Burnley & District Canine Society

BURNLEY & DISTRICT CANINE SOCIETY OPEN SHOW 

12 September 2026

Judge: Lini Owen (Svetllen)

I was pleased to stand in as last-minute replacement judge for Alaskan Malamutes and Welsh Corgis (Cardigan) on this wet and windy but thoroughly enjoyable day. Although the entry was not mine, I had the privilege of going over some lovely dogs. My thanks to the exhibitors for accepting my decisions with good sportsmanship and grace, and to my stewards Matt and Karen for keeping the ring running smoothly.

WELSH CORGI (CARDIGAN)

Special Yearling 

(2,1) 1st Smith’s Ancksunamun Host of Goa’uld with Yecartracey Rising two, handsome black and white dog with brindle points. Lively and exuberant; lovely temperament. Pleasing in outline, presents typical sturdy outlook, with strong level back and well-carried foxbrush tail. Large ears with slightly rounded tips set the correct width apart on his flat, broad skull. Medium-sized eye with good, keen expression. Has strength to tapering muzzle and a moderate stop. A nice dog to go over, he has a strong, level topline with well-sprung ribs carried well back. His front angles are correct and forearm is nicely moulded around his deep chest. Good, strong bone all through. His hindquarters are also well-angulated, with short, straight rear pasterns. Presented in good weatherproof coat of straight, hard quality to hairs. Moved freely with good drive on strong, well-padded round feet and maintained his smooth and steady action in the Challenge to win BOB. 

Open 

(2,1) 1st Smith’s Ceranda Gower Diamond JW Pretty and feminine brindle and white bitch, 4 years old. Pleasing head qualities, with a kind but alert expression. Her skull is flat and broad, with large, round-tipped ears set the correct width apart. Eyes are medium-sized, dark, and expressive. Muzzle tapers moderately to nose. Moderately angulated in front and rear, with strong, well-boned forelegs and elbows set close to sides, moulding forearms around chest. Good length to body. Rear angles complement her front. Well-ribbed up and carrying good muscle, but not quite as strong and level in topline as her kennelmate today and feet could just be a little tighter, although large and the correct round shape with good, thick pads. Carries a weather-resistant coat of excellent hard, straight texture to guard hairs, just starting to moult. Another who moved well, showing free movement when settled with decent reach and drive. RBOB.

ALASKAN MALAMUTE

A lovely entry numerically as well as in depth and breadth of quality; I did wish I had more red cards to award. 

Puppy

(1,0) 1st Phoenix’s D'Alkontres Spice Up Your Life Nordicwinds (IMP ITA) Super puppy bitch, grey and white, almost 10 months old. Lovely proportions and balance, with correct length of leg. Good, strong bone. Loved her head qualities: she has a broad, powerful skull with neat triangular ears, slightly rounded at the tips, set well apart, with thick leather. Slight stop, muzzle tapering very gently. Obliquely set dark-brown eyes, almond shaped, with intelligent and cheeky expression. Well-boned and with good substance all through and good depth of chest for her age. Well ribbed up and has good length of body. She is moderate and balanced in angulation front and rear, with low-set hocks and straight, strong rear pasterns. Stands on excellent strong feet, arched, of good size, and thickly padded. Thickly furred tail set on and carried correctly. She is covered in coat of correct coarse, weather-proof texture. Despite her tender age she was one of the best movers here today, covering ground easily and fluidly with ample reach and strong, steady propulsive drive from her powerful hindquarters. Best Puppy, and I was pleased to watch her win Working Puppy Group 2 later. Given her promise I am sure a stellar future awaits.

Postgraduate

(2,0) 1st Phoenix’s D'Alkontres Spice Up Your Life Nordicwinds (IMP ITA) See notes for 1st in Puppy.

2nd Perfitts’ Samjoe’s The One and Only VW Rising 9 years, lovely wolf-grey and white bitch, still very sound and powerfully muscled all through. Covered in profuse coat of stand-out, coarse texture with ample undercoat of good density. Feminine, with lovely obliquely set almond-shaped brown eyes and small, thick erect ears set well apart. Could just take more breadth to skull and muzzle. She is well-constructed all through, with good depth of chest and layback of shoulder, and strong, straight, well-boned legs with excellent strength to pasterns and feet despite her years. Good length of body and strong loin, she has moderate turn of stifle to short, strong rear pasterns. Would just like slightly more length of leg. A strong mover with powerful driving action and minimal lift of paws, she covered plenty of ground, holding her topline well. I was delighted to hear she won Best Working Veteran later in the day. Handled to perfection by her young handler, and I was not surprised to be informed that this lovely partnership also won Best Junior Handler. Well done!

