Firstly, I’d like to thank the Officer’s & Committee for inviting me to judge at their show, which was held in Conjunction with Leeds Championship Show at Harewood House, Nr Leeds. I understand that there had been some issues with the Club previously, however I have to say that with Lesley McCourt in her new role, I never saw or experienced any issues & I wish the Club well for the future.

I’d like to thank the exhibitors for staying on well into the evening, due to Leeds putting us 3rdin the ring & for trusting me to judge them fairly, as I saw them on the day. The weather turned sour as I commenced judging, but I was determined to keep using the whole ring for as long as I could & it was only after Limit Bitch that we came completely undercover. I’d also like to thank my Stewards for keeping things running as smoothly as possible under the circumstances & for adding to my enjoyment of the day.I last judged 4 years ago & have not been that active in the breed since then , so many of the dogs &exhibitors were new to me today. Whilst I have not bred dozens of CC winners or multiple champions, I believe I was fortunate enough to compete against some of the to p dogs & bitches our breed has seen & from that I was able to gain more than enough detail to base the following on:We are only the guardians of our wonderful breed for the short time we have them & we must strive to improve the quality of our chosen breed. 

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Heads  - what has happened to our beautiful heads? Lack of stop, weak muzzles, lack of fluting & chiseling, coupled with round light eyes, I found a few heads that were completely alien to our breed.

Numbers - where have all the dogs gone? I appreciate that people come & go, but we are heading down a slippery slope that does not bode well for our breed. The gene pool is getting smaller, less choice of quality stud dogs, which only exaggerates some of the issues I saw today.

New exhibitors - I saw a few faces I didn’t recognize, but where are the next generation coming from?

Our breed has its Politics, every breed does, but we must start welcoming & encouraging new people into the breed, no matter if they become the competition!

Balance/Moderation - in a large entry I would expect to see a few tall dogs, short dogs, long dogs etc, but in a smaller entry I was so surprised to see so many of the above present.

I am putting my head on the chopping block for stating all the above, but someone needs to say it,before it’s too late.I have no axe to grind & nothing to gain by stating the above,it’snot all doom & gloom, I had some wonderful English Springers today & I thought my bitch line up in particular was beautiful.

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Minor Puppy Dog (2,1)

1. Miss E Chandler                               -              Elazlan Tribal Craft

6 month old  B/W young man, oozing in quality. Stood on good bone & the tightest of feet, correctly sized with deep, well ribbed chest, short coupled with a strong loin for one so young. Quality head piece, correct express ion with those dark eyes & moved out like

a seasoned pro, using his correctly angled quarters, in top coat & condition for his age, absolutely loved him. BPD & BPIS.

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Puppy Dog (2,2)

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Junior Dog (1,0)

1. Mr & Mrs Calvert                            -              Calvdale Scaramouche Jones

Another that I really liked & was seriously considered for top honour’s, I was just splitting hairs on the day. 17 months & just oozes quality. Another stood on well boned legs & tight feet, masculine head, without coarseness & the correct shaped muzzle I was

looking for. Eyes still need to darken off a shade, but he has time & it didn’t ruin his kind expression. Excels in neck & shoulders, some may say too much, but that’s what judging is about, different opinions & interpretations, deep chested & another great mover with that typical springer gait. true for & aft when coming & going, well handled & presented as one would expect from this kennel, I

am sure this young man will no doubt wear his crown shortly.

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Yearling Dog (2,0)

1. Mrs Topliss                                       -              Beresford Lockdown

My day just kept getting better! This almost 2yr old male, filled my eye & no male today could get past him in the challenge. Well balanced & filled out nicely, superb legs & feet, strong muzzle, masculine head yet still refined with the qualities I was looking for. Eye

dark enough to give me that kind, expression, but another who has time on his side for this to finish.Excelled in quarters for

& aft, which he used to his advantage around the ring & all I could hear in my head was “if they’re made right, they’ll move right” & he didn’t let me down. True when coming &going & well presented. Deep chest & compact strong loin, he just screamed quality at me & I

couldn’t deny him the CC today & RBIS. I’m sure this is another that will be wearing his crown

shortly.

