Houndshow Championship Show 2022 Critique

had a wonderful day judging a fantastic entry of Deerhounds with some superb quality. I really enjoyed my day and hope both my hounds and exhibitors did too. Thank you so much for inviting me to judge at Houndshow 2022. 

Class 283

Minor Puppy Dog

1. Mr & Mrs Peach’s Kilbourne Oscar Wilde 

A promising and well made dark seven month old. Beautiful head with dark eyes and typical faraway expression. Good length and well developed bone for his age. Mature topline. Very settled on the move and I was pleased with his overall movement for his age. As he develops I would love to see a little more balance in his proportions and see him broaden.

2. Mr & Mrs Cummings Claonaiglen Artney

Seven month old lighter male with good substance. Stronger, masculine head compared to my first, but still typical with beautiful, high set, rosed ears. Strong jaw. Well muscled neck, running smoothly into the topline. Forechest very prominent with a deep ribcage. Loin rises a little early leading to the croup falling away prematurely. Broad pelvis with good width of thigh.

3. Mr & Mrs Smith’s Claonaiglen Camgaridh

Class 284

Puppy Dog

1. Ms K Barret’s Stranwith Iago

11 month old, well constructed and well proportioned, dark male. Typical head and beautifully high set ears. Lovely, deep chest that doesn’t split too early. Very mature hindquarters for his age, strong and wide pelvis allowing for a well sloped croup and lovely bend of stifle. This boy moved well but I would really love to see him more relaxed in the ring. Very anxious when going over him but happy to have given him a positive experience in the ring today. 

Class 285

Junior Dog

1. Mrs Wragg’s Neroche Kielder

14 month old stunning young male who really left an impression with me while judging the rest of the males. Lovely presence and really enjoyed his day which was wonderful to see. Outline displays a lovely mixture of quality and masculinity. Super front, well laid shoulder and great return of upper arm. Chest is well sprung, of good depth and carries back well into a strong loin. Moves very well in profile but needs time to strengthen in front as he was quite loose in his elbows when coming. Very nearly awarded my RCC to this lovely boy but just requires a bit more time to mature with his movement. 

Class 286

Yearling Dog

1. Mrs E Shannon’s Packway Downlander at Erewhon 

A 22 month old male of good size with a pleasing outline. Good length, well proportioned and good length of leg also. Well angulated in front and a straight mover when coming and going. Tended to go a little flat in the topline when on the move. Would like a little more bend of stifle.

2. Mrs S Cumming’s Kaleginy Trubador

Slightly smaller than my first, but a lovely mover in the ring and I did prefer his movement over my winner. Plenty of length in the body, with good depth and carryback of rib. Well angulated behind with a good width of thigh and turn of stifle. A little less substance and slightly shorter in the leg than my first. 

Class 287

Novice Dog

1. Mrs C Everard’s Packway Herons Ghyll

A smaller, but more typey male. Preferred his proportions over my second. Lovely dark eye, beautiful ears. Correct topline with good shape. Well angulated behind. Moved straight and with great length of stride. Would prefer a little more substance and strength overall.

2. Mrs K Constantine’s Ormanstar Cosmo At Kaleginy

Two year old darker male. Good length of body. Stronger in the head than my first, beautifully set and rosed ears. Strong, well muscled neck runs into a correct layback of shoulder with a good forechest. Well sprung in the ribs with plenty of depth for lung space.  Would like him to develop a little more breadth and strength in hind quarters.

Class 288

Special Beginners Dog

No entries.

Class 289

Post Graduate Dog

3 entries, 1 absentee

1. Mrs J & Mr J Wilce Quinton’s Kirjojax Harris

Two and a half year male with a good outline and well balanced with pleasing, flowing lines. This boy has a lovely head and expression with a dark eye and a strong jaw. Well sprung in the chest and a very good underline. Well sloped croup. Lovely movement, enthusiastic and true. Straight coming and going. 

2. Ms K Stuart’s Ollandsheart Oberon

A larger two year old male. Very well developed bone and good length of leg. Straight pasterns and good feet. Great width of first and second thigh. Moved with ease and covered the ground well. Did fall away a little early in the croup. Close call between my first and second based on construction but given second based on movement today. 

Class 290

Limit Dog

3 entries

1. Mrs S J Taylor’s Ormanstar Dark Shadow

This boy caught my eye from the beginning and didn’t disappoint when going over him. Well angulated, especially in front, with a good lay of shoulder and return of upper arm. Good length in body but well balanced with height at the withers. Deep in the chest with a long sternum.

