MANCHESTER CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

Judges Critiques

Mr J DALTREY

Judging: Gundog Group, Spaniel (American Cocker)

BEST OF BREED : 8592 MORRIS, Mrs B & JEFFERSON, Mrs R Mycalleys KoKo
Dog CC : 8568 DUMMETT, Ms B & VIKHROVA, Ms Tatiana Nova Story Boogie Woogie (Imp MNE)
Res Dog CC : 8564 WELLER, Mrs Georgina Sabisabi Apache TONKA at Geenawell
Bitch CC : 8592 MORRIS, Mrs B & JEFFERSON, Mrs R Mycalleys KoKo
Res Bitch CC : 8588 LYNN, Mr Jason B Afterglow Impose
Best Puppy : 8592 MORRIS, Mrs B & JEFFERSON, Mrs R Mycalleys KoKo
Best Veteran : 8581 JONES, Mrs S C Alkimadus Ruben James
Best Special Beginner : 8561 CLAY, Mrs G Jenrene's black whiskey Mac at cutiepooch

MANCHESTER 2024

AMERICAN COCKER SPANIELS

A huge ‘thank you’ to the Officers and Committee of Manchester for this opportunity to judge my own breed at this well-run Championship Show. Having first started showing American Cockers in 1973, making up 10 Show Champions and having been spoilt for choice when I judged the breed last at Crufts in 2020, I have not watched the breed in the ring for over 2 years and did not know what to expect from today’s numerically fairly strong entry. Although satisfied that my main winners were undoubtedly worthy to hold a ‘Champion’ title, I was quite disappointed and am concerned about the overall lack of quality in the breed. There were far too many ‘fine’ and almost ‘shelly’ dogs, especially among the youngsters which does not bode well. The required well-laid shoulders with long and well-angulated upper arms together with ‘ground covering forward reach’ matched with a true driving action from behind were the exception rather than the rule today. Head types and dentition however were generally good with a few textbook examples with real chiselling and work, which are a true joy to see. The females were much stronger in depth and quality than the males. Temperaments were exceptional, as was sportsmanship. I enjoyed my day.

MPD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1. Alibama Quintessential. Here was a very raw baby with the most stunning of heads. I adored his melting expression, his superb dark eye, the perfect stop with balance and refinement of back-skull to foreface. He needs to fill and to body up, but of course, has plenty of time on his side. I would, however, prefer more layback to his shoulder and more angle to his upper arm. He is sound enough coming and going, but for me, he, like so many here today, needs more forward reach in his profile action.

PD (5 Entries) Abs: 0

1. Nova Story Boogie Woogie (Imp MNE). This youngster was a very good winner in this very mixed class. He was the only one who showed real fluidity and the required ‘easy’ forward reach matched with powerful drive from well-muscled rear quarters. His head is most definitely masculine, and it is a strong head, but it is totally balanced and with complete body maturity will sit well. His eye shape and colour are lovely, and his expression is intelligent and alert. His shoulder placement is good, well-laid back, matched with corresponding angles to his long upper arm. Combine this with a well-angulated rear, he cannot move wrong! His is workmanlike and very compactly built with a good spring of rib and a short and firm loin and a well-set tail. In good jacket and handled to maximise his many attributes he demanded attention, always held a firm and unexaggerated outline and he out moved all the competition to take the Dog C.C. with some ease today. Judged fairly, this young dog should title with ease.

2: Mycalleys Sirocco. Here was another good dog, a bit more ‘old fashioned’ in type but another with a lovely and correct outline which flows from nose to tail. Presented in good jacket &well-handled, he is well-ribbed and well-muscled. Although he is a sound enough mover, I would just prefer a bit more forward reach in his profile action.

3: Moonmist I Spy Wilbur.

JD (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1. Mycalleys Sirocco. Repeat.

2. Black Whiskey Mac at Cutiepooch. This dog was a good side-gaiter showing the desired reach in front and drive behind and he is accurate both coming and going. He is however a touch more feminine and finer than ideal all through and at 13 months still definitely needs to body up and fill his frame. He is well-marked for a black & tan.

