Pointer Club

The Pointer Club Open Show (24/10/2026)

An appointment I have been looking forward to ever since I first received the invitation! My sincerest thanks to the committee for allowing me to officiate at your show, this is a breed I have a real soft spot for. As such, I was absolutely thrilled to have drawn such a good entry of 74 dogs with only 11 absentees on the day. Your kind hospitality was most appreciated and I loved the very thoughtful gifts. Many thanks to my 2 excellent stewards who ensured the ring ran like absolute clockwork and made it so easy for me to maintain a continuous flow throughout the day. 

I was really pleased with the overall quality of the entry with some classes leaving me scratching my head for all the right reasons! It was good to see some variances in style while still meeting the requirements of the standard which can only further your appreciation for the nuances that make good breed type. I personally felt head proportions/shape, correct thickness of skin & ear leathers, rear angulation and temperaments were all excellent in the main. 

Points of attention I identified were; front assembly (In particular, length & return of upper arm which affects forward reach in profile. Lack of firmness in elbow coming towards was also noticeable in numerous exhibits.), correct shape of foot and also correct tail shape/length/carriage. While these are elements considered essential for breed type, they all do serve a practical/functional purpose for a working gundog built to gallop over the fell for extended periods of time.

Grateful thanks to the exhibitors who braved the stormy weather conditions for me to appraise your dogs on the day, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience from start to finish!

BABY PUPPY DOG/BITCH (0,0)

MINOR PUPPY DOG (2,1)

Sniperay Sunrise Bumblebee. This orange/white chap was a lovely start to my day! Liked him for size and current stage of development for his age. Thought his head shape was most appealing in profile already showing chiselling above and below the eyes, correct thickness of skin and ear leathers, dark eyes and clean lips. Reachy neck into good shoulder placement and OK upper arm. Straight, well boned limbs. Decent depth for age with a firm topline and shapely croup. Liked his tail length and thickness very much. Excellent rear angulation with firm hocks. In profile, he shows good coordination for age and holds his shape well. Needs to firm up coming towards but he has time on his side. Excellent temperament, BPD and only beaten into RBPIS by his sister! 

PUPPY DOG (2,1)

Sonham Brimstone. A very upstanding black/white who presents a striking overall shape on the stack. Typical head shape in profile with thin ear leathers, dark eyes, obvious work around the eyes and big open nostrils. Just needs to develop through his back skull but there’s plenty of time for that. Reachy neck into very good shoulder and OK upper arm. Loved his straight limbs and beautifully shaped feet! Very age-appropriate in body with a bit of room to develop further behind the elbows. Strong topline, well defined underline. Excellent rear angulation with correct tail set. A little overawed on the day but did show glimpses of very good reach & drive with lovely tail action. Can only get better with confidence and maturity. 

JUNIOR DOG (3,0)

Freebreeze Noel Coward. Orange/white, very typy with a great deal to admire and so age-appropriate. He is all curves from nose to tail. Loved his head of balanced proportions, plenty of work under his thin skin with excellent stop and correctly sized ear leathers. Good reach of neck into a moderately angled forehand assembly. Straight, well-boned limbs with neat feet and firm pasterns. Decent depth of brisket for age but obviously needing to body up with maturity. Strong topline with slight arch to his loin. Excellent rear angulation with well bent stifles and firm hocks. Liked his finish to croup and his tail is of very good thickness and shape. A grand mover in profile, putting his construction to good use and lashing his tail. Can only get better with age, will watch his career with great interest.

Wilchrimane Florin to Olivesong JW. Another typical orange/white who I feel is not too dissimilar to 1 in his overall make and shape. Ultra-typy headpiece with lots of chiselling, clean lips, dark eyes and thin ear leathers. Slightly arched neck into decent shoulder and return of upper arm. Good bone with a bit of spring to his pasterns. Well bodied up for age with strong topline and clear underline. His rear angulation balances with his front. Lovely tail which he uses well on the move. Very sound mover from all angles and carries himself in well, just preferred the reach and drive of 1 today. 

