First of all may I thank the committee for being so welcoming and pleasant, and for giving me a fine set of stewards who kept me in order throughout the day and were efficient, amusing and kind.
It's normal to say something about the general quality of the entry here. I sometimes read preambles like this as an exhibitor, and feel slightly inadequate, as the judge launches into the "problems in the breed" and says that things were better in their time. Well this is my time and I have to take some responsibility for my part of it all… so here goes! It was good to see kennels, some new and emerging, some well-established, with distinct identities and breed strengths,.who had consistent placings in strong classes. Whether they are my version of the standard or not, they offer a consolidation in breeding and can be useful for out crossing and for bringing in their particular qualities to all our divergent lines.
It would be easy to split the entry into the fit and well-muscled hounds and the rest. Some lovely exhibits were flabby and soft in muscle; some were hard as steel. I would argue that it is still important that hounds are muscular.Good rising toplines were sometimes lacking in males but the bitches put on a better show. Perhaps this needs some attention too.
Finally a comment on the venue. I was rather surprised to find so many hounds - more than I ever expected - crabbing and moving erratically. In some cases I saw them jump the lines on the floor and I suspect that many were simply confused by the colours and grids that they met as they moved. I made great efforts to give everyone a fair chance but it might be worth discussing a different venue.
Puppy Dog (11,4) 1. Biggs' Madiamoy Magic Morann Among Grifemy. Big well-boned male with great substance and good round feet. He has a very pleasing head with a great black nose, a long neck, well laid shoulders, nice sternum and good depth of chest He is a touch flat in topline at present but has nicely angulated hind quarters and long tail. Sound on the move. Best Puppy. 2. Cole and Shepherd's Culkeeren Chase. Free moving hound with good side action and nice range. Long head but not the expression of 1, good neck, rangy but a touch straight in upper arm. 3. Hydebeck Menelaus
Junior Dog (7,4) 1. Amoo's Sade Porryk. A very good class with an excellent winner. Striking pale red brindle hound who is truly balanced in outline, with good head, excellent bite, well ribbed body that is also well ribbed back. I liked his angulation in fore and hindquarters, his very good muscle and strong feet. Free and true on the move. 2. Brace's Cleasac Colonel Mustard of Braehead. Stunning 9 month old -again with lovely muscle. This youngster has a gentle expression on a good head with neat ears and charming beard. Looked as if he could move consistently well though just glimpses of it today. 3. Braine and Cole's Hollyhenge Denis Harryson
Yearling Dog (5) none of the dogs in this class behaved well on the move 1. Sumner's Ballyphelan Boatswain Balanced houndy male with fabulous coat and excellent length in his limbs but at a bit of an inbetween stage at present. Well placed long neck, long sloping upper arm and good shoulder, nice croup, good feet. Broad enough in body for his age and well ribbed back. 2. Valerani's Conchobar Evil Enchanter. Stunning in profile and looked like the winner standing. Excellent head, great expression and lovely set of neck. Upper arm lying a touch too far forward but good bone and substance and again nice to see some long legs here. 3. Pask's Baronglen The Jaywalker
Novice Dog (6,2) 1. Braine's Rathkeale Rhinestone Cowboy at Hollyhenge. Big dark male with good proud head, deep ribbing, broad chest, nice expression, round ribs, excellent bone and strong feet. Felt he was limited in reach and that his hindquarters were angled under his body which limited his action somewhat.when viewed from the side. Moving away he looked strong. 2. Bradford's Baronglen the Jester. A happy boy here with lots of substance but not so broad in chest as 1. He has a nicely proportioned head, good ear carriage but is a bit light in eye. Moved away soundly. 3. Evan's Gwernyfed Caradog y Cawr
Graduate Dog (5,1) 1. Timmins' Cornvoi Cassian. Elegant hound with substance and style but another who needs time to finish off. He has a gentle expression on a fine, that is, good head, neat ears, a long, well fitted neck, nice upper arm, good bone in his legs, well placed shoulder and good breadth of body. His coat texture was good too. To top it all he also moved well, showing off some excellent hind angulation and a sweeping tail. 2. Nicholson's Rainster Toto. Pale red handsome dog with good feet, deep chest and nice underline. He perhaps needs a bit more hind angulation and bone. Strong mover but, like many, he crabbed at first. 3. Braine's Rathkeale Rhinestone Cowboy at Hollyhenge
