SOUTHERN ENGLISH SETTER SOCIETY CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW DOGS Thank you to the Society for inviting me to judge and their perseverance to hold the show when they had to delay after the hall fire. Many thanks to the exhibitors who braved the January weather and entered their dogs. I must mention the lighting which is still needing attention and did not allow me to make a judgement on eye colour. Hence my omitting any description regarding eye colour in my report. The entry was not numerically large but I was pleased with my line up. Thank you all including my lovely stewards Kassia and Anne for giving me an enjoyable day. Veteran Dog (2,1) 1st King's Dobbies Delight at Grantastar. When standing this boy of 8 years gave the correct overall picture of an English Setter. Such a pleasing head balanced from foreface to occiput. Oval eye with ears set low, folding against head. Elegant but strong neck into correct lay of shoulder. Has correct length to upper arm. Excellent depth and strong over loin. Sweeping length hip to hock with good width of second thigh. Tail set on as required which was used on the move. Tight feet. Unfortunately, today just dropped his shoulder on the move. Junior Dog (1) 1st King's Sirius Blue Heaven at Grantastar Young tri boy still at the growing stage, who tends to stand tall. His skull is nicely broken and this gives a very pleasing eye shape. Correctly placed ears falling close to skull. Would have preferred less depth of foreface but has a correct bite. Correct depth of fore chest and strong back with short coupling. Tail set on correct, moved OK. Yearling Dog (4,1) 1st Stewart and Quenby's Tattersett Golden Sunrise. A compact dog with a balanced outline. Standing on good feet and round bone. Head balanced but a little plain, correct scissor bite. Ears set low to skull. Pleasing forearm and lay of shoulder leading to a strong back. Fine depth and spring of forerib. Short coupled with rounded quarters and well bent stifles. A sound and happy mover. 2nd Williams' Richecca Midwinter. I loved this dog's head plains and expression. Straight front and has an elegant length of neck leading to adequate shoulder placement. Tight feet with straight pasterns and required length of upper arm. Not as short coupled as 1st. Fine sweep from hip to hock. Moved soundly. 3rd Ward's Mariglen Wilbur Graduate Dog (4) 1st Tucker's Mariglen Night Wish for Walshaw This young dog has super bone and was shown in excellent hard condition. Straight front with depth to fore chest and stands on tight feet. Has the break in skull to give the oval eye. Clean in throat and natural high head carriage. Balanced forearm and hind angulation. Firm level back and strong on croup with correct tail placement. A steady and precise mover. 2nd Ciaputa's Wansleydale Skyfall A blue dog with a beautiful balanced skull, his raised eyebrows and work gives the oval eye and soft expression. Ears set low and close to skull. Elegant neck set into correctly angulated shoulders. Fine depth but not as short coupled as class winner. Good length hip to hock. Correct width of stifle. Moved off on tight feet. In good coat. 3rd Whittington's Juldeane Line of Duty Post Graduate Dog. (4) 1st Wood and Weller's Juldeane Prime Suspect. (A.I.) Quality orange, not a big dog but so very well balanced. He has a straight front with depth to fore chest. His head equal front to occiput and has the required brake in skull to provide a correct eye shape and expression. Open nostrils and not overdone in depth of flew. A correct bite with good sized teeth. Ears set on low and laying close to skull. Arch to neck allowing correct head carriage. Balanced, length of upper arm and shoulder placement allows his forelegs to sit close to his deep sprung chest but extend on the move. He is short coupled and has good width between his pin bones giving rounded quarters and strong hind angulation. Not in his best bib and tucker but I forgave him this when he moved with fore arm reach and drove through his hocks, his tail flowing off his back. RCC. 2. Sykes' Bumblecorn Robin at Daraquist Dark Blue with a beautiful classic head and eye. He has elegance and is well angulated throughout with a fine set on of his tail. Shows promise but he has a lot of maturing to do. Shown in good coat. 3.Whittington's Juldeane Line of Duty Limit Dog (6) 1st Schoneville and Derry's Balvenie Blue Sensation Balanced skull from muzzle to occiput, not overdone in depth of flews. Has the required soft expression of our breed. Ears low set and correct length of flap laying close to skull. Straight front with round bone, straight pasterns and standing on good feet. Sprung rib cage with length and depth. A good width between pins and tail falling gradually off his back. Has width of stifle and correct let down to hock. Moved with animation using tail action and keeping a firm top line. 2. Lyons' Swannery Laxton Fortune to Mierlees. This dog's coat was in fine condition and length but felt it distracted from showing the outline. I was delighted when going over him to find everything was of good quality. A lovely head, good neck and shoulders. Deep ribs, balanced fore and hind angulation which allows him to move freely. His tail is well placed. If the owner can collect him more on the move and address the abundance of coat, I personally would hope he can trouble the best. 3, Lawson's Wansleydale Dorian Grey JW Open Dog (5,3) 1st Taylor's and Atyeo's Samelen Comeback Special This beautiful dark blue belton filled my eye with quality. He has nothing overdone. A superb balanced head with beautiful eye shape. Correct bite, wide nostrils but not too much flew. Ears set low and close to skull. He is clean in throat. Carries his head high using his elegant neck which melts into his oblique shoulder placement. Plenty of depth to chest and spring of rib. Now fully mature his hind rib is fully sprung. Short coupled and strength over loin. His hind quarters are long above the hock and short below. Has good width of stifle. I have never seen him move so well, he drove off parallel hind quarters and showed reach, drive, and a strong level topline. His naturally high head carriage completed my picture of an elegant, first rate English Setter. DCC and in agreement with my co judge BIS. 2nd Darley's Sh Ch Severnsett Firecracker It is not difficult to see why this dog has his title. A beautiful balanced head and the kindest of expressions. Clean throat, strong neck. He has good bone and super depth to his frame. Has great rounded quarter and required length from hip to hock. These attributes with his width of stifle allows him to power off his hind quarters when on the move. Presented in beautiful coat. 3rd Wilson's Ravenset Giovanni Special Beginners (4) 1st Ward's Mariglen Wilbur This young dog has a correct shaped head, balanced neck and is clean over his shoulder. He is straight in front with round bone and feet. His fore and aft angulation are even. A lovely happy boy, he has a good coat but I would like more substance and for his handler to move him slower and more collected. 2nd Ciaputa's Wansleydale Skyfall (as before) 3rd Salmon's Gillancette Day Dreamer. Val Isherwood (Dog judge)