As usual, a well organized show. A mixed entry of different types, sizes and quality, especially in the dog classes. However, in some of the bitch classes I was spoilt for choice. It was lovely to see more or less the full range of colours, which I appreciated. Some exhibits were rather heavily boned or overweight, which spoilt the overall picture; conversely some were rather small and fine boned. However, I was pleased with both my line-ups, especially the bitches.

It was unfortunate that a couple of exhibitors were unable to hide their disappointment until they left the ring, but overall there seemed to be a convivial atmosphere throughout the day.

MPD (3): 1 Lewis’ Deelayne Ficky Stinger, red/gold, lovely sturdy youngster, a little raw but very promising, good pigment, dark eye, well arched neck, well made all round, lovely shape when settled, moved soundly, just needs his confidence, good coat well presented. BPD; 2 Owen’s Marpori Jackson, very showy, lovely shape standing and moving, moved with verve, well presented, would just like more of him; 3 Lock’s Littondale Look No Further. PD (7, 2a): 1 Churchs’ Duguid A Star Is Born for Askja, very mature 11 months cream up to size, typical head of correct proportions, good pigment, well made all round, straight front, level topline, good tailset, a little exuberant but free movement, abundance of straight coat well presented. RBPD; 2 Wilkes’ Miracle Moonshine at Monkspath, 9 months gold/white parti, close up to 1, lovely shape, very sound, appealing head of correct proportions, good pigment, a little rushed gaiting which unsettled his movement, promising; 3 Rout’s Simuje Druseni. JD (5,5). ND (2): 1 Miracle Moonshine at M; 2 Simuje Druseni, very mature 10 ½ months, excellent pigment, dark eye, plenty of chin but not the typy expression of 1, typical front, heavily coated, longer cast than 1 and not moving as freely. GD (7, 3): 1 Lock’s Askja Dance Yourself Dizzy, typy, well balanced gold, correct head proportions, good pigment, scored in front assembly over 2, level topline, good tailset, well presented, moved OK, I see progeny of the two lovely veterans; 2 Church’s Askja Place The Face, another very typy gold, liked expression, pleasing outline, well balanced, typical front, topline spoilt a little by carrying too much weight, moved with plenty of verve, strong rear movement, well presented; 3 Simuje Druseni. PGD (5, 2): 1 Horton’s Chtaura Blithe Spirit at Margrathea, sound, mature pale gold, ideal head proportions, excellent pigment, lovely dark eye, pleasing shape standing and on the move, lovely neck line, spirit level topline, good tailset, moved soundly, coat just needs to finish. BD and BOS; 2 Reece and Webster’s Kandykone Kontradiktion, very similar in make and shape to 1, little to choose between them, same comments, just not as mature nor moving as positively as 1; 3 Harrison’s Showa Quango at Tasharie. LD (9, 4): Very mixed class. 1 Cain’s Kutani Reckless, very sturdy, well balanced masculine gold, correct head proportions, strong neck, typical front, level topline, good tailset, excellent rear assembly, moved with plenty of verve, well presented; 2 Young’s Avonbourne All Spice, mature b/w parti, different type to 1, fabulous shape held on the move, typical head of correct proportions, lovely arch to neck, good topline and tailset, moved freely and soundly, well presented; 3 Robinson’s Shigatse Razzle Dazzle of Dorangi. OD (4,2): 1 McNally’s Ch Angadema Applause, sound, mature pale gold, ideal size with everything in the right place, correct head proportions, good pigment, lovely arch to neck, well balanced, good tailset, moved confidently and with purpose, excellent coat texture. RBD; 2 Reece’s Vaderlands Vitality, another lovely dog of ideal size, close up to 1 in make and shape, just not as confident on the move and still needs to mature. VD (4, 2): 1 Church’s Ch Tirkane Rodger Rabbit of Saxonsprings, 10-year-old gold in fabulous coat and condition, lovely head and expression, good pigment, dark eye, lovely arch neck, good topline and tailset, moved like a youngster, freely and jauntily, very well presented, considered for top honours; 2 Simmons’ Nimars Golden Child, 16-year-old gold enjoying his day out, larger type than 1, good pigment, excellent front, moved well for age.

