ONYX

Paignton Championship Show 4 August 2009

Critique - Judge: Diane Ritchie

Irish Setters - Dogs

Many thanks to the Committee for inviting me to judge at this friendly, well run Show. Unfortunately the weather left a lot to be desired resulting in a rather small ring which made movement rather difficult to assess. In classes were the final decisions were closer, I elected to move the exhibits outside in the main part of the ring towards the end of the class, hoping to keep dogs and exhibitors as ‘dry and safe’ as possible. Thank you for your co-operation.

MPD (5,1)

1. Hogarth & Elkins AVACET SNOW DRIFT. A most appealing baby, just over six months. Lovely type. Most gorgeous headpiece with gentle expression. Dark eye of correct shape with excellent pigmentation. Good stop, raised brow with good amount of chiselling throughout. Lovely skull shape, good length of foreface and clean finish to muzzle. Good length of neck leading into good shoulder and return of upper arm. Deep chested, well ribbed back. Good topline and tailset. Already well developed in hindquarters. Really liked him.

2. Condrons GRACEWOOD STORM TROUPER AT COVARNEY. Bigger and more rangey than 1. Lots to like about him. Lovely topline and tailset. Strong, well developed hindquarters with good width to first and second thigh.Well off for bone, neat tight feet. Deep well sprung ribs carried well back. Straight in front. Pleasant head with dark eye, good finish to muzzle. Very well muscled. Slightly unsure of himself; I’m sure the weather conditions didn’t help. A few more outings will undoubtedly help.

3. Butlers GRACEWOOD TAKE BY STORM RUBYMOON.

PD (6,0)

1. & BPD Kings SEVERNVALE HIGH TIDE VIA BRENRUE. Quite a mature boy who made his handler work for his prizecards. Such an appealing head with dark eye and that mischievious look. Raised brow, correct stop and good work through headpiece. Low set ears of correct length. Excellent front assembly and true straight front. Deep chested with good ribcage – correct shape, length and spring. Strong loin with excellent width to quarters, good bend of stifle. Good bone, neat feet. Really came together stood freely rather than ‘topped and tailed’, also on the move. Impressed me with his great reach and drive already for one so young. Just needs time to learn his trade.

2. Tullys HIGHCLARE KNIGHTS TAIL. Another whom I really like. Just lost out to 1 on maturity today. Good headpiece with all the essentials. Strong well muscled neck, leading into lovely front assembly. Straight true front. Good bone with the best of feet. Deep chested, well ribbed back. Strong through loin. Good hindquarters with short strong rear pasterns. Good topline and tailset. Presented and handled well. Most appealing.

3. Rorkes CATALUNA POLE POSITION.

JD(8,2)

1. Kings S HIGH TIDE VIA BRENRUE

2. Barker-Bells BALINTYNE LUCK OF THE DRAW Correct skull shape with dark eye and good pigmentation and correct shape. Good ear set and length. Pleasing in outline with strong body of good proportions. Well balanced with lots to like. Clean inoutline with no exaggeration. Good topline and tailset. Deep chested, well ribbed back. Short, strong loin. Wide quarters with good width to first and second thigh areas. Just preferred the forehand of the winner.

3. Hunters SAMETSUZ SCRIPTWRITER.

YD(6,2)

1. Hunters S SCRIPTWRITER. Have judged this boy before and my goodness what a change. Maturing very nicely. He was much more relaxed than in the previous class, as was his handler and this really showed in the presenting of this exhibit for assessment. Appealling in outline with straight true front, deep chest and good ribcage. Strong well developed hindquarters, excelling in bend of stifle and widths through first and secong thighs. Good bone and the best of feet. Head pleasing and enough stop. Excellent finish to foreface. Moved steadily in this class.

2. Partridges KERRYDOWN MY GUY. Very nice style of setter although rather strong in skull for my preference. Enough work in head with kind dark eye of good shape. Low set ears of correct length. Good front, deep chest and excellent spring of rib. Well developed in hindquarters. Sadly rather proud of his tail.

3. Hailiwells HAWKDOWN MARSHALL DYLAN

ND(5,0)

1. Kings S HIGH TIDE VIA B.

2. Barker-Bells B LUCK OF THE DRAW

3. Hunters S SCRIPTWRITER

GD(8,2)

1. Byrnes SIOCHANNA IRISH LEGEND. Presented in top class condition and well and sympathically handled. Pleasing in head with all the essentials. Strong neck into decent front. Deep well developed ribcage, strong in loin. Excellent hindquarters, strong and well muscled. Good bone, neat and tidy feet. Moved well.

