Irish Setter Club of Wales. 21 April 2019

Bitches.

This was a memorable week for me, having retired on the Thursday and being rewarded with a lovely entry of Irish setters on the Sunday.

Thanks to the ISCW for the invitation to judge at this friendly, well run show and also to my fab stewards, Brian and Greta Ross – who kept me well organised and entertained all day.

I cannot deny that, of late, I have considered dogs to be of superior quality to the bitches, but I was pleasantly surprised, especially in the lower classes where I found some particularly exciting prospects.

Sadly I still find that rear movement can be an uncomfortable watch, with a good dollop of close, knitting and weaving movement on display. Perhaps some would have been happier off the mat and on grass, but this did affect my decision for several bitches that I otherwise admire.

Return of upper arm also deserves more attention from breeders. The forequarters support the front of the dog and unless the forelegs are well under the body, real forward reach and extension cannot be achieved.

On the plus side, I found only a couple of ‘iffy’ mouths, temperaments were kind and gentle and the standard of presentation was generally good.

It was apparent how much you all love your dogs – and I do too – we are all blessed to have them in our lives, win or lose. Thank you for bringing them.

Minor puppy (5, 1 abs)

1 Ciechonska’ s Gwendariff Smart Move back to Aoibheanne. What a little poppet she is, with the sweetest of heads and expressions and lovely dark eyes. Nicely made throughout with good angulation at both front and rear. A really lush dark coat is already in evidence. Moved soundly with that endearingly lovely baby puppy roll, really using her hocks. I feel sure that if she continues to develop along the same lines, we will see much from her in the future.

2. Naylor and Morrison’s Anlory Cometta. A lovely puppy, taller and more substantial than 1. Pleasing head with nicely raised brow and good finish to foreface. Good depth through the ribs and with a good sternum. Well boned with lovely feet which I preferred to those of the winner. Moved nicely with a good stride.

3 Hall’s Harreds Sybil.

Puppy (9, 1abs)

The first two puppies took my breath away. Such beautiful babies and such promise of things to come.

1 Holley’s Gwendariff Look this Way to Wynjill. For her tender age, this girl has everything. Lovely head already showing chiselling and good planes, dark eye, low ear set, racy outline, appropriate length of neck for her frame, which is beautifully made and balanced and topped off with super rear angulation. Moved well and enthusiastically, using her tail. Loved her. Best puppy bitch and in full agreement with my co-judge, BPIS.

2. Sturrock’s Forfarian Soo Lush. Quite different to my winner, but so very close for that first place. Also so pleasing all through. More compact in frame, she has an eye catching outline and is a series of flowing curves, ending in neat feet. Appealing with her pretty head and expression, good through the neck and shoulders, correct return of upper arm, straight front, firm top line which she holds through her light balanced movement. Made her handler work by being a bit of a handful, loved her spirit.

3 Bott’s Bardonhill Love of My Life

Veteran (3, 0 abs)

Always one of my favourite classes and I was presented with three superlative mature ladies, all appealing in different ways.

1 Stevenson’s Lochlorien Scully Foxes Andley ShCM. Such an honest, unexaggerated bitch with everything in the right place. Correct head proportions with a pleasing amount of stop, low set on of ears, sweet expression. Nice and smooth outline, flowing neatly over her strong neck and shoulders and down to her firm croup. Ultrasound on the move, with a happy wagging tail. Presented in lovely condition.

2 Mugford’s Ch Lynwood Happy as a Lark. A different type of bitch to my winner having a longer frame and darker coat. So pretty with endearing flecks of grey to her head and a sweet eye under raised brows. Soundly made all through with great angulation to her hindquarters. Not quite the topline of my winner. Nice to see her active tail action

3 Holley’s Sh Ch Gwendariff Soda Pop to Wynjill

Junior (8, 0 abs)

1 Robert’s Jetsetter Cristalle to Polmenor JW (Imp Rus). I have admired this young bitch from the ringside and I was pleased to have the opportunity to assess her. Lovely refinement to her head, which is long and lean with a hint of mischief in her dark eyes under her raised brows. Low set ears complete her head and expression. She has a good length of neck fitting smoothly into her torso, which is well ribbed up and she possesses lovely bone, legs and feet. Lots of scope on the move, as has the good bitch who stood 2.

