LEEDS CHAMPIONSHIP DOG SHOW

Judges Critiques

Mrs E Sharpe

Judging: Hovawart, Working Group

JUDGE’S CRITIQUE

LEEDS CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW JULY 28th  2023

HOVAWARTS

I would like to say “Thank You” to Leeds and District Canine Association for inviting me to judge Hovawarts, scheduled for the very first time at their show this year. It was my first visit to the show. What a wonderful venue ! Special thanks, too, to my exceptional stewards, Debbie and Tom, they made my job really easy and kept things moving. As usual, we had a wait to get started, being after a big entry of Siberian Huskies, and although their judge was quick and efficient, it was still well after two o’clock before we started, and our BoB didn’t make it to the group ring.

I thought overall the quality of exhibits was improved since I last judged, and flat feet and over-high tail carriage have all but disappeared. Good job ! Now we need to work on loose lips and the turning out (ballet third position) of front feet. Temperaments on the whole were great, I found no dentition problems and there were just a couple of exhibits sporting that extra pound or two. Only a couple of dogs had neatly clipped nails, though, and some were excessively long. Thank you to all the competitors for accepting my placements with good grace and humour.

JUNIOR DOG (1,0 abs)

1. White & Whitmore’s Johan Hovi-Raj of Driftingsky

    The only one in the class, but what a promising b/g 16 month old Junior ! He is a good size

    and already masculine and well grown. Nicely marked, typical head with dark eyes, tight

    lips and correct dentition. Quite a handful, but when he got the idea, he moved around 

    our large ring holding his topline and covering the ground with real drive. He enjoyed the 

    attention ! I am very much looking forward to seeing him mature.

POST GRADUATE DOG (1,0)

1. Edwards’ Hightimbers Walnut

           20 month old b/g boy with a masculine head and lovely kind dark eyes, but his ears need                           to settle down and hopefully those lips will tighten up in adulthood. Adequate shoulder        with good top line and true behind. Correct tail carriage and strong tight feet. Friendly         temperament.   

OPEN DOG (2,0)

1. Thompson’s Hightimbers Master Tickets 

            Another b/g from this affix. A mature male at four and a half years, and he looked just               that. Good head with dark eyes and correctly placed ears.  I personally prefer the UK                                practice of trimming loose hair from the ears as it gives a clean look to the head, but this is not essential. His lips could be tighter, but he has good dentition, a good coat and                        super bone. Excellent shoulder and a super depth of chest. His tail carriage is correct and he moved well with real power and drive. He is carrying a little too much weight right now, but I understand this is a work in progress, and it didn’t prevent him standing out as one handsome male in his prime   BD BoB 

1. Foakes’ Hightimbers Oaks of Tutelary

    Younger and so less mature than the winner, but a friendly boy to go over, with a strong m male head, good trimmed ears and medium dark eyes. Lovely bone and good neat feet. His front hasn’t quite finished developing yet, but shoulder placement is good and condition super. His movement is steady and he was well handled. A lovely character, and definitely one to watch for the future. RBD.

VETERAN DOG (1,0)

1. Foakes’ Kanukalos Rhapsody   

8 year old b/g, an experienced “shower” with a strong head, dark eyes and correct ears. A lovely front with good width and strong bones, good feet and little to show his 8 years. Not the most enthusiastic mover but beautifully handled and a credit to his owner.

JUNIOR BITCH (3,0)

1. Harrison’s Lowenheart Playin with Fire

A blonde bitch of just over a year. Lovely feminine head with good pigmentation, not always the case with blondes. Mature for her age, and her coat was beautifully shaded and in gleaming condition. She didn’t enjoy being handled but tolerated it anyway, and gave in gracefully. She strode out holding her topline with correct tail carriage and was a worthy winner.   RBB

1. Chamberlain’s Lowenheart Girl on Fire

A b/g bitch, litter sister to the winner, but not so mature, and I would like a touch more face marking. She was confident and enjoyed her day out. Her head is a little narrow at present, but this will improve with time. Ears correct and nicely placed. Front good, and a well-laid shoulder. Her tail carriage is good and when she settled, she moved out well. Not an easy girl to show and her age was against her, but persevere as she is well worth the effort, and it will get easier.

1. Robinson & Brown’s Hightimbers Oreo Cookies

POST GRADUATE BITCH  (3,0)

1. Harrison’s Lowenheart Derby

                        A five year old b/g bitch, a little over marked for perfection, but head feminine and ears                  correctly placed. A good neck leading into well placed shoulders, a good bend of stifle and neat feet. She moved a little close behind, but she was well handled.

1. Christopherson’s Hightimbers Ticket to Evita

A 3 year old blonde bitch who pressed the winner very hard in this class. A beautiful outline and lovely coat with good pigmentation, and those areas of lighter shading that make the blondes so attractive. A pretty head with medium dark eyes. Correct jaw and tight lips, but lost out to the winner on front movement, a close decision and on another day it could go differently. Well handled.

