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Wouldn’t dare dream of it; judging the most important event for Deerhounds worldwide.
The actual invitation almost frightened me, judging a most special breed, so well looked after and protected by such a high percentage of true breed enthusiasts. It would be my second time judging the breed in the UK, the first time being at Midland Counties in 2018. I judged another serious number of Deerhounds at the Dutch Championship Breed Club Show. I had these two shows in the back of my mind when I went for the actual judging of the Breed Show. After a class or two, no more fears, no time for it, there was work to be done, and pretty hard work it was too, thanks to quite a bit more variation in quality than expected. Given that, I was quite surprised by the overall picture that the line-up of both unbeaten dogs and bitches gave, pleasantly surprised. Which also counts for the overall condition of the entries, including the right kind of coat, and a hard muscle tone, yes please. Temperament wise, the vast majority presented themselves in a most noble and gentle way, illustrating the essence of the breed. Only one or two were lacking the self confidence to present their qualities. To stay with the positives, the first thing I should mention were the fronts. So many were well-angulated, showing the right amount of forechest, as an essential part of a strong, functional front. Yet another surprise was the desired amount of spring of ribs. Not that many, but still quite a few, scored on it. I must say that it has puzzled me for a while; ‘all those’ flat sided dogs, until this Breed Show, that is.
Talking about width, something similar counts for the hindquarters: the vast majority was well angulated and muscled (with the correct tail-set and carriage), but a real broad, if you wish widening croup was something else. Narrow hind movement, lacking drive, was seen in a percentage not too different to the breed’s average. The same could be said about feet...
Writing in this manner, sharing impressions after a major judging, is something I don’t mind doing, on the contrary, I enjoy it, but there’s one exception; the Deerhound. After the first serious entry of Deerhounds I judged, something akin to regret came over me. While judging the Deerhounds themselves, they became just a certain breed of dog with a certain breed standard, at the same time losing the distant admiration of what makes the Deerhound different; their mysterious aura that cannot be captured in whatsoever a standard, or something like that anyway.
Enough of the intermezzo, we should talk top lines. If there is only one issue I am allowed to mention, then it is top-line as presented in this entry. The variation was, well, enormous, as not seen before, from camel to sway and anything in-between. Luckily a satisfying number showed a much better topline when moving than when stacked, but still. To stay with the breed’s mystery as close as possible, heads please. I remember vividly the continual show of beautiful eyes when judging at Midland Counties. You might want to argue about the size of some of the eyes, in the sense that they shouldn’t be any smaller, but the number of beautiful shaped, set and coloured eyes was a real feast. Such an overwhelming experience that I just did not expect any light(er) eye at the Breed Show. It might be that I missed a few at Midland Counties where the light indoors was quite different compared to the outdoor event in Scotland. The number of times that I made a note in the judges book on the placed dogs was not worrying, especially when compared to what is happening in other breeds where eye colour is as important as it is in Deerhounds, but I feel the need to make a remark. Three other remarks concerning heads that came back in my reports had to do with the deviation from the prescribed parallel skull-muzzle lines, ear size and texture and the strength of jaws and teeth. Not in too many entries, but each topic; jaws, lines and ears, already more mentions than the score on eye colour. Enough focusing on details, I will not spoil your and my party any further, there were plenty of qualities to celebrate.
While writing this report, images of the show keep coming back to me, led by some extra special winners, Deerhounds not to be forgotten. I must not forget to mention the very pleasant and efficient support I got from my ring stewards. I cherish it all as a once in a lifetime occasion. Dear committee members, thank you ever so much for giving me this opportunity.
Puppy Dog
1. Anderson & White’s Humbiehounds Velvet Tattie. Well developed and proportioned puppy, giving a highly typical outline already. Quality head with lovely expression of the dark eyes, well set ears, excellent stop and balance between skull and muzzle, surprisingly strong set of teeth. Excellent developed front, well off for bone and strong feet. Nice spring of ribs, strong back and loins, excellent tail set and length, well angulated behind and muscled throughout. Plenty of puppy coat, with a nice crisp texture already. Balanced mover, correct coming and going, with that typical dance, yes please. Best Male Puppy and Best Puppy In Show.
2. Scharp’s Humbiehounds Pirnmill At Coronach. Another nicely balanced puppy, but more rangy overall, more puppy-like compared to the first placed one. Well developed head with strong muzzle and bite, excellent stop and eye, ears rather big still. Nice bone and feet, decent developed ribs, angulation front behind balanced, nice rise over the loin, excellent tail set and carriage. Typical and balanced mover.
3. Punder’s Zeldinie Link. Plenty of silhouette already, covering a lot of ground, but could do with more width overall. Long, well developed and carried head, well set and carried ear, but a bit large still, would prefer a darker eye. Very good feet, angulation front behind balanced, plenty of puppy coat still. Balanced mover but could do with more drive.
Junior Dog
1. Cummings’ Claonaiglen Artney. Big boy, extra masculine, strongly put together, covering a lot of ground, when standing and on the move. Impressive headpiece, well carried, long and strong, beautifully set quality ears, extra small and thin to the touch, would not mind a bit less stop and a slightly more pronounced eye. Strong, nicely shaped neck, excellent forechest, quality legs and feet, well angulated behind, nice tail set and carriage, typical coat texture, in top and underline not ready yet, especially his topline showed quite a bit of variation, but once settled on the move balanced and easy going, a bit narrow behind.
2. Robertson’s Chuilinn Enigma At Albaerin. Middle sized dog, sufficient masculine. Decent developed head, close to parallel skull muzzle lines, eye does not have to be any smaller, ear carriage okay. Just sufficient bone, well angulated front and hind quarters, nice ribs and width of loin, topline could do with more detail, excellent coat texture. Easy going movement with a definite drive and nice length of stride, not ready yet in front.
Special Beginners Dog
1. Taylor’s Stableview Wilow. Middle sized dog, rather short coupled, sufficiently balanced. Impressive head piece, long, excellent stop and beautiful parallel lines in profile, excellent expression of eyes, ears and furnishing. Strong neck of decent length, very good bone and feet, decent forechest, could do with more ribs and rise over the loin, well angulated in knee and hock, low tail set, excellent muscle tone and texture of coat. Easy going movement.
2. Ledingham’s Balgaled Angwyn At Ledingard. Well off for size, long cast dog with sufficient typical silhouette. Long, masculine head, nice ears and furnishing, excellent stop and parallel lines in profile, decent coloured eyes, would prefer a bit more quality of skull and bite. Strong bone, feet ok, nice length of neck, decent angulated front, slightly loose, needs more detail in top-line, plenty of angulation behind, nice tail set, coat sufficient harsh to the touch. Covers the ground easily on the move.
Undergraduate Dog
1. See second Special Beginners Dog
Post Graduate Dog
1. Cummings'Kaleginy Trubador. Masculine dog of nice size and type, very good shape, not finished yet, gives a surprisingly different picture on the move. Well developed head, parallel lines, excellent eyes and ears. Strong back of decent length, very good bone, strong feet, angulation front behind balanced, a bit loose in front though, strong back, sufficient detail in topline, excellent condition and muscle tone, coat a bit soft. On the move much more definition of outline, covering the ground with a long and easy going stride.
Limit Dog
1. Wilce-Quinton and Quinton’s Kirjojax Harris. Masculine dog of excellent type, moderately outspoken in silhouette, linked to an extra solid package, nicely balanced throughout. Quality head, excellent in all parts, but still could do with a bit less stop, beautifully balanced in detail and in head compared to body. Lovely expression of eyes. First class legs and feet. Angulation front behind balanced, excellent ribs in depth, length and width, typical tail set and carriage, excellent coat, muscles and condition. Balanced mover. With decent drive, good length of stride and sufficient ‘dance’, correct coming and going. Reserve Best Dog.
2. Finnett & Heathcote’s Hyndsight Talk On The Street. Plenty of shape, covering a lot of ground, still quite immature looking. Excellent headpiece in all detail, but still would not mind to see a darker eye, excellent ear set and carriage. Excellent feet, would prefer more quality in front, excellent hindquarters and coat texture. Moves with drive, sufficient stable in front.
3. Llewellyn’s Hunkydory Bowie To Kilbourne . Big boy, masculine, nicely shaped. Head could show more parallel lines, otherwise excellent in detail. Excellent ear set and carriage. Nice bone, feet should be stronger, nice width overall, decent quality of coat. Needs to strengthen on the move.
