It was a great honour and a privilege to be asked to judge the bitches at the Club Open Show, and I would like to thank the Committee and the membership for the invitation. Thank you also to my hard-working team of stewards, whose friendly support soon put me at my ease.
The large ring afforded me plenty of opportunity to observe gait, but I must say the surface appeared to be littered with clumps of carpet and other debris in places, which distracted some of the dogs, often at the least opportune moment. Also, one side of the floor was quite slippery, and a number of the veterans in particular found it quite hazardous negotiating the corner.
My overall impressions of my entry were quite favourable. Outlines have noticeably improved over the last few years, as have coat colour and tails. Dentition was on the whole good, although I did find one level bite. Coats were clean and dogs were mostly well presented, except for one or two carrying a shade too much weight. Size seems more even, and most bitches were close to standard size, or at least within the acceptable range. However, I must say that I was struck by the fact that there seems to be a range of different types in the ring at the moment, which presents the judge with a problem in that at times it proves impossible to select animals that match one’s ideal without sacrificing construction and movement. I understand why this has happened, and it disturbs me no end. I found a number of bitches that lacked forechest owing to a short upper arm, the front legs coming too far forward. This can make them appear more compact (an optical illusion!), as the eye does not have to take in the extra body length created by a proper forechest, but does nothing for front action. Feet are also a concern. I found quite a few round, splayed feet, with fat toes and white claws. That said, I was delighted with my principal winners. The fabulous Open Bitch class was an absolute joy, packed with high quality bitches throughout, and there are some very promising youngsters coming up from the lower classes who will trouble them in the future, I’ve no doubt.

Minor Puppy Bitch (3,1) Two promising babies. 1. Weston & Pearson’s Nevelka Show Me Some Lovin at Powdermill. Well-developed body, good angulation, straight limbs. Tail set high and tightly curled, clear colour, dark eyes. Still dressed in her puppy coat and yet to develop in the head.  2.  Allchin’s Carolon Hickory’s Fancy. If I could take just one seedling home to see how it would grow, it would be this one. Sweet little poppet, just six months, short back, good straight front, excellent tail, dark eyes and a pretty head. At the moment, just rising up at the rear, but that will change as she grows on. Not quite as positive on the move as 1. Looked very young against the older puppies.

Puppy Bitch (8, 2) Lovely class that could easily change places another time. 1. Cree’s Barbelka Motyl. Excellent type. A lovely, well-proportioned head with dark eyes, ears and mask. Compact outline, strong bone, well-muscled for her age. Good layback of shoulder with correct forechest, neat feet. Good breadth across the loin and thigh and perfect tail. Moved really well. BPB & RBPIS. 2. Moughton’s Ravenstone Fivestar. More mature bitch, pleasing balanced outline with good length of leg, good bone. Correct close-fitting, clear jacket. A well-shaped, feminine head, just preferred the markings on 1, dark eyes. Well-laid shoulders giving a good reach of neck, hard topline, tightly curled tail. Very sound on the move. 3. Anthony’s Norvin Vesla.

Junior Bitch (4, 1) 1. Ravenstone Fivestar. 2. Mortimer’s Laakso Pikku Susi. Slightly lighter build than 1, good compact body, lovely colour, excellent tail. Dark eyes, ears a little tall. Not quite so true on the move as 1. Shown in hard condition. 3.  Barbelka Muzyka.

Special Yearling Bitch (3, 0) 1. Ravenstone Fivestar. 2. Croxford & Greaves’ Swillyvalley As You Like It of Whittimere. Ably handled to display a nice outline with a good topline and well-curled tail. Correct coat and colour, dark eyes and ears, would prefer a little less stop. A good rear and moved well in profile, not quite the soundness of 1 in front. 3. Barbelka Muzyka.

Novice Bitch (3, 0) 1. Barbelka Muzyka. Up-to-size bitch, good, well-marked wedge head, dark eyes and ears. Strong bone, well-arched neck, single-curl tail. Correct coat and colour. Moved quite soundly behind once she settled, but needs to tighten up in front. 2. Harper’s Ravenstone Cheers. A conundrum. First impressions in the puppy class said here might be a class winner. Feminine, very square, short loin, pretty head, clear coat, good tail and neat feet. A little lighter built than her sibling and preferred her layback of shoulder. Disappointingly, really was not cooperating with her handler and consequently appeared to pick her front feet high off the floor. 3.  Carolon Hickory’s Fancy.

