16/02/2024
Not often to publish critiques but this is just so wonderful of the whole entry - the judge obviously enjoyed her appointment and appreciated our breed - just love it š
LKA - 2023
SPANIEL - FIELD
My thanks to the officers and committee of the Ladies Kennel Association for the invitation to award my first set of challenge certificates in this delightful breed I enjoyed my day very much. My personal congratulations on both the change of venue and the move to a four-day show ā a huge undertaking for a team of volunteers. It had been a fulfilling and interesting journey to award challenge certificates in the breed, having awarded CCs in my first breed in 2011 and judged at least 60 field spaniels before this appointment. Movement was better than I had expected heads less so with some having too much stop, mouths were a bit varied, temperaments were excellent as was sportsmanship and I was delighted with the entry both numerically and in terms of quality I understand that my dog CC took his 19th CC and the bitch from veteran her 10th I later realized that the in bi***es my CC winner, post graduate and best puppy were grandmother, mother and granddaughter.
PD (4,1) 1 Macbain/Harrisonās Fecimus Never Ending Story. 6-month-old raw baby but all about right, particularly liked him for outline and balance, good coat emerging, pleasing head and expressing with good amount of bone and nice tight feet, in head he is masculine with wide nostrils but I would prefer less stop, his eye is kind and dentition strong, unsettled but sound on the move. 2 Wheelerās Elgert King For A Day. A promising older exhibit and a slightly less settled age, full of body and balance with good bone, lovely head, scores in chiselling under the eye, very well presented, moved well and keenly as this breed do in profile and coming and going, good length of long ear, moderate behind, will be interesting to see him progress. 3 Englishās Wireduck Livinā The Dream.
JD (4) 1 Hardingās Kingsmist Remember Me JW. Upstanding teenager, lacking a little weight but willing to forgive this given his age, won on type, had the air of nobility one expects of this breed, lovely colour and bone and moved freely he is balanced fore and rear with good bone and was sensitive but robust in nature, long typical ear, in head I would prefer less stop. 2 Wheelerās Elgert King For A Day. 2nd in PD. 3 Shiptonās Heartwood Mishules Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
PGD (5) 1 Mooreās Clandrift Hotshot to Gemelbet. Won on type, outline and size and not presentation which today could be classed as rough shooting in style, that said the coat was clearly as desired, the handler had a tendency to overstretch exhibit creating the image of a longer exhibit than was necessary but otherwise there was much to like otherwise and was in super order, much to like in head and expression, super top-line, size and lovely feet, great body, really scores in upper arm and shoulder and I liked his bend of stifle, if presentation were improved this dog could challenge the best. 2 Hardingās Kingsmist Remember Me JW. 1st in JD. 3 Shiptonās Heartwood Mishules Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
LD (1) 1 Elliottās Elgert Break Every Rule at Portsoy. Upstanding mature male in fabulous condition, lovely amount of coat, he really scores in a deep well developed body with moderately sprung rib being that classic two thirds of the length, his feet are tight and his coat is correct, he was merry and active and he moved around the ring with ease, he was a pleasure to assess and it was a joy to see him enjoying his day. OD (9,2) 1 Mossā Sh Ch Fecimus Chase The Dream to Ewtor JW. I have admired this chap before and he didnāt disappoint, he is just as I picture the breed to be, full of type, beautifully presented in immaculate order and condition, robust male full of āspanielnessā, so sound, lovely typical outline, there is no denying which spaniel breed he belongs, full of personality and his head is superb, he headed an equally lovely a class, it was a pleasure to judge him again, DCC & BOB. 2 Bennettās Sh Ch. Jesham Baronet. I have judged this chap at various stages in my career and it was a joy to do so yet again, to see him as a veteran he exemplifies what so many lack, that moderate stop, bone, type, body and soundness, he has them all and a top-line to die for, I am not sure they make them anymore like these two anymore. RDCC. 3 Gallenās Sh Ch Woodsong Pleiades (Imp Fra).
GCD (2,1) 1 Wheelerās Elgert King For A Day. 2nd in PD and JD.
VD/B (4) 1 Osbornās Sh Ch Elgert Lady Staādust JW VW. 7 year old, showed like an exuberant puppy at a Christmas party! Lovely stylish outline, in super hard condition, really ready for the beating line, lovely long neck which creates that typy typical outline, great typical proportions, liked angles fore and rear with super bone, could be tidier coming and going but sheās not alone, super head and correct stop, the most melting of expression and personality to match, I could have wrapped her up for Christmas and taken her home! BCC & BV. 2 Harrisā Kingsmist Panther. An upstanding male of heavy type with a robustness but I liked his topline and bone, in head he is heavier than some but not incorrect, very laid back and he has been there and seen that, he scores in body and covers the ground well, a pleasure to judge and looking well in later years not remotely showing his age. 3 Daviesā Elgert Letās Dance at Benbreac.
