Thank you to exhibitors for bringing me such a large number of lovely hounds. It was a great privilege to be asked to judge this, our Club championship show, and I would like to pass on my observations of the entry as a whole as well as the individuals.

I always mention angulation and most would benefit from slightly more all round. Today I particularly noticed quite a number of straight shoulders and not many with a good upper arm. Forechests were in short supply, some have a hollow where there should be a chest.  My winners were mostly better in this department and my top winners had good front angulation and forechest.

Heads do need watching, particularly on the bitches.  Where are those lovely feminine heads with dark eyes and melting expressions that were in the majority not all that long ago?   It is impossible to have a quality hound with an ugly head. While the head itself is long, the head should be small in proportion to body size. It should taper gradually and smoothly. Some heads were a rather strange shape and untypical. I hope it is just a phase.

Probably because of these untypical skulls, too many have their eyes on the front of the head, often with round eyes which give the wrong expression.  There were too many light eyes and only a handful that had really dark eyes. Ears were mostly better set than I expected but some are getting way too large or flat. It is these quality points that make the difference between a good Deerhound and a champion.

Most of the above faults in conformation have come from a noticeable increase in size over the last few years, which makes me worry about health problems.  The Deerhound has long been relatively healthy compared to other large breeds, but increases in size and weight may cause an increase in the diseases more prevalent in the larger and heavier breeds.

On a brighter note, I think toplines were better than I usually find.  Most of my winners had good toplines, and I think this was noticeable in the challenge line-ups on the day.

Movement on the whole was better than usual, not many bad movers, though few had a good length of stride or the required easy movement that comes from good angulation and flexibility in the joints. Most were in good condition, with mostly very good clean coats of the correct length. Only one or two had noticeably stripped necks that spoiled the outline.

There weren’t many poor feet or weak pasterns. Tails were mostly good and well-carried.

I must comment on the array of wonderful veterans.  Longevity is so important in the large breeds and it is what we should be aiming for, rather than expecting youngsters to be winning top honours.  If I hadn’t asked the age of these hounds, I would never have guessed they were even veterans. They were all quality exhibits in good condition.

And the puppy classes were lovely with none deserving to be cardless.  All perfectly deserving of winning a puppy class but it was very strong competition today.  Quite a number of them I would be pleased to own.

Thank you to Pat and Natalie, my stewards, who tried to keep you all in order.

DOGS

Puppy (6 entries, 1 abs)
1.Cartmell’s Cusidh Drawing Down the Sun. Such a very attractive puppy, just how he should look at eight months, curvy and rounded, lovely head and  expression, dark eyes, nice small ears, well-balanced, good front and rear angulation, good body, nice feet, all enhanced by a typical puppy coat, moved well coming and going and in profile, very easy relaxed mover. BP.
2.Medlicott’s Pharcourse Story. Much more mature-looking, with good proportions, good length and very good front and rear angulation. Preferred the head of the first, but 2 also has dark eyes and lovely expression, nice ears, strong neck, long ribcage, good width across thigh, low hocks. Front and feet need to tighten. Had a long stride and a beautiful outline on the move in profile.
3.Shannon’s Erewhon Celestial Flame.

Junior (3)
1.Owen & Brodie’s Luckhurst Nebo to Wolfscastle. Most attractive youngster, with lovely typical outline and proportions. Good head and expression, dark eyes, happy temperament, good front angulation and forechest, good front, very good feet, nice rear angulation, only just out of Puppy and still has some growing to do. Moved well coming and going and in profile, very willing mover, strode out well.
2. Greenhalgh’s Regalflight Poacher at Leksmoor. Placed 4th in Puppy, nice type, head and expression, good ears and neck, good feet, could do with more length of ribcage which would give a better topline. Good bend of stifle, moved fairly well all round. 3.Day’s Celticmoon Shadow Warrior.

Yearling (4,2)
1.Clarke’s Rosslyn Qurgan.  Big impressive dog of very good length. Ears are a bit flat but he has a nice head, strong neck, good front angulation, reasonable forechest, fair front and quite good feet, has spring of rib and length of ribcage, excellent topline and fallaway, good rear angulation with width across thigh, attractive coat. Would prefer lower tail carriage. Moved well coming and going and in profile.
2.Hindsley’s Celticmoon Zephyr. Built on very different lines to the first, much racier, nice head and expression, ears reasonably set and held, balanced angulation, good length of body, good feet but turning pasterns out a little. Good length from hip to hock. A bit rangy at the moment and needs to grow on a bit. Paced some of the time but when he got into his stride moved OK.

Special Beginners (3)
1.Clarke’s Rosslyn Qurgan.
2.Dimmock’s Canerikie Cool Customer. Unusual at first glance, with no furnishings on muzzle giving a somewhat dished appearance to the face, reasonable front and rear angulation, some forechest, turns forelegs out a little, good feet, very good length of ribcage, good fallaway, nice coat, moved reasonably well all round.
3.C Zephyr.

