SCOTTISH CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB
SATURDAY 21 OCTOBER 2019
MR ANDY VELLA (CINDERAIC)
Dog Judge.
We often support this friendly enjoyable show as exhibitors so it was an absolute pleasure to be in the centre of the ring on the clubs 60th anniversary show, thank you to the committee for the invitation, my stewards and all the exhibitors.
Having already read my co-judges very prompt critique, I have to concur with many of the comments in his preamble both positive and negative, furthermore, we as guardians of the breed, must not lose sight of the requirement for large, dark, round eyes. Not many had all three points therefore losing the warm melting expression that I believe is quintessential for the breed.
VETERAN DOG (5, 1ABS)
MINOR PUPPY DOG (2)
PUPPY DOG (3)
JUNIOR DOG (3)
YEARLING DOG (3)
MAIDEN DOG (2)
NOVICE DOG (3)
GRADUATE DOG (2)
POST GRADUATE DOG (5)
SPECIAL POST GRADUATE (WHOLECOLOUR) DOG (4)
SPECIAL POST GRADUATE (PARTICOLOUR) DOG (5)
LIMIT DOG (10, 3 Abs)
SPECIAL OPEN (WHOLECOLOUR) DOG (6)
SPECIAL OPEN (RESIDENT IN SCOTLAND) DOG (3, 1 Abs)
OPEN DOG (6, 1 Abs)
SCOTTISH KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB
19TH OCTOBER, 2019
IAN MILLAR
BITCH JUDGE
I WAS DELIGHTED TO BE ASKED TO JUDGE AT THE CLUB’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY CH. SHOW. THANK YOU TO THE OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE.
I HAVE JUDGED THE BREED FAIRLY REGULARLY SINCE THE EARLY 80s AND I LOOKED FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WOULD BE ON DISPLAY AT A BREED CLUB CH. SHOW. SADLY, THE ENTRY ACROSS THE SHOW WAS RATHER LOW, FURTHER DEPLETED BY THE FOUL WEATHER ON THE DAY, AND WHILE I HAD SOME VERY NICE DOGS TO EXAMINE, ALL OF THEM VERY WELL PRESENTED, I FOUND NO REAL DEPTH OF QUALITY ACROSS THE CLASSES. A FEW POINTS STRUCK ME. FIRSTLY, VIRTUALLY NO TRULY GAY TAILS. (HOORAY!) SECONDLY, (HIP, HIP, HOORAY!) I WAS VERY PLEASED TO DISCOVER THAT THERE WAS A PREDOMINANCE OF GOOD MOUTHS, NOT MY EXPERIENCE AT OPEN SHOWS. THIRDLY, (ANOTHER CHEER!) NO REALLY NERVOUS DOGS AND LOTS OF KISSES FOR THE JUDGE. THE SHALLOW STOP CALLED FOR BY THE STANDARD, HOWEVER, WAS A PRETTY RARE OCCURRENCE, SHORT-COUPLINGS WERE NOT THAT COMMON, ONLY A FEW EXHIBITS SHOWED ANY MUSCLE TONE AND MOVEMENT IN GENERAL WAS DISAPPOINTING, PARTICULARLY BEHIND. SOME DOGS HAD AN ALMOST CIRCULAR HIND ACTION AND ONLY A HANDFUL HAD “PLENTY OF DRIVE”. FORGIVE MY IMPERTINENCE AS AN OUTSIDER ON A FIRST CC APPOINTMENT BUT I THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT THAT I SHOULD MAKE SOME GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THIS ENTRY, NOT, NEEDLESS TO SAY, ON THE SHOW POPULATION AS A WHOLE. I AM INDEBTED TO MY HELPFUL STEWARDS, SEONAID AND TERRY.
BITCHES
VETERAN (3,1). 1. Scott’s LORPHIL LALIBERTIE. Almost 10 years old blenheim bitch, now a little stately but still characteristic in head and expression with large, dark eyes, well-set ears with good feathering and proportionate skull to muzzle ratios. Her overall construction is sound but she did not always hold her top-line although she is short-coupled and reasonably firm in loin. Overall, she is a moderate, typical bitch with decent angulation, she was in good, silky coat and she moved steadily, without exerting herself as befits her senior status. 2. White’s CAVALLINO BUTTONS. A slightly smaller, neat blenheim lady, just over 7. She has an attractive, feminine head, somewhat rounded in skull but still basically proportionate and with a sweet expression, enhanced by dark, round eyes and long ears. She is built on correct lines, stands on good feet and moved soundly, showing animation.
