South Wales Kennel Association

Breed Results: Deerhound (Day 1)

DCC    1132 - Ch Antonius Vertragus The-Rift-Valley with Hyndsight (Imp Fra) (Dr S L & Dr N S A Finnett & Heathcote)

RDCC    1128 - Claonaiglen Artney (Mrs S & Mr S Cummings)

BCC    1138 - Quantistico Gina (Mr Jones)

RBCC    1131 - Ch Quantastico Lucia to Kilbourne (Mrs T C & Mr M C Edwards)

BOB    1132 - Ch Antonius Vertragus The-Rift-Valley with Hyndsight (Imp Fra) (Dr S L & Dr N S A Finnett & Heathcote)

BV    1148 - Bacchante Lady Angel (Ms T Williams)

Thankyou very much to all the exhibitors who travelled to SWKA to present their Deerhounds to me for assessment. I really appreciated meeting you all and your lovely hounds. Although the entry today seems a small number compared to the entries achieved 20 or 30 years ago, Deerhounds actually in attendance outnumbered most of the other hound breeds, well done everyone.

Some general observations. In all hounds the dentition was perfect, all ears tiny and well rosed, all eyes dark. A couple of heads with somewhat rounded zygotic arches and side of skulls – something one doesn’t want getting established. Neck construction universally well arched in the top profile and clean underneath (no swan or ewe necks). Front assemblies generally good, only a couple with short upper-arms. Toplines and underlines almost all were good. Hindquarters- just two hounds with parallel pelvises instead of the correct wedge-shape. The big problem today in this snapshot of the breed is the return of the asymmetric hock-joint with the exterior hock bones being smaller than the interior hock bones; when viewed from behind the hock-joint has a bulge on the inside aspect and a dished look on the exterior aspect. The asymmetry causes stresses in the other hindleg structures, increasing wear and tear, and reduces length of stride and drive; many Deerhounds with this hock-joint structure cannot open up their hock-joints to drive through into their toes on the pushing part of walk and trot gaits ie, the joint is in effect ‘frozen’. Today ¾ of the hounds had asymmetric hocks; I hope that breeders can work towards a return to correct hock-joint conformation in this wonderful hound.

493. Deerhound - Veteran Dog
Entries: 0    Absentees: 0

494. Deerhound - Puppy Dog
Entries: 0    Absentees: 0

495. Deerhound - Junior Dog 
Entries: 0    Absentees: 0

496. Deerhound - Yearling Dog
Entries: 1    Absentees: 0

1ST    1127 - Stranwith Tor (Ms K Barret). The only entry. 22mths old. Lovely type and overall outline. Excellent head shape, good bite, small rose ears, dark eyes and good whiskers. Arched neck well-set into nice shoulders but short upright upper-arms. Ribcage lacks depth, and cuts up too sharply between the front-legs. Hind-legs very well muscled with good stifle angulation, but hock-joints curved/asymmetric from rearview giving divergent back pasterns and turned out hindfeet. Side movement quite nice but spoilt by ‘frozen’ hock-joints showing no flexion. This hound, underneath his excellent coat, was much too thin with all his ribs very prominent, and spinal vertebrae and pelvic bones sticking up fully exposed, he was on the low edge of Body Condition Score 3, almost at the point of the RKC compulsory withhold placings. 

497. Deerhound - Post Graduate Dog 
Entries: 3    Absentees: 1

1ST    1145 - Ardlancien Idris (Ms J Wilbraham). 4yr old. Good outline. Nice head, good bite, ears and eyes. Lovely long strong neck well-set into good shoulders and long upper-arm. Nicely sprung ribcage with depth and tuck-up. Hindquarters good shape with plenty of angulation. Strong symmetrical parallel hock-joints and back pasterns. Movement excellent with plenty of drive. Close contender for Res CC.

2ND    1144 - Stableview Willow (Mrs C J Taylor). 6yr old smaller dog a bit light in bone but good well knuckled up feet. Lovely head, good bite, eyes and ears. Nice neck and forequarters, good shape ribcage and tuck-up. Today unable to stand without crouching behind which made his outline and hindquarter conformation hard to assess, hock-joints curved/asymmetric from rearview giving divergent back pasterns and turned out hindfeet. Movement was very poor, a mixture of leaping bunny-hops and pacing despite several attempts to settle this happy hound with a lovely temperament.  

498. Deerhound - Limit Dog
Entries: 2    Absentees: 1
2ND    1144 - Stableview Willow (Mrs C J Taylor) – 1st place withheld due to problems detailed in PGD.

499. Deerhound - Open Dog 
Entries: 2    Absentees: 0

1ST    1132 - Ch Antonius Vertragus The-Rift-Valley with Hyndsight (Imp Fra) (Dr S L & Dr N S A Finnett & Heathcote). This superb rising 4yrs old had instant impact in the ring with his excellent curvaceous top and bottom outlines and masculine Deerhound type. Elegant chiselled head with perfect planes, strong correct teeth, dark eyes and tiny black rose ears, all furnished with plentiful whiskers. Lovely strong muscular arched neck with clean underline smoothly inserted into well-laid shoulders, long nicely-angulated upper-arms. Good amount of bone, and strong, deep well-arched front and back feet.  Lovely ribcage shape, just the right amount of fill between the front legs and spring along the top with depth and a good tuckup. Well muscled back, strong loin arch, broad wedge-shaped pelvis and muscular hindquarters with plenty of angulation. Hock-joints symmetrical, perfectly aligned, giving parallel back-pasterns and feet. Moved very true to and fro, side movement free and easy with good length of stride. One of the best male Deerhounds I have judged over the past 40 years. Dog CC and BOB

2ND    1128 - Claonaiglen Artney (Mrs S & Mr S Cummings). Very good typical 4yr old with a slightly longer cast to his proportions compared to 1st . Noble looking with lovely typical head. Somewhat heavier in bone and frame than 1st. Good neck and nice shoulders and upper-arms. Loin-arch is sufficient but I would prefer a stronger arch and more muscle along the topline. Good hindquarters overall but hock-joints curved/asymmetric from rearview giving divergent back pasterns and turned out hindfeet. Front and back feet a bit loose and soft. A bit lackadaisical on the move, hock-joints ‘frozen’ (not opening up) and flapping his front feet on the to and fro. During the challenge for the Res CC there was a change of handler and this dog’s movement improved enormously, resulting in the Res CC award.

