Working & Pastoral Breeds Association of Scotland – Championship Show (No CCs)

Saturday 5th December 2022

Thank you to the committee for their kind invitation to judge at this well organised show. I was extremely happy with my entry of 26. With the current cost of living crisis, I fully appreciate that travel and entry to dog shows are a non-essential expense and that several exhibitors had travelled 2- 3 hours to attend the show.

I am grateful and appreciative for this, so thank you all. Quality overall was excellent today, and exhibits presented in good, clean condition. The hall was busy and noisy, which unsettled a few. I was fully aware of this and tried to make allowances where I was able to so as not to cause unnecessary extra stress, particularly to the youngsters.

It was also nice to see a few exhibitors that I know are new to our breed. You did a good job in a difficult environment, and your handling of your dogs was calm and sympathetic, so I hope you continue to enjoy this great (and sociable) hobby.

Speaking of sociable, a final thank you for the lovely picnic and drinks that were laid on after the show by several of the exhibitors. A great end to a wonderful day, and lovely to chat to everyone after judging. Thank you all again for your support, I am sorry I was unable to stay to watch the groups due to my flight time home.

Puppy Dog (1,0) 1. Shorten’s Thistlewings Andromeda Almost 9 month old golden sable who is of good size, and very much in his excitable adolescent stage. He has a clean head, of good length and a nicely sized, dark eye and adequate underjaw. His ears could be tighter to improve his expression. Front and rear construction is OK, but on the move today I found his muscle control, particularly to the rear, to be a little lacking. Hopefully this will improve with age and further development. Sympathetically handled, and I will watch with interest to see how he matures.

Junior Dog (3,0) 1. Brodie’s Shanaburn Country Road 14 month shaded sable who has a soft, yet masculine expression. Nicely tipped ears, dark eye obliquely set, which could be a touch more almond shaped. Well filled foreface, which contributed to that soft expression. Good underjaw. Well proportioned body, with good length of back. Rear construction OK. A little unsettled on the move today, but overall picture and expression won the class for him today. 2. Welsh’s Thistlewing Smoky Quarts 15 month shaded sable, who is still sporting his summer wardrobe. Used his ears well, but I would prefer a little more perceptible stop and a more oblique eye set to give the expression I am looking for. That said, his coat hid nothing and he has a good muscular neck, good length of back and slight rise over the loin to a good length tail. He moved OK today, but foot placement was a little wide to the rear when moving away. 3. Shorten’s Thistlewings Andromeda

Post Graduate Dog (2,1) 1. Johnston’s Jopium Front Runner 22 month sable dog with a soft expression. Good underjaw and nicely sized dark eye. Nicely tipped ears, which could be a little tighter. Good depth of chest and spring of rib. Adequate length of back and good angulation to the rear. He had a bit of a tendency to tuck one of his back legs under when stood, which affected his topline and therefore overall shape when stood and viewed in profile. Moved OK, but his tail was a little ‘happy’.

Open Dog (5,0) 1. McCarte’s Roughrigg Rag 'n' Bone Man 3 year old shaded sable boy of outstanding quality and presented in immaculate condition. He has the softest masculine expression, beautifully filled foreface, and a pleasing size and set of eye. His ears are well placed and carried well when he is focused on his handler. Well laid back shoulder, good deep chest and well sprung ribs. Good rear construction and rear foot placement when stood. When viewed in profile, everything looks balanced and in proportion. On the move he is sound in all directions, covering the ring with ease. Extremely sound in temperament. It was my pleasure to award him Best Dog. Thank you for bringing him! 2. Watt’s Culbrae Red Again 5 year old golden sable carrying a neatly fitting jacket which was groomed to perfection. Clean wedge head and masculine expression. Used ears well, but would prefer them tighter set and would prefer a little more underjaw. However, did not detract from the overall picture for me. Good reach of neck, set off by a gleaming white collar. Good length of back to a well angulated rear. Moved very well, light on his feet and covered the ring with drive. Like my winner, was unphased by his surroundings in the noisy hall. I was pleased to be able to call him back to challenge for Reserve Best Dog, which I awarded him based on his overall type, expression and soundness. 3. Mill’s Lynmack Starman

