West of England Ladies Kennel Society
30th April 2006

I would like to thank the show committee for their hospitality, and the exhibitors for their entries, which together with the cost of transport makes ours an expensive hobby. This makes it hard for me to understand why people should go to all that trouble, and then fail to make sure the dogs (including teeth) are clean. Our breed appears to lack the in-depth quality it as enjoyed in previous years. Where once we could expect, all save the very few, Smooths to move effortlessly around the ring with grace and style, this is now not so. Quite a few exhibits were short in head, body and tail. Some seemed to shrink into their shoulders, which made them appear to lack neck, this certainly made them seem to lack elegance.

PD (8 -1) Strong class. 1 & BP Macgregor’s Rowvale River Gambler. Tri with correct body shape and a good amount of bone. Has jet black coat which is of harsh texture, and fits body well. His head is still yet to finish. He has well shaped and placed eye, with ears correctly placed and well used. He moved well and already covers the ground with a decent stride. He (as do all his kennel mates when handled by their owner) stands and shows extremely well, this can and does give the final edge. 2 Sewell’s Foxearth Flintoff for Lewarne, S/w still very much a baby. He does however show promise of becoming a very useful dog. His head and body have correct length, has sufficient bone and a coat of correct length and texture. Eyes are dark and well placed, ears are well place, but still on the heavy side, when lifted it changes his expression making him most appealing. 3. Fort’s Shulne Lord Haldir.

JD (4-0) 1st & RCC Hayward’s Foxearth Londer Lladro, S/w of quality. Correct length of head, which is balance, having correctly placed stop, the two planes of the head are apparent, and viewed from above it is a good blunt wedge, in profile it is very clean. Dark eye which is a lovely size and well placed, ears of good size, and in correct place, when he uses them he is as good as any I have seen. Body is correct length to height ratio, and tail, although tucked under him today, is right for length. Coat fits well and is harsh. Moved OK. Had he been happier, made more of himself and co-operated with his handler he could have gone much further today. I wish him well. 2nd Hales Loner Look Smart, litter brother to 1st and while many of the same virtues apply his head is not as clean, and appears slightly shorter in back. 3rd Purvey’s Norfield Silver Knight for Freejack.

PGD (4-0) 1st Forbes’ Pelghart Pied Piper of Willowhurst, Tri who’s has too much white coming up the side of his body for me. However, he is a pleasing shape, having correct length to height ratio, is in good condition and move with drive, his expression would be enhanced by darker eyes and ears which were not so light. Won a class which was not too strong, over 2nd Eke’s Foxearth Fred Perry, on movement.

LD (4-0) Better class. 1st Wallis’ Norfield Soul Mate, S/w with correct body shape, with well sprung rib, covered in a coat of pleasing texture and length. Head good wedge shape, of good length, with stop in correct position. Eye and ears placed and used well, if anything he is a tough on the big side. When settled moves well in profile, needs to sort out front movement. 2nd Gadd’s Chicnoir Best Mate S/w very similar to 1st, but not using himself as well, therefore had to give way 3rd Moore’s Manordeifi Solar Eclipse.

OD (2-0) 1st & CC Norman & Ratcliffe’s Ch Foxearth Blue Jeans Forever, B/m with style, moves with drive and pulled out all the stops. Coat good colour and texture. Good neck, which he picked up and used. Body, just long enough, and sufficiently covered, any more weight would make him look stuffy. Head is pleasing with well placed eye and ears, he showed non stop, and it was this that tipped the balance for the ticket. 2nd Gadd’s Chicnoir Quartermaster, S/w of correct type. Has correct body shape, covered by short harsh coat, pleasing head, but did not make the most of himself.

PB (5-0) Good class, which together with the puppy dog class holds some future stars. 1st Macgregor’s Rowvale Chasing Rainbows, B/M who shows well for handler, however, in the challenge for BP was unsettled with a change in handler, and this cost her. She has a good overall body shape; her head is of good length, with well placed eyes and ears, giving sweet feminine expression, was very collected on the move, giving no ground in this class. 2nd Hayward’s Foxearth Gold Filligree, S/w shown by her new owner. She is well balanced in both body and head. Her eyes and ears combine to give good expression, however, to be critical she is a bit lippy which spoils the head profile. I consider her to be a hard contender once a partnership is built between her and new owner. 3 Fort’s Shulune Lady of Lorien.

PGB (4-1) 1 & RBCC White’s Chicnoir Sea Spray From Dancerwood. S/w who reminds me in some ways of our first champion (from Chicnoir kennel). Has correct body length without too much daylight beneath. Good bone, and well sprung rib. Her coat is short and harsh, fitting body well. Head correct length, with good parallel plains. Eye well placed and dark, ears correctly placed, which gives a lovely sweet expression. Did not move as well as CC winner. 2nd Moores Manordeifi Star Attraction, Tri with good body shape, and movement, preferred head on 1st, and she was reluctant to show today. 3rd Purvey’s Chicnoir Hors-La-Loi-III.

lb (4-1) 1st Robinson’s Hilltarn Valentine JW. Tri. Body shape OK, head length fine, dark eye and ears well placed, however stop a bit low. Moved with drive. 2nd Moores Manordeifi Silver Dawn JW. B/M who’s coat is just coming back. Her top line had a slight dip, which spoilt her when viewed in profile. Head reminds me of her mother who I have always loved, shame her ears are that bit heavy. Has powerful movement. 3rd Hutchings & Wait’s Foxearth Fluorescence at Molloney.

OB (4-0) 1st CC & BOB Macgregor’s Ch Southcombe Sophisticate at Rowvale, tri of quality, and presented in tip top condition. Head is well balanced and has dark well placed eye, her ears are placed correctly and used constantly. Correct length to height body ratio, strong neck, and good shoulders. Moved with drive and grace in both class and challenge for CC & BOB, was disappointed to see her moving with reluctance in the group at the end of the day. 2nd Hyde’s Foxearth Future Magic, S/w who challenged hard for CC & RCC, just being piped at the post. She has correct body shape, just not pulling up her neck at times, which made her look a bit stuffy. Head is pleasing, having dark eye and well placed ears, perhaps just a touch full between the eyes, Moved well. 3rd Moores Manordeifi Lady Penelope.

Maria Foulston