2 Rutherford’s Majestyka Indian Summer. Pleasing bitch built on more substantial proportions than my winner. Presented in the highest order, sparkling with a coat in lovely condition. Well bodied with a good ribcage, lovely topline, plenty of bone. Moved freely with good use of her tail.

3 Blackshaw’s Lanstara Ruby Slippers.

Yearling (11, 0 abs)

Strong class, headed up by

1 Mugford’s Lynwood Abracadabra JW. This young bitch delighted me in all departments, just lovely. She is balanced and proportionate, starting from her classic, beautifully refined head with it’s raised brows and delicate chiselling and with lovely finish to her muzzle. Pleasing angles to her fore and rear quarters, with sweeping stifles. Well off for bone. Super topline, with her tail flowing from the most gentle curve to her croup. Her movement was balanced with lovely forward reaching movement, head held high. She was at the forefront of my mind throughout the rest of my judging and I subsequently found little to beat her. Good luck with her. Delighted to award her the RCC.

2 Nicolson’s Gwendariff Just the Ticket for Lochindorb. Another admirable young bitch. Striking on the stack with a super outline. Just a little less refinement in head than my winner and slightly rounder in eye, good strength to her neck. She is well ribbed, has good angles, sternum and tail set. Beautifully presented in lovely coat and condition, she is a solid and sound mover. Very unlucky to meet 1 in this class, she has lots of potential.

3 Catling’s Teleri Indian summer (AI) JW.

Maiden (7, 0 abs)

1 Forfarian Soo Lush. Rpt

2 Bott’s Bardonhill Love of my Life. Pleasing bitch of good proportions. Very pretty head with raised brows, strong neck moving neatly into a sloping topline and correct tail set. Balanced on the move with a gently wagging tail. Would just prefer a tad more in stifle, but she has plenty time on her side.

3Holehan-Green’s Loganrish Jacquart

Novice (8, 0 abs)

1 Gwendariff Look This Way to Wynjill. Rpt..

2 Majestyka Indian Summer. Rpt.

3 Forfarian Soo Lush

Undergraduate (5, 2abs)

1 Catling’s Teleri Here Comes Summer (AI). This is an attractive young bitch with a smooth outline. Appealing head although I would have just liked a touch more definition in its composition. Good finish to backskull and layback of shoulder. Firm, correct topline leads into nicely angled rear quarters, with good muscle tone. Presented in a coat of lovely condition

2 Corliss’s Swifklark Second Nature. Slightly more compact bitch than the winner, with a balanced outline. Her head is well constructed, showing stop and good depth and finish to muzzle. Good front assembly, straight front, good at elbow. A balanced mover.

3 Rollinson’s Victoriaview Hippo

Graduate (9, 2 abs)

1 Bouttell, Bouttell and Burbridge’s Ixia Rainbow Brite What an attractive young bitch this is. Stands over her ground well with her scopy frame. Attractive, correctly structured head, dark eye and low ear set. Proportionate angles at shoulder and hindquarters. Liked her topline which flowed from her refined head to the tip of her tail. In my opinion she has taken some time to fill her frame, but is now fulfilling her early promise. Moved strongly with forward extension and good width at the rear going away.

2 Hall’s Glennara Cilleigne Dervla (IKC) JW. Slightly heavier construction all through and not quite the topline when stacked of my winner today. Nonetheless a very appealing young bitch with lots of breed type and desired attributes. Liked her head which is feminine and has an attractive dark eye. Good angles fore and aft, strong over the loin and in second thigh, she really drove off from her well muscled rear quarters.

3 Bott’s Bardonhill Words of Love

Post Graduate (10, 2 abs)

1 Chorley-Newton, Chorley and Flinder’s Pawsword. Peppermint for Kerryfair. This is such a delightful bitch all through her compact structure. Most charming, well worked head and expression, expressive eye under raised brows, straight front and well ribbed up. Flows without break from the tip of her nose through to her correctly set tail. Luxurious coat Moved well with propulsion from muscled rear quarters. Just wish there was a tiny bit more of her all through.

2 Williamson’s Caskeys Showtime with Bluesprings. Slightly rangier bitch also showing good breed type. Pleasing fore and rear angles combining to form a balanced outline. Feminine head with good planes and attractive chiselling under the eye, kind expression, clean neck, correct topline and well ribbed. One of the better accurate rear movements in this class. Presented in a healthy conditioned coat.

