MANCHESTER CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

Judges Critiques

Mr D BELL

Judging: Gundog Group

Manchester Championship Show Sunday 21st January 2024

Gundog Group – Mr David Bell (Balintyne)

A great honour to judge the Gundog Group at this prestigious show, starting a new year in our sport of Pedigree Dogs.

A full group, not only in terms of numbers but also of quality. I shortlisted 9 dogs, which could easily have been 12 or 15, such was the depth of quality.

My shortlist included the English Setter, Bournehouse Eternal Love a young bitch who must surely have a bright future, Irish Red & White Setter Sh Ch Talintyre Winter Shadow of excellent breed type, Pointer Sh Ch Sharnphilly Boondoggle mature with excellent outline, Weimaraner Sh Ch Gunalt Hendrix who is a super showman and sound mover, and the Nova Scotia Duck Toller Sh Ch Eusanit Silvr Dream Machine who was close up to the final 4.

My final line up was the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Sh Ch Arnac Bay Huron at Bergelle in fourth place. A male with terrific soundness and substance, lovely head, broad in skull, not too deep in stop, eyes of good colour and set well apart, ears well set upon head, strong neck set into well laid shoulder, topline rising slightly to wide powerful shoulders. On the move he so sound and true.

The Young Welsh Springer Spaniel Sh Ch Ferndel Water Mark, at only 20 months possesses so much of what I would want in a Welshie. Super proportions, lovely skull shape, clear stop, good finish to muzzle, good eye colour, neck of good length, set well, firm topline, glorious colour and moved with true active gait.

Runner -Up was the exceptional, Hungarian Vizsla. SH CH Layways Van Winkle, in his prime, so sound. Lovely head planes, strong neck well set, firm topline with correct set tail. He comes into his own on the move, effortless far reaching gait

The winner today was the Labrador Retriever SH CH Lapema Masquerade at Sandylands. I judged this bitch 2 years ago as a yearling and was taken then by her clean outline and beautiful head. She has matured into a Labrador of the highest quality and can stand easily among the great dogs from this illustrious kennel. She epitomises all you want in a Labrador, strength without coarseness, square and true. Has the most feminine of heads, broad, clean cut, such an expression, ears smallish and so neatly carried. On the move she is foot perfect, light and with an easy stride. In super coat, dense with correct undercoat. I am humbled to be able to give her such an award