1. Thompson’s Fasskoleys Carnelian

OPEN BITCH   (2,0)

1. McLure’s Hightimbers Ticket to Dream at Kanukalos

B/g three year old bitch, a little heavy on markings, but since I last judged her she has improved and grown on really well. Her head is feminine with medium dark eyes of correct shape, good ear placement tight dry lips. Nicely balanced with a sound topline and she moved out well. Excellent coat and condition, and very much a working dog, ready to go.  BB

1. Hemsworth’s Hightimbers Travel Tickets

A smaller black bitch with good proportions and really dainty. Very feminine with dark eyes and a good front, but just a little light on bone and substance for me. Very sound on the move, and ideally another one for ear trimming. If only there was more of her. Well handled by her experienced owner

VETERAN BITCH (4,0)

1. Harrison’s Fibi Srebrne Pole at Lowenheart

I always enjoy the veterans, and today was no exception. My winner is remarkable as she will be 10 in January and is still an active Search and Rescue Dog. A little over-marked for my taste, but a good head with medium brown eyes, good tight lips, and correct ears. A good width of chest and as you would imagine, well-muscled and good firm condition throughout, who moved well with confidence. I was proud to see that she placed third in the Veteran Group, a credit to the breed and her owner. BV

1. McLure’s Kanukalos Beretta

Attractive, well-balanced eight-year-old b/g bitch,typical of the breed, her show successes speak for themselves. Nice head, medium dark eyes, and correct ears. Correct dentition, and a well-constructed front. Her movement was powerful and ground-covering, but I would like a bit more enthusiasm, which cost her the class.

1. White & Whitmore’s Driftingsky Alize
2. Hemsworth’s Driftingsky Tousle 

  Elaine Sharpe (Judge)

BEST OF BREED : 2991 THOMPSON, Ms P A Hightimbers Master Tickets
Best Dog : 2991 THOMPSON, Ms P A Hightimbers Master Tickets
Res Best Dog : 2980 FOAKES, Miss P J Hightimbers Oaks of Tutelary
Best Bitch : 2987 MCLURE, Mr & Mrs J & C Hightimbers Ticket to Dream at Kanukalos
Res Best Bitch : 2981 HARRISON, Miss Rebecca L Lowenheart Playin With Fire
Best Puppy :
Best Veteran : 2983 HARRISON, Miss Rebecca L Fibi Srebrne Pole At Lowenheart (Imp Pol)
Best Special Beginner :

Class 1010 PD NO ENTRIES

Class 1011 JD (1 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2994 WHITE, Ms Lynda & WHITMORE, Ms Elizabeth Johan Hovi-Raj of Driftingsky
2nd:
3rd:
Res:
VHC:

Class 1012 PGD (1 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2978 EDWARDS, Mrs Alison HIGHTIMBERS WALNUT
2nd:
3rd:
Res:
VHC:

Class 1013 OD (2 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2991 THOMPSON, Ms P A Hightimbers Master Tickets
2nd: 2980 FOAKES, Miss P J Hightimbers Oaks of Tutelary
3rd:
Res:
VHC:

Class 1014 VD (1 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2979 FOAKES, Miss P J Kanukalos Rhapsody
2nd:
3rd:
Res:
VHC:

Class 1015 SBD/B NO ENTRIES

Class 1016 PB NO ENTRIES

Class 1017 JB (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2981 HARRISON, Miss Rebecca L Lowenheart Playin With Fire
2nd: 2976 CHAMBERLAIN, Ms Abigail Lowenheart girl on fire
3rd: 2989 ROBINSON BROWN, Mrs J MR D Hightimbers Oreo Cookie
Res:
VHC: 

Class 1018 PGB (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2982 HARRISON, Miss Rebecca L Lowenheart Derby
2nd: 2977 CHRISTOPHERSON, Mrs Julia Hightimbers Ticket to Evita
3rd: 2992 THOMPSON, Ms P A Fasskoleys Carnelian
Res:
VHC:

Class 1019 OB (2 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2987 MCLURE, Mr & Mrs J & C Hightimbers Ticket to Dream at Kanukalos
2nd: 2985 HEMSWORTH, Mrs Sara Hightimbers Travel Tickets
3rd:
Res:
VHC:

Class 1020 VB (4 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2983 HARRISON, Miss Rebecca L Fibi Srebrne Pole At Lowenheart (Imp Pol)
2nd: 2986 MCLURE, Mr & Mrs J & C Kanukalos Burletta
3rd: 2993 WHITE, Ms Lynda & WHITMORE, Ms Elizabeth Driftingsky Alize
Res: 2984 HEMSWORTH, Mrs Sara Driftingsky Tousle
VHC: