In the centre of the ring or at the edge, I frequently have in my mind’s eye two images from 35 years ago with my first Deerhound. The first is of a line up of ‘Open’ dogs at my first Breed Show, a mind boggling line up of 10 or 12 magnificent mature hounds, the likes of which I had never seen before and not often since. The products of the elderly ladies who at that time had brought the Deerhound to its postwar peak.

The second image, from some 6 months later was during a few days holidays on the North-west coast of Scotland, to terminate in the SKC show at the old Waverley Halls. After an energetic couple of hours with my hounds, we were relaxing in the car in the autumn sunshine, ‘His Nibs’ dozing in the back. me with the door open, when I began to feel that I was being watched. Sure enough about 200 yards away, up in the tussocky hillside were 3 red deer. The stag, in particular was magnificent. The better to see, I swung my legs from the car, and they were off. In two or three bounds they disappeared behind the hummocks, to be seen again some seconds later as shapes off up the hillside. I though ‘Yess the hunter is in the back, his prime quarry away up the hill. That thought guided by our breed standard, tends to dictate my views in the ring.

The Deerhound was created in Scotland to take, amongst others, the Red Deer. The standard effectively tells us so. So what did I find. The hottest day of the year, thus far, was not the best for Deerhounds in the ring but Three Counties tenting system allowed the utilisation of wet weather shade with open rings. Some of the older hounds, nonetheless showed the effects of the heat. A little more substance, I felt, would not have gone a miss in some of the more mature hounds. Given the heat, movement in the main was sound enough.

I was a bit taken aback though by the apparent lack of preparation in some of the better hounds. Our standard asks for feet ‘close and compact with well arranged toes’, and nails ‘strong and curved’. That cannot mean like shag piled hearthrugs with talons concealed. Ears ‘the smaller the better’ and without ‘long coat or long fringe’ should mean just what it says! Highlights of the day? Well, apart from my BOB (read on) and closest challengers, a cracking 6 months on the day bitch puppy (3rd). Were she mine, I’d be cosseting her in cotton wool for a while yet. Thanks to the organisers for the invitation, exhibitors for their entries and to my two excellent and indefatigable lady stewards.

PD. (4). 1. Blackford and Morrisey’s, Lord Seafield at Hartvalley. Nice, sound front. Good bend of stifle and length to hock. Standing a bit flat on top on the day, I thought. Could be the heat. Could do to develop a bit more depth to brisket, but at 9 months, has time. Moved true. 2. Cumming’s, Killoeter Luss. At 8 months old not so well grown as winner, but has time ahead. Nicer head than winner and a nice set of croup dictating long upper thigh. Owner needs patience and perseverance. Nice puppy.

JD. (5). 1. Meers’, Lealla Kinrossie of Lordswell. Good sized, substantial hound for his 14 months with lots of bone and straight strong front and neck. Strong loin and long stride. Covers a lot of ground. One to watch. 2. Merrick’s, Clanardwood Sovereign. At 7 months smaller and lighter than winner, but pleasing and sound all round. You often don’t know what you’ve got till 3 years (or more). 3. Help’s, Beardswood Niall.

PGD. (10). A nice class. 1. Help’s, Beardswood Marmion. A muscular typy dog of good size. Excellent front, deep brisket with ribs well sprung. Very strong neck so important for the job. Nice topline with well set croup giving good rear angulation. Strode out. A credit to the owner/breeders line. RCC. 2. Braybrooke’s, Ashtonbrook Claudius of Brangalad. Lighter and smaller than winner with less depth and breadth, but pleasing outline. Excellent hindquarters. 3. Owen and Brodie's, Wolfscastle Wood Melick.

LD. (10). A difficult class to judge, none that stood out to the eye so I had to work at it. 1. Buckley’s, Lealla Jokol. A solid muscular workmanlike hound with good depth of chest with capacity. Nice head. Standing a little flat on top but I think he could do better there. 2. Bond’s, Regalflight Sligo. Lighter and smaller than winner, of all round pleasing appearance. A year younger. Front perhaps better than winner. Litter brother to my BOB. 3. Wiggan’s, Killoeter Grilse.

OD. (6). Well, here's where I found what I was hoping to find. 1. Bond’s, Regalflight Stormbird. Lurking in the shade at the end of the line, this hound immediately reminded me of those I had seen, those 35 years ago. An ‘old fashioned’ Deerhound of size and substance, and that’s a compliment. Height, bone, great depth of chest with breadth. No herring gut here. Sweeping topline though thigh to stifle and well let down hocks. He made light work of the heat in his striding. True movement but feet could be better prepared. CC and BOB. Already had his crown I learned. 2. Gomm’s, Ch. Terichline Explorer. A hound I have admired before and an admirable Deerhound, I wouldn’t criticise anything about him, but he was on the day without the majestic presence of winner. The heat perhaps because he wasn’t enjoying moving.

PB. (7). 1. Mansell and Duddell’s, Canerikie Coco Calypso. For her 9 months very well grown. Nice head, well set and pleasing topline with depth. Given her age I reckon she has bags of potential as a quality bitch. Best mover. BP. 2. Kelling’s, Hyndsight On Appeal. 10 months old. More lightly built than winner but with her lines graceful outline. Well set shoulders and croup and all below. Different, but not far behind. 3. Parson and McKinnon’s, Claonaiglen Shira.

JB. (4). 1. Rhodes’, Gentom Ovation. 15 months old. I was immediately struck by her flowing topline with good length hip to hock through well angled stifle joint. Smooth, true mover. 2. Llewellyn’s, Kilbourne Rinda. Almost 18 months old. Lighter build than winner with longer back which, visually, tended to unbalance her topline. Very nice at rear, but a bit uncertain in pasterns. Plenty of steady roadwork could tighten up. 3. Williams’, Kilbourne Iduna at Inverclyde.

PGB. (17). 1. Bailey’s, Greyflax a Kind of Magic JW. A very shapely and all round pleasing bitch. Typical of her line. Attractive head well set on a strong neck. Deep well sprung brisket with space. Good topline to well sloped croup and resulting length to hocks which, well let down. Made her move well and powerfully at just 2 years old. Watch out. 2. Help’s, Beardswood Morwenna. A nice all round bitch of type. Front, brisket, topline and croup all that append therefrom, worthy of note. Perhaps a better Deerhound head than winner. Could do with a bit more weight, perhaps. 3. Checkley’s, Saintvalery Donation.

LB. (13). 1. Wragg’s, Neroche Halistra. Nicely prepared and turned out. Deep brisket, well sprung with space. Shoulders well laid and rear angulation justifying her flowing movement. RCC. 2. Bailey’s, Greyflax Waterloo Sunset. Difficult to differentiate with winner but a bit lighter in construction. Excellent front and topline with good depth of chest. Nice mover. 3. Rhodes’, Gentom Liberty Belle.

OB. (6). 1. Finnett and Heathcote's, Ch. Hyndsight Au Fait. Stylish bitch of pleasing outline. Strong neck well set onto sweeping topline. Good straight front to match a well set croup with good length to hock. Strode out well and true. CC. 2. Bailey’s, Greyflax Guinevere. Not far behind winner. Differentiating was not easy. Perhaps I could only say a little bit smaller and lighter and not the neck of winner. Nice bitch though, aren’t hers all? 3. Smith’s, Nobys Fleur of Nimloth.

Reg Bolton