SWGDC OPEN SHOW

Sunday 9th November 2008

 

I thank the Officers and Committee of the SWGDC for the invitation to judge the club’s Open Show also my three excellent Ring Stewards for their help and good humour and finally the exhibitors, without whom there would be no show, for their entries and sporting behaviour.

To say that I enjoyed my day would be a huge understatement. As I now spend much of my time in Canada it is some time since I last judged in the UK so all of the dogs were new to me, which added to my delight. In general I found much to my liking but movement continues to be inconsistent, often resulting in poor toplines. The one issue I really did note as on the increase was the number of slack/loose eyes.

Whilst judging is about seeing the whole picture, the character and nobility of the Great Dane is very much about head and expression and this fault rarely enhances a dog appearance.  

That said, my final line up in both sexes pleased me greatly and the main award winners would be successful at any level of competition.

On the day my only real disappointment was the absence of Brindles. I understand that there has been a dearth of this colour in the UK for some time, which I personally find very sad.

 

DOGS

 

Minor Puppy  (3)

  1. Mr & Mrs J & J Black’s Batemanor Happy Hugo.

Tall 6mths old Harlequin that was rangy but in good proportion. Body shape is pleasing to the eye.  At the moment he seems a little light in head and needs to strengthen around his hocks but time is very much on his side. Whilst his coat colour is flecked I was very happy to give him this class and later Best Dog Puppy. It will be interesting to monitor his future development. 

  1. Mrs S Hood’s Carsan Asimi

For this 6 mths old Blue and his litter brother standing in third place this was their first time in the ring, and it showed. Much heavier all around than the winner but their lack of discipline made it very difficult to handle or assess them and consequently they had to pay the price.

  1. Mrs S Hood’s Carsan Astrapi

 

Puppy (4 absent)

 

Junior  (4, 2 absent)

  1. Mrs C Durie’s Axeford Casanova

The winner took this class on his superior movement, his action being far more correct and stable. I also appreciated his shorter coupled structure more than that of the second. I did however marginally prefer the head shape of the second but that was not enough to change the course of events.

  1. Mrs & Mrs S Bell’s Darlou Lord of the Forge

His overall head shape is more balanced than the winner, if a little bit heavy in lip but today his movement let him down. His front and rear action was quite ungainly, which caused him to loose his topline on the move.

Yearling  (6, 1 absent)

  1. Misses P & L Battersby & Williams’ Internos Challenger JW ShCM

A quality Black, shown in excellent condition. Well-proportioned body shape. Nicely defined headpiece atop of a clean neck. Moved particularly well. Overall very pleasing to the eye, in fact has all the bits for me and I liked him. In the Open Black class he lost out on maturity but I will watch his development with interest.

  1. Mr Battersby’s Internos the Heavyweight

Blue dog, close contest between second and third. He has a decent enough head shape but was a little down on pastern and his feet and rear angulation are not his fortune. He took second place by virtue of his straighter heavier bone structure and better movement.

  1. Miss E Van Tonder’s Vavavoom the Sentinel

This fawn is more rangy than the second with a slightly better topline and feet and quite an appealing head. Sadly he looked quite immature by comparison. Also he is a little narrow through the body, light in bone and straight in stifle and his front movement really let him down today.

Res. Tenaya Apache Bold Warrior

VHC. Tenaya Apache Little Wolf

 

Novice (3, 1 absent)

  1. Mr P D & Mrs C F Tilson’s Axeford Coriolanus

Tall fawn that has a substantial body structure. Pleasing head shape and gentle expression. In spite of having sufficient rear angulation and plenty of width in second thigh, he contrives to stand rather straight behind which makes him look a little high at the rear end but that is not noticeable on the move and his action is sound.

2 Miss L Morrod’s Tenaya Apache Little Wolf

Another exhibit making his ring debut and being very excitable was difficult to go over. However he has a pleasing head shape and a straight front but was much lighter framed and boned than the winner. Despite his shortcomings I feel sure that if properly ring crafted and with a little more maturity he could compete with some success.

