Three Counties Agricultural Society

As I said the last time I judged the breed, the lack of forechest and depth of body was a major issue. Unsurprisingly, such issues cannot change dramatically in a single generation, and this was again a common fault today. We were fortunate to have a good-sized ring, allowing the dogs to stride out and demonstrate effortless free, driving movement. Although many were sound enough behind, too few displayed that effortless drive, and front action was generally poor. We desperately need more males in the ring as potential future breeding stock. I was extremely pleased with my two CC winners, who made a most fitting pair as they strode out together in the challenge. Both had the quality and soundness I was looking for, and they filled the eye when moving freely with effortless drive.

Minor Puppy Dog (1)

1st Williams’s Bournehouse Dream Away. 

Eight-month-old tricolour who presents a pleasing outline on the stack. His head is long and lean, with good work, and he possesses a dark eye. Arched neck into a good lay of shoulder, body well sprung and deep for age, with a short, strong loin. Good width across the pelvis and well let down through stifle and hock. Moved better and better as the day went on, finally taking Best Puppy.

Puppy Dog (4)

1st Howarth’s Samelen Enchanto at Moorbrook. 

Orange dog who does his best to make the worst of himself but is clean in outline. Stands on well-boned legs of good length for his height, giving him elegance. Shoulders are well laid. Straight front of good width and fill for his age. Short, strong back, and excellent croup and tail set. Well angulated behind, with good width to thigh. On the move he is sound, but today was uncoordinated and, despite every opportunity, continued to throw his chances away, which was a great shame.

2nd Lawson’s Summerseve Cezanne.

Tri dog who is together for his age and presents a balanced outline on the stack. He has a pleasing masculine head with a kind eye, lengthy neck into good shoulders, though his front is not quite as good as the winner’s. Body well developed for age, firm in topline, but tends to drop off over the croup slightly. He moves steadily and soundly; however, I would like to see more drive and animation to make the most of himself on the move, particularly for a young dog.

3rd Stephenson’s Bondgate Classical Drama

Junior Dog (2, 0 abs)

1st Mcdowell’s Byedales Inspector Clueso. 

Elegant in outline, with a pleasing masculine head and a kind eye. He has a good length of neck leading into a decent forehand. Moved soundly both ways with drive, carrying his tail correctly, and was in excellent coat. However, I would like more bone and substance, and he now needs to grow into his frame.

2nd Lawson’s Summerseve Cezanne

Graduate Dog (3, 1 abs)

1st Szal’s Goldbirch Northern Jazz JW

2nd Welsh’s Goldbirch Northern Blues

Two blue brothers, very much alike in make and shape, and the same comments apply to both. There is just slightly more of the first in all departments. Both are pleasing enough in head, with dark eyes. Good length of leg for their height. They need to develop through the forechest and gain depth of chest. The first has more coat, which was excellently presented. Movement still needs to tighten in front.

Post Graduate Dog (1, 0 abs)

1st Ciaputa’s Ravensett Cote D'azur JW

Orange dog with a beautiful head and a dark, expressive eye of good shape and colour. His overall shape is balanced. Stands on a good length of leg and neat feet. Not in unison with his handler today, giving her a hard time on the move; consequently, his movement was erratic, but I would like more strength in his front movement.

Limit Dog (5, 1 abs) Good class, with all having attributes to like.

1st Pearce’s Westonfields Frenchrunner

Blue dog who isn’t flashy but catches the eye for his balance and overall shape. His head is more pleasing when taken in the hand and viewed closely than a first glance might suggest, with a good dark eye and kind expression. From his good reach of neck, he flows into a very well-laid-back shoulder with an excellent return of upper arm. He is strong through the forechest, with excellent round bone and an excellent length of leg. His body is well developed, with deep well spring ribs finishing well below his elbow. Short, strong back, short coupled and very firm in topline. He has an excellent bend of stifle and width across first and second thigh, which are very well muscled, letting down into short hocks. His tail comes almost straight off the back, with a very good finish over his croup. On the move, this dog comes to life, moving with effortless power, drive and animation. His coat is of good texture and yes additional finish in presentation would only help his case, but he was well ahead of the other male today, and I was delighted to award him the DCC.

