DARLINGTON DOG SHOW SOCIETY

Judges Critiques

Mr E L RYAN

Judging: Griffon Bruxellois, Toy Group

Many thanks to the committee of Darlington for the kind invitation to judge Griffons at their beautifully laid out and well-run show. It is always a treat to visit Darlington and the layout of the rings, as well as space for exhibitors and their dogs behind the rings; is excellent. It is a very “exhibitor friendly” show. I very much enjoyed my day with the Griffons, my 3rd time awarding CCs to the breed over a six-year period. One of the most inherently interesting elements of judging for me, is to be able to follow family traits, similarities and dissimilarities too; and I am always interested to look at the pedigrees of the various dogs who have won under me and to see where they figure in the pedigrees of the winners as time goes by. I thought this entry was a good one numerically for the times we live in, and I was very pleased with the quality, there being more than one or two in each sex to whom I would have been very happy to award a CC to, and some promising puppies which bodes well for the future. 

PD (3 Entries) Abs: 2

1st) BLORE, Mrs Val H Movalian Ember Glow, this B/T puppy was a really good start to the day; gorgeous head and expression, good ears & eyes, has some breadth to muzzle but is not extreme in that department; loved his lay of shoulder and chest which is excellent for his age. Such a cobby body & Very level in topline with a good tail for both set and carriage; and he is a very accurate and purposeful mover from all angles, returning. I see I gave his uncle the RCC 4 years ago as a puppy, and had this chap kept four feet on the ground for more than two minutes I may well have considered doing the same for him; but he was beaten by the more settled action of the older males on the day. He is very promising, I think. Continued to play about in the challenge for BP, and so it went to the Puppy Bitch, but he is lovely. 

JD (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st) POTTS, Mr R & Mrs J Adreeam Classic Rough, this R/R was the better of the two here for shape and balance. He has a very good head and eye, and his ears are quite a good size. I wouldn’t want his chin any more prominent than it already is, and I would prefer both of them in this class to have had wider muzzles; but they did both have good expressions. Good lay of shoulder and enough chest for his age; well ribbed & he has a firm topline and tail; goes with a good, sound action, if a little less accurate in front than he could be for ideal. In excellent jacket and very well handled. 

2nd) MOORHOUSE, Mrs Andrea Claire Voodoomoon's Six Six Six, another R/R and less keen to “go” on the ground than the winner; he too has a decent head and expression, but again I would prefer less prominence in his chin, even for a Griffon. He is quite good to go over, enough neck & chest, ribs to spring a little as yet, but he has a short loin and a very good tail for set and he carries it fairly well. In good jacket & enjoyed himself. 

PGD (2 Entries) Abs: 1

1st) ROBINSON, Mrs Yvonne Cilleine Last Orders, son of my DCC & BOB the last time I judged the breed & he is a beautifully conditioned R/S. Good eye and expression, but I felt his ears were a little too big for his size and they detracted a touch. Enough neck and chest and fairly good lay of shoulder. Ribs starting to develop; and he could be a little thicker set and cobbier for ideal; but he is young and maturing. Enough hind angulation and he is well muscled there. A little uncoordinated up and back but he is an active and easy profile mover, and he simply gleamed in the sun. 

LD (4 Entries) Abs: 0

1st) SELBY, Mr Mark & SELBY, Mrs Yvonne & ALLEN, Miss C Zilcan Captain Cave Man, quite a good class and lots to like about the first three. Ultimately the winner was this precocious young R/R with a lot going for him. Bred in the purple and a son of my DCC the last time I judged the breed; he has a beautiful head and expression, lovely ears and finish to face; well-made through the neck and shoulder with a good depth of chest despite his relatively young age. Well ribbed back, good topline and tail set, his hindquarters are very good, and he uses himself well on the move. In excellent jacket. Went with a very good stride, like the CC winner he is a touch extravagant in front; and it was just the profile of the CC winner in the final go around that clinched it, in a very close call. I thought he was lovely and has a lot of winning ahead of him. 

2nd) MEADEN, Miss A M Delightbull Tad The Man For Topmead JW, this R/R is also a very admirable sort, lots to like about him and he too has very good head properties & finish to face. Very well made in front, good depth to chest and he has very good ribbing; enough angulation behind although he wasn’t quite so accurate as the winner there which cost him the class, in very good jacket and handled so well.

3rd: 1634 PRICE, Miss Ffion Cari & BURNS, Mrs Laura Marquant New Order

OD (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st) LUNDGREN, Mr Jimmie & ANDERSSON, Mrs Linda World Swed Norw Int Ch Fin DK Ch Manticorns Gently, this R/R was a new one to me and I had to ask his owner to repeat his age when he said he was 9; as he completely belies his years other than a touch of frosting over his eyes. He has a very good head and eye, super chin and muzzle; perfect ears set well and falling to frame his face wonderfully. Good layback of shoulder and just enough upperarm; firm topline and neat underline; in excellent body and muscle condition to befit a dog less than half his age. Built on very good lines, he is flowing to go over; and he is covered in a superb jacket of the correct texture which is groomed to perfection, on the move he goes with a good, easy action even if he can pick his front legs up a touch too much at times; it was his profile movement and maturity of body that won him the CC on the day, coming into the challenge I thought the BCC winner would beat him for BOB; but again I felt his maturity in body & his balance throughout was just a touch better than hers, so he ended up with BOB and gave a very good account of himself in the Toy Group, where he was shortlisted; and also ultimately finished the day with Veteran Group 3. A great ambassador the longevity of pedigree dogs. 