 

Post Graduate (4)

  1. Mrs C Durie’s Kaycaro King Arthur

I appreciated the overall body quality and shape of this good looking fawn even though he is a little strong in sternum. He has an attractive balanced head, pleasing expression and good rear angulation with width in thigh. In short, a smart dog that moved reasonably well

  1. Mrs L & Mr G Snowden’s Malpa Our Man Flint

I really struggled with this one. He also looked smart standing. Has a good body shape, is short coupled and with a good tail set. For my taste he is a little broad in scull and his neck could be cleaner but today it was his movement that bothered me most. He was soft in pastern and top line but there was something really strange about his action and that went against him. However his other obvious qualities were deserving of his second place.

  1. Mrs J Babb’s Trishdane Blue Warrior

Res. Internos Arizona

 

Limit (5, 3 absent)

  1. Mr & Mrs P & J King & Dolby’s Foaldown Secret Love with Eppwood

This handsome fawn has lovely dark points and excellent pigmentation. A quality head, eye and ear set. Short coupled, shapely well-balanced body with plenty of rear angulation and strong hocks. Classy individual that was handled sensitively and also moved pretty well on the day.  Pleased to award him Reserve Best Dog later in the day

  1. Mr & Mrs M W & C J & Mr A Gray & Cutter’s Garsak Sir Franklin

He was a little taller than the winner with quite an attractive head that has plenty of length in foreface. However on the day the drop and thickness of lip made the head look somewhat disproportionate. In general his body shape is good but today he looked a bit on the lean side and being a little long caste, I felt he could have carried more weight to advantage. Sadly his rear movement also left a lot to be desired.

 

Special Veteran (3, 1 absent)

  1. Lady J Ingram’s Dainmajik Vita Merlini

Tall rangy Harlequin. Overall he was far more masculine than the dog placed second. I felt he could have done with a little more weight but had many pleasing qualities including excellent depth of chest and plenty of bone.  Sadly has slack eyes but a very pleasing old gentleman.

  1. Miss H Searle’s Maplemead Memory Dream

Very much up on his toes with a pert expression, very showy and using his ears but for me this boy is just too fine all through and lacks masculinity. That said he responded to his handler and seemed to be enjoying himself.

 

Special Open Fawn (3)

  1. MR P D & Mrs C F Tilson’s Axeford Coriolanus

This was a difficult decision as there were things that I liked about both. Coriolanus, also winner of Novice dog class was the younger of the two but I much preferred his head shape to that of the second and whilst neither was particularly brilliant on the move he was the better of the two.

  1. Miss J A Williams’ Jaydania the Show must go on at Haydencroft

He is obviously more mature than the winner, stands very correctly and has good body shape. Sadly I knew when I first saw him that he was overdone in head shape for me. Despite that if his movement had been better, his many good points might have persuaded me differently but that was not the case.

  1. Miss L Morrod’s Tenaya Apache Little Wolf

 

Special Open Brindle (1 absent)

 

Special Open Blue (4)

  1. Mr R Battersby’s Internos the Heavyweight

Both 1 and 2 are pleasingly short coupled. There is a little bit more substance to the winner also he has more angulation through the body, also at the rear end and he had the stronger hocks. I also preferred his movement and his performance was steadier and more controlled.

  1. Mrs J Babb’s Trishdane Blue Warrior

Just not quite the quality of the winner. He has a balanced head and ear with a clean outline. Not the physique of the winner and both his top line and pasterns were soft on the move.

  1. Mrs S Hood’s Carsan Asimi

Res. Carsan Astrapi

 

Special Open Black (3, 1 absent)

  1. Mrs M Rippington’s Berevale Conrad at Shaumacill

A very powerful exhibit. Good front with a short coupled substantial body. He has an excellent front, tight feet and width in croup. I preferred the head shape of the second as Conrad is a little wide in scull for me but his overall substance and maturity compared to Challenger was enough to win him this class.

  1. Misses P & L Battersby & Williams’ Internos Challenger JW ShCH

 

Special Open Harlequin (1)

  1. Misses P & L Battersby & Williams’ Internos Arizona.

Was VHC in Post Graduate. Not a big dog but overall is balanced in shape and clean in outline. Whilst he is rather straight behind and light in bone his background colour is clean.

