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| Manchester | Darlington 21 Judge's Critique |
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Darlington 21 Judge
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MANCHESTER DARLINGTON 21 Judge: Mr N Gourley MANCHESTER JUDGE DARLINGTON 21 Thank you to the Officers & Committee of Darlington Championship Dog Show for the invitation to award CC’s for the first time in Manchester Terriers. We were blessed with fabulous weather and a large outdoor ring to give the Black & Tan’s the very best opportunity to shine. My efficient stewards were very professional and great company. Thank you Pam & Ralph. My direct association with Manchester Terriers goes back to the mid 2000’s when the beautiful Ch Gloryline Margaret Tudor With Shemal Aireworth came to Witchstone. To live with and show a bitch of this quality ensured I had a great initiation to the breed. Madge and I formed a formidable partnership winning 17 CC’s, Crufts BOB twice and BIS at The BMTC Club Championship Show. Of course the other obvious personal association with the Manchester Terrier is the historic link with the breed’s smaller relation the English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) which we have owned, bred and shown with great success for the last 20 years. The challenge for breeders of Manchester Terriers is exactly the same as those faced by ETT breeders. Our respective UK gene pools are small as indeed are the gene pools worldwide. We therefore have the major challenge of breeding for health, retaining and improving key breed standard attributes at the same time trying to stay clear of both type and construction faults. We learned many years ago that whilst size is a key element of the breed standard it must not be the number one focus in any breed that has a limited gene pool to work with. You can alter and reduce size over time but it is essential that the very best health, rock steady temperament, breed type and construction are the first priorities, followed closely by colour and markings. I was taught in my early black and tan years that “you paint the house once you have laid solid foundations and have actually built it”. That said, the Manchester ‘Thumbprints’ are very special with only three breeds having this specific marking in their standard. I was delighted to find some really exciting young prospects and some absolutely typical examples of the breed including some immaculate markings. Thank you for the spirit in which my placings were received and for the sportsmanship and applause for the principle winners. 1 Hebb & Hebb’s Paucelin Falster JW. The only thing that gives his Veteran years away is a little bit of distinguished silver frosting on his muzzle as other than that he looks so fit and well and certainly gave the youngsters a run for their money today. Beautiful head with width to muzzle and strong jaw. Dark almond eye and high set perfectly dropped ear. Slight arch to neck and perfect top line with short level back and gentle rise over the loin to super low set tail. Deep in chest and very good length of rib. Well angulated forequarters just needs a slightly more bend of stifle to fully compliment. Very sound away and back with low hocks. In thick black jacket, with paler tans. All markings in good order. I was surprised he had not gained his Champion title as I found him in my Top 3 males today. BVIB. 1 Oxley’s Digelsa Double Agent. What a magnificent looking young animal who typifies “keen, alert and sporting” as asked for in the standard. He has such ring presence and walks proudly into his stand as if to say ‘I have arrived’. His head is quite stunning and there is nothing I would change. Ears of perfect size, set high and dropped straight forward. He has strength to his muzzle and a powerful jaw and huge teeth. Eyes are small dark and almond shape. Tapered neck with desired crest. Well laid shoulders, deep in brisket, good length of rib and cuts up to loin. Slight rise over loin to low set tail. Sound away and back with very good freedom of movement showing reach and drive in side gait. In immaculate condition with gleaming black jacket, rich tans and clearly defined markings including perfect thumbprints. Perhaps not the smallest but with everything else in his favour he will be an essential asset to the breed’s gene pool in the UK. If Madge were still alive I would be hot-footing it to use this dog at stud. CC & BOB. 1 Simpson’s Perriford Charmer. Won this class having a more typical wedge shaped head than his competition. Typical long, flat, wedge shaped head with strength to underjaw. Small dark eye and high set ears dropped well forward. I liked his overall balance of height to length but he was carrying too much weight and lacked definition of loin. When moved faster he gets into his stride and had good foot fall showing extension in front and drive from his hocks but he soon slips back and paces when given the chance. Moving wide behind. Loved his low tail set. Markings all in the right place. 