2nd Osman’s Bournehouse Sirocco over Marissolo JW ShCEx OSW

Tri dog who has recently gained his well-deserved title and presents an elegant outline on the stack. Masculine head with no coarseness. He has a good dark eye, balanced muzzle to skull, and low ears. Long neck into a well-laid shoulder and a decent return of upper arm. Good in forechest, bone, legs and feet. Body well sprung and deep. Slightly longer backed than the first. Good length and width across first and second thigh, and well-set tail. In excellent coat and condition. On the move, whilst he is sound, he fights his handler and can appear tense, making him uncomfortable to watch at times rather than showing the free-flowing, driving action I believe he is capable of, which is a shame. However, a worthy title holder.

3rd Williamson’s Hawklawn Hazzard County at Balvenie JW

Open Dog (3, 1 abs)

1st Darley’s Severnsett Gold Sovereign

Orange dog built on a heavier mould than my ideal; however, his overall proportions, conformation and movement gave him this class and the Reserve CC. Masculine head without being overdone, with a kind, dark eye. Good length of neck into well-set shoulders and good return of upper arm. He scores in forechest and depth of chest, with really well-sprung ribs and a firm topline. Short coupled, with a reasonably well-bent stifle, though I would prefer a touch more, and well-let-down hocks. Good bone, legs and feet. On the move he is sound and true both ways. In excellent condition.

2nd Littlechild’s Ravensett Just An Illusion with Alolfrana JW

Flashy orange dog who catches the eye and is built on a lighter frame than 1, thatis more my ideal. He has a pleasing head with a kind expression, straight legs and neat feet. Good, well-sprung body, but overall conformation and shape were not quite as correct as the winner’s. Beautifully presented in excellent coat and moved with drive and style.

Minor Puppy Bitch (5, 1 abs)

1st Tucker’s Walshaw Takes to The Stage

Blue bitch of nearly nine months who is nicely mature for her age; she has already come up on her legs, which gave her the extra elegance in shape and outline over the others here. Pleasing feminine head, good length of neck into well-laid shoulders, with a good return of upper arm. Good spring of rib and depth for her age. On the move she was collected, sound and steady.

2nd Paton’s Meadowfoot Drops of Jupiter

Blue bitch of eight months, more solidly built than the winner. Feminine head with a kind eye, strong arched neck into very well-laid shoulders and excellent return of upper arm. Plenty of forechest and depth, super round bone and neat feet. Very mature in body, with excellent spring and depth of rib, and very strong over the loin. Just not as together on the move as the winner, nor as accurate behind. A promising puppy, and I look forward to seeing how she comes on.

3rd Littlechild’s Alolfrana All Night Party

Puppy Bitch (2, 1 abs)

1st Taylor’s Samelen Ethereal Legacy

BPB. Tricolour bitch who, although standing alone, can hold her own in any company. I liked her overall height-to-length proportions. She has a very feminine head, with excellent working. Her strong arched neck leads into well-laid shoulders and a decent return of upper arm. Straight in front, well off for bone, and neat feet. Body is mature for her age, being both deep and well sprung, with rib carried well below the elbow. Short in loin, with a good bend of stifle and width across the thigh. Good finish to croup and tail set. On the move, she was sound and true, but care is needed not to go too fast and lose accuracy, as she did in the challenge for Best Puppy. 

Junior Bitch (4, 1 abs)

1st Rumble’s Bushbane Celtic Envoy

Fifteen-month-old orange bitch, built on a strong-boned frame with substance, and has a very feminine head leading into a clean outline. Decent lay of shoulder and return of upper arm, with plenty of forechest. Excellent bone, legs and feet. Body is deep and mature, short in loin and strong in back, holding her topline level. Moves very soundly with drive and animation. 

2nd Mcdowell’s Byedales Agatha Christie

Orange bitch of nearly eighteen months who, on the stack, presents an elegant outline and shape through having excellent length of leg to her overall height. Very feminine in head, with a pleasing eye. She needs to spring and deepen in body, and I would like to see more substance throughout to balance her. On the move she goes with some style.