Sonham Brimstone

YEARLING DOG (1,0)

Collholme Mr Brown with Spinray. A very honest liver/white who displays a classic shape without exaggeration. His head shape in profile is most typical with thin, clean lips, correct proportions of skull to muzzle and well defined stop. His eye colour and skin pigment is spot on. For me, I think he would benefit from being a shade less broad in backskull to balance out with his muzzle. Super shape and length of neck into excellent shoulder and upper arm with well developed forechest. Strongly boned limbs with correct feet and pasterns. Very good ribbing and depth of brisket for age with strength over the loin. Symmetrical rear angulation with wide thighs and strong hocks. Super length of tail. Very sound going/coming and displays a very light-footed action in profile. One you cannot fail to appreciate!

NOVICE DOG (4,1)

Freebreeze Noel Coward.

Tenshilling Hello Stranger. Liked the size of this black/white with strength through his quarters, presented in rock solid condition. Well proportioned head with dark eye and correct stop, I would prefer him to be a touch cleaner in lip. Beautiful length of neck into excellent shoulder & well-boned limbs. His pasterns and feet are spot on! Quite compact through his body with depth of brisket and strength over his loin. Very good length from hip to hock and well bent stifles. Tail is of good shape and length. Textbook rear action going away and carries himself well in profile.

Sniperay Sunrise Bumblebee

GRADUATE DOG (9,0) - A full class of promising young males who could easily change places with a bit more maturity and a bigger, outdoor ring.

Freebreeze Noel Coward

Collholme Mr Brown with Spinray

Wilchrimane Cereal Killer 

POST GRADUATE DOG (2,0)

Millpoint Bamburgh Boy. This orange/white is built from a longer cast and well off for bone. Well-proportioned head with dark eyes and defined stop. Good reach of neck would prefer it to be slightly cleaner. Good forehand assembly overall with correct feet and pasterns. Strong topline, would prefer a bit more bend of stifle but his hocks are firm. Very together going/coming and holds himself well in profile. Would not want his tail any thicker but he displays a most pleasing tail action on the move. 

Jilony Collumbo at Dalhallpals. Such a typy lemon! Not quite as settled at 1 which affected his performance. Possesses such a breed-typical head from all angles with lots of chiselling and correct eye colour. Would prefer him slightly tighter skinned over his head and neck. Balanced angulation both fore/aft with a good topline and tail set. Not giving his all on the move today. 

LIMIT DOG (7,1) - A varied class for style but lots to like.

Tenshilling Shboom JW. Black/white, very good for size and correct angulation. His head is well proportioned, plenty of work around his dark eyes with thin, clean lips and medium length leathers, would personally not want his backskull any broader. Excellent neck and shoulder with good fill in front. Lovely strength of bone to his limbs with excellent feet & pasterns. Clean topline and defined underline with well sprung ribs and slightly arched loins. Wide over his quarters with firm hocks, a shade steep over the croup for me which affected his tail carriage. Very precise mover from all angles and goes with a bit of style in profile. Presented in hard condition. 

Riowood Orange Twist. A slightly different style to 1 but with lots of breed-typical qualities. I liked his definition of stop, thinness of skin and chiselling very much but would prefer his muzzle to be slightly longer for ideal balance. Good neck and forehand assembly overall, preferred feet of 1. Liked his body properties and curvaceous over & under lines. Correct rear angulation with excellent tail length and shape. Displays a very stylish and easy action on the move. 

Sharnphilly Black Abbott JW. 

OPEN DOG (6,0) - A really competitive class with some variation in style which made for a good challenge to separate them.

Sh Ch. Carofel Wings Of Hope JW WW23 Swiss JCh. A very classy and upstanding orange/white who came out on top for his overall symmetry and stylish outlook. His outline is curvy with no exaggerations. Lovely head with the kindest expression enhanced by dark eyes, well defined stop, correct width to backskull and thin ears & lips. Long neck, well boned limbs with excellent feet & pasterns. Moderate, yet balanced, angulation fore/aft. Liked his depth of brisket and excellent croup & tail set. His tail is of correct length, thickness and shape. On the move he is hard to ignore, covering the ground with correct footfall in profile whilst using his tail and showing great accuracy going/coming. The more I looked, the more I liked. Unsurprised to see he has his title. BD & RBIS/BOS. 

