Basset Hound Club

I would like to thank the officers and committee for their kind invitation to judge at this prestigious show, and the exhibitors for a super entry of what were quality bitches, what an honour! I would also like to thank my co-judge, Nicky Beale, for also recognising the quality in my top winners.

I have not judged the breed since 2021 or since our return to Category 3. Eye shape, I believe, has vastly improved in that time. I found four with some unwanted wetness around the eye, and there were a couple I penalised because of excessive skin. All had good dentition apart from two or three who exhibited level bites. All hounds were shown in lovely, clean condition; I found none with inflamed skin or issues associated with Breed Watch; all had skin that was pink and healthy. My primary winners had a pronounced sternum, with the sternum bone having good length; however, short ribbing is a concern. As is the lack of good angulation front and rear, which affects the movement so much and is required for the hound to be sound and fit for purpose. Sadly, I had to penalise some on the day because of these unwanted traits.

Baby puppy bitch (1)

1st Colvin’s Lagniappe Roll the Dice a few days short of 5 months, and what a supper little girl this is. Quality head with a soft, melting expression. She has everything in place to build on, level in both topline and underline with good angulation fore and aft and ample ground clearance. She has a lovely temperament for one so young, and although she didn’t really cooperate with her handler, her quality is plain to see. I will watch her with interest as I’m sure she has a bright future ahead. BBPIS

Veteran bitch (1)

I Armstrong’s Ch. Lauralee a Kind of Magic R/W, 7+-year-old, I awarded this girl top honours the last time I judged, and she has matured like a fine wine, so pleased to see her here today. She oozes both femininity and quality, so balanced, and her construction is still hard to fault, just showing a little greying around her eyes, so hard to believe she’s a veteran already. Classic head, super feminine, expression melting soft with correct eye shape and good colour, leathers set below the line of the eye, correct soft texture and curling. Strong neck with good arch that flows into well-laid shoulders; her elbows sit neatly against her ribbing. She has a pronounced sternum, and her sternum bone is carried back, giving a good length to her ribs. Her forechest sits correctly in her crook. Topline strong and firm with a super underline with ample ground clearance. Quarters are full and well-developed, hocks well let down with pouch, tail well set on and carried sabre fashion. Her movement is parallel and clean both out and back; correct angulation fore and aft allows her to cover the ground effortlessly. BVIS

Minor Puppy Bitch (2)

1st Blevin’s Blevwils Barbara Black Sheep (R/W). Just 7 months and such a spirited sweetie who liked to do things her way, making her handler work hard, and she made me smile. Well-proportioned and balanced in profile, without exaggeration. She has an appealing head with good planes and a prominent occiput, a soft, melting expression; dark, well-shaped eyes; and well-set leathers. Nice length of neck; her sternum is still developing, and she needs to drop into her front, which will come with time. Shoulders are well laid, with elbows sitting neatly against her ribbing, and she already has a nicely set front assembly. Her topline is strong and level, supported by ribbing that extends well back. Strong rear with good angulation, driving her forward with power, tail carried correctly. Tight, well-bunched feet; moves true both out and back. Pushed hard but just lost out for BPB/BP on maturity.

2nd Cruikshank’s Culalmond Diamond Bling (R/Blanket). Another just over 7 months, with a lot to like. Slightly longer set than the winner and not quite as together. Another quality baby, with a lovely head and expression, dark eyes, well-set leathers, and good length of neck. Her front still developing, needs to tighten and drop into her crook, but there is still much to like. Her ribbing carried well back, with good fore and aft angulation. Not quite as settled in movement as 1, but time is on her side.

Puppy Bitch (2)

1st Cudlip’s Deucecoupe Darlin at Harvidene (R/W) 10-month-old girl, with lovely head qualities good depth to her flews. Eyes of correct shape with good colour and a pleasing expression. Leathers set on well below the line of the eye, both soft and curling. Her muzzle just a few degrees off, almost parallel for me. Nicely arched neck flowing into ample lay of shoulder; her front is still developing and needs to drop fully into her crook, with well-fitting elbows. Ribbing carried well back and sprung, topline level and held on the move. Strong rear end which propels her forward, hocks well set with pouch. Feet are well bunched. Covers the ground well both out and back with good depth of body and ample ground clearance.

