Four Counties Beagle Club

Judge's Critique​

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I was delighted to accept the invitation to judge for The Four Counties Beagle Club again, having judged the Open Show in 1984 & the Championship Show in 2003. Thanks to Kristen & Zoe for your help in the ring.
 

The Championship show was held in conjunction with Darlington Ch Show. We were allocated a separate ring, excelled ground conditions, a sunny day, but a cold biting wind. Starting time was 1 hour after the start of judging Beagles at Darlington, in the adjoining ring. Unfortunately this resulted in numerous delays in judging.
 

I was very pleased with the quality of the CC & res CC winners, but rather disappointed with the overall quality of the entry. Forehand construction is a perpetual concern, lack of return of upperarm seems to pass most exhibitors by (just because it is not mentioned in the KC breed standard does not mean it should be ignored) , well laid back shoulder blades were also a scarcity. Another growing concern is the absence of a correct scissor bite, with several level bites here today.

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DOGS
 

MPD (1)
1 Jones. Clairdale Fusileer
Smart blanket tri of 7mths, well moulded head, dark eye & pleasing expression. I see is sired by Res CC winner, of pleasing size, shape & construction, enabling him to move out soundly, has good bone & neat feet. Needing to firm up in his topline & come together.

PD (3,1)
1 Beard. Kellitcreed Sweeney Tod BPD & BPIS
10 mth tri, projects a smart & well proportioned outline, pleases in head/muzzle, low set leathers, reachy neck, firm in topline & well ribbed back, tail well set & carried, pleases in his angulation, moves out with strong driving action, needs to firm up in front action.
2 Bridgeman & Logue. Kingwin Bug ‘A’ Lugs
Smart 9 mth tri, strong head/muzzle, ample bone, neat feet, firm level topline, deep chest, well set stern,strong well angulated hindquarters, would prefer to see more angulation in his forehand.

JD (3)
1 Taylor. Deaconfield Lancer
Nice size 15mth tri who pleases for balance & proportions, pleasing head/expression, good depth, short coupled, soundest mover in the class.
2 Leader. Molesend Dice
12 mth tan/white, well balanced in outline, ample bone & body, good depth of chest, strong well angulated hindquarters, stern well set & carried, carrying too much weight for me, which affected his front movement.
3 Binks. Tannahill Vagabond

ND (1)
1 Clairdale Fusileer

2. Kingswin Bug ‘A’ Lugs

GD (2)
1 Molesend Dice
2 Jones. Molesend Colt
18mth tan/white, handsome head, reachy neck, firm in topline, well set stern, still @ the teenage rangy stage, will look better with maturity.

PGD (3,1)
1 Bridgeman & Logue. Kubik Cziki Kopo At Kigswin (Imp Srb)
Handsome 18mth tan/white, firm in outline, reachy neck, well developed body, good depth of chest, short coupled, balanced in fore/hind angulation, moves out well with good profile action. 2 Parker & Stevens. Serenaker George Gently
Another handsomely headed tan/white of 23 mths, still needing to mature, has good bone/feet, firm in topline, stern well set /carried, rather unsettled today which affected his movement.

LD (2)
1 Hardisty. Lanbur Kissinging Bandit At Fallowfield (Imp USA)
3 yr tri of lovely size & outline, well proportioned & balanced, pleasing angulation, good bone/feet, good depth of chest , firm in topline, well muscled hindquarters, moved out freely.
2. Molesend Colt

OD (5,1)
Two lovely dogs headed this class.
1 Parker & Stevens. Ch Serenaker Armani. CC & RBIS & BOS
Superbly headed 2yr tri , has such presence, carries himself so well, of excellent breed type, handsome headpiece, scores in outline & balance, good bone, neat feet, well muscled & conditioned, scores with his strong driving action.
2 Taylor. Deaconfield Kingcraft. Res CC
Now almost 5yrs & looking better than ever, nothing flashy but a good honest soundly made tri, pleasing head/expression, firm in body, good bone/feet, balanced in angulation & sound in his movement.
3 Lewis. Fallowfield Vincent

VD(2)
1 Pocklington-Hall. Macall Bushman. RBVIS
Handsomely headed open marked tri, looking well for his 10 yrs, nicely constructed, compact outline, short coupled, sound mover.
2 Hunt. Ch Shercroft Apollo JW ShCM
Tan/white almost 8yrs, out of a rangier mould, again well constructed & a free mover, not his usual exuberant self & was concerned with his apparent lack of condition?

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BITCHES
 

 

MPB (2)
Both lovely broken tri pups showing lots of promise
1 Havard. Annavah Angel Delight
6mths @ her first show, of a lovely size, very feminine head/expression, nicely constructed with good forechest, short coupled, good bone/feet, moved out freely.
2 Binks. Tannahill Yasmine
Another lovely pup of 7mths, gorgeous head/expression, again nicely constructed , slightly longer caste an 1, not so settled in her movement.
 

