First Place in Junior - Bitch, 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 lovely grizzle and tan bitch was on top of her game and stood out for unexaggerated breed quality. She had a feminine head with keen expression, small, neat ears and short, strong muzzle. Her neck flowed into a straight front, with correct bone and small, neat feet. Narrow throughout, she was well angulated front and rear. She had a level topline, strong loin and well set carrot like tail, which she carried gaily. She was presented in a short, tight jacket with a thick, loose pelt. She moved straight with a good length of stride, and was very attentive to her handler, never stopping showing. I was pleased to award her the BCC, and understand that she will now gain her title. It is thoroughly well deserved. She was also my BJ, and I was delighted hear that she had been awarded TJG 1.