The Royal Kennel Club Building, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire was the venue for today’s Championship Show,  organised and run by the Midland Irish Setter Society. With so many shows available to each breed and with breed entry numbers so low, the bare bones of it all, has got to be our unique breed standard and the number of puppies being produced, shown & judged and by whom. We will be competing against sustainability, the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level and what will become known as the new “norm” whatever that may mean or be. We have to ask ourselves, is it possible to maintain such standards with limited knowledge, experience and genes?

I thank the Committee of MISS for their hospitality and generosity in hosting an enjoyable day and thank the spectators and exhibitors for the appreciation and atmosphere felt. As an organisation or society, it isn’t an easy task these days, to anticipate an outcome, so well done MISS for the day, also to my Stewards Stephanie Woods and Lillie Peters for their support and efficiency all day, thank you.

From a breed perspective, the numbers were low, especially with only one sex to judge, it did allow for focus on the one gender, in its own right. My vision is and always has been, balance, refined with both quality & substance without coarseness. I felt my line up and also with some classes, my placings gave me this. However, as a general observation, I did feel heads appeared to be worthy in profile but then lacked on holding and looking at them face on. Refinement and that unique expression you get, when the eye, brow and expression talks to you with true Irish charisma was misplaced, hopefully not lost. On the whole, most of the dogs were in fine coat and finish, using the whole ring with ease, when requested to move. It is an expensive hobby, so every little bit counts in tough competition, a brush and some muscle can carry a dog a long way.

My main winners pleased me and not so dissimilar to each other, which can only be a good thing. When it came to BOB, it was very unfortunate that the Bitch CC winner had left her “in season” kennel mate at home, which in turn had my Dog CC winner on his toes, well his handler, if not the dog, who lost all hope of anything further, sad to say. Although I wasn’t against the bitch, she had a lot going for her, I just felt in comparison, the dog was better coupled and balanced and when focussed, moved with purpose over and above the bitch. I was therefore accepting of the Referee to award her choice for the bitch.  For Reserve Best in Show, my poor dog then further challenged by the RCC bitch, at the tail end of her season, so now flummoxed and perplexed, my dog’s owner/handler had to endure further pain in holding him back; well done David, for hanging on in there for RBIS. Naturally, the BIS Bitch took Best Veteran in Show and Best Puppy in Show, went to the bitch.

Baby Puppy Dog 1(0)

1^st Need’s, Covarney Mighty Quinn With Stourford BBP A young pup, full of character, preferring to stack flat on his side, on the floor. However, he did give a good shape doing so and he enjoyed himself being coy and or naughty in the process. I am sure his owner handler will have him in good order when the serious time comes for showing. He possesses a balanced head and  good body properties, bone and condition, with a nice steady pace when asked to move. 

Minor Puppy Dog 3(1)

1^st Poole’s Gwendariff Ring Aring Aroses (IKC) a raw young man, with plenty of time to mature and fill his frame as he develops. A tad too steady on the move, however, his raciness won him his class.

2^nd Hardy’s Cafotaliena Play With Fire, although more mature than his competition, he wasn’t quite as balanced throughout, not helped due to being slightly overly keen on the move, losing  his outline and tail carriage.

Puppy Dog 2(0)

1^st Neill & Ellrich’s Gwendariff The Nude Dude (IKC) BPD a well put together young dog, with good bone, feet and limbs, clean topline over firm body properties, in good coat and condition, giving a slightly over enthusiastic, but sound, pace on the move.

2^nd Hyslop’s Gwendariff Little White Lie (IKC) I liked the stamp of this pup, as with my winner. He has good attributes but currently not quite shown to his advantage, I am sure, in time, it will all fall into place for him. He gives just enough to carry him, but will need that little bit more, if he is to trouble the others.

Veteran Dog 4(1)

1^st Hemmings’ Sh.Ch. Orlanset A New Flame CC RBIS. Amazingly for me, a dog that has never been on my radar. Whenever he was shown, he was just there and I was very surprised how misread he has been for me, not to have caught my eye before today. He is a good size and stamp of a dog, all in proportion, neither flashy nor exaggerated, quite honest throughout, with everything in the right place. Handsome in head, balanced with a good eye and finish to foreface, giving me that desired expression, which many, I fear, lack these days. A dog with both depth of chest, well ribbed back and proportionate firm loin and quarters. Nothing heavy about him, yet masculine with good angulation to good boned limbs and feet, used to his advantage when asked to move. There is quality and depth of coat and my easy top award winner today and more good days ahead of him, I am sure.

As already mentioned, such a shame to have been distracted by canine femineity desire, as I did constructively feel him the better of the two specimens for BOB and not wanting to take it away from the bitch, I therefore accepted the Referee, along with my Co Judge, to make their choice.

2^nd Pym, Bott & Millighan-Bott’s Thendara Marshmello JW SHCEX OSW VW a worthy 2^nd place for this well put together masculine dog, full of strength and vigour.

3^rd Holehan-Green’s Loganrish Lets Go Crazy

Junior Dog 3(0)

1^st Foster’s Ixia Boy’s Don’t Cry At Shanoah. An attractive young dog, his type and qualities appealed. Refined head properties, still very much on the change and to develop, but correct for this age. Steady and straight on the move, with sufficient animation and influence.

