East Anglian Gundog Society

East Anglian Gundog is my local gundog society and I have spent many happy days attending the club’s shows since its very beginning. The society is very well run by a hard working committee who do all they can to support exhibitors – thank you for the kind invitation to judge at this show.

I have enjoyed watching or competing in best in show/ best puppy in show at the club’s shows many times and have always been impressed with the quality of dogs that we have in this area attending the show. Today was my chance to get my hands on the best of breed and best puppy in breed exhibits sent forward by their respective breed judges and I have to say they did not disappoint. For best in show in particular I was spoilt for choice with some top quality dogs to chose from. I decided to shortlist eight (English Setter, Gordon Setter, Irish Setter, Labrador, Irish Water Spaniel, Curly Coated Retriever, Cocker Spaniel and Pointer) but others considered for the final cut included a beautiful American Cocker, just 12 months old and giving away much in age, a lovely Irish Red and White Setter and a very nice Welsh Springer.

Best In Show 1 – Watkin’s Albadora Totally Yours for Valsett JW, a 19 month old orange belton bitch who I have admired from the ringside since she was a young puppy and was thrilled to get the opportunity to go over. A top quality bitch with a beautiful, elegant outline. She has a lovely head with a beautiful expression. Moves soundly and with drive from her strong hindquarters. Presented in beautiful coat and condition. Although still young she shone over her competitors to take the top award. I will continue to follow her progress with great interest as I am sure she will go on to achieve greater awards.

Best In Show 2 – Latheron & Trenchard’s Sh Ch Fynder Reacher ShCEx, one of my favourite breeds and for me this quality dog meets the general characteristics as described in the breed standard “smart, upstanding, strongly built and compact” but he also has such sound movement, a masculine head and is presented in lovely coat and condition.

Best In Show 3 – Bott, Allen & Morgan’s Quensha Joker And The Queen, such a beautiful bitch and another I have admired since she was a puppy, she has the most lovely head, outline and overall construction. She moved out with style today to earn her place in the final line up.

Best in Show 4 – Watkins Lakewinds Benchmark (Imp Aus) an upstanding young dog, just turned three, who presents a very eye catching outline and really moved round the ring with style.

Best Puppy In Show 1 – Phillips & Watkins Empyreal Desert Tempest at Glenmaurangi (Imp Can) – This young bitch owned the ring from the moment she entered it! Top quality she is beautifully made, of lovely shape and with stylish sound movement. I think she has the wow factor and she was an easy choice for best puppy in show. I will follow her progress with great interest.

Best Puppy In Show 2 – Cruttwell’s Ashbyglen to Honour You, a beautifully made puppy, another with an eye catching outline who moved out well. Presented in super coat and condition.

Best Puppy In Show 3 – Siddle, Siddle, Bailey & Bailey’s Wilchrimane Tunaverse, a lovely promising puppy dog, strong but graceful outline and moved out well.

Best Puppy In Show 4 – Sladdern’s Canemamans Final Blow, promising puppy, strongly built but still feminine.

AV Gundog Veteran Stakes Dog

1st Donaldson’s Zorrazo Alter Bridge at Prizelands (Imp HRV), Spanish Water Dog, a lovely seven year old dog with super movement. Deep chest and well sprung ribs. Loved his handsome face and expression. Presented in good coat and condition.

2nd Sladden’s Tyrbechgyn Believe You Will at Canemamans JW ShCEx OSW VW, Bracco Italiano, a strong made dog, handsome head, sound movement with powerful hindquarters.

AV Gundog Veteran Stakes Bitch

1st Hush’s Benrowan Espirit, Golden Retriever, classic outline, with good depth of chest and spring of rib. Balanced head with pretty expression and dark eyes. Presented in lovely coat and condition and moved with drive. Best Veteran.

2nd Bougen’s Sh Ch Gwendariff Hot Ticket JW, Irish Setter, a great favourite of mine and thoroughly enjoying her day out. Super make and shape and a lovely head and expression, turned out in top condition.

