I would like to thank the NEFRA committee for inviting me to judge bitches at their first online show, a totally different experience to judging as we have always known it. A special thank you to Charlotte Smith for organising the show, and being a very patient steward during the day.
I found it to be very hard work, videos obviously have their limitations, their quality varies and there is no substitute for ‘hands on’. I did at times find it frustrating where in the ring if I had wanted to check movement I would be able to give exhibitors another chance and ask them to move again, or check something if not standing properly. I have not commented separately on dentition as I found it to be very good throughout the entry.
I felt that overall the entry was a quality one right throughout the classes from the promise shown by the minor puppies to the maturity of the veteran classes, where there were flatcoats over ten years of age. Some of my decisions were very close and very difficult, and could be quite different given another day with a different video.
My co-judge Mandy Romeo-Dieste and myself agreed on all the top awards.
Veteran Bitch (2)
What a credit all the veterans were, both to their owners and to the breed. Each could easily change places on another day.
1 Richards’ Luss Kiss In The Dark
Just preferred her slightly more positive movement, but a very close decision between the two. Substantial well constructed bitch with a lovely head and expression. Balanced outline with good topline and tailset. Moderate stifle, Moved positively on a good stride
2 Milton’s Madealea Magic Tricks
A lovely bitch with a clean balanced profile. Pleasing head and mischievous expression , good reach of neck, and level top line. Well angulated both front and rear and lovely neat feet. Moved steadily but would have liked to have seen a little more drive
Special Veteran Bitch (2)
1 Colson’s Eskwinds Driving Miss Daisy to Windyhollows
A lovely bitch looking nowhere near 101/2 years old, and showing beautifully. Well moulded head, lovely dark eye with such a naughty expression. Pronounced fore chest, good reach to neck and level top line to strong rear quarters, moved well showing good front extension, and good profile movement. BVB and with the agreement of my co judge BVIS.
2 Barnett’s Pajanbeck Welcum To My World
Another lovely bitch who could easily change places on another day, again does not look her age of almost 10½, and heartwarming to watch her enthusiasm. Classical in head with correct shaped eye. Good reach of neck and well balanced front and rear construction, good top line. Moved soundly but not quite as positively as 1st.
Minor Puppy (5)
1 Steuerwald’s Flatfields Doo Wop
A stunning seven month old puppy, well balanced for her age, standing four square with a lovely outline, good bone. Very pretty head and soft expression. Pronounced brisket and good width to chest, strong rear quarters and correct tailset. Perhaps just needs a little more animation when standing but this should come with experience. Moved soundly. Would like to see how she develops in the future.
2 Sullivan’s Wyrebeck She’s My Surprise
A confident eight month old puppy, lovely dark liver, a little bit up on the leg at the moment. Pretty head, naughty expression. Neat outline and good topline and tailset, adequate bone for her size. Moved well with good tail action.
3 Grayson’s Aquawood Blithe Spirit Of Blakanis
A lovely seven month old liver puppy but not making the best of herself and needing to develop in confidence. She has a lovely head and eye and good bone, with good length to the body. She came into her own on the move and moved well with lovely tail action
Puppy Bitch (3)
1 Holland’s Flatcharm Bianco del Rio
Eleven month old bitch, standing naturally four square with a lovely outline, super topline and tailset. Well moulded head and correct eye shape. Good reach of neck and well angulated front balanced by strong hindquarters. Moved out positively, and lovely side profile movement, enthusiastic tail action. BPB, a close decision but just lost out to her brother for BPIS.
2 Varty-Lindsay’s Levliann Party Wrecker
A mature eleven month old, well bodied for her age. Pretty head with soft expression. Good reach of neck, and good width to chest. Moderate rear quarters, just needs a bit more animation when standing, but this should come as she grows up. Came into her own on the move and moved soundly, would prefer a slightly better tail carriage.
3 Grayson’s Blakanis Shine On Through
A very nice 11 month old bitch just not making the best of herself when standing. Good head with kind expression and good reach of neck. Balanced outline with level topline and moderate bend of stifle. Good bone. Moved soundly but tail carriage a bit high on the day.
