The Scottish Kennel Club (October Show)

Judges Critiques

Dr K BOND

Judging: Gundog Group, Pointer

Scottish Kennel Club October 2023 

Judge Dr Kirsten Bond 

I would like the thank the committee for kindly inviting me to judge the two breeds that have the most special meaning to me. I always try to support the championship shows with entries myself and was incredibly grateful for a slightly larger than usual entry in pointers for Scotland.  I was made to feel welcome and the efficient steward on the day made the ring effortless with no delays whilst getting through the classes.  I would like to thank the competitors who took the trouble to come to Scotland to show under me today. I appreciate your time and trouble irrespective of your placing. The cost of fuel and entries is no small feat so thank you. 

Unlike the last time I judged the quality was more even across dogs and bitches this time and would have been happy to find a number of both sexes that I would support on their journey to Show Champion via Res CC or CCs. I did find it difficult to find enough of “type” to ensure line ups were consistent but felt that each dog judged on its own merit meant I was happy with the line ups. There were one or two young dogs I liked and a couple of bitches who just need a bit more time who lacked the maturity to hit top honours today, but this gives hope for some promising dogs for the future as well as the stars of today.  I note that BOB went on to take Gundog Group 1 and Best Puppy reached the last Group Shortlist of 6. Very well done to both those two competitors. 

In terms of faults that do not effect the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work I have been disappointed to read critiques focusing on faults with no effect on the health and welfare  in pointers recently. Clearly any fault worth reporting against health and welfare would require withholding merits and I found no evidence this was necessary in the exhibits present today.  I will focus this write up on the positive attributes of our beautiful breed where possible of which there were an abundance of.  As always, I found the ringside to be supportive and sporting which is one of the things about this breed that makes showing pointers a joy. 

BEST OF BREED : 2536 THIRLWELL, Mr J S & MALIK, Mr N Sh Ch Sharnphilly Santa Rosa
Dog CC : 2518 LAYTON, Mr Samuel Sh Ch Joneva Born To Thrill
Res Dog CC : 2506 GERRARD, Mrs Margaret & BELL, Mrs Caroline Carmandine Oh C'mon Then
Bitch CC : 2536 THIRLWELL, Mr J S & MALIK, Mr N Sh Ch Sharnphilly Santa Rosa
Res Bitch CC : 2504 FEWSTER & ROSSITER, Mrs& Miss Gillian & Sharon JONEVA JUST A KISS JW
Best Puppy : 2506 GERRARD, Mrs Margaret & BELL, Mrs Caroline Carmandine Oh C'mon Then
Best Veteran : 2513 HEWITT, Mrs Annette & HEWITT, Mr Christopher Sh Ch Droveborough's Miss Marple
Best Special Beginner : 2527 ROBERTS, Mrs Clare UK Kananaskis Hudson

Class 1129 PD (7 Entries) Abs: 5
1st: 2506 GERRARD, Mrs Margaret & BELL, Mrs Caroline Carmandine Oh C'mon Then

I have admired this puppy since he first came out. Kind and intelligent expression, dark eye and thin leathers. Elegant neck into well laid shoulders which he  with reach took him round the ring.  Balanced and with a good outline and showed his easy going confident nature with his lashing tail and forward driving action. Needs body that only comes with time, surely a bright future for this young dog. More than happy to award him Best Puppy and the RCC. 

2nd: 2495 BLACK, MR Victor James & BLACK, MRS SHEILA Raigmore Defender of Faith

Difficult to get a true picture of this baby as today he was very distracted and therefore unsettled both whilst going over him and on the move. Balanced head and scissor bite and a lovely bee sting tail. 

Class 1130 JD (2 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2541 WHITHAM, Mrs Gillian & WHITHAM, Mr Edward Sedgekirk Ever Been Had

Balanced head and kind intelligent expression.  Clean neck leading into a well angled front.  Moved with ease around the ring with a correct tail carriage. Haunch bones well spaced and prominent, not above level of back as the standard requires.  Balanced on the move and well handled. 

2nd: 2498 BOWLEY, Ms Jo SEDGEKIRK EVER THE FOOL

Kind expression, balanced head and high set ears, muzzle somewhat concave. Slightly unsettled today so did not see her topline,  overall outline and movement at its potential.


