Paignton & District Fanciers' Association

Paignton & District Fanciers Association Championship Show 2026 - Boxers critiques

It was a great honour to judge and I would like to thank the committee for the kind invitation. My sincere thanks also go to my stewards, who kept everything running smoothly in the ring and ensured the day progressed efficiently.

Whilst the overall quality was pleasing, there were a few exhibits carrying excessively heavy skin, with pronounced lips, dewlap and excessive wrinkling on the head and beneath the eyes. Some heads appeared pleasing at first glance, but hands on examination revealed that excessive, fleshy skin was masking the true skull structure and creating a misleading impression of its shape. Given the emphasis the Boxer breed standard places on the head, these are points that must be borne in mind. The head is such a defining feature of our breed, and its quality should never be compromised by excess.

The mouth is equally important to the overall construction and correct breed type of the Boxer. I was fortunate to see some excellent mouths today, including those of a couple of youngsters that had some of the most superb mouths I have encountered for quite some time. This was particularly encouraging and something I hope breeders will continue to prioritise.

Movement was another area where some exhibits could have benefited from being moved at a slightly faster pace. Moving too slowly can detract from an otherwise sound movement profile, sometimes causing the topline to lose its firmness and the loin to flex from side to side.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day and was absolutely delighted with my final lineup of principal winners, all of whom I considered to be of outstanding quality. I was particularly pleased to see each of my principal winners recognised and placed in their respective groups.

Class 41 - Minor Puppy Dog (1)

1st: PYNEGAR Berwynfa Pole Position - 8-month-old b/w lad with a good topline and well-set tail. Nice ear set, evident stop, dark eye, and a lovely square underjaw. Strong withers and good front angulation. Tight, neat cat feet. Typical movement for a youngster, with plenty of promise as he matures.

Class 42 - Puppy Dog (3)

1st: SAAFAN Geovanic Boxa Punch - 10.5 mo b/w lad with a lot to like. Smart in profile, strong fore chest, good underline. Nice compact feet. Decent head with good square bite. Good free-flowing movement from all angles. BPD

2nd: BROWN & HUTCHINGS Winuwuk Ain’t No Sunshine - 11mo r/w male, still very raw in head but one of the most perfect, tight, square mouths of the day with perfect dentition. Smart in profile with good turn of stifle. Good, steady movement.

3rd: PYNEGAR Berwynfa Racing Lines 

Class 43 - Junior Dog (2, 1 absentee)

1st: MAIR Lorrosa Dizzy Rascal at Glenauld JW - a very smart b/w male. Powerful drive on the move. Good head with nicely padded muzzle, dark eye, and square bite. A little heavy in lip. Good firm top line and bang-on tail set. Nice fore chest and depth of chest. Strong in rear quarters. 

Class 44 - Yearling Dog (2)

1st: PAYNE IrCH Willow Eye Of The Tiger Jun Ch - 20 mo r/w smart lad with an excellent profile. Lovely head with dark, inviting eyes and a well-defined stop. Excellent bite. Elegant neck flowing smoothly into well-placed withers. Good depth of forechest with pleasing angulation. Excellent, free-flowing movement. RDCC & RBD

2nd: BROOKS Jimi Hendrix at Jinnybrux - 15 Mo r/w boy. Head not quite as strong as No. 1, but still with plenty to like. Good, strong top line, which he held well on the move. Nice front angulation with good bone. Excellent square bite with superb dentition. Good, ground-covering movement.

. 

Class 45 - Post Graduate (2, 1 absentee)

1st: ROBINSON Legend Of Thor at Robinsteck JW - b/w male, very strong rear angulation, good firm condition. Good movement with nice reach. Nice underline and depth of chest. Good square bite and dark eye.  

Class 46 - Limit Dog (3, 1 absentee)

1st: BROUGH & BROUGH Limubox Scotch Gold JW - 2yo R/W lad with an excellent outline. Excellent head of good proportions, clean with a nice rise of skull and well-defined stop. Dark, inviting eyes and a good, square, slightly undershot bite with excellent dentition. Elegant, strong neck into well-placed withers. Firm topline, which he held well on the move. Lovely, strong forechest with good depth of brisket and a good underline. Strong, well-developed hindquarters with good turn of stifle. Excellent ground-covering movement, free-flowing and effortless. Presented in top condition. I felt honoured to award him the DCC and BOB, and congratulations on your well-deserved Group shortlist.  

2nd: LORD Ygogarth Space Oddity - solid brindle 3yo male. Nice length of neck and good tail set. Good steady movement and handled well. 

Class 47 - Open Dog (2)

1st: MAIR CH Macbarra Kickin Up A Storm at Glenauld JW - 4yo b/w male with a beautiful outline and excellent overall construction. Well boned and substantial, with a nicely proportioned head, super topline and excellent tail set. Good rear quarters with good turn of stifle. Moved freely with good, flowing movement.

.