2 Mrs Claydon                                     -              Nineoaks Bring Him Home

Different type to the winner, L/W/T still needs time to mature although everything is in the right place. Another with an eye that needs to darken, masculine head, well balanced with correct bone & feet.

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Maiden Dog (0,0)

Novice Dog (0,0)

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Graduate Dog (1,0)

1. Mrs Gledhill                                      -              Greg De Les Tres Liacunes (Imp Esp)

2yr old lighter framed male, pleasant, masculine headpiece, who’s eye still needs to darken off, good legs & feet. Balanced angles front & back, moved out well & true when coming & going. 

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Post Graduate Dog (3,0)

1. Mrs House                                        -              Gleadsbury Gunpowder Plot

3 year old L/W male, with a dark eye, giving that kind expression I was looking for. Correct neck & shoulders, level topline, good bone & feet, well-muscled rear quarters. Level topline, in good coat & condition, moved true on the up & down, I would just prefer at ad more leg length.

2 Casey & Jayes                                  -              Sandylands Xpress Delivery

, when stood I thought this would be my class winner, however on going over him I found his head lacking in the detail I was looking fo

r. I would have preferred some fluting & more stop. Good length of neck, into well laid shoulders & correct rear angulation. Another with good bone & tight feet. Stylishly handled & well presented, moved out well. I just couldn’t forgive his headpiece

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3 Terry-Richardson & Richardson   -              Cherishym Draconis

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Mid Limit Dog (2,1)

1. Terry-Richardson & Richardson   -              Cherishym Dofida

.A quality B/W male with a superb dark eye & wonderfully kind expression,to finish a quality headpiece. Good length of neck, correct angulation for & aft giving him the correct springer gait I was looking for today, although a little erratic when going away.In beautiful coat & condition,standing on super legs & feet, deep chest, short coupled strong loin & well muscled thigh. I really liked this young man, who I am sure will achieve top honours. When I read his breeding afterwards, I knew why I liked him so much, as I greatly admired

his sire. Another who I considered for Top Honours today &Best B/W in show

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Limit Dog (2,1)

1. Mrs Jenkinson                                  -              Eastriding Royal Black

2yr old B/W male. Dark eye resulting in that kind expression would expect, a tad light in muzzle for me. Adequate neck but not the angulation to give the correct springer gait I was looking for today. Immaculately presented & handled as one has come to expect

this kennel.

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Open Dog (4,0)

1. Mrs Rose                                           -              Westaway Dream Angus Of Rosannoch (Imp Nor)

I could not believe this 7yr old is not wearing his crown yet. Just screams ESS at you, really filled my eye today & pushed the CC winner all the way in the challenge, I hope he completes his title. He had everything I was looking for today, masculine quality headpiece, without being overdone, sat on a strong neck, into well laid shoulders. Perfectly balanced front & rear angulation which he used well on the move around the ring. Well boned legs,deep chest &strong loin. Well-muscled thighs, in good coat & well handled to get everything out of

him in the challenge.

2 Mrs Topliss                                       -              Sh Ch Beresford Night Train

. L/W male not in his best jacket today. Another with a quality, masculine head piece & dark eye. Good length of neck into well laid shoulders, deep chest & strong loin. Couldn’t hold his topline today, which is why he was beaten by the winner, but true on the up &

down. A quality male & a credit to his breeder, but he just wasn’t cutting it for me today

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3 Mrs Jenkinson                                  -              Eastriding Royal Mayfair JW

4 Mrs Graham                                     -              Peasblossom Valentino

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Champion Dog (2,0)

1. Mr & Mrs Eyeington                       -              Sh Ch Meadowdale Daisydale Lightning Bolt

B/W/T male, full of quality & wearing his best bib & tucker today. Dark eye completing a masculine, quality headpiece with the stop,

fluting & chiselling I was looking for. Good strong neck into well laid shoulders, deep chest & strong loin keeping his topline on the move. Correct rear angulation, with well-muscled thighs which he used to stride freely around the ring with that correct springer gait. Expertly handled by his owner.