Class 1131 PGD (5 Entries) Abs: 2
1st: 2503 ELRINGTON, Ms D Tequesta Harold Lloyd

Heavily marked black and white. Well balanced head and the darkest of eye. Plenty of body and brisket well let down, to level with elbows. Very workmanlike and balanced all over. Tail carried on a level with back, with no upward curl and forward driving movement.  Mature for his years and in hard condition. Did lean on his handler a little today who managed him well but at times it did affect his outline particularly his top line.  Something to work on for the future.

2nd: 2534 SILLINCE, Miss Karen DAVIGDOR FLANDERS FIELD

Very nice orange and white dog. Kind expression with a lovely dark eye, well balanced head. His shoulder furnishings are correct and one of his strengths as they allow his front reach to be powered by behind with ease. Would like to see a little more body on him but some boys just mature more quickly than others and his day will come. 

Class 1132 LD (4 Entries) Abs: 3
1st: 2505 GERRARD, Mrs Margaret & BELL, Mrs Caroline Carmandine Count On Me
Black and white dog with the most beautiful flecking. Kind expression and lovely dark eye. Well bodied and muscled. Forelegs straight and firm, with good oval bone and moved with purpose and drive around the ring. 

Class 1133 OD (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2518 LAYTON, Mr Samuel Sh Ch Joneva Born To Thrill

Dark kind and intelligent expression from his well balanced head. I think this dogs front is his fortune shoulders long, sloping and well laid back. Chest just wide enough for plenty of heart room without any extra width. Brisket well let down, to level with elbows giving him all the power he needs to cover the ground with ease.  Knee joint flat and legs holding up his well conditioned body tight to his chest at the elbow. Topline held to perfection on the move and presented and handled to allow no confusion as to where his attributes lie. Earned his CC today and presented without hesitation. 

2nd: 2515 JAMIESON, Mrs L & MACARA, Mr A & MACARA, Mrs J & B Sh Ch Kanix Peri Peri with Glenfinnan

Pleasing orange and white pointer with a title he deserves. Bigger in all over stature than 1 but still holds a lovely outline and a clean unexaggerated topline. Well balanced head and the darkest of eye, clean neck and good shoulder angles. Moved with the required smooth action covering plenty of ground. Loved the way his handler encouraged him during his classes her encouraging smile appreciated by him,  enabling his even disposition to show in his relaxed demenour.

Class 1134 VD (2 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: 2512 HENSHAW, Miss A S K & GOODCHILD, Mr J Penbro Under Pressure With Peteshe
8 year old orange and white boy. Lovely dark eye, correct scissor bite and was able to match his handler for pace around the ring. Would like to see the body score of this older boy increase a little as he was short of condition today making is difficult to assess his true potential against areas of the breed standard such as “good expanse of first and second thigh”.

Class 1135 SBD (2 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: 2527 ROBERTS, Mrs Clare UK Kananaskis Hudson
Black and white dog with a well balanced head, kind expression and thin correctly set ears. Very workmanlike and balanced all over. Tail carried on a level with back, with no upward curl and forward driving movement. Pleased to award him Best Special Beginner.

Class 1136 GCD (1 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2515 JAMIESON, Mrs L & MACARA, Mr A & MACARA, Mrs J & B Sh Ch Kanix Peri Peri with Glenfinnan
See write up for open dog 2nd. 

Class 1137 PB (4 Entries) Abs: 3
1st: 2502 DUNN, Ms Jacqui Millpoint Kiss Me Kate at Casdellda
Dark melting kind eye and well balanced head proportions.  Slightly longer in the upper arm than I might prefer but she has time on her side. Moved with drive from behind, needs to mature. 

Class 1138 JB (3 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: 2525 NELIS, Mrs M L Freebreeze Special Effects

 Another young bitch with a lot to like about her. Dark pigmentation leaving a kind expression. Symmetrical and well built all over, general outline a series of graceful curves as the standard demands. Well set shoulder angles allowing reach in her front stride set with legs of oval bone. Not flashy but workmanlike and free moving enough to spend the day on the moors with ease. One to watch.

2nd: 2497 BOOTH, Mrs Susan Elizabeth Lundgarth Jubilee

It was difficult to assess her properly as nerves got the better of this pretty orange and white bitch, she was very spooked. She has a nicely balanced head, clean arched neck and properly angled shoulder furnishings. She appeared spooked today and her hind quarters sat just underneath her making her look a little over angulated. Her tension showed in her movement and I would like to see her more relaxed as I do not feel she showed her attributes off to her best ability today.