Limit 

(1,0) 1st Perfitts’ Samjoe Seelie Queen Striking wolf-grey and white bitch, almost 4 years old. In between coats today so hiding nothing, she catches the eye immediately for her excellent balance, proportions and overall construction. Gives impression of strength and power, yet there is no denying her femininity. Lovely head qualities, strength and breadth to gently rounded skull topped with neat, thick triangular ears set at the correct width apart. Strong muzzle and slight stop. Beautiful almond-shaped dark brown eyes set in oblique lines give her typical intelligent and kind outlook. Head carriage noble and proud on the stand, commanding attention, neck well-muscled and arched. Good ratio of leg to body length, with well-laid shoulder and strong bone all through. Good depth of chest and straight, strong forelegs with very slight slope to pasterns, leading into large, strong, well-padded feet. She carries good ribbing to a firm, well-muscled loin. Powerful hindquarters with moderate bend of stifle and low-set hocks, with muscular thigh. Her profusely furred tail is set on moderately high and carried over her back in a gentle curve. Carrying weatherproof double coat of good coarse texture, light on undercoat today but what was present was correct. A little unsettled on the move in this class, she came into her own in the Challenge, exuding power and propulsive drive as she covered ground, topline held steady and firm with no wasted lift of feet, action suggestive of tremendous endurance and freighting ability. Happy to award this lovely honest example BOB today, and I was so pleased to watch her go on to take Working Group 1, and then Reserve Best in Show, in very strong company. 

Open 

(2,0) 1st Perfitts’ Samjoe Shadowhunter JW Handsome wolf-grey and white male, almost 4 years old, I see litter brother to the BOB and many of the same comments apply. Presents desired outlook of a powerful freighting Spitz, with good strength of bone and well-muscled all through. He has the friendly, intelligent expression typical of the breed, head clean but powerful and masculine, with slightly rounded, broad skull and wide, gently tapering muzzle. Very well put together, with excellent balance and overall proportions and the right length of leg. His shoulder is long and sloping, set at moderate angle to upper arm, leading into strongly boned and muscled forelegs and strong, very slightly sloping pasterns. Chest deep and ribs well-sprung, ribcage carried well back to a firm, broad loin. Moderate angles to his strong hindquarters, well-let down hocks firm and broad. Tail set on and carriage correct standing and on the move. Carrying more coat today than his littermate, and the guard hairs were of good coarse texture with dense undercoat. He powered off on large, strong, well-padded feet, his driving, steady gait translating into fluid, effortless ground-covering strides that made short work of the ring, straight and accurate on the down and back. A very appealing male who maintained consistency of action throughout, but on this occasion unlucky to meet his littermate who was on top form in the Challenge today. RBOB

2nd Phoenix’s Snow Legend Zenith of Fame Nordicwinds JW ShCEx OSW (IMP RUS) Impressive 5 year old sable male, mature and in full bloom, a strong contender today. Covered in thick, coarse, stand-out outer coat with abundant dense undercoat, beautifully presented. He has a strong, masculine wedge-shaped head, neat small triangular ears, with thick leather, erect and set correctly. Skull powerful and broad, with very gentle taper to muzzle from stop. Powerful bone and substance all through, very well-muscled. Presents an eye-catching outline on the stand, with strong, arched neck leading into well-laid shoulder, moderate angulation front and rear, with strong, firm, low hocks. He has good depth of brisket, and firm, slightly sloping topline, with correct length of leg completing a picture of balance. His profusely furred tail is set moderately high and carried in a gentle sickle over his back. Stands on strong, well-made feet, large and compact, toes arched and protected with hair, pads thick, large, and tough. His quality construction translated into the rhythmic and enduring driving action I expected as he went round the ring, topline firm and steady. Unfortunately today his focus wavered and he lost his stride on the short run out and back to throw away the class—being determined instead to shoot off a quick pee-mail at the corner! A lovely dog overall who I would like to see in a larger ring, where I suspect he could show off his movement to better advantage.