3rd Wynne-Evans’s Droveborough One Love

Graduate Bitch (6, 1 abs)

1st Welburn’s Oshowa Just A Dream JW

Blue bitch in good coat and condition. She has a feminine head with good work and soft expressions. She won on her movement, being sounder and more coordinated than the rest. She presents a balanced picture, with decent all-round make and shape.

2nd Morgan’s Latjeata Vivaldi

Orange bitch who I liked, but she gave her handler a hard time. On the move she was not as coordinated or accurate as the winner. She has a good overall make and shape, she is elegant with good overall proportions. Her body is developing. She and her handler just need to come together; then I think they are capable of bigger and better things.

3rd Williams’s Goldbirch Northern Disco at Skippit JW

Post Graduate Bitch (4, 1 abs)

1st Sykes’s Sharnyx Springtime at Daraquist

Orange bitch who was completely out of coat; however, this only served to show off her overall shape and quality. Feminine head of good proportions. Arched neck into a very good forehand, with excellent lay of shoulder and return of upper arm. She has plenty of forechest and depth of chest. Good length-of-leg-to-height proportions, short and strong in loin, with good bend and width of stifle, let down into short hocks. On the move she was sound and accurate. I look forward to seeing her again in full coat.

2nd Owen’s Marwessett Ysobel Enigma at Cornsett JW

I have done this bitch well in the past and still rate her highly. She has the most beautiful head, with dark eyes giving the softest expression. Very balanced in outline, she stands on good legs and neat feet, with a firm topline. Good bend of stifle, giving good width across first and second thigh, let down into short hocks. In better coat but she just could not match the forechest and body depth of 1, and at times tends to throw herself about on the move, which can spoil her accuracy. However, when she settles, she goes with precision, drive and a perfectly carried slashing tail.

3rd Hoskin’s Scillysett One Vision

Limit Bitch (10, 2 abs)

Best class of the day, headed by:

1st Paton’s Bournehouse Eternal Flame for Meadowfoot JW

In all honesty, no one was more surprised than me when this bitch ended up Best of Breed. I admit she is not a bitch I have previously rated that highly. However, since I last had my hands on her over a year ago, she has matured and improved a huge amount. She presents a very clean outline on the stack, combines femininity with substance. Beautiful long, lean head with a kind eye and excellent mouth. Her strong neck flows into decently laid shoulders. She really scores in forechest, solid round bone and neat, tight feet. Excellent depth of chest, well below the elbow, with excellent spring of rib and really good width across her strong, short loin. Excellent bend of stifle and width across first and second thigh, super finish to her croup and ideal tailset. In excellent coat and condition, she powered around the ring showing drive and animation. Today was her day.

2nd Stephenson’s Bournehouse in Dreams at Steeplow

Feminine orange bitch who made a good first impression on the look round and thought might be the winner. Very feminine head of good proportions, well-laid shoulders. Straight in front with neat feet. She presents a very clean outline on the move, holding her topline well. Her movement is sound both ways, and she presents a good side profile; however, I would like to see a little more drive which I think is a handler point rather than something she can't do. In beautiful coat and condition, which makes her look more mature than her tender age, but hands-on, she just needed a little more maturity through the chest and body to compete with 1 and 1st OB. I have no doubt she is not far off her title. 

3rd Blyth’s Wansleydale Sky Angel at Felsett

Open Bitch (2, 0 abs)

1st Taylor’s Sh Ch Wansleydale Honey Bee JW

Tri who presents a pleasing outline. She has a feminine head of good proportions, with a decent forehand leading into well-laid shoulders. Straight in front, with good legs, bone and feet. She has sufficient forechest, good depth of chest and well-sprung ribs. Could be a fraction shorter coupled for absolute balance. Good width across first and second thigh, with well-let-down hocks of decent length. On the move she is sound and true, going with some style. In good coat and muscle condition. ResCC.

2nd Williams’s Bournehouse Satin and Lace

Blue bitch, built on a bigger frame than 1; however, she still retains her balance. She combines substance with femininity throughout. She has a pleasing feminine head, with an eye of good shape and colour, good earset and a good length of neck flowing into a firm, level topline which she keeps on the move. In excellent coat and condition. She moves soundly and with some style.

Simon Pitts (Judge)