My thanks to the exhibitors for a fantastic entry and also the Show Manager for the hard work I know she puts in to ensure the smooth running of the show. I was rather disappointed with movement in quite a number of exhibits, due in the main to incorrect rear angulation. Pasterns were also weak in a few cases, road walking would be beneficial. There also appears to be an increasing number of large, round, splayed feet, far removed from the small, slightly oval, tightly closed, well arched toes the standard requires, with toes turning neither in nor out. Dentition was good, as were temperaments. Tail sets in the main were tight and central and coat colour and texture were satisfactory. It was a joy to see the sheer quality of the veteran classes.

Minor Puppy Dog (5.0) 1. Cree’s Ravenstone Toastmaster. Promising youngster, just six months. Pleasing outline, correct angulation, clear colour, steady on the move. BP. 2. Bingham’s Ravenstone Bingham’s Bomb of Steldawn. Litter brother to 1 and very similar in type and construction. Attractive head, dark eye and mask, not as steady on the move as 1. 3. Middleton’s Ithim Agus Suim. Good profile, shoulders well laid back, adequate forechest. Would prefer a longer muzzle. Puppy Dog (0.0) Junior Dog (3.0) 1. Cowper’s Kestos Motivator of Rothenborg. Compact dog of good type. Well sprung ribs, level topline, excellent tailset. Pleasing head and expression. Slight overangulation at the back, but overall a quality dog. 2. Bingham’s Kritiko High and Mighty of Steldawn. Not as compact as 1, nor as steady on the move. Coat of correct texture and colour, dark eye. 3. Morris’ Stubbina Eagle Owl. Excellent head and expression. Dark mask and ears, heavier build than 1 & 2, unsettled on the move. Yearling Dog (5.0) 1. Kestos Motivator of Rothenborg. 2. Hobson’s Graythor Norwegian Spirit. Now more settled in the ring. Typical masculine head with pleasing expression. Adequate bone, neat feet. Well set, central tail. Steady on the move. Not quite as compact as 1. 3. Long’s Bowerhinton Beltain at Vinelka. Smaller in stature than 2. Dark head and eye, good angulation. Effortless on the move, just needs to broaden in front. Novice Dog (1.0) 1. Windheuser’s Cakirjo the Hooded Man. Not as compact as I would like. Well sprung ribs, level topline. Adequate bone. Not on his best behaviour. Debutant Dog (1.0) Bowerhinton Beltain at Vinelka. Graduate Dog (5.0) 1. Graythor Norwegian Spirit. 2. Gilbert’s Barlestone Ingolf. Pleasing profile. Good spring of rib, broad in loin, not as positive on the move as 1. 3. Thomas’ Malenibo Kynedyr. Strong, masculine head with dark points, well off for bone, needs to broaden in loin, exuberant on the move. Slightly longer cast than 1 & 2. Post Graduate Dog. (5.0) 1.Jobson’s Steldawn Showdown. Very typical, well balanced and constructed. Clear grey coat of correct texture. Moved well, completely in accord with his young handler. 2. Malenibo Kynedyr. 3. Bowerhinton Beltain at Vinelka. Minor Limit Dog (2.0) 1. Jobson’s Kestos Double O Seven. Similar in type to his kennel mate. Good reach of neck, level topline. Balanced masculine head, dark eye and ears. Moved with drive. 2. Newell’s Kestos Lexis. Heavier build than 1 but in no way overdone, strong in neck, broad in loin and short in couplings. Correct coat of harsh texture. Lacking drive on the move. Limit Dog (12.2) 1. Tress’ Bowerhinton Bright Knight at Cakirjo. Excelled in type and construction. Appealing head of correct proportions. Strong wide loin, short in couplings, tight central tail. His good confirmation was reflected in his effortless movement. All credit to his new owners whose hard work has been rewarded. CC & BIS. 2. Brewin’s Kestos Just Jack at Liondyke. Presents a square outline. Correct leg to body ratio, adequate bone, correct feet, steady on the move. Preferred the expression of 1 and did not have the drive on the move. 3. Mead’s Barlestone Hakon. Heavier type, very sound. Firm back with well sprung ribs. Coat of good texture, neat ears. Not as typical in head as 1 & 2. Open Dog (11.2) 1. Middleton’s Ch. Kestos I Spy at Graythor JW ShCM. A dog of good type and quality. Super profile. Strong in neck, correct front angulation, adequate forechest. Well proportioned head. Colour could be clearer. Lost out to the CC winner on topline and drive on the move. RCC & RBIS. 2. Poole’s Barlestone Gustaf. Eye catching dog, super coat colour and texture. Strong masculine head with typical friendly expression. Straight front, well off for bone. Steady on the move. Not as compact as 1. 