Belfast & District Irish Setter Club – Open Show

I would like to thank the committee of the B&DISC for inviting me to judge their Open Show. Although the entry was numerically small the quality was particularly high and I was very impressed with my winners.
Veteran D/B (2)
1st) Carson & McKelvey’s Ir Sh Ch Edenavey’s The One and Only, lovely old of 7.5 years. Long and lean head with well-shaped dark hazel eyes giving a delightful expression. Excellent depth of chest and well sprung ribs set right back into a good short, muscular loin. Long neck leading well back into correct front angulations. Well boned forelegs with good tight feet and elbows close to chest. Well muscled hind quarters with a good turn of stifle. Standing he presents a very typical outline. He moved out very soundly fore and aft and had a lovely profile action holding his topline and lashing his tail at all times.
2nd) Tredura Savannah Song, super lady really enjoying her day out and proved to be quiet a handful for her handler. Well balanced when standing, on good legs and tight feet. Well bodied, with good depth of chest and well sprung ribs. Well-muscled throughout. Moved out with such enthusiasm and sound both ways.
Puppy D/B (2)
2 very nice puppies and I really was splitting hairs.
1ST) Stewart-Ritchie’s Gwendariff Look No Further, super 11 month puppy, that looks an absolute picture standing. Long head of the correct shape, with well set dark eyes that give this really cheeky endearing expression. Good length of neck leading into correctly sloping shoulders. Deep chest and well sprung ribs. Legs well boned with good tight, arched feet. Well turned stifle and let down hocks. Firm topline with tail set off the level of the back. Moved out with great style and confidence for one so young and very sound. Should have a very promising future and was delighted to award him BPIS.
2nd) Lees’ Leesett Orchard Romance another promising puppy slightly larger all over than 1. Great outline and balance when standing. Masculine head of the good shape with well set appealing eyes. Adequate length of neck leading into sloping shoulders and excellent depth to chest but not the front angulation of my winner. Well bodied with a good spring of rib leading back into a strong loin. Well muscled hindquarters which he really used to advantage on the move, driving out with style and ever so sound. Presented in good coat and condition.
Junior D (1)
1st) Lucas’ Kerryfair Love on the Rocks at Amberlight JW, upstanding boy in excellent coat and condition. Masculine long, lean head and pleasing expression. Excellent depth of chest and very well boned legs and tight feet. Good spring of ribs set well back into a short loin and firm topline with tail set right off his back. Really powers around the ring with great style and ever so sound both coming and going.
Yearling D (2)
1st) Toms’ Toberbilly I Wish You Luck Ir Jun Ch JD Super 22 month old male with a gorgeous outline and a very typical masculine Irish head, with correct eye colour and shape, nice brow and good ear set. Good length of neck with desired crest, leading into correct layback of shoulder with exceptional forechest and excellent spring of rib. Correct oval bone with nice tight feet. Excellent muscular condition throughout. Moved well very well and soundly with his tail gently lashing at all times. Presented to perfection and handled to get the very best out of him. Reminded me a lot of his father. Pushed for top honours today, I just feel he has slightly a little more maturing to do to complete the picture.
2nd) Lucas’ Kerryfair Love on the Rocks at Amberlight JW – 1st in Junior D
Graduate D (1)
1st) Adams’ Gwendariff D’ya Know What I Mean this boy for me was incredibly underweight and really does need to get some weight on him soon. Handsome head, with good kind eye. Well balanced boy with a good make and shape and very sound when he moved.
Post Graduate D (2)
1st) Jones’ Gwendariff Pink Floyd, handsome well-coated boy, put down to perfection with the most pleasing head and eye. Good reach of neck down leading into correct shoulder, decent fore chest and width with good depth of chest and well sprung rib. Decent front and rear angulations, strong over loin and rear quarters and nice let down hocks. Sound and balanced movement holding top line and using his tail while driving powerfully around the ring.
2nd) Park’s Redclyst Jean ValJean Lestannons, dark coated boy with an attractive head and expression. Decent reach of neck leading into a sufficient front assembly but not as good as 1. Adequate fore chest and width and depth of chest, for me I would prefer more. Sound mover with a decent profile action.
Limit D (3,1abs)
1st) Lucas’ Bardonhill Eternal Flame Among quality male who is so well balanced. Super shape and make with the correct gently sloping topline. Masculine head with lovely dark eyes full mischief. Very pleasing to go over, with a good length of neck leading into well placed shoulders. Super depth of chest and well sprung ribs set right back. Nicely boned straight forelegs with good tight feet. Well turned stifle with good muscle tone to hindquarters. Topline held firm with tail set bang off his back. Beautiful mover and so sound both coming and going. Presented in wonderful coat and condition, just lacked that little pizzazz my BD had so had to settle for RBD but nevertheless a lovely dog and I am sure one with a bright future.
2nd) Toms’ Clannrua Birch smaller sized male, well balanced shape with good body and substance. Masculine enough head, a little narrow in foreface for me but he presents a lovely expression. Good length of neck leading into well placed shoulders. Excellent depth of chest and well sprung ribs leading into a good short loin. Well angulated hindquarters. Moved out well with a good side profile. Presented in first class order.