Graduate Bitch (3, 0) 1. Swillyvalley As You Like It of Whittimere. 2. Granne’s Kestos Luna. Taller bitch, slightly longer cast, good bone, tightly curled tail, correct angulation, good clear coat of medium grey. Unfortunately, tending to pace. 3. Ravenstone Cheers.

Post Graduate Bitch (5,2) 1. Gray’s Bowerhinton Better Behave.  A well-constructed bitch. Solidly made, yet feminine. Good bone, correct angulation front and rear and corresponding easy, effortless movement. A well-balanced head with dark ears, eyes and mask. Just a shade longer in the couplings than my principal winners. 2. Allchin’s Carolon Puttin On The Ritz. Compact outline, lovely colour, good bone, tightly curled tail. Preferred the winner’s head. 3.  Brewin’s Graythor Norwegian Star at Liondyke.

Limit Bitch (8,2) 1. Mortimer’s Carolon Kash N Cracker. Really feminine bitch, nice head, although ears a little tall, good straight front and rear and balanced, correct angulation. Level topline which she maintained on the move, good layback of rib, tightly curled, highset tail. One of the best movers of the day. Lovely colour, just wish she had a little more undercoat. 2.  Lake’s Ravenstone Mia Tua of Maubrea. A lovely head with dark eyes and ears, a good coat and colour, excellent bone, well-sprung ribs, loin short and wide and good breadth across the thigh, good straight front and rear. Tending to stand awkwardly, which threw her topline into disarray. 3. Nichols’ Barlestone Johanna.

Open Bitch (7, 0) Here I was totally spoilt for choice. 1. Winsor’s Ch. Yggdrasil Raincloud. I truly love this bitch. She combines good conformation with glamour. A shade taller than some, but feminine throughout. Square outline, good layback of rib, short loin, super bone, balanced angulation, good breadth across the thigh, correct feet. Solidly built, but not heavy, she has plenty of air beneath her. A pleasing head, excellent tailset, and that gorgeous, breathtaking coat. Moved out effortlessly, nothing exaggerated. BB, BOS & RBIS. 2. Anthony’s Norvin Snow Storm.  A very typical, well-constructed, neat bitch. A very compact outline, short loin, excellent layback of shoulder giving a good reach of neck and correct forechest, adequate bone for her size. Excellent topline and underline and leg to body ratio. A good head with a sweet expression, neat dark ears, dark eyes and mask, medium grey, close coat. Tail set high and tightly curled, and a happy disposition. Balanced angulation reflected in her good movement. RBB. 3. Walter-Browne’s Barlestone Kaia at Oseberg JW

Special Veteran Bitch (over 7 years but under 10) (5, 1) 1. Mead’s Malenibo Mulan Mystere. A compact, typical bitch. A pretty head with the neatest ears I saw all day, dark eyes and a friendly expression. Hard topline, good body proportions, correct angulation, strong bone, neat feet.  Really good shoulders with correct forechest, moving true. BVB.  2. Barganska’s Barbelka Calusek. A very feminine, alert bitch. A nice head with a sweet expression, dark eyes and ears, good reach of neck, sound topline. Lovely coat and colour, correct angulation, good length of leg, in hard condition. Moved very freely. Slightly longer cast than 1, and unlucky to meet her. 3. Granne’s Kestos Gaupa

Special Veteran Bitch (10 years and over) (7, 2) 1. Middleton’s Kestos Weekender. One I have long admired. 13 now, and in lovely condition.  Good body proportions, truly short coupled, good bone, neat feet, feminine head, dark eye, correct close jacket of medium grey, tight tail. Her movement still brings a tear to the eye – what a showgirl! 2. Gilbert’s Barskimming Corinthia. A square, well-constructed, solidly built bitch in good condition. A good wedge head, foreface somewhat faded, excellent bone, good coat and colour, good spring of rib and a tightly curled tail. Moved quite well, letting us know she was there. 3. Gray’s Eskamere Gaupa

Special Beginners Bitch (4, 3) 1. Ravenstone Fivestar

Special Newcomers Dog or Bitch (3, 1) 1. Nevelka Show Me Some Lovin at Powdermill 2. Barbelka Seasara with Seasara

Brace (2, 0) 1. Maun’s brace. 2. Mortimer’s brace

Judge: Vanessa McHugh