 

Special Open Mantle (no entries)

 

 

Open (2, 1 absent)

  1. Miss J A Williams’ Ch. Jaydania Just a Showman JW

He was the star of the show for me. 

Stood alone in this class but stood four square and could hold his own in any company. Very smart outline viewed from any angle, lovely chiselled head shape with a noble expression. Short coupled, good straight front with tight feet and excellent depth and width of chest. The powerful drive from the correctly angled rear was coupled to a lively action. He is a lovely example of the breed. Delighted to award him Best Dog & later Best in Show.

 

BITCHES

 

Minor Puppy (4, 2 absent)

  1. Mr P D & Mrs C F Tilson’s Sunlind Summere Dawn

A pretty faced 6 months old baby girl with a lovely expression. Pleasing body shape and clean outline with lots of solid bone. As expected at this age she still needs to develop the necessary muscle for her frame as she is a bit ungainly on the move but she appears to have all the essentials in place and overall presents a very attractive picture.

 

  1. Misses P & L Battersby & Williams’ Internos Cozi Fan Tutte

Black girl, similar in age but finer in body than the winner and whilst she has length in head also lacks her development in that dept. Her movement was also a bit wayward but has lots of personality and she still has a lot of maturing to do.

 

 

Puppy (6, 4 absent)

  1. Mrs L M Smith’s Vavavoom Born to be Fawn

Pale fawn with a beautiful expression. Excellent outline with plenty of depth in chest, firm topline and correctly angulated body. She still needs develop a little more width but that will come with maturity. Has such a lovely gentle expression that she is a classic for me. (BBP, BP in Show)

  1. Miss J Cranfield’s Roucandane My Only Sunshine for Zefather

This quality fawn standing second was unlucky to meet the winner. She too has an excellent head and expression, the main difference being that I just preferred the winner’s head and outlook on the day. Having said that she is a seriously lovely bitch and it will be interesting to watch her progress

 

 

Junior (6, 2 absent)

  1. Mrs R A & Mr & Mrs T Lord & Lewis’ Axeford Mystify for Hecklehaze

Lovely balanced Fawn. Correct head plains and a pretty expression. Overall body shape is very pleasing with a sound top line and good rear angulation producing sound movement. A very attractive bitch that later in the challenge pushed the eventual winner very closely. Whilst very forward for her age, in the challenge she still looked quite immature next to the winner and that was one of the deciding factors. Her turn will come and I’m sure that she will have a very successful show ring career. (RBB)

  1. Miss L Randles’ Garsak Lady Grace

Fawn with a pleasant head shape and nice eye. Tight feet and straight front but could not match the winner for outline or movement. I felt she could have carried just a little more weight to advantage. Took second place for her firmer top line and qualities in head.

  1. Ms L M Collett’s Foaldown Orange Mint

 

Yearling (5, 2 absent)

  1. Mrs S Seddon’s Tenaya Apache Brave Star

A pale fawn. Lovely balanced head shape with lots of length and correct plains. Has a pretty expression although eyes are a little slack. Excellent front with plenty of depth and width. Overall a very pleasant body shape.

  1. Mrs J Wiltshire’s Darlou Lords Lady of Ladymere

A deep red fawn with quite a pronounced stop that made the head a little strong for me. Her overall shape was not as neat as the winner with a lack of tuck up and a longer back. That combination and a weakness in pastern seemed to affect her movement.

  1. Miss L Morrod’s Tenaya Apache Running Doe

 

Novice (2, 1 absent)

  1. Miss L Morrod’s Tenaya Apache Running Doe

Stood third in the previous class and is litter sister to that class winner.  Similar pretty expression and many of the same qualities but lacks the same level of development as she is lighter boned and appears rather narrow. Also her action needs to improve considerably as I was concerned with her rear movement.

 

Post Graduate (no entries)

 

Limit (3, 1 absent)

Two nice bitches.

  1. Mr & Mrs M W & C J Gray’s Calomar Ruby Rock Star

Fawn with a pretty head, expression and excellent plains. She has a long clean neck, good depth of chest, but has a slightly strong sternum. Generally balanced in outline and moved well. Nice type.

