I would like to say thank you to all the exhibitors for their support on my first appointment and it was a great honour to have such beautiful hounds to assess. My thanks also to the Committee for their support which is much appreciated.

PD (3.1abs). 1st. Owen & Brodie’s Wolfscastle Finlay. Well boned youngster, correct head, pleasing expression, dark eyes, adequate depth of chest for age, good width of quarters and bend of stifle, well let down hocks, has good reach and driving movement, one for the future. Handled and presented well. Best Puppy. 2nd. Hodgkinson’s Glewlwyd Dionysus Although older than 1 has good outline, strong head, shapely body, hind movement is a little close but has good width of second thigh, moved well.

JD (4.2). 1st. Peach’s Gentom Oliver Twist to Kilbourne. Substantial well made young dog, good neck and front assembly, super depth of brisket for age and well arched loin, broad hindquarters, sound mover, in good muscular condition, shall watch his progress with interest. Reserve C.C. 2nd. Lucas & Dargonne’s Packway Aconcagua. Lighter built than 1, lovely dark eye and soft expression, needs time to develop, but has good movement.

GD (4.1). 1st. Coull’s Stainlonan Rikki of Regalflight. Well boned and angulated, dark eye, neat ears, strong neck, good depth of chest, moved with drive, in lovely muscular condition. 2nd. Wiggan’s Anmialchu Beinn Buachaille. Masculine head, could do with a little more reach of neck, straight front, well angulated quarters, well let down hocks, moved well by experienced handler. 3rd. Samway’s Ghiltan Peregrine Cum Cassacre

PGD (8.4). 1st. Helps’ Beardswood Marmion Well made dog with good proportions and masculine head, eye could be a shade darker, straight front, correct feet, strong neck into good lay of shoulder, good depth and width of quarters, moved well. 2nd. Owen & Brodie’s Wolfscastle Wood Melick Slighter built than 1 but of good shape, lovely head and expression, adequate depth of body, good turn of stifle, moved soundly. 3rd. Coull’s Stainlonan Rikki of Regalflight

LD (10.4). 1st. Wiggan’s Killoeter Grilse. Well made dog, not overdone, super head, soft expression, good reach of neck into well laid shoulders, adequate spring of rib, correct topline, in good muscular condition, moved freely in hot conditions by experienced handler. 2nd. Peach’s Greyflax Myth to Kilbourne. Larger dog but well balanced with straight front, good depth of chest, strong loin and nice width of second thigh, moved with drive. 3rd. Bunce’s Kilbourne Haldir at Pantawick

OD (7.2). 1st. Finnett, Heathcote & Piggott’s Hyndsight Wind Of Change. Just what a deerhound should be, beautiful head, not coarse, soft expression, super reach of neck into well laid shoulders, straight front, good feet and return of upper arm, super depth of chest and spring of rib, well turned stifles and let down hocks, moved with ease covering the ground, expertly handled. C.C. 2nd. Peach’s Kilbourne Nimrod/. Nice head, good front and topline, correct rise over loin, well sprung ribs and good depth of brisket, well angulated quarters, moved with drive. 3rd. Bond’s Regalflight Stormbird

PB (6.2). 1st. Mansell & Duddell’s Canerikie Coco Colada This young lady has good overall shape but does not need to be any heavier as the elegance will be lost, correct angulation all round, good width of second thigh and well let down hocks. 2nd. Hodgkinson’s Glewlwyd Liana. Very shapely youngster who would benefit from more ringcraft as assessment was difficult although has a pleasing head and is feminine all through. 3rd. Wilson’s Killoeter Lurag for Hamiltonhill

JB (7.2). 1st. Peach’s Pingleholl Ruby at Kilbourne. Elegant free moving bitch who has all the qualities to make the top drawer, with feminine head, good reach of neck, well angulated front and rear, moved very well and true both coming and going. 2nd. Rhodes’ Gentom Ovation. More mature than 1 she has a free movement which covers the ground, pleasing in head, good depth of body, correct rise over loin, well bent stifles and good feet. 3rd. Phillips’ Ladygrove Spook

GB (8.3). 1st. Hird’s Claonaiglen Albyn at Cloweswood. Feminine free moving bitch of beautiful proportions, nice depth of body, good length of ribcage and rise over loin, shapely hindquarters, correct tail set and carriage. 2nd. Williams’ Kilbourne Iduna at Inverclyde. More workmanlike bitch with feminine head, straight front and good feet, lovely bone and substance, good topline with nice fall away, well presented. 3rd. Arthur’s Erceldoune Charisma

PGB (13.3). 1st. Bailey’s Greyflax A Kind Of Magic JW Attractive young bitch, who excels on the move, good front extension and plenty of drive behind, feminine head, gentle eye and nice ears, beautifully presented and handled. 2nd. Redmond’s Hyndsight Mystical at Greybrows. This class required two first places, again a very feminine and elegant bitch who has all the attributes of a quality deerhound, who moved with ease around the ring with her experienced handler. 3rd. Shannon’s Lealla Is Fearr

LB (12.4). 1st. Finnett & Heathcote’s Hyndsight Shadow Of A Doubt. Quality bitch of good length, excellent head, elegant neck into good front extension, shapely hindquarters which showed on the move, immaculately presented. 2nd. Bailey’s Greyflax Waterloo Sunset Another feminine bitch with beautiful angulation all round, in super harsh coat and condition, moved soundly at all times. 3rd. Johnson’s Modhish Lilly Langtree

OB (6.3). 1st. Finnett & Heathcote’s Ch Hyndsight Au Fait. What more can one say about this bitch who is the epitome of the breed, so feminine and elegant in every department with beautiful head and expression, neat ears, good length of neck into well laid shoulders, deep chest, very good topline, strong hindquarters giving good action on the move, beautiful free movement which covered the ground, in super harsh coat and condition, expertly presented and handled. C.C. and Best of Breed. Was pleased to see her Group 3. Congratulations. 2nd. Bailey’s Greyflax Guinevere. Unfortunate 1 & 2 had to meet as this is also another very feminine bitch who covers the ground with ease, has super angulation and depth of chest with well sprung ribs, in good hard condition, she moved in tune with her handler. Reserve C.C. 3rd. McDonald, Martyn & Hindley’s Rosslyn Mystique

Wendy Cross