Leeds City & District Canine Association

Leeds City & District Canine Association.

Thursday 23rd July 2026.

Bracco Italiano.

What a pleasure it was to judge this wonderful breed in an estate that seems quite befitting of a HPR breed, and on a cooler morning of a hot summer too, in an excellent size ring. We also benefitted from a generous annexe allowing everyone to always take shelter and shade. All dogs and handlers always appeared comfortable.  

Temperaments were excellent, my overall observations would be that some were mismatched in terms of depth and breadth of body to overall bone, giving an unbalanced view. Movement was excellent and sound, but not always typical – the head carriage was at times not as high as it should be, with that distinct action we seek, but coming and going was better than I anticipated. In terms of head, the standard calls for a slight stop and at times there was almost no stop, which ruined expressions, a little had too much dewlap on the neck on a few, pasterns varied greatly too. 

My thanks to the ringside for their sportsmanship and support of each other, how lovely to hear applause and congratulations in abundance. Thank also to my wonderful stewards Avis and Preston Hefferden who made for an efficient and pleasant morning. My principal winners were as follows; 

BEST OF BREED : 20 GROVES, Miss S & PIPES, Mr A Ch Bushwacker Don Juan JW

Dog CC : 20 GROVES, Miss S & PIPES, Mr A Ch Bushwacker Don Juan JW

Res Dog CC : 10 BOWLEY, Mrs L Sh Ch Gunsyn Ginspiration

Bitch CC : 25 JACKSON, Mrs N Polcevera's S Genova

Res Bitch CC : 23 HURST, Miss Nicola & HURST, Mrs Avril Sh Ch You Can Crown The Queen (imp Hun)

Best Puppy : 18 FORBES, Mrs Linda & SLADDEN, Mr Ian Silvestre Pop Soda Pop At Canemamans

Best Veteran : 4 BELL, Miss Amanda Tolriver Enzo At Owlspoint

Best Special Beginner : 6 BLOMFIELD, Ms Deborah Teverlarni Who's That Girl At Woodlandblue

SBD/B (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 6 BLOMFIELD, Ms Deborah Teverlarni Who's That Girl At Woodlandblue. 

A 22 month bitch not quite putting her best foot forward today, but of good size, correct bit and good dentition, correct longer pasterns, deep and broad in chest, would prefer a little more stop in her skull and a little more enthusiasm on the move, but she was a sweetie and they are quite a partnership. BSB. 

Class 2 PD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 18 FORBES, Mrs Linda & SLADDEN, Mr Ian Silvestre Pop Soda Pop At Canemamans

Showed very well for one so young, almost square as the standard requires, clean coming and going on the move and a lovely long easy pace, slight tuck up, in head his planes are correct, and he is well off for body for one so young, just right for age and maturing well. Won BP having had the edge of maturity over the bitch. 

Class 3 JD NO ENTRIES

Class 4 PGD (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 2 ATHERTON, Ms Sue Callaiscroft Fait Accompli At Brevathos                   

His squareness appeared and won him the class, correct proportions, good breadth and depth to chest, he has long sloping shoulders and this is balanced with his rear angulation, good ribs which go well back, correct bone, which was balanced with his body, lovely masculine expression, not overdone in anyway, a pleasure to judge.                                                            

2nd: 34 SLADDEN, Mr Ian Canemamans Two Timer JW

A two-year-old male, a touch longer in body than one but in no way incorrect, would prefer a touch more length of leg, low in hock which helped him move with great ease and style, his head had great appeal and he was well presented, lovely rapport with this handler. 

Class 5 LD (5 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 19 GROVES, Miss S & HAMLYN, Ms D & PIPES, Mr A Bushwacker Demetrio

My notes state I liked the ‘type size and bone’ thought he was almost textbook through the middle without being at all overdone, balanced angles fore and rear, typical on the move, just comes across as a little understated, much to like in head and skull too. More to come from this one I am sure, pushed hard in a very good class. 

2nd: 12 BOWLEY, Mrs L Gunsyn Superstitious

My winner at the outset, I would just like a little more of him all over, he has balance, and scores in head with a soft expression, fairly large oval eye, well set ears, and a powerful well rounded neck, unlucky to meet 1 as I really appreciated his type, he didn’t disappoint on the move at all either, covering the ground with ease and eagerness. 

Class 6 OD (8 Entries) Abs: 1

A super class and I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed accessing each exhibit. 

1st: 20 GROVES, Miss S & PIPES, Mr A Ch Bushwacker Don Juan JW

Struck me immediately on the stack, had the balance of bone and body just right, was all male but not overdone, of good size and substance and shown in super condition, he was immaculately presented, text book ‘almost squareness’ with correct proportions, balanced with that long thigh and well bent stifle, in head he was long and angular, with cheeks lean and a pronounced occiput and slight stop, his silhouette appealed and he didn’t disappoint at the move, demonstrating that long easy extended trot. DCC and BOB.

