Cheshire Agricultural Society

Thank you to the Officers and Committee for their kind invitation to judge at this Premier Open Show and their hospitality on the day, and to my stewards, Jen and Hilary, for keeping the ring running smoothly. I had some lovely dogs to judge and thoroughly enjoyed my day.

Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael)

PG: (2,1) 1st Jefferson’s Chrisvale Angel of Music at Woodfox, 4-year-old bitch. Clean, wedge head of good proportions with parallel planes and very slight stop and good underjaw. Almond eye of good size and set well with high set ears of good length. Good, square outline with a well laid shoulder and moderate return of upper arm of good length. Good bone but would prefer a touch more arch of toe. Good length of rib and short croup, straight back and good depth chest with a gently sloping croup into a well angled rear with short rear pasterns and low set tail. Really steady on move, with a brisk stride. Best of Breed

O: (4,1) 1st Mcnamara & Gardiner’s Ch Kehala Dream Come True, 3 ½ year-old bitch. Feminine head and expression with a clean wedge and slightly longer muzzle and good underjaw. Lovely almond eye with high set ears, although I’d prefer them a touch smaller. Nice outline with good length of neck and firm back of good length with good chest and short loin. Well angulated front and rear with good bone and feet. Moved well, balanced front and rear and clean coming and going. Reserve Best of Breed

2nd Hall‘s Debruix Inspector Lestrade*, 2-year-old dog. Lovely head, well balanced with good length of muzzle. Lovely eye set well and well-set ears of good size. I preferred the front of the winner, as a touch shorter in upper arm. Good length rib and short loin with sloping croup and well-set tail into a well angulated rear. Moved with drive but I’d have preferred a touch more reach. 

3rd Snook & Fowler’s Ugni-Blanc Des Perles Noires at Ashjack (Imp Fra)

Australian Cattle Dog

P: (1) 1st Bailey’s Alira Redheart Linden Algona at Bryndingo (Imp Svk), 6-month-old red speckled bitch with lots to like. Broad skull with a good stop and well filled muzzle of good length. Oval eyes of good size with wide set ears, although I’d prefer a touch smaller. Balanced in outline with good length of leg and well angulated front and rear. Level back with well sprung rib and a gentle slope to croup with low set tail. Sound and balanced on the move, with reach and drive. Reserve Best of Breed and Best Puppy in Breed

SY: (1) 1st Greenhill’s Evaland Vuk (Imp Lva), 16-month-old blue mottled dog. Strong head with broad skull with slightly curved forehead. Strong muzzle, slightly shorter than skull with muscular cheeks. Ears are wide set, but I’d prefer them slightly smaller and eyes are a touch small. Compact in outline with a strong neck and firm back with well sprung rib and short loin. Well laid-back shoulder and good return of upper arm but I’d prefer a touch more bend of stifle. A touch wide in front on the move and I’d have preferred more drive. 

O: (1) 1st Greenhill’s Nymph Carpathian Dingo (Imp Svk), 2-year-old blue bitch who appealed for her overall proportions. Strong head, but not coarse, with a broad skull and slight curve of forehead, and strong muzzle. Lovely dark eye of good size and set well, with medium-size ears set will apart with good width at the base. Enough neck, with well laid-back shoulder and good return and length of upper arm. Strong, level back with short loin and good ribs with slightly sloping croup. Well angulated rear with short rear pasterns. Balanced on the move. Best of Breed. 

Bearded Collie

P: (2) there were 2 lovely babies in this classes which was headed by 1st Lewin’s Potterdale Phuture Plus, 6-month-old black & white bitch. Lovely head with good size skull of good width and equal length of muzzle. Lovely eye with good pigmentation and well-set ears. Super outline with good neck of neck and back, short loin and gently sloping croup and low set tail of good length. Good depth of chest and bone. Super front and rear angulation which allowed to her, once settled, move effortlessly with reach and drive. Best Puppy and Reserve Best of Breed, and I was delighted to learn later she won the Pastoral Puppy Group, best of luck with her in the future. 

2nd Ayrton’s Briarsfield Little Swan at Aoibh, 9-month-old black & white bitch. Muzzle and skull equal in length but a touch narrower in width of skull. Balanced outline with good length of neck and back and good length of rib and short loin. I preferred the front of the winner, but she moved well and with ease, keeping her topline well.  

SY: (1) 1st Jellie’s Kiltondale Johnny Cash at Jellwell, 22-month-old slate & white dog. Good strong head with a square skull and strong muzzle of equal length, moderate stop, nice eye and well-set ears. A little shorter in neck than I’d prefer but a good length of back. Well angulated front and rear. Good depth of chest and spring of rib. In full coat of correct texture. A bit lethargic on the move but was balanced with good length of stride. 