Open D (2)
1ST) Stewart-Ritchie’s Gwendariff Weekend Warrior, as soon as this boy entered the ring, he completely filled my eye and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I wasn’t disappointed on closer examination. Super, classic outline when standing, with the correct gently sloping topline and so full of breed type. Gorgeous, masculine head of the correct shape with almond shaped eyes so expressive they just melted my heart. Lovely chiselling and finish to his foreface. Strong neck of a good length with desired arch leading into well placed shoulders. Forelegs straight and well boned with correct tight feet. Elbows tight to his deep chest. Well sprung ribs and short coupling. Well angulated hindquarters with excellent muscle tone. Firm topline held well at all times, with a correctly set tail that he lashed gently on the move. Quite easily the best mover of the day with outstanding powerful movement, plenty of reach & drive and sound both coming and going. Presented in fantastic rich red coat & condition and handled to perfection. I really loved him, and had no hesitation whatsoever in awarding him BD & BIS.
2nd) Hughes’ Corradeelish Pheasant of Cloonminda JUN CH, well balanced male with a good shape & good body with excellent substance. Masculine head, a little strong for me but he presents a good expression, just not the expression of my winner. Good length of neck leading into decently placed shoulders. Good depth of chest and well sprung ribs leading into a good short loin. Well angulated hindquarters. Moved out well and soundly.
Yearling B (3)
1ST) Nicholson’s Gwendariff Just The Ticket for Lochindorb, lovely bitch that presents a typical outline when standing. Such a pretty bitch with correctly raised brows, good stop & low set ears. Good angulation to front and rear quarters with excellent muscle tone. Firm topline held well at all times with tail set off back. In excellent coat and condition. Moved around the ring with some drive, I would just like to see her a little neater both up and back.
2nd) Sloane’s Ferasheen Jinda, elegant bitch, so feminine all through. She has substance yet retaining the racy quality. Pleasing feminine head, long and lean, dark inquisitive eyes and well placed ears. Long elegant neck, good depth, nicely boned limbs and good sweep of stifle. Moving at one with her handler just would prefer her neater behind.
3rd) Gawn’s Clonageera Sweet Caroline Jun Ch
Graduate B (1)
1st) Carson & McKelvey’s Toberbilly Element of Luck for Edenaveys elegant bitch with a lovely typical shape and outline. Very pretty long head, with a good expression. Good depth of forechest and well ribbed. Well muscled throughout with a firm topline held well at all times. Moved around the ring with enough drive and fairly sound. Presented and handled to advantage,
Post Graduate (1)
1st) Stewart-Ritchie’s Gwendariff Wonder Woman Beautifully shaped bitch with a good outline and so well balanced. Feminine head, with raised brows and well set eyes giving an appealing expression. Good depth to chest. Long neck leading cleanly into well placed shoulders. Well sprung ribs leading right back into a strong, firm loin. Topline firm and held well at all times with tail set off her back. Moved soundly around the ring, lashing her tail at all times. Just a little out of coat today for the top honours.
Limit B (4,2abs)
1st) Nicholson’s Gwendariff Rainbow Goddess for Lochindorb ultra feminine bitch. Impressive, well balanced shape with good body and substance. Beautiful head of the correct shape and gives a lovely expression. Good length of neck leading into well placed shoulders. Excellent depth of chest and well sprung ribs leading into a good short loin. Well angulated hindquarters. Moved out well with a good side profile however would like her a littler neater going away. Presented and handled to perfection.
2nd) Gawn’s Clonageera Sweet Caroline Jun Ch, happy outgoing honest and unexaggerated bitch, feminine head with skull nicely rounded, raised brow with a kind expression. Long lean neck with decent front assembly is good. Holds her topline at all times with a correct set on of tail. Moderate angles both fore and aft. She moved out with drive, just another untidy at the rear.
Open B (6,1abs)
Super class of bitches.
1st) Donnelly’s Int/Ir Sh Ch Millcroft Whispering Moon Very pretty bitch that is so well balanced and presents a cracking, typical outline when standing. Super shape and make with the correct gently sloping topline. Gorgeous feminine head with lovely dark eyes, giving a glorious expression. Very pleasing to go over, with a good length of neck leading into well placed shoulders. Good depth of chest and well sprung ribs set right back. Nicely boned straight forelegs with good tight feet. Well turned stifle with good muscle tone to hindquarters. Topline held firm with tail set right off her back. Moved out well and soundly. In hot competition I was pleased to award her BB & RBIS. A girl to be very proud of!
2nd) Sterritt’s Corranroo Just One Kiss with Riversett CJW18 Jun Ch another beautiful bitch shown in fantastic coat and condition. She completely fills the eye when standing and is so well balanced and so full of breed type. Super feminine head of the correct shape, lovely expression but not that of 1 and low set ears. Well sprung ribs and good short loin. Excellent substance and depth throughout. Well off for bone and correct tight feet. Strong topline and correctly set tail which she never stopped using on the move. A really sound mover and so full of ring presence. Today I found her a little overweight so had to settle for RBB but nevertheless a quality bitch.
3rd) Stewart-Ritchie’s Gwendariff Carrys it Off

Judge: Kirsty Miller (Feorlig)