1. Mrs Topliss                                     -              Sh Ch Beresford As Good As It Gets

L/W male who whilst everything was there, I felt was too “upright” for me & he didn’t flow. There was no denying he had qualities,

pleasant headpiece,although eye still needs to darken, another from this kennel on well boned legs & tight feet. Deep chest & plenty of heart room

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Special Beginners Dog (0,0)

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Veteran Dog (1,1)

 

Minor Puppy Bitch (1,0)

1. Terry-Richardson & Richardson   -              Daenerys Moondancer To Cherishym

6mth old, sweet headed young lady, her eye still needs to darken, but this doesn’t detract from a quality headpiece.good

length of neck into well laid shoulders. Chest well developed & deep,short coupled & in lovely coat& condition. Rear angulation matched her front & she moved with typical puppy joy, I really liked her & think she will have a bright future.

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Puppy Bitch (1,0)

1. Mrs Weyman                                    -              Spuffing Prosecco

pleasant bitch who’s head still needs to break & personally id like just a tad more bone. Everything else is in the right place for this young lady, who moved with confidence, despite the appalling wind & rain. Another who’s coat was shining bright today

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Junior Bitch (2,0)

2 beautiful bitches who I am sure will change places many times & will surely go on to gain their crowns  I could have looked at them all day!

1. Mrs Calvert                                       -              Calvdale Flutter

& she made my heart do exactly that! A beautifully LWT headed young bitch who just screamed breed type to me. Her he

ad piece was so feminine, with the desired attributes of fluting, chiselling & the correct amount of stop I wanted. Her neck just flowed into her well laid shoulders, deep chest with plenty of heart room & standing on superb legs & feet, lovely

rear angulation & presented to a tee, she moved around the ring like I hoped she would!

2 Miss Corbett                                     -              Trimere Time Flys

I was splitting hairs between her & the winner& at first glance thought she would be my winner. Another who just oozed breed type & femininity,quality headpiece, good length of neck, well laid shoulders & correct rear angulation. Well presented & handled, she lost out to the winner today, as I felt she was just a tad long in loin, but there is no doubting her qualities.

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Yearling Bitch (3,2)

1. Mrs Conrad                                       -              Strathnaver Starstruck

A lovely type of L/W bitch that appealed to me & although stood alone, she was a worthy winner. Feminine head, eye still not quite dark enough yet, but still has time. Another with a good length of neck into well laid shoulders, lovely width of thigh moved so true on a lose lead around the ring, but just a little erratic in her rear movement today.

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Maiden Bitch (0,0)

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Novice Bitch (1,1)

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Graduate Bitch (1,0)

1. Mr & Mrs Keely                               -              Alhambian Amy Winehouse

Another lovely young lady full of breed type, well presented & handled. Delightful headpiece although id prefer a darker eye, standing on good legs & feet, deep chest, short coupled & covered the ground effortlessly, I just wanted to see her lift her tail when moving.

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Post Graduate (4,2)

Difficult to split these 2 bitches as they had different things, I liked about both.

1. Mrs Harris                                         -              Melverly Burano

Feminine headed bitch & another who’s eye needs to darken. Well presented, good neck into well laid shoulders & better rear angulation than 2nd. I’d really like to see her moved on a lose lead &not strung up.

2 Mr & Mrs Lillie                                 -              Freeway Remembrance

Lovely type of bitch with that wonderful dark eye complementing her feminine headpiece. Good length of neck into well laid shoulders, & true when moving to &from. Not in her best jacket today & not enjoying the weather on the go round.

