Hound Association Of Scotland

Thank you to the committee for the invitation to judge my first championship show and the exhibitors who gave me the honour of going over their dogs. I was really spoilt for choice in several classes. Such a shame my winners of best puppy and best special beginners couldn’t stay for their respective groups. My stewards Courtney and Richard, deserve mention for their patience, guidance, efficiency and good humour.

Deerhound

PD (1, 0) 1. Kaleginy Massi Ferguson (Mrs R & Mr S Woodhouse). A substantial puppy of almost 9 months, at his first show. Good movement once he settled, although still a little loose at the moment – understandable at his age. Strong neck into adequate shoulder placement. Well knuckled feet and nicely muscled throughout. I would have preferred a little more slope to the croup, but he has time on his side. Really lovely to see such a young puppy, in an unfamiliar environment, so confident and friendly.

JD (1, 1).

GD (2, 1) 1. Vin-De-Château Du Triple Bois at Lycanfold (Imp Fra) (Mrs N J Mckie). Masculine without coarseness. Pleasant head with dark eye, although his ears would have benefited from a little tidying, to show off their shape. Very strong neck and good deep chest, although a little upright in shoulder. Well-muscled throughout with a lovely strong loin. Although he presented well standing, he unfortunately seemed rather unsettled and was unwilling to show his movement around the ring.

PGD (1, 1).

LD (2, 0) 1. Humbiehounds Pirnmill at Coronach (Dr S Sharp). Strong male in lovely, well presented, full coat. Very fit and shown in excellent condition. Well laid shoulder and good, deep brisket, showing balance throughout. Beautiful head, with that wonderful, gentle expression and a demonstratively lovely temperament! Moved with good drive and purpose in profile.

2. Chuilinn Enigma at Albaeirn (Mr P Nicholls). Dark hound of a finer type than my 1st. Well-presented and sympathetically handled. Attractive head although I would have preferred a more folded ear. Strong neck and good depth to chest. Well-muscled, particularly across the hindquarters. Good movement in profile once he got going, but a tendency to hold his lovely long tail a little high.

OD (3, 1 withdrawn) A really strong group, which brought joy to my cold heart when they all moved together at the beginning of the class.

 1. Ch Packway Blue Moon (Mrs L & Mr J Lovell). An impressive hound, with a lovely balanced outline, really on form today. A handsome, masculine head without any hint of coarseness. Nicely muscled neck of correct length leading into really well laid shoulders and excellent return of upper arm. Strong hindquarters, with good width and angulation, and gently drooping croup. He really excelled on the move. Shown on a nice loose lead, he moved with power and drive, covering the ground easily. Delighted to award him the dog CC.

2. Ch Hyndsight Steppenwolf (Dr S L & Dr N S A Finnett & Heathcote). Another excellent hound, slightly smaller than my first, but still perfectly proportioned. Good head, with a beautiful gentle expression and high, well set and folded ears. Strong and flowing throughout the body, well-muscled loin, with a lovely gentle rise which he held on the move. Well angulated hind quarters, with a good width of thigh, giving a sweep from hip to hock. His movement, when he settled, was sound from all angles. Just preferred the drive of my first today. Pleased to award him the dog RCC.

SpBD (1, 0) 1. Kaleginy Massi Ferguson (Mrs R & Mr S Woodhouse). See 1st in PD.

PB (1, 0) 1. Celtichounds Dearg Tri Deug (Mrs A & Mr D Chalmers). A finely built puppy of seven months, at her first show. Pretty head, with lovely dark eyes, I would have preferred more folded, smaller ears, but she may well grow into them. Deep chest, drooping loin and well knuckled feet. Still has her slightly soft puppy coat at this stage. Her movement was initially quite loose and a little erratic, however she settled in the puppy challenge and demonstrated a much better stride. Plenty of time for her to strengthen and settle. Best puppy.

JB (1, 1).

NB (2, 0) 1. Chuilinn Tourmaline (Mrs A & Mr D Chalmers). Two and a half year old bitch of quite fine proportions, in a good ragged coat. Feminine head with good furnishings, well rosed ears and particularly nice clean teeth. A little more width in the chest and across the hindquarters would have been preferable. Good feet and nicely sloping pasterns. A little narrow and unsettled on the move today. Best Special Beginners.

2. Kilbourne Aoife (Mrs Z Harvey). As with my first another two and a half year old of finely built proportions. Lovely expression and dark eye. I would have preferred more depth to the chest and width through the rib cage to give her more substance. Well knuckled and compact feet. Lacked impetus and was rather unsettled on the move.