Junior (3) 1 Jacobs’ and Knight’s Dressed for Success
She certainly lives up to her name and should have a bright future. Mature for her age of 14 months, she presents a balanced outline. Lovely head and expression, with reachy neck and level topline. Pronounced forechest with good length to the body and moderate hinquaters, good tailset and tail used to advantage. A little close behind today but good front reach and good profile movement, super tail action
2 Richards Hopevalley Morning River Through Kimberley
Close up to 1, just lacking the animation when stood. Lovely moulded head, and dark eye with soft expression. Good reach of neck, well angulated at the front and balanced by strong rear quarters, quality bone. Moved soundly with good profile movement.
3 Leavy’s Hopevalley Morning Shine.Over Wychwyzard.
Litter sister to 2 and very similar, just seems to be carrying a little excess weight at the moment, Lovely head and expression , good reach of neck and good front. Moderate hind quarters, good topline and tailset. Moved steadily but just needs to reach out more at the front.
Yearling (8)
1 Huyton’s Hightyne Ramblin Rose
A lovely young bitch presenting a balanced outline, and so typical. Classical in head with correct almond eye, and good reach of neck to level topline and correct tailset which was used to advantage. Quality bone. Good front construction, gradual spring of rib and strong rearquarters with short hock to floor placement Moved straight and true showing both reach and drive.
2 Barnett’s Steelriver Echo Beach at Annbecks
Another lovely bitch making for a very tough decision, and who I think will be very elegant when fully mature. Lovely head with good width and depth to the muzzle, soft expression. She has lovely clean lines, and is balanced with good length to the body, level topline and correct tailset. Moved soundly, clearly enjoying herself.
3 Holland’s Woodfinch Highland Fairy at Flatcharm
Completed a trio of lovely bitches. Slightly heavier all through but nicely balanced with a strong topline and well set on tail. Lovely moulded head with such a mischievous expression. Good width and depth to chest, body well ribbed and strong hindquarters, moderate stifle. Moved soundly with enthusiastic tail action.
Novice(3)
1 Haley’s Skybrook Honey Honey
I liked her overall shape and balance. Pretty head with good length of muzzle and kind dark eye. Pronounced forechest and good length to the body. Moderate bend of stifle and neat feet, standing straight at the back. Moved out well on a good stride and movement straight and true, correct tailset used to advantage.
2 Ordelman’s Maddistream Aduro
A pretty bitch with a lovely dark eye. Good reach of neck and level topline and good tailset. Good front and rear construction, but slightly straight in stifle. Moved straight both going away and coming back but would benefit from her handler taking longer strides, and she would then extend her stride too.
3 Burroughs Levelmoor Allo Allo Avec Rokaness
A mature looking bitch who appears to be carrying a little excess weight at the moment and thus detracting from her outline. She has a feminine head with a soft expression, She has a pronounced brisket and good front angulation, and good length to the body but I would prefer a little more bend of stifle. Moved soundly
Graduate (6)
Three lovely bitches.
1 Huyton’s Go With The Flow at Hightyne
I liked her overall shape and outline, and standing four square. Lovely head, mischievous expression. Good reach of neck and level topline with well set on tail. Good front angulation balanced by good rear quarters, moderate bend of stifle. Moved well with good profile movement.
2 Egginton’s Pajanbeck Angels On My Side
Another lovely bitch. Classical head with correct almond eye giving that lovely soft expression. Good reach of neck, and a pronounced forechest with good depth. Level topline, and strong hindquarters with a moderate bend of stifle. Moved soundly both going away and coming back
3 Jacobs and Knight’s Moonstruck Making Out
Typical head with a kind expression. Balanced outline with a level topline, and good depth to body. Good width of thigh with a moderate bend of stifle. Moved with enthusiasm with lovely tail action and showing reach and drive
Post Graduate (4)
What a lovely class this was, and so hard to separate them.
1 Thomas’ Parkcariad Sapphire Lake
Such a lovely bitch from every angle in beautiful coat and condition, and what great attitude. Standing naturally four square. Well moulded head and soft expression. Moderate reach of neck into level topline and well set on tail which just never stopped wagging. Well constructed at the front with legs well under the body, and gradual spring to rib, strong loin and moderate stifle. She moved beautifully showing both reach and drive and super tail action. BB and with my co judge’s agreement BIS
2 Jones’ Caehaidd Lets Go Crazy at Braemist JW
Liked her overall balance and shape, having good length to the body. Good head with intelligent expression. Moderate reach of neck into level topline and correct tailset complete with gently wagging tail. Pronounced brisket and front legs well under the body. Good width of thigh and moderate bend of stifle. Moved steadily with good profile movement.