MINOR PUPPY (4,2). 1. Waddington’s SPINDLEPOINT MINNESOTA. A pretty ruby girl, very much a raw baby and a bit all over the place. I thought that she was typy, however, and very much where she should be at 8 months. She is not exaggerated, her fundamental structure is correct and while she danced around on the move, throwing her front a little, her hind action was firm and maturity will tighten things up. Has a sweet, balanced head with correct eyes, well-carried ears, albeit short of furnishings at this stage and was interested and alert. She was in gleaming condition with a lustrous coat of deep red. Just needs time. 2. Snoak’s CORALVALLEY DELIGHT. Another immature babe of just over 6 months. She is in a bigger mould and at this point, looks a fraction long-cast. Her head is also immature and still needs to break but in general, I thought her to be a very attractive blenheim lass. She held a level top-line, has good hind angulation, a moderate chest and correct feet. Still has a softness to her outlook despite her unfinished head proportions and I am sure she will continue to improve steadily. Full of herself which made it difficult to assess her movement but I detected no major issues.
PUPPY (4). 1. Fox-Shone’s PAMEDNA QUE SERA SERA. A very appealing b/t pup of 11 months. She was very enthusiastic which resulted in slightly erratic movement until she settled to the job but she is very well put together and time will sort out any little idiosyncrasies. Her head is very attractive, not entirely finished yet but still balanced, framed by long ears with lots of feathering and with well-placed, dark eyes and a gentle outlook. Her neck shows some arch, the shoulders are well-laid, the back level, she has sufficient angulation and her tail is correctly set. She was in good bloom with a long, rich, shining coat and I was pleased to make her BPB and later to see her go on to BPIS. 2. Gow’s LYNCRAEG BLACK PEARL. A slightly solid, stronger b/t bitch in a bigger mould and looking very mature at not yet 10 months. She was in the throes of a false pregnancy, so not entirely on form but her coat was in good order and although not quite together on the move to-day, she gave it her best shot. She looks a little long-cast at the moment but her basic construction is correct and she held a level top-line at all times. The head is characteristic with dark eyes, well-developed lips and long, well-set ears, giving a soft expression. 3. Waters and Bryson’s SWEETBRIAR SOPRANO.
JUNIOR (10,4). 1. Sansom’s BYERMOOR CURTAIN CALL. A very attractive, heavily-marked blenheim of 16 months. Her head is quite lovely, perhaps still a fraction round in skull but overall, it is so typical and the expression is completely soft and melting. Her ears are particularly pleasing with long leathers and plenty of silky feathering. She has decent shoulders, straight fore-limbs, moderate chest, a level back, adequate angulation and was fairly short-coupled. Her coat gleamed and she was attentive and co-operative with her handler, moving freely if a little uncollected as yet. When fully mature, I would expect her to be very difficult to overlook. In the final 4 bitches I considered for the ticket. 2. Ross’s OUZLEVELLES ANNABELLE. Pretty 13 months old blenheim bitch in a finer mould and a touch narrower in head than the winner but still very much in proportion and is another with a sweet, feminine expression. She was quite light in condition and still has a fair bit of maturing to do but she is reasonably well put together, holds a typical outline with a firm back and will continue to improve steadily and fill her frame. 3. McInally’s DALVRECK SHINE BRIGHT.
YEARLING (5,1) 1. O. ANNABELLE. 2. Hall’s PEAKDOWNS CILLA AT ROOTESSMA. VHC in Junior. A blenheim bitch who pulled herself together a bit more in this class and projected a better outline. She moved more positively here too but needs to tighten at the elbows. Overall, she is balanced with an attractive head, a little broader in muzzle but still characteristic and with a benign expression. At only 14 months, she has time on her side and will relax in to it all with experience. Carries a silky, shining coat. 3. Richardson’s KRINGLEHOLME MOSAIC.
