Very many thanks to all the exhibitors who brought their hounds for me to go over. It is a great honour to judge such a prestigious show and Mick had got very tired of me shopping and changing outfits. I was very relieved when it was over but I was happy with my decisions.

I found in my CC dog winner an honest hound with no exaggerations – presented in the best condition and obviously not fazed by anything.

I found in my BOB a lovely typical bitch with a gentle expression, lots of curves with the head I love. There were a few placing that would have been different if the dogs were in better condition and had less fat on them and a few more if the owners had got them to move better. Very many thanks to my stewards who were a pleasure to work with, it made my job easier.

I am writing critiques 1 – 3 and placings to 5 . I know the Dog papers edit from time to time and I want to expand the judgements to explain why I did what I did.

Many thanks to Jeff and Barbara Poole who supplied pictures of the winning hounds, the others were taken by Mick. Please contact Jeff and Barbara barb.jeff@virgin.net if you wish to have a copy.

1ST GREYFRIARS GILLE OF BEARDSWOOD BP

A big puppy dog , very nice straight front and good depth for his age, he moved out well showing all the curves nice strong bone and substance, well muscled and in pristine condition. For me a tad strong in the head but there was much to like about this dog pup, he won Best Puppy on his movement.

2ND READWALD FLINT

What a nice dog puppy, all the right curves and another one to watch. Good bone and substance; lovely dark coat, nice head ears and a dark eye, his front is a tad out at the moment but I am pretty sure this will tighten as he gets older. I preferred his head to the first but he lost it to better moving dog.

3RD LAIRD OF LISNABANREE AT ANMIALCHU

A very big strong male with plenty of size bone and substance, this lad was not co-operating with his owner at all and so I was unable to assess his movement, owner and dog need a bit of practice and then it could be a different picture.

1ST CANERIKIE CROCODILE COOLER

What a lovely typical hound, nice shapely body with good length, excellent head, ears and expression, deep enough in body for his age with a lovely topline and strong quarters. Excellent length from hip to hock moved out with great drive jeeping his shape and covering the ground well. Presented and shown in excellent order, he pushed hard for the CC. This hound is very young and in the hands of a novice but I am sure they are a winning combination and have places to go.

2nd LORD SEAFIELD OF HARTVALLEY

A big dog with bone and substance, ears are a big heavy but a good straight front, strong bone and nice feet, powerful neck and lovely deep body but not quite the angles fore and aft of the winner. Overall a honest hound who moved around the ring with presence and drive.

3rd KILLOETER LUSS

This dog was not a happy bunny, he was not relaxed and on another day, another show, he could be placed higher. Lovely strong bone, nice deep body, good low hocks and a nice topline but he did not move out well.

4th WOLFSCASTLE FINLAY

5th L YART YES MINISTER

1ST PACKWAY DENALI AT HARTVALLEY

Another nice big hound who had good strong neck, nice deep body, adequate for his age, a good straight front with a nicebend in the pastern. ½ brother to the winner of the last class and a lot of the same applies to him, still very rangy and not as mature but showing lots of promise, he moved covering the ground well.

2ND GLEWLWYD DIONYSUS

This is another nice shapely hound with a good coat, not quite the range of 1. Rather heavy in the head but good bone and substance. A slight weakness in the pastern and feet but very deep in the chest with good angulation behind, moved ok.

3RD CRAFFITSH O'COCKAIGNE

This was a huge dog that was far too big for me, massive bone and substance, nice straight front, lovely harsh coat, long in the back and very dark coat hard coat. He moved well covering the ground.

1ST ROSSLYN NEILL

This is a big dog that has good body, very strong neck and a nice head and expression. Just a little short in upper arm but fabulous length and he kept his topline standing and on the move. Good angulation and length from hip to hock His movement could be a little tighter a very nice type.

3RD CLAONAIGLEN ORCHY

A slightly smaller dog with a good body, nice head and ears, good angles both fore and aft but tends to flatten in topline standing and on the move. Moved ok

1ST KILLOETER GRILSE

This is a very honest hound that looks as if he can do the job he was bred for. He was presented and shown to perfection, the owner obviously working as one with him. He has good bone and substance, a nice deep chest with plenty of heart room, a good topline and adequate angulation behind presenting a balanced hound who has no exaggerations.
I was very pleased to award him his 1st CC

2ND WOLFSCASTLE WOOD MELICK

Another dog very similar to 1 but today he could not do enough, lacked drive and enthusiam on the move. Built on the same lines this is another dog that looks like he could do the job. Pushed hard for the Reserve CC but lost that today on movement.

I was told later he had been in the ring since 8am with his junior handler where he won the YJH 6-11 class, I feel this may have cost him his place in the breeed ring but well done.

3RD GENTOM ORLANDO AT TALGAVAR

I thought when this dog came into the ring he was my winner, he has good strong neck falling into good shoulders excellent length of body and nice angles front and rear but today I found him reluctant to move and stride out.

