SHOW CRITIQUES
BIRMINGHAM AFGHAN HOUND CLUB CH Show
18-11-2006
|
Best Of Breed- Ch IR CH
Metewand Calulo At Birkhall |
Judge Mrs Lesley Busby
Dogs
I enjoyed my day judging at the BAHC and would like to thank the Society for making my day so pleasurable, and to thank exhibitors for bringing their dogs under me. All were well presented, and my hands were as clean at the end of the day as they were at the start.
I have, however, several comments that I would like to make.
The number of correct shoulders that I came across during the day could be counted in single figures. What an appalling state of affairs. Our standard calls for well laid back shoulders, long and sloping, or has the standard changed? With a few notable exceptions, the front assemblies on the youngsters were incorrect, and in the later classes, some dogs that have done a great deal of winning had no lay back of shoulder at all. How could this have happened? Is this very important part of the Afghan’s anatomy being ignored? It seems that certain attributes, such as ‘attitude’ must be there at all costs, so why does not the same apply to correct shoulders? And where has the low set on tail gone? Again, a correctly set on tail is becoming a rarity, especially in the younger classes – some had tails that were bouncing on their backs as they moved! Its all righting trotting out the old adage that the standard requires a style of high order, but it also requires a well laid back shoulder, and a low set on ring tail! So, are we to ignore these glaring divergences from our standard as long as the Afghan has ‘attitude’?
My co-judge and I decided to call on the services of the referee at the end of the day, as she was the breeder of my BD and RBD!
Minor Puppy Dog (6)
1. Lancashire’s Drishaun Ask Me No Questions – Promising dark brindle baby, nicely made throughout. Balanced, with no exaggerations and looking how a puppy of this age should look. Well constructed front, good length to ribcage and correctly set on tail. Co-ordinated movement for his age.
2. Woodward’s Aramaic Shout To The Top – Flashy black & silver baby with a lovely head and super shaped dark eye. Nice overall shape, with good return of upper arm, low hocks and ring tail.
3. Sanderson & Saywood’s Gezancol Done And Dusted
Puppy Dog (11)
Litter brothers took the first 4 places in this class and what lovely puppies they are. Their breeder must feel very proud of them. Headed by
1. Moore’s Cloudside Warpaint, a beautiful silver brindle who was quite captivating, and who went on to BPIS. Very similar to his brother, 2.Gibbs and Freer’s Cloudside Warboys at Montravia, a darker brindle, but first is a little rangier. Both moved exceptionally well and are very well made throughout with correct fronts, with balanced rears, low hocks, level toplines and correctly set on tails.
3. Webster’s Cloudside Warstrike
Veteran Dog (5)
1. Hitch’s Ch Sparkling Soda Of Zendushkas - This well known 10 year old blue dog is still moving out well and enjoying his day. An outstanding hound, balanced throughout, in good condition and lovely coat. A credit to his owners.
2. Thompson & Twentyman’s Bondor Back With A Vengeance ShCM – Gold dog of 9 years. Lovely head and eye, finished off with a beard. Of lovely type, I liked the overall picture of him on the stack and he carried his tail at the right angle. Balanced co-ordinated movement.
3. Gray’s Aramaic Errol Flynn
Junior Dog (10)
1. Bettany & Daly’s – Metewand Molepolole – Self masked cream dog whose sound co-ordinated movement won him this class. In good muscular condition, and with no exaggerations, he uses his many attributes to advantage when on the move. Strongly made throughout with balanced angulation fore and aft. and low hocks.
2. Williams’ Freecloud Arion With Dominguez – There is a lot to like about this self masked grizzle. Most attractive head with well shaped eye and chiselled muzzle. Nice overall shape with a good front, sweeping quarters and low hocks, culminating in a free flowing and stylish movement. Had he had a lower tail carriage, he would have done much better on the day.
3. Beckett & Hopkinson’s Damosil Seed Of Phinjani
Yearling Dog (6)
1. Damosil Seed Of Phinjani – Dark masked gold with stunning head and eye. Looked lovely on the stack, with a deep chest and level topline and well set on tail. Would like to have seen him move out more –perhaps he felt uncertain on the mats.
2. Ferguson & Watsons’ Birkhall Enigma – Rangy dark brindle, very playful on the move so it was difficult to assess his movement. I admired his head, finished off with a beard and a lovely eye shape. A strong level topline and low hocks completed the picture.
