CTC Bitches

BITCH CRITIQUE

It was an honour and distinction to be invited to judge the bitch classes at the Cairn Terrier Clubs Centenary show at the Lanark Agricultural Centre in Scotland.

The venue was excellent in particular for its position, parking and access, it would be difficult to find enough superlatives to adequately describe the amount of planning and preparatory work that had obviously gone into the organisation and management of this event by the Officers and Committee for this truly unforgettable weekend the content of which ran like a well oiled machine.

Also I give thanks to my ring Stewards and to all the exhibitors who had travelled vast distances from home and abroad to be part of this historic weekend.

Prior to this show I had not judged the breed in this country for over three years and therefore, came with a fresh pair of eyes on cairns that I have never seen before, the overall quality ranged from mediocre to outstanding, temperaments were very sound, the majority had good double coats with a few being blousey, dirty and poorly groomed.

Heads varied, a number lacking a broad skull, stop, ear placement and those lovely dark hazel eyes, narrow muzzles which went with some very small and irregular teeth.

On a positive note however, the front movement had greatly improved but the rear ends still require attention with regards to over angulation, non-parallel hocks coupled with lack of drive plus muscle tone which resulted in some erratic “tippy tappy” rear movement.

The toplines, tailsets, reach of neck and general overall size again was much improved.

My Principal Winners.

BCC & BOB; Thompson's CH Castleline Bonnie JW - this very feminine wheaten “stole my heart”, handled and put down to perfection, moved spot on both ways, the correct size in all departments, superb outline standing and on the move.

In agreement with Jack Watson the Judge of the dog classes we awarded her the BOB and Best in Show.

RBCC; Theodorsson's Su CH Hjohoo's I Wanna be like Hjo – A wonderful light red, strong head and expression, very free flowing movement on good legs and feet, excellent reach of neck and topline, this level of quality comes as standard from this very fine Swedish Kennel.

BPB & BPIS – Innett's Carradine come on Irene – Super well coated brindle, stood out in the ring, very mature and good mover, a joint decision to award her BPIS

Special Veteran Bitch 7-9 years (7,3a)

1st – Short's CH Glenchess Golden Wings – Very showy light red, strong head, quality throughout, good depth of rib, topline and tailset, showed all out.

2nd – Munday's CH Stradivarius Sonata – well coated grey brindle, good harsh condition well proportioned moved well out and back.

3rd – Goud's Beanoak Scatter the Mud.

Special Veteran Bitch 10 years & over (4, 1a)

1st – Thomas's CH Tycadno Colombia – Super 12 year old brindle and very proud of her grey whiskers, enjoyed her day back in the ring, deserved her first place.

2nd – Jenning's Doonrae Youthfulness – An 11 year old grey brindle, very typical, moved and showed very well.

3rd – Ough's Pebbles of Elgol.

Minor Puppy Bitch – (12, 2a)

1st – Cameron's Stryveling Sweet Caroline – Just 6 months old what a fantastic future prospect, super full coated wheaten, very typical head, dark eye, excellent front movement, topline and tailset spot on, also awarded BMP.

2nd – Inett & Heidecker's - Hydecastle Roxanne – Another very promising 7 month old wheaten, although a little smaller still well balanced, good outline and sound on the move.

3rd – Robert's Cannwood One Moment in Time

Puppy Bitch – (16, 6a)

1st – Inett's Carradine Come on Irene – This lovely eyecatching brindle stood out, correct size, excellent head and expression, lovely lay of shoulder resulting in good front movement, topline and tailset bang on, really showy, good rear quarters, BPB & BPIS.

2nd – Harding's Cannwood Remember Holly – This very feminine cream, well put down, well ribbed, lovely dark mask, shoulders and rear end okay, covered the ground well both ways.

3rd – Catto's Birselaw any Dream Will Do.

Junior Bitch – (9, 1a)

1st – Osborne's Tweslam Made by Magic – Quality red with correct textured coat, good bone, well furnished head, stop and expression, correct bite, nice free flowing movement on strong legs and feet, nice bend of stifle.

2nd – Thomas's Tycadno Starlet – Cracking cream in good coat, right reach of neck running into good shoulders, level topline, good loin and rear end, moved well.

