SHCGB Championship Show, 22 April 2018

Dogs – judged by Ali Koops

Many thanks to the Committee for inviting me to judge this special anniversary show. Also a big thank you to my very efficient stewards, Liz and Paul. Lastly, thank you to all the exhibitors, who between them gave me a super entry of males to judge, and accepted all my decisions with such good sportsmanship. I always find it hard to either not place, or place low, dogs who, if I owned them, I would be proud to show. Some didn’t seem as happy and settled as others in the hall, and this played a part in my decisions also.

I was very pleased to see many fewer dogs moving cow hocked than on previous occasions. Also, I feel side movement has improved. However, I am still seeing some loose fronts. Condition and muscle tone were, overall, very good.

Most exhibitors made sure their dogs were well presented – i.e. groomed and bathed – but some dogs had been let down by their owners and were shown dirty and smelly. Not all dogs enjoy having a bath or being groomed, but they do feel better for it afterwards, and they certainly like having a clean bed/kennel/run or house.

One last point: we have plenty of dogs with ‘nice’ heads, but it is become more rare to see that classic, foxy, well-chiselled head, with almond-shaped, obliquely set eyes, keen, alert expression, and finished off with high-set, well-furred ears that are triangular in shape, with the height slightly greater than the width at the base, the tips slightly rounded and arched at the back. We must make sure that we don’t lose these from our gene pool.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day, but wish I had asked my stewards and/or the Committee members to gather all the overall winners together for a group photograph at the end, to remember this anniversary show by. An opportunity missed.

Special Veteran Dog (7, 1A)

1 Beirne’s Ch Penkhala’s Nashobah, 11 ½ years old. Looking like he is still in his prime. Correct outline standing. Lovely foxy head. Almond-shaped eyes, tight-fitting lips, ears correct shape and size but not that keen on putting them up! Well angulated front and rear. Still holding his topline well. Correct tail set and carriage. True moving on the out and back, and light-footed from the side. In super condition. A real credit to his owner. 2 Platt’s Skimarque Silver-Sno Kenai at Wightflight, over 14 years old and loving his day out! Lovely foxy head, with ears of correct shape and set. Arche dneck. Topline showing his age a bit. Well angulated front and rear. Still very good movement in front, but the rear is beginning to weaken. Correct medium bone. Good tail set and carriage. Very well presented and shown. I got the impression that both handler and dog enjoyed being in the ring together! 3 Amphlett’s Sontells Solar Eclipse 12 ¼ years. A bit stronger in bone that the first two dogs. Masculine head. Correct ear set and shape. Tight-fitting lips. Well arched neck. Well angulated front and rear. Moved well coming towards but rather wide behind today. Covered the ground well from the side. Really enjoying himself in the ring. In good body condition but coat texture was a bit dry and dirty. Good tail set and carriage.

Veteran Dog (7, 2A)

1 Reeves’ Rosguard Gwrion Lughes at Korsvig. Just over 8 years old. Beautiful head, almond-shaped eyes, correct stop and tight-fitting lips. Super ear set and shape. Arched neck. Strong topline with slightly arched loin. Good tail set and carriage. Very well angulated at both ends. Sloping pasterns and correct feet. Lovely outline standing. Sound coming and going, and covering the ground well from the side. In good body condition. Well handled. 2 Davis’ Zillverani Gypsy Triad. Almost 8 ½ years old and another one that still looks to be in his prime. Beautifully presented. The white in his piebald coat looked dazzling. In super body condition too. Attractive foxy head, just a touch narrow, but with lovely almond-shaped eyes and good ear set. Very sound mover from all angles. Light-footed and covering the ground well. Strong topline. Correct tail set and carriage. Well handled. 3 Keen’s Nashanessen’s Stanley, almost 9 years old. Strong masculine head. Excellent ear set and shape. Well arched neck. Very well angulated front and rear. Like the two ahead of him, he was sound as a bell on the out and back. Strong topline. Arched loin and well set tail but carried a little too far over. Super body condition but coat felt rather dirty. Covering a lot of ground from the side. Maintaining a lovely outline both standing and on the move.

