2007 APC National Specialty Judge's Critique

To begin with I should say what a tremendous honour it was for me to receive this invitation which came as a huge surprise. Whilst I have shown Pointers and judged the breed for many years, no one would ever think of it as my first breed and so I was doubly touched to be asked to officiate at this memorable and significant show. Whilst I have judged several regional specialties in the USA over the years, I have never had to handle one with such numbers and so I looked on sorting out the entry as a great challenge. To make the challenge even harder, I was ever mindful of the differences between the American and British breed standards for the Pointer, notably in heads. However, from the outset I did not find the heads that awaited me anything like as alien as I had expected.
            Judging any breed is a matter of compromise, and the judge who expects to find perfection is only heading for disappointment; all we can do is pray for breed virtues enough to satisfy us and look for dogs that convey an overall picture of breed type. Overall picture is always my first priority and whilst none of the dogs I placed highly were absolutely perfect, they all gave me the look of the breed that I was hoping for. I am honestly not colour prejudiced, but I do so often find type more easily in the oranges than the other colours and this entry proved that point emphatically.
            In this entry I found some widespread faults, notably short ribcages (something that seems to be plaguing many breeds internationally so is not just a Pointer thing) and also poor feet. Whilst we all know that in a working dog, the main virtue is what is between the ears and in the heart – the will to work – it helps if the physical nuts and bolts measure up to the ideal and poor feet always worry me.
            On the whole temperament was excellent and most of the dogs were well conditioned. I do wish more handlers would allow their charges free rein however and let them go ahead on loose leashes. All breeds, but especially Pointers, benefit from the freedom of a long, loose leash and are never seen to advantage when being held back. I thought the quality throughout was much higher in bitches than males.
            The sight of the Specials class assembling gave me goose-bumps and I shall remember it for many a year. From the moment I first set eyes on the eventual BOB bitch, posing on a loose leash in the right hand corner of the ring, it was love at first sight and I prayed she would not disappoint on close inspection. Well, she didn’t and -  if anything – she made more of an impact close up and personal, and gaiting free on a long loose leash she pressed all the right buttons for me. She made the entire trip worthwhile and is as good a Pointer as I have ever seen. It is finding animals of this calibre just once in a while that makes me want to judge dogs.
            The whole two days gave me a real adrenalin rush and I thank the Club for this wonderful opportunity. I enjoyed every moment. The exhibitors were also extremely well mannered and sporting, and for that I thank you all.
 
DOG CLASSES
6-9 MONTHS
1. CORALWOOD AMAZONA THE CLOSER
Orange & white who was a standout in the class, a real baby but already he has clean lines and great overall balance. Still has tons of knuckle to grow into but his bone is high quality and his feet please. Very promising head type, excellent neck, fabulous angles front and back and he was in great nick. Despite an initial reticence which is nothing more than an age thing, he held it together on the move and went with soundness and glimpses of style.
2. CREEKSYDE’S QUIZZ KID
Larger mould black & white, essentially balanced head if a shade lippy and he doesn’t have the definition of outline of 1 or his neat feet. Being longer cast he has great scope on the move and really covers ground.
3. SOUNDNES X- MAN V DOBESDEN
Black & white with lots of work in his head which still needs time to finish. Took time to settle but then threw out good shape and balance. A little stuffier in neck than those above, but he has a lot of type.
4. STONEBROOK CREEKSYDE DBL VISION
Orange and white whose coat is going through that pimply stage, good overall shape but short in upper arm and not so together on the move.
 
9-12 MONTHS
1. ALYDAR AMERICAN TALE
Scopey black & white of quality, beautiful head type and true Pointer eye even if it could be a shade darker. Quality bone and feet, a little short in rib which tends to give him a rather extreme tuck-up and he needs to drop into his front. His topline tends to sheer off a little at times but he has great angles and goes around with reach and drive, tail lashing. Best Puppy Dog.
2. ALYDAR AMERICAN CHOPPER
Black & white much more European in head type than his litter brother above and lighter in bone. Not the rear angulation of 1 but he still has some shape.
3. SOLIVIA’S VINDICATOR
Black & white rather lacking in angulation front and back and so lacks curves and shape. Masculine head of good basic type, but a little hard in expression. Pasterns need to strengthen and he needs to collect his front.
 