MPB (6, 2): 1 Hazgaye Fascination at Ladakhpass, white/red parti, my notes say "Wow, what a babe!, gorgeous", fabulous head, arrogant expression, excellent pigment, darkest of eyes, very sound fore and aft, level topline, good tailset, moved soundly, lovely coat well presented, could have taken her home. BPIS; 2 Lewis’ Deelayne Viva La Diva, feminine red/gold, sweet expression, excellent pigment, dark eye, well made, lovely outline, a little unsettled standing and on the move, lovely coat well presented, pity she didn’t perform in the challenge for RBPB; 3 Free’s Marpori Jasmin. PB (8, 3): 1 Harrison’s Cossy Duchess at Tasharie, very typy sound gold, mature for age, lovely outline when settled, feminine head of correct proportions, lovely neck line, good front and tailset, moved soundly when she got her act together, lovely coat well presented. RBPB; 2 Hazelhurst’s Patarch Prim And Proper at Corrolls, lovely feminine b/w parti, close up to 1, sweet head, good pigment, dark eye, fabulous shape and make standing and on the move, lovely arch neck, good topline and tailset, moved soundly and jauntily, well presented, delightful character; 3 Dungate & Minton’s Brides Veil over Forochel. JB (10, 3) Lovely class. 1 Anderson’s Zentarr Madonna, gold, fabulous shape and make, feminine head of correct proportions, good pigment, dark eye, lovely arch neck, well made fore and aft, good tailset and carriage, could just loose a little weight to advantage, moved very soundly and with purpose, excellent coat texture well presented; 2 Wiehes’ Lisimo I Love To Boogie, another lovely bitch, mature cream in excellent coat and condition, excels in shape and balance, correct head proportions, good pigment, lovely dark eye, good topline, ideal tailset and carriage, moved soundly but not quite as positively as 1 in the final run-off, very promising; 3 Chamberlain’s Avonbourne Mandzari at Chobrang. NB (2,1w): 1 Brown’s Beranjo Caramel Top Cookie, very sweet gold bitch, lovely dark expressive eye, sound and moved OK when she got going, correct coat coming through. GB (5, 1): 1 Torrance’s Sinyul Brief Encounter, very well balanced grey with everything to like, typical head of correct proportions, good pigment, lovely dark eye, ideal expression, very well made, good topline, moved soundly, coat just needs to finish, very promising; 2 Avonbourne Mandzari at Chobrang, mature g/w parti, different balance and type to 1, good pigment, dark eye, soundly made, moved well, lovely coat texture coming through, well presented; 3 Church’s Askja Blondes Have More Fun. PGB (7, 3): 1 Wright’s Timazinti Bon-Ami for Larool, lovely g/w parti, ideal head and expression, well made, typical front, good topline and tailset, moved soundly, lovely shape is sometimes obscured by heavy coat and could lose weight to advantage, just needs to mature, promising; 2 Bax and Chalmers’ Chethang Beckie Lou JW, gold, another lovely bitch, feminine head, good pigment, lovely dark eye, well balanced, level topline, good tailset and carriage, coat a little inbetween but of good texture; 3 Church’s Askja Fantazia. LB (12, 4): Fabulous class, some lovely bitches had to go cardless. 1 Holland’s Deelayne Ever Decent, attractive feminine g/w parti, very well balanced, correct head proportions, good pigment, lovely dark eye, good front, super topline, good tailset and carriage, moved confidently and soundly, coat maturing nicely, well presented, fulfilling her early promise, considered for top honours; 2 Skillings’ Cossy’s Maisie with Nosneb, feminine cream of similar type to 1 but slightly bigger all round, has to be handled to be fully appreciated, lovely head and expression, super dark eye, soundly made, level topline, good tailset, moved soundly but lacked verve of 1, coat in fabulous condition and very well presented; 3 Davidson-Jones’ Kutani Heaven On Earth for Peakajay. OB (4): Little to separate the first three.1 Holland’s Vaderlands Flame And Fortune, fabulous red/gold bitch, has it all, typy, ideal size, feminine yet sturdy, shapely, well balanced, sound and very well muscled, lovely head of correct proportions, good pigment, dark eye, super arch neck, good front, well ribbed back, good tailset, sound well muscled hindquarters, moved freely and soundly with a jaunty air, lovely coat texture very well presented. BB and BIS; 2 Pearson’s Chethang Jamesina with Elisamay, another fabulous bitch of ideal size in full bloom, super shape and balance, lovely head and expression, good pigment, super dark eye, lovely arch neck, level topline, ideal tailset and carriage, moved soundly and with purpose, coat in fantastic condition, very well presented, a pity she and her handler were a little unsettled when called back to challenge for RBB, should go all the way; 3 Gay’s Hazgaye Shades Of Saffron. VB (2,1): 1 Church’s Tirkane Daffy Duck, young 8 years g/w parti in fabulous coat and condition, so well balanced and sound, holding her shape at all times, ideal head proportions, arrogant expression, good bite, dark eyes, good front, super topline and tailset, sound hindquarters, moved freely and soundly, very well presented. RBB, RBIS, BVIS.