Irish Setter Club Of Scotland

Irish Setter Club of Scotland, Open Show

11th April 2026

Thank you to the club for inviting me to judge, and their lovely hospitality and gift. This show has a great atmosphere. Overall a quality entry and some really top drawer dogs to go over. I was a bit disappointed to see a couple of dogs with round eyes , which ruins that beautiful Irish expression. Thank you also to my steward Kimberley.

Puppy Bitch (6,0)

Two very promising girls headed this class, and it was very close.

1st Stevenson's “Gwendariff Cracklin Rose For Lochlorien (IKC)” 10th stylish bitch, she has a very pleasing outline. Lovely head, correct eye shape, good ear set. Good straight front, elegant neck, flows into a sloping topline. Good spring of rib. Very balanced and well angulated throughout. Was an accurate and steady mover. Later I was pleased to award her BPB & BPIS.

2nd Henderson's “Sametsuz Speak In Code” 11mths old, has the most pretty of heads And expression. Excellent depth, good rear. Moved OK. Just preferred the front of 1. 

3rd Kolbach’s “Zuri Della Magna Sila Per Pawsword (Imp Ita)”

Junior Bitch (2,0)

1st Walsh, Neill & Ellrich's “Gwendariff Greta Garbo (IKC)” 13mths, lovely head with plenty of work, good eye and expression. Lovely neck, firm, gently sloping topline. Excelled in forechest, balanced throughout. Presented in lovely coat. Moved well, with drive.

2nd Williamson's “Keljaru En Vogue” different type from 1 but still lots to like. 12 months old. Very pretty, well made bitch. Has an excellent spring of rib. Good depth and balance throughout. Just lacking coat today, and not as positive on the move as 1.

Yearling Bitch (4,1a)

1st Mutch's “Astleyview Crimson Moon”

20mth old, with a lovely outline. Good head and eye, pleasing expression. Has good depth, and is well angulated throughout. Well off for bone, good feet. Lovely dark coat. Won the class with her excellent, driving movement.

2nd Boyd-McNeil & Edwards’ “Glenlokhen Chasing Dreams” Such a pretty bitch, has a very pleasing outline and is very well balanced. Just appeared to be lacking in confidence today and unfortunately not as positive as 1 on the move.

3rd Simmon's “Scokira Starry Night”

Maiden Bitch (2,0)

A reversal of the puppy class 1st and 2nd. In this class 1 got her act together on the move, and unfortunately 2 had a moment and forgot how to move. They really are 2 lovely and very promising bitches. They then came up against each other for a third time, after the Bitch challenge, for BPB and this time the puppy winner got her act together again.  

 1st Henderson’s “Sametsuz Speak In Code”

2nd Stevenson’s “Gwendariff Cracklin Rose For Lochlorien (IKC)”

Novice Bitch (1,0)

1st Ruzsinszki & Ferrara’s “Tottie Tango”

Very much a baby at 9.5mths old. Nice girl with good bone. Well balanced head, has an appealing eexpression. Good shoulder placement. Sympathetically handling which got the best out of her on the move.

Undergraduate Bitch (2,0)

1St Mutch’s “Astleyview Crimson Moon” winner of Yearling Bitch.

2nd Murchison’s “Harelferg Penny Lane Via Corphin” A very naughty girl, full of spirit, who gave her handler a hard time. Good head, appealing expression. Well balanced, has good depth and angulation throughout. 

Graduate Bitch (2,0)

1st Blackshaw, Rowbottom & Rowbottom’s “Lanstara Cherrovale Moon Dancer”

Compact girl with a pleasing outline, who had left her coat at home. Good head with a kindly eye and expression. Good angulation and depth throughout, excellent bend of stifle. Moved well with drive. 

2nd Webb’s “Alolfrana Whole Lotta Love With Redeshka (Ba2)”

Pretty girl, presented in lovely coat. Pleasing outline, well made throughout. Not as positive as 1 on the move.  

Post Graduate Bitch (4,0)

1St Hunter & Brown’s “Glencarron Another Chapter At Braidmount”

Very stylish bitch, maturing nicely. Has a cracking outline. Beautiful head, lovely ear set. Well off for bone throughout. Good forechest, pleasing depth and spring of rib. Well balanced. Has a steady and accurate footfall on the move, moves with drive. Presented in lovely coat and condition.

