South of England Irish Setter Club
Championship Show
13 January 2002
Judges Critique
The committee of this society had obviously worked so hard to stage this excellently run show which was a pleasure to judge. Thank-you to all the exhibitors too for the wonderful entry of 175 bitches, 217 entries and to my hardworking stewards, it was such a long day for them all.
With my co-judge Best in Show went to the dog: McLaughlin Park & Hough Ir.Sh.Ch. Lestannons Gold Finger at Inishglora a true Irishman enjoying a well deserved run of success at the moment (I was told later that he had been awarded Northern Ireland Gundog of the Year the night before – many congratulations - his owners must have been exhausted by the end of the weekend). Upstanding soundly constructed 4 year old shown in immaculate full coat, shown in hard muscular condition and presented to perfection. Reserve Best in Show and Best Opposite Sex: Sh.Ch.Clonageera Inspiration for Kespas. Best Puppy Hall Harreds Ghillie promising, nicely constructed boy of 10 mths who moved steadily.
I raise the following points of concern. Movement particularly in the early classes could have been better. I sincerely hope this was because of the matting and floor. Placings may well have been quite different moving in an outside ring. Presentation varied from immaculate through to downright dirty and knotted and lots of scaled-up teeth too! Surely if you are paying the entry fee for a Championship Show it is worth the extra effort of grooming your bitch to show her to her best advantage. I was also surprised at the number of exhibits who had been pushed up into a higher class than they were truly eligible (maybe the Kennel Club should introduce entry restrictions?). Understandable if you have two dogs to show but otherwise why not stick to your correct class?
Having said all that there were many beautiful bitches entered and I had no difficulty finding exactly the type I was seeking particularly from the Graduate class onwards.
Minor Puppy (11 Entries 5a)
What a promising 8 mths baby she is, pretty head with lovely chiselling and dark eye. Clean in outline whilst showing depth of body. Neatest feet. Lovely thick coat developing and she moved steadily to gain best puppy bitch
Slightly heavier type than above,well bodied and boned, firm in topline which she held on the move, and shown in excellent condition
Puppy (18 –4)
Very pretty 9 mths bitch in good coat and condition, neat feet, liked her depth of body and elegant neckline and pretty head. Good in hind angulation and topline. Little erratic at times on the move, but at this young age I forgave her this because of her overall quality, type and outline.
10 mths and despite being a little older not such a mature girl as above, excelled in clean reach of neck and well angulated hindquarters which enabled her to move particularly well,
Junior (16 –3)
1. Martin Glennara Moonlight Shadow at Silvagem JW
Mature, showy bitch of 16 mths with strong hind angulation and correct over croup and tailset. Whilst I would have liked little more angulation of upper arm she moved steadily and was shown in excellent and well presented coat.
2. Powis Amberwave Spangle JW
Excels in her sound construction and movement. In between coats at the moment, very clean outline over neck and shoulders, strong hind angulation and hard muscular condition.
3. Munro Fetteresk First Offence
Special Yearling (20 –3)
1. Henderson Sametsuz Honey Trap
Such a pretty girl with a well chiselled head, lovely dark well shaped eye and in good, well presented coat, lovely outline and neat feet, moving a little close behind today, but I felt her overall type outweighed this in this class but Graduate was a little too hard for her later.
2. Boutell Ixia Isabella
Quite a mature bitch, of a different type to above, well bodied with good front angulation, firm topline and clean outline over neck, was very well handled and moved soundly
3. Gratton Glenlaine Voulez Vous
Special Beginners (2- 0)
1. Venables Tatsbro Rich Rewards
20 months girl shown in dark shiny coat presented well, when she wanted to she could present a picture standing albeit dropping off a little over croup. Moved a little erratically today and I think her feet would improve if nails were shorter.
2. Charlesworth & Willerton Corricas Monet
Placed in her previous Minor puppy class, this baby has good body properties and well boned, a little level in topline. I think she had had enough by the time she came into this class.
Maiden (17 -1)
1. Stockton Kespas Intuition
2. Wright Penwyn Livin La Vida Loca
Dark coated , excelled in firm topline, tight feet good front angulation, very pretty in head and dark eye and she moved steadily
3. Roberts Polmennor Village Gossip
Novice (17- 0)
1. Munro Fetteresk First Offence
Elegant bitch who was 3rd in Junior, prettiest of heads with correct shaped eye. firm topline, just needs to mature in body a little. Good in front and feet, moved steadily
2. Box Fernstart Irish Music
3. smaller type than above, refined in head, lovely body properties, and shown in excellent and condition didn’t move quite as well as above.
