Show Type: Championship
Venue: The Racecourse, Wetherby LS22 5EJ
Judge: Mr Bob Wright (Totherend)
Entries: 118 dogs making 130 entries
My thanks to the Driffield Championship Show Committee for the opportunity to go over a quality entry and a real thank you to the exhibitors for entering and coping with the unusual arrangements.
I know many expect to see a line up all of a type but you can only put up what is entered and you can’t deny a quality dog that is within the standard over a poorer exhibit of a type you personally prefer.
After the show I was re-introduced light heartedly (I hope) to a dog described by the exhibitor as “the one I didn’t like”, which I suspect is the interpretation many exhibitors of beaten dogs have. As a general rule I believe it’s much more likely that a beaten dog is in fact a liked dog but that on the day there may have been others that were liked more!
Over the years there have been many different concerns about where the breed is heading but I’m pleased to say that some of these look to have been put to bed. I saw lots of good mouths with big strong teeth and only two level bites. Loose thick pelts were a plenty and I’m delighted to see the return of good full coats shown with pride. There were no kinked tails but a good carrot tail is now as rare has hens teeth with flag poles more the norm.
Some puppies are coming in large and leggy and many entries were borderline for spanning. Close rear movement and loose fronts were a blight on some otherwise good dogs.
However, with the exception of a couple of classes, most exhibits were of real quality and I’m sure many exhibitors were left wondering why they never got placed. The answer is that you probably deserved one but I only had 5 to give and in some cases the 5th could equally well have been first. Limit bitch was absolutely full of quality and in Open bitch they were all well worthy of a CC with little to choose between them.
So overall I’m pleased with our efforts to produce quality exhibits but ditch the flag poles and enjoy the champions that you all take home.
Best Of Breed: Comberdown Likely Lad
RDCC: Sui CH, CH Awbrooksky Never Back Down JW WW23
RBCC: Ir CH Nottorg Nekesa CW24
Best Puppy: Ebffiniau Cupid's Arrow
Best Veteran: Chorbeck Chatty Man JW ShCM
Special Beginners in Breed: Carrickfarm Myra
Entries: 3 Absentees: 0
1st - Haystoun Perfect Storm (Miss A Dawson & Miss A Speake)
Grizzle dog with a strong head, dark eye, big teeth with a correct bite, level topline, tail carried well and set on nicely, easy span, thick pelt and good double coat, good angulation, neat feet. BSBD
2nd - Bluebabel Your Song (Mr K P & Mrs N B Yates)
Close call with 1, shorter coupled with a little less rear angulation but plenty of really good harsh coat, level topline, well set tail and neat feet.
3rd - Achouffe Fens Stalker (Miss L J Hammersley)
Entries: 4 Absentees: 0
1st - Chorbeck Chatty Man JW ShCM (Mrs H Haughton)
This is the take home dog for me. Just can’t resist him. Despite his 10 years and the merest hint of middle age spread he still has it all. Well balanced with a strong head, keen expression, dark eye, big teeth, scissor bite, small ears, straight front, level topline into thick carrot tail, spannable, plenty of pelt and harsh double coat, well muscled, good angulation, neat feet and moved out well. BVD BV
2nd - Mysulan Going Solo JW VW (Mrs S J Baxter)
Up against it today but challenged well with a strong head, big teeth, dark eye, typical B&T harsh coat, loose pelt, narrow and well presented as always with this kennel.
3rd - Cedarhill Dish Of The Day For Dexlin (Mr B & Mrs L P Inness)
Res - Borderstream Zodiak (Mr & Mrs S Ward)
Entries: 5 Absentees: 0
1st - Ebffiniau Cupid's Arrow (Ms E Brinkley)
Early days but one to watch. Well balanced and not exaggerated in any way, lively as a puppy should be but moved well when settled, good head and bite with big teeth, loose pelt and harsh double coat, level topline into a well set carrot tail. BPD BP
2nd - Olliesorchids Hendrix at Ragatam (Miss T Peacock)
Rangey and already a good size, can ill afford to grow on, straight front, narrow but substantial with a great coat and pelt, strong head, dark eye, lively, preferred movement of 1.
3rd - Chorbeck All That Jazz (Mrs H Haughton)
Res - Whittonglebe Spylaw Scout (Mr G & Mrs J Mackenzie)
VHC - Bluebabel Your Song (Mr K P & Mrs N B Yates)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 2
1st - Alcumlow Penderyn (Mr R G Thomas)
Animated and happy, nice expression, good teeth and bite, small ears, straight front, narrow throughout, ribbed well back, good B&T coat with plenty of ticking, well angulated, moved out OK.
2nd - Chorbeck All That Jazz (Mrs H Haughton)
Full of fun with a good head and keen expression, big teeth, pelt and coat OK, narrow build, preferred movement of 1.
