Welsh Kennel Club

Critique English Setters, Welsh Kennel Club 2026

Veteran Dog (1)

1ST Sh Ch Dyrham Desert Storm (Mr K & Mrs J Bishop)

At seven years old, this is a very fit dog in excellent condition. He is strong, tall and masculine. Well balanced attractive head with prominent occiput, correct stop, well chiselled. Well set and carried ears. Long and strong neck, well set. Moderately angulated in front. Strong topline, well proportioned. Well set tail. Moderate angulation behind. Lovely temperament. Friendly expression. In a good coat. He moved parallel coming and going and with a pleasing balance form the side. Best Veteran

Minor Puppy Dog (1)

1ST Alolfrana Xclusive Party (Mrs L Adam)

A very attractive orange belton puppy. Well developed for his eight months old. He has a head with very good length to it, correct stop, well chiselled, and a very pleasing lip line. Moderate neck, well set. Excellent return of upper arm. Strong and straight topline, well set tail. Well angulated behind. Excellent coat quality. Moved effortlessly around the ring with active use of his tail. Pleasing coming and going. I liked him a lot. Best Puppy

Puppy Dog (1)

1ST Bournehouse Dream Away (Mrs P D A Williams)

At eleven months old, this is a masculine dog. He has a typical prominent occiput, plenty of stop. Long enough in muzzle. Friendly expression. Rather upright in shoulder, making his neck-set sharper than ideal. Firm topline, well balanced. Pleasing bone and feet. Deep chest. Falls off too more than ideal over the croup. Well angulated in stifle. He extended better from the side than his croup would suggest. Still needs to settle in his front movement. Lovely coat. 

Junior Dog (3)

1ST Summerseve Cezanne JW (Mrs L A Lawson)

A well balanced dark tricolour dog. Masculine and all over moderate. Strong skull, I do not want it any stronger. Long and strong neck, well set. Moderatey angulated both ends. Firm topline, well coupled. Quite good tailset. Very good coat quality, Deep and capacious chest. A no nonsense sound mover when he put his mind to it and not jumping around.  

2ND Bondgate Midnight Drama (Mrs J Stephenson)

An eye-catching dog. He is tall and at this time rather gangly. Very happy disposition. Long head, could do with some more stop. Long neck, moderately angulated in his shoulder. Pleasing body volume. Appearing somewhat long in his couplings. Well set tail. Moderate, but balanced angulation behind. Very pleasing coat. He moved light on his feet and used his tail actively, but needs to settle both ends.

3RD Samelen Enchanto at Moorbrook (Mr D & Mrs J Howarth)

Yearling Dog (2)

1ST Summerseve Cezanne JW (Mrs L A Lawson)

2ND Kanietter Goldmandine of Tattay JW (Miss T A Taylor)

A dog of quality, but not the construction I am looking for. Well chiselled head, moderately long. well set tail. Moderate neck. Upright in shoulder and upper arm. Strong topline, a bit sloping. Short croup and low set tail. Very moderately angulated behind. Lovely coat and colour. He has a lovely temperament. Short stepping on the move.

Novice Dog (1)

1ST Alolfrana Xclusive Party (Mrs L Adams)

Graduate Dog (2)

1ST Oshowa Dream Lover (Mr P & Miss L Arkley)

A strong and masculine dog, well angulated, but somewhat longer in his coupling that what I prefer. Strong skull, could do with some more refinement. Pincer bite. Strong neck, quite well set. Good return of upper arm. Firm topline. Deep and capacious body. Well set tail, balanced angulation behind. In a rich coat, dark blue belton. Sound, but could be lighter on his feet. He moved with good extension both ends, but not perfect as seen from behind. 

2ND Goldbirch Northern Jazz JW (Mrs B Szal)

A dog with quality, well handled. He has a head with pleasing proportions and well chiselled, but could do with less lips. Moderate neck. I prefer more angulation of shoulder and upper arm. Quite good topline, but croup should be longer. Excellent coat quality and colour. He tended to side-track on the move.

Post Graduate Dog (1)

1ST Tattersett Blue Lord JW (Mr P & Miss L Arkley)

Quite well balanced dog. His head could do with some more chiselling and quality, but proportion-wise it is OK. Moderate neck, quite well set into a moderately angulated front. Firm topline, short and strong loin with slight arch. Well set tail. Moderately angulated behind. Deep and capacious chest. In a good coat, dark blue belton. He moved reasonably well from the side, narrow behind, could do with some more pride and carriage on the move.