12-18 MONTHS
1. BOOKSTOR BANG
Stylish black & white radiating quality and style. Very pleasing head type, elegant neck but when he bodies up it will flow better into his shoulder. Good angles all through, hard topline and in great condition. Moved steadily and when given a long loose leash showed what he is capable of.  Should have an exciting future. His style took him through to Winners Dog and AOM.
2. ONSAGE TWELVE GAUGE
Black and white, not a sudden impact kind of dog but he bears close scrutiny. Quality head but unpigmented haws tend to harden expression. Not the spring of rib of 1 but he is a really fluid mover on the go-around and sound out and back.
3. MALMASONS ALYDAR POWER RANGER
Orange & white and quite the heartbreak of the day for me, as I just loved his type, shape and balance, and the marvellously typical picture he throws out on the go-around. His head is sheer type but the eye is a little loose, he has curves and shape and wonderful angles and projects himself so well. Furthermore he carries wonderful body condition. Sadly coming on he chucks his front around horribly which I found just too much to forgive. If he can pull it together and control those elbows, could be a great one.
4. MY KYNA PARTNER IN HOPE
Neat black and white, not a flashy dog but medium size and moderate in every way. Balanced head but a little full and light in eye. No exaggerations, lots of integrity as regards breed type.
 
 
BRED BY
1. DAWSIK’S MIDNIGHT SHADOW
Orange and white whose head did nothing for me as it is plain and lacks stop, yet behind his ears he thrilled me. He is beautifully put together and oozes Pointer shape and balance, he moves so fluidly, true and clean in every way. His feet could be tighter but he has strong quality bone and great ribs and body. His carriage and shape took him through to Reserve Winners Dog.
2. DANCINDOLL ASPENLEA DEJA VU
Orange and white with more head appeal than 1 but he needs to collect his front and he persisted in pacing initially. Not as well ribbed back as 1.
3. PROSPERITY’S WE STARE CUZ WE CARE
Slightly feminine black and white needing more strength of foreface to balance the head and his bite could be prettier. Shapely and balanced, in great nick. Moved reasonably and has a look of inherent quality.
4. MY KYNA SARGENT PEPPER
Immature orange and white, good head type but rather sombre expression due to his small deep set eyes. Not the angles of those above but he coordinates well on the move.
 
AMERICAN BRED
1. ONSAGE HAT TRICK
Black and white who could stand firmer in front. Balanced head but a shade lippy, feet ok, short upper arm and moderately angulated behind. Could carry his tail better. Best mover in the class.
2. PALADEN’S NO MORE MR NICE GUY
Black and white out of a smaller mould and light in condition which accentuated the fact. Good head type, excellent eye, stands rather weakly in front and he has more angulation behind than up front. Moving, he held more shape than 3.
3. TAHARI’S WITCHCRAFT
Well conditioned black and white, balanced head, stands well on his legs but just loses shape and curves on the move being rather boxy. One of those dogs who looks so much better stacked than gaiting.
 
OPEN DOG
1. ASPENLEA DAWN DEFENDER
Lightly marked orange and white of really excellent breed type but he was disappointingly soft in condition and tends to bunch over on one forefoot. Great head type with so typical expression. Goes away close but at all times he holds wonderful shape and really goes around with style and purpose, tail lashing.
2. PERRYGLEN’S MARK OF DISTINCTION
Less curvaceous black and white, lovely head and expression but rather heavy through his front and loaded in shoulder. In wonderful hard condition, makes a great picture stacked and moves steadily.
3. BEE SERIOUS DOUBLE ENTENDRE
Finer built black and white, rather long and streamlined head and he stands a little wide in front but moves fluidly with some scope.
4. SOLIVIA’S GRAND CAYMAN
Black and white whose bite could be neater and his topline lacks definition, but he has decent head type, was in great condition and moved truly with great scope.
 
 
BITCH CLASSES
6-9 MONTHS
1. CORALWOOD AMAZONA STRIKE ZONE
Orange and white in fabulous nick and so like her litter brother who won the corresponding male class, right down to her ample knuckle. Lovely head type strong bone, neat feet, good rib and great angles. Set up looked a picture and has a really flowing outline. Took a while to gain confidence but her sheer quality took her through the class.
2. CREEKSYDE’S WITCHES PROMISES
More confident orange and white, longer coupled than 1 and not her spring of rib, but with that extra length comes great fluidity and reach. Typey and feminine head, impressive forehand, elegant neck, sound and free, but not the curves of 1.
3. FIELDSTONE BOOTIELICIOUS
Black and white not the coat condition of those above, balanced head but a little wild in eye. Just enough bone, pleasing angles, though her unfortunate markings require careful study of her actual construction behind. Steady mover.
4. PERRYGLEN’S MARK OF EXCELLENCE
Orange and white with lovely forehand, in great condition and with good angles front and back. Just looks a little tubular and lacking shape at the moment. Could improve with maturity.
 
