Birmingham & District Gundog & Terrier Club

Birmingham & District Gundog & Terrier Club

Premier Open Show - Saturday, 26 September 2026

The Sandylands Centre, Stafford Showgrounds

I would like to thank the officers and committee of Birmingham & District Gundog & Terrier Club for inviting me to judge at their Premier Open Show. My thanks also go to the exhibitors for bringing forward such an interesting and varied entry, and to my stewards for their efficient help throughout the day.

My principal awards were Gundog Group 1 and Puppy Group 1 to the Clumber Spaniel Vanitonia Spectre of Galbraith, who later, on the decision of the referee, was awarded Best Puppy in Show. The American Cocker Spaniel Dreamcast Elysium at Carolco took Gundog Group 3, while the delightful veteran Sandlauga Soul Man VW CSp was awarded Reserve Best Veteran in Show.

Italian Spinones

Puppy

1st Blythe - Stowledge Sergio of Blymara. A nicely sized, 11-month-old dog in a quality brown roan coat. Lean skull with a large eye of the correct colour. Well-laid shoulder, fairly broad chest, ample bone and excellent compact feet. Moved well. Best Puppy.

2nd James - Affilato Game On. Pleasing outline on this orange roan bitch, although she did not have the confidence of the winner. Balanced head with correct eye, muscular front, correct topline and well-muscled hindquarters. Hocks well let down. Movement was somewhat erratic.

Junior

1st Holt - Benevelo Stella Fortunata. I loved the presence and outline of this bitch. Balanced head with defined stop, large eye and open nostrils. Strong, broad front leading into well-boned legs and compact feet. Correct topline and well-muscled hindquarters, with hocks well let down. Moved freely around the ring. Best of Breed.

2nd James - Affilato Game On.

Post Graduate

1st Holt - Benevelo Stella Fortunata.

2nd Blythe - Stowledge Soul of Blymara. Strong but balanced head on this brown roan dog. Correct coat for both length and texture, with good bone throughout. Muscular neck, good feet and adequate hindquarters. Moved slightly close behind.

3rd Slade - Inostricani Show Me Off.

Open

1st Hinton - ShCh Inostricani On a Mission. Good-sized orange roan dog with a pleasing head, large open ochre eye and pronounced occiput. Muscular, although somewhat heavy over the neck, leading into well-placed shoulders. Straight front and compact feet. Correct topline, muscular hindquarters and hocks well let down. Slightly over-angulated behind, but moved freely. Reserve Best of Breed.

Retriever - Chesapeake Bay

Junior

1st Broomfield - Glaneils Echo Beach. Smaller bitch with a pleasing head, broad skull and balanced muzzle. Correct eye placement and colour. Adequate shoulder placement, straight forelegs and well-rounded feet. Level topline and sufficient hindquarters. Harsh, oily outer coat with the correct undercoat. Well-turned stifles and moved well.

2nd Rigby - Glaneils Enjoy the Silence. Not in her best coat today. Typical head on this larger dog, with a broad skull. Shoulder placement was acceptable, with a broad forechest and the desired depth and length of rib. Adequate hindquarters and moved satisfactorily.

Limit

1st Mahon-Hunns, Middleton & Haskin - Susqudilla Yankee Shadow (Imp USA) JW. Much to admire in this good-sized, strong dog, presented in excellent oily double coat. Strong, balanced head with medium eye set well apart. Muscular neck flowing into well-laid shoulders, good forechest and well-sprung ribs. Level topline and well-muscled hindquarters, with hocks well let down. Moved with purpose. Best of Breed.

2nd Milner - Tideflight Warrior of Kent. A little fidgety at first, but this young dog presented a lovely balanced outline. Typical head, with strong skull, balanced muzzle and well-set eye. Good forechest, acceptable feet and coat. Moved well once settled. Reserve Best of Breed.

3rd Rigby - Glaneils Enjoy the Silence.

Open

1st Milner - Tideflight Warrior of Kent.

2nd McCall - Oakmarsh Elm of Brumborfer. Smaller bitch who was not carrying her best coat today. Pleasant head with correct eye placement and an acceptable forechest. I would prefer more compact feet. Well-muscled hindquarters, hocks well let down and moved satisfactorily.

Spaniel - Welsh Springer

Puppy

1st Whitfield - Amberdella Aquarius. Just six months old. Balanced head with medium hazel eye. Long neck flowing into well-placed shoulders, with a good forechest, level topline and well-sprung ribs. Slightly long cast, with adequate hindquarters and straight hocks well let down. Moved satisfactorily. Best Puppy.

