PD (3) 1 Francis & Blatchford’s Cloweswood Acer of Peopleton, typy & well made, tight dark coated youngster with some scope, good head type, strong neck, excellent angles. Moved out well freely in profile & came on true but a little close behind. BP; 2 Makosch’s Pewtergrey Cord du Roi, not as forward as 1 & not quite as well angulated or as defined in outline. Quality head, kind eye, moved quite true but not with the frontal reach of 1; 3 Spring-Arnold’s Sorisdale Macmanus.

PGD (1) 1 Hubble & Helps’ Beardswood Oisin, rugged upstanding dog, excellent forehand & well proportioned masculine head, in hard condition, light on his feet, very well bodied with moderate angulation. Excellent type all through but tail carriage could be a little more relaxed. RBD.

OD (1) 1 Peach’s Ch Greyflax Myth to Kilbourne, mature dog of excellent type who looks a little heavier than he is due to his coat. Very well put together with optimum angulation, fit & hard, balanced head, free & easy mover. BD, up against his daughter I preferred her overall balance for BOB as he appeared just a shade longer cast.

PB (4) 1 Vayro’s Killoeter Nectar, lovely type & flowing lines & she looked a picture set up. Quality head, very well balanced all through, correct coat. Went away very well but just needs to tighten in front; 2 Hird’s Cloweswood Scilla, dark harsh coated scopy bitch of good type, good head balance, quality bone & nicely bodied. Comes on a little truer than 1 but closer behind & 1 was a little more defined in topline; 3 Makosch’s Pewtergrey Taffeta.

PGB (3) 1 Jansons’ Nixophel Crystal Amethyst, absolutely beautiful bitch who just oozed type & made a very satisfying picture stood, when she moved she really impressed with her long, easy stride & flawless footfall, quality head, pleasing expression, strong but elegant neck, wonderful angles, correctly ribbed, she stands so well on her legs, in excellent coat & condition she made a huge impression. Comfortable winner of BOB, should surely gain her title; 2 Vayro’s Brackenland Tania, not quite the scope of 1 on the move but equally hard & fit. Out of smaller mould but so well balanced & she too moved truly up & down; 3 Finnigan’s Kwarricott Andromeda.

OB (4) 1 Hird’s Ch Claonaiglen Albyn at Cloweswood, excellent basic type, quality head & expression, very well constructed & this is reflected in her excellent driving movement, excellent coat & condition. In the challenge I just thought she was a little lower at the withers than the PGB whose balance completely filled my eye. RBB; 2 Peach’s Pingleholl Ruby to Kilbourne, necky bitch of excellent type, made a great picture standing but not quite as well angulated in front as 1 or as powerful in the rear; 3 Jansons’ Greyflax Lady Of The Lake to Nixophel.

ANDREW H BRACE