Sh Ch. Teisgol Love Is In The Air ShCEx. Judged this one before and pleased to see him return with his well-deserved title. A very different stamp of dog to 1, this orange/white appealed for his handy size, strength in bone and curvaceous outline. Well-proportioned head with plenty of stop, work around the eyes and broad enough in backskull. Thin leathers of medium length. Balanced angulation both fore/aft with good depth to brisket and short loin. His tail is one of the best of the male entry today for shape, length, thickness and carriage. Movement is definitely this chap’s forte! He demonstrates such breed-typical carriage of head and tail, maintaining firm elbows and hocks. A close run thing between 1st & 2nd but just preferred the width of backskull on the winner today, RBD. 

Sunhouse Black Is Back at Salmonmist JW ShCEx OSW (AI)

SPECIAL BEGINNERS DOG (4,0)

Millpoint Bamburgh Boy.

Hawkfield King’s Ransom. Pale orange/white who covers a lot of ground on the stack and presents a very clean shape. Pleasing head shape with lots of work around the eyes with the kindest of expressions. To be critical, I would prefer just a little more strength all through for a male. Reachy neck into well-made forehand, excellent bone/pasterns/feet. Clean definition through the body with a strong topline and underline. Wide through his quarters and well-off for rear angulation. Very sound mover who covers the ground well and displays very good carriage. 

Keepersfield Hope And Glory. 

VETERAN DOG (3,1)

Fydal Caprio at Salmonmist JW ShCM OSW ShCEx VW SGWC. I don’t think anybody has told this orange/white that he’s 9.5 years old! Lovely breed type with curves in all the right places. Cracking head and eye with thin lips, thin medium length leathers and ample chiselling around the eyes and cheeks. Long, slightly arched neck into well-made forehand with excellent shoulder and good upper arm. Liked his strength of bone. Deep brisket with well sprung ribs, strong topline. Symmetrical rear angulation with firm hocks. Tail is of excellent length and thickness. Would personally prefer him a fraction longer in body to balance with his angulation but he still covers the ground with panache. Presented in first class order and thoroughly enjoyed his time in the limelight, BVIS.

Lundgarth Finch. Another orange/white with many admirable qualities. His head and expression is so typical with ultra-thin skin which enhances the work around the eyes and his kindly expression. Liked his shape and strength of bone and correctly shaped feet. Correct depth of brisket with a firm topline, very good rear angulation and lovely tail which is used to advantage on the move. 

MINOR PUPPY BITCH (3,1)

Sniperay Outdoor Girl. For me, this orange/white is just right for her age! Her outline is clean with no sharp edges and already displays good overall balance. Her head needs to develop with time but she already shows good work around her dark eyes, a melting expression and thin ear leathers. Strong neck into excellent forehand, well-boned limbs and excellent feet & pasterns. Very good body for age with a firm topline, decent flow over the croup and an unexaggerated rear assembly. Her tail is of correct length and thickness for her overall build. Most definitely enjoyed her time in the limelight but, once settled, showed good coordination going/coming and an easy side gait. Very pleased to award her BPB & BPIS.

Bradgate Wandering Star. Quite a contrast in style to 1 being more refined and elegant with proportionate substance for her size. Her head is feminine with thin lips, dark eyes and defined stop, would prefer her ear set to be a shade higher. Good reach of neck, would prefer a more angulated forehand assembly overall which is where 1 excelled. Well developed body for her age with a clean topline and underline. Excellent hind angulation with firm hocks and good tail. Very steady mover for age once settled showing some firmness in hock and elbow, uses her tail particularly well! 

PUPPY BITCH (1,1)

JUNIOR BITCH (4,1)

Freebreeze Carla Lane. Lots to like about this black/white. Completely honest in her make and shape with no exaggerations. Prettiest of heads with dark eyes, thin ear leathers and clean flews. Long neck into very good shoulder placement. Oval shaped bone and feet. Clean topline with short loin, needing to body up with time. Really liked her shape over the croup and correct tail set. Moves with such accuracy and natural carriage from all angles.

Sharnphilly Lyrical. Black/white of differing in style to 1 being more angular and slightly longer cast. Lovely head and eye with defined stop, plenty of chiselling and enough width to backskull. Excellent neck and shoulder but would prefer a bit more fill in front. Stands on excellent pasterns and feet. Decent spring of rib for age with a clean topline and well angulated rear quarters. Her tail is of good length but would prefer it to be carried lower. Moves on a lengthy stride with a bit style. 