  1. Miss J Cranfield’s Roucandane Total Flame for Zefather

A much taller girl than the winner and very handsome when standing.  Unfortunately she was a bit weak in pastern and is a little straight behind and that showed in her rear movement, which let her down today

 

Special Veteran (3, 1 absent)

  1. Mrs J Wiltshire’s Toyerob Tellastar of Ladymere

A very substantial 8 ½ year old fawn. A very pleasant old girl with that delightful white faced senior citizen expression. Despite being the older she was sound on the move, which was the telling factor. 

  1. Mrs L M Smith’s Merehos Vanilla Fudge

A very pretty 7 ½ old fawn. She is carrying her years well and was in fine condition. Sadly after being judged she decided she did not want to move but a nice specimen and a pleasure to see her.

 

Special Open Fawn (3)

  1. Miss L Randle’s Garsak Lady Brodie

A short coupled small pale fawn bitch. Presents an attractive picture with a pleasing outline and good rear angulation. Attractive head with plenty of length to it and correct plains she also has a flowing clean neck.

  1. Miss H E Laidlaw’s Kantalar Drop Dead Gorgeous

I thought this bitch would be my winner when she entered the ring as she has lots of presence, a lovely facial expression and many qualities I look for. However on the move I wasn’t happy with her top line and that was the telling factor.

  1. Miss L Morrod’s Tenaya Apache Running Doe

 

Special Open Brindle (no entries)

 

Special Open Blue (1, 1 absent)

 

Specal Open Black (5, 3 absent)

  1. Miss J Cranfield’s Foaldown Black Majic for Zefather

A very energetic black that was quite difficult to handle, as she is so exuberant. Despite that she moved very nicely and her qualities were plain to see. Also she was obviously much more mature than the baby standing second.

2. Misses P & L Battersby & Williams’ Internos Cozi Fan Tutti

 

Special Open Harlequin (2)

  1. Lady J Ingram’s Ch. Allors Miss Chief of Dainmajik

I liked this one a lot and she was in my final selection for BB. She has beautiful make and shape with good angulation throughout, plenty of depth of chest and a lovely head shape. She won this class with ease but in the final challenge she didn’t match the movement of the other two and her slack eyes were also a factor.

 

2. Mr & Mrs J & J Black’s Batemanor Pure Magic

Beautiful clean white background but a much finer type and lacked the overall physique of the winner. That she is narrow through the body was I feel, a contributing factor to her poor front movement.

 

Special Open Mantle (1)

  1. Messrs P & M Kirby & Jacques’ Jacqukir Alina (Imp DEU)

Still not too many of this fairly newly recognised colour being shown in the UK and this import stood alone. It was difficult to get my hands on her as she very exuberant and would not stand still for long. She is reasonably balanced in overall shape if a little short in neck. Her markings are cleanly defined and whilst her movement was a little ungainly, she is only a year old and her bone structure is sound so could do well with maturity and more ring training.

 

Open (3, 1 absent)

  1. Miss H E Laidlaw’s Kantalar Sweet and Innocent JW ShCH

Quality elegant bitch. Short coupled, good angulation, very well balanced. Nice arch of neck, straight front, tight feet and depth in chest. Pleasantly proportioned head, neat ear, gentle expression, and good movement. In the challenge her extra maturity and slightly better movement on the day, just tipped the scales in her favour over the Junior class winner. (Best Bitch, BOS, RBIS)

 

  1. Mrs H Seddon’s Tenaya Apache Leaping Deer

Litter sister to the Yearling class winner and another powerful bitch from what was obviously a very nice litter. Congratulations to the Breeder/Owner. She shares many of the same pleasing qualities as her siblings but on the move her action was not so good and for that she paid the price

 

Brace (6, 2 absent)

  1. Miss H E Laidlaw’s brace

Litter sisters that were very well matched.

  1. Miss J Cranfield’s Brace
  2. Mr P D & Mrs C F Tilson’s Brace

 

Sheila Nicholson (Judge)