9-12 MONTHS
1. MARJETTA DIAMOND LIL
Exquisitely headed orange and white and a totally exciting prospect in beautiful condition. Well built all through with no excesses anywhere and she pulls it all together on the move. Sound and steady out and back and flows over the ground in profile. Just needs to drop into her rear with maturity and then she will go places. Best Puppy
2. CHESTERHOPE MY BOYS GIRL
Orange and white very close up to 1 and perhaps a little more ready in body but she couldn’t match the exquisite head details of the winner. Fabulous body shape and much more dramatic rear. Two super bitches both of whom made the best of themselves on the move.
3. STRYKE POINT ALYDAR AMERICAN GIRL
Black and white who coordinates so well in profile but comes on rather wide. A little light in eye but otherwise pleasing head type. Needs to fill out in front and she is a little short in rib. Looks her very best going round.
4. ALYDAR AMERICAN BEAUTY
Black and white littermate to 3 and so alike in many ways. Again lightish eye but even wider in front and she doesn’t quite have her sister’s curves but she too pulls herself together really well going round.
 
12-18 MONTHS
1. PROSPERITY’S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET
Orange and white with fabulous headpiece and glorious expression, and she just oozed type from every pore. Additionally she had great attitude and poise, and almost seemed to be scenting as she surveyed all around her. Wonderful shape and lines all through, can collect her front a little coming on but she goes around like a Pointer and used her tail well. Like so many who did well today she has moderate angulation behind and consequently the mechanics afford powerful driving movement – over angulated rears with short upper arms will never produce correct Pointer action. She pulled out all the stops to take Winners Bitch, BOW and AOM. Interestingly I see she and the WD share the same sire.
2. DANCINDOLL CAYLEIGH O’FAIRHAVEN
Orange and white, underbodied and not the coat of 1 but she has a very well detailed head and excellent angles front and back. Needs to fill out in front and develop her middle piece but she has huge potential. Moved better than most.
3. CREEKSYDE’S ALL ABOUT ME
Orange and white, excellent head type, not the feet of those above or the length of upper arm or second thigh. Good overall type and sound enough.
4. WILLOWBAY ALYDAR MY WISH CAME TRUE
Black and white, good head type, bit long cast and could be more shapely in outline. Just in season so was a touch hormonal and jittery, but settled enough to show her soundness and beat some good bitches. Excellent body condition.
 
BRED BY
1. PROSPERITY CRISTON ABOUT SUMMER
Black and white who stacked up to throw out a very impressive outline with great angles and flow. Excellent head and eye, utterly balanced, has such a smooth way of going. I just wished she had used her tail more, then she could have progressed further. Putting all in she could do so much better.
2. PALADEN’S THE MORE THE MERRIER
Black and white, not the head details of 1 as she lacks stop but very balanced outline. Not the upper arm of 1 but she still handles herself so well on the move.
3. PENZANCE ENIGMA HURRICANE
Out of coat orange and white, a little handshy at first but she eventually gained confidence. Excellent head type, substantial all through, sound and really fluid going round when she relaxed.
4. CORWYN’S MYSTIC
Feminine black and white, needs a little more finish of bone and has more angulation behind than in front. Rather disjointed mover but had moments that satisfied me.
 
AMERICAN BRED
1. TARONGA BAY MY KYNA LUNAR ECLIPSE
Black and white with very roomy profile, eats up the ground but comes on rather wide and breaks in topline. Pleasing head type, good bone and feet.
2. PENZANCE HARRIET THE SPY O’ KINNIKE
Black and white with decent headpiece but rather straight both ends so not the reach and drive of 1. Carrying plenty of weight, moves rather close behind.
3. BROCKS I CAN ONLY IMAGINE
Liver and white whose tail was dead, a little plain in head but could have won had she been more confident with her tail. Quite sound.
 