Post  Grad (4)
1.Helps’ Beardswood Quinlan. 1 scored over 2 on better front, better forechest, nicer head and better outlook with a true deerhound expression. Attractive head and head proportions, nice ears, good neck, good front and rear angulation, some forechest, good front and feet, would prefer more length and spring to ribcage, but has nice topline, good width across thigh. Good coat but would benefit from a little more to finish him off. Moved well, with an attractive elegance in profile and with presence.
2.Lewis’s Wickwar Wilson to Luckhurst. Eyes are set rather to the front, somewhat spoiling his expression. Excellent ears though and a strong neck. Not standing quite straight in front although moves OK. Nice length of body, good feet, good width across thigh, good mover all round, particularly attractive in profile, very happy dog.
3.Schaaning-Ling’s Beardswood Quiver.

Limit (7,1)
1.Morton & Morgan’s Cotherstone Shot and Steel.
Instantly appealing type, workmanlike and unexaggerated. Definitely masculine and attractive head, with lovely dark eyes, rather flat ears but a strong neck, good front angulation, best forechest so far, nice feet, good ribcage with length and spring of rib, nice topline and fallaway, strong hindquarters with width across thigh, good tail, excellent coat, best coat of the day in fact, moved well all round, striding out well. RCC.
2.Rhodes & Morton’s Gentom Semper Fi. Very difficult decision between two and three, such opposite extremes in type. Liked them both but 2 eventually won on better length of coat and better eye. Very lovely head and expression, correct furnishings, small ears, high-set and well-held, strong neck of good length, good front angulation, bit upright in pastern but stands straight in front, good depth of brisket, good topline and fallaway, nice rear angulation, low hocks, good tail, a bit unwilling on the move but moved well enough.
3.Cartmell’s Cusidh Homecoming.

Open (5)
1.Spence and Heathcote’s Ch Hyndsight Riddick.  A good sized male, he demonstrates how to be masculine without being coarse, and has nice proportions and balance. Eye could be a shade darker but correct shape of head and a lovely typical expression, nice ears, good neck and shoulders, good front angulation, straight front, good topline, enough rise over the loin, reasonable length of ribcage, good width across thigh, low hocks, excellent coat, moved well coming and going and in profile, a very attractive male with presence. CC.
2.Adams’ Ch Ardneish Lohengrin. Again a good sized male without being coarse. Attractive head and expression, nice ears, a little upright in pastern but good feet, could have longer brisket, but good length of body and fallaway, width across thigh. Close decision between 2 and 3 but preferred this more mature outline and better coat, and he was more willing on the move, with good profile movement.
3.Peach’s Kilbourne Nico.

Coursing (2)
1.Beardswood Quinlan.
2.Hawkins’ Kwaricott Corelli. Would prefer a finer head but has a nice expression, small well-set ears, neck could be a bit stronger, some forechest, straight front, good feet, he’s a nice long dog though ribcage could be longer, good width across thigh, good tail and tail carriage, moved well all round.

Veteran (2,1)
1.Owen & Brodie’s Ch Wolfscastle Wood Melick. Very attractive nine-year-old dog, lovely head and expression, dark eyes, nice small well-set ears, good neck and shoulders, some forechest, straight front and excellent feet,  good length of body, good topline and fallaway, width across thigh, low hocks, nice long tail, moved well for his age, displaying a happy temperament.

BITCHES

 Puppy (11,2)
This was a wonderful class, probably the best puppy bitch class I’ve judged, and I could have happily given all of them a first.  As it isn’t possible to have joint first places, I had to split hairs and chose the five that were at the more curvy and well-bodied stage.
1.Murray’s Moireach Harrier. Very lovely balanced feminine puppy, beautiful head, lovely expression in her very dark eyes, small well set ears, nice front angulation, just the right amount of bone for her size, really loved her excellent straight front with perfect pasterns and feet. Nice hindquarters with good width across thigh, good coat. Moved really well with lightness and ease.
2. Cartmell’s Cusidh Dreaming Spirit. Bigger bitch but still curvy and feminine, marginally preferred the head of 1 but lovely expression with dark eyes, nice small ears, neck could be stronger but she’s only a baby, good front angulation with forechest, good ribcage and topline, nice bend of stifle and width across thigh, low hocks, very good coat, moved well all round and really strode out in profile movement.
3. Shannon’s Erewhon Wanton Flame.

Junior (7,2)
1.Peach’s Nimloth Brooke to Kilbourne. Immediately liked her outline on the move. Would perhaps like a finer head but she’s got a nice expression, ears small, high-set and well-held, good neck, shoulders and forechest, a bit upright in pastern but nice feet, good ribcage, topline held on the move with good fallaway, width across thigh, moved well coming and going and especially in profile.
2. Redmond & Friend’s Shagiead Lady Sea with Greybrows.  Shapely, more elegant bitch. Nice shape of head and dark eyes, but would prefer a softer expression, small ears, good neck, nice front angulation, very good feet, good ribcage with depth and length of brisket, width across thigh and low hocks, moved a bit close behind, but attractive profile movement.
3. Bailey’s Greyflax Dear Prudence.