Junior

1st Harrison - Glenbrows Symphony. This 13-month-old bitch was presented in excellent coat. She possessed a feminine, appealing head, with correctly balanced skull and muzzle. Well-muscled neck, good forechest and well-sprung ribs. Level topline leading into sound hindquarters, with hocks well let down. Moved well. Best of Breed.

Limit

1st Harrison - Glenbrows Symphony.

Open

1st Whitfield - Glenbrows Thought to Amberdella. Another pleasing bitch in full coat. Typical head with dark eye and good pigmentation. Well-laid shoulders, although I would prefer a better forechest. Well-muscled hindquarters, hocks well let down and moved satisfactorily. Reserve Best of Breed.

Spaniel - American Cocker

Open

1st Fryer - Dreamcast Elysium at Carolco. A well-presented and delightful black-and-white bitch. Typical head with rounded skull and broad muzzle. Dark eye and well-set ears in line with the eyes. Long, muscular neck, deep chest and well-muscled hindquarters, with hocks well let down. Moved with drive and purpose. Best of Breed and Gundog Group 3.

Retriever - Nova Scotia Duck Tolling

Puppy

1st Tester - Gingafing Just Like Heaven. Such a happy puppy. Smaller bitch with a balanced head and brown eyes. High-set ears, full coat, deep rib and well-muscled hindquarters. Moved satisfactorily.

Junior

1st Morse - Sinsircariad Celtic Dragon. A very happy bitch in full coat, with four white feet. Balanced head, well-feathered high-set ears and strong neck. Adequate depth of rib, good bone and a slightly long-cast outline. Well-muscled hindquarters and moved well with drive.

2nd Oscroft - Sinsircariad Dragon Fruit. Smaller bitch possessing many of the winner's qualities. Good forechest with a white flash, level topline and muscular hindquarters. Hocks well let down. A happy mover, but without the drive of the winner.

3rd Gregory - Deltandamba Go West.

Graduate

1st Ormond - Tarnlaiker Ice Spice. Slightly larger bitch and the best mover in the class. Solid red coat with the correct amount of white on all four feet. Pleasing head, medium-length neck, good depth of rib, muscular hindquarters and correct tail set.

2nd Tester - Gingafing Best of You. Smaller bitch with many of the qualities of the winner, but I preferred the winner's movement. Appealing head with a kind, happy expression. Dark eye with correct pigmentation, strong neck and hocks well let down.

3rd Rice - Tiamaria Bella Rosa JW TP Ch.

Limit

1st Rice - Tiamaria Juniper Berry. Smaller bitch with a balanced, sweet head and expression. Good reach of neck, level topline and well-sprung ribs. Well-muscled hindquarters and moved with drive.

2nd Bate-Ash & Ash - Sinsircariad Old Fashioned. Nicely sized dog in full red coat. Full of himself and clearly enjoying the day. Well muscled throughout, with good forechest and adequate bone. Muscular hindquarters; slightly over-angulated, but moved well.

3rd Gregory - Exetollers Whats This (Intro Ex).

Open

1st Bate-Ash - Eusanit Hit the Lights. Good-sized dog in full coat, with an alert expression and dark eye. Medium-length, well-muscled neck, good forechest and straight front leading into round, tight feet. Good depth and length of rib, level topline and well-muscled hindquarters. Hocks straight and well let down. Moved with drive. Best of Breed.

2nd Morse - Eusanit Celtic Sea at Sinsircariad. Smaller, sweet bitch with a beautifully balanced head and correct eye placement and colour. Correct reach of neck into well-laid shoulders, level topline and good depth of rib. Well muscled behind and moved well. Reserve Best of Breed.

3rd Blair - ShCh Eusanit Ever Fallen in Love.

AV Imported Breed Register Gundog

Junior

1st Daminet - Ambionhill Delice Vixen, Barbet. Young bitch in a full, profuse curly coat. Strong head with rounded skull, defined stop, round eye and dark nose. Short neck, good chest, adequate depth of rib and strong hindquarters. Straight hocks and moved well. AV Imported Breed Register Best Puppy and Reserve Best of Breed.

2nd Stilgoe & Fox - Teisgol Santiago, Portuguese Pointer. A super outline on this well-proportioned dog. Broad skull, well-developed stop and medium-length neck flowing into well-laid shoulders. Well-sprung ribs. Slight over-angulation showed on the move, when he crabbed at times.