2nd Robinson & Robinson’s “Cherrorva Le Dream Come True JW”

Lovely outline, well angulated and good depth throughout. Moved well, with drive. 

3rd Borthwick’s “Danwish Aria On Lotushill”

Limit Bitch (3,0)

1st Dank’s “Alolfrana Electra”

This girl does not disappoint. She is so beautifully balanced and has an smashing outline. Such an attractive head, good eye, kindly expression and low ear set. Fantastic depth and spring of rib. Well off for forechest, firm topline. Angulation is so balanced fore and aft. Nothing is over exaggerated. Moves with drive and verve, with a lashing tail. A pleasure to go over. RBB & RBIS

2nd Heather’s “Sixoaks My Fair Lady JW”

Very well made bitch with a lovely outline. She has a most pleasing head, good depth, and well angulated throughout. Presented in great coat and condition. Another lovely mover with a lashing tail.

3rd Williamson’s “Bluesprings A Kind Of Magic At Keljaru”

Open Bitch (2,0)

1st. Bridgwater & Goddard’s “Bridgella’s Don’t Push It”

Lovely, well coated bitch. Very nicely made throughout. Has a firm topline. Well angulated, with good depth. Lovely straight front, Moved with drive.

2nd Tom’s “Ir Ch Ir Sh Ch Ladysdale Maud Gonne To Shilvodan Jd Jun Ch Cen. JW”

Unfortunately she was not in the mood for this class. Has a lovely head, a lovely cheeky glint in her eye. Was presented in hard condition and had a well developed 2nd thigh. Not a flashy bitch but she’s very well made.

Puppy Dog (1,1a)

Junior Dog (1,0)

1st Gilray’s “Forfarian Take A Chance”

A handsome, balanced young lad. Has a good head and expression. Well off for bone. Bodying up nicely, firm topline, good feet. Was a bit naughty on the move today.

Yearling Dog (3,0)

1st MacFarlane’s “Harelferg Macfarlane For Umfrido”

Pleasing young man of 19 months. Still quite raw but coming together nicely . When stood correctly has a very balanced outline. Has plenty of bone, attractive head, excellent ear set. Moved well to win this class.

2nd Hignett-Capper, Hignet, Kassube & French’s “Cararua Pearl Of The North”

Another very nice youngster. Smaller made than 1 but still shows good bone and substance. Has a pleasing outline and balance. Lovely head and expression. Unfortunately he was very reluctant on the move today.

3rd Cayton-Lee's “Dendroch Major Oak”

Maiden Dog (1,1a)

Novice Dog (1,0)

1st Cayton-Lee's “Dendroch Major Oak”

3rd place in Yearling dog. A very nice lad, with a pleasing outline. Well angulated throughout. Lovely head and expression. Unfortunately was unable to move to his full potential.

Undergraduate Dog (3,1a)

1st Holmes’ “Gwendariff Mr Blue Sky”

Lovely boy, who is maturing nicely. Gave his handler a hard time, but he’s worth persevering with. Very well presented, such an appealing head and expression. Well balanced and angulated, plenty of muscle, firm topline. Was a tad over enthusiastic on the move but did settle to show his drive.

2nd Kassube & French’s “Thendara Hot Diamond At Cararua”

Another attractive dog, with a super outline. Well angulated, with good feet. Very pleasing head and expression. Moved steadily with drive. 

Graduate Dog (6,1a)

A particularly lovely class.

1st Walker & Walker’s “Gwendariff Hanky Panky JW (IKC)”

A stylish boy, in super coat, which was presented to advantage. Well angulated throughout, balanced with a lovely outline. Has plently of depth and forechest. Beautiful head and expression. Moved with drive.

2nd Davison’s “Bardonhill Love Me Tender”

Another quality male, with a balanced attractive outline. Gorgeous head and expression. Just preferred the movement of 1 today.