Yearling (6,1)
1.Shagiead Lady Sea with Greybrows
2.Constantine’s Gentiehun Adelaide. Reasonable head and expression though eye could be a shade darker, small well-set ears, good neck and shoulders, some forechest, nice straight front, good feet, would prefer more spring of rib, but nice topline and fallaway, good width across thigh, low hocks, unusual tail carriage, moved well all round.
3.Davis’s Kilbourne Nimble at Marivon.

Sp Beginners (1)
1.Faircloth’s Beardswood Poesy
Attractive, more workmanlike bitch in nice condition, feminine head, nice ears well-set, neck could be longer, good shoulder, some forechest, a bit upright in pastern but straight front and excellent feet, good length to ribcage, nice topline and fallaway, low hocks, movement could be better coming and going but moved well in profile,

Post Graduate (10,2)
Close class and all very different in appearance which made the decision difficult. Would have liked three first places.
1.Bailey’s Greyflax Just Peachy. Ultra-feminine bitch, nice head and expression, good neck and shoulders, some forechest, straight front, very good feet, would like more depth of brisket, had nice topline and fallaway, good bend of stifle and length from hip to hock, long tail, moved a bit close behind, but well in front and elegantly in profile.
2.Smart’s Kessoch Marsco of Greystiel. Slightly heavier type but still feminine.  Nice head and expression, small, well-set ears, good neck, front and feet, balanced angulation, good length of body, excellent tail, moved well all round. Preferred the topline of the first.
3.Helps’ Beardswood Quintessence.

Limit (9,3)
Again the first three were all very different. I liked the length of the third and she had excellent ears but she wasn’t moving as well.
1.Morton & Morgan’s Cotherstone Duchenne. Strong workmanlike bitch who presents an attractive typical picture. At second glance, her head is quite nice with an aquiline nose, quite rare today. The least said about her ears the better, but she has a strong neck, good shoulders and front angulation with forechest, straight front, good feet, nice depth of brisket, good topline and fallaway, good width across thigh and low hocks, lovely thick tail, excellent coat, moved well coming and going and really excelled in profile movement, keeping her outline, couldn’t take my eyes off her on the move. RCC.
2.Spence’s Hydsight Ripley into Shagiead. A more feminine head with dark eyes and lovely expression, good neck, shoulders and upper arm, nice feet, good bend of stifle and width across thigh, low hocks, nice tail, excellent coat, close up to 1 but would prefer a bit more length, which would also give a better topline, moved well all round.
3. Parsons and McKinnon’s Claonaiglen Fionnelighe.

Open (9,2)
1.Morgan’s Ladygrove Calamity Jane at Amiro. This lovely feminine girl had most of what I was looking for – nice size for a bitch and ideal proportions. Attractive head with dark eyes and a slightly aquiline nose, lovely small ears, good neck and shoulders, good return of upper arm with good forechest, straight front, correct length of body, depth of brisket and spring of rib, excellent topline and fallaway, good bend of stifle, width across thigh, low hocks. Finished off with an attractive coat. Excellent movement coming and going and in profile, keeping her outline. CC & BOB.
2.Bailey’s Ch Greyflax Crystal. Very different sort. Would prefer a finer head, but still feminine, aquiline nose, ears could be smaller, good neck, balanced angulation all round, straight front, good feet, nice ribcage, nice topline, good width across thigh, moved well coming, going and in profile.
3.Taylor’s Kilbourne Baccarat to Ormanstar.

Special Lure Coursing (2)
1.Helps’ Beardswood Quintessence. Lovely dark feminine bitch, third in P Grad. Liked her shape of head and lovely expression, nice straight front, good feet, good neck and shoulders, balanced angulation, underline a little too exaggerated for me, but she’s got a nice topline and fallaway, good width across thigh, attractive coat and a little more of it would add the finishing touch, moved a little close behind, but very nice elegant mover in profile.
2.Beardswood Poesy at C.

Veteran (5,1)
Four lovely bitches. The first two were the better movers.
1.Adams’ Hydfron Ula for Zandahar. Feminine bitch of good length. Lovely head and expression, dark eyes, the best ears of the day, tiny and high-set, good neck, shoulder and upper arm, straight front, good feet, very good topline, good width across thigh and low hocks. What a pleasure to see a Deerhound of nearly ten, looking and moving so well. 
2.Janson’s Ch Nixophel Crystal Amethyst. Nice feminine bitch, good proportions, balanced angulation, straight front, good feet, good topline and fallaway, width across thigh, low hocks, good coat, moved well all round.
3.Lewis’s Kilbourne Dolly Daydream to Luckhurst.

Kay Barret (Judge)