GB (5, 0) A great class to judge. Five lovely dogs, it was a pleasure to be given the opportunity to go over them.

1. Chuilinn Flamenco (Dr D & Mrs B Robertson). Very feminine, pretty girl who seemed determined to make things difficult for her handler. Beautifully presented, with a full coat of correct length and texture. Lovely head with dark eye, facial furnishings and rosed ears. Well-muscled throughout with a lovely strong neck leading to a good depth of chest, well knuckled feet and good width of thigh. She was a fidget when stood, but on the move, she really excelled, showing her flowing curves and easy stride.

2. Hyndsight High for This (Dr S L & Dr N S A Finnett & Heathcote). Almost two year old bitch, combining femininity with substance. Very pretty head with strong jaw, dark eyes and the best of ears. Strong neck of good length into well angulated shoulder and lovely deep chest for such a young hound. I would have preferred her feet to be a little tidier. Good width of thigh and length from hip to hock. Her movement was a little reluctant to start, but good once she settled, with lovely propulsion and pleasing overall balance. I just preferred the maturity of my first today.

3. Humbiehounds Sgona Tattie (Mrs A McAlpine).

PGB (2, 0) 1. Chuilinn Ehani (Dr D & Mrs B Robertson). As with the others from this kennel, a really lovely head with dark eyes, neat ears, good furnishings and the desirable soft, gentle expression. Strong neck with a good depth of chest and ribs carried well back. Neat feet and correct thick, ragged coat. I particularly liked her well-muscled, drooping hindquarters, with good width, giving her a particularly pleasing rear movement. She demonstrated a lovely, light easy action on the move.

2. Altimarlach Balnabruich (Mr I R & Mrs L Swanson). Almost three year old bitch with good coat of correct length and texture. Pleasing head and neck of good proportions. Nice, tidy feet. I would have preferred a little more length of loin and width across the hindquarters. Movement lacked a little drive.

LB (8, 1) 1. Hyndsight for Your Eyes Only (Mrs L A Spence). This bitch impressed as soon as she entered the ring. She presents a really pleasing, well balanced outline – her apparent maturity belying her age at only 22 months. Lovely head with dark eye and high set well folded ears. Really strong neck into well laid shoulders and good depth of chest. A gentle rise over the loin, gently drooping to a well set, long, strong tail. Good angulation and width across her hindquarters, with sweeping length from hip to hock. Her beautiful flowing curves excelled on the move, demonstrating ease, elegance and power. She pushed hard in the challenge, delighted to award her the RCC.

2. Packway The Enigma (Miss R V & Mr C J Lucas & Dargonne). Another really attractive, feminine head with the best of expressions. Muscular frame, without any hint of coarseness, giving a shapely outline. Lovely gentle arch over a strong loin and good width across the rear. Pleasing rear angulation and nice width across the thigh, with a gently sloping croup running into a well set, strong tail. Although a little reluctant to be stood, she really showed her attributes on the move, demonstrating a lovely effortless stride. Just preferred the front assembly of my first.

3. Chuilinn Eshana (Dr D & Mrs B Robertson).

OB (5, 1) A really strong class of quality bitches, difficult choices for me to make. 1. Ch Hyndsight All I Have to Do Is (Dr S L & Dr N S A Finnett & Heathcote). This girl really took my eye. At first impression she displays a fantastic, balanced outline and proportions, demonstrating both the strength and grace that, in my opinion, make a beautiful Deerhound, and she did not disappoint once I got my hands on her. Excellent shoulder angulation with good depth of chest and spring of rib. Super topline with a gentle arch over her strong loin, flowing into wide hips and lovely hind angulation. My notes on her movement say ‘gorgeous!’; her long, easy propulsion and stride appeared effortless, in profile up and back. Bitch CC and Best of Breed.

2. Ch Chuilinn Flame (Dr D & Mrs B Robertson). An attractive bitch, that combined femininity with strength and power. Well presented in a full ragged coat, with the desirable facial furnishings and good mane over a very strong neck. Excellent forechest and deep brisket, with a strong loin and good width across the hips. I particularly liked her flowing, curvy lines and hind angulation. Moved soundly from all angles, with a pleasing long, light stride.

3. Packway Smackfarthing (Miss R V & Mr C J Lucas & Dargonne).

SpBB (2, 0) 1. Chuilinn Tourmaline (Mrs A & Mr D Chalmers). See 1st in NB. 2. Kilbourne Aoife (Mrs Z Harvey). See 2nd in NB.