Lichfield Canine Society

Lichfield Canine Society

Sunday 4th January

I’d like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge the Hound group at this Premier open show. I had a super day and judged some quality exhibits. Thank you to all who entered.

Basset Hound

Puppy

Entries: 2 Absentees: 1

1st. Chique to Chique A Story with A Tail for Longmynd (Mrs H Bailey). Red and White 6-month-old bitch with lovely head and balanced skull to muzzle proportions, with good parallel planes and prominent occiput. Super ears of good length with nice eyes. Excellent front with good bone and feet and nice prominent sternum. Ribs of good length with balanced strong hindquarters. Super movement for age and a very promising puppy. Best Puppy in breed.

Junior

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1st. Astra Vgrunsven at Bassluxe (Imp Nld) (Mrs J Hampton). Red and White bitch who scored well in head proportions with lovely houndy expression and super ears. Very good front with excellent bone and feet and well sprung ribs of good length. Balanced loin and one who moved well with excellent drive at the rear. Promising young hound who in todays entry I was happy to award Best of Breed.

2nd. Diheath Tinsel at Kejana (Mrs J A & Miss N E & Mr K P & Miss D Hirst & Hirst & Hirst & Melbourne)Tri colour bitch of smaller type than the winner but one who could work all day. Good head although eye a touch rounder and not as good in front as the winner. Good length of rib with balanced hindquarters. Just needs to settle on the move.

Postgraduate

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1st. Your Faith Van Grunsven at Bassluxe (Imp Nld) (Mrs J Hampton). Excitable tri colour bitch with a super head and expression and lovely length of ears. Very good front, bone and feet and excellent well sprung ribs with balanced length of loin and good hindquarters. Lovely mover with well held stern and overall good breed type.

Open

Entries: 2 Absentees: 1

1st. Longmynd Cedric Smartson by Bromp (Mrs H Bailey) 5-year-old tri colour male with a super head and eye shape, balanced skull to muzzle proportions and good ears. Another very good front with excellent feet and bone and good sternum. Well sprung ribs of good length and strong hindquarters. Lovely mover, reserve best of breed.

Deerhound

Postgraduate

Entries: 4 Absentees: 3

1st. Kirjojax Thrilling Thistle (Mrs J & Mr R J Wilce-Quinton & Quinton). 20-month-old bitch with lovely head and eye shape, good front with well laid shoulders and good feet. Still needs to mature in depth of chest but overall good body proportions and nice topline. Nice drooping croup and balanced hindquarters and overall, a good mover, especially in profile. Best of Breed.

Open

Entries: 3 Absentees: 2

1st. Kirjojax Harris (Mrs J & Mr R J Wilce-Quinton & Quinton). 5-year-old male of good size with masculine head and good expression, strong neck but rather upright in shoulder which affected front movement. Excellent depth of chest with good rise over the loin. Not as good on the move as post graduate winner, being a bit lethargic today. Reserve best of breed.

AVNSC Hound

Open

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1st. Secret Agent with Sufayre, Breed: Hamiltonstovare (Mr W & Mrs J Hough). 3 year old male with super head and expression, nice broad skull and well-set ears. Excellent strong neck with well laid shoulders, good depth of chest and good feet. Moderate spring of ribs with balanced moderate rear. Excellent colour and condition. Lovely mover, especially in profile. Best AVNSC Hound.

AV Hound Imported Register

Puppy

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1st. Diuna Siwcowe Sielsko (Imp Pol), Breed: Polish Hunting Dog (Miss A Pitula). Young hound who was very overwhelmed for her novice handler and wasn’t happy being handled. Lovely noble head balanced yet feminine, with nice expression and good low set ears. Front appeared balanced with good feet and sufficient bone with balanced body proportions and moderate hind angulation. She looked a picture when stood and, on the move, but sadly just didn’t want to be handled today. As she stood alone in the imported register class, I felt her positive breed points warranted awarding Best imported register and encouraged her handler to come into the puppy group for experience where she put on a respectable performance. A promising young hound for this new breed, just needs some ringcraft practice.