PGD (4 Entries) Abs: 0

1. Sabisabi Apache TONKA at Geenawell. This young dog has lots to like and was pushed by the second dog very hard to win this class. His expression is melting and kind and appealed immensely. He has an excellent flowing outline with a long and slightly arched neck, well-laid shoulders, big ribs and a short and firm loin. His tail and set are textbook. The only thing, to be hyper- critical is that I would prefer just a touch less protrusion to his cheek bones in an ideal world. Saying that he is as honest a dog as I have seen for a long while and could most definitely do the job that he was made for: work all day in the field. He is stylish without anything being really overdone and thoroughly deserved the Reserve Dog C.C.

2. C Truly Mine Teddie (Imp) Fra. Here was another excellent dog, very unlucky to come up against the winner today. Although a totally different type he too is full of promise with big ribs, good angles fore and aft with a good tail and set. He is slightly longer cast than the winner and as such is just that bit less balanced. I liked his head and his expression and once settled he is the best of accurate movers, and he most definitely pushed the winner hard. He and the winner stood away in this class.

3. KENOULA LUCI ANO.

LD (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1. Sabisabi Iroquois Eyota. This dog scored for me in several aspects, particularly his flowing outline, his well-laid shoulders and long well-angulated forehand. He moved true enough and is stylish in side-gait showing some positive forward reach matched with drive from behind. I would just prefer a slightly more masculine head with more work and chiselling and just a touch more width behind. He was extremely well-handled & he looked a totally balanced picture on the stack.

2. Afterglow Bang Tidy. Just like the winner, I would prefer a touch more work and more chiselling to his head. Well-ribbed with a firm top-line, he is a taller and longer cast dog, but he is balanced, and he is a sound and accurate mover. He was presented in good jacket.

OD (7 Entries) Abs: 2

1. Sh Ch Afterglow Bambalam With Alibama JW. This dog has one of the best buff heads that I ever have had the pleasure to judge. It is textbook, completely balanced with a plush muzzle and refined back-skull with no hint of coarseness. His eye is dark, and his expression is melting. He has true chiselling and work too. He is well-bodied and well-conditioned and was presented in excellent jacket. He holds a good outline but to be hyper critical I would prefer a touch more layback and a freer side-gait with more natural reach rather than speed. He moved Ok here and was an easy winner of this mixed class but in the challenge, the more he moved, the more he appeared to be almost a touch unsound in his side-gait and subsequently paid the price in the challenge for top honours.

2. Letjashaja Ptitsa Saint Pierre At Almondsbury (Imp Rus). A well-marked and very balanced but slightly heavier dog who undoubtedly moved best in side-gait with a free and ground covering sound action. He has big ribs and a firm and short loin. His bite is very tight but is a correct scissor and his head is good too, masculine with work if not quite the style or finesse of the winner. I would prefer his rear feet to be trimmed back a touch more to enable a completely true assessment of his sound enough action going away.

3rd: 8589 MORRIS, Mrs B Churchill Moser Dog At Mycalleys.

VD (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1. Alkimadus Ruben James. A dog that I have judged several times before and for a veteran he was looking good today. He has a dark and expressive, kind eye and he has big ribs, a hard top-line and he moved the best that I have seen him move, with true precision.

SBD (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1. Black Whiskey Mac at Cutiepooch. Repeat. Best Special Beginner.

2. Artemis to the moon at Lunartails. A chocolate and tan with a masculine head, clean eye, and good expression for this colour. He moved OK but like so many here today was more upright in shoulder and finer all through than is ideal.

MPB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1. Alibama It's Quizzical. A very raw Buff baby here with the sweetest and most feminine of heads with a dark and intelligent eye. Although she has time on her side, she really does need more bone and to fill out plus I would like more neck, more layback and less of a terrier tail. She was well-schooled on the move.