MAIDEN (3,1) 1. Corner’s KELRICK BLACK VELVET BAND AT DELABY. A very happy tri bitch, Reserve in Junior and just a couple of days out of Puppy. Has a very attractive head, maybe a whisker fine in muzzle but overall the head is balanced and the expression is typically gentle. She has a good outline with enough angulation, stands on well-shaped feet and her tail is correctly set and carried. Was in shining coat. Just needs to get on with maturing and learning her trade. 2. Lee’s KELRICH PROMISES. 7 months old youngster who was Reserve in Puppy. Slightly longer-cast blenheim bitch, not in her best frock to-day and still uncollected on the move but has time ahead of her. In general terms, she is typical and feminine, with a sweet expression. Just at that awkward age.
NOVICE (2,1) 1. Gibb-Stuart’s OVER THE MOON DE LOS URSIDOS KODIAK (IMP). A very sweet little blenheim bitch with a pretty head and soft outlook. She was not entirely happy to-day and did not give it her all but she is typical and generally balanced. Her head is appealing with dark, round eyes and when she uses her ears, they frame a skull and muzzle in harmony. Her back is straight, she is short in loin and her bone is moderate and proportionate. Carries a long coat with lots of feathering. Front action was good but she went away from me rather close behind to-day.
GRADUATE (3,2) 1. Rogerson’s RABYMAR NANCY DREW. 22 months old b/t bitch. Had to look long and hard at her head since with her raven black coat and dark eyes under tan eyebrows, I initially thought her expression a little hard and frowning. Not so, although she does look at life intently! She is, in truth, sweet and mild in outlook with a balanced head, flattish skull, not too much stop and a shortish, tapering muzzle. Her chest is moderate, the elbows quite tight, the back level and her hind angulation adequate. In good coat and moving cleanly.
POST-GRADUATE (2) 1. Fox-Shone’s PAMEDNA ETERNITY. A blenheim who must not carry another ounce or her outline and action will suffer, particularly since she is in good coat and could easily look stuffy. I was drawn to her lovely head with dark, round eyes, good skull to muzzle ratio and beautiful fringed ears. Her construction is sound, the neck moderate with a slight arch, the shoulders well-laid and the loin short. She took a second or three to get in to her stride but then moved firmly and with precision, giving a better account of herself. A sweet and typical bitch in a small mould. 2. Richardson’s KRINGLEHOLME SERUNA. Another good-headed blenheim, if slightly stronger in muzzle. She retains a gentle expression, however, and is in no way masculine. Overall, she is typical and of good quality with the structural essentials and a characteristic profile. Not in full coat and not quite so firm in rear action to-day.
POST-GRADUATE (WHOLE COLOUR) (3) 1. White’s CARLENY NORTHERN LIGHT. A b/t lady in good nick. The lighting in the venue and the gloom outside made it difficult to evaluate eye colour at times and at first, I thought she was quite light in eye. This is not the case and her head and expression are entirely typical, with full ears setting everything off nicely. Her body proportions are good, she held a decent outline, showing a level back, firm loin and sufficient angulation and her coat was presented well. Showed with animation. 2.Loynd’s CRIMBLEDALE BETTY BOO. A b/t in very full coat and very firm in body, a combination which threatened her silhouette at times. She was very animated and enthusiastic on the move but appeared basically sound. The head is not untypical albeit a mite fine in muzzle and she has a kindly expression and long ears sporting plenty of feathering. Underlying structure has all the basic requirements and she stood on good feet. 3.Swan’s LAYGIB IT’S ONLY LOVE.
POST-GRADUATE (PARTI) (3) 1. Waters and Bryson’s SWEETBRIAR SORBET. A blenheim bitch who finally settled to show a typical profile, although side-on, she gave the impression of being a little narrow in the head, not the case when viewed head-on. Her expression is very winning with large, dark eyes, correct, well-furnished ears and well-developed lips. Her elbows were tight, the fore-limbs moderately boned, the chest not overdone, the back level and the hind angulation good. In excellent coat and moving steadily. 2. McCabe’s CAVILERA’S DAISY BOE. Thought this prettily headed, mature tri bitch was my winner to begin with. She is unexaggerated all through and presents a typical picture comprised of many characteristic breed features. She is perhaps just a tad long-cast, however, but her other qualities, not least her head, dark, round eyes and sweet expression offer compensation. She moved steadily but could have had a little more drive behind. 3.Scott’s TOSCAM MCKAYLA.
