LEEDS CHAMPIONSHIP DOG SHOW

Judges Critiques

Mrs Elaine SYDNEY

Judging: Afghan Hound, Hound Group

BEST OF BREED : 29 HARWOOD, Mrs M & Mr M & HARWOOD, Mr Mark Altside Too Hot To Handle Jw
Dog CC : 29 HARWOOD, Mrs M & Mr M & HARWOOD, Mr Mark Altside Too Hot To Handle Jw
Res Dog CC : 37 LANCASHIRE, Mrs A M & O'DONNELL, Miss C & LANCASHI Ch Drishaun Baby's In Black JW
Bitch CC : 22 GLEED, Miss V & MCPHERSON, Mr I Saviour And My Salvation At Ksiadz
Res Bitch CC : 56 TROMP, Mrs R Int Ch Lux Ch Ir Ch NL Ch UK Ch Popovs Sazerac At
Best Puppy : 61 SANGHERA, Mr Harjinder & SANGHERA, Mrs Joy Sitana Beautiful Dreamer
Best Veteran : 56 TROMP, Mrs R Int Ch Lux Ch Ir Ch NL Ch UK Ch Popovs Sazerac At
Best Special Beginner : 33 HUDSON, Mrs Nicola Shimalma Izarra

Leeds CH Show 24/7/2025

Afghan Hounds.

Many thanks to the Leeds show committee for inviting me to judge and for their great hospitality. A special thanks to my very efficient and friendly stewards, without whom my judging experience would not have run so smoothly. And last but not least, my thanks must go to the exhibitors, who trusted me to give an opinion on their lovely dogs. In many classes there was so little to separate my winners, that movement on the day was the deciding factor.

Spec Beginners D or B. (2,1) 1. Mrs N Hudson. Shimalma Izarra almost 5yr shaded mask cream, reminiscent of old. A lovely head and eye, balanced angulation, good spring and depth of rib, good length of neck. Moved ok .

MPD (0)

PD (6) 1. Mrs J and Mr A Kidd. Cloudside Prince of Light. A very nice young boy with a super outline; long neck into well laid back shoulders, correct return of upper arm and corresponding balanced rear angulation. Lovely head and eye. His balanced movement had reach and drive with the typical afghan springy gait.

2, 3 &4. Litter brothers. What a lovely litter of puppies with very little to separate them and could change places on another day..

Mr A J and Mrs P Trainor. Sitana Playing With Fire. A very nice b/mcr. I loved his puppy whiskers. He has a lovely head and eye, good length of neck into well laid shoulders. Good depth of brisket, good fallaway and correct set tail. He moved well once settled.

Mrs M and Mr W French. Sitana Silver Surfer at Zalmeerah. The same comments apply to this very nice cream puppy. Not quite as settled as 1 and 2.

JD (5,1) A lovely class, which bodes well for the future of this special breed.

1. Mrs V Gleed & Mr I McPherson. Chinzaes Tartan Tiger. Another young boy with a lovely shape. This brindle boy is beautifully balanced with long powerful hindquarters, well bent stifle, long neck into long, sloping well set back shoulders and correct return of upper arm. He has a good spring and depth of rib and doughnut ringed tail. He moved round the ring with typical afghan gait, with reach and drive and style of high order. A very nice boy.

2. Mrs A J and Mr T Reed. Way Up Portofino(Imp It) Brindle boy with a lovely head and eye, good length of neck into well laid shoulders. Slightly longer than 1 at this stage, but sound throughout with balanced angulation front and rear. He moved very well. Not quite the reach and drive of 1.

3. Mrs G Gardner. Drishaun Consider This Baby. Another very nice brindle. Finer throughout and didn't quite move as well as winners on the day, but sound throughout. A balanced outline, fair spring of rib and good depth of chest.

YD (0)

PGD (4,2) 1. Ms M & Mr W French. Imp Trust Queen Buddha At Zalmeerah(Imp Rus) B/m cream dog with a lovely shape, good balanced angulation, level back, good length of neck, good head and eye, correct spring of rib and good depth of brisket. He moved soundly with reach and drive.

2. Miss E Lockett-Davies & Mrs E Moyes. Rhazmakh Sun O'summer JW. A very nice s/m cream slightly longer cast than 1. Well balanced with good bend of stifle, shoulder placement and return of upper arm. A good ribcage, correct topline, good fallaway and well set tail. Lovely head and eye. He moved well but not quite the reach of 1.