3rd Sheldon’s “Bardonhill That’s All Right At Delsanto”

Post Graduate Dog (4,0)

1st Davison’s “Bardonhill Million Reasons”

Has such an attractive head and expression. Very pleasing outline, and is so balanced. Excelled in his front and rear angulation, good topline and depth. In good coat and condition. Moved well.

2nd Jacobs & Bernard’s “Forfarian Fancy Footwork JW”

Another attractive male, very balanced with a lovely outline. Just not quite the front of 1. Still has a bit of maturing to do to finish. Lovely neck, excellent head and feet. Lovely rear angulation.Moved with drive.

3rd Russell’s “Tiroen Touch Of Magic By Settesoli (Imp KCJ) JW”

Limit Dog (7,2a)

1st Kolbach’s “Kerryfair Zoom In On Pawsword”

Stylish and racy, shown in impressive hard condition. Has a very attractive outline, well balanced throughout. Super head, with lots of work. Good forechest and spring of rib. He’s not overly coated but is well presented. Moved with drive and style.

2nd Walker & Walker’s “Gwendariff UCan’t Touch This JW”

A very attractive dog. Well made and lots to like. Balanced throughout, lovely topline, good depth, pleasing head and expression. Moved well on good feet.

3rd Lucas & Lucas’ “Gwendariff Bachelor Boy”

Open Dog (5,0)

1St Beresford’s “Sh Ch Jetsetter Winds of Dreams (Imp Rus)”

A very stylish male, not overdone in any way. I loved his head and expression. Good feet. Excellent forechest, is just so well balanced and angulated throughout. Excellent depth and spring of rib. He just flows for nose to tail. Firm, gently sloping topline, which he held on the move. Moved well with drive. BD & BOS

2nd Walker & Walker’s “Gwendariff Flags Are Flyin”

Beautifully presented, mature male. Different type to 1 but his qualities are evident. Well made and very balanced. Good feet, pleasing head and expression. Moved well.

3rd Murchison’s “Kerryfair Please Please Me Corphin ShCEx” Another quality male of excellent type, was just lacking energy on the move today.

Veteran Dog or Bitch (8,1a)

The class of the day, full of quality dogs.

1st Hunter’s “Sh Ch Int Sh Ch Fairhaven Electra (Imp Swe)”

9 year old stunning female, who is just wonderful. Beautifully presented, in tip top condition, and handled to advantage. Wonderful head, and the best of eyes and expression. She has a sublime outline, and is just so balanced throughout, with excellent depth and forechest, elbows tucked in, super bone. A pleasure to go over. Moves like a dream, maintaining her firm topline and showing accurate footfall. BB, BIS & BVIS

2nd Russell’s “Sh Ch Lynwood Hocus Pocus At Settesoli JW”

9 year old, male who exudes quality. Another that I was pleased to get a chance to go over. Has a flowing outline, and is so well balanced for and aft. Beautiful head and expression. Moved with drive. RBD

3rd Murchison’s “Kerryfair Please Please Me Corphin ShCEx”

Special Beginners Dog or Bitch (4,2a)

1st Hignett-Capper, Hignet, Kassube & French’s “Cararua Pearl Of The North”

2nd Cayton-Lee’s “Dendroch Major Oak”

Brace (4,0)

1st Mr J & Mrs M Heather’s Brace, so well matched and moved as one.

2nd Miss S Toma’s Brace

3rd Ms L Kolbach’s Brace

David Laidlaw Memorial Stakes

Bred by Exhibitor Dog or Bitch (3,1a)

1st Heather & Heather’s “Sixoaks My Fair Lady JW” 

Was 2nd in Limit Bitch.

2nd Mutch’s “Astleyview Crimson Moon”

Was 1st in Yearling Bitch and Undergraduate Bitch. Giving away a lot in maturity in this class.

Not Bred by Exhibitor Dog or Bitch (5,3a)

1st Cohen’s “Lynwood Merry May King With Shushana”

Lovely male of pleasing type. Has an attractive head and expression. Balanced throughout. Moves steadily with drive. 

2nd Deighton’s “Oakdene Schiehallion (Imp Bel)”

Different type to 1 but has plenty to like. Moved well. 

Judge Mhairi A Vallance (Rowanmyle)