Post Graduate Dog (5,1) 1. Surrell and Coleman's Bokra Sequel. This one stood out in his class and, with him, everything is on view. He has a balanced outline, a lovely length of neck and a good harsh coat, though not many furnishings. His forechest and shoulder are excellent, he has a classic underline though his upper arm would benefit from a touch more length and layback, and the hindquarters from a bit more curve and breadth.. He is a lesson in muscle and he moved with energy and style. 2. Jones' Cahmega Minervah. Two and a half and still some maturing to do. Long well proportioned head and pleasing neck. The shape of the body is good but he needs more bone in the hind legs and has a softer coat than 1. 3. Farmery's Madiamoy Morran at Falaway
Limit Dog (7,1) Very strong class and the first two were difficult to separate 1. Sumner's Ballyphelan Red Admiral Shapely, classy, tall hound with a noble head and at last a lovely topline (I had been despairing of this aspect in some of the earlier dog classes). He is really deep in body, long in neck but also long in legs with a lovely sloping upper arm and a correctly angled croup. Extended sound mover who really took the eye though he did skip over something in one of his runs round. Reserve CC and reserve Best in Show; 2. Cole's Culkereen Shade. Again a big strong hound with a good head, neat ears, lovely whiskers and a good topline. He is deep in chest and shows very nice angles all through. A solid dog on good feet, handsome and noble in his stance and a sound mover. 3. Crawshaw's Cefni Luc Padrig
Open Dog (4,2): 1. Valerani's Eu Ch Conchobar Cerbero. Handsome male whose great size and commanding appearance hit the spot. He combines size, substance and curves with an excellent front, good breadth and depth of chest and width throughout. He has a lovely head, the smoothest of neck sets, a good topline, matched with lovely hind angulation. On the move he presented flowing lines from front to rear and he also communicated strength in an easy extended stride which looked good from all angles. Best in Show; 2. Bradford's Baronglen the Jester
Veteran Dog (3,1) two lovely exhibits: 1. Lefley's Hibeck Mickey Rooney at Nicsar. Great old boy nearing 8 but full of vigour and in great condition. Good substance and bone, good depth of chest and the gentlest of expressions on a nicely proportioned head. Moved well. 2. Griffin's Kilrein Jaeger. Stubborn chap, again with a nice head and kind expression, good substance with nice angles to hindquarters and obviously a very good mover but he just insisted on having his head down.
Puppy Bitch (5,1) 4 quality bitch puppies here, different in style but equal in quality: 1. Macleod's Brachan Busted Khia. Very pleasing bitch with excellent long head, lovely ear carriage and superb neck. She has good slope of upper arm, well curved ribs and great muscle on hindquarters. The general picture is of a long legged hound with power and strength. She moved erratically from rear but well in profile. 2. Forret's Culvercroft Francesca. Smaller and younger but with lovely head with correct rosed ears rather similar in type to 3. Good strong body for age and excellent shoulder with good enough hind angulation. Should be very nice when mature. 3. Pain's Ravensbeech Cimarron
Junior Bitch (9,2): 1. Amoo's Sade Jinx. Tall, long legged pale red brindle bitch with excellent planes to head, good ears, pleasing neck. Nice topline, well ribbed back, good length to hind quarters and balanced all through. She was also in great coat and condition. She moved out well, covering the ground. Kept her in for the bitch challenge and looked at her closely. 2. Court's Milkwood Be My Baby. Attractive dark brindle bitch with, again, lots of quality. Good head and expression, nice neat ears, good neck but with less angulation in front than I'd like and certainly less than 1. Outline a bit spoilt by steep croup at this age but she moved reasonably well. 3. Broughton's Montisacre Adagio
Yearling Bitch (6,2) Embarrassed to admit to saying that all four in this class were potential champions and could they move! 1. Crane's Seplecur Letitia.. Pale grey very shapely bitch with pretty well proportioned head and good neck. She combines shape and substance and has the sort of construction which feels exactly right. Her shoulder placement is excellent, she has a good upper arm, nice ribbing, good feet and I particularly noticed the strength in her hindquarters with breadth across both thigh and stifle and a good broad croup. The first comment in my notes here is "excellent mover" but I would say exceptional is nearer the mark. Bitch CC. 2. Valerani's Conchobar Ermoine. Longer cast but another excellent mover. She has a pretty head with slightly flat ears but still a very pleasing outline and well angulated hindquarters with good bone there too. Fabulous mover again. 3. Sumner's Ballyphelan Blackthorn