3. Clack’s Mahadi Bandito From Majikind (Imp)
Maiden Dog (5)
1. Bastow’s Cloudside Warlord At Karandikar – Black and brindle puppy who was 4th in Puppy behind 3 of his brothers. A well-coated baby for his age and you tend to expect more maturity under his coat at first glance. He is however just 9 months old, and feels just like a puppy of that age should do. I liked his head and his well-shaped dark eye and he is in good body with a deep chest for his age.
2. Williams’ Freecloud Arion With Dominguez
3. –
Novice Dog (9)
1. Williams’ Freecloud Arion With Dominguez
Graduate Dog (11)
1. Dodd’s Birkhall Kyle – I was impressed with this dog - I do not recall seeing him before. He has a lovely head and eye and has a balanced outline with a correct front assembly and corresponding rear quarters. In good body and with low hocks and big feet. Moved out well.
2. Sawyer & Gillespie-Goss’ – Mashaalah Sabu – Rangy black and silver with exceptional movement. Masculine head finished off with a beard, long neck into well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm. In excellent condition with a strong level topline, big feet and correctly set on tail.
3. Bunney’s Firos Torran at Zadal JW
Post Graduate Dog (14)
1. Sawyer’s Mashaalah Dhoud – Quality black and silver in superb muscular condition and with gleaming coat. Lovely head and eye, long strong neck, smooth correctly laid shoulders and corresponding upper arm. Level topline, deep chest, and well ribbed back with strong loin. Correctly carried ring tail, sweeping quarters and big feet, well down on the ground. Moved extremely well with a controlled gait.
2. Lancashire’s – Drishaun Declan – Gold dog in lovely coat – put down to the last hair. A lovely dog to go over - he is in good body condition with a strong, level topline and has balanced angles fore and aft. He has an excellent head with good eye shape, and a strong proud neck. A correctly set on tail enhanced his outline.
3. Pratley’s – Mashaalah Farooq
Mid Limit Dog (7)
1. Edwards & Ohmke’s Metewand Kalamkari – Outstanding, self masked cream dog – masculine head with arrogant expression. A lovely shape on the stack with level top line, sound throughout with a strong neck, correct lay back of shoulder and good return of upper arm. Sweeping quarters and low well-angled hocks complete the picture. Comes into his own on the move, although a little playful at times, he exhibits balanced extension fore and aft, with spring and lift. A well deserved RCC.
2. Hunn’s Andizahn Arcturus JW – Cream brindle, rangier than first and from a very nice litter. Their breeder must feel very proud on their consistence in quality. Masculine head, strong neck, good front assembly, level topline and strong loin. Balanced outline with correctly set on loosely ringed tail. Impressive on the move with long raking strides that just tipped him above his brother, who was 3rd in this class.
3. Meakes/Morris/Meakes’ Andizahn Areal at Cadmore JW
Limit Dog (5)
1. Bollard/O’Callaghan’s Metewand Monhegan – Well, what you see is what you get with this houndy gold boy. A deep saddle and bare sloping pasterns, simply enhance his clean balanced outline. He has a handsome head with lovely eye shape, correct angles fore and aft, correctly set on ring tail and large feet. I really liked this dog, and having gone over him I was not surprised to see that he moved so well..
2. Greening’s Metewand Cabango ShCM – Self masked cream dog. His handler left the ring before I had written up on him but he was of lovely make and shape, soundly made throughout and moved enthusiastically with good ground coverage.
3. Green’s Sochera’s Merlot
Open Dog (6)
1. McDonald/Martyn/Hindley’s – Ch/Ir. Ch. Metewand Calulo at Birkhall – Most glorious shaded masked gold dog, that I loved from nose to tail. Superb head with chiselling and exotic expression, long neck, level topline with gleaming red saddle and good ribbing. A completely balanced profile with lovely coat pattern that enhances the picture. Just floated over the ground with long graceful, effortless strides. This quality dog did not put a foot wrong. CC & BIS.
2. Aspinall’s Tulak The Fugitive – Dark masked gold dog – another dog that I liked a lot. Masculine head with long neck into correctly laid shoulder. Good length and angle to upper arm, firm level topline, deep chest, well ribbed back, and strong loin. Correct fallaway and well set on ring tail. Strong bone and good feet. He was in a stubborn frame of mind on the day and although he had good ground coverage, he moved with little enthusiasm.
3. Hunn’s Bellapais Kimani Hrhashid
Lesley Busby (Judge)
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