Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

Critique Sussex Spaniel Darlington 2026

A very pleasant day with this lovely breed and their equally lovely owners.

Puppy Dog (3,2)

1st: Eald Harvest Moon

A ten months old, this dog has grown up in the air and is too leggy for my preference. He is strong and masculine. Typical head with good stop and prominent eyebrows. Pleasing expression. Good neck, well set into shoulder. Well angulated both ends. Happy, wagging tail. Typical coat and colour with gold tinges. Difficult to assess in movement as he mostly paced, but moved quite well once he got going.

Limit Dog (3)

1st: Florry's Boy Big Phil JW

Strong and masculine dog of excellent type and quality. Combines being typey and low to the ground with being a really good mover. Strong masculine head with deep stop, excellent eyebrows. Healthy eyes, which could be darker. Excellent skull. Well set and carried ears. Strong neck, well set into shoulder. Balanced angulation both ends. Excellent strength of bone and body. He moved very well indeed from all angles and with a roll. Beautiful coat and colour with a lustrous gold to it. An excellent representative of his breed and sex. CC

2nd: Meggamooch Yesterday

Another attractive dog, well balanced and of quality. I would overall like a larger head to him, but it has typical features. Well set ears. Strong neck. Moderate angulation in front. Excellent topline. Well set and carried tail. Excellent coat with correct colour and gold tinge. Very well presented coat. He tended to pace in movement, but moved quite well from all angles when he got into his trot. 

3rd: 1092 Bjorksatras Corfitz At Deckham

Open Dog (5,1)

1st: Sh Ch Crumbledor Albus Dumbledor At Rydonmist Shc

A beautiful Sussex with lovely proportions and outline. He has a typical, masculine head with correct stop and prominent eyebrows. Eye lids just firm enough. Well set ears, well fringed and long. Excellent neck, so well set into a perfect topline. Well set tail. Balanced angulation both ends, not overdone. Lovely coat and coat with a gold tinge. He moved very well indeed from all angles and with some roll. A top dog, unlucky to meet the limit winner who scored in eyes. ResCC

2nd: Sh Ch Stormacre Tiny Dancer With Meggamooch JW

Another attractive dog, strong and masculine. Larger than the winner and I would not want any longer legs than this. Typical head and expression. Not quite the earset of the winner. Pleasing neck and front angulation. Firm topline, well set and carried tail. Excellent coat, plush. A bit inconsistent on the move, but when he concentrated, he moved well. Still no match for the winner. 

3rd: Bel Sh Ch / Lux Ch Norriss Northern Mafia

Veteran Bitch (1)

1st: Ned Bel Sh Ch / Lux Ch Int Sh Ch Swiss VdH Eald Village Temptress For Norriss 

At ten year old, this bitch is in excellent condition and very athletic. She has a feminine head with correct stop. Could do with some more eyebrows and looks a little worried in her expression even fi she is not really worried at all. Strong neck, well set. Moderate angulation both ends. Her topline firms up on the move and she is a very active and happy mover. Coat not at its very best at this time.

Puppy Bitch (2)

Two very attractive puppies, very similar.

1st: Rydonmist Honky Tonk Angel

Lovely puppy, very ell proportioned. She has a well shaped feminine head with an attractive expression, but could do with some more fill under her eyes. Well set and carried ears. Strong neck, well set. Balanced angulation both ends. Excellent topline and tailset. She moved soundly and efficiently from all angles. Excellent coat quality. Somewhat proud of her tail. Best Puppy

2nd: Rydonmist Rock A Hula Baby

Another very attractive puppy, much of the same comments apply to her, but she is slightly more up on legs. Lovely head and expression. Excellent ears. Good neck, well set. At this time a little high behind in her topline. Excellent coat quality. She moved very well indeed from the side, but can perfect her coming and going. 

Junior Bitch (2)

1st: Moel Wynion Of Stormacre JW

An unusually athletic bitch. She is slightly more up on legs than what I prefer, but compensates by really good length of back and especially by her immaculately sound movement. Very typical head with excellent proportions and profile. Excellent stop and eyebrows. Well set ears. Lovely neck, well set into shoulders. Moderately angulated both ends, but very balanced in her angulation. Excellent coat quality, with the gold now coming though. Firm topline, but her rather prominent hipbones tend to break the flow of lines. Dead sound both coming and going and very light on her feet and effortless form the side. Awaiting a roll with maturity.

2nd: Carnedd Gwenllian

Strong bitch, more down to ground. Somewhat exaggerated in head with plenty of skin and could have sounder eyes. Good ears. Strong neck, well set. Balanced angulation both ends. Tends to roach her topline a bit both standing and moving. Excellent coat quality. Fair mover. 

Limit Bitch (3)

1st: Meggamooch Whisperer

A very typey bitch with excellent proportions. Very typical head with prominent eyebrows, excellent profile. Sound eyes. Very well set and carried ears. Strong neck, well set. Pleasing front. Firm topline, especially in movement. Moderate angulation behind. Well set, short tail. Lovely coat as for structure and golden colour, but she does not need any more of it. One of the few who moved with a typical roll in her gait. ResCC

2nd: Willowswalk Miss Sunshine Over Belbroughton

A bitch who came into her own on the move, as she smarted and firmed up in movement. Good skull and expression. I would not want a longer muzzle. Long ears, well set. Gives away in topline when standing, but completely repairs this when moving. Balanced angulation both ends. Full body as for depth and length. Moved very easy on her feet and well co-ordinated. Could do with some more gold in her colour. 

3rd: Una Des Terres De Beaulieu Avec Norriss

Open Bitch (5)

1st: Sh Ch Gainsmill Lilly Luna Potter At Crumbledor Sh

Seven year old bitch of the type I prefer as for proportions and construction. One that is very hard to fault. She has a typical, feminine head with excellent healthy eyes. Strong neck, well set. Excellent forechest. Firm topline, low-set tail, well carried on the move. Well angulated behind. Deep and capacious body, Excellent coat quality with a distinct gold tinge to it. She moved quite typically of the breed with a roll and well balanced from the side. Excellent temperament. CC & BOB.

2nd: 1089 ALDERSON, Mrs S Meggamooch Winterfell

Very eye-catching bitch, quite different from the rest. I would not want any more skin in her head than this, but clear eyes and a plush muzzle. Excellent low-set ears. Very good neck, well set. Shorter in body than the rest, firming up in topline on the move. Could do with some more angulation behind. Brilliant coat and colour. Looked her best on the move and then certainly came alive. 

3rd: Sh Ch Stormacre She Believes In Me

Espen Engh (Norway), judge