3rd - Otterbobs Beazon (Mr J R & Mrs H Gilpin)
Res - Earthwise Phantom (Mr E Houston)
Entries: 4 Absentees: 0
1st - Alcumlow Single Malt (Mr D & Mrs C Payne)
strong head, good dentition, keen expression, good reach of neck, plenty of pelt, coat OK, ribbed well back, narrow and spannable, moved with drive.
2nd - Ceilloch Discovery (Lord R McMurdo & Ms G Tierney)
Well balanced B&T, good coat and pelt, well constructed and moved out well on neat feet.
3rd - Esyntona Joeseph (Mr I Hopper)
Res - Earthwise Phantom (Mr E Houston)
Entries: 10 Absentees: 1
1st - Staynorwood Nightcap (Mr G & Mrs C Richardson)
Understated G&T with no exaggeration, well balanced, nice size, good head and dentition with dark eye, keen expression and small ears, narrow throughout with easy span, loose pelt, double coat, nice lines into well set carrot tail, good angulation, well muscled, moved out well, just needs a little more animation.
2nd - Jordith Roll Up And Shine JW (Mrs L.M.I & Mr A.M. Jordan-Smith)
Preferred the head and size of 1and a little stuffy in neck but teeth, eyes, topline, tail, and angulation all good, moved ok on very neat feet.
3rd - Ravenside Play The Game Kersfell JW (Mrs M Sneddon)
Res - Whittonglebe Poacher (Mr G & Mrs J Mackenzie)
VHC - Haystoun Kicking Up A Storm (Mr G & Mrs H Mckenzie)
Entries: 16 Absentees: 4
1st - Chesterton Viva Las Vegas (Mr A J & Mrs W Mooney)
Nice size, well balanced G&T, otter head, good dentition, strong neck, lovely straight front, level topline into carrot tail, ribs well back, thick pelt, harsh double coat, well muscled, neat feet, needed to move out well to win this class and he did.
2nd - Goxfell Gotcha (Mrs J Stamp & Mr D Joyce)
Close run to 1, well balanced G&T very easy on the eye, strong head and jaw, shallow stop, dark eye, good reach of neck into a lovely lay of shoulder, narrow straight front, a level topline and correct tailset, thick pelt, harsh coat, well angulated front and rear, covered the ring with ease.
3rd - Ravenside Rasputin (Mr M Lowry)
Res - Ebffiniau Whiskey In The Jar (Miss E Brinkley)
VHC - Beaconpike Caelus (Mr S & Mrs K Golding)
Entries: 8 Absentees: 0
1st - Comberdown Likely Lad (Mr I & Mrs A Higham)
In his prime, fit and well muscled, balanced and well constructed with a good shape of head, big teeth, correct bite, dark of eye, neat ears, good reach of neck, straight front and narrow throughout, easy span, ribs well back, lovely topline to well set tail, loose pelt and shown in full coat as it should be, moved out smoothly with plenty of drive on neat feet, long overdue award. DCC BOB
2nd - Sui CH, CH Awbrooksky Never Back Down JW WW23 (Mr R & Miss L Goddard)
Well presented and handled as always, challenged hard with much the same attributes as 1 but it was his day and so just edged it. RDCC
3rd - CH Yorkpiece Fiery Lucifer (Mrs J L Lee)
Res - CH Otterbobs Tolson (Mr J R & Mrs H Gilpin)
VHC - CH Cobstoneway Stand By Me JW (Mrs G Stevens)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 1
1st - Carrickfarm Myra (Mrs M Armstrong)
petite, feminine but well balanced with big teeth, plenty of pelt, harsh coat, nice topline and tail, moved well for a puppy. BSBB BSB
2nd - Badgerbeck Little Jeannie At Bluebabel (Mr K P & Mrs N B Yeates)
balanced bitch, feminine head, keen expression, good head, muzzle & coat, nice lines, good angulation, just preferred movement on 1.
3rd - Morley's Miss Zeva (Miss A Dawson & Miss A Speake)
Res - Pipruda Pink Gin (Mr H S & Miss A Speake)
VHC - Chorbeck Queen Of Jazz With Foxwater (Mrs J Spence)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 3
1st - Marsirdan Jemima Puddle (Mr M Service)
Well presented, showing no signs of age and a joy to look at, not in full coat but well on the way, pleasing head and expression with shallow stop, good dentition, narrow with lovely lines throughout, straight front, well angulated rear
2nd - Alcumlow Portobello Road (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber)
Lively G&T, easily spanned and narrow throughout (the hallmark of this kennel) harsh coat, plenty of pelt, good confirmation, moved OK, just preferred head of 1.
3rd - CH Ravenside Marsha At Jordith JW (Mrs L.M.I & Mr A.M. Jordan-Smith)
Entries: 6 Absentees: 1
1st - Ravenside Billow And Breeze Of Redesholt (Mrs S McKay)
good size, head & expression, scissor bite, straight front, level top line to nice well set tail, strode out well on neat feet but would have liked a little more length of body and rear angulation.
2nd - Ravenside Sing Me A Song For Borderxpress (Mr R Wright)
Well handled and presented, her lines were kinder on the eye than her sister (placed 1) with similar attributes, but preferred the movement of 1.