Very good movement both in profile, coming and going. He does rise a little early and high over the loin, leading to a rapid slope in the croup. I would prefer some more furnishings over his face and a slightly longer coat all over. However, I really liked this boy’s general construction and essence so I was pleased to give him RCC today. 

2. Mrs A B Aston’s Balgaled Arlan

A smaller, 2 year old male, longer in coat than my first. Good length of body.

More merit behind, lovely tuck up into a well angulated hindquarters with plenty of width of both first and second thigh. Not quite as strong in his topline. Really strode out on the move but a little narrower in front than my first.  

3. Miss Keri A Llewellyn’s Hunky Dory Bowie At Kilbourne

Class 291

Open Dog

1. Mr & Mrs Peach’s Kilbourne Merak

Very pleased to see and go over this dog in my line up. Stood out from the beginning of the class and I was really pleased with his quality. A very well made, 4 year old male with a typical but masculine outline and good coat. Well angulated in front and behind. Lovely head, his eye is a little light for my preference. Good topline, deep chest and broad, well sloping hindquarters that could meet the demands that this breed would need to fulfil. Little to fault on the move but I would love to see a little more spring in his step. Well deserved CC today. 

2. Mr & Mr Grimshaw’s Ch. Greyflax Diamond Joe at Jamalison 

A lighter, nice but still masculine dog with understated quality about him. Unfortunate to meet the winner today. Good head, ear a little lower in set. Good front, well constructed and little to fault when going over him. A little heavy in coat for me. Moved with a bit more enthusiasm than my winner, really strode out and straight both coming and going.

3. Mr & Mrs Peach’s Kilbourne Shrike 

Class 292

Special Lure Coursing Dog

No entries

Class 293

Veteran Dog

No entries

Class 294

Minor Puppy Bitch

4 entries, 2 absentees

1. Miss F Cannon’s Kilbourne Opal’s Fire To Abayomi

A very elegant 8 month old bitch, lovely on the move. Really strode out. Her overall outline was very eye-catching. Good length of leg. Beautiful head and expression. Good length of neck. Lovely top and underline for her age. Lots of potential in this young bitch.

2. Miss K A Llewellyn’s Kilbourne Ocean Blue of Matahari

8 month old, larger and more ‘rangey’ bitch. Stands over plenty of ground but in proportion with her height. A little heavier in the head but still has a very feminine expression to her. Great depth of chest, strong and well developed loin. More substance overall than my first. Did prefer the movement of my winner in this class but this bitch still has a lot of potential going forward. 

Class 295

Puppy Bitch

2 entries, 0 absentees

1. Ms K Barret’s Stranwith Ixxia

A really well developed 11 month old bitch with the right balance of elegance and substance. Still lots to come as she grows up but super overall construction. Super head and expression, beautifully high set ears. Moves well overall. I would really love to see this bitch more settled in the ring as I think she has so much to give. BP

2. Mrs L Seely’s Fritzens X-Quisite 

A 9 month old more slight bitch, unlucky to meet my BP in this class. She still has lots to like about her. Plenty of length in the leg and body so it will be good to see this girl fill out as she matures. Shapely outline. Pleasing and most feminine head and expression. Great, high set, rosed ears. Well proportioned chest, carries back far into a good tuck up. I would like to see this bitch develop a little more substance and bone to her as she matures.

Class 296

Junior Bitch

2 entries, 1 absentee. 

1. Mr M & Mrs G Peach’s Kilbourne Flora Macdeva 

16 month old darker bitch with lots of quality about her. Lovely length of body, covers the ground with ease. A little shallower in the chest for my preference given her proportions, but plenty of breadth in both fore and hind quarters. Well developed muscle and bone. Really enjoyed her day out and great on the move, making her stand out even more. Super front, lay of shoulder and return of upper arm. Great width of first and second thigh. Not much I didn’t like about this bitch, I look forward to seeing her in the future.

Class 297

Yearling Bitch

3 entries, 1 absentee

1. Dr S Helps’ Beardswood Verbena

A really stunning nearly 2 year old bitch who caught my eye right from the start of this class. She was my winner from the beginning. Really well made and fabulous on the move. Feminine head and typical expression, set into a strong neck. Well angulated in front and behind. Beautiful topline. Her hindquarters are strong but retain the elegant sloping into powerful thighs. I struggled to find many faults about this bitch. Considered for best type, head & expression.

2. Dr R & Mrs J Pounder’s Packway New York New York

A 22 month old finer built bitch. Longer than my first. Unfortunate to meet my winner but still well made. Lovely topline and a shapely underline with a good tuck up. Good length of leg but I would prefer a bit more depth of chest and overall strength to her build. Strode out well on the move when in profile. 

Class 298

Novice Bitch

3 entries, 1 absentee.