3rd – Percy's Winetta my Kind of Girl.

Yearling Bitch – (8, 2a)

1st – Hogarty's Cadagio Make it Happen – Glorious red in good harsh coat, length of back and well ribbed with strong loin, very alert and workmanlike with a strong head, free mover on excellent legs and feet.

2nd – Braybrook's Here I Come – Very showy red, finer all round than 1, super temperament, okay on the move.

3rd – Warne's Spirebrooke Morning Glory.

Maiden Bitch – (5, 1a)

1st – Shannon & Storr's Brenndarcy Virginia Plain – Well coated red, her front movement better than the rear, correct mouth, level topline and strong head, lovely dark eyes.

2nd – Dawson's Sybster Sauvignon – Lovely feminine cream although a correct coat it was past it's best, good legs and feet strong rear quarters.

3rd – Miller's Corton Badger's Dream.

Novice Bitch – (8, 1a)

1st – Osborne's Tweslam Winter Magic – Well coated red brindle with strong head, ears, stop and expression, nice shoulders, stands well over her forepaws, good free flowing movement, good outline when on the move.

2nd – Osterstrom's Vicklebos Timjan – Dark brindle with good teeth, well proportioned head, muscular well ribbed body with strong loin but a little long cast overall, super legs and feet steady on the move.

3rd – Clarke's Lentrica Who's the Daddy.

Graduate Bitch – (16, 1a)

1st – Poile's Kedvaiy Liza with a Z – Beautiful red brindle with quality double jacket, pleasing head and expression, depth of rib, nice lay of shoulder, good muscle tone and powerful rear quarters, moved out and back on best of legs and feet.

2nd – Smee's High Class Baby at Malmay – Another fine red in tip top condition, good front, great head, well furnished with deep stop, good reach of neck, bend of stifle, steady mover on good legs and feet.

3rd – Firth's Cairngold Treasure.

Post Graduate Bitch – (10, 2a)

1st – Confue's Anjofra Welcome to La La Land – This super red caught my eye as soon as she entered the ring, correct head, mouth, dark eye and well placed ears, her nice sloping shoulders coupled with a level topline and tailset, sound rear quarters completed her outstanding outline, good mover.

2nd – Hughes Gyncairn Royal Velvet – Well balanced wheaten brindle now requiring a new coat, nice overall length with depth of rib and strong loin, correct mouth, topline good , drove well from the rear.

3rd – Saich's Lindcoly's Lucky Lealo.

Limit Bitch – (17, 5a)

1st – Smook Van Koolbergen's Ladyship Coud of Joy CW09 – What a fabulous class, this striking wheaten in full coat with a gorgeous head and expression demanded to be noticed with her non stop showmanship, best of shoulders and powerful rear quarters culminated in her very sound movement both ways, well up to size but overall beautifully balanced.

2nd – Theodorsson's Hjohoo's For Your Eyes Only – Another super quality bitch from this very fine kennel, a light red very well furnished head with a lovely dark mask, first class legs and feet with strong rear quarters giving positive rear drive, neck, shoulders and topline top rate, never stopped showing.

3rd – King, Leighton, Inett & Harrison's – Curtisey Foreign Account with Carradine.

Open Bitch – (18, 1a)

This breathtaking Class of 18 contained 13 Champions the depth and quality can only be described as awesome with a number of magnificent bitches going “Cardless”.

1st – Thompson's CH Castleline Bonnie JW – An outstanding wheaten who did not put a foot wrong I was pleased to award her the CC and in conjunction with Jack Watson who judged the dog classes we jointly awarded her the BOB & BIS.

2nd – Theodorsson's Su CH Hjohoo's I wanna be like Hjo – A fabulous cairn who was saturated in quality and went on to be awarded the RCC.

3rd – Shaw's CH Honeyhall Hide'n Seek – Super bitch in fine form, a credit to the breed.

Special Beginners Bitch – (11, 2a)

1st – Warne's Spirebrooke Morning Glory – Very feminine dark brindle moved and showed okay, deserved her placing.

2nd – Waite's Svendalesns Crazy Diamond – Light brindle, nice head reach of neck and good topline, front movement okay.

3rd – Bradshaw's Newfield Dawn Spirit.

RHJ Croyman

Judge.