2nd: CARTER CH Farvalley Major Luke at Susancar - Another very smart b/w lad, unfortunately not quite in tune with his handler today. He has a lovely clean head, a super mouth with good dentition, and an elegant neck flowing into well placed withers. He has just enough forechest, nice tight pasterns, and moved well. 

Class 48 - Veteran Dog (0)

Class 49 - Minor Puppy Bitch (1)

1st: PYNEGAR Berwynfa Toot De Suite - 8mo b/w bitch, very smart in profile. Lovely dark eye with a well-defined stop and a good square bite. Nice forechest and good spring of rib. Good topline, which she maintained well on the move. Elegant neck flowing into strong withers.

Class 50 - Puppy Bitch (2)

1st: BROWN & HUTCHINGS Winuwuk Seasons In The Sun - 11Mo r/w bitch with a very elegant outline. She has an excellent square bite with perfect dentition. Nice head with a dark eye, well defined stop and well padded muzzle. Good depth of chest with developing forechest. Firm topline and elegant underline. An excellent mover, covering the ground with ease and good, free-flowing strides. BPB & BPIB

2nd: DAVIES Winuwuk Pocketful Of Sun at Elanbar - another elegant r/w bitch. Good front angulation and strong in pastern. Gently sloped topline. Good rear angulation. Clean head with good ear set. Moved well

Class 51 - Junior Bitch (3)

1st: MAIR Longsdale Stormy Lovers at Glenauld - A very smart b/w bitch, presenting a pleasing overall picture. She has a good, firm topline and is an excellent mover, covering the ground with effortless strides. She has decent angulation front and rear with an excellent forechest and good depth of brisket, contributing to her attractive outline. Her feminine head has a pleasing rise of skull and well-set ears, boasting a superb mouth. RBCC & RBB.

2nd: KEENAN Bessbox Belle Boyd - A very smart 12 mo b/w bitch with excellent movement, showing good reach and strong rear drive. She has a clean head with a well defined stop, a pleasing body with good length of loin and a gently sloping topline. A smart young bitch with much to like.

3rd: PAYNE Willow Take My Breath Away 

Class 52 - Yearling Bitch (0)

Class 53 - Postgraduate Bitch (3)

1st: LITTLEWOOD Airwaves Over Newlaithe - b/w bitch with a relatively square head. Excellent bite. Good top line which she carried well on the move. Nice arch of neck into well placed withers. Good movement.

2nd: KELLY Casemates Witch Time - a smart b/w girl with a pleasing outline. Nice depth of thigh and good turn of stifle. Feminine head with dark inviting eyes and an evident stop. Moved well.

3rd: BURNETT Norwilbeck Bellchime Armour to Sushe 

Class 54 - Limit Bitch (8, 1 absentee)

1st: PYNEGAR Berwynfa Skies The Limit - A striking b/w bitch of excellent build and substance, well off for bone. She has a pleasing head with a lovely rise of skull, good ear set, dark, inviting eyes and a well defined stop. Good bite with good dentition. She has a strong topline, which she maintained well on the move, a nice length of loin and a bang-on tail set. Elegant neck which flows into well placed withers, completing her attractive outline. An excellent mover, covering the ground effortlessly. It was my pleasure to award her the BCC & BOS.

2nd: GRAY Alot Of Hot Commotion at Rizzlebox - Another very tidy b/w bitch of excellent shape and balance. She has a firm topline and good length of loin, complemented by super angulation. Her head is very pleasing, well proportioned, with a lovely rise of skull and a dark eye of good shape. A lovely crest of neck flows into well placed withers, with a nicely developed forechest, good depth of chest and well sprung ribs. Nice mover covering the ground with ease and purpose. A smart bitch indeed.

3rd: MAIR Merribox In Cahoots With Glenauld JW 

Class 55 - Open Bitch (4)

1st: LOCK Romanico Bacchus Clarice’s JW - A well balanced b/w bitch, very smart in outline with an elegant head of good proportions. She has a pleasing tail set and carriage, good angulation with a well defined turn of stifle, and good depth of chest with well-sprung ribs. She moved excellently, showing good reach and strong rear drive. A very pleasing bitch overall.

2nd: BROWN & HUTCHINGS Winuwuk Ghostly Affair - Another b/w bitch with a lot to like. Presenting a very smart outline with a good topline that she maintained well on the move. Nicely angulated, front and rear. She has a very clean head with a good square bite and moved out well.

3rd: CARTER CH Susancar Celia Deal 

Class 56 - Veteran Bitch (1)

1st: PAYNE IrCH I’m A Celebrity Jun Ch - A 7.5-year-old r/w bitch presenting a very smart profile and in superb condition. She has an excellent topline and underline, complemented by superb angulation. Elegant neck that flows into well-placed withers. She has lovely depth of thigh and good rear angulation. A nicely shaped forechest and balanced depth of chest complete her outline. Her head is clean and well balanced, with a dark eye of good shape and an excellent mouth with good dentition. She moved freely and effortlessly, maintaining her outline throughout. A lovely bitch who thoroughly deserved her BVIB. Congratulations on your Group 2 placing.