PB (6)
1 Coates. Gladstyle Too Close To Call BPB & RBPIS
Quality 11mth tan/white in her last puppy class, presented a smart & neat compact outline, pleases all through, very femine head/expression, firm topline, good bone/feet, well ribbed back, moved freely & soundly.
2 Philpott. Charterwood Black Opal
11 mth broken tri out of a slightly larger mould, again lots to like, pleasing head/expression, good bone/feet, firm in topline, another sound in her movement which gained the placing.
3 Beard. Kellitcreed Cotton Candy

JB (5)
1 Havard. Ch Annavah Princess Tiana. CC & BIS
Wow!, such super quality, 17mths daughter of Ch Knick Knack to whom I awarded the CC @ Crufts 2017, excels in breed type, most lovely feminine head/expression, holds a super outline, so well balanced, excellent angulation & construction, love her forehand with well filled forechest, lovely round bone & neat feet, moved so true away & back, with an easy effortless side gait, no hesitation in awarding her top honours.
2 Goldberg. Molesend Dormouse
Quality 12mth tan/white of lovely size & outline, lovely headpiece with soft expression, nicely arched neck into well laid shoulders, pleases in both fore & hind angulation, firm level topline, well set & carried tail, was called in to challenge, today her kennel mate had the edge in movement.
3 Evans & Barnes. Bellvalley Calypso

YB (6,2)
1 Fitzpatrick. Blunderhall Blow A Fuse
Most attractively headed , brightly marked open tri of 23 mths, has a soft expression, reachy neck, well angulted in both fore & hind quarters, well ribbed back, good bone/feet, moved out freely, would ideally like to see shorter couplings.
2 Beard. Kellitcreed’s Back Chat
Larger framed tri of 17mths, has a well proportioned headpiece, low set leathers, firm in topline, well ribbed back, well set stern, moved freely, although slightly shorter in coupling, she lost out to 1 on forehand construction
3 Mathison. Princess Bella Of Redcharm

NB (4)
1 Stuart. Kellitcreed Frozen Assets
Most attractive 10 mth tri, who pleases for type & outline, feminine head, nicely arched neck, well angulated in both fore & hindquarters, deep chest, level topline, moved out soundly, was well handled by her competent young handler
2 Bridgeman & Logue. Kingswin Looks Like Trouble
Larger framed 9mth tri, has well proportioned head with dark eye & pleasing expression, low set leathers, firm level topline, well set stern, liked her hind angulation, lost out to 1 on forehand construction.
3 Warburton. Dughallmor Elderberry Wine.

GB (3,1)
1 Brownlow. Rushwater Pili Pala

5yr tri, compact in outline, well filled front, good neck, level topline, good depth of body, well ribbed back, moved out smartly
2 Mathison. Princess Bella Of Redcharm.
18th tri out of a larger frame, lovely head & expression, which I preferred to 1, good neck, level topline, deep brisket, still needing to mature, preferred the more compact outline of 1.
 

PGB (6,1)
1 Macdougall. Molesend Will ‘O Wisp
2yr tan/white of lovely size, projecting a well balanced outline, pleases in head, arched neck, good in top & underline, moved out smartly, would prefer better filled forechest.
2 Banks. Forgebanks Raindrop
4yr tri with lovely headpiece & forehand, reachy neck into level topline, good bone/feet, much rangier in outline, tending to move close behind.
3 Rushwater Pili Pala

LB (13)
1 Goldberg. Molesend Crumble. Res CC
Very smart 17 mth tan/white, so neat & of a lovely size, pleases for her well balanced outline, feminine head/expression, reachy neck into well angulated forehand with good infill, firm level topline, stern well set & carried, good bone & neat feet, sound in her movement away & back & with good profile action, gaining her the Res CC
2 Beard. Kellitcreed Jessica Barker
Strikingly marked tri of 23 mths, projecting an eye catching outline, pleases in head/eye, grand body & hindquarters, level topline & well set stern, excellent profile gait, losing out to 1 on forehand.
3 Parker & Stevens. Serenaker Agatha Raisin

OB (8,3)
1 Havard. Ch Annavah Buttercup
2yr tan/white a standout winner here, a lovely size, so neat & well constructed, holds a super outline, of excellent balance & proportions, well filled front, sound in movement, in close contention for top honours.
2 Deans. Gempeni Cornflower
3yr tri of excellent construction, holds herself really well, lovely head/expression, complimentary angulation & well filled front, a happy soul with good profile gait, preferred the compact outline of 1.
3 Lewis. Fallowfield Royal Rosie

VB (4,1)
1 Arden. Madika Spot On JW ShCm Aw(G) BVIS
7yr open marked tri, who won the PGrad class under me @ Crufts 2017, presents a well balanced outline, has a pleasing feminine head/expression, deep body & well ribbed back, moves out really well with good side gait, looking really good with her free showing stance.
2 Brownlow. Bellvalley Dunnit
Well proportioned tri (4 days short of 10th birthday) pleasing head/expression, looking good for age, soundly constructed, firm in topline, good bone/feet, free in her movement, would prefer to see more forechest.
3 Clark. Davricard Heather At Springholme

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Mike Caple (Judge)