Tunbridge Wells & District Canine Society

Tunbridge Wells & District Canine Society

Saturday 18th July 2026

I’d like to thank the officers and committee for the opportunity to judge at their very well-run show, they work very hard to make this show the success that it has become, one that I know exhibitors look forward to. I was honoured to be asked to judge the Gundog Group, and I thank the breed judges for putting forward such excellent examples of their breeds. My thanks to my two stewards – Teresa and Emily for keeping the ring on track, and it goes without saying a huge thank you to the exhibitors for giving me the pleasure to judge your dogs and for accepting my decisions in a sporting manner. It was a warm day, and I hope you managed to stay out of the sun as much as you could.

Spaniel Clumber

Puppy 2

1st Bona Fama Kaprys Rejenta at Benginger (Imp Pol) (Mr M & Mrs C Benge)

Impressed with this puppy, she has a lovely head that is broad with square muzzle, tight amber eyes that are of correct shape, neck is strong and leads into excellent front angulation, firm topline and deep though the chest. She is well ribbed and in such good condition for her age. Legs are well boned, rear quarters are well muscled, and she uses them well to take her around the ring with effortless drive. More than happy to award her RBOB BP and PG2

2nd Vanitonia Strike A Pose at Winhampton (Mrs S A & Miss L L M Wilson)

Another nice young bitch but she is not as forward as one in condition or head. That said she is well proportioned, she has a strong neck, decent front and rear angulation. She moved with parallel strides both coming and going.

Junior no entries

Post Graduate 2 (1)

1st Elskerwoo Silver Lining (Mr J & Mrs C Sainsbury)

Pretty bitch of 2 years, head is balanced with dark tight eye. Enough neck, she has good depth but was losing her topline on the stack. Her legs are well boned with large round feet. She’s a little short in upper arm, but her rear quarters are strong, she has good bend of stifle and width thigh. She moved out well in profile but was a touch close at the back.

Open 3

1st Elskerwoo Cloudy Skies JW (Mr J & Mrs C Sainsbury)

I was really taken with this bitch, she makes a lovely shape when stacked, her head is broad and balanced with square muzzle. She flows from her strong neck to her tail; topline is solid on the stack and on the move. Her body is deep and strong with well sprung ribs; front angulation is balanced she has good return of upper arm that places her front legs well under her with matching rear quarters. She was a pleasure to watch on the move as she was parallel both coming and going, shown in excellent condition, she couldn’t be denied, BOB and ultimately G1.

2nd Vanitonia Some Like It Hot at Winhampton (Mrs S A & Miss L L M Wilson)

I preferred the head of 1 but this is another lovely bitch, with great body proportions, good length of neck firm topline ample forechest, good bone and feet. She moved well but was a little close at the back today.

3rd Wahnahnish Saint Gilles JW (Imp Nld) (Mr M & Mrs C Benge)

AVNSV Gundog

Puppy 1

1st Bedeslea Bonfire Night, Lagotto Romagnolo (Miss Leah & Mx Luke Sharp)

What a duo this young puppy makes with his equally young handler. Both starting out on their dog showing adventure. I hope you both continue. This 8-month brown male is squarely built with good head proportions; his head is masculine with dark eye to tone with his coat colour. Body is developing nicely. Once handler and puppy got it together, he moved out well.

Junior 1

1st Deltandamba Go West, Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling) (Mrs A & Mr J Gregory)

Handsome male of 15 months. Head is masculine, with a slight wedge shape, flat cheeks and moderate stop. He is compact but still needs to develop more through body. Decent angles both ends, moved out well showing off his jaunty stride. 

Post Graduate 3 (1)

1st Taramount Pure Imagination, Spaniel (American Cocker) (Mr N & Mrs G Tadhunter)

Feminine buff of 4 years, who’s well developed head is balanced with rounded skull, eyes are dark and round and look at you with a gentle expression. She has correct body proportions, good depth of chest, I would just have preferred her topline to have a gentle slope, but it was firm. She carried herself well on the move, with correct tail carriage.

