and condition, comes into her own on the move where she is still totally sound and maintains her beautiful outline in profile and really covers the ground;

2nd : 952 PHIPPS-BAKER, Mrs Sarah Elizabeth & BAKER, Mr I R Sh Ch Never Say Never Oasis Of Peace To Maddouse ( - RETRIEVER (FLAT COATED) – 7 years bitch who I see won the BCC in the breed, balanced and has the desire combination of power without lumber and raciness without weediness, well-made front, pleasing feet, correct rib, well-made hindquarters with well let down hocks, presented well and shown in hard condition, never stopped showing and moved well in all directions;

3rd : 1221 BOYLE, Miss Z Sh Ch Zarcrest Choc Ice - SPANIEL (AMERICAN COCKER) – I just loved this choc/white particolour, clipped off but this just emphasised her super shape, correct head, so well made in front and hindquarters, correct rib and is short in loin, has the correct topline which is maintained on the move, so sound, going with drive;

4th : 1419 ALDERSON, Mrs S Sh Ch Meggamooch Ulysses - SPANIEL (SUSSEX) male of 8 years, masculine head without being overdone, well boned legs, really well ribbed body, correct hindquarters, typical coat, moved soundly with the correct roll;

Toy Group - Veteran

1st : 1997 BOWLES-ROBINSON, Mrs C Ch Chacombe Marana Baldragon - KING CHARLES SPANIEL – Bitch who was so full of breed type but so fit, sound and extrovert in personality, typical head and eye, good forelegs, body shape and very well made hindquarters, came into her own on the move where she went with drive behind, so sound both ways and carried her outline in profile so well, going with joie de vivre, quite delightful;

2nd : 1982 QUINN, Mrs T & Mr A Ch Harlouville Uptown Girl JW - JAPANESE CHIN – lovely quality Bitch of nearly 8 years, liked her typical head, wide nostrils and good cushioning, wide in chest, square compact body, shown in beautiful condition and was excellent on the move where she looked super smart and elegant, in lovely coat;

3rd : 2111 SLOUGH, Mrs G Special Edition Of Persimoone (Imp) JW VW - POMERANIAN – 8 years dog, foxy head, dark eye, super feet, short back, good fore and hindquarters, moved freely and briskly, shown in lovely condition and super showman;

4th : 1854 CLARKE, Mrs Cathy M Int Ch Bel Ch NL Ch Lux Vet Ch Cotonkiss Heaven He - COTON DE TULÉAR – there is no mistaking his gender but he very much retains a look of quality, good to go over, correct coat, pleasing head and dark eyes, strongly muscled hindquarters and good feet, free sound mover;

Utility Group - Veteran

1st : 2829 SHORT, Mrs L Ch Malia Summer Memories - TIBETAN SPANIEL – what a beautifully pretty bitch this is, with a look of quality, such a pretty head, dark brown eyes, level back, good spring of rib, correct hare feet, looks totally balanced and in proportion, tail set high and carried excellently on the move, moves positively and freely and is such a showgirl, delightful!

2nd : 2458 ROSKELL, Miss C Ch Ken Go Shun'you Kensha - JAPANESE SHIBA INU – this male was shown in pinch-fit condition, liked his head shape and almond eye, level topline and , short loin and deep chest, correct coat and undercoat, has the characteristic quick action and gives his all;

3rd : 2712 FINCH, Ms Emma Ristine Starry Night AW(G) - SCHIPPERKE – this male of has very pleasing head and eye, liked his strong neck, good shoulders and correct topline, overall presents a lovely outline and balanced proportions, acquitted himself well on the move where he went with drive;

4th : 2661 MOORES, Miss R & SPEAKMAN, Miss S Onyx Demolition Through Ataraksia - POODLE (STANDARD) – this black bitch was shown and presented superbly and was in the most lovely condition, liked her size, dark almond eye and pleasing front construction, good coat texture and very good hindquarters, carried herself well in profile and really drove from behind; 

Hound Group - Veteran

1st : 3160 ROBERTS, Mr D Ch Swansford Gabrieldor - DACHSHUND (LONG-HAIRED) – this dog combines masculinity with quality, no hint of coarseness and not in the least exaggerated in any way, pleases in head and eye shape, excels in front assembly which is quite copybook, well ribbed back, really good hindquarters and super topline standing and on the move, he stands there with a look of regal arrogance and when he moves he is so true out and back, looking super in profile where he eats up the ground, maintaining his static outline;