Limit

1st Crowther - Corve Conqueror, Barbet. Another quality bitch in full coat. Strong head with medium-dark eye, short neck, deep chest and rounded ribcage. Level topline with low-set tail. She moved happily and with ease whenever asked. AV Imported Breed Register Best of Breed.

Open

1st Crowther - Magnum Kiss Curl Pickle Paulette Doubs of Corve (Imp Fra), Barbet. Bitch in good coat, with a white flash. Typical head with good pigmentation, level topline and adequate rear angulation. Hocks well let down and moved well.

AV Gundog

Veteran

1st Mason - Sandlauga Soul Man VW CSp. What a delightful red dog, presented in full coat. Lovely head and expression, with correct ear set and a clean, dark eye. Strong neck into well-placed shoulders, tight cushioned feet, level topline and well-sprung ribs of good length. Muscular hindquarters. Moved with drive, covering the ground happily with his tail always wagging. Reserve Best Veteran in Show.

2nd Pilatova - Sabsky Sasanka, Weimaraner. Superb outline on this bitch. Pleasing head, medium-sized grey eye and long ears. Straight front with good forechest, excellent depth of rib and level topline. Well-muscled hindquarters and hocks well let down. Moved well, covering the ground effortlessly.

Minor Puppy

1st Taylor & Tenn - Strettonhills Tickled Pink, Golden Retriever. Six-and-a-half-month-old golden puppy in full coat. Dark eye, strong muzzle and correct bite. Good reach of neck and depth of rib. Level topline leading into correctly set and carried tail. Compact feet and good rear angulation. Moved well.

2nd Coyle - Ankerwycke Athos, German Shorthaired Pointer. Super outline on this youngster. Typical head with a lovely expression, muscular neck and straight front leading into compact feet. Nicely muscled hindquarters. Moved satisfactorily once settled.

Puppy

1st Dronsfield - Vanitonia Spectre of Galbraith, Clumber Spaniel. I have always admired this breed, and this dog filled my eye. He was balanced and well boned, with the most delightful head and expression, together with a typical steady, kind and dignified personality.

His head was in no way exaggerated, and he had clean, dark eyes. A strong neck led into muscular shoulders, with a deep chest, large round feet and a long body of good depth. His well-muscled hindquarters enabled him to move effortlessly on the numerous occasions he was asked to go around the ring. I was delighted to award him Gundog Group 1 and Puppy Group 1, and, on the decision of the referee, Best Puppy in Show.

2nd Cooper - Amilone Don't Mind If I Do, Golden Retriever. A quality dog with much to like. Pleasing head and expression, strong muzzle, good pigmentation and acceptable eye colour. Good reach of neck, correct amount of bone and good depth and length of rib. Muscular hindquarters, although slightly loose at present. Correct tail set and carriage. Moved well once settled.

3rd Holgate - Nadavin Ailsa, Field Spaniel.

Junior

1st Saunders & Newton - Carotine Velvet Tuxedo, Pointer. Super, happy dog who was solid throughout. Typical head with correct eye colour and good pigmentation. Broad front, good depth of rib, level topline and short-coupled body. Muscular hindquarters, which he used to drive on the move.

2nd Millington - Strettonhills Bring Him Home, Golden Retriever. A quality mid-gold dog, well balanced and possessing a super head with good pigmentation. Correct amount of bone throughout, good depth of rib and adequate forechest. Well-muscled hindquarters and correct tail set. Needs a little time to tighten, but moved satisfactorily.

3rd Turner - Dazycutter Thegirlsonfire, Irish Setter.

Gundog Group

1. Dronsfield - Vanitonia Spectre of Galbraith, Clumber Spaniel

2. Williams & Toublic - Cobhay Dashing Dandelion JW, English Springer Spaniel

3. Fryer - Dreamcast Elysium at Carolco, American Cocker Spaniel

4. Bott, Allen & Morgan - ShCh Quensha Joker Ands the Queen, Irish Setter

Gundog Puppy Group

1. Dronsfield - Vanitonia Spectre of Galbraith, Clumber Spaniel

2. Peebles - Seaham Irish Heartbeat, German Shorthaired Pointer

3. Saunders & Newton - Teisgol Snow Prince Charmin, Pointer

4. Harrison - Manjuno's Blue Diamond at Glenbrows NAF, Cocker Spaniel

Judge: Alistair M Scott-Briggs - Largymore