2 Bratcher’s Rattustrap Dark Matters At Carnifex. I liked his overall size and he was in very good overall condition. He has the very best rich tans and really clearly defined markings including perfect thumbprints. I found his head wide in back skull so ears were set wide apart and too low. Goods eye shape but need to be darker in colour. Preferred the strength of underjaw of the winner. On the move he shows good front extension from his well laid shoulders and the length and angle of his upper arm. Straighter in stifle which limited drive from rear. Tail set high which causes it too fly. 1 Knight & Knight’s Talanors Typically Elite. And who am I to argue with his talented breeder…he was indeed ‘typically elite’. Like the CC winner he too had an immediate imposing air about him when he entered the ring and stood with such an alert expression. Absolutely on his toes and in such fabulous condition. Stunning wedge shaped head with strength of underjaw. Small dark almond eye and small high set ears perfectly dropped. Elegant in neck and well laid shoulders with straight front legs and neat feet. Of ideal overall size and shape with super deep chest and gentle rose over the loin to low set tail. Shiny, dense black jacket with rich tans; thumbprints run very slightly. Moved with real drive from his low hocks and showed good extension in front. Can over reach when moved too fast. RCC. 1 Barlow’s Talanors Time For Magic. A very neat and tidy package. Of an ideal size and with lots too like here. Super wedge shape head showing strength of underjaw and flat skull. Small dark eye and small, really high set ears dropped perfectly. The most accurate in foot fall in this class; very sound away and back. Just prefer a little more bend of stifle compared to today’s green card winners. Tail carried a little higher than ideal. Good clarity of markings, shiny thick jacket and rich tans. 2 Boot’s Harliboo Word Gets Around. Built on larger lines than the winner. Immediately noticed the clarity of his markings with fabulous thumbprints and rich tans. Long narrow wedge shaped head just needing better strength to underjaw. Small almond eyes that could be shade darker. Ears large and full dropped but just set too wide apart. Elegant in neck and straight front legs with depth to chest. In side gait he has good reach and drive although dips to the withers. Hind movement a little erratic today. 3 Connolly & Hawman’s Bruce Cunut. 1 Boot’s Ttombowor Princess Phoebe For Harliboo ShCM. In wonderful condition and coat gleaming with the only sign of her ‘experience’ being the paler tans. Her markings still have great clarity including her fabulous thumbprints. Presents a very elegant picture overall’ Longer in back but with desired rise over the loin and low set tail. She has small dark expressive eyes and the sweetest temperament – I even got an approving wag of the tail. Loved her small dark eye. Ears a little on the large size and set wider apart than ideal although both nicely dropped. On profile she moves with good foot fall. Matching angles fore and aft allow reach and drive. Not so parallel away and back. I can see these two beautiful babies having a ‘battle royal’ for the next couple of years. One of my hardest decisions of the day as both have so many virtues I changed my mind many times mid-assessment. First impression was that Anything Goes would win as she already has great ring presence, stunning colour and markings and looks more mature than Angel. Angel stood perfectly but was not as alert as her rival. Then of course Angel is a perfect size and such a pretty feminine bitch which I really liked. Both puppies are of an ideal overall shape and balance. On to their heads and on today’s examination Anything Goes just edges ahead in this ‘round’. They both have fabulous long narrow wedges and small dark almond eyes. They both have small high set ears with the Angel’s still needing to finish settling whilst Anything Goes are perfectly dropped already. On the move, Angel really came in to her own and moved like a fully time-served adult. Totally sound away and back and a real freedom in side gait with perfect footfall. Meanwhile Anything Goes decided she would live up to her name on the move and refused to go in the direction she was asked which was so frustrating as her confirmation suggests her movement will be equally special when she gets her act together. Both girls had jet black coats and defined markings. I have to say Anything Goes is the perfect example of Manchester Terrier colour and markings – bright yet rich tans in all the right places, ‘hand-painted’ thumbprints and pencilling and such clarity between black and tan. Both will be worthy CC winners of the future. 