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Mid Limit Bitch (4,1)

1. Mrs House                                        -              Gleadsbury Dynamite

LWT bitch who caught my eye as she entered the ring . My notes say “moderation, moderation, moderation”. Feminine head,with an eye that is starting to darken&the chiseling below. Correct length of neck flowing into well laid shoulders, gone bone, feet & well-muscled rear quarters which she used to her advantage to win this class.

2 Mr & Mrs Lillie                                 -              Freeway Fortune

Another from this kennel with the darkest of eyes, completing a typical feminine head. A tad upright in shoulder for me, well angulated in rear & in lovely coat & condition.

3 Mrs Hipgrave                                    -              Ternspringer Jazz Singer

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Limit Bitch (6,2)

A good class of quality bitches, splitting hairs between them all & I am sure they will change places

many times in their careers.

1. Mrs Dobbin                                       -              Donarden Gin Fizz

Exquisite L/W bitch who when stacked, presents a lovely balanced outline. I’d like a tad more work in her head, however its still feminine & has qualities to it.Presented in top condition, correct angulation for & aft, which enabled her to move with that correct springer gait I was looking for today.

2 Mr & Mrs Keely                                -              Shipden Alhambian Diana Dors

Lovely bitch from all angles & at first glance I thought she would be my winner. Dark eye, but her skull is just a bit too strong for me,

good length of neck flowing into well laid shoulders, another presented in top condition who moved out well.

3 Mrs Cokell                                         -              Carlyquinn Kisses Of Fire JW

4 Mrs Jenkinson                                  -              Eastriding Glam Princess

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Open Bitch (4,0)

1. Wildsmith & Brown                         -              Sh Ch Trimere Tickle Me Fancy

Oh, she certainly did that! She came, she saw, she conquered! Absolutely gorgeous, just full of quality from the tip of her nose to the end of her wagging tail, she just stood there demanding to win! Super feminine head, with all the workings in place, as one has come accustomed to from her talented breeders. Super dark eye, her neck just flowed into her well laid shoulders, she was standing on correct bone & feet, her rear quarters were well used when she flowed around the ring, in perfect harmony with her handler& she was

immaculately presented. I just loved her! I found out after judging, that I gave her sister the BCC & BOB last time I judged, that was some litter!

BCC & BIS.

2 Miss Corbett                                     -              Sh Ch Trimere Taylor Swift

Another super bitch from this top kennel. Dark eye, well angled quarters, deep chest with plenty of heart room. Well boned legs & tight rounded feet, moved out well just not wearing her best jacket today.

3 Mrs Topliss                                       -              Sh Ch Beresford Night Class

4 Mr & Mrs Cunliff                              -              Calvdale I Say Of Fallenleaf CJW18 CW18

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Champion Bitch (1,0)

1. Mr Smith                                           -              Sh Ch Melverly Lil Dancer

. A quality bitch who excelled in outline, feminine but not lacking in substance & full of breed type. Feminine head, kind expression, strong neck into well laid shoulders, matched with well angled rear quarters. I really wanted to see this bitch stride out like I

know she can, but the long day & narrow inside ring just didn’t suit her today.

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Special Beginners Bitch (1,1)

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Veteran Bitch (4,1)

1. Ms Watson                                       -              Sh Ch Bordacity Honey Ryder

8yr old bitch who had a lovely outline & although she was carrying a tad too much weight today, her qualities could not deny her winning this class today. Feminine headpiece, good neck into well laid shoulders, super width of thigh & moved out & round with that typical springer gait I was looking for.

2 Mrs Weyman                                    -              Spuffing Molly’s Secret

7yr old B/W bitch shown in a glorious shining jacket & in tip top condition. Darkest of eyes, kind expression good neck into adequate quarters & moved with real enthusiasm when on the go around

3 Mr & Mrs Gibson                             -              Calvdale Rag Nymph