Keepersfield Celest. 

YEARLING BITCH (7,1) 

Fleurfield Betty Barclay. Black/white, what a cracker! Immediately taken by her excellent body proportions and curvaceous shape from nose to tail, one I feel is definitely built to gallop! Her head is delightful with such great chiselling, a defined stop, dark eyes and correct thickness of skin. Long neck into excellent shoulder and very good upper arm. Stands true on straight limbs with excellent pasterns and feet. Clean from her withers to haunches with some shape over the croup. Symmetrical rear angulation with wide thighs and strong hocks. One of the best tails today in terms of length, shape, thickness and carriage. On the move she is simply captivating, demonstrating such easy forward reach and uses her hocks to propel her forward with minimal effort. Feel she is destined to go all the way in the fullness of time. She pulled out all the stops in the challenge and was rewarded with RBB.

Sharnphilly Euphoria for Riowood. Orange/white, another typy young bitch with a lot going for her. Beautiful headpiece with thin lips, dark eyes and correct proportions. Excellent length and shape of neck that flows into very good shoulders and upper arm. She too has straight limbs, would prefer her slightly shorter in pastern but has excellent oval feet. Well sprung ribs for age. Strong rear assembly with wide thighs, well bent stifles, firm hocks and best of tails. A very sound and easy mover with low footlift. Handled expertly to get the best out of her!

Sharnphilly Lyrical. 

NOVICE BITCH (4,2)

Sniperay Outdoor Girl

Sunhouse Black T’Start (AI). Blanket black/white, top sized but with many admirable breed qualities. Liked her feminine head and expression with thin lips and dark eyes. Good reach of neck into a moderately angled forehand. Good depth of brisket with strong topline. Shapely over her croup with strongly made rear quarters. Lovely tail length and thickness which she used to advantage on the move. Not quite as settled as 1 today but did show accuracy from all angles on the move. 

GRADUATE BITCH (5,0)

Lundgarth Ticket To Fly JW. Black/white, a very neat, symmetrical package with nothing in excess. Ultra-feminine head with dark eyes, ample chiselling, big open nostrils and thin ear leathers. Good reach of neck into a good forehand, liked her springy pasterns and oval shaped feet. Good depth of brisket with clean topline and underline. Correctly angled rear quarters, a shade flat over her croup for me which meant her tail was carried a little higher than the ideal. However, her tail length and shape is excellent. Goes with style on the move and is difficult to ignore.

Teisgol Aurora Borealis at Abbothagg. Orange/white, placed 4th in a competitive Yearling class. She’s very honest and was close up to 1 today. Pretty head with bright expression and correct proportions. Good neck into moderately angled forehand with good strength in bone. Liked her body shape very much with an unexaggerated rear assembly. Good length and thickness to tail. Moves soundly from all angles, just preferred the head shape in profile of 1 today. 

Freebreeze Carla Lane. 

POST GRADUATE BITCH (6,0) - A very good class!

Jilony Ivy. Rather taken with this black/white, feel she possesses breed type in abundance! Beautifully shaped head with a well defined stop, dark eyes, thin lips and a kindly expression. Loved her fill in front with gun barrell-straight limbs and excellent feet. Still has potential to develop further behind the elbows but liked her topline and rear assembly very much. Excellent width over her rear with correct length and thickness to her tail. Needs to firm up coming towards but excellent going away and uses herself so well in profile. One I feel with time, and patience, has the potential to be competitive. Pushed hard in the challenge, really lovely!

Laveto Tennessee Whiskey. A slightly smaller, more refined style compared to 1 with lots to like. Beautiful curves to her outline. Really liked her feminine head with correct proportions, medium sized, thin ear leathers and dark eyes. Long neck that flows into decent shoulder but would prefer more return of upper arm. Still needs to mature through her middle but possesses a correct topline and flow over the croup. Excellent tail length and shape. Well angulated rear quarters. A good mover all round, preferred the fill in front of 1. 

Lundgarth Jubilee JW.

LIMIT BITCH (10,1) - What an excellent class! Quality right down the line and some lovely ones went unplaced.

