Exeter & County Canine Society

Exeter and County Canine Society Open Show 14th March 2026 Thank you to the society for this lovely appointment, this my first “Best in Show” appointment and it was an honour to be invited to judge. Thank you to my stewards Caz Turner, and others throughout the day who kept everything running smoothly. Lastly, thank you to the exhibitors for your entry and good sportsmanship. I had some lovely dogs to go over, and the standard of handling in the South West Handler of the Year competition was phenomenal. Just a gentle reminder to some exhibitors, that we all have days where we do not agree with the judges decision. It is best to hang on to these opinions until you are out of the ring so that the judge doesn’t pick up on your disapproval. Tibetan Spaniels Puppy (2,1) 1 - Smith’s Parloueve Happy as Larry with Lacoral Lovely well made boy with lovely dark mask and expression. Lovely masculine head with dark eye and nicely set ears. Moderate neck into well laid shoulders. Solid front with slight bow. Level topline and correct tail set. Nice feet. When he concentrated he moved out lovely in all directions and is such a happy boy BPIB Post Graduate (2,0) 1 - Bevis’ Lacoral Duke of York at Starlance Masculine dog, up to size. Loved his super proud head carriage. Lovely dark mask and eye. Correct ear set and use when he felt like it. Super neck into well laid shoulder, level topline and correct tail set. Good feet. Well made front with slight bow, lovely movement in all directions. BOB 2 - Smith’s Lacoral Anya Super feminine bitch with pretty head and dark eye. Nice front and shoulder set, good rear angulation. Level topline held on the move, she was just rushing a bit which disturbed her movement, but she showed soundness and reach and drive when settled. Limit (1,1) Open (5,1) 1 - Smith’s Tibbiestars Tutti Fruitti at Lacoral JW Lovely pretty bitch with beautiful head and expression. Super neck into well made shoulder, excellent spring of rib and well muscled throughout. Level topline held on the move, correct tailset and carriage. Nicely made throughout and all came together on the move. RBOB & BOS 2 - Bevis’ Souska Touch the Sky Over Starlance JW Nice male, lovely coat and feathering. Nice head with dark eye, correct ear set, nicely domed skull. Moderate throughout, nice neck into correct shoulder, Decent spring of rib and well back. Nice short loin and well muscled. A little unsure on the move today, but showed soundness and nice movement when settled. Tibetan Terriers Post Graduate (7,3) 1 - Rutley’s Waterley Time to Shine at Javey Lovely young bitch of nice proportions. Pleasing head, nice eye and balanced througout. Good neck into well laid shoulders. Level topline, held on the move with correct tailset. Moved out nicely in all directions to take the class. Super smart girl. BPIB & RBOB 2 - Lawrence’s Waterley Soilder of Love Lovely young boy, with nice head. Good neck, nice topline and nice overall stamp. Good ribbing and strong loin. Moved out nicely but 1st was a bit more settled and moved a with a bit more purpose. Limit (3,0) 1 - Plummer, Plummer & Harrison’s Boshay Pupkin Spice with Tetsikarma JW Nicely proportioned bitch, Good topline, nicely made and nice head. Good front, nice ribbing and well back. Strong in the loin and won the class on movement as she covered the ground nicely and soundly in all directions. 2 - Stickley’s Silgarhi Chiquitita at Walkamile JW Nicely put together bitch with plenty to like and admire, just a little reluctant on the move today which cost her the top spot. Loved her head and nice neck into well laid shoulder. Good solid front and rear angulation with nice topline and correct tail set and carriage. Ribbed well back and nicely muscled, moved nicely in all directions but I would have preferred just a bit more pace, drive and ground coverage. Open (3,0) 1 - Plummer, Plummer & Bingham’s Askari Krazie Marie For Tetsikarma JW ShCEx OSW Beautifully put together 3 year old bitch of excellent proportions and medium size. Super strong and muscular neck into well laid shoulders. Legs straight and parallel. Shown in super quality coat and condition, turned out beautifully - a credit to her owner. Good solid, strong topline, held on the move with correct tail set and length. Bang on front and rear angulation. Moved out smoothly and covered the ground really showing herself off and to her best with powerful drive and true movement. BOB, UG1 and ultimately BIS 2 - Rutledge’s Araki Not on Your Nelly at Javey JW Nicely put together example with nice proportions and well muscled. Pleasing neck into well laid shoulders. Strong topline and correct tail set. Moved out well in all directions. SOUTH WEST HANDLER OF THE YEAR 2026 6-11 Years (4,0) Great class of promising youngsters 1 - Evie-May Smart Smart handler with super accurate lines. Loved her gentleness with her dog and so calm. Tidy all around, nicely handled her dog. Showed teeth cleanly and tidy while being considerate to her charge at all times. 