PB (6 Entries) Abs: 1

1. Mycalleys KoKo. It is not often that when you go over a dog that all the hairs on your head stand to attention. Today this is what happened with this captivating young puppy. She has the most divine of heads and the most melting of intelligent expressions. She has a wonderful dark eye, a superb, refined back-skull and an excellent plush muzzle with a perfect bite. Her long, slightly arched neck flows into the smoothest of well-laid shoulders which is matched with a long and well-angulated upper arm. Her outline is balanced, she has real depth to her brisket, she is well-ribbed and has a firm and short loin with an excellent tail and tail-set. Her rear quarters are well-muscled, and her angulation corresponds to her front assembly which allows her to really reach out in front and to drive from behind showing the tight black pads of her firmly knit feet. Quite a find I thought, and I had absolutely no hesitation in awarding her the C.C. & B.O.B. & of course BPIB too. I am sure that she will have a very exciting show career in front of her and hope that she will gain a deserved title with ease.

2. Jaclee Broadway Madam at Twizeltree. What a pity that excellent youngster had to meet the winner on such top form, as she too impressed me greatly. I loved her for breed type and for her exuberant personality. She was, in fact, quite a handful for her young and expert handler who coped well. She too has a lovely if different type of head, correct in every way, but just not quite so appealing to me as the one above. She is well-made throughout and similar remarks apply. She has correct bone, big ribs, and a firm outline. Once she settled, she moved very well and showed some good forward reach and accurate drive from behind. I considered her seriously for top honours and I will watch her future career with interest.

3. Nasailleen Ella Vaday

JB (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1. Mycalleys KoKo. Repeat.

2. Withdrawn.

PGB (3 Entries) Abs: 1

1. Almondsbury In The Night at Mickcals. A good mover who showed good natural extension and accuracy coming and going. I preferred her for her excellent dentition and overall balance and substance. I would just prefer a slightly tighter eye.

2. Jenrene's Hot Chocolate at Cutiepooch. This dog looked well on the stack but just lacked the refinement in back-skull and freedom of side-gait in comparison to the winner. She was shown in good hard condition with a good textured jacket.

LB (3 Entries) Abs: 1

1.Miranda Flower Iz Mazhornogo Lada at Sabisabi. Here was another well put together dog from this kennel and she has everything that the standard calls for but just lacks the personality to make the most of herself in the show ring and was determined that it was not to be her day today! I loved her sweet and feminine head which is so well-balanced. She is compactly built with a good spring of rib, good depth to her fore-chest and a clean lay of shoulder with corresponding well-angulated & long upper arm. Sound on the move she reaches and drives with fluidity. If she perks up and shows a touch more enthusiasm, there is no reason why she should not have a super future in front of her.

2. Katrin kiss Isabella (imp blr). Close up to the winner, she makes an excellent picture on the stack and many similar remarks apply as the one above. She just lacked the ease in side-gait and to be hyper critical could do with just a touch more width behind.

OB (6 Entries) Abs: 1

1. Afterglow Impose. There is no denying that on the stack, she makes the perfect silhouette. She screams type and quality and is compactly made with good depth, big ribs, a firm and short loin and a good outline, tail and set. Her presentation and coat quality are flawless. Sound on the move, she showed some extension in her side gait and drive from her well-muscled rear quarters. She has a very correct and feminine head with a plush muzzle, good dentition, and a refined back-skull, however, in the final challenge I much preferred the melting and intelligent expression of the puppy which meant that today this very good example had to settle for a well-deserved Res C.C.

2. Mycalleys China Doll. Here was another excellent one although slightly longer cast and rangier in her outline. She most definitely has scope on the move and pushed the winner all the way. I liked her head and expression, her long arched neck and her smooth shoulders. She also has big ribs and good depth and a holds a firm outline at all times. Like the winner, she surely must title with ease.

3.Sabisabi Iroquois Tiva at Jennobar

SBB (1 Entries) Abs: 0

1. G Jenrene's Hot Chocolate at Cutiepooch

JONATHAN B DALTREY. (JUDGE)