***

Very pleased to see a lot of promising pups and very impressed with the ringcraft of all my minor puppies; well done to the owners for putting in the training!

Minor Puppy Dog (7)

1 Williams’ Salazka’s Newt Scamander. Winning a strong minor puppy class. Foxy head, lovely shaped eye and excellent earset. Nicely arched neck. Level topline. Perfect tail set and carriage. Well angulated both front and rear. A very balanced youngster, growing in proportion. Sound as a bell and very light-footed when moving. Good muscle tone. Showed like a pro. Will watch his development with interest. BPIS. 2. Nicholls’ Arctictrek’s Spook’s Trick at Targatrail. Another very promising baby. Again very balanced proportions. Super foxy head, with correct almond-shaped eyes, good ear set and shape. Well angulated front and rear. Level topline both standing and on the move. Just a little loose in front coming towards, but very strong behind. Light-footed, ground-covering side movement. Very well presented and handled. Another one to watch in the future. 3 Snelson’s Salazka’s Mr Abernathy. Litter mate to winner and another pup with much to like about him. Attractive head, good eye shape, correct ear set. Lovely arched neck. Well angulated at both ends. Good, light-footed side gait, covering the ground well. Moving just a little wide coming towards, but very strong behind. Correct tail set and carriage. In good condition and muscle tone. Handled well. Unlucky to meet the other two in this class today, but won the next class.

Puppy Dog (5, 1A)

1 Snelson’s Salazka’s Mr Abernathy. 2 Robertson’s Chatanika’s Dragon Kin. Super outline both standing and on the move. Beautiful, foxy head. Lovely almond eyes. Tight-fitting lips and correct ear shape and set. Has all the makings of a very standard-fitting Sibe. Lacked condition and muscle tone, which lost him the top spot. Sound mover on the ‘out-and-back’, and kept a very steady topline when viewed from the side. I will watch his development with interest. 3 Richardson’s Salazka’s Thunderbird. Littermate to the winner in this class and the minor puppy winner. Like them, a lovely typey youngster. Lots to like about him, just not growing so much in proportion as his brothers. Foxy head, correct ear set. Promising outline standing. Sound on the move, but a little loose in front at the moment and not so smooth when viewed from the side. In beautiful condition and well handled and presented.

Junior Dog (5, 1A)

1 Sargent’s Hughwing Wezztlee with Keriquel. Tall boy. Lovely outline standing. Very well proportioned. Beautiful foxy head. Almond-shaped eyes. Correct shape and set of ears. Very attentive to his handler when standing. Well angulated front and rear. Medium bone. Correct, slightly sloping pasters. Strong topline; arched loin. Correct tail set and carriage. Sound as a bell on the move and covering the ground very well, while keeping a very steady topline. Showed very well in his class, but was giving his handler a hard time on the move in the final challenge! In super condition and well presented. 2 Beirne’s Penkhala’s Itaska. Another tall boy. Beautiful type. Lovely head. Excellent ear set. Correct stop and almond-shaped eyes, obliquely set. Well arched neck. Well angulated front and rear. Strong topline. On the move, his conformation really shows. Not standing to attention that well today. Sound moving and really covering the ground very well. Correct croup and tail set, but the tail carriage let him down. Great muscle tone and well presented. 3 Jones’ Coldfeet’s Insanity. Again a tall boy. Masculine head. Eyes of good shape but level set. Ears correct shape and size, but he did not want to put them up today! Excellent body proportions. Well angulated front and rear. Correct medium bone. Level topline. Good croup, tail set and carriage. Strong rear movement. A touch wide in front today. In good muscle tone and well presented.