1 Knight & Knight’s Talanors Destiny Angel. BPIB. 2 Oxley’s Black Bandits Anything Goes at Digelsa (Imp Deu). 1 Bennett & Dickinson’s Eaglespur Full Of Charm. Another promising youngster who immediately appealed for her overall make and shape and will regularly catch judge’s eyes I’m sure. Long narrow wedge with flat skull and small high set ears dropped neatly. Dark almond eyes. Alert expression at all times. Prefer a slightly stronger underjaw. Lovely crest to elegant neck and well laid shoulders. Short in back with strength to loin and desired slight rise over. Low set tail. Moved with reach and drive and really impressed in side gait. Moved parallel away and back. Dense black coat and rich tans; thumbprints have run. 1 Gouldsborough’s Talanors Typically Magic. The stand out winner here and my immediate thought was how can this bitch be in Post Graduate surely she has won CC’s!! I wrote ‘love her’ three times in my notes. Such exciting ring presence when stood. She just stared down the ring at me with such an alert expression and demanded to be noticed. Her head is an absolute joy and there is nothing I would change. I loved her wicked eyes with that glint of terrier mischief and those small perfectly dropped ears. Her construction is so well balanced between her forequarters and her hindquarters so when she is moved at the right pace she has great reach and drive and accurate footfall. She is really parallel when she is moved under control. Owner handler just needs a little more experience and to share the confidence of her charge. I predict very exciting times ahead for you both; you are the owner of a very special bitch. Congratulations to her breeders. Today the smaller green card. RCC. 2 Forshaw & Forshaw’s Jandor Moonlight Melody. Built on smaller lines and makes a perfectly balanced overall shape; a very typical breed silhouette. Shows strength to her wedge shaped head which is a little shorter than ideal with a slightly wider back skull and as a result her small ears which are perfectly dropped are set wider apart. Small dark almond eye. Shiny black jacket, super muscle tone and condition, rich tans and clear markings. Showed good foot fall in side gait but not so parallel coming and going. 3 Walker’s Sizlin Hey Good Lookin. 1 Keates’ Simjest Lady Tiana. A mature lady showing elegance in overall shape. Long narrow wedge with flat skull and strength to underjaw. Small dark expressive eyes. Ears set high but not dropped sufficiently so tended to fly them which detracted. Liked her body proportions with a deep chest and good tuck up to well defined loin with slight rise over. Low set tail. Moved with good freedom in profile. A little erratic away and back. In gleaming coat with clearly defined markings including super thumbprints. Tans a little paler than ideal. The first three are all beautiful examples of the breed and all CC worthy in their own right. 1 Straughan’s Talanors Time To Shine At Mannikai. Put on a faultless performance to head this strong class and then the Bitch CC too. She has a great rapport with her handler who really shows off her attributes. Loved her head and alert expression with small dark eyes and small high set ears dropped neatly forward. Tapered neck with slight crest into well laid shoulders. Well developed forechest and deep in brisket. Short in back with gentle rise over the loin. Low set tail. Moved accurately away and back and showed great freedom in side gait with real dive from her low hacks. Shiny dense black coat and rich tans with clear markings. 2 Brown & Davies’ Digelsa Dark Indulgence At Wystry JW. Another super wedge shaped head with strength to muzzle and underjaw. Ears set high and dropped forward and with her small dark almond she has a super alert expression. A little longer in back than the winner but still deep in chest with good tuck up and low set tail. Shows reach and drive in profile with accurate footfall. Not quite as parallel away and back as winner. Rich tans and well defined markings. Coat in super condition and obvious muscletone.
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