1. Mrs L Seymour-Jackson’s Kilbourne Lucy

A more mature bitch. Very typical in outline. Good head, set on well into a lovely neck and topline. Good lay of shoulder. Good length from hip to hock. Finer in the leg with less bone, straight pasterns but I would like to see more overall strength in her leg. 

2. Mrs C Havercroft’s Kilbourne Lyrae At Dragonside

A 2 year old shapely bitch. Lovely temperament and enjoyed her day. Finer in development than my first. Lovely head. Good neck. Lovely rise over the loin leading into well-made hindquarters. Great bend of stifle and width of thigh. A close decision between my first and second. 

Class 299

Special Beginners Bitch

1 entry, 0 absentees

1. Dr R & Mrs J Pounder’s Packway New York New York

Class 300

Post-graduate Bitch 

7 entries, 2 absentees

1. Mrs K Constantine’s Kwaricott Kaleginy Bettinsoli

Mature, 3 year old dark bitch. Super angulation in front and behind. A super mover, correct and true to the standard. Lovely depth of chest and length of sternum. Great width to her hindquarters. Certainly a fit for function bitch. Super quality over all but not quite the expression of second. 

2. Miss V Lucas & Mr C Dargonne’s Packway Eco Trailer 

A close decision between my first and second in this class. This 22 month old had the shapely outline and curves I love to see. Beautiful head and expression, faraway but kind. Well angulated, good return of upper arm. A little less strength in her body than my first. Moved very well and lovely to watch in profile. 

3. Mrs J & Mr J Wilce Quinton’s Kirjojax Pancho

4. Ms K Stuart’s Ollandsheart Desdemona

5. Mrs C Havercroft’s Kilbourne Vega At Dragonside 

Class 301 

Limit Bitch 

7 entries, 1 absentees

1. Mrs N & Mr G Bailey’s Greyflax Talluah Lilac

2 year old bitch of lovely type and outline. Well proportioned with a lovely balance between size, length and shape. Typical head with long neck leading into a correct topline. Good depth of chest and carry back of ribs. Very well angulated behind with a good bend of stifle giving great drive and easy movement. A touch more width in front would be the icing on the cake. A lovely example of the breed and deserved her RCC.

2. Miss V Lucas & Mr C Dargonne’s Packway Smackfarthing

A slightly smaller, 3 year old bitch with lovely construction, also making it difficult to choose between my first and second. Beautiful head and ears. Preferred the front of this bitch; good lay of shoulder and return of upper arm. Good spring of rib and depth of chest, well muscled-loin and steeply sloping croup. Loved her movement, especially in profile. I would prefer a bit more substance to her overall.

3. Miss D Kilgar’s Claonaiglen Strontian Maelstrom

4. Mrs E Shannon’s Erewhon Firefly

5. Miss K Llewellyn’s Kilbourne Mistress Martha At Matahari

Class 302

Opan Bitch 

6 entries, 1 absentee

1. Dr Sarah Helps’ Ch Beardswood Ulyssa

Superb bitch. Almost understated at first, but once going over her and watching her move I knew she would be my winner today. She had a quiet elegance about her but could still carry out a day’s work. Great fore and hindquarters with excellent angulation, whilst retaining a shapely outline. Super straight coming and going. Really pleased to award her the CC today. I was thrilled to see her go on to win Group 4.

2. Mrs N & Mr G Bailey’s Ch Greyflax Pearls A Singer

Also an excellent bitch, the quality in this class was very high. Feminine and elegant but still very well constructed. Lovely head and expression, with high set ears, leading nicely into good forequarters. Not quite as shapely in her topline and underline as my first. Good bend of stifle, very good width of thigh. Good width of pelvis and over her hindquarters. Moved well and correctly, but not quite as much drive as my first. 

3. Mrs K Constantine’s Cotherstone Serenade At Kaleginy

4. Mrs J & Mr J Wilce Quinton’s Kilbourne Louisa Chick To Kirjojax

5. Miss D Kilgar’s Ardneish Pacific At Maelstrom

Class 303 

Special Lure Coursing Bitch 

3 entries, 0 absentees

1. Dr Sarah Helps’ Ch Beardswood Ulyssa

2. Miss V Lucas & Mr C Dargonne’s Packway Little Loxley

A well-made 6 year old, darker bitch. Smaller than my first but still well made. Good front with a well angulated shoulder and upper arm. Good forechest. Lovely depth of chest with plenty of spring of rib. Lovely topline, but a little steep in the croup. Good bend of stifle. Good, straight pasterns. Moved freely and truly. Straight coming and going. 

Dr. N. Heathcote