Carofel If I Had Wings JW. Orange/white, excellent for type, shape and overall balance. Prettiest of heads with excellent thickness of skin, dark eyes and defined stop. Her expression was just melting! Reachy neck into excellent shoulder and corresponding upper arm with firm elbows. Standing on straight limbs with excellent shaped feet and some spring to her pasterns. Good depth of brisket with a firm topline that flows into a long croup which is completed by an excellent tail. I loved her natural carriage of head and tail on the move and is as sound as they come going/coming. Presented in really good order. Another contender for the top spot today, should go all the way.

Tenshilling To Sir With Love JW. Orange/white, curvaceous in shape and symmetrical in balance. Her head is correctly proportioned with plenty of work around her dark eyes which contributes to her kindly expression. Thin ear leathers of medium length. Her long neck cleanly flows into an excellent layback of shoulder and good length of upper arm with tight elbows and straight limbs. Strong topline and width over her quarters. Corresponding rear angulation with firm hocks. Tail is of correct length and thickness. Very sound both going/coming while covering the ground well from the side with style. Pushed the winner hard today. 

Teisgol Alohomora. 

OPEN BITCH (2,1)

Sharnphilly Tiktok to Riowood. Black/white, the star of the show. Exceptional breed type and excellent structural balance, her lines flow from nose to tail. Undeniably built for speed, strength and endurance. Excellent head of correct proportions, ultra-feminine expression possessing a defined stop, chiselling aplenty, thin lips & ears. Her slightly arched neck flows seamlessly into a textbook forehand with the best of shoulders and the upper arm. Her limbs are oval-boned with excellent pasterns and feet. Such excellent depth of brisket with clean top and under lines. She flows through her croup to what I considered to be the icing on the cake, the very best tail of the entry today! A true bee-sting in length, shape and thickness. Her rear angulations are symmetrical to her fore without exaggeration. She has well bent stifles, wide thighs and stands on short rear pasterns with parallel, well let down hocks. On the move is where all of her structural qualities are brought together to produce balanced footfall, low footlift with minimal effort and displaying absolute firmness in elbow and hock, I could watch her all day! Presented in first class condition, must be destined to gain her title. BB & BIS

SPECIAL BEGINNERS BITCH (3,0)

Collholme Angelique. A very middle-sized orange/white who was placed 4th in Limit bitch, so curvy and honest. Loved her head, ample width to skull, dark pigment and plenty of work around the eyes. Her angulation both fore/aft was balanced, showing width over her shoulders and haunches. Strong topline which flows through to her correct length of tail which she uses so well on the move. Firm in elbow and hock with eye-catching deportment on the go-round. 

Jilony Beautiful Dream at Dalhallpals. Black/white, nice for overall type and symmetry. Pretty head and eye with clean lips and correct proportions. Good neck into decent forehand assembly. Correctly shaped bone and feet. Mature through her body with symmetrical rear assembly. Liked her length and shape of tail. Steady mover, just not the ground coverage of 1. 

Bradgate Until Dusk.

VETERAN BITCH (7,2)

Morgan van Freebreeze (Imp NLD) ShCEx VW. Orange/white, of good size and bone with lots of type. Liked her style of head very much with a beautiful expression, lots of chiselling and correct amount of stop but would prefer slightly less lip. Good neck into shoulder, firm topline with good spring of ribs. Well off for rear angulation with a correct tail set. Comes alive on the move, absolutely belying her veteran years, showing excellent reach & drive and is very sound going/coming whilst lashing her tail.

Sharnphilly Ginger Fizz at Lundgarth. Orange/white, longer cast than 1 but very curvy. Very feminine head with a bright, kindly expression. Excellent chiselling, dark eyes and thin ear leathers. Long neck into excellent shoulder placement. Well boned limbs but would prefer better feet. Well bodied up, clean topline and ample rear angulation. Very sound mover all round using her tail well. Just preferred 1 going away today. 

Hawkfield Happy. 

BRACE (4,2)

O’neill’s very uniformed pair of black/white males. Showed good coordination on the move when they settled to the task at hand and won the hearts of myself and the audience with their antics! 

Stilgoe & Fox’s pair of orange/whites. Also very uniformed and put on a sterling performance today!

Judge: James Newton (Patamoke)