LIMIT (7,2) 1. Whitman and Tarabad’s KHATIBI AMBER LYNNE J.W. Not the first prize winner after an initial look round but this lively ruby lass grew on me by the second. As the class progressed, she projected herself more and more and it was hard to ignore her correct outline and balance and her honest breed type. Her head is very sweet, all of a piece with every component complimenting the others to ensure femininity and a soft expression. Her construction is excellent, perhaps a suspicion narrow between the front legs but I anticipate that she is not yet at her best and a few more months will see that minor detail remedied. She has good shoulders, a firm top-line, short-coupling, sufficient bend of stifle and well-shaped feet. In lovely bloom and moved firmly to take RCC and eventually RBIS under the main judge. 2. Hughes’ LORANKA’S BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS. My initial winner, this attractive tri bitch has a particularly sweet head and expression with lovely dark eyes and long pendulous ears and was in first-rate coat. She appeared just a fraction short on the leg, however and did not seem to hit her stride on the move, especially behind. She has a good overall assembly nonetheless, holds a level back-line at all times, has good angulation, correct feet and a well-carried tail. Quality bitch. 3.Gow’s GRAJENCO MACCHIATO AT LYNCRAEG.
SPECIAL OPEN (WHOLE COLOUR) (3) 1. Whitman and Tarabad’s DENHAM OVER THE MOON (IMP). B/T bitch, mother of the RCC winner. I was drawn to this eye-catching, mature lady in splendid coat and showing her head off. Her exuberance was such, however, that her front action was affected until she moved on a loose lead when she came back to me much more firmly and cleanly. She is soundly constructed, holds a pleasing outline at all times and her tail never stopped. Her head is very appealing, possibly a touch strong in skull but very balanced and with large, round eyes and glorious ears, ensuring a characteristic expression. A good bitch who was in my final cut of 4. 2. Linton’s THEKOPS CINDERELLA. Reserve in Yearling. Another showy b/t who presented a pleasing overall picture with a gentle expression, good outline and in reasonable coat. She is built on typical lines, holds herself well and showed with animation. Still quite immature but has time ahead of her. 3. L. IT’S ONLY LOVE.
SPECIAL OPEN (RESIDENT IN SCOTLAND) (2) 1. C. DAISY BOE. 2 L. IT’S ONLY LOVE. A ruby bitch not quite in the mood to-day although she moved fairly well. Her head is typical although there is a little wrinkling to the skull but her expression is characteristic, her outline typical and her coat in shining condition, if a little short of furnishings. A bitch who may well come together more on grass?
OPEN (5,1) 1. Sansom’s CH. BYERMOOR THE EMPRESS. Exquisitely headed blenheim bitch with a most endearing, melting expression which leaves you feeling breathless. She has large, dark, limpid eyes, perfectly symmetrical head markings, a skull and muzzle in complete harmony, well-developed lips and luxurious, long ears with full feathering. In profile, she is very satisfying although she can slacken off on occasion and over-stretch, when she can momentarily look a fraction long and low. Not the biggest, her under-pinning construction is first-rate, however, the back level, good rear angles, moderate bone and compact feet. In lovely coat and condition, she moved with purpose but needs to hit the right speed or she gets careless behind. Nevertheless, she was the star in to-day’s firmament and I thought her to be a bitch of the highest quality, straight out of the top drawer. CC and BIS. 2.Hughes’ LORANKA’S SO SCRUMPTIOUS. Appropriately named lady who has so much going for her. Perhaps not quite the softness of the winner’s expression but still a beautifully headed girl, very balanced in all departments and with a benign outlook. Her construction is good, although she let herself sag a touch behind the shoulders now and again at the end of a long, wet day when she could also stand ever so slightly cow-hocked but her front assembly is fundamentally correct and she holds her head on a neck showing the required slight arch. In lovely coat and moving briskly. Very pleasing bitch and I was happy to call her back to compete for RCC. 3. Ireland’s GLEBEHEATH JEZEBEL AT CHARNWELL.
IAN MILLAR
21st October, 2019.