Midland Afghan Hound Ch Show
Sunday 24th May 2009
Judge : Dogs : Graham Parsell
We were blessed today with glorious weather and two spacious rings outside to
enable the 77 dogs and 64 bitches to make full use of the space available when
being moved by their handlers.
Not all exhibits were allowed to do this and some flagged in the heat during the later classes. Presentation, with a couple of exceptions was first class, and I thank all the exhibitors for their care and attention given to the preparation of their dogs. Some of the dogs in some of the classes could have moved up the line with a higher place, but their handlers sometimes did not get the best that I think some of the dogs were capable of.
Sometimes when judging, one has to deliver places according to the dogs present. In some classes, compromises had to be made. I thought the dogs today were of mixed quality and varied in type, meaning that some appealed and some did not.
MPD (5, 0)
1st Hitch’s Zendushkas Amaretto, black masked gold, with a balanced outline, moved out steadily, pleasing head and expression, well bent stifles, ring tail, won the class as the steadiest mover. Lost out for BPD only on maturity
2nd Woodward’s Turlodales Topsy Talby, black and cream with a pleasing outline, a little taller than the winner. Typey head and expression,
3rd Kirwan’s Zendushkas Viejo.
PD (3, 0)
1st Griffin’s Ashahni Ajmal at Lazakhan, black and cream with a good outline, excelled when moving round the ring which won him the class. Moved out steadily coming and going, typey outline finished with a ring tail, just my type.
2nd Smith’s Ashahni Aniq at Julam, litter brother to the winner and a close decision between these two. Lovely type with an excellent head. He was awkward moving round the ring but found new life and control in the later maiden dog class.
3rd Earnshaw’s Kabella Blue Moon Rising over Moodshadow.
1st Shaverna, Doudko & Rhodes Multi Ch / Ch Shadowfax Stepnoi Veter JW, a shaded masked crème of 7+ years with everything in the right place, sound mover in all directions and moved round the ring with drive and enthusiasm. Last time I judged this dog I called him ‘My find of the day’. That still applies. A credit to his breeder and handler and a very worthy champion.
2nd Niedzwiedz, Cork & Knight-Messenger’s Kharak Lord of the Isles, shaded masked gold of ten years in excellent condition, reachy neck, moved stylishly, finished with a ring tail.
3rd Cooper’s Afterglow After the Fire.
JD (8, 1)
1st Westgarth’s Cubanba Betelgeuse over Tamareesha, nicely balanced brindle of just the right size and proportions, good reach of neck and topped with a most attractive head and desirable expression with a keen dark eye. Firm body and fair spring of rib, ring tail. He won this class with a finely controlled gait.
2nd Young & West’s Pahlevi Ashby at Shirobana, black and crème with a profuse coat that initially spoils his outline. Hands on revealed that everything is in the right place and he has a houndy outline. Excelled in rear drive, and was sound coming and going. Later went on to win Novice and Undergraduate classes. A striking dog when he looses some of that coat later on.
3rd Metcalfe’s Pahlevi Abraxas.
YD (12, 1)
1st Edwards & Coton’s Agha Djaris World is Not Enough JW, a mid standard brindle of really attractive outline, good reach of neck with well laid and moulded shoulders, topped with a balanced, masculine but refined head, with excellent eye and expression. Firm top line and prominent hip bones leading to sloping fallaway. I loved his rock steady attitude and the way he stood over his ground, a great mover of style and with a springy gait. One of the contenders for the RCC.
2nd Middleton, Traversari & Greenwood’s, Altside Back to Black, black with in imposing outline, taller than the winner and a great reach of neck. Topped by a classy head with excellent fore face. In firm and sound body, athletic, springy on the move, a grand mover round the ring but carried his tail a bit to high today.
3rd Gill & Marshall’s Carre D’As du Menuel Galopin avec Miamarna.
MD (3, 1)
1st Smith’s Ashahni Aniq at Julam. A new handler brought a different result after the PD class.