2nd Deltandamba Go West, Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling) (Mrs A & Mr J Gregory)

Repeat of Junior

Open 6 (1)

1st Zakova Aria, German Shorthaired Pointer (Mrs S E Warrington)

Beautiful shapely bitch that I have judged before and have no reason to change my opinion of her. She is well balanced, with pretty head and super dark eye, her muscular neck is of good length, straight front, with good bone and feet. She stands over plenty of ground, has good depth and strength though her body. Her rear quarters are well muscled with well bent stifle. She moves with grace and purpose showing good reach in front and drive behind. Happy to award her BAVNSC and G2.

2nd Deanway Proper Charlie, Spaniel (Sussex) (Mrs A L Moon)

Lovely male of almost 6 years, head is balanced with wide skull that is slightly curved. Eyes of correct colour giving him a soft and gentle expression. He has good depth of chest, has strength through body, level topline that he held on the move, well angled at both ends with good width of thigh and well bent stifle. Movement was fluid and true both for and aft. RBAVNSC

3rd Blue Jewel’s Garvin (Imp Che), Spaniel (Irish Water) (Miss L Hewett)

AV Gundog Veteran 9 (5)

1st Swe Ch Line Sam Appealing Partner (Imp Swe), Spaniel (Cocker) (Dr A Lundin)

Super male of 9 years, he makes a good shape standing, balanced masculine head, he has a good reach of neck that flows into his level topline. Well angled forequarters, with good bone and feet. He has good depth and is well ribbed. Rear quarters are muscular and he used them well on the move, and he moved out well with cocker bustle and making good use of his tail.

2nd Foxhampton Fields of Gold, Spaniel (Sussex) (Mrs A L Moon)

Impressive male of 7 years, masculine head that is balanced, his body is deep and muscular, well angled fore and aft, his movement was true both coming and going, such a happy boy, he never stopped wagging. 

3rd Hameldowntor Music of The Night VW, Retriever (Flat Coated) (Mr A J Wilson)

Native Venerable Breeds Stakes

Puppy 10 (1)

1st Calmarlin Ophelia, Dandie Dinmont Terrier (Miss K & Lord A Davies)

I was really impressed with this 11 month pepper bitch, she is so together for her age. Her large strongly made head is in proportion to her body and covered with silky hair. Body is firm with correct topline, which is rather low at the shoulder and rising over the loin. Front and rear angulation corresponds; she has good rib. She moved out showing her free and easy stride, I could not ger passed her for Best NVB

2nd Vanitonia Strike A Pose at Winhampton, Spaniel (Clumber) (Mrs S A & Miss L L M Wilson)

Repeat

3rd Ladamis Prince of Darkness with Mellowdee, Breed: Old English Sheepdog (Mrs T Porter)

Junior 1

Droveborough One Love, English Setter (Mrs P D Wynne-Evans)

Pretty tricolour bitch whose head is feminine with dark eye, slightly oval skull with well-defined stop and fairly square muzzle. Her muscular neck flows cleanly into her level topline. She has decent depth, straight in front with good bone. Rear quarters are well angled with good width of thigh and bend of stifle. She moved out with graceful ground covering strides carrying her head correctly.

Post Graduate 11 (5)

1st Latjeata Cup of Kindness JW, English Setter (Mrs L A Beasley)

Super O/B bitch of 2 years, she has a lovely balanced head with dark eye giving an expressive expression. Stood, she has clean outline, well angled front and rear. Body is deep with well sprung ribs, neck of good length, level topline that she held on the move, and she moved out with lovely front extension and driving from the rear.

2nd Afterglow's Golden Ticket (Imp Usa), Breed: Sealyham Terrier (Ms Sa & Mr E & Mrs L Pawson Mantle & Mantle & Inman Lee)

Smart workmanlike male of 2 years, masculine head with dark well-set eyes. Good depth and rib, body is firm and level, rear quarters are muscular, he moved out well once settled, coat was in good wiry condition.