3 Colson and Fox’s Blacktoft Dancing On Ice With Windyhollows (AI)
Feminine bitch showing a lovely neat outline when standing with good depth to body. Lovely head and dark almond shaped eye, and good reach of neck. Well balanced front and rear construction, good width of thigh and short hock to floor placement. Moved out well, good in profile, just carrying tail a little high today.
Limit (5)
1 Egginton’s Pajanbeck I Put a Spell On You
Very naughty but so very, very nice, I loved her attitude. Workmanlike but feminine with it, she has a lovely head and correct dark eye. Pronounced forechest and good length to upper arm. Body well ribbed and strong across the loin with a moderate bend of stifle. Moved well with enthusiasm and a lovely tail action
2 Goulette’s Annbecks Brenna At Bobbinmill
I liked this bitch very much too, shown in lovely coat and condition. Good head and kind dark eye. Presented a lovely outline when standing with good front and rear angulation, good length to body and a moderate bend of stifle. Level topline and correct tailset. Moved steadily but not quite as positive as 1
3 Flynn’s Simon Says Home To The Castle (Imp Nor)
Another quality bitch, slightly heavier all through. Lovely head and kind expression, good reach of neck. Pronounced brisket and body well ribbed, and strong hindquarters. Moved steadily with good profile movement
Open (4)
1 Colson’s Frozen In Time By Windyhollows (AI)
An elegant bitch with a lovely outline, also very exuberant. Well moulded head with dark almond eye, and mischievous look. Good width and depth of chest and length and depth of body, strong level topline. Well angulated hindquarters with moderate bend of stifle. Moved positively with enthusiastic tail action. Pleased to award her RBB
2 Jacobs’ and Knight’s Moonstruck Macadamia
Another top quality bitch and a very close decision. Lovely profile with balanced front and rear angulation, and strong level topline, correct tailset Lovely head and dark eye giving a soft expression. Moved well showing both reach and drive, loved that tail action.
3 Wilkie’s Aust Ch Sherepoint Obsidian
Completed a trio of lovely bitches., and shown in lovely condition. Good head just slightly light in eye, good reach of neck and presenting a balanced outline with good length and depth to body. Moved well on a good stride, good tail action.
Champion (1)
1 Bellamy’s Ch Woodfinch Hydra JW
One of my favourites, just looking a shade heavy today. So well constructed, she naturally stands four square, and such beautiful tail action. Lovely well moulded head with correct dark eye and very feminine too. Moved out well on a good stride and lovely profile movement
Special Liver (2)
1 Janickova’s Abigail Tulip Rock On Fire
Beautiful liver bitch shown in lovely coat and condition. An elegant and balanced outline although the trimming under the body slightly spoils this. Well moulded head with good length and depth of muzzle, and soft expression. Good length of body with gradual spring to rib, and level topline, correct tail set. Stylish on the move and profile movement showing good reach and drive, lovely tail action. BLIS
2 Cook’s Fliquetbay Rozelands
Fourth in minor puppy, at eleven months of age she is at the ‘legs and wings’ stage. Needing to gain confidence, which I am sure she will to make the best of herself. Pretty head with lovely eye, good reach of neck and good bone. Moved steadily and accurately with good tail action. Would like to see her as she develops as she is a promising puppy.
Special Working
Not an easy class to judge by any means, and all looking very fit and in good condition. Anyone could change places another time.
1 Hewison’s Donascimento Danilo By Casblaidd
So well balanced with a lovely outline. Good head and eye although I would prefer them slightly darker. Strong neck and lovely front, well ribbed in body and powerful rear quarters, strong topline and tail well set on. Movement was straight and true, with lovely profile movement and super tail action
2 Branscombe’s Torinmill Gaelic Aurora
Liked her very much too. A lovely profile with very clean lines Well moulded head with good length and depth to muzzle and correct almond shaped eye. Good reach of neck and lovely topline and tailset Gradual spring to rib with good width of thigh and hocks well let down. Moved steadily.
3 Egginton’s Pajanbeck Heaven Can Wait
Lovely well proportioned head with beautiful dark smiling eyes, good depth of muzzle. Good reach of neck, pronounced brisket and well angulated both front and rear quarters, and moderate bend of stifle. Moved steadily, straight and true.
Jane Jones