National Gundog Association
Irish Setter (Dogs)
First of all I should like to thank the hard-working committees of the N.G.A. and Waverley
Gundog who made me and my fellow judges so welcome. Also my two efficient stewards
and last but by no means least all those of you travelled such long distances for my humble
opinion! What a coincidence that my first appointment at this level should be back in
Scotland where I began my show career. To the dogs – I found no bad bites but a lot of dirty
(even slimy) teeth’ this is unforgiveable - a show dog should be gleaming inside and out!
Also* a number of very deep stops giving a rather fierce and untypical expression, and two
cases of seeming entropion. Having said that I was delighted with my final line-up; real
quality!
SVD. (1). 1. Wall’s Hazelbeck Peregrine. Standing alone but still deserved his 1st place.
Sweet, gentle head. Well-angulated with strong quarters, neat feet. Moved really strongly for
a 10 ½ year old. MPD. (3). 1. McVey’s Lochfrae Ralph Lauren. What a little
sweetheart – could have taken him home. Just over 6 months but so beautifully balanced.
Well formed head with lovely arch of neck into good shoulders.Well-boned, with neat feet.
Lovely thick dark coat. Moved so steadily for his age which gave him BPD. 2. Prangle’s
Heathclare Magic Spell. Bigger and rangier boy than 1. and at the ‘legs and wings’ stage..
Good reach of neck. Very well boned. Moved ok when he settled. 3. Robinson’s Redstyle
Scirocco. Another raw, rangy boy still to grow into himself. Good reach of neck and
pleasant head. Bracing himself at the rear when stood which I’m sure will improve as he
learns to relax. Needs to tighten in rear movement. PD. (4). 1. Lucas’ Braidmount Gentle
Guy. Nice balanced head, lovely reach of neck. Very well angulated at front with super
brisket. Could do with a little more bend of stifle but came together on the move. 2. Muir’s
Grayrigge Ewan by Romarne. Taller, more mature boy than 1. Gave his handler a hard time
in the strong wind. Nicely shaped head with lovely finish to skull. Long arched neck and
good depth of chest. Movement somewhat erratic. 3. Greenan’s Anlory Quantus. Smaller,
more compact and thickset dog. Pleasant head and good neck. A trifle proud of his tail on
the move. JD. (5). 1. Berry and Morris’ Brinara Indus. A case of splitting hairs between 1.
and 2. and I’m sure they will change places many times in future, but for me the head did it!
Lovely well-balanced head, so typical of his breeding. Nice arched neck on good shoulders.
Super front angulation with gently sloping topline. Moved really soundly. 2. Henson’s
Tatsbro Irish Mist. Another really good and steady mover. Lovely length of neck, well
angulated fore and aft. Good depth all through. Nice boy. 3. Northend’s Erinade Orlando.
More rangy dog than the first two – still to come together. Pleasant head. Moved quite
soundly. SYD. (10). 1. McCulloch’s Cullmadons Celebrity. Refined head on strong arched
neck. Good depth all round. Super front angulation, with prominent forechest. Good bend of
stifle. Moved soundly and happily. 2. Launchbury’s Morchale Highlander JW. Well-known
young man who is going to trouble the best. Much the same remarks apply as my winner, I
just thought he lost his topline on the move. 3. Davis’ Brayville Lady’s Man of Corribeg.
Taller boy with sweet head on a good length of neck. Very elegant outline with terrific hind
angulation. Needs to broaden at front. Moved soundly. ND. (4). 1. Henson’s T. Irish Mist.
2. Muir’s G. Ewan by Romarne. 3. Penny’s Barnellin Alchymist. Sound dog with good
outline. Well-boned, neat feet. Was misbehaving, so difficult to assess his movement. GD.
(9, 1 abs). 1. Wilder’s Riverman Joshua JW. Lovely balanced outline. Refined masculine
head with dark eye, on well-arched neck, with lovely finish to skull. Straight front with
neat feet. Super bend of stifle. Moved steadily and soundly. 2. McLaughlin, Park and
Hough’s Lestannons Mickey Blue Eyes JW. Can’t believe this boy is only 2 years old; he is
so well bodied and dripping in coat – if anything a bit too much for me. Nice head and lovely
reach of neck. Deep chest. Not moving quite as steadily as my winner. 3. Riley’s
Roguechien Firecracker. Nice sound outline. Head rather deep in stop. Another one with
loads of coat. Moved well. PGD. (9, 1 abs). 1. Willis’ Aoibheannes Pappion avec
Jacwilins. Presented a beautifully balanced picture in gleaming coat. Head a trifle strong for
me but with lovely ear-set and finish to skull, into strong arched neck sweeping into well-laid
shoulders. Good spring of rib and very strong quarters which showed in his lovely free
movement. 2. Reilly’s Baibreeze Peer Gynt at Summergate. Not a dog I knew but I liked
him very much, though not quite the neck of 1. Deep chest, well angulated at back. Another
free mover. 3. Lawrence’s Sametsuz Good Fortune at McConkeys. Nice refined head. Deep
chest. Not quite the strength in quarters of 1 and 2 though I am sure all threee will change
places many times. MLD. (11, 2 abs). 1. Ritchie’s Gwendariff Dom Perignon JW. A real
glamour boy and so beautifully presented in full gleaming coat. A little strong in head for me
but a wonderful reach of neck. Deep chest and well-ribbed. Very well-bodied for his age,
with nice tight feet. Great rear angulation, just swept around the ring with all the sparkle his
name would suggest! Close up for RCC, his day is sure to come. 2. Kniveton’s Orstone
Interceptor. Another lovely boy, just not quite the same ring presence as my winner. Very
sound. Well-angulated front and back. Shorter-coupled. Free mover. 3. Luto’s Rappatty
Winter Flame. An old favourite of mine, will always be in with a shout! Just love his head.
Gorgeous dark coat. Another sound mover. LD. (12, 1 abs). Gurney’s Danaway Fortune
Teller JW. Easy winner here. – not a big boy but just love his make and shape. Sweetest of
heads – gentle expression with just a hint of Irish mischief. Nicely arched neck into well-laid
shoulders. Good quarters, moved by far the best in the class. 2. Pollard’s Grayrigge
Glenamoy JW. Again a lovely head.and neck. Very well boned. Tends to drop in the back
when set up, but comes together on the move. Free action, though not so animated as my
winner. 3. Lewis’ Cheveney Sargent Pepper among Valasarch. One that has done well
under me as a youngster. Another very nice head. Well-angulated, moves very soundly
- what a great pity he is rather proud of his tail. OD. (8). Wonderful class! Thank you for
bringing these beautiful dogs under me. 1. Bott’s Sh.Ch. Shenanagin Some Might Say its
Bardonhill JW. I don’t think there is much left to say about this lovely boy. So well balanced
with no exaggerations. Nicely chiselled head, strong arched neck into well-laid shoulders. .
Terrific depth of chest. Gently sloping topline. Super bend of stifle. And all finished off
with a gleaming full coat, but not too profuse. Moved soundly and happily. CC and, with my
co-judges’ agreement BOB. 2. Lucas’ Sh.Ch. Amberlight Firecracker JW. Another top-
winning Show Champion about whom much has been written. Same remarks apply as to my
CC winner. I just felt he was slightly lacking in coat today and did not exhibit quite the same
panache. RCC. 3. Wall’s Hazelbeck Golden Flame. Unlucky to meet the first two as he is
looking very good in full coat. Another very sound dog, though not quite as lively as the
other two today.
Gill Lewis (Judge)