2nd Ramunno Clanwillow Summer Loving (Tri). Smaller frame than  1. Pretty girl with pleasing head qualities, planes almost parallel, eyes dark giving a super feminine expression, good shape and clean, well-set leathers of good length, soft and curling. Strong neck with length. Front construction needs to develop and come together. Good length to her ribbing; her topline needs to settle, sadly lacks in rear angulation for me. Her tail is well set and carried correctly. She moves well but would prefer more drive. Stands on well-knuckled feet.

Junior Bitch (7 – 2 ab)

1st McLean’s Lauralee Dreams of Magic at Stookewood. Lovely R/W with so many of her mother’s qualities, and so well made. Has good head planes, pronounced occiput and depth to flews without losing any femininity in her head piece. Lovely eye of good shape and dark in colour, with a sweet expression. Ears are well set on, curling and soft. Good reach to neck with required muscle and arch. Shoulders are clean with elbows sitting neatly against well-sprung ribbing which extends back; forechest well developed sitting into her crook. Strong level topline with even underline. Tailset good and carried correctly. Her quarters are strong with good angulation fore and aft. She has beautiful feet which carry her weight four square. Moves evenly and effortlessly both out and back

2nd Armstrong’s Lauralee Mystical Magic. These two could easily change places. So much to love about both. litter sister and slightly smaller cast than 1. My comments above can easily be applied to both these girls. She too has also inherited much from her mother and clearly enjoys every moment in the ring, gives her handler plenty to think about, but I have no doubt this will settle and when it does, she will not be easy to fault. Pushed hard, but movement on 1 was more settled on the day

 3rd Bailey’s Chique to Chique a Story with a Tail

Yearling Bitch (1)

1st Armstrong’s Lauralee Magic Image R/W litter mate to 1 & 2 in the previous class, and she certainly did not disappoint; so well-constructed. I have to say this one I found to be nearer her mother and slightly more mature than her littermates. Beautiful outline and so balanced, deeper in colouring than both her sisters and mum. Head qualities so feminine, with correct planes and pronounced occiput, good depth to lip, her eyes dark and appealing with correct shape. Her neck is strong and well arched and flows cleanly into shoulders which are well laid back with good angulation to her forequarters. Her forechest is well developed and sits comfortably into her crook, sternum bone reaching well back, giving her a lovely underline which complements her strong level topline, and super spring to her ribbing. Tailset and carriage good. Rear quarters are robust and muscled. Feet tight and well knuckled up. Her movement is clean going out and on return, covers the ground with enthusiasm.

Graduate Bitch (3 -1 ab)

1st Allchorne’s Nelgus Coco Pop. Well-proportioned black blanket with lovely conformation which is hard to fault. She has a beautiful head with correct planes and a good depth to her flews. Eyes are dark with no exaggeration in their shape. Leathers set low below the line of the eye; her expression is calm and so pleasing. Well-arched neck; shoulder and front assembly fills her crook. Another pronounced sternum which reaches well back, giving super length to her well-sprung ribbing; elbows sit nicely against her ribs. Strong level topline, slight raise over the loin. Tail set good; sadly she didn’t carry it quite as she could have. Her rear is strong, well angulated and muscled up. Hocks well let down with neat pouches. Her movement was parallel and clean, with good reach and super drive; standing on well-knuckled feet

2nd King’s Quantas Napoca Wilma Zawadi (Imp Rom) R/W well up to size and sadly a little bit too much for me. Pleasing head, eye colour and expression; has plenty of depth to her lip. Strong arched neck; not the front assembly or ribbing of 1, topline level on the move and good tail set and carried sabre fashion. Massive, well-knuckled up feet fore and aft; didn’t move as well as 1.