2nd : 3594 PERKINS, Mrs C Ch Silkridge Just Joey – this 7 years Whippet dog looked half his age, shown in fabulous condition and really pushed hard, so good for overall make and shape, deep chest with plenty of heartroom, masculine but with a look of elegance and quality, superb hindquarters, correct oval feet, fine coat, super sound and free on the move where he still has a super outline, a great showman;

3rd : 3108 TAYLOR, Miss D G & TAYLOR, Mrs S Y Ch Deaconfield Kingcraft – tri Beagle male, lovely size, well-shaped head, good front assembly with good forehand, compact body, excellent topline and set on of stern, very good hindquarters with well let down hocks, goes with drive from behind and in profile shows reach in front, a merry hound;

4th : 2971 PASCOE, Mr And Mrs Chris And Mary Int Ch Lux Ch NL Ch UK Ch Bel Ch Popovs Aladdin At - AFGHAN HOUND – lovely dog whose outline immediately takes the eye, upstanding and masculine, lovely head and eye shape, proud head carriage, good front construction, superb hindquarters, loved his carriage on the move where he was so sound.

Pastoral Group – Veteran

1st : 4191 STAFFORD, Miss Clare Ch Rannerdale Showmaster JW - SHETLAND SHEEPDOG out of the top drawer, not looking his age and looks magnificent in stance as he totally typifies the breed, felt that he excelled in head and eye, so well made in front, good body and correct topline, well-made hindquarters, shown in superb condition and coat which was presented to the minute, impresses on the move in all directions, made his presence felt in the final line up;

2nd : 3753 ANGIER, Mrs K & ANGIER, Mr D & STACEY, Miss S Icon De Bruine Buck At Birkcross (Imp NLD) ShCEx - BELGIAN SHEPHERD DOG (GROENENDAEL) – what a lovely dog, has a look of power and elegance, so handsome and upstanding with a look of real quality, lovely head and eye, slightly arched neck, good front, square body, excellent hindquarters, super feet, breed typical brisk action where he is so sound, very handsome;

3rd : 4116 BRANDENBERG, Mrs Sandra & SMITH, Miss Sue Ch Taronakits It's Kwest JW – what a lovely feminine quality Samoyed, such a lovely head and typical expression, excellent showgirl, good forequarters, excellent hindquarters, well sprung ribs, correct feet, such a good mover, correct coat so well presented, excels on the move where she goes with real drive and keeps her static outline, great showgirl;

4th : 3990 HENSLEY, Mrs D Ch Desjiem Van De Herdesfarm (Imp) Deu - GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG upstanding, handsome and didn’t look a veteran, so alert and noble in his bearing, liked his head, totally unexaggerated, good forequarters and hindquarters, deep chest, good body, topline and croup, strong hocks, well handled and moved so well in all directions;

Working Group - Veteran

1st : 4336 CARTER, Miss & Miss S & S Ch Susancar Celia Deal - BOXER bitch who I see had won the CC in her breed, still a wonderful example of the breed, loved her head shape, so well made in front, excellent feet, up on the foreleg giving correct topline, short and square in body and superb hindquarters with well let down hocks, shown in absolutely mint condition, loved her personality, whenever I glanced, she looked super whether being stacked or standing naturally, so true behind going with real drive and good in front, super outline in profile;

2nd : 4655 REES, Mr Ellis Ch Winter Melody Triple Trouble At Amical (imp Pol) – most lovely SIBERIAN HUSKY – Bitch, out of the top drawer, who won the sponsored Champion stakes on the day and pushed so hard here, clearly functional in every way, so well made all through in forequarters and hindquarters, correct balance and length of leg, correct body, topline and hindquarters, comes into her own on the move where she bring alive the breed standard, could watch her go all day;

3rd : 4409 SAMWAYS, Mrs Alison & SAMWAYS, MR WILLIAM Swnydwr Wassap - DOBERMANN – this male has masculinity without a hint of coarseness or exaggeration, well-shaped head, super legs and feet, deep chest, correct body and rib, well angulated behind, super sound mover fore, aft and in profile, shown in mint condition, as hard as nail;

4th : 4277 ELLIS - PAYNE, Mrs Sue Ch Chayo Vasilisa - ALASKAN MALAMUTE – this lovely bitch has lots of quality, feminine but with strength, well made fore and aft, very good coat, superb hindquarters, excellent topline, super sound on the move, pushed hard;

David R Craig