2nd) ALLEN, Mrs C & SELBY, Mr M & WHITEHEAD, Miss F Ch Zilcan Monkey Business, when the class first came in, I thought this R/R would be the winner, he is beautifully balanced, cobby & screams Griffon, and I have already marked my opinion of him by previously awarding him a ResCC. He is so very admirable to go over, and I think he is one of the typiest and stockiest I have been over, certainly today in this entry. Not quite playing ball on the move today and quite insistent on being in a hurry to get to his destination; which caused him to display less accuracy in front and behind than I otherwise would have liked to see; even despite a couple of attempts. He is a worthy and beautiful Champion who I am sure will make his mark on the breed. 

3rd) MACKAY, Mr Gordon & MACKAY, Mrs Pauline Ch Osthaen A Kind Of Magic, completed a trio of quality, Champion males. 

PB (6 Entries) Abs: 2

1st) MERCER, Mrs Mary Ann Gilderoak Poker Face At Fennymore, this R/R won here on her more settled action and balanced side stride; she has a lovely head and eye, good ears for her skull size and she is quite good through the neck and shoulder, with plenty of chest for her age. Very firm in topline, well ribbed back with a good tail carriage. Very sound and free moving, and accurate both ways. Coat a little soft at the minute but she has plenty of time and is a most useful prospect. BPB and against the lovely young puppy dog she continued to hold her composure; and so was rewarded with BPIB. 

2nd) SELBY, Mr Mark & WHITEHEAD, Miss Fiona & ALLEN, Mi Zilcan Smashed It Taf, I really loved this R/S and she is so typical of the type of Griffon this now famous kennel is producing, and I see she is a daughter of the bitch that was second in Open. Absolutley nothing whatsoever to change on her at this age, all she needs now is time to body up and gain an element of “cobbiness” and ring composure, and she too will be destined for greater things. Lovely bitch from her nose to her tail. 

3rd) PRICE, Miss Ffion Cari Marquant Gambit

JB (3 Entries) Abs: 1

1st) BLAIR, Mrs G Adreeam Diamond In The Rough For Bellflows, R/R and a very good make and shape throughout. Her head and eye are quite expressive, and she has plenty of turn-up without being overdone in that department. She certainly needs more confidence on the table to show herself off to full advantage or to go on to achieve bigger things; but she won here on her cobbiness, balance & her free striding action. 

2nd) WOOD, Miss Lisa Delightbull Viva La Vida, this R/R has quite a good head and eye, and her ears are fairly well proportioned for her size. A little upright in shoulder and could ideally have a little more chest and better ribbing; she is quite a good profile mover but had a hard task to match the winner up and back. In very good condition and has a jacket of the correct texture.  

LB (4 Entries) Abs: 0

1st) BLORE, Mrs Val H Movalian Burning Desire, good class in which this R/S eventually triumphed. I loved her head and expression, not overdone in any respect and just typically “Griffon”; excellent width and breadth to muzzle and she has super eyes and ears. Very good through the neck and shoulder, lovely chest and ribbing, short loin and well set and carried tail. Yes, she is carrying too much weight; but this did not particularly hinder her outline, and she was probably one of the soundest movers of the day, with a virtually foot perfect action up and back and very striking in profile. A most useful sort of bitch I think and with her merits in mind, I considered her a very good Griffon indeed, as marked by RBCC. 

2nd) MERCER, Mrs Mary Ann Fennymore Annie Power, this R/R bitch is a very smart one, there is so much to like about her; and she is particularly impressive on the table where she presents a most beautiful shape, and on going over her; there is little to want to change at all. She has a mind of her own and despite her owner’s best efforts, will insist on doing exactly what she wants to do – purely because she can! She cannot be faulted on the move when she goes but has a habit of pulling out when it matters which spoils her chances. I am sure she will have many good, and well deserved, days. Presented to perfection.  

3rd) MACKAY, Mr Gordon & MACKAY, Mrs Pauline Osthaen Fire Will Reign

OB (6 Entries) Abs: 0

1st) LUNDGREN, Mr Jimmie & ANDERSSON, Mrs Linda DK Ch Norw Swed Ru-paul's Oh Baby Baby, a beautiful B/R bitch with a glorious head and expression. Just right for her size, lovely eyes and super ears, with an excellent finish to her muzzle. Very good neck and shoulder, excellent return of upperarm and she does have a super chest. Excellent ribbing, short loin and her topline and underline are bang on. Super tail for both set and carriage; and she is a very accurate mover away and back, driving from her excellently built hindquarters. She is quite something in profile, and she had to put it all in today to triumph in this class of lovely bitches. A truly lovely one, and a pleasure to judge. CC and BOS, in a close run off with what I know now to be her kennelmate and grandfather. 

2nd) SELBY, Mr Mark & WHITEHEAD, Miss Fiona & ALLEN, Mi Zilcan Fire Cracker, I really admired this R/R bitch too and I see she won Limit Bitch under me the last time I judged the breed. I have not changed my opinion of her, and I think she is a beautiful bitch; really good head and eye, and in super condition throughout. Lovely to go over, with little to want to change on the table. Had a hard time to match the accuracy of the winner or the RCC winner (who I see is her half-sister) up and back today; but will certainly make a worthy Champion, and by the looks of it can also produce well, looking at her gorgeous daughter in Puppy Bitch. 

3rd) MERCER, Mrs Mary Ann Ch Fennymore Drama Puss

Evan L Ryan (Cavallibrook/Feorlig)