2 - Eva Scott Smart competent handler, showing a larger dog. Nice lines and good pattern work, needs to work on showing teeth and be mindful of other handlers in the ring. Super polite and gentle with her dog. Tidy all around, just needs to sharpen up on corners but very patient with a fidgety free standing dog. 12-16 Years (9,1) Another class of quality young handlers - I was splitting hairs and in my mind the top 4 swapped places a couple of times. I look for overall accuracy and sympathy with charges, the young man who took the class was quiet and sympathetic with a dog not always playing ball. 1 - Jayden Scott Super smart and understated handler, he was quiet and gentle with his dog at all times, I would trust him with any of mine at any time. Super accurate in his patterns, paid attention to my positioning in the ring. Gentle and unfussy all through, lovely tight corners and straight lines - one to watch! In the challenge for best junior, pipped it in his accurate lines and sharp corners, overall very tidy 2 - Harriet Duffeild Smart young lady handling a jack Russell, lost out on top spot as just had a tendency to “wander” on her lines and during her patterns. Paid attention to my positioning and was aware of her dog at all times. Gentle on the table when showing teeth and on the floor even when her dog was making life a little difficult. Pay attention on your straight lines and you will be hard to beat! 17 - 39 years (8,3) A class full of very talented handlers who made this a challenging class to judge 1 - Meaylee Lewis Super competent handler who I have long admired from ringside. Pleased that she put in a stellar performance today with a young dog. Such a professional at all times. Super gentle with her dog with quiet gentle encouragement at all times. She is so tidy in her presentation and pattern work, keep doing what you are doing, it was hard to fault. BAH & Best overall Handler 2 - Kelley Furse Super smart handler, quiet and accurate. Wandered a little bit off track on the last up and down which cost the top sport. It is hard when up against a strong handler, but just remember to keep on the ball until that rosette is in your hand and then you will be stiff competition. 40+ Years (9,3) 1 - Tristan Rycroft Nice patient handler, won on his pattern work, super strong with straight lines and tight corners. Dog not always playing ball but handler remained unphased and gentle with his dog. Really understated and melted into the back ground. I am pleased to see him come along so strongly, keep doing what you are doing 2 - Karen Plummer Pushed 1 hard, I just preferred the overall pattern work performance of 1 today. Watch your turns and corners, just going a tad wide and making a tear drop at the ends. Un-phased, so chilled, would trust this lady with my dogs any day. I was splitting hairs between the top two today in what was a super strong class. BEST IN SHOW In all categories I was super spoilt for choice. I was pleased to see that the Tibetan Terrier I judged earlier had won through as I was very taken with her in the breed. In particular, the veterans were all in super condition and were still showing themselves off to their best, even right at the end in a cold hall. The champion category was also full of super quality and I was truly honoured to go over such beautiful examples. Thank you to everyone who stayed, sadly the working group winner had to leave due to a family emergency, unfortunately these things happen, I hope all is well. Best in Show went to Plummer, Plummer & Bingham’s Askari Krazie Marie For Tetsikarma JW ShCEx OSW Tibetan Terrier Beautifully put together 3 year old bitch of excellent proportions and medium size. Super strong and muscular neck into well laid shoulders. Legs straight and parallel. Shown in super quality coat and condition, turned out beautifully - a credit to her owner. Good solid, strong