Limit Dog (2)

1ST Ravensett Cote D'azur JW (Mrs K A Ciaputa) 

Orange belton dog with a pleasing overall balance, if not glamorous. His head could do with some more chiselling. Moderate neck and front angulation. Deep and capacious chest. Firm topline. Rather short coup and I would prefer some more angulation behind. In a reasonable coat. He moved quite well from the side with an active tail, but toed in in front.

2ND Kanietter Sarka at Hainfield (Mrs T & Mr D Thomas)

Blue belton dog. Masculine head, I would prefer more fill under his eyes. Quite pleasing neck with a nape. Moderate angulation in front. Feet could be tighter. Firm topline. Short croup, resulting in a low tailset and his tail is carried straight up on the move. Very moderately angulated behind. He moved with plenty of energy, but side-tracking and the tail spoiled the balance.

Open Dog (6)

It was interesting, but also challenging to judge this class of mostly champions. Not having seen any of them before, perhaps made my decision easier.

1ST 4207 - Cze/int/sk Ch Penkivil That´s Classified (Mr J Melicher)

Quite a spectacular dog. He looked quite different from all the others, but seeking to apply the breed standard as written, I think he fits its very well. Moderately sized, he is still decidedly masculine. He has a long and well chiselled head with plenty of quality and a very friendly expression. Pleasing rise of neck. Well angulated in front under the coat. Firm topline, well coupled, excellent croup, well set tail and ideally balanced angulation of stifle and hock without excess. This rear assembly was a rarity indeed in todays entry, and so was excellent movement. Beautiful coat of excellent structure, he does not need any more of it. Moved very well from all angles and especially from the side and from behind, at all times retaining his balance. Athletic and happy. CC & BOB.

2ND Sh Ch Mariglen Just George (Mrs B K Seaman)

Elegant quality dog, well up on legs. He has a masculine head with pleasing head planes and a prominent occiput. Not the expression of the winner. Long neck, well set into a firm topline. Moderate angulation in front, balancing his angulation behind. In a very good coat. Still not quite fully bodied. He moved soundly from all angles, keeping his attractive balance and outline. resCC

3RD Sh Ch Ravensett Just An Illusion with Alolfrana JW (Ms Rd & Mr G & Mrs S Danks & Littlechild & Littlechild)

Minor Puppy Bitch (2,1)

1ST Alolfrana All Night Party (Ms R & Mr A Danks & Swannell)

Feminine bitch, needs to grow up some more on her legs with maturity. She has a head with length, but needs more stop. Very good occiput. Moderate neck, well set. Plenty of forechest and layback of upper arm. Firm topline standing. Well angulated behind. Still carries a bit of puppy fat and tends to roll when moving and needs to stabilize as seen from behind. Plenty of coat. 

Puppy Bitch (4)

1ST Frennisett Fly Me to The Moon (Mrs S E Lowe)

At ten months old, this is a strong bitch. She could do with less width of skull. Long neck, well set. Excellent return of upper arm. Firm topline with a strong loin. Reasonable tailset. Well angulated behind. She scored in movement as she extended very well both ends and was quite sound coming and going. Very good coat and blue belton colour.

2ND Walshaw Takes to The Stage (Mrs C J Tucke)

Feminine bitch with pleasing proportions. Attractive head and expression. Excellent occiput. Good rise of neck, quite well set. Moderately angulated in front. Firm topline. Short croup falling away more than I prefer. Very moderately angulated behind. Still moved soundly coming and going and extended reasonably well from the side as well. Not much between these two even if they are quite different.

3RD Alolfrana All Night Party (Ms R & Mr A Danks & Swannell)

Junior Bitch (2)

1ST Samelen Ethereal Legacy (Ms J & Mr A Atyeo & Taylor)

A bitch that I liked a lot. She is feminine, of moderately sized and well balanced. TTypical head, enough stop, well marked occiput. Pleasing neck, well set into shoulder. Moderate angulation both ends, but balanced. Strong topline, well proportioned. Quite good tailset. She moved parallel and sound coming and going and well balanced from the side, keeping her shape and outline.

