Three Counties 9 June 2010

Critique - Judge - Jackie Willis

My first championship appointment. Thank you to the committee for their invite and hospitality, and to my stewards who kept the flow of proceedings running smoothly.

I feel it’s important to be able to appreciate different styles that have all the breed qualities that the standard asks for. It can be easy to dismiss an exhibit as its not what you are used to looking at, but you could easily do them a dis-service.

I was concerned about the lack of sternums. For one’s hand to disappear amongst a wealth of coat is somewhat surprising. Good movement is a challenge to find. Some erratic movement can be down to poor handling, but correct footfall should not be so hard to find.

With that said, I found a lot to like today and very encouraged for the future. Thank you to all exhibitors for their sportsmanlike approach to my decisions.

MPD (6,0)

1. Barker-Bell’s Balintyne The Continental – Just coming up to 9mnths. Quality youngster. Well balanced, racy in appearance. Pleasing head, long and lean. Still needs to break. Long, low set on ears. Good length of neck, that flowed into excellent shoulders. Straight front, good depth. Correct amount of stifle for age. Steady, happy mover.

2. Drinkwater’s Brabrook Shanavas – 8 mnths. In gleaming condition and excellent body properties. Handsome boy with gentle expression. Good depth through chest, and strong through the quarters. Preferred the croup and movement of 1.

3. Sheldon’s Balintyne Foreign Intrigue at Delsanto.

PD (6,0)

1. Lucas’s Irish Magic of the Trav’lin Star Avec Amberlight (imp Bel) Almost 12 months and what a lovely young man. Exquisite head with dark, expressive eyes and raised brow. Straight front with quality bone. Clean over the shoulders and a firm top line that he held on the move. Quarters are still in the developing stage, but a promising youngster. BPD.

2. Barker-Bell’s Balintyne The Continental.

3. Drinkwater’s Brabrook Shanavas.

JD (7,2)

1. Stewart-Ritchie’s Gwendariff Whata Corka – Stood out in this class. Presented to perfection as always from this kennel and in tiptop musculature condition. Handsome, refined head with desired expression. Low set ears. Quality bone, excellent depth. Strong through the loin and good finish to croup. Excellent quarters, with well-developed second thigh. Most stylish on the move and correct footfall.

2. Wigful and Hartley’s Anlory Goldfinger – Built on smaller lines, and could easily be overlooked. Moderate all through, which is a plus in my book. Pleasing head, with dark expressive eye. Furnishings yet to come, but still plenty of time. Won his place on his positive movement.

3. Cooper’s Shenanagin Sailing Home to Hugared.

YD (7,1)

1. Kniveton’s Feylinci Beachcomber at Orstone JW – Really striking youngster who has turned a corner since I last saw him. Racy, and balanced throughout. Lovely rich, dark coat in excellent condition. Refined head, dark, expressive eyes and correct finish to foreface. Excellent front, correct sternum. Good length of neck, set cleanly in shoulders. Firm topline and good finish to croup. Dropped well into quarters and short from hock to heel. Strode out with excellent carriage and showing a clean pair of heels. Should have a promising future.

2. Butler-Holley’s Tifosi Masterpiece of Shandwick – This young man gave his handler a hard time. Mature, having substance without any coarseness. Pleasing head with plenty of work, straight front and good depth. Well-sprung rib. Well developed quarters and strong second thigh. Moved well when settled.

3. Bettis Reddins Lester at Ornella.

GD (5,1)

1. Roffey’s Gwendariff Top Of The Pops – Put down to perfection and in excellent condition. Coat, lush and gleaming. Quite full of himself and has the attitude to take him further. Beautiful head with soft, expressive eye, raised brow, showing plenty of work. Excelled in front assembly, with correct upper arm angulation. Deep chest, strong loin, and in excellent musculature condition. Moved with panache and excellent reach.

2. Partidge’s Kerrydown My Guy JW – Very handsome dog, with gorgeous expression. Good length of neck, well arched and set cleanly into well laid back shoulders. Good depth and well developed quarters. Preferred croup and tail carriage of 1. Presentation needs to be improved to get the most out of this dog.