topline, held on the move with correct tail set and length. Bang on front and rear angulation. Moved out smoothly and covered the ground really showing herself off and to her best with powerful drive and true movement. Reserve Best in Show went to Mitchell’s Foxfur Espionage for Rodzina JW Parson Jack Russell Terrier - what a little pocket rocket! Workmanlike with no exaggeration throughout. Still super jolly right to the end of the day. Loved his head, wedge shaped with flat skull, Lovely dark almond eye. Strong jaw and correct bite. Long sloping shoulders which are well laid back, slightly longer in body than height and shown in super hard condition. Strong and muscular throughout - on the move was as bold as brass and loved every minuet of his moment in the BIS ring. Best Puppy in Show went to Osborne’s Anneymar Jamaican Me Shima for Magstarai Bichon Frise - a stunningly put together little dog of smart appearance shown in lovely condition. 6 months and a day old! So friendly and outgoing for one so young, lovely dark round eye alert and full of expression. Arched neck, carried highly and proudly into oblique shoulder. Lovely proportions throughout and everything came together on the move where she really excelled for one so young. Balanced and effortless with easy reach and drive. Reserve Best Puppy in Show went to Kilroy’s Janacop Sweet Child of Mine Dachshund (Min Wire-haired) Lovely balanced proportions, moderately long compared to height. Long and conical skull, medium sized dark almond shaped eye. Ears set high, and well rounded. Powerful jaw with correct bite and powerful canine teeth. Long muscular neck into broad long shoulder. Ribbed well back and strong short loin. Correct fore and aft angulation, super mover in all directions. Best Veteran in Show went to McCabe-Bell’s Grandtully Eliza Doolittle VW Cocker Spaniel. Such a sweet girl of lovely balanced proportions, not over done in any way. Square muzzled with distinct stop, skull well developed and clearly chiselled. Lovely dark eye and she had a lovely intelligent expression about her. Lobular ear, set low on level with eye, well clothed. Strong jaw and correct complete bite. Moderate neck into well laid and sloping shoulder, well boned legs which were straight and well under. Ribbed well back, strong topline and loin, in super condition and moved with true through action with great drive. She pipped the selection on her movement and was at one with her attentive handler. Reserve Best Veteran in Show was Poulton’s Meddobe Spice Girl Swedish Vallhund who gave the impression of a small and powerfully built working dog. Loved her expression, ear set and dark oval eye. Correct scissor bite. Strong neck into well laid shoulders. Her upper arm being slightly shorter than shoulder blade. Level well muscled back with short strong loin and correct tail set and carriage. Well angulated in front and behind, balanced overall. Free and active mover, with powerful thrusting rear action. Best Reserve Best of Breed in Show was Cox’s Dancing in the moonlight of Black Hunar at Rainwinds (IMP NLD) Bullmastiff. A lovely young, powerful dog who stood out in the line up. Large square skull which was broad and deep. Cheeks well filled and correct bite. Well arched neck into muscular shoulders. Short straight back, well muscled throughout. Loin wide and muscular. Hocks moderately bent. Well arched cat like feet with rounded toes. Moved nicely and cleanly in all directions. Best Champion in Show was Bevis’ Ch Skyvana Empty Dreams of Starlance ShCEx Tibetan Spaniel. I have long admired this dog, he is at one with his handler and always shows his heart out. Beautiful masculine head, free from coarseness and wrinkle, lovely dark eye and slightly domed skull. Ear set correct and nicely used when he deemed it was necessary. Moderate neck into well laid shoulders, slight bow to front, level topline and correct tail set. Nice hare feet and nicely covered. Ribbed well back and strong in loin. Good angulation behind with well bent stifle. His movement in profile is lovely to behold, he covers the ground soundly and with ease. I often say about Tibetan spaniels, that you could apply a line from the Afghan hound breed standard: “The Afghan Hound looks at and through one” and this lad certainly had a haughty, intelligent expression about him that told me that I was certainly beneath him! A joy to award him this ultimate award of the day. Andrea Keepence-Keyte