1ST CH.HYNDSIGHT WIND OF CHANGE

This is a big winning hound with much to like about him. He won his place on overall conformation , good bone substance and overal quality but today he did not move out well and is a tad overweight which may explain his lack of enthusiasm for the show ring today.

2ND WICKWAR WORCESTER OF PEOPLETON

A smaller hound who standing looks short in the neck but as our old standard said this can be an illusion caused by a mane, something you rarely see these days as it is stripped out. He has such a mane and is not short in neck, he quite balanced and keeps his topline on the move.

3RD BEARDSWOOD MARMION

A much bigger dog with good bone and size, a nice head and expression, deep in chest but flattens his topline on the move and is a tad upright on his shoulder which makes him move with his head rather high.

1ST NOBYS FERGUS

This is a big strong dog who stood alone in this special class. Nice to see him and he has obviously gained a lot of merit from the Good Citizen scheme. Well done.

1ST INT/LUX CH.R'IHAFIA OF MUMA

Very big French bitch that today carried far too much weight and her coat needed attention. Very shapely with a good lay of shoulder and lots of depth and strength in the body with exactly the right topline. She was very reluctant to move out with any enthusiasm. .

1ST GREYFLAX MILLY MOLLY MANDY

Nice big strong puppy bitch with a lot to like about her, shown to perfection and has all the right curves. Very slightly short in upper arm but she moves out very well but lost out to the dog puppy in the puppy challenge on overall movement.

2ND WICKWAR WALNUT WHIP

Nice type, slightly smaller than one and three but a lovely head and ears, good forechest And body, nice deep chest and well laid shoulders, a promising puppy.

3RD READWALD JETBLACK

Well, what can I say about this girl, I thought she was my class winner for sure. All the right curves. Lovely coat, good length and range but she would not move without pacing, a habit she needs to break. I gave her several chances but could not give her a higher placing as I was unable to assess her movement.

1ST KILLOETER LURAG FOR HAMILTONHILL

This is a big rangy bitch who won her place on movement. Excellent front with good forechest and adequate depth for her age, nice length in the body and kept a good profile on the move. She has a lot of time to mature and I saw in her something special for the future she just needs time.

2ND WOLFSCASTLE FIDELA

Slightly smaller but oh so shapely, good lay of shoulder and length with a nice rise over the loin and good length from hip to hock which were well let down. Unfortunaterly she also paced but this hound is well constructed and should finish well. Owner and hound need to practice.

3RD CANERIKIE CRANBERRY COOLER

A longer cast hound who did not show herself at all well, she was un co-operative and movement was erratic.

3RD GLEWLWYD LIANA

Another hound who today did not show all that well and lost her place on movement. Nice type, good head and body, a tad narrow in front Her topline flattens on the move, but she has good hind antulation and a lovely coat.

1ST HYDFRON BERKITA

A very pretty shapely bitch with lovely front and hind angulation, nice length in her body and a correct topline, she has the sort of head I love and moved with drive covering the ground well. Good lay of shoulder with forechest, nice strong bone and standing and moving she kept her curves.

2ND CANISHURN ZENA

I really thought this would be my winner, a different type to one and going over her I was not disappointed but she failed her owner on the move. Lovely type with a excellent dark coat. Beautiful head and nice small ears excellent body shape with lovely strong hind quarters.

3RD CLAONAIGLEN ORRIN

Bad luck to meet one and two, this is another very nice bitch with much of the qualities of the second place winner.

1ST CLAONAIGLEN ALBYN AT CLOWESWOOD

This was my star, not overdone, no exaggerations, lovely head ears and strong neck, deep chest with a good forechest and a super shape over the back falling into strong well muscled and angulated quarters. All curves, she did not move with her head too high and radiated health and good order. This is a dog show and she was turned out looking the part, she fitted the standard well and made me smile. She was handled extremely well. Her 1st CC but hopefully not her last .

2ND GREYFLAX A KIND OF MAGIC JW

A much bigger and a different type but she is young and fit and ready for the big time. A more workmanlike hound, and not my type but she fitted the standard well with strong angulation and very powerful body. Moved and worked well with her handler.

3RD BEARDSWOOD MORWENNA

A smaller bitch with some nice proportions, not quite the front of 1 and two but many of the qualities apply. Three very nice bitches that could change places at anytime.

1ST CH.GREYFLAX GUINEVERE

I have seen this bitch before and she has improved since she took top honours in 2005. She has matured out into a very respectable hound. Quite balanced with a slightly narrow head and front but she moved extremely well in profile which gave her this class.

2ND GHYLLADARE KINGLAS OF GLENMORLICH

Another big honest bitch with many of the qualities of one, size and substance, nice body, topline and angles from and rear - not overdone.

3RD CH.HYNDSIGHT AU FAIT

I love this bitch, a good front and depth, lovely shapely body with good angles front and rear she has many qualities which I admire but today she seemed very sluggish and had to give way to the younger hounds.

DOG CC - RESERVE DOG CC

BITCH CC BOB - DOG CC BOS