3 Bott’s Bardonhill Gingerella

Mid Limit (10, 2 abs)

Both 1 and 2 were attractive, streamlined bitches.

1 Naylor and Morrison’s Anlory Amelia Well made all through, with a flowing outline from nose to tail. She has a pretty head with plenty of chiselling, lovely dark, correctly shaped eye. Well angulated hindquarters end in strong pasterns and neat, well padded of feet. Ground covering stylish mover, she went with flow and drive. Won here on her more positive rear action. Regretably she had left her coat at home.

2 Nicholson’s Gwendariff Rainbow Goddess at Lochindorb.

This is such an attractive, elegant bitch. Absolutely spot on for construction and outline, with a lovely headpiece to match, with good stop and foreface. Lush dark coat of lovely texture. Thought she would be my winner, but although moving with a good stride at the front, her hind movement was a little erratic today.

3 Armitage’s Gwendariff D’Ya Wanna Kiss

Limit (5, 1abs)

1 Mugford’s Sangarah Skyline Over Lynwood (IMP HUN) JW. This bitch would have won my award for the best head of the day, absolutely beautiful, oval through the skull, raised brows and with eyes that look into your soul. Good shoulders and showing correct return of upper arm, strong firm topline, lovely bend at the stifle and correct finish to croup. I have admired her throughout her show career, but always thought her just a little diminutive, but somewhere she has changed into the racy elegant bitch presented to me today. A luxurious shiny coat completed the picture. Moved with style as befitting her structure. Close up for top honours

2 Danks-Kemish’s Rappatty Starlight over Alofrana JW ShCM. I have watched this girl from a puppy and she has grown into an elegant bitch under the charge of her young owner. Nice lean head and ear set, good neck and rib, great depth to her chest, lovely tight elbows. Presented in fabulous coat and condition. Moved out with enthusiasm, holding her topline, which gained her place here over 3, whom I also admire, but who was most reluctant here today

3 Waterton’s Sandstream Welcome Breeze JW ShCM

Open (10, 0 abs)

This was a super class, with great depth in quality. It was my pleasure to judge your lovely girls.

1 Armitage’s Sh Ch & IR Sh Ch Gwendariff Coco Nut Cream. There is little I can add to what has already been said about this lovely bitch. She is quality from nose to tail. Well proportioned skull, oval from ear to ear, good finish to foreface, well muscled neck. Correct at the shoulder and upper arm, which supports her great ribbing, good sternum. Great oval bone, neat feet. Topline is spot on, firm both standing and moving, lovely croup and tail set. She comes alive on the move, travelling with great style and propulsion, using her hocks and tail to great effect. Immaculately presented and handled to perfection. I was pleased to award her the CC.

2 Sturrock’s Sh Ch Forfarian Hey Sexy Lady JW. I have always appreciated the smooth outline on this bitch. Feminine head, low ear set, strong through a clean neck, sweeping rear quarters, well up on her arched toes, neat feet. Love the flow over her croup into her tail set. Her movement is her forte, so light on her feet with great fluidity and ground covering action. Did well to beat another favourite who was not in her best jacket today. Another close up for top honours.

3 Morris’s Sh Ch Thendara Chasing Boys to Sumaric

Special beginners (6, 3 abs)

1 Fox’s Kerryfair Special Diamond. Pretty young bitch with an appealing expression, smooth outline, well laid shoulder, good ribbing, happy mover. Feet could be a little tighter. Moved okay.

2 Rollinson’s Victoriaview Hippo. This is a more angular bitch, and not so good in return of upper arm as 1. Pleasing head, ear set and through the neck.. Her hindquarters are well turned at the hock and end in neat feet.

She just needs more coat to balance her frame and complete the picture.

3 Davies’ Tarendell Wispa’s Desire

BOB

As the dog judge had handled the bitch CC winner very recently, I was asked to make the decision for BOB alone. It was a difficult task. Owning the litter brother to the DCC, I obviously admire him tremendously, but my head had to rule my heart. The boy is young and gorgeous, but his very best is undoubtedly yet to come. The bitch is mature and absolutely at the top of her game right now.

It was my pleasure to award BIS to the bitch and RBIS to the dog.

Mrs P Stockton (Kespas)