2ND Bushbane Celtic Envoy (Mr J B & Mrs S E Rumble)

Stronger bitch, still feminine. She is attractive standing still. Typical head and expression. Long neck. Could do with some more layback of upper arm. Firm topline, deep and capacious body. Quite well angulated behind. Very enthusiastic and happy, she tends to curl up in movement and then did not extend as well as I would have liked to. Needs to stabilize coming and going. Beautiful coat and colour and fabulous temperament

Yearling Bitch (1)

1ST Appassionata Bloom for You (Mr J Melicher)

Very eye-catching bitch of obvious quality, quite a glamour girl. She is very feminine. Could o with slightly more length of leg. Quality head with length, excellent stop and a lovely profile. Pleasing neck, well set. Balanced angulation in front. Firm topline. Well set tail. I would not want any more angulation behind than this, bordering on over angulated. Lovely coat of excellent structure. She moved light on her feet and used her tail actively on the move. Sound coming and going too. resCC

Novice Bitch (2)

1ST Frennisett Fly Me to The Moon (Mrs S E Lowe)

2ND Walshaw Star Struck (Ms H J Wilkinson-Sargeant)

Standing this bitch is easy on the eye as she has quality, a long and well set neck. Feminine head with enough length, good stop and occiput. Moderate return of upper arm. Firm topline. Falls away too much over her short croup. Pleasing coat. She does not really get anywhere in movement even if she is enthusiastic and happy and was side-tracking. Tending to curl up and her croup becomes even more noticeable. 

Graduate Bitch (2)

1ST Goldbirch Northern Disco at Skippit JW (Mr B & Mrs J Williams)

A bitch of quality, she is easy on the eye, but more so standing than moving. Quality head with lovely proportions. Pleasing neck, could be even smoother set. Moderate angulation both ends. Strong topline. Deep and capacious chest. Falling off a bit more over the croup than ideal and the tail is somewhat low set. Lovely coat. Moved medium well, tending to side-track and could carry herself with more pride on the move

2ND Dyrham Girl On Fire (Miss K Bayliss)

Feminine bitch, not quite the same overall quality as the winner, certainly in head. Medium neck, could be smoother set. Moderate angulation in front. Front legs could be straighter and have more distance between them. Firm topline, quite good tailset. Well angulated behind. She moved Ok from the side and from behind, needs to stabilize in front, but could also carry herself with more pride.

Post Graduate Bitch (2,1)

1ST Ravensett Cappuccino with Samelen (Ms J & Mr A Atyeo & Taylor)

A well constructed bitch. She has a classical, feminine head with good chiselling. Pleasing expression from her medium dark eyes. Well set neck. Excellent return of upper arm. Very good forechest. Firm topline. Tends to fall off somewhat more over the crop than what I prefer, but not dramatically so. Very moderately angulated behind. She moved soundly coming and going, if somewhat side-tracking, but again not dramatically. Sound mover from the side. 

Limit Bitch (5,1)

1ST Wansleydale Sky Angel at Felsett (Mrs C A Felton Blyth)

A bitch combining feminine elegance with substance. She has a long head with prominent occiput, a little lethargic in her expression, but there is nothing lethargic about her on the move. Medium long neck, well set into shoulder. Strong and functional front. Firm topline. Reasonable croup, could do with more angulation in stifle. Lovely coat. She is a very athletic mover, carrying her head and tail well from the side, excellent coming toward me. Could be more precise going away. 

2ND Ravensett Allegra with Alolfrana (Ms Rd & Mr G & Mrs S Danks & Littlechild & Littlechild)

Elegant, feminine bitch of quality. Attractive head. Long neck. Quite good forechest. Strong topline. Her tailset is not her fortune and this is also evident on the move. Balanced angulation behind. Very pleasing coat quality. Moved quite well coming and going, quite light on her feet from the side, but not the silhouette of the winner. 

3RD Mariglen Wave Dancer for Bondgate JW (Mrs J Stephenson)

Open Bitch (4)

Sadly a bitch who instantly caught my eye when standing, decided to limp and was thus excused by handler. 

1ST Sh Ch Mariglen Villanelle (Mrs B K Seaman)

A big, but still feminine bitch, scoring very heavily in construction and movement. She has a classical head with good length and prominent occiput, well set and carried ears. Elegant neck, very well set. Moderately, angulated both ends, but it matches up very well indeed. Firm topline with some arch over her loin. Well set tail. A very dynamic mover, so well balanced, smooth and fluid on the move. Very good coming and going as well. She could at times make some more active use of her tail, but when she gets going she does that as well. I liked her a lot. CC

2ND Cze/int Ch Achat Expensive Stone (Mr J Melicher)

Very eye-catching, feminine bitch. Just enough length of leg. Head with pleasing length, could do with some more stop. Very good neck into shoulder. Well angulated in front. Firm topline, I would like a higher tailset which becomes more obvious on the move. Well angulated behind. In a lovely coat of excellent quality. She moved very well, especially from the side and definitely made an impression.

3RD Severnsett Dark Angel (Mr N A & Mrs P M Darley)

Espen Engh (Norway), judge