Class 1139 PGB (8 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2504 FEWSTER & ROSSITER, Mrs& Miss Gillian & Sharon JONEVA JUST A KISS JW

Enjoyed going over this bitch and as I suspected I found a lot to like.  She has a soft kind expression a well balanced head and thin ear leathers. Long, muscular, slightly arched neck, springing cleanly from shoulders and free from throatiness which adds to her  graceful appearance. Very muscled and in good condition.  An unexaggerated topline and well-turned stifles added to her overall appearance of graceful curves. Correct shoulder furnishings allowed her to match her handlers pace with ease around the ring with reach and drive.   Awarded her her 2nd RCC today and with a little more time I am sure her CCs will follow. 

2nd: 2524 MOSS, Mr A D & TOBIN, Mr DS Davigdor Poppies

Lovely orange and white bitch, well balanced and with correct shoulder furnishing and angulation, a good depth of chest leading to a well sprung rib carried well back and  gradually falling away at strong muscular and slightly arched loins as the standard requires. A little unsteady on the move and would like to see her a little more relaxed because she has a lot to offer and this would help to show her movement off to her best potential.

Class 1140 LB (6 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2521 MATTHEWS, Mrs Alison Sonham Chasing Rainbows

 Very balanced black and white bitch with a lot of attributes required by the breed standard. Short coupled with haunch bones well spaced and prominent below her unexaggerated topline which she maintained on the move well. Forelegs straight and firm, with good oval bone and overall a picture of graceful curves. 

2nd: 2528 ROBERTS, Mrs Kerry Byphar Bramble
Young orange and white bitch who when showing her attributes has a lot to like. Well balanced head leading into well laid shoulders and a proportionate spring of rib. Back gradually falling away at strong muscular and slightly arched loins. Moved with the most drive and reach of the class but her lack of showring experience showed with her being slightly tense in her stack.  Shows promise for the future. 

Class 1141 OB (5 Entries) Abs: 2

1st: 2536 THIRLWELL, Mr J S & MALIK, Mr N Sh Ch Sharnphilly Santa Rosa

I have admired this bitch previously and I was not disappointed. I could not take my eyes off her.  Soft and kind expression with enough work in her head to give a dish without being over done. Compact, well balanced and workmanlike but at the same time very feminine in profile. Brisket well let down, to level with elbows with a chest just wide enough for her heart as is required. Forelegs straight and firm, with good oval bone. She was shown in lean but fit condition today and moved around the ring with drive reach and ease. Splitting hairs with second place who pushed her hard I preferred her length of rib and narrower chest. At ease in her own skin, relaxed and confident she had enough ring presence to make her undeniable. Symmetrical and well built all over, general outline a series of graceful curves is what the standard requests and she “gets the assignment”! She took the BCC, BOB and I note she was Gundog Group 1. Very proud to have had a hand in her journey throughout the day. 

2nd: 2533 SIDDLE, Mrs Annette Gail & SIDDLE, Miss Amelia Sh Ch Wilchrimane Frankel (ai)

Another beautiful Show Champion, different to 1 but with her own attributes. A stronger head than 1 with the darkest of eye and dark pigmentation around her eyes and nose, deep flew and slight depression under eyes but cheek bones not prominent. Clean neck onto correctly angles shoulders. Covered ground with drive and reach. Muscular with well-turned stifles and good expanse of first and second thigh and in hard condition.  Definately fitting the appearance of strength but with a mature feminity.  Another expertly  handled and presented bitch. Very unlucky to come up against 1 in such good form today.

Class 1142 VB (2 Entries) Abs: 1
1st: 2513 HEWITT, Mrs Annette & HEWITT, Mr Christopher Sh Ch Droveborough's Miss Marple
I have followed this bitches career with interest and she is aging like a fine wine! Kind expression on a skull of medium breadth and in proportion to length of foreface, slightly arched neck leading to well laid shoulders. She was in good condition with a show of thigh and second thigh muscle which allowed her to power round the ring and out pace her handler and I felt she could probably out pace her “stand in” aswell.  Awarded Best Veteran in Breed. 

Class 1143 SBB (3 Entries) Abs: 0
1st: 2526 ROBERTS, Mrs Clare Kananaskis Black Bryony

Balanced head and kind expression. Shoulder furnishings allowed her some forward reach. 
2nd: 2497 BOOTH, Mrs Susan Elizabeth Lundgarth Jubilee
Another well balanced head and dark eye. Perfect scissor bite, chest to her elbows and good rear angulation allowing her to move freely at the front with reach.  Again unsettled both whilst going over her and on the move appearing tense. 

Class 1144 GCB NO ENTRIES