3rd - Ravenside Ramona At Borderrush (Miss A J Hall)
Res - Chorbeck Queen Of Jazz With Foxwater (Mrs J Spence)
VHC - Chorbeck Jazz Blues (Mrs A Peake)
Entries: 8 Absentees: 1
1st - Normbar Fancy Nancy (Mrs N Ellis)
Feminine head, dark eye, keen expression, good dentition, narrow throughout, ribs well back, level top line to well set tail, good all round conformation, loose pelt, full double coat, movement ok but should firm up with time.
2nd - Alcumlow Sip And Swirl (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber)
B&T with otter head, big teeth, keen expression, straight front, narrow throughout, easy span, well constructed front and back, thick pelt, harsh double coat, strode out well, just preferred head of 1.
3rd - Craigshield Nutmeg (Mr J Tulloch)
Res - Ranthorn Return Favour For Cobstoneway (Mrs G Stevens)
VHC - Borderrush The Last Sprout (Miss A J Hall)
Entries: 7 Absentees: 2
1st - Mysulan Byards Lass (Mrs S J Baxter)
Being from this kennel this feminine bitch had to be well turned out and shown to her best, typical head and expression, narrow throughout, good front, ribs well back, level topline with well set carrot tail, well angulated, moved out well on neat feet.
2nd - Flegato Fons Amoris (Mrs M Fleming)
Lively G&T, nice size, keen expression, good dentition, pelt & coat ok, nice reach of neck,top line and tail set, good bend of stifle, moved ok, just preferred body length of 1.
3rd - Botterox Astri (Miss S L Hillman)
Res - Comalegy Lady Of The House With Fiadhaich (Miss A A Lawrence & Miss M Scrimgeour)
VHC - Jordith Serenella (Mrs L.M. & Mr A.M. Jordan-Smith)
Entries: 15 Absentees: 2
1st - Wreakevalley Flighty Miss (Mr P and Mrs K Oakman)
Built on feminine lines, nice head with shallow stop, dark eye, scissor bite, neat ears, good front, pleased she was shown in full coat, easy span, level topline to carrot tail, ribs well back, well muscled, moved soundly on neat feet.
2nd - Irton Firestorm (Mr D & Mrs A Fryer)
Typical of this kennel, built and clothed for the harsh Cumbrian environment, lovely otter head, dark eye, keen expression, big teeth, scissor bite, thick pelt and heavy in coat disguising good construction with a nice topline to carrot tail, plenty of substance, just preferred movement of 1
3rd - Earthwise Andromeda (Mr E Houston)
Res - Howthwaite Merrily To Smalesmouth (Mrs J Roberts)
VHC - Carrickfarm Myra (Mrs M Armstrong)
Entries: 15 Absentees: 0
A comment from outside the ring of “good luck sorting that lot out” said it all. A class full of quality.
1st - Howthwaite Gertrude (Mr P Oakman)
Nice size and balance, feminine head but retaining strength, dark eye, narrow with a straight front, well laid back shoulders, level topline to carrot tail, good angulation both front and rear, well muscled, would have liked a little more length of rib but moved out well on neat feet.
2nd - Staynorwood Ramona (Mr G & Mrs C Richardson)
Close call, matched the attributes of 1 but just lost out on front movement.
3rd - Earthwise Andromeda (Mr E Houston)
Res - Picer Mirabel Ostler (Mr G & Mrs S Pickering)
VHC - Chorbeck Blue Velvet (Mrs H Haughton)
Entries: 10 Absentees: 5
What a great line up of talent and all worthy of a CC.
1st - CH Remony Rose Gold JW (Mrs A E Gregory)
In the end having been an admirer for so long it had to be this lovely allrounder. Got the lot but here goes: First strikes you with such pleasing balanced lines, strong jaw and otter head, big teeth with correct bite, shallow stop, dark eye, keen expression, well placed ears, nice reach of neck into good shoulders and straight front, narrow, easy span, nice underline, level topline into well set carrot tail, ribs well back, pliable pelt, harsh double coat, good bone, well angulated front and back, racy and well muscled, neat well-padded paws, moved smoothly with drive, showed like a trooper and would have been BOB on any other day. BCC
2nd - Ir CH Nottorg Nekesa CW24 (Mrs A Taylor)
still holds to my critique of 2023: seriously underrated handy sized red grizzle bitch, short muzzled strong head with plenty of substance, great stop, big teeth with scissor bite, good length of neck to level topline and short thick tail well set, full harsh coat hiding a good length of flat rib, well muscled hind quarters with good angulation and neat feet, moved smoothly out and back, well deserved RBCC
3rd - CH Alcumlow Monet's Garden (Mr P, Mrs B & Miss R Barber)
Res - CH Haystoun Cosmic Dancer At Paleside (Mr D & Mrs D Mitchell)
VHC - Comberdown Witch's Promise (Mr I & Mrs A Higham)