2nd: 10 BOWLEY, Mrs L Sh Ch Gunsyn Ginspiration

Unlucky to meet 1 today as he had to settle for the RDCC but I would have happily awarded him a CC. Really hard condition that many should envy, almost square, balanced, showed well, but lacked the freshness and eagerness of 1 today, deep in muzzle, large nost, well set ears, with a lovely eye. On the move he was clean, sound and typical. I am sure that there is more to come from this one! 

3rd: 32 SLADDEN, Mr Ian Sh Ch Valcor The Confessor At Canemamans JW ShCEx

Class 7 VD (3 Entries) Abs: 1

A tough call between these too, quite difference but both correct. 

1st: 4 BELL, Miss Amanda Tolriver Enzo At Owlspoint

A more moderate less rangy exhibit, balanced, super in body with the deep wide chest, ribs well back and slight tuck up, short in loin that some others lacked, in super hard condition – he had muscle in abundance and plenty to spare, enjoying his day but a little lacking in enthusiasm on the move. BV. 

2nd: 27 LONGMAN, Miss E Braccorion Quick Look Of Callaiscroft

Typicall Bracco a touch heavy for my personal preference, but type and size height appealed, lovely melting expression and eye set off my that correct spongey squishy twitching nose that gave way to a wonderful personality and disposition. A credit to his owner he was a pleasure to assess and oh so sound. 

Class 8 PB (5 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: 44 WESTWOOD, Mrs Lindsey Callaiscroft Aurora Star At Hopewood

Just had the edge over one on fluidity of movement, a lovely size and substance, with well bent stifles, well off for depth of rib and forechest for one so young, appealing kind pretty expression, with just enough stop and leanness to her skull. I thought she was lovely and just right for her age, one to watch. Unlucky to meet the mature male in the challenge, but they will swop places, I am sure. 

2nd: 33 SLADDEN, Mr Ian Braccorion's Eye Candy At Canemamans

Quality bitch, heavier than 1 but not in any way incorrect, lovely head and expression, good neck into well-made shoulders, square enough and short in loin, balanced to the fore and rear, clean coming and going, and moved typically. There is more to come from this one and time will be her friend. 

Class 9 JB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: 37 SLADDEN, Mr Ian Canemamans Final Blow

13-month-old bitch super depth t her chest for one so young, lovely coat of correct texture, correct proportions to her head and body and an appealing melting expression, correct undercarriage with slight tuck up, another one that’s full of early promise and with more to come. 

2nd: 13 BURKE, Mrs Vivien Oculi Venator D'ursus To Alcazar (Imp Hun)

More moderate and plainer throughout than some, she is petite and feminine and has a lovely, sweet nature, scores in construction to the fore with a long sloping shoulder and short upper arm, which she uses to full advantage on the move. Would like a little more of her all over, but she is young and it may well come, showed well. 

Class 10 PGB (2 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: 6 BLOMFIELD, Ms Deborah Teverlarni Who's That Girl At Woodlandblue

See also SB D/B. 

Class 11 LB (3 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: 14 CRITCHLEY, Mrs M J Bracciano Now Or Never JW

Headed this class by the smallest of margins, these two could change paces and would not have looked out of place in the open class. Lovely correct bone, balanced throughout with a forechest many lacked, her head was a joy to handle with the leanness, work, and proportions one anticipates, really held herself well on the move with the typical trot and head carriage I had been seeking. 

2nd: 8 SMITH, Ms L & SMITH, Miss S Teverlarni Lucky Star

A kind and considerate bitch scores in depth of body, a touch longer than 1 but no incorrect, good head and expression which was correct with a femineity which she had throughout, correct undercarriage, well bent stifles and was very sound on the move and clean coming and going, a pleasure to judge.  

Class 12 OB (10 Entries) Abs: 2

1st: 25 JACKSON, Mrs N Polcevera's S Genova

Not the biggest of bitches and I suspect she’s overlooked, but my goodness is she full of type and sound, this was a super class and she is class, I so enjoyed assessing her on closer inspection, the loveliest of head with good dentition, a kind eye, she is almost square on the stack and then on the move retains the classic outline but her movement is easy and effortless and she covers the ground so well. I was delighted to award her the CC, her second, I believe and hope that she doesn’t wait long for her crown. 

2nd: 23 HURST, Miss Nicola & HURST, Mrs Avril Sh Ch You Can Crown The Queen (imp Hun)

A bitch in her absolute prime, handled to the very best of advantage, one sensed she could work all day, and she was presented in superb condition, heavier than some but not incorrect, she scores in balance throughout, her head is a joy to handle too. She had to settle for the RCC today. Performed immaculately in a very strong class. 

Class 13 VB (3 Entries) Abs: 3

Judge: Jennifer Millard.