RICHMOND CHAMPIONSHIP DOG SHOW

Judges Critiques

Mrs Paula STEELE

Judging: Basenji, Hound Group

My thanks to Richmond Championship show for inviting me to judge at this very distinguished show. It was a most challenging day due to the conditions the weather had created over the previous days.  My sincere thanks to the very efficient ring stewards who kept the ring running so smoothly and always had a cheerful disposition.  Thank you also to all exhibitors for your entry and for accepting my decisions in a sporting manner.

The day was not easy for any of us, the dogs, the exhibitors, stewards or me.  The ring conditions were not ideal, and none of the conditions I mention were good in any way for Basenjis and some just coped better than others on the day, some dogs who otherwise stood well, didn't quite come together as well on the move, just one of those days.  I had to compromise often, and on another day other decisions may well have been made, depending on the weather and the ring. That being said, my main winners all processed the elegance, and gazelle like grace I expect to see in a Basenji.  

A couple of observations,  heads; which should set this breed apart from that of another breed; I found very few that had the true Basenji heads which were well chiselled and of medium width, tapering towards nose, with slight stop and short muzzle.  Not too many having enough infill in chest, which is having an impact on front movement,  and many were soft in muscle tone. I was looking for a moderate dog with breed type, soundness, elegance, strength and certainly giving the appearance of fit for function.  

Thank you all for entering your Basenjis under me, it is always an honour for me to judge my principal breed in the UK.  

BEST OF BREED : 56 CLINTON, Miss A Ch Ir Ch Lux Ch Int Ch Westlawn Diablo Sh.CM
Dog CC : 56 CLINTON, Miss A Ch Ir Ch Lux Ch Int Ch Westlawn Diablo Sh.CM
Res Dog CC : 74 PALUBICKI, Miss Janette Ch Woodella True Song
Bitch CC : 77 RICHARDSON, Mr Paul & WOOD, Miss Marianne Mombatongaempress Eugenie Of Cooperland (Imp) It J
Res Bitch CC : 60 GRAY, Mr S & GRAY, Mrs S J Ch Jisgard Daydream Believer
Best Puppy : 78 ROBB, Miss Trinity Bahaticca's Waikiki
Best Veteran : 56 CLINTON, Miss A Ch Ir Ch Lux Ch Int Ch Westlawn Diablo Sh.CM
Best Special Beginner : 79 STRATTON, Mrs J W Justartee This Is Me

Class 23 VD (2 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 56 CLINTON, Miss A Ch Ir Ch Lux Ch Int Ch Westlawn Diablo Sh.CM

This Tri male has lost nothing of his early youth and caught my eye as soon as he stepping into the ring with the aristocratic-looking appearance a basenji must have. Ideal size and type, head carried proudly with good length of neck, one of the best shoulders on the day, well laid back, short and level top line which is maintained on the move.  Lovely oval feet with strong flexible pasterns.   I would prefer a little more chiselling in his head, and a darker eye. He has  the correct deep brisket which runs up into a definite waist, presenting a picture of a well-balanced dog of gazelle-like grace. His movement is true back and fore and in profile his side gait is effortless.  Delighted to award him DCC and BOB again. 

2nd: 74 PALUBICKI, Miss Janette Ch Woodella True Song
Another Tri male with excellent type & balance, very much fitted the standard requirement of an elegant dog of gazelle-like grace, masculine, well laid back shoulder, nice correct head proportions, long neck, level topline, correct moderate hind angulation, lovely moving back and fore.  I would prefer a little more infill in chest, and I preferred the profile movement on the class winner on the day. RDCC

Class 24 MPD (3 Entries) Abs: 2
1st: 78 ROBB, Miss Trinity Bahaticca's Waikiki
Striking male with a lovely dark chestnut red jacket, nicely balanced head with profuse wrinkle and excellent small ears set high, would prefer darker eye.  One of the more correct breed heads of the day.  Nice overall type and is high on the leg.  Plenty of infill in chest but was just carrying a little bit too much weight over his shoulders. Good front construction, straight legs and clean bone.  Nice oval feet, tightly curled tail, which is well set, level topline.  His coat and colour is excellent and correct paint skin, which is not always easy to find in the breed. I would prefer to see him with a little less body weight to ensure he preserves his elegance and ask his handler to find a collar this puppy is more content with.  Very promising combination. Congratulations achieving Hound Puppy Group 3.  

