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I‘d like to thank the committee of Darlington Championship Show for their invitation to judge at this attractive show ground and to express my appreciation for their help to my two hard working stewards, especially for enduring the early rain shower without complaint after I had opted to judge outside.
On this occasion what our entry lacked in numbers it certainly made up for it in quality, involving some close decisions in the top classes, and I felt privileged to be able to go over some really good specimens of the the breed. The hounds well presented with clean teeth and neat ears, and rather more importantly feet were generally tight and good.
MPD 1 Constantine’s, Keligeny The Forester. BP. Stood alone. A promising and substantial youngster, remarkably well grown for a deerhound of his tender age. Already acquiring his hard coat.. Good lay of shoulder, of good length with well developed thighs and low set hocks. Easy parallel action on the move. Will be interested to see how he matures.
PD 2(1) 1 Finnett & Heathcote’s, Hyndsight Deckard NAF. Stood alone. Good forehand construction. At the gawky stage with a lot of growing still to come. At his most relaxed going around the ring, when he moved freely and with drive. As one would reasonably expect of a puppy he’s yet to feel at home in the show ring tending to hunch and not to do himself any favours when standing, and moving a little close behind, but he will progress through many changes as he begins to be able to relax and steadily advance to maturity. Nice dark eye.
PGD 2 . 1 Cunningham’s, Teviotdale Banner Blue. A substantial, mature well muscled hound with a typical mane, in full correct coat. Stood four square. Graceful fallaway flowing into a worthwhile breadth of hip. Pleasing head and expression, aquiline nose with the slightest suspicion of a stop, hazel eye, soft and glossy ears, well set onto a strong neck.
2.Wallace’s, Areceta Dreamflight. A younger looking hound of lighter construction. Attractive head with neat ears, set into a strong & shapely neck. Well laid shoulder, good length with a good topline and fallaway. Has some maturing to do. Was unfortunate to come up against the substance and breadth of hip of the winner.
LD 2(1) 1 Barret’s, Pharcourse Noah at Stranwith. Res Dog CC. Of excellent type with an attractive head, and dark eyes and neat ears. Full dark coat and the appropriate mane. Stood four square. Well laid shoulders and a deep chest. Well balanced. Correct topline, length, and a good breadth across the hips which he used to his advantage as he drove easily across the ring.
OD 5(3) 1 Hawkins, Ch. Kwaricott Corelli. Dog CC. RBOB.. A strong, well constructed, mature and very masculine lad. Strong loin of appropriate length easing into the fallaway across broad well muscled hips. Well bent stifle, low set hocks and a broad second thigh. Hard jacket and well covered tail. Moved with the confidence one would expect from the foregoing, both easily and true.
2 Janson’s, Gadhar Torr Rigs O’ Barley to Nixophel. (Imp US) A well presented silver hound in full coat. More subtle and a little less substantial than 1. Classic typical head and expression with splendid face furnishings and small neat ears. Of good length, with correct topline, a good second thigh and nicely low set hocks.
MPB. 1 Barret’s, Stranwith Neve. Stood alone. A dark promising attractive and feminine baby, with neat ears and a dark eye. Nice tight feet and low set hocks. Not unexpectedly, for her first encounters with a new and totally unfamiliar environment she tended to arch her topline slightly, which disguised her length. However, especially in deerhound terms, she is still very young with a lot of growing yet to do and I’m sure that with experience she’ll settle rapidly and begin to enjoy these outings.
PGB 6(2). 1 Finnett & Heathcote’s, Shagiead Mrs Bridges. Res Bitch CC. Attractive and feminine with a good coat. Well constructed, evenly balanced between fore and aft. Excellent deep chest easing into her tuck-up. Strong loin, graceful top-line flowing into the fallaway with good bend of stifle. Well muscled thighs and low-set hocks. Neat feet. Strode out well, with ease and purpose.
2 Cunningham’s, Chuilinn Ballad. Another attractive and feminine bitch with a pleasing conformation. Well laid shoulders, good length. Neat ears. Unfortunately on this occasion she was inclined to be out of sync with her handler when on the move.
3 Rhode’s, Regalflight Raffia of Lairigefyne
LB 4(2). 1 Doak’s, Rosslyn Qorrie. Bitch CC. BOB A handsome and attractive dark bitch. Great overall conformation. All the elements of her construction dovetailing seamlessly into one another resulting in a hound that, without any loss of femininity, left one in no doubt that she was capable of ‘doing the job‘. Good topline flowing easily into the fallaway with broad hips and a good second thigh. Stood four square and as one expected moved with power and grace.
2 Robertson’s, Chuilinn Windflower. A rather different attractive girl, fit, well balanced and also of nice length, combined with the appropriate degree of substance without loss of feminity. Good broad hips and low set hocks. Looking very capable when standing, it was unfortunate that she should choose today to be out of sympathy with her handler when on the move.
OB 5(1). This was a really close fought class between my first and second and on another occasion they could easily change places.
1 Constantine’s, Gentiehun Adelaide of Kaligeny. A well constructed hound in full coat with a good front assembly. Of a good length with a correct topline flowing easily into powerful thighs, low set hocks and neat feet. A typical deerhound head with a gentle expression, hazel eyes and neat ears, set upon a strong neck. Moved out well with good parallel action.
2 Macbean’s, Killoeter Ralia. Challenged really hard. Another attractive bitch of excellent conformation. Strong, well laid shoulders, well ribbed and of good length with terrific breadth across the quarters and low set hocks. Moved out well but not quite matching the winner when going around the ring on this particular occasion.
3 Robertson’s Chuilinn Whisper
Chris Arthur. Judge. |