O: (2) 2 lovely veterans in this class. 1st Cooper’s Tybury's Song of Ice and Fire, 7-year-old blue & white bitch. Lovely head proportions with a flat, square skull, muzzle of equal length and good width and moderate stop. Lovely teeth and underjaw and kind eyes set correctly. Good overall proportions with lovely outline, good neck and level, firm back of good length. Well laid shoulder and return of upper arm, and well angle hindquarters. In good coat and condition and lovely on the move, covering the ground with ease and keeping her topline. Best of Breed. 

2nd Kneeshaw’s Adjucet Stand by Me, 7-year-old brown & white bitch. Again, a lovely head of correct proportions. Lovely length of neck but a touch longer in back than the winner and I preferred the front of the winner. Well angulated rear with short rear pasterns and good length of tail. Balanced on the move but preferred the extra length of stride of the winner.  

Catalan Sheepdog

J: (1) 1st Roberts’ Bouvibear Emerald Banjo, 13-month-old fawn dog. Promising youngster with a well-proportioned head. Skull lightly longer than wide with a slightly shorter muzzle, good stop and well-set ears and dark eye with good pigmentation. Compact body developing nicely with level topline and good spring of rib and gently sloping croup. Balanced angulation front and rear and balanced on the move, keeping his topline well. In good coat of good texture. Best of Breed.  

PG: (1,1)

Hungarian Pumi 

PG: (2) 1st Wesson’s Csulli Lemonade Kisses, 3-year-old white bitch who appealed for her overall proportions. Good head made up of two rectangular halves with muzzle slightly shorter. Lovely, dark oval eye and ears of good size, although I would prefer ears bit higher set. Good pigmentation. Level back with good length of rib and short loin to give a square outline with high set tail. Moderate angles front and rear. A touch deeper in chest. Lovely on the move, with balanced, shorter steps but minimal lift. Coat of good texture and well presented. Best of Breed.  

2nd Edwards’ Schnaubern Fawaris, 3-year-old white dog. A touch broader in skull, but with a good length of muzzle and well set dark, oval eye. Good square outline with good length of neck, but a bit steeper in upper arm than the winner and straighter hind angulation. Didn’t move with the drive of the winner.

O: (2) 1st Wesson’s Csulli Christmas Candy, 6-year-old grey bitch. Good length of muzzle and lovely eye, but a little wider in skull. Ears well set bit tipping more heavily. Good square outline and proportions with good length of rib and short loin, well sprung rib of good depth with moderate, balanced angulation front and rear. Tail a little tightly curled. Balanced and sound on the move, with short, brisk strides. Reserve Best of Breed. 

2nd Edwards’ Cseresznyeskerti-Csalfa Zajos (Imp Hun), 12-year-old black dog in good condition. A touch wider in skull but muzzle of good length and slight stop, well set eyes and ears. Square in outline and good length of neck and rib, but topline slightly sloping. Moderate angulation front and rear but not moving today with the enthusiasm of the youngsters. 

Carnilove A.V. Non-Sporting Puppy Stakes - Puppy

What a super class of youngsters, I really was spoilt for choice and ended up with quite a large shortlist! 1st Harrison’s Zefather's Pretty Woman to Jasnettdanes, Great Dane, 9-month-old fawn bitch. Just loved this girl, super proportions throughout with a clean and balanced head, lovely eye and well-set ears of good size. Super outline with a long, arched neck and level back. Good depth of chest and spring of rib and well-muscled throughout. Well-laid shoulder and good return of upper arm with well angled hindquarters with no exaggeration. Super, compact feet. A joy to watch on the move, balanced and covering the ground with ease. Best of luck with her in the future. 

2nd Billington‘s Shalissa's Louis Vuitton avec Aquepins, Dobermann, 8-month-old black & tan dog. Again, beautifully balanced both on the stand and the move. Clean head of good length with flat skull. Lovely almond eye and high set ears of good size. Good length of neck and back giving a square outline, super chest and good forechest. Well angulated front and rear with short rear pasterns and compact feet. Lovely on the move. 

3rd Lewin’s Potterdale Phuture Plus, Bearded Collie.

Ferplast A.V. Non-Sporting Special Beginner Stakes - Special Beginners

1st Clough’s Evad Lite Breeze, Sheltand Sheepdog, 5-year-old sable & white dog who I have judged before. Lots to like, with a lovely outline. Good head with a super almond eye and well-set ears. Standing looks a picture, with a lovely neck and good reach of back and a gentle sweep over the loins to a low set tail. Well angulated front and rear and moved with ease, covering the ground well. In good coat of correct texture which was very well presented. 

2nd Weaver’s Shalissa's Dolce An Gabanna, Dobermann, 7-month-old black & tan dog. Lovely square outline with a good, slightly sloping topline, good depth of chest with spring of rib. Head maturing nicely and of good length with a nice eye. Moved with an easy stride. 

3rd Smith’s Ceranda Gower Diamond, Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)

JUDGE Sophie Wray-Ramsden (Takhisis)