Novice Bitch (5,1) 1. Macleod's Brachan Sheene. Dark substantial bitch with an excellent crisp coat and strong well -muscled body. She might lack the furnishings of some but has the rest. Good depth of chest and spring of rib, excellent front, proud sternum, well set neck and good topline. Moved soundly but without great enthusiasm. 2. Wright's Madach Eske at Cassadign. Sound bitch with reasonable head but light eye. Plenty of bone, with good depth and breadth of chest and with sound feet but could do with more length of neck, less steep croup and more length in hind quarters to complete the picture. Nice and energetic on the move. 3. Broughton's Montisacre Adagio
Graduate Bitch (6,2) 1. Timmins' Cornovi Comfort. Stylish grey brindle with an excellent head, which might be seen as extreme to some but not to me, and neat ears carried well. This bitch has sweeping hindquarters and a good front with nice forechest and lovely neck. Another in excellent condition with good muscle, a nice tail set and the crispest of coats. Free moving. 2. Wright's Rainster Torran at Cassadign. Pale red bitch with nice front and good topline and good coat. No extremes here and nicely balanced but a touch more length perhaps would improve her. Well proportioned head but with a lightish eye. Good mover. 3. Wilkinson's Hunacres Kantata
Post Graduate Bitch (11,5) 1. Taylorson's Shanimarle Artemis. Balanced dark brindle with good head, neat ears, good bone, nice width, well angulated in front with well placed shoulders and good shape at rear, nice rising topline and excellent coat. Could be firmer in muscle and longer in neck but typically strong and strode out well. 2. Biggs' Grifemy Mythical Charm. Attractive paler brindle with a good head, kind expression and again with a pleasing topline. She has a good broad front, nice depth of body and good bone with well angulated hindquarters and she moved well. 3. Wilkinson's Hunacres Karoline
Limit Bitch (8,2) Good class and difficult choice between 1 and 2 as I feel they have similar qualities. 3 was also an exceptional mover. 1. Pinkney's Hydebeck Victoria Plum. This is one that I kept coming back to in the challenge. Very houndy, long legged and pleasing in both topline and underline. She has an excellent coat, strong well-angulated hindquarters and is a lovely free mover. 2. Surrell and Coleman's Bokra Summer. Lovely typical bitch but a touch straighter in front than 1. Substantial body with nice proportions, good topline and good feet. Yet again there is a kennel consistency here for great condition. Free mover. 3. Crawshaw's Cefni Sallynoggin
Open Bitch (10,4) none moved that consistently in this class - by which I mean they moved very well then moved badly! 1. Sumner's Ballyphelan Liquorice. Close to 2 on quality but I liked this one's size, substance but particularly her shape. She has a nicely placed shoulder, long upper arm, good strong neck and good topline and is in great muscular condition. Ears not her fortune but she has a good long stride and an impressive side gait. RCC. 2. Pain's Ch Ravensbeech Caledonia. Typical dark brindle with lovely head, neat ears, good neck into well laid shoulders and the crispest of coats. She moved the better of these two coming and going but lost out on size and general appearance in a difficult and close bit of judging. 3. Webb's Tarmistorm Miss Masserine
Veteran Bitch (4,2): 1. McHugh's Culkereen Adelaide. In lovely condition with good head, grey whiskers, classic ears and a very appealing expression. She is also substantial in body with a lovely curvy outline and very shapely too. Best Veteran. 2. Wright's Ashgroave Scarlet at Cassadign. Sprightly old girl in very good shape for 9 with lovely dark pigmentation, nice head, lovely expression and good dimensions to her frame.
Brace (1): 1. Webb's two large and typical hounds in prime condition and looking like a hunting pair. Great size, moving in unison.
Members Stakes Junior (9,6): 1. Crane's Seplecur Letitia; 2. Macleod's Brachan Busted Khia; 3. Broughton's Montisacre Adagio
Members Stakes Open (3): 1. Pinkney's Hydbeck Victoria Plum; 2. Macleod's Brachan Sheene; 3. Shepperd's Grifemy Dark Enchantress for Goldswift
DEBBIE TEBBUTT (Judge)