2. Baldrys SCARLETTI RAZZLE DAZZLE AT DERRYVEAGH Lovely type. Lovely head. Dark expressive eyes with good pigmentation. Correct amount of stop. Lots of work through headpiece with good refinement. Strong neck into good shoulder and retrun of upper arm. Deep chested , strong ribcage with correct shape and length. Strong loin area. Good in quarters. Moved well.

3. Gladwishs GLENLAINE THE BEST MAN

PGD(14,2)

A good class with many different styles. Liked my main winners a lot.

1. Barker-Bells BALINTYNE CHANCES ARE JW. Lovely type. Dark rich chestnut coat, put down in excellent condition and super musculature.Lovely head with excellent skull shape, correct amount of stop and raised brow. Clean finish to foreface and plenty of work throughout. Well arched neck leading into gently sloping topline and excellent tailset. Straight true front, deep chested and well ribbed. Short strong loin area and excellent width to quarters with good sweep of stifle. Moved strong and positively to win this class.

2. Needs COVARNEY MOCHA. I have admired this boy before and he certainly did not disappoint. Loved his head with plenty of work through it. Such a lovely expression with his raised brows and good amount of stop. Dark eye with excellent pigmentation. Good length and finish to foreface. Good length of neck into good front. Strong topline held correctly on the move. Wide powerful hindquarters. Good bone, neat cat like feet. Presented in top class condition. Moved out well.

3. Ords TYKKIDW SUNLORD

LD(7,2)

1. Partridges KERRYDOWN LOOK AT ME. The surprise package of the day! I was truly taken with this dog. He appealed to me in every way – I could not wait to find out who he was! On the down side I just wished he had been put down with more condition on him to be able to compete against the two Open winners. To be able to win top honours, the exhibit has to have it all – conformation, movement and completing the picture with style, hard musculature condition and presentation. It’s a lot of hard work but this boy is really worth the effort – I set you the challenge! He is so deserving. Such a wonderful headpiece. Correct from every viewpoint with no exaggeration or coarseness. Excellent eye shape and colour with true dark pigmentation. Raised brow, good amount of stop. Good length and finish to foreface. Plenty of chiselling throughout. Good length of neck into good front assembly. Deep chested, well ribbed back into good length of loin. Strong wide hindquarters with excellent width to first and second thighs. Short rear pasterns. Excellent topline and tailset. In full coat. Good balance throughout with excellent length to height proportions.

2. Barker-Bells BALINTYNE TAKE A CHANCE ON ME JW. Have done this boy well before and he still is one to impress. Today he unfortunately came up against a dog who I just loved for type and style and who really just got under my skin! He has all the essentials from his lovely headpiece with his dark expressive eye and raised brows to his well presented dark coat, in full bloom. Deep chested, racy and balanced. Strong bone, good feet. Good angulation fore and aft. Good topline and tailset. Moved well.

3. Stocktons KESPAS INFRARED JW

OD(8,1)

For me the CC and RCC winners from this class epitomise what its all about. As I have said already in the report on my Limit winner, to be a top drawer winner one has to have a top drawer exhibit and put in top drawer hard work! Its that simple! These two dogs were put down in prestine condition with hard musculature throughout. Just preferred the front extension of 1, but both quality boys who have great appeal and are sound and positive on the move.

1. CC & BOB Roffeys DANAWAY LANCELOT OF AUTUMNWOOD. Have watched this boy mature and have also competed against him when he won the CC and I the RCC – that day he made the hairs on the back of my neck stand when I watched him on the move. Today conditions were difficult but for him it really didn’t matter – he is so fluid on the move whether on wet grass through puddles or what ever. His front extension is a joy with his so correct front assembly and his rear drive so effortless. Such lovely balance all through with such a lovely head, kind eye with good shape and correct dark pigmentation. Correctly set ears with good enough length. Strong well arched neck leading into his strong gently sloping topline. Excels in front assembly. Deep chested with well sprung ribs of correct shape and length into his short strong loin. Good width to quarters with good bend of stifle. Short strong rear pasterns, good bone and neat cat like feet. Thank you for bringing him.

2 Holehan & Norths SH CH ERINADE STARWARS JW I must confess, this boy never really appealed to me when he was younger but he has matured into quite a striking young man whom I had delight in awarding the RCC to today. He is a real top drawer exhibit whom I really liked. He has a lovely head with correct eye shape, colour and pigmentation. Correct amount of stop with plenty of chiselling through his headpiece and nicely raised brows. Strong neck into well angulated front. Deep chested and with excellent rib. Strong in loin and good width to quarters. Well muscled first and second thigh. Good topline and tailset. Presented in full coat and looking every inch the Champion that he so deserves to be. So glad you brought him, I was pleased to be able to change my mind about him and award him in the top honours today.

Diane Ritchie (Gwendariff)