Post Graduate Bitch (2 – 1ab)

1st Allchorne Nelgus Lucky Charm Tri. This girl is ultra feminine and nicely made. Has beautiful head qualities, correct planes, depth of muzzle, dark eye of good shape with a sweet, calm expression, with a pronounced occiput. Her neck is strong and well arched and flows into cleanly into well-laid shoulders; her front angulation is good, with a pronounced sternum which fills her crook. Elbows are close and well fitting; level topline carried well back with underline to match. Rear quarters full and well-muscled with a super bend of stifle. Hocks well let down with enough pouch. Standing four square on tightly knuckled feet. Her movement out and back is parallel with both reach and drive; sadly, she was apprehensive of her surroundings, and it showed- such a shame.

Limit Bitch (6 – 1ab)

1st Gray’s Short Legs Relivi Light Up the Sky at Bassotto (Imp NLD) R/W Pleasing head, although I would prefer a little more back skull, which affects her planes; that said, she has a good depth of lip and a lovely expression with nice eyes of correct shape with a lovely dark colour, feathers set on well, soft and nicely curling. Neck of good length and sweeps into clean shoulders with good front angulation; well-developed sternum fills her crook. Her sternum bone is carried well back, giving a good underline; topline rises slightly, has a good tail set and carriage. Would prefer a little more rear angulation, which affects her topline. Her feet are tight and well bunched. Her movement out and back is good, covering the ground with ample front reach; would prefer a little more bend of stifle, which would complete the picture.

2nd Wilding & Nixon Nelgus Crunchy Nut at Brackenacre (Tri) what a delight and unlucky to meet 1 today, with a smaller frame. Litter sister to the winner of PGB and has so many of the same attributes. She has a most appealing head with pronounced occiput and a lovely expression, dark eyes of correct shape and good depth of flews. Strong, well-arched neck. Clean shoulders, well laid, elbows fitting neatly against her ribbing. Ample forechest, fills her crook, topline strong and level with a good length to her underline. Rear quarters well-muscled and used to advantage on the move, showing both reach and drive; her hocks are well let down and ample pouch. Her weight is borne evenly on tight, well-knuckled feet. Moves parallel out and back, but I would prefer it to be a little more fluid.

 3rd Archer Roamanbay Reddy to Rock 

Open Bitch (6- 1 ab)

1st Blevins Ch/Ir/Int Ch. Blevwils Ivana Twinkle Tri. My surprise of the day! This girl is so well-proportioned and balanced and shows no exaggerations. Super head qualities, correct planes and good depth to her flews. Her eyes are dark with a good shape, and her expression is so appealing. Her leathers are well set below the eye, soft with a lovely curl. She has a strong neck with a nicely defined arch which flows into well-laid shoulders; elbows are placed correctly against ribs. She has a beautiful even front construction with an unmistakable prosternum which fills her crook; her sternum bone is long, which gives a good length to her ribbing and underline. Her topline is strong and held on the move, complemented by her underline. Her rear quarters are full and well-muscled, with strong hocks that are well let down and parallel with neat pouches. Tail set on well and carried correctly. Well off for bone throughout and good ground clearance. She stands four square on well-knuckled, tightly bunched feet. Her movement is where it all comes together; moves out so freely, reaching in front and has great drive from behind, covers the ground efficiently and effortlessly. BCC & BIS 

2nd Archer Roamanbay Rebellious Flame R/W and so unlucky to meet the winner, so much to like about her, Feminine head with good planes and prominent occiput, nice depth to her muzzle, eye dark with a beautiful expression and leathers soft, curling and well set. Her neck is well arched and has a good length, sweeps into a well-constructed front with good angulation. She has a well-developed prosternum which sits well into her crook. Her topline is long and strong her sternum bone extends back giving a good length to her ribs and underline. Her rear is well angulated with neat hocks and enough pouch. Her tail is well set and carried sabre like. Good bone throughout. She moves evenly and parallel, reaching in front and driving from behind. Stands square on tightly knuckled feet. RCC 

 3rd Smits & Heeseind Nld Ch. Fat Puppys Yeraldine

Judge: Tina Watkins