Hound Group

Probably one of the best Hound Groups I have judged at an open show. Decisions were close between all four placed dogs and on another day they could all change places.

Group - 1st. Carlincox Don’t Knock It JW, Breed: Rhodesian Ridgeback (Mr C & Mrs L & Mrs V Cox & Cox & Musgrave). Beautiful female Ridgeback of superb quality. Balanced skull with lovely expression and well-placed ears on a super strong neck going into a clean balanced forequarters with excellent bone and feet. Balanced body proportions with good spring of rib and well-muscled hindquarters. Superb movement being free and easy in all directions. A quality bitch who is well on her way to gaining her title I am sure.

Group - 2nd. Ch Abbotsoak Carousel JW ShCEx OSW, Breed: Ibizan Hound (Miss J L Taylor). One I have judged before and previously given a group to, an Ibizan Hound of superb breed type with lovely head, convex muzzle and super expressive eyes and large mobile ears. Excellent front for the breed with shorth shoulder blade and good feet, balanced moderate hind angulation and correct depth of chest for the breed. Excellent typical movement and a hound of super quality.

Group - 3rd. Ch Shalfleet Making Waves, Breed: Whippet (Mr K & Miss J Bridgman-Lewis & Wilton-Clark). Top quality Whippet and another I have judged before, I am glad to see he has gained his title since then. Super head and expression with excellent length of neck going into correctly laid shoulders with balanced return of upper arm and good feet. Lovely top and under lines with gentle rise over the loin and balanced moderate hindquarters. Super sound daisy cutting movement.

Group - 4th. Ch Drishaun Baby's in Black JW, Breed: Afghan Hound (Mrs A M, Mr M & Miss C Lancashire & O'donnell) Quality stallion male Black and Gold Afghan with super houndy head, strong underjaw, excellent eastern expression and well-placed top knot. Strong neck going into a very good front with well set shoulders, balanced upper arm and super large feet. Excellent depth of chest with good spring of ribs and prominent hip bones. Low set ring tail carried correctly on the move. Strong well-muscled hindquarters with low set hocks and presented in superb condition. An excellent mover who probably would have appreciated a larger outdoor ring.

Puppy Group

Group - 1st. Teckeltowns Kelby Springs Into Collidach, Breed: Dachshund (Min Smooth-Haired) (Mrs F Hutchings). Quality young dachshund with super head and rash expression, lovely almond eye and super front and forechest. Nice bone and good feet. Well sprung ribs of correct proportions with balanced strong loin and well angulated hindquarters. Super mover with excellent carriage and demeanour, despite being the smallest in the group, having such attitude she had to win!

Group - 2nd. Revenite Sergeant Wilson for Rangali, Breed: Basset Fauve De Bretagne (Miss M & Mrs H Allenby). Quality young Fauve male with lovely houndy head, moderate domed skull and well-set ears. Lovely eye shape and expression and a good length of neck. Well laid shoulders with good bone and prominent sternum. Excellent topline although chest and body still need to fill. Strong loin and hindquarters which he used well on the move with good drive and purpose.

Group - 3rd. Kiki La King Daida Los Delhi (Imp Deu), Breed: Ibizan Hound (Mrs J B Morris). Another quality Ibizan of a different style to the Hound Group 2. I loved her head and expression with super eye shape and lovely ear size and placement. Very good front for one so young and balanced moderate hindquarters. A rangier type she was impressive on the move being sound and typical in profile,

Group - 4th. Collooney Senorita Sisi, Breed: Whippet (Mr D G & Mrs Y L Short). Quality whippet puppy who was just 6 months. Super head and expression, lovely rose ears and good length of neck. Well laid shoulders with good flat bone and balanced return of upper arm. Lovely topline and balanced well angulated hindquarters covering plenty of ground. Still needs to drop in chest as expected but a super sound mover for one so young and another with a promising future no doubt.

David Knights (Lelaps)