Class 25 PD NO ENTRIES

Class 26 JD NO ENTRIES

Class 27 PGD NO ENTRIES

Class 28 LD NO ENTRIES

Class 29 OD (4 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: 67 LEGGET, Mrs Isobel Ch Swanwite Take A Chance On Me ShCEx

Imposing red/ white masculine boy, who caught my eye as soon as he entered the ring.  Good head, well shaped eyes and hooded ears, lovely expression.  Good length of neck, lay back of shoulder and short back level back and good length of leg, and carried himself very well on the day.  His shoulder was a bit loaded on the day which pushed his elbows out away from his chest, which made his chest look wide when stacked.  I would prefer a more compact foot also.  He does have correct moderate angulation at rear, high tailset and neat curl. This dog was shown to maximum effect on the day by his handler.  Very accurate mover in profile and was considered for the main awards.   
2nd: 51 CARRINGTON, Mrs Ashley & CARRINGTON, Mr Nicholas Ch Lux Ch Bushwacker Oceans Eleven

Elegant Tri who has many of the breed essentials.  Nice head, flat skull of medium width, nice ear placement and size, muzzle I would prefer to be a little shorter and more under jaw to improve his masculine frame.   Lovely long arched neck, nice shoulders with medium front, straight forelegs and excellent oval feet, level topline, and excellent moderate rear angulation, with good tail set and curl.  I would prefer a deeper brisket to complete the outline.  Movement was difficult to assess on the day, as he was really not happy about the wet ground conditions and moving towards me was rotating his right foreleg clockwise, perhaps to shake off the wet conditions. He certainly made his feelings very clear about the ground conditions.  

Class 30 SBD NO ENTRIES

Class 31 VB (4 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: 60 GRAY, Mr S & GRAY, Mrs S J Ch Jisgard Daydream Believer

This Tri girl is almost 12 y/o is still in fine bloom, a testament to a quality Basenji lasting well, and a credit to her owners.  I actually thought she looked better on the day then when she was last in the show ring some years ago.  Elegant Tri, with a feminine head, short muzzle and nice ears, I would prefer a darker eye.  Lovely breed typical outline, short back, level topline, good shoulder, feet and pasterns.  Nice moderate rear angulation, high set tail, fine coat of correct colour. Moved so well and was effortless, on a loose lead.  RCC

2nd: 76 RICHARDSON, Mr Paul & WOOD, Miss Marianne Woodella Purple Haze Over Cooperland Sh.CM VW, 9 y/o Tri with a lovely head and expression, short muzzle, medium flat skull. Good length of neck into nice shoulder and front with plenty of fill. Short level topline, good depth of brisket, with good tuck up, moderate rear angulation, however I would prefer a higher set tail and a more pronounced shelf (posterior curve of the buttock).  She was another that was really not enjoying the wet conditions and did not enjoy moving about in the ring on the day. 

Class 32 MPB (2 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 79 STRATTON, Mrs J W Justartee This Is Me

Elegant Red and White puppy, with excellent coat and colour which is short and fine. This girl is up to size, and I hope she does not grow any taller.  Pretty head with medium flat skull, lovely wrinkle, nice expression with a nice dark eye.  Decent front and chest, forelegs straight, but I would prefer a more compact foot. Short back, deep brisket and moderate angulation.  Lovely tail set and shelf.  Pleased to see they went on to Special Beginner Group 1, congratulations. 

