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My thanks for the opportunity to judge at WELKS and for such a good square ring which made it easier to assess movement. I was blessed with lots of quality exhibits and I was often spoilt for choice. It’s a while since I judged and I was pleasantly surprised with the improvement in movement which, with a few exceptions, was good, especially considering the unforgiving surface.
In order to perform their work on difficult terrain, Deerhounds needed scope, so needed enough length, also flexibility from a correct topline and angulation. They also needed stamina, helped by a good ribcage and effortless movement. These are the things I was looking for. Some are lacking in reach and drive and would benefit from a touch more angulation. Excellent feet are also necessary and I was delighted that feet were mostly good.
There were a few heavier heads and light eyes, but happily not too many because there is no doubt that a lovely head with dark eyes and small, high-set ears denotes quality.
As always I enjoyed myself, judging is such an education!
Thanks to Millie and David for their help and their efficient stewarding.
DOGS
Veteran (0)
Minor Puppy (1)
1.Wilbraham’s Ardlancien Idris.
8 months well-grown, shapely puppy, small high-set ears, reasonable neck, very good feet, correct ribcage with length, depth and spring of rib, good bend of stifle. Nice condition for age, strode out well in profile. BP.
Puppy (1,1)
Junior (3)
1.Owen & Brodie’s Fritzen’s Zareef at Wolfscastle (Imp Ger)
Ultra-typical outline, lovely head, small high-set ears, good feet, good length of body, but ribcage could be longer. Nice width of thigh and bend of stifle. Moved OK, but needs to settle in front and topline tends to flatten on the move. Great coat and condition.
2. Cummings’ Claonaiglen Artney.
Young-looking and not quite in proportion. Nice eye, ears OK, good forechest and feet, again ribcage could be longer. Good coat.
3.Way’s Balgaled Mabon.
Yearling (2,0)
Difficult to choose between these two promising dogs.
1.Peach’s Kilbourne Oscar Wilde.
Preferred the length, head and hind movement of first. Lovely head, dark eye, ears could be smaller, some forechest, nice bend of stifle, good coat. Balanced angulation, moved well all round.
2. Wragg’s Neroche Kielder.
Nice to see a youngster enjoying his day out, lovely head, dark eye, nice small ears, good forechest, parallel front, good feet, excellent bend of stifle, great coat. Hind movement needs to settle.
Post Grad (2,0)
1.Finnett & Heathcote’s Hyndsight Talk on the Street.
Better proportions than 2 , lovely outline with correct rise over loin, attractive head and expression, eye could be darker, excellent small high-set ears, good neck and excellent shoulders, ribcage could be longer, good fallaway, width across thigh and low hocks. Moved very well behind.
2. Cummings’ Kaleginy Trubador.
Stronger head. Neck could be longer to create a more balanced outline, good forechest, better length of ribcage, but could be deeper. Nice fallaway and strong thigh.
Limit (3,0)
Difficult to choose between these three. All three with nice heads and in good condition, otherwise very different from each other.
1.Wilce-Quinton & Quinton’s Kirjojax Harris.
Nice head proportions, dark eye, small high-set ears. Shapely dog but would prefer him a bit longer. Balanced angulation front to rear, though would benefit from slightly more all round, good depth of ribcage, correct rise over loin, a little more coat would finish the look, moved soundly all round but could stride out more. Won the point for the feet that the judge would most like to take home.
2.Shannon’s Packway Downlander at Erewhon.
A better length than the first, but would prefer more body. Attractive head, small high-set ears, nice flow of neck into shoulders, good topline with rise over the loin. Won his place with the best movement in the class, despite the other two being in harder condition.
3.Stuart & Holt’s Ollandsheart Oberon. Most attractive type with lots of body and curves, unfortunately not moving as well as the others.
Open (3,0)
A lovely class with three excellent dogs.
1.Finnett & Heathcote’s Ch Hyndsight Sinnerman.
The proportions I was looking for, good length, balanced angulation and a series of curves. Typical head with gentle expression, kind eyes, perfect small high-set ears, strong neck into good shoulders and topline with correct rise over loin. Good ribcage with length, depth and spring, long fallaway with good width across thigh and lovely low hocks. Correct angulation all round gives him the elasticity in movement enabling good propulsion. Loved him. CC & BOB.
2. Taylor’s Ch Ormanstar Dark Shadow.
Overall very shapely dog, perhaps would prefer him slightly longer. Head stronger than ideal but nice dark eyes, small well-carried ears, good neck and front, deep ribcage, good bend of stifle with width across thigh, low hocks, excellent attractive coat, moved well all round. RCC.
3.Peach’s Ch Kilbourne Merak.
BITCHES
Veteran (0)
Minor Puppy (0)
Puppy (1,1)
Junior (3,1)
1.Peach’s Quantastico Lucia.
Nice head and expression, dark eye, good ears, curvy girl with good angulation all round. Good shoulders, chest and front, excellent feet, good thigh and hocks, attractive coat, moved well. Preferred her head and curves to 2.
2.Faircloth’s Penherald Polka at Calbraidh.
Stronger head than 1 and bigger ears. Would prefer a longer neck to balance proportions. Good front and feet. Nice hindquarters with good length from hip to hock. Moved OK.
Yearling (2,0)
1.Helps’ Beardswood Gille’s Whisper.
Good length and proportions. Strong head but lovely dark eyes, ears could be smaller. Nice flow of neck into shoulders, straight front, good pasterns and feet, excellent ribcage and correct topline, balanced angulation, moved well in profile. Preferred her proportions to 2.
2. Lewis’ Luckhurst Whitefeatherfal.
Would prefer her longer. Nice head, straight front and good feet. Could have more length and spring of rib. Moved well all round.
Postgrad (9,3)
1.Finnett & Heathcote’s Hyndsight All I Have to Do Is.
Close decision. Good overall length and proportions, which I preferred to 2. Beautiful head shape but eye could be darker. Small well-carried ears, good neck into shoulders and front. Very shapely flow through body, strong hindquarters with excellent bend of stifle and length from hip to hock, nice fallaway. Moved well all round and with drive. RCC.
2.Spring-Arnold’s Hyndsight Only in My Dreams.
Again lovely head but eye could be darker. Ears not as good as 1. Pleasing overall, shapely feminine bitch. Good front and feet, correct topline and fallaway, nice bend of stifle and width across thigh, moved well.
3.Lucas & Dargonne’s Packway Ecotrailer.
Limit (7,1)
1.Kilgar’s Claonaiglen Strontian Maelstrom.
A lovely bitch who manages to be feminine and workmanlike at the same time, a rare combination. Ideal size and bone with everything in the right proportion, without exaggeration. Attractive head, dark eyes, small high-set ears, well carried, straight front, good pasterns and feet, ideal length of body with good ribcage, topline and fallaway. Good angulation all round with excellent width across thigh. Harsh coat, a little bit more would enhance the picture. Sound, easy mover all round. CC.
2. Peach’s Kilbourne Flora McDeva.
Close decision between 2 and 3. Preferred length of 2. Good head proportions, eye could be darker, good ears well-carried, nice flow of neck into topline, correct topline when standing more relaxed, good length hip to hock, low hocks. Good rear and profile movement.
3. Helps’ Beardswood Verbena.
Open (5,4)
1.Owen & Brodie’s Wolfscastle Soul Sister.
Very attractive picture standing, curvy and feminine, lovely head and expression, dark eyes, small high-set ears, good neck and shoulders, nice front, excellent pasterns and feet, nice fallaway, curvy hindquarters. Movement could have been better.
Kay Barret (Judge)
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