2nd Rowall’s Aramaic Play to Win, black and crème, he was out moved in this class today.
ND (7, 0)
1st Young & West’s Pahlevi Ashby at Shirobana.
2nd Smith’s Ashahni Aniq at Julam.
UGD (3, 1)
1st Young & West’s Pahlevi Ashby at Shirobana.
2nd Bettany and Daly’s Cubanba Ri Na Realta, brindle at the lower end of the height standard, and with a pleasing balanced outline, topped his reachy neck with a balance head and a pleasing expression, gaited the ring well but not as collected coming and going as the winner.
3rd Keate’s Saxonmill Raeus.
GD (4, 1)
1st Traversari & Greenwood’s Altside Red Hot N’ Blu, a blue with a great neck and he stood over his ground well when stacked. Excellent body condition and presentation, springy gait on the move and super head carriage, When it came to the challenge he did not give us his all in the heat of the sun.
2nd Moore’s Cloudside Match Black, black and crème of excellent proportions, every thing was in the right place, well laid blended shoulders, level top line, reachy neck with attractive head and expression, ring tail, failed to excite on the move today.
3rd Fincham’s Youssef Al Daoud.
PGD (14, 1)
1st Sanderson & Saywood’s Gezancol Done and Dhusted at Nabilah JW, back masked gold that had no exaggerations and continued to draw my eyes to him. Compact balanced outline with a reachy neck topped by a refined masculine head. Level firm topline, excellent quarters with well bent stiles, good to go over and out moved them all to win the class and clinch the Res CC in the challenge.
2nd O’Donnell’s Javidan Dirty Little Secret, black upstanding dog with a pleasing head. Won his second place on the move, but not enough to beat the winner.
3rd Dodd’s Aramaic Take me I’m Yours.
MLD (5, 1)
1st Moore’s Cloudside Warpaint, brindle mid size dog with everything in the right place, just enough well presented coat which added to his appeal as he gaited the ring. No exaggerations and a good honest attractive hound. Won this class on the move with purposeful front extension and rear drive.
2nd Boydell’s Warrenoak What’s in a Name JW ShCM black and crème of pleasing shape and style. Good to go over with all the right characteristics. Moved soundly coming and going but not driving on the move as much as the winner. For me, just too much hair that initially can give the wrong impression until your hands tell you otherwise.
3rd Bastow’s Cloudside War Lord at Karandikar.
LD (11, 0)
1st Earnshaw’s Shadowfax Ciao Sabbioso JW ShCM, shaded masked crème of pleasing size and substance. Good reachy neck and masculine refined head, shaded forface, level top line, looked a picture standing and moving, Well presented and handled. Won this class with room to spare. Did the heat get to some of the dogs in this class? He was in contention for the Res CC.
2nd Day & Bartram’s Khorinyas Meteorite with Chardara, typey black and crème with a good body, ring tail, stood his ground well, and gave a purposeful display on the move. Well presented and handled.
3rd Meakes & Morris’s Andizhan Arael at Cadmore JW.
OD (10, 0)
1st Hall’s Ch Saxonmill Rum Tum Rio JW, Black and tan of superb outline, reachy neck, level top line, and excellent well bent stifles. He looked a stallion standing. Oozes quality and is difficult to fault. Excellent head shape and forface, dark eye with keen expression. On the move, he reached out in front and drove from behind, a smooth springy and collected gait. I had no hesitation in awarding him the class and later the CC in the challenge. In my view, this is the dog that breeders and exhibitors should all aspire to.
2nd Greecham’s Multi Ch Rashid Ebn Hugo von Haussman at Myhalston, black and crème quality dog of slightly smaller stature than the winner. Looked a picture standing and pulled out all the stops on the move. Each time he got more enthusiastic and went up the line. Sound coming and going, he excelled when gaiting the ring, carried his ring tail well. Loved his head and expression.
3rd Edward’s Ch Agha Djaris U Got the Look.