2^nd Clarke’s Riverbrue Gives You Hell, very similar remarks as above, for this young male. He has everything in the right place and carries the qualities one desires and again, he wants time to develop and mature. Needs to steady on the move to give himself a more confident and animated profile.

3^rd Randle’s Rionore Bewitching Memory

Yearling Dog 6(0)

1^st Hemmings Orlanset Slave to Love, For me, my winner is still, a well-covered young dog in good coat and perhaps still in the frame of a junior, but this couldn’t deny him his win. An attractive head and expression, good bone and body properties. I noticed, looking at my catalogue after my judging, he is sired by my CC winner; as with his sire, this dog is unexaggerated and felt good to go over him.

2^nd Crocker & Frost’s Ronaldo Lofty At Riverbrue (Imp Pol) A taller more rangier male and quite different to the winner, possibly due to his rugged leanness and movement. An attractive dog, he catches your eye and everything seems to be in the correct place, he moves with gusto. I just feel slightly, that less would be more for me.

3^rd Mathews’ Gwendariff Stupid Cupid NAF

Maiden Dog 0(0)

Novice Dog 2(0)

1^st Mathews’ Gwendariff Stupid Cupid NAF a nicely presented and content young dog, both stacked and on the move, needs time to mature to make the best of himself.

2^nd Randle’s Rionore Bewitching Memory, a substantial young dog with type and interest, sadly not in top form or moving his best to have taken his classes.

Undergraduate Dog 3(0)

1^st Sheldon’s Bardonhill That’s All Right At Delsanto, good size and condition with a balanced head and throughout, he is clean and uncomplicated with a firm neck into shoulders and topline. He could improve his outline if slightly stacked out a tad further and had a little more animation on the move.

2^nd Randle’s Rionore Bewitching Memory

3^rd Harris’ Fairhaven Young Soul For Konakakela (Imp Swe) JW

Graduate Dog 3(0)

1^st Sheldon’s Bardonhill That’s All Right At Delsanto

2^nd Holehan-Green’s Loganrish Tiger Warrior JW. A slightly rangier different stamp of a dog to the winner and worthy of changing places on another day. Well presented and in firm condition.

3^rd Box’s It’s Now Or Never for Fernstart

Post Graduate Dog 9(1)

1^st Bentley’s Penclippin Jubilee Flame JW Three good males from a good class of differing males. This dog scored on his honesty and substance with good bone and cover. Impartial and clean throughout, but he does need to be pulled up and forward, keeping his nose down to firm him up throughout.  

2^nd Levene & Lewis Quensha Remember The Name Valasarch, another good dog and he does catch my eye. However, similar comments as the winner, he needs to be up and over with his head, as opposed to being pulled forward. He is well ribbed, deep and firm throughout, would prefer him slightly racier to finish.

3^rd Russell’s Tiroen Touch of Magic By Settesoli (Imp KCJ)

Mid Limit Dog 4(0)

1^st Lucas’ Gwendariff Bachelor Boy. A stylish, well bodied confident male, both stacked and on the move, with a good coat and finish, if not a tad cut up in loin. He is firm throughout and catches the eye.

2^nd Berry, Morris & Fitzmaurice’s Brinara Country Boy, I liked his type and honesty, nothing overrated. He has a kind balanced head and soft expression with clean lines. Although sound and steady, he needs to be more animated to improve his overall demeanour.

3^rd Cohen’s Lynwood Merry May King With Shushanna

Limit Dog 5(1)

1^st Kolbach’s Kerryfair Zoom In On Pawsword RCC. A dog very much the type and stamp I would like, however, what a nightmare he is for both his handler and myself today. I can resonate with her on how frustrating it is, to have an animal in your hands, who doesn’t stand for more than five seconds. A good balanced and expressive head, he has bone and muscle, nicely angulated for and aft when stacked or on the move, with a racy outline, albeit momentarily. Thank you for turning him when you did, as he nearly lost it for us both.

2^nd Bott’s Bardonhill Million To One. An imposing and masculine male with good substance, confirmation, coat and condition, he possesses both bone and sound movement.  

3^rd Green’s Loganrish Out On The Town JW

Open Dog 5(0)

A lovely class of well respected, mature males, all worthy title holders in their own right. Additionally, all could change places on another day. I always feel good, if you are challenged, when assessing a class of mature quality and equal contenders and I thank all their respective owner/handlers for the honour.

1^st Beresford’s Sh.Ch. Jetsetter Wind of Dreams (Imp Rus) A quality dog with both style and substance. For me, he has improved with age, good depth of chest and rib to firm loin, using himself, moved soundly. Although his head is typey and catches the eye, some definition would be desirable, however, this doesn’t deny him the class.

2^nd Neill & Ellrich’s Sh.Ch. & Ir. Sh.Ch.Gwendariff Sky Diver (IKC) This dog is well produced and has both good bone and substance, he is turned out to perfection and commands the attention both stacked and on the move. He has good body properties, with good angulations and bone, lovely clean, presented coat and finish. Compliments must go to his owner/groomer, as a few dogs today, were denied these basic principles and necessities for a showing hobby.

3^rd Mombaerts’ Int/Ger/Dutch Ch. Riverwood Very Much Wanted SHCM (ATCBA48329BEL)

Judge:             Peter Hall – Harreds