SCOTTISH KENNEL CLUB 2004

Judge's Critique

Mrs Brenda Smith

When judging my favourite breed I have loved & been associated with for over 40 years, I always look for a balanced dog with good conformation & a touch of elegance in good coat &condition who can move with a long stride with reach & drive. Todays judging was very difficult, the bitches were again better than the dogs but my line up of winning dogs pleased me immensely.

My main problem was the amount of dogs being shown with skin & coat problems. I do not ever remember seeing so many at one show. Some were really in a bad state, I am sure that the dogs are not happy in themselves. I have to question are all the dogs getting the correct feeding & freedom?

My next problem was the amount of heavy shoulders with dreadful wrinkling over the withers & also short straight upper arms. It is time to take a long hard look at the dog's conformation & try to rectify this by selective breeding. Also, ugly strong heads in the males are making a reappearance so losing the true lovely Dalmatian expression.

I was well satisfied with all my main award winners.

PD (5, la) 1 Carvell's Timmy Willie with Lilal, two very promising puppy dogs. Well balanced with good outline, very nice head with dark eyes giving correct expression, hard condition, good black spotting, moved very well behind, but needs to firm in front movement; 2 Graham-Weall's Phidgity Panda Monium, younger than 1 so not as mature, very good coat & spotting b/w lovely head with dark eyes, very good front movement; 3 Clement's Tyrodal Caracal at Caldecacre.

JD (3) 1 Richardson's Mapplewell It Takes Two, very mature b/s coat in excellent condition, good head & expression, very good bone & feet, powerful hindquarters which he can use Good brisket & underline, balanced with good substance, good showman; 2 Maclennan's Haiths The Dream Lives On, b/w good outline, little apprehensive at first after being rushed into the ring, good powerful hindquarters which he used when settled; 3 Maclennan's Tolutim Clouded Leopard among Haiths.

YD (4,2) 1 Lindsay's Phaeland Phiddling Phuture, such a lovely b/s very good spotting & coat in excellent condition, good bone & feet, balanced outline, good powerful movement, especially in profile. Just needs to regain his confidence again in the ring; 2 Page's Winflash Spring Wonder, smaller compact type. good head but framed by black ears, balanced outline, heavily spotted & coat needs to clear Would like to see more drive in movement.

PGD (6, 1) 1 Taylor's Sir Alphonso, outstanding condition, shining black spots on pure white background, very good head with dark eye giving good expression, balanced outline, good bone & feet. good movement. Wrinkles slightly over withers; 2 Pigden's Tyrodal Mercury Cougar. l/w powerful dog, could be better in shoulder, good hindquarters, stands straight in stifle at times Strong head, moves well in profile. Dally rash needs to clear. Lovely temperament; 3 Lindsay's Phaeland Passion Phlyer.

LD (11, 3) 1 Fabian's Tumbril Texas Tribute, balanced dog with a very good outline, good head, dark eyes giving true expression, in superb condition. Black spots gleaming & in good hard muscletone, good arched neck & topline.good bone, moved so well with a long stride, showing his lovely outline off to full advantage. CC. Handler did well to curb his enthusiasm; 2 Petersen's Buffrey Beau Bell at Daedalus, bigger dog all round but well balanced. Touch strong in head but kind expression. Black spotting a little heavy but in really hard condition, good bone & feet, moved so well & was seriously considered for the RCC; 3 Butler's Snowstorm by Yarbach.

OD (5) 1 McCarthy's Ch Tollwood Lionel at Kilndandy, looking superb today, coat in immaculate condition, liver spots well defined, balanced, lovely type, no exaggerations, super head & expression, good bone & feet. moving well but could not match the drive or length of stride of the limit winner. RCC; 2 Bosstad's Internatio Magicmoonstone, 1/s, what a super mover, driving rhythmic movement with a good length of stride, balanced outline, nice head with good expression, very good bone & feet. Lost out on a slight coat problem today; 3 Graham-Weall's Ch Phidgity Pitch Black.

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PB (9, 1a) 1 Goff-Leggett's Washakie Desert Orchid, quality 6 months b/w. balanced with correct substance, good round bone, lovely head & dark eyes, really dense black spots, happy showgirl; 2 Fort's Lady Of Light from Shulune, elegant b/w, lovely outline with good reach of neck. nice head & dark eyes, very good ear carriage, moved well for her 7 months, happy puppy well shown; 3 Lindsay's Appennine Chasing Rainbows.

JB (7,1) 1 Page's Winflash Spring Fury, compact b/w little strong in head for me but eyes were correct colour. Very good bone & feet, powerful hindquarters which she can use, keeps her topline moving. Would like better spotting; 2 Gatheral-Graham's Phaeland Passion Promise, different type to 1, much more elegant & l/s with good shape & colour, good bone & feet, good head with lovely spotted ears. Not putting all in when moving; 3 Dore's Dalkereve Dazzling Diamond.

YB (1) 1 Taylor's Dvojica In Vogue, this b/w is really quite nice, with good shape & outline, nice head & dark eyes giving good expression, very good movement especially in profile. Just needs to gain a little more confidence.

PGB (7, 2) 1 Lamb's Leaveslake Lily at Dalpetro, l/w elegant bitch with very good substance, nice head with lovely spotted ears. she has a few tick marks otherwise she is quite well spotted & a good liver colour, moved very well with drive & rhythm. In good coat condition; 2 Lindsay's Appennine Moonlight Chaser, b/w elegant not as mature as 1 but such a good mover, with a good length of stride, good head & expression; 3 Cuthbertson's Ellemstra Made To Order for Kalsidoni.

LB (13, 4) 1 Levy's Svolvaergeita's Crown Jewel at Motek, first saw this lovely bitch when I judged her as a puppy in Norway & rated her very highly. I have followed her progress in the UK & she has now matured into a quality bitch. Her liver spotting is superb & the correct size & colour, lovely head with really dark eyes, very good forechest which is lacking in so many. So very good bone & the best feet on display today, she showed so well & moved with drive & style. Could not be denied the CC & BOB; 2 Christie's Haiths Definately Maybe by Sophtspot, elegant type with good substance, well balanced with good outline, good head & expression, moved well with drive. Close decision for further honours; 3 Richardson's Jomihvar In Vin Sybil.

OB (8, 1) 1 Hipkiss' Dalkiss Isla Of lona, this l/w has now matured into a lovely bitch. super outline, good head & expression, very good liver spotting with good colour, moved well in profile keeping her topline. Very good coat & condition. RCC; 2 Carvell's Phidgity Phoebe for Lilal, balanced outline with super hindquarters, very good black spotting, one I have often admired from the ringside. Today was carrying too much weight, lovely head & expression. Moved well behind but front movement a little slack; 3 Christie's Ch Haiths Hallmarked by Sophtspot.

BRENDA SMITH