3. Adams’ Ch. Kestos Vinny Jones. Pleasing profile, compact, not quite the lay back of shoulder of 1 & 2. Deep, broad chest and short in couplings, not moving away well. Coat on the blow.   Michelle Lucas Special Beginners Dog (7.0) 1. Bowerhinton Bright Knight at Cakirjo. 2. Steldawn Showdown. 3. Kestos Double O Seven. Special Newcomers Dog (1.0) Gilluley’s Bowerhinton Bonanza. Strong powerful dog. Liked his head and expression. Well off for bone. Moved OK. Special Veteran Dog (7-10yrs) (6.1) 1. Walter-Browne’s Ch. Ravenstone Reason to Dance at Oseberg. Presented in good condition, well sprung ribs, broad in loin, level top and underline. Correct angulation, compact. Well set tail. Moved with purpose. BVD. 2. Haugstad’s Ch. Ardenspoie Skogley. Square in outline, pleasing head with dark mask and ears. Straight front, effortless on the move. Lost out on tail set and underline to 1. 3 Newell’s Kestos Kalan. Another striking, well proportioned dog. Strong, balanced masculine head, dark eye giving typical expression. Good bone, correct tail set. Did not move as well as 1 & 2, but very little to choose between the three.  

Minor Puppy Bitch (5.0) 1. Cree’s Shundelko Shannika. Confident young lady, just six months. Pleasing outline, short coupled. Good bone. Attractive head, dark eye, steady on the move. 2. Passey’s Shundelko Shakeira. Litter sister to 1 and very similar in type and construction. Not as steady on the move as 1. Two very promising bitches. 3. Harper’s Ravenstone Cheers. Good type, correct leg to body ratio. Level topline. Clear colour. Not quite as compact as 1 & 2. Puppy Bitch (4.0) 1. Ravenstone Cheers. 2 May’s Kestos Hectic. Slightly longer cast than 1.  Well proportioned head with dark points, correct angulation. Neat feet. Not at her best on the move. 3. Mortimer’s Laakso Pikku Susi. Clear grey coat of correct texture, level topline and tight central tail. Moved with purpose, but a little close behind. Junior Bitch (1.0) Bingham’s Kritiko Hurly Burly of Steldawn. Promising bitch, pleasing outline, correct angulation. Attractive head with friendly expression. Good length of leg with correct feet. Moved well.  Yearling Bitch (4.0) Walter-Browne’s Barlestone Kaia at Oseberg. Very attractive feminine head, with dark muzzle and ears. Maturing nicely in body with good spring of rib and width in loin. Level top line and very little tuck up. Well set tail with tight curl. A real show girl. 2. Gray’s Bowerhinton Better Behave. Typical in head and expression correct angles, neat feet. Steady on the move. Not quite the ring presence of 1.3. Datta’s Cakirjo’s Moonlight Shadow. Completed a trio of correct, well shaped feminine heads. Shorter in leg than 1 & 2. Coat of correct texture and colour. Moved OK. Novice Bitch. (1.0) Murphy’s Shundelko Silver Sixpence. Well constructed bitch, well off for bone. Straight front. Moved well. Would prefer a darker muzzle.  Debutant Bitch (3.0) 1. Ravenstone Cheers. 2. Moughton’s Ravenstone Fivestar. Litter sister to 1. Well proportioned, pleasing profile. Level topline, perfect tail set. Not as steady on the move as 1. 3. Long’s Vinelka Merlot. Good colour and coat, well shaped head with dark eye and friendly expression. Well laid back shoulder. Shorter in leg than 1 & 2. Tended to drop her tail.  Graduate Bitch (7.0) 1. Murphy & McKie’s Kestos Ikan. Excellent profile. Correct angulation front and rear, level topline. Pleasing head and expression, dark eye. Free mover. 