OPEN BITCH
1. PENPOINT SAN ANTONIO ROSE
Orange and white deliciously typy and curvy and just what appeals to me. Moderate all through but could have been in better coat. Holds herself so well on the move, going smoothly and fluidly, holding shape at all times. Lost a little of her drive in the challenge so ended up Reserve Winners Bitch.
2. CROOKRISE SHINING STAR
Black and white and one of those conundrum dogs as how can something so straight both ends move so beautifully? Probably because she is so balanced. Excellent head type but a little light in eye. Standing did nothing for me, but on the move she really swung it.
3. DANCINDOLL JL FINCH O’FAIRHAVEN
Black and white with quality head, good bone and feet. Rather short in rib and not the curves I would like, and she couldn’t match the energy of 2 on the  move.
4. DESTINY’S DIXIELAND DELIGHT
Strapping orange and white with good head type, stacked she looked the picture if a shade long cast, but when she moves she goes bum-high with gay tail carriage and so loses shape rather. Definitely one for the stack judges!
 
FIELD DOG
1. CH PENZANCE CHESTERFIELD
Orange and white with masculine head of excellent type, good bone and feet, excellent angles and very impressive forehand. Very coordinated, sound and stylish mover, although fit and hard a little more body covering would make him even more impressive.
2. CH MARJETTA ALL SHOOK UP
Liver and white, not the rib of 1 and narrower in front but has a look of class. Appeals in head and expression, has complementary angles and great carriage.
3. CH BLACKTHORNE BYGONE ICON
Black and white heavier through the front than 1 and 2, excellent bone and feet, stands rather wide in front, strong head rather overdeveloped in cheek, moves soundly but not with the poise of those above.
 
FIELD BITCH
1. CH PALADEN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
Black and white of medium size, so balanced and moderate. Excellent head type though her uneven facial markings do her no favours. Good bone and feet, well angulated all through, free and easy, reachy mover with clean lines.
2. CH EVA DE ATAMA
Orange and white, loved her type all through. Glorious head, weaker in pastern than 1 and not her clean flow of neck into shoulder. Great body and angles, very close up.
3. CH KINNIKE ISOBELL OF PENZANCE
Orange and white, good head type, level bite, rather dead tail and needs more angulation front and back. Shorter in rib than 1 and 2, moved soundly.
4. CH DANCINDOLL WITCHES BRITCHES
Black and white of good basic type, rather overweight and lacking animation. More angulation behind than in front. Quality head though a little light in eye.
 
HUNTING DOG
1. CH CORALWOOD ONCORE WRIGLEY FIELD
Rather low built black and white, powerful and masculine, tends to stand weakly on one foreleg but has much to like. Strong, typical male head, excellent angles, great rib and body, moves with power just eating up the ground.
2. CH CORWYN’S CHARISMA
Higher stationed liver and white, good head type, balanced outline but he throws his elbows coming on. Not quite the angulation front or back of 1 but he has so much style and presence going round.
3. CH KINNIKE HEMINGWAY
Orange and white, balanced head, good bone and feet, essentially curvy but tends to stand rather stiff and straight behind. Nonetheless he uses what he has to best advantage.
4. CH MARJETTA LEADER OF THE PACK
Gleaming black and white, very plain in head with little Pointer expression. Sound mover but lacks a little shape and curves.
 
HUNTING BITCH
1. CH ALYDAR CANT BUY ME LOVE
Orange and white of just the type that appeals to me. Beautiful head and eye, clean flowing lines from nose to tail, so sound and curvy with no exaggeration and she moves out so smoothly due to her moderate angulation and total balance. In great shape, I liked her a lot and she ended up taking an AOM.
2. CH CORALWOOD ONCORE WILDPITCH OF SHADYBROOK
Black and white not as true out and back as 1 but holds her profile so well. Good enough head, little light in eye, well balanced with good angulation.
3. CH PAMELOTS EASY DOES IT
Black and white rather overweight and with not the angles of 1 and 2 or their head. Moved with purpose.
4. PENZANCE ENIGMA OF KINNKIKE
Liver and white of quality but bone is somewhat fluted. Very appealing head, good top and underline, dead tail.
 
VETERAN DOG 7-9
1. CH CORALWOODS SULTAN OF SWAT
Butch orange and white full of life and playing up like a two year old. Great head type with good stop and typical skull, strong powerful neck, well ribbed with more than enough angulation behind, Keeps a sharp outline and moves true and with power, in great shape. Best Veteran Dog
2. CH SOLIVIA’S ALPHA AQUARIL
High quality liver made the best of by his very young handler who did a super job. Tends to tremble behind but has excellent head type, is well boned, has excellent rib and good overall balance. Holds his shape well and moved with some power.
3. CH PAWSUP CORALWOODS DIZZY DEAN
Black and white with a decent headpiece, softer in topline than 1 and 2 and shorter in upper arm and second thigh. In really excellent order, moves with style if a little exaggeratedly in front.
4. CH MALMASONS HI HO SILVER
Black and white with not the shape or outline of those above. Powerful mover, outline not helped by his rather gay tail carriage.
 