500. Deerhound - Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog
Entries: 0    Absentees: 0

501. Deerhound - Veteran Bitch
Entries: 2    Absentees: 1

1ST    1148 - Bacchante Lady Angel (Ms T Williams). 7yrs 4mths old and fit and shapely. Lovely head type, perfect teeth and bite, good ears and eyes. Good neck, shoulder and upper-arm. Excellent loin-arch and hindquarter conformation. Ribcage is rather shallow, not reaching her elbows, nice tuck-up. Moved very well, free and easy, perfectly true to and fro. Would happily have awarded her Res CC if the actual winner had been absent.

502. Deerhound - Puppy Bitch
Entries: 0    Absentees: 0

503. Deerhound - Junior Bitch
Entries: 1    Absentees: 0

1ST    1140 - Ardneish Phizzwhizzing at Silverthyme (Ms V A Lindsay). 13 months old with lovely curvaceous outline. Beautiful head, good ears, eyes, teeth. Nice arched neck set nicely into shoulders. Standing a bit tensely at first giving straight upper-arms and a ribcage floating above elbows, but as she relaxed her upper-arms improved and her ribs met her elbows. Hindquarters muscular with well-angulated stifles, some asymmetry in the hock-joint and divergence in the pasterns. Feet a bit long and flat which resulted in rather flappy footed but true front movement; overall movement was long-striding, easy and powerful. Promising youngster.

504. Deerhound - Yearling Bitch. 
Entries: 1    Absentees: 1

505. Deerhound - Post Graduate Bitch
Entries: 3    Absentees: 2

1ST    1143 - Packway Star of The East (Mrs C J Taylor). Lovely outline. Good head and neck. Ribcage too shallow, but good tuck-up. Good hindquarter angulation and excellent muscles throughout. Hock-joints curved/asymmetric from rearview giving divergent back pasterns and turned out hindfeet. Front and hindfeet loose and flat. Movement free and easy but hock-joints ‘frozen’ – not driving through, front feet flapping. 

506. Deerhound - Limit Bitch
Entries: 4    Absentees: 1

1ST    1138 - Quantistico Gina (Mr Jones). 4.5yrs old. Lovely type, has a distinct ring presence. Elegant feminine head, good teeth, eyes and ears, sufficient whiskers. Excellent arched neck smoothly set into correctly laid shoulders, well-angulated upper-arms. Deep ribcage, correct fill between the front legs and nice muscle and spring along the topline. Good tuck-up combined with strong loin-arch. Strong deep feet. Broad muscular hindquarters with plenty of angulation. Hock-joints slightly asymmetric but hind feet parallel. Movement excellent, long free elastic stride, driving off through her hocks, and parallel to and fro. Bitch CC. 

2ND    1147 - Kirjojax Thrilling Thistle (Mrs J & Mr R J Wilce-Quinton & Quinton). Good looking big bitch carrying a little bit too much fat which has affected her arch in loin adversely despite being generally well-muscled; as a result she lacks a strong curvy outline. Pleasing head, neck and shoulders, needs more upper-arm length and angulation. Good well-sprung feet. Needs more breadth to the back of the pelvis. Hock-joints curved/asymmetric from rearview giving divergent back pasterns and turned out hindfeet. Side movement free and easy but not much hock flexion/drive.

 3RD    1124 - Balgaled Maia (Mrs A B Aston)

507. Deerhound - Open Bitch
Entries: 8    Absentees: 2

1ST    1131 - Ch Quantastico Lucia to Kilbourne (Mrs T C & Mr M C Edwards). 4.5yrs old and very beautiful, though doing her best to hide this by drooping about when she could get away with it. Excellent head and neck, very good shoulders and upper-arms. Lovely outline top  and bottom. Good broad strong well-angulated hind quarters. Hock-joints slightly asymmetric but hind feet parallel. Movement excellent, long free elastic stride, driving off through her hocks, and parallel to and fro. Res CC. When I later looked at the show catalogue I discovered that 1st Limit and 1st Open are litter sisters ! Such a difficult decision between these lovely bitches for the CC but Gina kept showing herself off and Lucia wilted slightly, thus this result.

2ND    1141 - Ch Hyndsight for Your Eyes Only (Mrs L A Spence). Super looking 2.5yr old. Stunningly lovely outline and standing could have won the class but sadly let down by her movement. Lovely feminine head, good neck, shoulders and upper-arm. Good amount of muscle throughout. Excellent hindquarter breadth and angulation but Hock-joints curved/asymmetric from rearview giving divergent back pasterns. Feet a bit flat and long resulting in flapping front feet when moving. Hock-joints ‘frozen’ on the move so not driving through properly despite her light and easy gait.

3RD    1142 - Ch Hyndsight Neaghley (Mrs L A Spence)

RES    1136 - Hyndsight Wicked Game (Dr S L & Dr N S A Finnett & Heathcote)

VHC    1139 - Claonaiglen Tilt Maelstrom (Miss D Kilgar)

508. Deerhound - Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch
Entries: 0    Absentees: 0