3. Cooper’s Corranroo Magic Trick with Hugared.

PGD (10,1)

1. Kniveton’s Serrula Playaround at Orstone – A very honest, moderate dog, who you need to have your hands on to appreciate his quality’s. Nothing is overdone. Head, long and lean, dark eye and low set ears. Flows from tip to tail. Firm topline that he held with ease on the move. His footfall is precise and correct.

2. Danks-Kemish’s Sametsuz On Cue Alolfran – Bigger all through than 1. Hard to ignore. Excelled in head, with raised brow and sweetest expression. Has plenty of length and strong quarters that are well developed. Not as tidy as I would like to see on the move.

3. Naylor and Morrison’s Anlory Bonarda JW

LD (11,1)

Two of our undoubted stars headed this class. Of different styles, but both oozing breed type. I’m sure their tussle for top honours will go on for many years.

1. Holley and Cheney Gwendariff Pop The Question – On the move this dog is breathtaking. His reach, length of stride and footfall are a pleasure to watch. This is matched by a most refined head, with the gentlest expression and expressive eye. Strong, arched neck into clean shoulders. Straight front, quality bone, deep chest, well ribbed back and strong through loin. Quarters well developed and short from hock to heel. Excellent width across the croup, with clean set on of tail. His lush, rich coat is beautifully presented. You can see he is a handful, but this adds to his charm. His carriage and attitude with lashing tail will take him to the top. CC and BOB. I’m sure his title is not far away.

2. Mugford’s Copper’s Undercover at Lynwood JW imp Swe – Built on smaller lines. So much to like. Well balanced, refined head, with dark expressive eye. Clean through shoulders and firm topline, which he held on the move. His rich, dark coat was in excellent condition. Nothing is overdone and he is perfectly balanced. Strong quarters and short from hock to heel.

3. Edwards Gwendariff Rockin Robin JW

OD (3,1)

1. Roffey’s Sh Ch Danaway Lancelot of Autumnwood – It was a real pleasure to go over this dog. Everything fits perfectly, and each part of him complements the next. Masculine head, with that twinkle in his eye that makes you take notice. Excells in front assembly, with correct sternum. Strong topline, well muscled quarters and correct finish at croup. He will never drip in coat, but this means he hides nothing. When he takes off with his excellent carriage, clean set of heels and outstanding reach, he is all Irish. RCC.

2. Stewart-Ritchie’s Ir Sh Ch Gwendariff Rockafella JW CW 09 – This young man was not on his game today. He was pre-occupied with everything going on around him and never really settled. Bigger built than my winner, but retained correct balance. Pleasing head, quizzical expression. Strong forequarters, excellent depth and in excellent musculature condition. Strong quarters and well developed second thigh. Put down in very good order and in full coat.

MPB (4,1)

1. Catling’s Shandwick Star Shine At Teleri – Absolutely loved her. Mature, well-developed young lady, full of quality. Prettiest of heads, with raised brow and melting expression. Clean shoulders, excellent body length and good finish to croup. Well-developed quarters for one so young. Put down in immaculate order, with gleaming chestnut coat. Moved with style and grace. Most promising. BPIB. Delighted that she was short listed to final 8 in

PG. 2. Gurney’s Danaway Paloma – Finer built all through. Still very much a baby and full of Irish charm. Pretty head with dark, well shaped eye. Clean shoulders and good length. Happy mover with good footfall.

3. Berry & Morris Brinara Briet

PB (3,0)

1. Gardner’s Carnbargus Confetti – Nearly 12 months. Was intent on giving handler a hard time. Built on the cleanest of lines that flowed from head to tail. Prettiest of heads, with rich, dark, expressive eye. Neck cleanly set into shoulders and plenty of depth. Well balanced quarters, which she uses well on the move. Stylish mover.

2. Pollard’s Grayrigge Rosalind – Different style to 1, but similar remarks apply. Prettiest of heads with melting expression. Has substance, whilst retaining elegance. Excellent reach of neck. Clean topline. Not as positive on the move, but still a baby.

3. Greenwood’s Carnbargus Confiture

JB (9,2)

1. Two litter sisters headed this class. Lots to admire in both. 1. Hall’s Shenanigan Star drift at Glenmora JW – Nice style of bitch. Her length gives her more elegance at this stage over her sister. Good length of neck compliments this even further. Pretty girl, dark eye and raised brow. Well balanced with nothing overdone. Moved well when settled.

