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I’d like to thank The Deerhound Club for inviting me to judge the special classes and all exhibitors for their good humour and sportsmanship. Being an Irish Wolfhound person, I thought we were a hardy breed, but I have to say that the Deerhound fraternity really showed their ruggedness – as did the dogs. The weather was awful and by the time we were in the ring, humans and dogs alike were already very cold and wet, but the alternative of moving into the dry but crowded hall was not an option - and it was all good for social distancing and keeping things moving! In spite of this,
everyone put in enthusiastic and committed performances, though on a finer day, I’m sure all would have been more settled and relaxed.
My grateful thanks to everyone on the committee for their good organisation and keeping the show on track as the weather deteriorated and especially to my stewards for keeping things moving as quickly as possible and keeping thepaperwork dry – you have all obviously done this before!
Class 17 - Special Not Bred by Exhibitor (9,2)
1st: Wilce Quinton & Quinton’s - Kilbourne Louisa Chick to Kirjojax – Quality 4yr old grey bitch, lovely for size, type, shape and overall balance. Good proportions with good bone. Feminine with sweet head and expression, lovely dark eye, good earset, strong neck into good forehand, correct topline with nice rise over the loin and fallaway, good depth and width, ribbed well back, nice underline and tuck up, balanced angulation all through, moved out well with a light and easy action.
2nd: Shannon’s - Packway Downlander at Erewhon – I really liked this very promising 12 mth youngster. Tall and upstanding, rangy with a lot of maturing still to do, but retaining a good overall frame and balance with good angulation fore and aft, good depth and width all through, well ribbed back, nice topline, rise over loin and tail set. Long-limbed, used to advantage, moving out on a light and easy ground covering stride. Raw, but one to watch for the future.
3rd: Seymour Jackson’s - Cassacre Aelfrida of Ghiltan – I want to make a special mention of this wonderful nearly 12 year old bitch. What a credit to her owner and breeder. She was in fantastic condition and still moving out well and soundly, if perhaps not with as much drive as a younger hound. She still looks lovely for size, type, shape and proportions and has an overall outline and balance that belies her great age – and excellent dentition on her still!
Class 18 - Special Bred By Exhibitor (12,6)
This was a strong class with varying shapes, sizes and ages, with outlines not helped by the adverse weather, I’m sure, and some hounds were not showing themselves to advantage.
1st: Shannon’s - Erewhon Firefly – I’m guessing from the owner’s reaction, that she was not expecting to win this class! For me, this is a lovely, well-balanced 2.5 year old dark bitch. I found her overall shape and proportions very pleasing; yes, she has clearly had a few too many Lockdown treats and is carrying a little too much weight, but she felt good under the hand and is well constructed all through and moves out soundly and with ease. She has a lovely head and expression, good reach of neck, set-on into good forehand, good depth and width all through, balanced angulation fore and aft. The excess weight does mean that her underline lacks the tight tuck up I would prefer and I would also like to see a more marked rise over the loin as well, but she nevertheless presents a lovely overall picture and moves with a light and easy action.
2nd: Lucas & Dargonne’s - Packway Ecotrailer – Very promising 13 mth dark brindle bitch at that early Junior stage
where she has a lot of maturing still to do, but already has all the construction and balance of a well made and feminine hound. Lovely for overall size, type, shape and balance, sweet head and expression, good earset, lovely
reach of neck, flowing outline, lovely topline and underline, good angulation all through and moving out on an extensive and ground covering gait.
3rd: Wilce Quinton & Quinton’s - Kirjojax Pancho – Pretty 21 mth bitch, lovely overall size, type and shape, with some maturing still to do. Sweet head and expression, dark eye, good earset, good reach of neck into well laid shoulder, though would prefer more length and layback of upper arm; good topline and tailset and lovely sweep from
hip to hock. Well-muscled all through she moved out on a light and easy stride.
Class 19 – Special New Member (2,0)
1st: Pounder’s - Packway New York New York – 12 mth litter sister to second placings in first two classes, and very much of the same mould but slightly finer. Very feminine and also very promising, but still looking very raw with room to grow and fill. Sweet head and expression, lovely shape and flowing lines, balanced angulation all through, lovely light easy action on the move. Her handler did well and showed her to advantage, producing a calm and balanced performance.
2nd: Campbell’s - Packway Hindleap Warren – Enthusiastic 2 yr grey male, half-brother to first and very over excited by his debut in the show ring! A first for both owner and dog and both doing a great job of learning the ropes - I hope they give it another go. This boy is very tall and boisterous and being well muscled and in fit condition was being quite a handful! There’s a lot to like about him, he is strong, well boned, stands over a lot of ground, (when he stands still!). Although he has overshot his frame a bit in front and needs to fill and settle in forechest and upper arm, he has a nice topline with good rear angulation and well let down hocks. Movement was enthusiastic, if a bit erratic, but no doubt he will improve as he learns the job.
Class 20 - Brace (6,3)
This class was a big ask of all exhibitors and hounds as the weather had really deteriorated and nobody was that keen on standing out in it any longer than necessary. The dogs had clearly had enough by this stage and I’m guessing so
had all the humans!
1st: Lucas & Dargonne’s – Packway Little Loxley & Packway Ecotrailer(?) Two lovely bitches, mother and daughter duo, lovely for type with both presenting a picture of good overall size, shape and proportions, balanced angulation fore & aft, moving out well with sound and easy action and self-stacking without any effort. A relaxed and
effortless performance.
2nd: Wilce Quinton & Quinton’s – Kirjojax Harris & Kirjojax Pancho - Well - matched pair of quality hounds that are presumably littermates with very little to distinguish between them in terms of size, type, shape and balance – moved out well together, but not so cooperative when standing.
3rd: Shannon’s – Erewhon Firefly & Packway Downlander at Erewhon – A good effort at getting a 12 month old
boy to pay attention and move in sync with his older and more sensible kennel mate, he reminded me of a young and over excited colt!
Rebecca Peek
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