VETERAN DOG 9-11
1. CH POINT OF NO RETURN WILLOW WIND
Orange and white with really fabulous head and forehand and so balanced all through, fit and hard and well muscled yet still keeps his body shape well. Did just about enough with his tail and he doesn’t quite have the rear angulation of the younger dog but I just love his overall type.
2. CH BOOKSTOR JAMES BOND
Flashier black and white and the showman of the duo, but he doesn’t quite have the work in his head of 1 and is shorter in upper arm yet with more dramatic rear angulation. Excellent bone and feet, in great bloom and such a goer.
3. CH LILLIPUT MY DEAR WATSON
Orange and white, not the scope of 1 and 2 but excellent overall type and well balanced all through. Nicely proportioned and contoured head, just a little down on  his feet now.
4. CH KINNIKE HANNIBAL
Typey orange and white, good head type, a little throaty now and rather lacking angulation front and back.
 
VETERAN DOG 11+
1.  CH TAHARI’S SERIOUS ALIBI
Black and white with a little too much skirting but truly fabulous head and eye, excellent neck, strong bone and he moves with great power and scope for his age, lashing his tail. Not quite the croup of the younger dog but in great shape for his age.
2. CH CORALWOODS MAJOR LEAGUER
Not quite the intense head appeal of 1, softer in backline and gayer in tail carriage but he is a flashy mover and again looks great for his years.
3. CH HYER LUVS GARTH BROOKS
Black and white with not the scope of 1 and 2, good basic shape and balance, pleasing head type, rather loose in front.
4. CH KINNIKE TWOTIMER FOR ALYDAR
Liver and white with rather different head type and he tends to tense up in topline a little which spoils the overall picture. Well boned, ribbed and bodied, good feet for his age.
 
VETERAN BITCH 7-9
1. KINNIKE STEWART
Orange and white, well balanced and with flowing lines. Good head type, impressive forehand, curvy outline, moves freely if a little exaggeratedly.
2. CH KINGSCROFT FRENCH VANILLA
Orange and white, tends to stack up a little bum-high but she drops into herself when moving. Not quite as much work in her head as 1 but she goes true, has a look of quality and is feminine all through.
3. CH CORWYNS CEZANNE
Orange and white, very scopey but she is rather narrow in foreface and a little shaky on her forefeet. Excellent angles front and back.
4. CH BOOKSTOR LA TRAVIATA SUNSET
Orange and white who standing looked the stunning clear winner and screamed “Crookrise” at me (now I know why!). Beautiful eye, clean flowing lines, movement is spectacular but completely hackney.
 
VETERAN BITCH 9-11
1. CH CORALWOOD TROON’S SPECTACULAR PLAY
Orange and white in fabulous shape with the most marvellous outline and curves. Beautifully balanced all through, she has immense scope and freedom on the move (when she had abandoned the idea of reaching across her handler for bait) and was as fit as a flea without an ounce of fat on her. Her head needs more stop and a little extra width between the eyes, but the overall picture was there in spades. Best Veteran Bitch, Best Veteran and AOM.
2. CH ONCORE CORALWOODS HOME RUN
More substantial and heavier built orange and white, excellent head type but not the underline of 1 or her energy going around. Still excellent basic shape.
3. CH ONCORE CORALWOOD IMPACT OF GALWAY
Black and white littermate to 2, same lovely head type but she isn’t quite as well let down behind and so loses a little line. However she really coordinates well on the move and puts her feet down so accurately.
4. CH CORWYNS ONE AND ONLY
Mottled black and white, heavier in shoulder but good quality bone and feet and a pleasing head. Tends to chuck her front about badly.
 
VETERAN BITCH 11+
1. CH CORALWOODS AMERICAN PASTIME. 2. CH TAUNTON BAY IN THE SPOTLIGHT. 3. BLACKTHORNE REMINGTON ISIS. Three black and white bitches with little separating them although all essentially different, so the final order was determined by deportment and movement on the night.
 