Open Dog
1. Finnett & Heathcote’s Ch Hyndsight Sinnermann. Shouts breed type, all nobility, covering a lot of ground, when standing and on the move. Superb, stallion-like head carriage, lovely chiselling all over, excellent in all parts, text book expression of ears and furnishing even, one wish only: a slightly darker eye. Very good bone and feet, lovely top and underline, nice fore-chest, could do with a bit more spring of rib, extra quality of hindquarters, broad set, excellent angulated, hard muscled, lean condition, superb coat, top and under. Moves with an impressive length of stride, with drive one seldom comes across in this breed and he ‘dances’ for two. Best Dog and Best In Show.
2. Taylor’s Ch Ormanstar Dark Shadow. Masculine dog, solid, plenty of size, well put together, scores on balance and strength. Well carried head, sufficient balance between muzzle and skull, would prefer less rise of forehead, dark eyes, don’t have to be any smaller, textbook ears. Plenty of bone, strong feet, excellent ribs and underline, well angulated front, typical topline with an extra strong loin, excellent angulation behind, tail set and carriage. Rather short in coat, but dense. Honest and well balanced on the move, could do with a bit more typical finish.
3. Faircloth & Faircloth & Helps’ Ch Beardswood Uther. Masculine dog of nice type, well up for size, nicely proportioned. Well carried and developed head, with nice balance between muzzle and skull, lovely eye, very good ears. Nice bone, could do with stronger feet, nice depth and decent width of ribs, could do with more strength of back and loin, nice tail set and carriage, highly typical coat, top and under. Balanced mover, showing a much better top line than when standing.
Puppy Bitch
1. Swanson’s Zeldini Oren Of Altimarlach. Every inch a puppy still, in terms of size and substance in the middle of the standard, very nicely balanced already. Truly feminine head, excellent in all parts, with the most special expression of eyes. Very good bone, feet have to strengthen, nice rib shape, typical top and underline with extra detail on the move, which gives a lovely silhouette. Excellent coat texture and quality of muscles.
2. Neil’s Indira Blue Lobelia. Very nice puppy, well off for size and substance (a bit of puppy fat included). Very nice headpiece already in terms of total length, excellent balance between muzzle and skull and expression of eye - lovely. Excellent neck, length of body and development of ribs, well set and carried tail, feet ok, good bone. Balanced mover but has to strengthen, especially behind.
3. Banks’ Zeldini Impa. Extra feminine puppy with plenty of shape. Well carried head, typical in all aspects, with an excellent eye even, ear carriage a bit untidy still. Sufficient bone, well put together throughout, excellent coat. Can move with drive, but needs more ring experience which will help her self confidence.
Junior Bitch
1. lewellyn’s Kilbourne Ocean Blue Of Matahri. Upstanding, extra strong built bitch, plenty of shape, covering a lot of ground, when standing and on the move. Impressive length and strength of head, without losing femininity, excellent balance between skull and muzzle, typical stop, very good ear, decent coloured eye not affecting expression. Excellent bone and feet, lovely neck, quality back and loins, excellent width and length of ribs, not ready yet in depth, broad set, well angulated hindquarters, excellent coat texture. Easy going, honest mover. Reserve Best Bitch.
2. Faircloth’s Penherald Polka At Calbraidh. Feminine bitch showing a lot of length and strength. Well developed, typical head piece, nice eye, could do with a bit more furnishing, ears a bit large (still), but well carried. Nice bone, very good feet, angulation front behind balanced, sufficient rise over the loin, very good tail set, well carried, excellent structure and construction of coat. Honest mover, correct coming and going.
3. Cannon & Wickstead’s Kilbourne Opal’s Fire To Abayomi. Feminine bitch, very nicely put together, but very puppy like still. Typical carried head, excellent in all parts, but skull not ready yet. Nice bone and feet, angulation front and behind balanced, typical top and underline, Coat harsh to the touch, a bit open though, excellent overall condition. Moves with drive and a nice length of stride, quite a bit of ‘dance’ included.