Puppy Bitch (4,0) This was a real quality puppy bitch class. Some promising young ladies with successful show careers ahead of them I am sure. 1. Burrows’ Avonfair A Million Lovesong at Revdvicki 11 month old sable baby who really commanded my attention from the second she stepped in the ring. She has a beautiful, sweet, feminine expression. Lovely balanced head. For me, just the right eye size and placement and neat, tight ears which she used to her advantage. Well constructed front and rear, lovely length arched neck, good level topline and rise over the loin. Her movement was good in all directions, with excellent muscle control for her age. Clearly well schooled and at one with her handler. Presentation was faultless. She was a real contender for Reserve Best Bitch, pipped only by the maturity of her mother. It was my pleasure to award her Best Puppy Bitch and then Best Puppy in Breed. I was thrilled when Carole Smedley then informed me whilst waiting for my flight home that she went on to win Puppy Group 4 under Mr Albert White. 2. McCarte’s Roughrigg One of A Kind Almost 1 year old shaded sable, presented in the same immaculate condition as her kennel mate. Another quality bitch who has real appeal and with everything in proportion, giving balance when viewed in profile. Beautiful head and expression, good underjaw, well tipped ears. Good reach of neck, lovely level topline and well constructed front and rear. Moved well, but just a little keen for her tasty bait today, which made her slightly unsettled. Extremely unlucky to meet (1), and on another day these bitches could easily trade places. 3. Johnston’s Sea Dreamer's Gracy Love (Imp Nld) TAF

Junior Bitch (3,0) 1. Turner’s Santin Dream Du Clos Du Seawind NAF 11 month old golden sable who is ultra pretty. Clean head, good underjaw. Lovely eye size and set. Ears well used, but could have been a little more tipped today. Well off for bone, neat feet. Lovely reach of neck. Sound front construction and good angulation to the rear. Moved well. 2. Hobkirk’s Chantique Sugar Moon 16 month sable with nicely proportioned head. Well tipped ears used well. I preferred the eye set and shape of (1) but nonetheless I still found her expression pleasing. Balanced overall with a nice reach of neck and good length of back. Front and rear construction OK. Moved OK, but just carrying herself off to one side when viewed away and back. 3. Welsh’s Ingledene Sno Dream at Thistlewing

Post Graduate Bitch (6,0) 1. Mitchell & Jordan’s Salsina Secret Love Song at Avonfair 2 year old golden sable bitch, and another fine quality example from this kennel. Presented in immaculate condition and in full coat. Super sweet feminine expression and such a beautiful shape when viewed in profile. Lovely moulded foreface, adequate underjaw, and eye size and set that really contribute to that sweetness. Well laid back shoulders, good reach of neck and length of back. Excellent rear angulation, which contributed to good movement in all directions. I was happy to award this beautiful lady Reserve Best Bitch, although her younger kennel mate was hot on her heels! 2. Hutchings’ Riverside Song Flor D'luna at Scottrye (Imp Rom) 3 year old blue bitch whose shape and outline when stood really appealed to me. She has a lovely clean head, nicely shaped and sized eye and lovely ear carriage when fully concentrating. Her front and rear construction is good, with good angulation and well let down hocks. Lovely proportions length to height wise, level topline and a nice rise over the loin that all contribute to a pleasing outline. Today I felt that the movement of my class winner was better. Perhaps, like others, she was unsettled by the surroundings or the surface. One I would like the opportunity to see outdoors. 3. Clark Kerr’s Uffspring Uniquely Mayd for Whitecraigs

Open Bitch (3,0) 1. Walker & Ritchie’s Starlenga All About Me 3 year old tricolour bitch who is an absolute showgirl and has such ring presence. Jet black coat which is groomed to perfection and neatly fitted. When stood and viewed in profile, her outline and shape are an absolute delight and she rarely had a foot out of place today. Clean head, good amount of stop and a melting expression from perfectly sized and placed eyes. Her ears are well set and used to her advantage. Lovely arched neck of good length, perfect topline and good construction to the front and rear. She moves well, with drive and gusto, but in the smaller ring was occasionally over enthusiastic when setting off. Very light on her feet and absolutely ‘fit for function’. Expertly handled. I had no hesitation in awarding her top honours today, Best Bitch and Best of Breed. 2. Welsh’s Thistlewing Spell On You 2 year old golden sable girl with less coat than (1). She has a nicely proportioned head, with a dark eye of good size, which could be a touch more oblique. She has a good length of neck, but I would like a little more length of back for her leg length. She moved well, but was unlucky to be up against some strong competition from (1) 3. Babiak’s Erjon Ebony Diamond

Simon Walder (Hanvale)