DARLINGTON DOG SHOW SOCIETY

Judges Critiques

18th September 2026 20th September 2026

Mr Graham HILL

Official Judges Critique

Judging: Japanese Shiba Inu, Utility Group

DARLINGTON DOG SHOW SOCIETY

Show Results - Utility Group

JAPANESE SHIBA INU

Judge: Mr G Hill

BEST OF BREED : 3339 DUNHILL-HALL, Miss M Ch Vormund Coachella
Dog CC : 3337 DUNHILL-HALL, Miss M Ch & It Ch Vormund Xmas Bonus Ww26
Res Dog CC : 3361 ROSKELL, Miss C Ch Phixons Straumann ShCEx
Bitch CC : 3339 DUNHILL-HALL, Miss M Ch Vormund Coachella
Res Bitch CC : 3344 DUNHILL-HALL, Miss M Vormund Jinx Arcane
Best Puppy : 3342 DUNHILL-HALL, Miss M Vormund Ezo No Shogun
Best Veteran : 3360 ROSKELL, Miss C Ch Ken Go Shun'you Kensha

Class 1227 VD (4 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 3360 ROSKELL’S Ch Ken Go Shun'you Kensha a firm-bodied, mature 8-year-old male, pleasing in overall conformation and presenting a very attractive profile. Attractive head and expression, with a strong, well-shaped neck flowing into a sturdy, well-proportioned body, outline of which I preferred to second. True enough in front, with pleasing depth of chest and tight elbows. Firm topline. The better mover in the class.
2nd: 3350 HALL’S Ir Rokemin Royal Mint a 7-year-old sturdy white in commendable condition. Good body proportions length to height. Pleasing in head and expression, true in front well boned and bodied. Moderate angulation front and rear. Free moving but not as true going forward as 1st.
3rd: 3331 BEHAN’S Tiblha Im A Conkarah

Class 1228 PD (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 3342 DUNHILL-HALL’S Vormund Ezo No Shogun a smart 10-month-old black and tan who is of pleasing bone, body, size and appearance. Good-looking head with well set ears which with his dark correct shaped eyes enhance his expression. True front which I preferred to 2nd. Well-developed in body with firm, level topline and relatively short loin. In side profile he is pleasing in overall balance and proportions. Brisk and active in movement.
2nd: 3363 ROSKELL’S Doriken Ed Turner a smart, well-grown 11-month-old red, having commendable bone and body. Pleasing overall profile shape, with an attractive head of good profile, proportion and expression. True and sound in front, with pleasing pasterns and good fill of fore-chest. Well bodied, with good spring of rib carried well back. Firm in stance, with pleasing hindquarter angulation and hind movement, which edged him over third. Another puppy showing the desired promise for the future.
3rd: 3332 BEHAN’S Tiblha Yukari Is King

Class 1229 JD (2 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 3365 STANLEY & DUNHILL-HALL’S Vormund Power Of Ten an elegant 17-month-old black-and-tan male. Pleasing head, set on a moderately arched neck, with attractive breed-typical features and an alert, responsive expression. True in front, with a pleasing body, good spring of rib and ribs carried sufficiently well back. Moved freely and purposefully, particularly good side gait.
2nd: 3353 HAMILTON & MAY’S Doriken Reggie Mental a well-grown 11-month-old red male, with a pleasing head set on a moderately arched neck. Attractive head and alert, responsive expression. True in front, with a pleasing body, good spring of rib and ribs carried sufficiently well back. A more definite angle of stifle would enhance his overall profile. Needs to settle on the move and was a little loose at the hocks.

Class 1230 PGD (2 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 3328 ADEY’S Burwen Blue Corvette At Echezeaux a 3½-year-old red, with an attractive appearance when attentive. Pleasing in make and shape, and presenting a more finished, together picture than second. Well-shaped, attractive head and expression, with good overall conformation. True in front and tighter there than 2nd, though with gentle slope of pastern. Good length and depth of rib; while the loin could be somewhat shorter, he was firm and level in topline. The best mover in the class, although a little close behind.
2nd: 3366 WRIGHT’S Black Matrix Di Poggio Petroio To Sealandair (imp It) a sturdy 20-month-old black-and-tan young male with good overall body length. Tended to appear narrow in front and is currently at a leggier stage than 1st and needing more angulation. Showed a lively side gait, though unsettled in front and close in rear action.

Class 1231 LD (5 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: 3338 DUNHILL-HALL’S Vormund Ken Kanekii a well-made 2-year-old red male of pleasing overall proportions and balance, presenting a very satisfying appearance. Refined, breed-typical head with a pleasing expression. True in front, though I would prefer tighter elbows. Sturdy in body, with moderate hindquarters, and I preferred his depth of body to second. Presented a very smart, composed picture. Moved freely, although a little unsettled.
2nd: 3352 HAMILTON & MAY’S Doriken Royal Keepsake a smart, rising 4-year-old male with an attractive head and engaging expression, complemented by good depth of muzzle. Tended to appear sturdier in body and bone than 1st, and was not quite as balanced in profile. True enough in front, though I would prefer tighter elbows. Moved freely and actively, but was unsettled in rear action.
3rd: 3366 WRIGHT’S Black Matrix Di Poggio Petroio To Sealandair (imp It)