BEST OF BREED
This was one of the most memorable highs of my entire judging career, and as the Specials, Winners and Non-Regular Class Dogs filled the ring I could feel the hair on my back stand on end. There was no shortage of quality or type, notably in the bitches where I truly had an embarrassment of riches. As I glanced down the line up it was hard to fight back a wide grin, and then my eyes fell on a lightly marked orange bitch standing in my right hand corner on the end of a long, loose leash, and my heart missed a beat. From there on in I couldn’t wait to get down to this bitch, praying that her bite was perfect and she didn’t fall apart on the move. She didn’t, and as soon as I got on top of her I melted. Here we had a classic Pointer bitch head that satisfies every Pointer breed standard in existence, utterly typical yet free of the exaggerations that sometimes damn otherwise outstanding animals of whatever particular type they happen to be. Behind the head, hands simply glide over her curvy body, detecting shoulders that are barely perceptible, perfect length of upper arm, quality bone, ample rib, supple loin and hindquarters that illustrate exactly how this breed should be angulated. Stand back and the overall aura of balance, moderation and intense quality is merely accentuated by her bloom. This is not the easiest of breeds to keep their skin and coat in tip top shape but this bitch just gleamed and sparkled with health and vitality. On the move she coordinates with that first step and simply eats up the ground, freely, accurately and with a lightness of foot that is truly inspirational. Up, down and around the picture is true and scopey, powerful and yet classy. And finally there is that magical ingredient – charisma. She has it in bucketloads and she knows it. She has a serenity about her that all the great ones have – because they know that they will never be noticed just because of one outstanding feature, but because of their overall excellence which draws observers to the whole picture rather than one particular characteristic.
            Her handler is no slouch. He was clever enough to have studied my judging on the previous day (when he handled Best Puppy with what turns out to be this bitch’s half sister) and knew what buttons to press. He didn’t need telling to engage a long, loose leash – he was ahead of me and did it ever pay off!
            Making sweeping statements can be dangerous and sometimes come back to haunt us, but what the hell … in my opinion this is the best Pointer I have ever seen anywhere.  A rash statement maybe, but at 21 months it is all ahead of her and I don’t think I will be proved wrong. Discovering something like this is what makes me want to judge dogs .... it’s as simple as that. Her name – Ch Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry.
            Best Opposite was not as easy, and several dogs were in contention but eventually on basic type and positive movement I opted for Ch Coralwood Oncore The Natural, again an orange and white who had caught my eye on his first go-around as he has great power and a very rhythmic gait. His head type fitted in well with all the glorious orange bitches I was using and again he is very moderately angulated so does not have that dramatic sweep from hip to hock that many find so dazzling but in reality merely produces rather uneconomic movement. He was fit and hard, and no matter how many times he had to get around the ring, he was up for it and firing on all cylinders.
            Apart from the listed AOM winners there were two that warrant special mention. The male, Ace High of Interblue, is such an interesting prospect for the future and at just 17 months of age he needs resting and working on to body him up. However there is so much potential in this young male. He has a beautiful head and expression, deep-stopped, nicely browed, well chiselled and although overtly male it oozes quality. If you study his frame he has excellent construction with superb angulation front and back, an elegant neck and very curvy lines, but he is thin and rakish, looks like a young colt – and behaves like one! He is self-willed, confident and extrovert, and he fights his talented young handler from time to time, but when he settled his footfall was accurate and his profile gait exhibited such a lightness of foot and effortless drive that you almost don’t notice his lack of maturity in body. When his frame is fleshed out and he gets his serious head on, this is a dog that has the potential to go to the very top.
            Finally there was the bitch, yet another orange, Ch Soundnes Vilma V Dobes Den, and she so fitted in with my Breed and Winners bitches as regards type, balance and shape. She has a beautifully detailed head and her neck flows cleanly into her shoulders. Stacked she doesn’t have the let-down in rear of the BOB but on the move she is true and steady and has ample scope. On the day her coat could have been in better condition, but she has so much breed type and quality that she had to be well up the line.
 
STUD DOG
1. CH MALMASONS HI HO SILVER 2. CH ALYDARS DAY TRIPPER 3. CH CORALWOODS GREAT AM BALLPARK 4. CH CREEKSYDES BEE OUTRAGEOUS
 
BROOD BITCH
1.  CH CORALWOOD ONCORE AHEAD IN THE COUNT 2. CH ALYDAR CAN’T BUY ME LOVE 3. CH PAMELOT’S EASY DOES IT 4. CH CORWYN’S CEZANNE
 
Both these classes were judged on the basis that valuable stud dogs and brood bitches can consistently produce better than themselves. That, and the level of consistency in the get was what decided the placings.
 
ANDREW H. BRACE