Lovely entry with few absentees .Overall I found heads good with excellent dentition, Top lines were on the whole strong and hindquarters, to my surprise mostly powerful. resulting in true hind movement. Front construction throughout the entry was disappointing. So many upright shoulders, short upper arms and poor feet. Most hounds were shown in good coat and body condition all be it some in last years jackets. Even after a hard winter most well muscled. Not a single nervous exhibit but plenty ready to give my face a wash !

I make no apology for moving the hounds many times as I find one then sees the real dog and not the propped statues that clever handlers can achieve.

Veteran Dog 1

1 Cartmel Cusidh Collie Hallaig. Smart dog who carries his years well. Nice head,strong topline, well ribbed. Whilst his feet are good would like more slope of pastern. excellent muscular condition for age.

Puppy Dog 4 All raw babies so just to judge as I saw them on the day.

1 Cartmel Cusidh Gaidhealtachd. Sound baby who kept his nice lines at all times. Excellent feet which I found a rarity in later classes. Nice head and expression. Scored here on his low hocks. Just hope he grows on.

2 Milne Nixophel Lapis Lazuli. Shapely baby with lovely head, neck, top and underline. Lacking forechest at the moment.

3 Jennings Brylach Nobleman

Junior Dog 6 [1 absentee]

1 Peach Kilbourne Hamlet. Promising youngster who keeps his lovely lines at all times. Good head and expression, strong neck, well arched loin. He moved truly all be it without great gusto.

2 Mullens Killoeter Pintail. What can I say? Happy youngster who was just there to have fun. When I managed to go over him he had super front, top and underline and really powerful quarters. Going round he covered the ground truly keeping his lovely lines. With some ring craft and attention to coat could win well.

3 Milne Gentiehun Double Oh Seven

Graduate Dog 3

1 Cartmel Cusidh Innse Gall. Eye catcher. Good head, neck, excellent ribbing with width as well as depth. Strong quarters.Would like a little more angulation in forequarters. Movement true. Scored here on feet.

2 Barclay Leoch Garry.Again nice in profile standing and going round. Strong topline and good hind quarters resulting in strong hind action. Again lacked angulation in fore quarters.

3 Smith Fenton Cufenidd Stag of Intack

Postgraduate Dog 5

1 Freeman Kwaricott Abdiel. Very well made, resulting in free true movement. He looks a picture in profile on the move and when standing loose. Good front, ribbing and quarters. Strong tail carried well. Ring craft needs a lot of attention.

2 Finnet and Heathcote Hyndsight Dark Sky. Nice head, strong neck and excellent ribbing with width as well as depth. Strong quarters. His movement was true but he lacked gusto resulting in his top line dropping.

3 Cheshire Kilbourne Nuin of Deeranwith

Limit Dog 7 Best dog class of the day with quality down the line.

1 and CC Adams Oscarf o’cockaigne imp Masculine hound who is so very well constructed. Here was the front I had been looking for. Well laid shoulder with good return of upper arm, well boned legs and feet. Equally good quarters. with hocks low to the ground. Moved freely and truly.

2 and res CC Gillie Dorrator Gethin. A well balanced hound who moved freely with gusto. Keeps his correct lines at all times. Lovely head with intelligent expression. Good neck, going into well laid shoulder. Good feet.

3 Barrat Stranwith Ebenezer

Open Dog 2 2

1 Peach Readwald Thor to Kilbourne Standing he looked the part as he is very well made but today moved with no go resulting in him dropping his topline. Best of legs and feet. Well ribbed. Nicely angulated quarters with low hocks.

2 Smart Greystiel Loch Ashie Free moving hound with lovely neck and shoulder,strong legs and good feet.

Veteran Bitch 3

1 Simmons Tartraven Vula Mor What a treat to find a well laid shoulder missing in so many of the youngsters. She moved soundly and with purpose. Credit to her owner.

2 Jansons Greyflax Lady of the Lake to Nixophel. Pleasant head and strong neck. Nicely ribbed, good quarters. Obviously enjoys her dinners !

3 McKinnons Moireach Flyer of Fingon

Puppy Bitch 7

1 and best puppy Taylors Kilbourne Baccarat to Ormanstar. Standing she was high behind but I expect that in a pup. Going round she came into her own covering the ground truly with an easy gait. Lovely front assembly.

2 Spence Brylach Nastasia Beautiful make and shape just inclined to drop her quarters on the move at the moment.

3 Milne Nixophel Grey Galena

Junior Bitch 8 Good class headed by two stunning girls..

1 Doak Rosslyn Plainsong. Classic head with far away look. Good legs and feet. Well ribbed and powerful quarters. Effortless movement. Scored here on maturity.

2 Mansell and Duddell.Killoeter Pieris of Canerikie Again lovely head, strong neck. excellent legs and well up on her toes. Good depth of ribbing. Powerful quarters. Easy free mover.

3 Rose Jacobite Rosanne to Gentiehun [aust imp]

Graduate Bitch 6

1 CC BOB ands res best in show. Godden and Peach Brackenland Tan at Kilbourne. My star of the day. From the tip of her nose to the end of her tail she is exactly what I look for in a Deerhound including her movement.

2 Jacksons Aileymill.s Jewel. Again so well made. Lovely head, front , top and under line. Strong quarters. When she wanted moved soundly and freely but would then put her brakes on whilst winner never flagged..

3 Foote and Crossan Cusidh Caol Muille

Post Graduate Bitch 11 [4]

1 Finnet and Heathcote Hyndsight Who’s That girl. Solid bitch. Good head and neck, legs and feet. Scored here on her excellent front construction. Well ribbed with width as well as depth. Nicely arched loin going into powerful quarters. Whilst she moved truly she appeared to be in charge of her handler, going at her pace!

2 Peach Kilbourne Teine In contrast of finer make and shape. Sweet head and expression, good legs and feet. Kept her lovely lines at all times.

3 Rose Gentiehun Mia May

Limit Bitch 3 [1]

1 Jansons Nixophel Crystal Amethyst JW ShCh Looked a picture standing and moving keeping her classsic lines at all times. Very true both ways. Excellent lay of shoulder which won her the class. In the challenge the winners scored on their harder condition.

2 Reynolds Wickwar White Lace. Elegant free moving hound with good neck, top line and ribbing.. Tidy legs and feet.

Open Bitch 5 [1]

1 and Res CC Cartmel Drawing Down the Wind To Cusidh. Honest bitch shown in first class order .Easy true mover and looked fab going round. Today standing she decided to dip slightly.

2 Peach Kilbourne Macdeva with Bluefawn I loved her make and shape. Super front construction and so shapely standing and moving. Could do with less dinners and she might then have more enthusiasm.

3 Jackson Killoeter Kalanchoe