Yearling Bitch
1. Helps’ Beardswood Gille’s Whisper. Powerful but every inch a female, covering a lot of ground. Well carried head, nice eyes and ears, excellent stop and parallel lines in profile, impressive depth of muzzle, could do with a bit more furnishing. Would prefer a more detail in top line, nice tail set, plenty of angulation behind, quality coat. Moves with a nice length of stride and a bit of ‘dance’, rather narrow behind.
2. Spence’s Caraidanam Bruach Na Frithe At Brylach. Feminine bitch, plenty of size, powerful without being coarse. Well developed head showing type and balance, with a nice expression of eye. Very good bone, well angulated front but still could do with bit more length of neck, excellent rise over the loin, well made behind, coat harsh to the touch. Balanced mover with a nice length of stride and sufficient drive and ‘dance’.
3. Barret’s Stranwith Ixxia. Stood out type-wise giving a superb silhouette, a true pity she was not more proud of her special looks. Truly feminine head, nicely balanced and chiselled, not completely parallel, small, very good carried ears, decent coloured eye. Very good bone and feet, lovely neck, well angulated, slightly loose in front, lovely top and underline, nicely shaped hind quarters, excellent tail set, typical coat, top and under, lean condition. Balanced mover with plenty of ‘dance’, a bit narrow behind.
Special Beginners Bitch
1. Maclean’s Orge Et Malt D’escal Grain. Feminine bitch with plenty of shape, decently balanced, could do with more daylight. Impressive length of head, typical stop, excellent parallel lines, good strength of under-jaw, small ears, decent coloured eyes. Very good bone, strong feet, sufficient forechest, extra spring of rib, supported by extra condition, lovely top line, tail set and carriage, typical coat texture. Keeps her topline on the move, with a decent length of stride, a bit narrow behind.
2. Macfarlane’s Aileymill Little Snowdrop. Feminine bitch of impressive size, powerful build, but still rather immature looking. Nice type of head in all aspects, with excellent eyes and ears even. Very good bone, feet ok, sufficient angulated in front, excellent topline, has to drop in body, well developed hindquarters, sufficient harsh, thick set coat. Balanced and typical on the move. Could do with a bit more self confidence.
3. Lindsay’s Leoch Oransey At Sliverthyme. Feminine, nicely balanced bitch of sufficient type, a bit immature looking still. Well carried head, could do with a softer expression and more furnishing, small, well set and carried ears. Angulation front behind balanced, sufficient bone, nice underline, would prefer more detail in topline, coat sufficient typical. Light footed on the move, a bit narrow behind.
Undergraduate Bitch
1 Spence’s Caraidanam Bruach Na Frithe At Brylach. Truly feminine bitch, powerful, free from coarseness, well developed given age, but not ready yet. Typical head, excellent in all parts, with a lovely, soft expression. Strong neck, could do with more length, very good bone and feet, excellent spring and length of ribs and rise over the loin, coat harsh to the touch, beautifully made behind with a very nice low hock. Balanced mover with a nice length of stride, sufficient drive and ‘dance’.
2. Havercroft Kilbourne Lyrae At Dragonsisle. Feminine bitch with plenty of shape but has to drop in body still. Excellent carried head, well developed with nice parallel lines, excellent eyes and ears. Nice bone and feet, lovely top line and hindquarters, but still would not mind a bit more width, typical coat texture top and under. Typical and balanced on the move, keeping her outline.
3. Jones’ Ormanstar Dark Delight. Nicely balanced bitch, feminine bitch, nice shape, but not finished yet, a bit racy still. Typical head ticking all boxes, except for eyes, would prefer a darker colour, lovely ears. Angulation front behind balanced, sufficient feet, excellent feet, nice top line, coat a bit short. Sufficient typical on the move, very good length of stride, a bit narrow behind.
Postgraduate Bitch
1. Lucas & Dargonne’s Packway Ecotrailer – Strong built bitch of very nice type, well off for size, nicely balanced but not ready yet in underline. Strong well carried head, close to parallel lines in profile, strong jaws, very good ears, excellent eyes with lovely soft expression. Excellent shaped, solid front, strong top line with delicate roach, excellent spring of ribs and quality of bone, feet ok. Well-made behind. Covers a lot of ground on the move, balanced.