LD (5) 1. Mrs M & Mr M Harwood. Altside Too Hot To Handle JW This lovely s/m cream really took my eye. He commands attention both standing and on the move. With a lovely head and eye, long neck into long, sloping well laid back shoulders, good return of upper arm, level back, powerful well turned stifles and great length from hip to hock. A totally balanced hound, which showed on the move; he soared round the ring with long springy strides, reach and drive and style of high order unique to the afghan hound, together with the doughnut ringed tail, prominent hipbones and natural saddle, which this lovely boy also has. I was delighted to award him Dog CC and BOB.

2. Ms M & Mr W French. Sitana Moon Knight At Zalmeerah. A lovely shaped eye- catching bl/tan boy. Well balanced, well angulated fore and aft, correct spring and depth of rib, level back, correct fallaway and tail set, ringed tail. He moved well with reach and drive.

3. Mrs L Newton. Shimalma Jagermeister. S/m cream boy slightly longer cast than 1&2. A beautiful head and eye, well balanced, good angulation fore and aft, good ribcage, good length of neck. Moved well with reach and drive. A lovely boy.

OD (4,1) 1. Mrs A M & Mr M Lancashire & Miss C O'Donnell. CH Drishaun Baby's in Black JW. A super glamorous bl/cr, who looked good both standing and on the move. A well balanced dog with correct angulation front and rear, great length from hip to hock, good bend of stifle and powerful quarters. He has a lovely shape with level topline, correct fallaway and low set tail. He moved round the ring with smooth, free flowing strides showing both reach and drive and a style of high order, earning him a well deserved RCC.

2. Mrs E & Miss I James. CH Syrdarya Darjeeling Chai Of Simkhan Smaller than 1, but perfectly formed b/m gold. A lovely head and eye, good length of neck, good shoulders, sweeping quarters, level back, prominent hipbones and correct fallaway and tail set. Well sprung ribs and depth of chest. A lovely silky coat and short saddle. He moved with springy gait and reach and drive. Just my type. Pity to meet 1 today in such good form.

3. Mr C & Mrs M Pascoe. Int CH Lux CH NI CH Uk CH Popovs Aladdin At Sarakhan (Imp Nld) JW A bigger dog all round but everything in the right place. A balanced dog b/m gold with correct angulation front and rear, a good length of neck into well set back shoulders, good return of upper arm, good bend of stifle and great length from hip to hock. I have done well for this boy previously, but today he didn't put his all into his movement.

VD (3,1) 1. Mrs W & Mr G Smithson. Zandahar Xplosive Storm. I loved this 7yr old boy. Took me back to my days of showing afghans. He has a lovely outline, great balance, a good length of neck into well laid shoulders, good return of upper arm, level back , good fallaway, good bend of stifle and great length from hip to hock. He has well sprung ribs and good depth of brisket. He looked a picture standing but although his movement was sound, it was without much verve. A pity.

2. Mr C & Mrs S Winters. CH Pashtari Lord Tennyson Tokando JW. A very nice 9yr old black boy. Longer cast than 1 and not so tight in topline. Good length of neck into well laid shoulders and return of upper arm. Good hindquarters, which he used well on the move. Correct spring of rib and depth of chest. Moved well. 

MPB (0)

PB (6,1) My first three are litter sisters. Very nice puppies, who could change places on another day.

1. Mr H & Mrs J Sanghera. Sitana Beautiful Dreamer A lovely puppy of 9mths. Lovely head and eye. Well balanced with good angulation fore and aft, good length of neck into well laid shoulders, level topline. Moved very well with reach and drive. Best Puppy.

2. Mrs J Dare. Sitana The Eternal At Lakarnadream A striking cream of similar conformation to 1st. She looked a picture stood but today didn't quite have the reach of 1 on the move.

3. Mrs N Hudson. Sitana Miss Marvel. Very similar to 2nd and has the same attributes as her sisters. She moved very well, but today she just wouldn't comply with her handler.

JB (5, 1withdrawn) 1. Mrs R E A Howie & Miss J Leitch Chinzaes Touch Of Tartan A very striking bl/cr. Very well balanced, good length of neck into well laid back shoulders, good return of upper arm, well bent stifles and good length from hip to hock. Well sprung ribs and depth of chest. Level back and good fallaway. Moved beautifully with a smooth springy gait, reach and drive. She should do very well. 

2. Mesdames J Della Rocca & M, A & S Fairburn. Way Up Bombay Saphire(Imp It) [ATC HP12345] Another lovely young bitch with a super outline. A lovely head and eye, long neck into good shoulders and return of upper arm. Well balanced with well bent stifles and good length from hip to hock. She moved well. Not as mature as 1st.