Yearling Dog (7)

1 Cooper’s Janskcoo’s Fortitude JW. Beautiful, typey youngster. Still needing to mature, but has the makings for a bright future in the ring. Super head and expression. Correct almond-shaped eyes. Very high ear set and ears of correct shape. Arched neck. Well angulated front and rear. Strong, level topline. Arched loin, good croup and tail set/carriage. Medium bone. Correct body proportions. Good pasters and feet. Sound as a bell moving front and rear and very light-footed, ground-covering movement from the side. Very in tune with his handler and never put a foot wrong. In lovely condition and well presented. Beat some strong competition. 2 Robinson’s Frostynights Blood Raven. Another very promising youngster but was giving his handler a hard time! Foxy head. Almond-shaped eyes. Tight lips. Good ear set and shape. Lovely outline standing. Correct length to height ratio. Level topline. Good tail set and carriage. When settled, he covered the ground well and was sound coming and going. Good muscle tone. Coat in good condition. A bit more ringcraft needed, but I liked him a lot. Another one to watch for the future. 3 Williams’ Sibersong’s Dark Sovereign. Another lovely youngster. Masculine head. Almond-shaped eyes. High ear set. Well arched neck. Strong level topline. Sloping croup. Good tail set and carriage. Very pleasing outline. Good strong rear action – both from the side and behind. Covered the ground well from the side, but just a little more play in his topline than 1st and 2nd, and not quite tracking in coming towards today. In lovely body condition and well shown and presented. Another one whose development I will watch with interest.

Maiden Dog (2, 1A)

1 Snelson’s Niflheim Gambit. Medium size. Attractive head and keen expression, but lacking a little stop. Good strong topline but croup a bit short and steep, which affects the tail set and carriage. Correct size of bone. Good feet and pasterns. Appears a bit short in the upper arm, but this could improve with age and maturity, as he is only just 2 years. Light on his feet when moving, but a bit loose in front and hocky behind. In good muscle tone and coat. Well presented and handled.

Undergraduate Dog (2)

1 Amphlett’s Eskamaras Fordson. Attractive masculine head. A touch strong in skull. Good earset and shape. Good outline standing. Well angulated both front and rear. Strong topline with slightly arched loin. OK tail set and carriage. Moved well from the side and sound coming and going. When standing, appeared a little upright in pasterns, but he was excited and as he was the only unseen dog in the class, he did not have long to settle. In good condition and well handled. 2 Snelson’s Niflheim Gambit.

Post Graduate Dog (11)

Quality class – Placings could easily swap on another day as some did not show as well as others, and the coat and body condition also affected some of the placings.

1 Hart’s Arctictrek Ralph Revels at Zawkkast. Demanded attention as soon as the whole class took their first lap around the ring. Super side gait – excellent reach and drive, and at one with his handler. He did not disappoint once I got my hands on him. Super muscle tone.  Attractive masculine head. Correct almond-shaped eyes. Good ear set and size of ears. Well arched neck. Strong topline, with correct loin and croup. Tail well set and carried. Very well angulated front and rear. Correct bone. Sound coming and going. Very well presented and handled. However, in the final run-off for the higher awards, he did not perform as well – and thus lost out, although he pushed hard. 2 Aguilera’s Sulaco Hudson. Another beautiful dog I have admired from the ringside in the past. Super typey dog. Lovely foxy head. Almond-shaped eyes. Good ear set. Lovely outline standing and well angulated front and rear. Strong topline. Perfect tail set and carriage. Sound coming and going. Lovely light-footed movement, but not so in harmony with his handler as the winner today, and did not have quite the reach in front either. Beautifully presented and in super muscle tone. Like the winner, he should have a very bright future in the showring. 3 Last’s Snoqualmie Zeus. Another super, typey Siberian. Lovely head and expression. Almond-shaped eyes and correct ear set and shape. Well arched neck. Very pleasing outline. Very well angulated front and rear. Covering the ground very well with lots of reach and drive on the move. Tail carried over a touch too far. Sound  coming towards and moving away. In good coat and body condition. Well handled and presented.

Mid Limit Dog (7)

Another class with lots of quality dogs. In fact my Best Veteran Dog came from this class, having won sixth place.