2. Collins’ Malenibo Kaitlyn. A lot to like about this bitch. Fuller in body than 1 with a deeper chest. Short in couplings, correct tail set. Good bone. Not as positive on the move as 1 and does not always show to her best advantage. 3. Bowerhinton Better Behave. Post Graduate Bitch. (10.0) 1. Malenibo Kaitlyn. 2. Houghton’s Barlestone Elisa. Rather headstrong but full of character. Very feminine, good spring of rib, level topline. Adequate bone. Just preferred the substance of 1. 3. Granne’s Kestos Gaupa. Presented a good profile with correct angles front and rear. Good length of leg. Not the typical feminine expression of 1 & 2.  Minor Limit Bitch (5.0) 1. Barlestone Kaia at Oseberg. 2. Malenibo Kaitlyn. 3. Barlestone Elisa.  Limit Bitch (10.2) 1. Mortimer’s Carolon Kash N Kracker. Typical bitch, clean lines. Close jacket of clear grey. Well sprung ribs, broad loin, neat underline. Moved well going away, but just a shade wide in front. 2. Passey’s Shundelko Silver Starlette. Square outline, good front, strong broad back. Moved OK. Preferred type of 1. 3. Hibbert’s Windy Cove Whistleing Dixie to Yggdrasil (imp). Quite an eye catching bitch. Excellent profile. Well balanced with good length of leg. Super colour and coat of correct texture. Well set tail. Movement let her down today.  Open Bitch. (10.2) 1. Hicks’ Malenibo Lakeisha.  Bitch of good type, shown in top condition. Well sprung ribs. Level topline held on the move. Strong wide loin. Moved with reach and drive. RCC. 2. Maun’s Ch./Int./Ir. Ch. Bowerhinton Betterbelieveit JW ShCM. Liked this bitch as a puppy. Attractive head and expression. Strong neck with good lay back of shoulder, deep chest. Disappointingly sluggish on the move today. 3. Windsor’s Ch. Yggdrasil Raincloud. Sound bitch, well constructed with good bone. Coat of good texture and clear grey. Correct central tail. Free mover. Not as typical in expression as 1 & 2.  Michelle Lucas Special Beginners Bitch. (6.1) 1. Tress’ Bowerhinton Bumble Bee. Larger type. Coat of clear grey, adequate bone. Deep chest, slightly long in rib. Head of correct proportions. Dark eye. Straight front, neat feet. 2. Ravenstone Fivestar. 3. Long’s Barbelka Fiscal at Vinelka. Cobby bitch, square with level topline and well sprung ribs. Well off for bone. Not moving well in front.  Special Newcomers Bitch (4.2) 1. Cakirjo Moonlight Shadow. 2. Ravenstone Fivestar.  Special Veteran Bitch (7-10yrs) 1. Passey’s Ch. Kestos Keira at Shundelko. Super bitch, pure breed type, typical in every aspect. Square, short in couplings, strong level back. Correct angulation front and rear which was reflected in her effortless movement. Possibly a shade overweight, but with a bitch of such quality this was something I was prepared to overlook. CC, BOS & BVIS. 2. Hick’s Malenibo Myth and Magic. Slightly bigger build than 1 and longer cast, but again a quality bitch presented in good condition. Very sound, good bone. Correct wedge shaped head. Moved with drive and purpose. 3. Barganska’s Ch. Barbelka Eliksyr. An old favourite of mine. Well balanced. Attractive head and expression, good reach of neck, broad strong back, steady on the move. Just a touch out of condition due to recent litter.  Special Veteran Bitch (10 +yrs) 1. Middleton’s Kestos Weekender. Difficult to believe that this bitch is 12 years old. In super hard condition, not overdone in any way. Well proportioned. Showed and moved well. A credit to her owner. 2. Passey’s Ch. Shundelko Anisha. Quality bitch, everything in proportion. Good coat and colour, still a joy to watch on the move. Not in as hard condition as 1. Murphy& McKie’s Ch. Shundelko Anoushka. Litter sister to 2 and of similar build and quality. Well off for bone, sweet feminine expression, stylish on the move. Not the close jacket of 2 and again lacking the hard condition of 1. A trio of quality bitches.  Brace. 1. Mortimer’s. 2. Passey’s. 3. Murphy & McKie’s.  Brood bitch. 1. Hick’s Malenibo Myth and Magic. 2. Cole’s Ch. Bowerhinton Breheny JW. 3. Barganska’s Barbelka Calusek.

Stuart Horner (Judge)