2. Limpus’s Shenanagin She’s The One for Karidell – More substance all through, but remains feminine. Dark, rich coat, that gleams with health. Neck set cleanly into shoulders, straight front and correct sternum. Well-developed quarters, which she used well on the move.

3. Brady’s Reddins Frolic Among Amberlight.

YB (6,0)

1. Lorrimer’s Danaway Dominique – Crept up on me and hit me right between the eyes. I confess to have not really noticed her as she came through the younger classes. When she stood in front of me today she commanded by attention. She was perfectly balanced, racy, excellent coat and condition and correct muscular condition. She has the prettiest of heads with a wicked twinkle in her eye that screams, ‘Irish’. She flows from all angles and everything fits into place perfectly. She strode out on the move, her head held high and lashing tail. She has that devil may care attitude, where she is set to enjoy everything she does. In the line up she could not be overlooked and my eye was drawn to her again and again. CC and BOS.

2. Douthwaite and Wharfe’s Gracewood Shannon – Mature, typy bitch, who has good ring presence. Very pretty. Good length of body, which gives her elegance, especially on the move.

3. Price’s Severnvale High Class Babe JW

GB (7,1)

1. Henderson’s Sametsuz Call Girl – Very close decision between 1 and 2. This young lady pulled out all the stops in the final run-off and selection process, which pushed her into first place. Very elegant and put down to perfection. Prettiest of heads, with raised brow and soft, expressive eyes. Great reach of neck, set cleanly into shoulders and gentle sloping topline. Great depth and strong through loin. Good bend of stifle and short from hock to heel. Excellent footfall and moved with style and panache.

2. Waterton’s Lynwood Kissed By An Angel At Sandstream JW – Different in style to my winner, but so much to admire. Very pretty, raised brow and quizzical expression. Balanced throughout, correct sternum, great depth and strength through loin. Good quarters, well developed second thigh and correct finish to croup. Moved well, but not the enthusiasm or reach of 1.

3. Barker-Bell’s Balintyne Luck Be A Lady

PGB (5,2)

Quality class

1. Powis’s Amberwave Freckles – This girl’s effortless, correct movement took her to first place. Lovely to go over, with excellent bone, construction and condition. Head feminine and refined. Firm topline which she holds on the move and her free flowing stride is a pleasure to watch.

2. Mugford’s Lynwood Started With A Kiss JW – This kennel produces bitches of an exceptional mold again and again. Full of breed type, prettiest of heads. Balanced fore and aft and in excellent condition. Moved well. Holley’s Danaway Briana of Wynjill

LB (11,4)

Quite a tussle between 1 and 2.

1. Gardner’s Carnbargus Contemplation – This girl has so much to offer. Not a big one, but everything in the right place. Prettiest of heads, darkest eye and quizzical expression. Flows through her well laid back shoulders, excellent forearm and well-muscled quarters. On the move she excels. She covers so much ground, with the minimum of effort. RCC.

2. Henderson’s Sametsuz A Taste of Honey – Built on similar lines with a bigger frame. Striking in outline and like my winner flows from tip to tail. Prettiest of heads, with wistful expression. Excellent front and depth. Well-ribbed, excellent quarters and well developed second thigh. Preferred footfall of winner.

OB (3,1)

Two very different style of bitches. Lots to admire in both. 1 took her place with her free flowing movement and carriage.

1. Stewart-Ritchie’s Ir Sh Ch Gwendariff Rock Diva JW CW10 – This kennel has some of the fittest dogs I’ve encountered. Their muscle tone shows how much exercise they must be getting on a regular basis. This girl was put down in the highest order. From her straight front, clean shoulders, correct sternum, strong loin, well developed quarters and her correct croup. She is a pleasure to judge. She has a rich, dark coat that gleamed with condition. Pleasing head. Long and lean, raised brow, correct finish to muzzle.

2. Watt’s Sh Ch Shenanagin Shooting Star – A worthy champion who looked in good form. Loved her for type. Sweet, expressive eye. Raised brow and low set ears. Straight front, flowing topline, correct croup and strong quarters. Moved soundly.

Jackie Willis

Three Counties 9 June 2010

Judge: Mrs J Willis

Congratulations to the Dog Challenge Certificate and Best of Breed:
Jill Holley & Anna Cheney & Fergus

Gwendariff Pop The Question JW

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