1 Wooliscroft’s Zarchenski Endurance. Beautifully constructed boy with lovely outline both standing and on the move. Masculine head. Correct almond-shaped eyes. Good ear set and shape. Nicely arched neck. Level topline. Correct loin and croup with perfect tail set and carriage. Looks like he was just coming back into coat. Beautifully presented. Still needs to mature further but cannot be faulted on the move. Totally sound coming and going and covered the ground with such ease. No up and down movement at all in his topline when viewing his side gait. Just never faultered and beat some strong competition in both his own class and in the final challenge to win RCC. Congratulations! 2 Biddlecombe’s Snoqualmie’s Tswift at Tsaritsa. More mature than the winner, and in his prime. Super angulation. Masculine head with correct, tight-fitting lips. Good ear shape and set. Strong topline. Correct loin. Croup just a fraction short. In super coat and condition. Very full of himself and took a little time to settle on the move. However, once he did, he was sound coming and going. Covered the ground well from the side, with plenty of reach and drive. Very well handled and presented. 3 Cunningham’s Ice Bex Show Me The Money. One I have judged before and admired. Beautifully put together, with super angulation both front and rear, level topline and correct slightly arched loin. Good croup, tail set and carriage. Masculine head with correct high ear set. He seemed a little over-excitable today and did not do himself justice on the move. Sound as a bell, but rather spoiled his side gait by looking around at his handler. In super muscular condition and beautifully presented.

Limit Dog (9, 2A)

1 Aguilera’s Sulaco Spunkmeyer. Lovely foxy head, almond-shaped eyes and good ear set. In super muscular condition. He did not do himself justice standing, but once settled on the move, he showed his excellent conformation. Very well angulated, showing lots of reach and drive when moving. Kept a lovely smooth and level topline. Good tail set and carriage. Sound moving on the out and back, when he actually went in the same direction as his owner! Coat in lovely condition and well presented. 2 Robinson’s Chariote Skookum Blend. Noticed when doing this write up, that he is a veteran, so should have been called in for the Best Veteran challenge. Apologies to the owner for this oversight. Very attractive, masculine head, but not trying very hard with his ears! Very well angulated. Correct leg length. Medium bone. Correct tail set and carriage. Sound on the out and back and covering the ground with ease. Coat in good condition and freshly bathed, but some staining on the legs and feet detracted from the overall picture. A quality Siberian. 3 Bradley’s Snostopin Fade to Grey. Very well proportioned boy. Lovely outline standing. Attractive foxy head. Keen expression and excellent high ear set. Well angulated at both ends. Strong level topline. Very good reach and drive from the side. Tail carried a little too far over, but good croup. Moved very well coming toward, but a little close behind. Excellent muscle tone and very well presented and handled.

Open Dog (10, 1A)

1 Biddlecombe’s Korsvigs Cooper at Tsaritsa. Caught my attention as soon as he did his first circuit of the ring. He looked stunning! Displayed so much reach and drive while keeping a totally smooth, level topline. Standing, he looked a picture. Beautifully balanced outline. Perfect body proportions. Correct medium bone. Beautiful masculine head. Super ear shape and set. In excellent muscular condition. Coat in lovely condition also and beautifully presented. In his class and in the challenge he was completely at one with his handler. Sound as a bell coming and going. I was thrilled to give him the CC. Many congratulations! He became rather more excited in the run-off for BIS and lost out to the beautiful bitch CC winner, but won Reserve BIS and BOS. 2 Last and Downey’s Snoqualmie Jupiter Makanni. Another quality Siberian. Super head and expression. Correct almond-shaped eyes. Ears correct shape, size and set. Very well angulated at both ends. Strong, level topline when standing and on the move. Good croup, tail set and carriage. Sound coming and going, and when viewed from the side, exhibited good reach and drive. In good coat and body condition. Well handled and presented. Unlucky to miss out on a green card today. 3 Platt’s Rykalov’s Sparks at Wightflight. Slightly lighter in frame than 1st and 2nd. Another one whose conformation really shows on the move! Lots of reach and drive from the side while keeping a smooth, level topline. Totally sound behind. Just a little wild coming towards, but he does only seem to move at top speed and may look fine if he was to be moved a little bit more slowly. Attractive head. Keen expression. Good ear set. Good coat and body condition. Well presented.