2nd: 59 ENGLISH, Mrs Miriam & ENGLISH, Mr Jonathan Aksaifleet Dada Dunia Of Torqmonky
Another elegant Red and White, who is the correct size and type.  Nice head, ears, lovely wrinkle, and eye.  I would prefer a shorter muzzle and more pronounced stop to balance her head.  Lovely long arched neck, nice shoulder and straight forelegs.  Level topline, deep brisket, and excellent rear angulation.  I would prefer a higher set tail and a more pronounced shelf (posterior curve of the buttock).  The conditions were perhaps less than ideal for this girl as her movement was a bit erratic on the day.  This puppy needs time to mature and settle into her stride with her handler, but another promising combination. 

Class 33 PB (2 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: 62 HOLLOWAY, Mrs Tatyana Aksaifleet Daydream Diana
Litter sister to the MP 2nd place and another elegant girl with many of the same attributes.  I preferred the head on this puppy to her sibling, she has lovely wrinkle, dark eye and a shorter muzzle and a more pronounced stop.  Nice shoulder, level topline, deep brisket, and moderate rear angulation.  Feet could be more compact. Tailset is a little low and would also prefer to see a more pronounced shelf (posterior curve of the buttock).  Moved well in profile.  Another puppy that needs time to mature but showing promise.  

Class 34 JB (1 Entries) Abs: 1

Class 35 PGB (2 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 58 CVIRKIENE, Mrs Inga Catuma Xuta Tabangwa (imp Cze)

A lovely Tri girl that caught my eye when she arrived in the ring.  Excellent size and type, she is elegant, and high on the leg as a basenji should be.  Correct coat and colour, fine and pliant skin.  Nice head and expression, although I would prefer her ear set to be higher.  Excellent medium front with correct infill, straight forelegs, and excellent compact feet.  Correct depth of brisket, level topline, moderate rear angulation, and balanced.  Her profile movement was nice, but fore and back was a little untidy hence why she did not progress to the top awards on the day.  

2nd: 73 PALUBICKI, Miss Janette Jessella Lady Margot
Overall, this Red and White girl is a nice size and type, but she was really not making the most of herself on the day.  When moving she is heavy on the forehand and carries her head very low which spoils her outline.  Nice head  but would prefer a smaller ear and higher ear set.  Medium chest but would prefer more infill, level topline when stacked, nice deep brisket and balanced angulation.  Lovely chestnut red coat.    

Class 36 LB (3 Entries) Abs: 2
1st: 61 HOLLOWAY, Mrs Tatyana Aksaifleet Russki Rose
Nice size and type to this girl,  lovely head, dark eye and Basenji expression, with small ears.  Short level topline, lovely deep brisket with medium front but I would prefer more infill in chest.  Straight forelegs and good feet.  Correct moderate rear angulation and nice tail set with shelf.  Moved okay.  

Class 37 OB (6 Entries) Abs: 2
1st: 77 RICHARDSON, Mr Paul & WOOD, Miss Marianne Mombatongaempress Eugenie Of Cooperland (Imp) It J

Tri, feminine & gazelle like, which I was looking for on the day.  She entered the ring with presence and was not fazed by the weather conditions.  Her coat colour is not the best however, her construction is so lovely, she has a long arched neck, correct layback of shoulder, short level topline, deep brisket, high set tail, and correct moderate rear angulation.  Her head is feminine, with correct plains and but I would prefer an almond shaped eye to complete the picture.  Excellent oval and compact feet which are a breed essential.  Very gazelle-like on the move, BCC and her third and crowing CC.  Congratulations.  

2nd: 55 CASENTIERI, Ms Cj & Mr Tf Ch Zvezdny Alliance Genie In A Bottle (imp Ukr)
Another in this class that caught my eye, leggy brindle, nice arched neck, decent front, just a little wide across her chest, pleasing head and expression, level topline, good feet, but pasterns could be a little firmer, correct moderate rear angulation, with good shelf, excellent coat and nicely marked, moved very nicely, especially in profile, another worthy Champion.

Class 38 SBB (1 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 79 STRATTON, Mrs J W Justartee This Is Me
As previously mentioned in Minor puppy class, this puppy continued to show for her handler and went on to be awarded Special Beginner Group 1, congratulations.