3rd Ganney’s Allenies Tampa Bay D’Orta For Darrabol, Labrador

AV Gundog Post Graduate

1st Watkin’s Albadora Totally Yours For Valsett JW, English Setter, critique above

2nd Parson’s Quensha Woman In Love at Bransett, Irish Setter, a promising young bitch who is maturing very nicely, balanced outline with pretty head and expression. Super coat and condition.

3rd Falconer’s Cheek To Cheek Unbridled Dreams for Siatham (Imp Fra) JW, Golden Retriever

AV Gundog Limit

1st Levine & Lewis’ Quensha Remember The Name Valasarch, Irish Setter, an eye catching dog with a balanced racy outline, super front with good depth of chest, well arched neck, gently sloping topline and strong hindquarters. Handsome head and expression with lovely kind eyes.

2nd McDonald, Westwood & Westwood’s Roanjora Cremant De Savoie Avec Eusanit JW, Irish Red and White Setter, a well made dog with a pleasing outline, good front and rear angulation, balanced head with nice eyes. Shown in lovely coat and condition.

3rd Suett’s Silberliss Peckham Pouncer JW, Weimeraner

AV Gundog Open

1st Bougen’s Sh Ch Gwendariff Hot Ticket JW, repeat

2nd Donaldson’s Prizelands Tickled My Fancy JW, balanced bitch with pleasing outline, well made front and good depth of chest. Balanced head with pleasing expression.

AV Gundog Brace

1st McDonald’s Irish Red and White Setters, well matched pair for size, make and shape, moved very well together.

2nd Romeo-Dieste’s Flat Coated Retrievers, nicely matched pair, moved together well.

3rd Rice’s Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers

YKC Handling Age 6-11 Years

1st Emily Windler – a very competent young handler, great communication with her dog and handled her dog with care and kindness. Good awareness of the judge at all times and handled her dog to advantage.

2nd Sophie Millard – a quiet but competent handler, handled her dog well, just needs to improve lead placement when her dog is on the stack.

3rd Charlotte Dungar-Bullock

YKC Handling 12 – 17 Years

Class headed but two very talented handlers, either of whom I would be very happy to have handle my own dogs.

1st Megan Slack – such a calm and confident handler, great awareness of the judge and knew exactly what to do to show her dog to advantage. Super communication with her dog. A very professional handler in her approach. Overall Best YKC Handler.

2nd Leila Levene – another confident and polite handler who presented her dog to advantage. It can be difficult to demonstrate handling skills to maximum advantage when handling a larger breed but she did this with ease. Just needs to consider lead placement on the stack.

3rd Holly Dungar-Bullock

YKC Handling 18 – 24 Years

1st Emily Rice – a quiet and unassuming handler who had good communication with her dog and had great rapport with her dog throughout the judging. Her ‘present’ after moving her dog was perfect.

Adult Handling 25-44 Years

1st Roxanne McDonald – a confident handler fully focussed on her dog at all times with great communication and rapport with her dog. Moved and presented her dog to advantage at all times. Just pipped to the best adult handler spot.

2nd Amy Cordy – a quiet handler who presented her dog well, she made a mistake by having her dog on the wrong side for moving, which she realised straight, but her dog still moved well for her.

Adult Handling 45-59 Years

Both these exhibitors were quiet and confident handlers focussed on presenting their dogs well.

1st Nikki Rice – had the better awareness of the judge class which won her the class. Moved her dog steadily and to advantage.

2nd Jennifer Salmon

Adult Handling 60 Years and Over

1st Ray McDonald – a very competent and confident handler who has great rapport with his dog and was totally focussed on showing to advantage. Great communications with his dog at all times. Used the ring to maximum advantage. Best Adult Hander.

2nd Caroline Gammon – quiet, competent handler, showed her dog to advantage but would have preferred to hear more communication with her dog during the judging.

3rd Kerry Goldbourn

Becky Box (Judge)