3rd Elskerwoo Silver Lining, Breed: Spaniel (Clumber) (Mr J & Mrs C Sainsbury)

Open 17 (10)

1st Mellowdee Sapphire Moon avec Meldale JW, Breed: Old English Sheepdog (Ms M S & Mrs V J Leggett)

Super squarely built male of 3 years. Appeals in head. His compact body is deep with well sprung ribs, he has good bone, well angled front and rear, and rear quarters are well muscled. He moved out true both coming and going with great reach and drive. Shown in excellent coat and condition.

2nd Holbam Midsummer Knight at Ruffmar (ai) JW OSW ShCEx, Breed: Irish Terrier (Miss M Ruffles)

Pleasing male he has a lovely head that is long with correct flat skull and dark eye. Neck is of good length and flows into his firm level topline. His body is deep through chest, rear quarters are well muscled, and he moved out with good propulsion and style. Shown in lovely harsh wiry coat.

3rd Elskerwoo Cloudy Skies JW, Breed: Spaniel (Clumber) (Mr J & Mrs C Sainsbury)

AV Gundog Reserve BOB Stakes

1st Winsleywood Wicked JW, Retriever (Labrador)(Ms A Scutcher)

This impressive 2-year-old bitch headed a quality class of RBOB’s, feminine head with kindly expression from her dark eyes. Muscular neck of good length, well off for depth, with lovely, barrelled rib. She makes a compact balanced shape on the stack; decent angles front and rear and powers around the ring with great reach and drive.

Rocky Mountain AV Veteran Stakes

1st Otto The Maverick Prince, West Highland White Terrier (Mr N & Mrs G Tadhunter)

Smart male with pleasing head with correctly tipped ears, compact and firm body, with great depth. Good reach of neck into firmly held topline, straight front, muscular rear quarters, which he used to advantage on the move.

2nd Valdosta Dare to Dream of Savendie, Shetland Sheepdog (Miss L Mettan-Ure)

Pretty head on this shapely bitch, she has a balanced symmetrical outline, she is well bodied, forequarters are well angled with good return of upper arm, rear quarters corresponding with good bend of stifle and lovely width of thigh. She moved out well covering the ground with her smooth graceful movement.

3rd Nuthouse Queen of Clubs JW, Breed: Rhodesian Ridgeback (Mr J & Mrs S Hicks)

Gundog Group

G1 Elskerwoo Cloudy Skies JW, Spaniel Clumber (Mr J & Mrs C Sainsbury)

Repeat BOB Clumber Spaniel

G2 Zakova Aria, German Shorthaired Pointer (Mrs S E Warrington)

Repeat BAVNSC

G3 Kidenoan Mark Time for Merrem JW, Breed: Spaniel (Welsh Springer) (Mr C & Mrs K Stone)

Loved the head on this male, he looks at you with such a gentle expression, he is symmetrical in outline, has strength though the body and moves out well using his well-muscled rear quarters.

G4 Spuffing Prosecco, Breed: Spaniel (English Springer) (Mrs J Weyman)

Pretty L&W bitch shows a balanced outline when stacked she is well ribbed, firm level topline that she holds on the move, and she moves out with good reach and drive.

PG1 Mezovad Athena, Breed: Hungarian Vizsla (Miss V & Mr J Parker & Gist)

Stylish youngster of just 6 months but already showing great promise, head is feminine, lean and noble. She is firm though the body and moves out with graceful style.

PG2 Bona Fama Kaprys Rejenta at Benginger (Imp Pol), Breed: Spaniel (Clumber) (Mr M & Mrs C Benge)

Repeat BP Clumber Spaniel

PG3 Babtonkelpie Ship Happens, Breed: Spaniel (Cocker) (Messrs J & D Hutton-Baber)

Lovley puppy of 9 months, head is developing nicely, body is compact and strong. Carries herself well on the move holding her shape.

PG4 Sharnphilly She's A Cracker with Roydack, Breed: Weimaraner (Mrs S & Miss H Upton-Lovett & Upton)

Shapley bitch, although giving her handler a hard time and wasn’t too keen to show it off! Head is feminine and balanced. Body is developing as it should, she moves with firm topline and ground covering strides.

Lesley McCourt