4. Bugdell Robbielene Keely
Undergraduate (21- 2)
1. Brown Shandwick Jade at Tifosi
What an elgant bitch this is, she moved so freely, so clean over neckline & lovely topline, correctly angulated hindquarters with nice set-on to her tail too, refined and pretty in head, shown in good coat and condition,
2. Box Fernstart Irish Melody
Quite a mature bitch, with very strong hindquarters, good in topline carried her tail well but could be a little more animated on the move. Presentation and condition excellent.
3. Sheldon Delsanto Charmaine
Graduate (16- 3) lovely class.
1. Kavanagh Withersdale Kupola
This girl won her place on her sound driving movement from strong hindquarters. Lovely outline, not quite as chiselled in head as second but she has lovely dark eyes and a clean reach of neck. Shown in well presented coat and condition which she had to be to win this hard class and hold a place in the strong Post Grad class.
2. Pollard Grayrigge Grace O’Malley JW
This gorgeous bitch also showed very well. She has a beautifully chiselled head and good eye shape and a lovely outline. Whilst I preferred her when standing and she moved soundly she didn’t have quite the strong driving action of above.
3. Morley Cheveney Love Me Do JW
Post Graduate (21- 6)
1. Frampton Country Belle of Wendover
Well balanced bitch of the size I like, excels in outline, just wish she was a little bit more enthusiastic on the move. Prettiest head with correct earset, clean and sound over neckline and front, Strong hindquarters, tight feet, shown in good coat, was very well presented and handled
2. Harris Maesffynnon Cressida of Trapwell
Very good movement on this girl, striking in neck and outline and shown in full coat, not quite as strong over hindquarters of above.
3. Kavanagh Withersdale Kupola
Minor Limit (14- 2)
1. Weller Strathmead Stormwind over FenruaI don’t recall ever having seen this beautiful bitch before . She showed really well despite the floor. In excellent, immaculately presented coat . Good angulation in front and rear and well muscled. Lovely head and earset, and handled well.
2. Powis Amberwave Dazzle JW
Totally different in type from above but you appreciate her qualities when handling her for she is so ultra sound to go over, every part flowing into the next. Correct angulation front and rear and she moved so soundly well deserving her place.
3. Gargrave Dundaning Desirable
Mid Limit (5 –0)
1. Spence Kirkavagh Kamicia
Won this class on her steady movement, good depth of chest nicely constructed and boned throughout, good tailset, low set ear & well presented coat.
2. Sharman Lochlorien Sunrise
Not quite the head type that I would like but she gained her place on her movement. Well presented and in excellent coat and condition
3. Thwaites Danaway Lilac Wine
Limit (22- 4) Excellent hotly contested class
1. O’Connor Caispern Miss Bennett
Controlled, steady movement on this girl carried her through to win this difficult class. She is of the size and type that I really like, superbly handled in outstanding condition and immaculately presented. Just wish she had a little more work in her head. Topline, feet, body and coatwise she is lovely.
2. Henderson Sametsuz Mak’n Mischief
Larger bitch, shown in beautiful coat and well presented, clean reach of neck, deep body lovely hind angulation and tailset she moved very well.
3. Hawkins Heneleas Flirting Around
Open (10- 2)
1. Stockton Sh.Ch.Clonageera Inspiration for Kespas
Outstandingly ultra feminine bitch who moved really well. I loved her for her size and excellent balanced outline. Nicely angulated over hindquarters, clean over neck and shoulders and has the most glorious head and soft expression shown in super coat and condition and handled to advantage in this strong class. I was pleased to award her the CC & later Res. BIS.
2. Hall Sh.Ch. Barleydale Polyantha at Harreds
Another lovely girl, maybe more of the type I would prefer standing but she was just not moving as well in this venue today. Lovely in outline and shown in full well presented dark coat. Strong over hindquarters, very pretty head and dark eye correct reach of neck and good topline. Well deserved the Res CC in strong competition.
3. Harris Trelales Corn Harvest at Maesffynnon
Veteran (11- 5)
1. Thwaites Danaway Lilac Wine
Pretty 8 year old who showed no trace of her advancing years, very dark coated, refined and well chiselled head, neat feet and shown in very good condition, carries her topline well although a little reluctant on the move.
2. Pallister Penwyn Truly
Not quite in the coat of above but she really showed well, nice in outline, nails a little long.
3. Brown Kirkavagh Valoris
Marita Bott (Judge)