Class 1232 OD (4 Entries) Abs: 2
1st: 3337 DUNHILL-HALL’s Ch & It Ch Vormund Xmas Bonus Ww26 a sturdy, quality 4½-year-old male, well balanced throughout, with striking colour and an attractive overall appearance. Handsome head, with pleasing eyes and ears, set on a desirable arched neck. True in front, with pleasing forequarters and a well-made body showing adequate spring of rib and depth of chest. Pleasing bone and feet, with desirable body proportions. Moved well and was the better mover in the class. My Dog CC winner. 2nd: 3361 ROSKELL’s Ch Phixons Straumann ShCEx a very smart breed-typical 4-year-old male, appearing slightly longer in body proportions than first. Attractive head, with pleasing eyes and ears and an alert expression. Head set well onto a strong, slightly arched neck. Well made in front and hindquarters, although a little more angulation of stifle would improve his outline. Not as free or as precise in action as first on the move.

Class 1233 VB (3 Entries) Abs: 2
1st: 3358 JONES’ Vormund Black Widow an 8-year-old mature black and tan bitch who is fine in stature but pleasing in overall conformation. She is attractive in head and expression, strong good length neck and has a well-proportioned body. True enough in front but would prefer more lay-back of shoulder, pleasing depth of chest with tight elbows. Firm topline. Free and active movement.

Class 1234 PB (2 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 3343 DUNHILL-HALL’S Vormund Mcqueen Naf Taf a very elegant 7-month-old, who has pleasing bone and body. Attractive head, set well onto a well-made neck flowing into a well-developed body of good length and balanced proportions to her height. True in front, with sturdy bone; her well-sloped pasterns just need time to strengthen. Sound in body, with pleasing ribbing, spring, depth and length of loin. Showed more scope and a more together performance than 2nd, Moved well, purposeful and free.
2nd: 3359 MAY’S Doriken Royal Hallows Eve a smart 11-month-old, similar in many respects to first, though not as settled either standing or on the move. Pleasing in side profile, showing good progress in development while still retaining an obvious puppy look. A very promising youngster, typical in appearance and clearly feminine in head and expression. She has ample scope for maturity, with a sound underlying structure that gives plenty of promise for the future. Just needs to settle to give of her best.

Class 1236 PGB (2 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 3364 STANLEY & DUNHILL-HALL’S Vormund Dorian Gray a clean-cut 20-month-old, well made, proportioned and balanced in front and rear angulation. Very attractive head with an alert expression. Pleasing body cover and length, with ideal depth and spring of rib and good length of loin. I preferred her depth and length of ribbing to 2nd. True in front, with sufficiently tight elbows. Free, purposeful and true movement.
2nd: 3347 GARLAND’S Burwen Bejewelled a shapely 2-year-old bitch, well grown and showing good body proportions and balance of angulation. Attractive head, with dark, well-shaped eyes giving a pleasing expression; head set on a strong, well-shaped neck. Still needing further maturity in body. Tended to be loose in front and at the elbows, particularly on the move.

Class 1237 LB (5 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: 3344 DUNHILL-HALL;S Vormund Jinx Arcane a mature looking, well put-together nearly 3-year-old. Elegant in appearance and presenting a very pleasing side profile. Very attractive in head, with well-made forequarters and obvious fore-chest. Pleasing body, ribbing and hindquarters combine to create a balanced, well proportioned outline. The better rear action and mover in the class. Delighted to award her the Reserve Bitch CC.
2nd: 3354 HERNANDEZ & HERNANDEZ’S Bearpark Femme Fatale a nearly 5-year-old, well-bodied bitch of sturdier appearance than first. Firm in stance behind, with a pleasing overall picture. Breed-typical yet feminine head, showing well-developed cheeks and an alert expression. Nothing exaggerated. True, parallel front, which I preferred to third, who still needs to tighten in pastern and rear action on the move.
3rd: 3351 HAMILTON & MAY’S Doriken Royal Gem
Res: 3329 ADEY’ BurwSen Pink Cadillac At Echezeaux

Class 1238 OB (4 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: 3339 DUNHILL-HALL’S Ch Vormund Coachella a impressive, nearly 2-year-old bitch, notable for both conformation and condition. Excelling in make, shape and breed characteristics, she presents a picture encompassing everything one looks for in the breed. Not only is she well made, but she moves exceptionally well, with one of the best side gaits of the day. Impressive throughout, from head to hindquarters, with her many qualities enhanced by her correct coat and colour. In the Best of Breed challenge, I preferred her well-defined outline, strong, firm topline and free, purposeful, sound movement. Delighted to award her the Bitch CC and Best of Breed. Congratulations also on her subsequent Utility Group 3 placing. 2nd: 3362 ROSKELL’S Ch Afterglow Flamenco Re (Imp) a smart 6½-year-old, of pleasing conformation and shape both in profile and viewed from the front. Typical head, expression and ears, correct in size, shape and set. Strong neck of good length, in proportion to the rest of her. True in front, with pleasing fore-chest and body proportions, a short, strong loin and moderately let-down hindquarters. Well balanced, with height in proportion to length. Not quite the refined look compared to 1st. Moved out with purpose, though needing greater control in rear action.
3rd: 3347 GARLAND’S Burwen Bejewelled