3. Mr J & Mrs M Bloor Pretty Infinity A Touch Of Freedom At Pashtari (Imp Deu) A lovely young bitch with soundness and balance. Well angulated front and rear, good spring and depth of rib, good length of neck. Lovely head and eye. Moved soundly but not with the power and drive as 1 and 2 today.

YB (1) 1. Mrs J Day. Khorinyas Anastasia (AI). Stood alone but could hold her own in any company. A lovely b/m gold with red saddle. She reminded me of afghans of old. Good length of neck into well laid back shoulders and return of uper arm. Level back, good croup and tail set, well balanced hind angulation, well sprung ribs. She moved beautifully with reach and drive and typical springy gait. 

PGB (3,1) 1. Miss R Blessington. Rhazmakh Portrait O'Summer. A very nice 3yr cream bitch. Well balanced with good angulation fore and aft. A good length of neck, good topline and fallaway. Good spring and depth of rib. Lovely coat texture and natural saddle. Good width of front. She moved very well with reach and drive.

2. Mrs S Shepherd. Jazzmeenah Sureya. A lovely type b/m gold 3 yr old with red saddle. She has good angulation and is nicely balanced, but didn't move with the verve of 1st and not as mature.

LB (8,2) 1. Miss V Gleed & Mr I McPherson. Saviour And My Salvation At Ksiadz. A lovely br bitch of 3 yrs with a beautiful head and eye. She has a lovely balanced outline, with correct length of neck into well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm, long sweeping quarters with good bend of stifle, a level topline, prominent hipbones and correct slope of croup, good spring and depth of rib and correct width in front. She moved beautifully with smooth springy gait, reach and drive. I was delighted to award her Bitch CC. Her third, I was later informed. Congratulations and well deserved.

2. Mr H & Mrs J Sanghera. Sitana Love And Thunder JW. A very nice b/m red bitch . A lovely shape , well balanced angulation, well laid back shoulders, well bent stifles, good spring of rib, lovely head and eye. Moved very well with typical springy gait, reach and drive. A bit out of coat at the moment but couldn't deny her placing on her shape and movement.

3. Mrs W Mitchell, Mr G Smithson & Mrs B Thornton. Absolute Afghan's India At Karnak (Imp Nor). A very nice cream bitch in lovely coat. Bigger all round than 1 & 2 and slightly longer cast. She is well balanced with good angulation, level topline, good spring of rib. She won her place on her sound movement with reach and drive. 

OB (6). 1. Mrs J A Noble & Mr D Wilcox. CH Aqua's The Bitchisback At Bichoux JW (Imp USA). Lovely type, red bitch. So elegant, but still giving the appearance of strength and power. Good head, long neck into well laid shoulders, level back, prominent hipbones, correct slope of croup and tail set on. Well balanced with good bend of stifle and return upper arm. Ringed tail. Her long silky coat is a credit to to her owners. She moved well with reach and drive. 

2. Mrs A M & Mr M Lancashire & Miss C O'Donnell. CH Drishaun Don't Call Me Baby JW

A lovely gold bitch very similar in shape to 1. Super deep saddle. Well balanced with good angulation fore and aft, level back, good spring of rib. She moved well with reach and drive. A little stronger in head that 1.

3. Mr R Gilbert. CH Altside Hot As Hell At Affietar. A bitch I have done well for previously. A very well balanced girl, good length of neck, level back, good spring of rib, doughnut ringed tail. She moved very well with reach and drive. Very close decision between three lovely bitches, but I just preferred the more prominent hipbones and slope of croup on 1&2.

VB (4,2) 1. Mrs R Tromp. Int CH Lux CH Ir CH NI CH Uk CH Popovs Sazerac At Sarakhan(Imp Nld) JW. A lovely gold bitch I have done well for before. She has it all. A lovely type with deep saddle, long neck into well laid shoulders and return of upper arm, good spring, length and depth of rib, well bent stifles and good length from hip to hock. She has a super balanced shape when standing, but excels on the move with great reach and drive and smooth springy gait. I couldn't deny her the well deserved RCC. 

2. Mrs M Fairburn & Mrs P Roberts. Cloudside Sunset A lovely 8yr old bl/br . A lovely balanced shape with good angulation fore and aft, a good length of neck into well laid shoulders. A lovely head and eye. Moved soundly with reach and drive.

Elaine Sydney

(Judge)