PB (9,2) 1 Mossā Elgert Dancing Queen at Ewtor. More up on leg than the 2nd placed bitch but I preferred her in neck and head and I thought she had a better length of stride going around, when it comes together she is so typy and so classic, lovely proportions, hocks well let down, super bone and so feminine with a dose of nobility and charisma, she is groomed to perfection a real credit to her handler, BP. 2 MacBain/Brewerās Fecimus Never Look Back. 3 months younger than 1 but pushed her all the way, she was my class winner to start with but tired a little, was more moderate, much to like though and will undoubtedly be one to watch, her coat is profuse and her expression soft and feminine, her personality is cheeky and outgoing and in time she will have style and grace I suspect, she moved with ease but needs to relax. 3 Jonesā Sonnetend You Belong With Me.
JB (4,1) 1 Holgateās Nadavin Neala. A bitch who scores in outline and coat with super tight feet, lovely bone and an excellent coat, she has a melting expression, an almond eye, a long ear and her nostrils are sufficiently wide, when it comes together her neck is of good length, I liked for proportions and found her in good order. 2 Harnettās Redeswell Sweet Serendipity. A pleasing bitch who was actually my class winner but lacked a little showmanship and enthusiasm or this girl would have headed the class, she has good length, good bone and femininity, she has nobility and looks like she could go all day, a Pleasure to judge and most sound, a little more harmony between charge and handler, her day will come. 3 Shiptonās Heartwood Mishules All Is Possible with Calico.
PGB (5,1) 1 Osbornās Elgert Into The Unknown. An exciting bitch in beautiful condition handled to full advantage, full almond shaped eye, lovely body, great bone, clean lines, at a distance her breed is easily identifiable, I liked her for size, movement and balance, her top-line is correct and as she pushed off and moves she holds her outline, she is a typy and honest bitch, she was the first I assessed today that I would have happily awarded a CC. 2 Jamesā Kingsmist Golden Future for Bleiddiaid JW. This bitch scores in head with a lovely coat, nothing to hide, another with nothing overdone, good neck and nice tight feet, I would prefer a touch less length of leg but otherwise much to like with this bitch. 3 Macbain/Brewerās Fecimus Never Look Back.
LB (4) 1 Englishās Sonnabend Wake Up And Dream at Wireduck. This bitch scores in outline and size on the move, she gives her handler a hard time by putting in a satisfactory but unanimated performance which lets her down, she has nobility in spades, the tightest of feet, the loveliest of bodies and today she was the best presented in terms of coat and was stand out in terms of weight, condition and muscle. 2 Mooreās Nadavin Yaling for Gemelbet. This bitch is lovely and could challenge the best, today she was carrying too much condition and it showed on the stack, movement for me was a little too heavy, in too much coat and she paid the price, regrettably, I loved her for size and outline, in head she really scores and she has a super neck, her outline is classy and stylish and she is sound, the diet starts in January! 3 Adams/Hirdās Irisbel English Rose JW.
OB (5) 1 Osbornās Sh Ch Elgert Private Dancer. 4 year old bitch shown in first class order, a little out of coat perhaps, but I was willing to forgive this, she is stylish with a lovely neck, well laid back shoulders, good length of upper arm, right amount of bone, scores in body, she is balanced and full of type, she has that moderate stop and chiseling under the eye with a full almond eye and kind expression I liked her very much, she was a touch close behind, RBCC. 2 Holgateās Nadavin Zahlee. A mature bitch, full above the eye with good coat, she scores in rear angles and has a lovely top-line, she is full to the brim of femininity and classy, she has a melting expression and a lovely neck, she moved well, today she didnāt have much festive spirit which cost her the class sadly. 3 Willcockās Dynarkaraky Deuces Are Wild.
GCB (2) 1 Mooreās Elgert Sweet Little Lies at Gadhelic VW. 9 year old bitch, super quality, could challenge the best and not remotely showing her age, lovely top-line, super neck, hocks well let down, profuse coat but immaculate in presentation, super head, expression and strong dentition which was remarkably clean for her age, moved with gusto and soundness, she was a pleasure to judge. 2 McVittyās Sh Ch Sonnetend Faith. Another older exhibit also in profuse coat really enjoying her day today, the softest head and carrying a little too much condition but totally forgivable, very sound.
Jennifer Millard
