First Place in Open - Dog, Judge: Mrs Clare Sansom (Tarkaswell)
I would like to thank the officers and committee of the City of Birmingham Canine Association Championship Dog Show for the invitation to judge at this level for the first time.
With storm Lillian resulting in the abandonment of Driffield, the JBTC were also able to hold their show in an adjacent ring. Hall 3 at the Royal Kennel Club building was light, spacious and an ideal venue. A certain amount of flexibility was required when classes clashed, and I am very grateful to my experienced stewards Chris Woolner and Caroline Wise for their hard work. They were calm, efficient and kept the ring running smoothly. With their help we finished in time to ensure that all those who had won major awards could get to their groups.
My sincere thanks to all the exhibitors for giving me such a quality entry and accepting my decisions in a sporting manner. We had very few absentees and I often had difficult decisions to make. In several classes, I would have liked some additional prize cards to award.
Coats did have an influence on the results, with those presented at their best, in a harsh, dense double jacket with thick pelt, being rewarded. A few exhibits would have benefitted from having their feet tidied to have achieved a neater picture. I found two kinked tails, two with incorrect dentition and all male dogs were entire.
I was delighted with my principal winners, who all fulfilled my interpretation of the breed standard on the day. It was a privilege to judge such an entry, and the lovely atmosphere, with applause and cheers for the winners, made it extra special.
I thoroughly enjoyed my day.
This blue and tan dog was beautifully presented in a super jacket with a thick, loose pelt. He stood out for breed type and never stopped showing. He had a masculine otter like head with a keen expression, small, neat ears, short, strong muzzle with a correct scissor bite and large teeth. A good reach of neck flowed into a well laid shoulder and level topline which he maintained on the move. His carrot like tail was well set and carried correctly. He was narrow, with ribs that extended well back, a correct amount of bone and small, neat feet. Good rear angulation allowed him to move straight with purpose and drive. Active and game, he appeared ready to do a day’s work, and this help to confirm him as my winner today. I was pleased to award him the DCC, and see him repeat this result at the partnership breed club show. He was my BOB, and I was delighted to hear that he had been shortlisted in the group.