2. Paunder’s Packway New York New York. Excellent type and size, nicely shaped, covering plenty of ground, not overdone. Feminine head with nice balance between muzzle and skull, true parallel lines and dark expressive eyes, ears could be better. Well angulated front with nice bone and feet, typical top and underline, excellent spring of ribs, nice tail carriage, coat sufficient harsh to the touch. Balanced mover, a bit narrow behind.
3. Mcalpine’s Gentiehun Iso Harmaa Koira. Smaller sized bitch, truly feminine, plenty of shape combined with a shorter coupling. Feminine head, lovely eye and expression, ear carriage a bit untidy. Angulation front behind balanced, nice bone, very good feet, typical tot and underline. Nice tail set and carriage, Typical coat, top and under. Easy going balanced mover.
Limit Bitch
1. Constatine’s Kwaricott Kaleginy Bettinsoli. Honest and strong, plenty of type and size, nicely balanced. Strong but still feminine head, correct and balanced in all parts except for ears. Truly excellent front and ribs, extra strong bone and feet, nice underline, sufficient detail in topline, well angulated in knee and hock, low tail set, lovely coat quality, harsh to the touch for sure. Balanced and correct on the move.
2. Finnett & Heathcote’s Hyndsight All I Have To Do Is. Lovely first impression, highly typical silhouette, full of nobility. Truly feminine head, not completely parallel, sufficient dark eye, ear carriage okay. Well angulated front, a bit loose, lovely depth and length of rib, could do with more spring, plenty of angulation behind, with excellent tail set and carriage, extra harsh coat. Highly typical on the move, with drive and a nice long stride, sufficient economic in front.
3. Wilce-Quinton & Quinton’s Kirjojax Pancho. Strong build bitch, solid, excellent silhouette without being overdone. Well carried head, excellent in all parts. Excellent bone, front and hind angulation, lovely ribs, typical tail set and carriage. Plenty of undercoat, upper extra harsh to the touch, a bit short though. A true pity she did not deliver on the move, rather lethargic, narrow behind.
Open Bitch
1. Bailey’s Ch Greyflax Tallulah Lilac. Scores in many ways, feminine strength, lovely to go over, solidly and smoothly all the way – a feast for the hands. Truly feminine head of nice length, excellent balance between muzzle and skull, not completely parallel in profile, very good ears, medium coloured eye, but it does not affect softness of expression, thanks to the quality furnishing also. Truly excellent counts for all her body parts, including extra points for coat quality. Typical and balanced on the move. Best Bitch and Best Opposite In Show.
2. Lucas & Dargonne’s Packway Smackfarthing. Strong and feminine bitch, not overdone in any way, covering a lot of ground, not ready in body yet. Feminine head, excellent in all parts, except for ears – very good. Well constructed throughout with a modest rise over the loin, very good feet, excellent coat top and under, well set and carried tail. Moves with a nice length of stride, strong drive, sufficient ‘dance’, correct coming and going.
3. Bailey’s Ch Greyflax Pearls A Singer. Feminine, solid, well put together, very nicely shaped. Well carried head, excellent in all parts, expect for eyes, rather deep set and sufficient dark in colour, textbook ears. Angulation front behind balanced, typical top and underline, tail-set and carriage, excellent coat. Correct on the move, coming and going, with drive, sufficient ‘dance’.
Veteran Bitch
1. Barret’s Stranwith Flora. The fittest in her class, most shape, extra feminine, middle sized, hardly showing her age – nine years – when standing, not at all on the move. Highly typical head, carriage and expression. Well angulated front, very good bone, feet okay, typical top and underline, well set and carried tail, strong hindquarters, typical double coat. Impressive on the move: length of stride, drive, plenty of ‘dance’, enjoying it to the full.
2. Lucas & Dargonne’s Packway Little Loxley. Eight and a half years, similar in make and shape as the veteran above, but then with more depth of body and a bit less tension over the loin. Well carried head, nice expression of eyes and furnishing. Moves with an extra length of stride.
3. Morton & Morgan’s Ch Cotherstone Islay Mist At Kaleginy ShCM. Eleven years, plenty of size and strength, balanced based on a shorter coupling. Well carried head, with typical and feminine expression. Excellent neck, well angulated, solid front with strong bone, plenty of rib, typical top and underline, excellent tail set and carriage, typical coat texture. Starts to show her age on the move, but still balanced keeping her topline.
Bas Bosch
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