KC Breed Standard

Midland Counties NTC 13 Ch Judge

The Midland Counties Norfolk Terrier Club held a ch show where BIS was Strathinver Smart Enough; RBIS, Blakens Sugar Candy Kisses; BP, Watercroft In A Pickle; & BV, Ch Hobson’s Choice at Moortop.

There was a very good entry of 57 dogs for the club’s 15-class held at the Village Hall, Weedon. The last time I was at this venue was to say a final goodbye to Elisabeth Matell – it is so hard to believe that a whole year has passed since her untimely death. In many ways I still find it unbelievable that she is no more & I cannot look at a Norfolk without thinking of Elisabeth. All the way through my judging today I kept thinking of little comments she may be making at ringside. I hope she approved of the results! The breed misses her, I am sure, I know I do every day.

Back to the present. I was delighted to find a great improvement in quality, especially in the dogs. The day started with a marvellous MPD class where the three placings could have been switched in any order as they were three lovely puppies.

Mouths do need watching as I had several with crowded mouths, small teeth & level bites. There were also a few with big ears – not medium. Hind movement was better than I remember from before but a number lacked reach in front action. Coats & presentation were excellent on the whole – this breed is lucky to have some really first class handlers & presenters in their midst.

There were a few shown in soft condition & on the plump side & also some that should have had their coats tidied up & nails cut to compete at a ch show.

It was a very good show with a warm & friendly atmosphere. Tinged with sadness, of course, but I was able to enjoy my day with the Norfolks very much. Well organised with a tasty lunch & Edward Allen kept me in order stewarding most efficiently.

MPD (4,1a)

Super class full of promise & potential.

1 BP, Gee’s Watercroft In A Pickle, 8½ months, lovely head & expression, excellent bone & body, harsh jacket, strong quarters, needs to firm up in front movement but that is being picky. Positive showman who moved well behind. Well proportioned. By BIS winner;

2 Atkinson’s Blakens Sugar Candy Dips, 7½ months, lovely coat, plenty of body, good bone & feet, compact & shapely, low set hocks, well carried tail, already a good little mover, showed steadily. Not the head & expression of 1;

3 Phillips’ Jaeva Go For Broke.

PD (2)

1 Gee’s Watercroft Diamond Dealer, 11½ months red, pleasing head, expressive eyes, excellent ribcage, compact body, well coated & presented, showed well but could have a little more reach in front movement;

2 Thompson-Morgan’s Belleville Take Note, 11 months but quite immature looking compared to 1 & coat not at its best. Keen expression, ears on the large side, panting all the time. Short back, moved OK, showed well using his neck when something took his interest.

JD (4,1)

1 RCC, Phillips, Gullick & Tate’s Jaeva Cufflink, stunning youngster of nearly 14 months, lovely neck & shoulders, best of toplines, good tailset, well muscled quarters, compact body. With his good head, excellent coat & keen attitude he is a real eye catcher & his handler got him to perform really well standing & moving;

2 Phillips’ Blakens The Kandy Man Kan, 15 months, attractive head, used his neck well, compact body, excellent type & quality, well fitting harsh jacket. Tail flat on his back when moving but since the docking ban that is something you have to accept even if it doesn’t help the outline or look particularly attractive;

3 List’s Nicnips Dirty Harry.

ND (1)

1 N Dirty Harry, 14 months, pleasing head, dark eyes, looking a bit stuffy, not putting all in on the move & needs to show with more animation. Good body & ribcage. Coat not looking its best.

PGD (2)

1 Thompson-Morgan’s Belleville Seduction, 12 months b/t, easy winner, short back, well proportioned, good coat & body, really used his quarters on the move, displaying good powers of propulsion, switched on showman, good head, well presented & handled, excellent prospect;

2 Cooper & Simpson’s Settrenda Secret Squirrel, 14½ months red, masculine head, broad skull, dark eyes, good bone, coat texture OK but not its best today. A bit long cast & failed in movement.

LD (5,1)

1 Jenkins’ Kinsridge Quids In, 15 months, bit of a fruitcake & took a bit of controlling today as he obviously thought this was very exciting. Most attractive head, strong muzzle, good expression, well fitting jacket, excellent body & topline, well balanced, showed well in spasms, moved OK;

2 Darnell’s Jacquidon Tough As A Nut, 2 years, good neck & shoulders, level topline but doesn’t want to carry any more weight, moved & showed quite well. Pleasing head & eyes;

3 Ackling’s Ruby Rueben.

OD (6,1)

Quite a class.

1 CC & BOB, Newton’s Strathinver Smart Enough, 2½ years, proper dog in excellent form, masculine without coarseness, handsome head, broad skull, strong muzzle, dark expressive eyes, neat ears, very well constructed with good bone, body & proportions, well sprung ribs, strong quarters. Sound mover with plenty of reach & drive, really good front, held his topline & used his neck when moving. The star of the show for me;

2 Phillips’ Ch Blakens Xpress Yourself, 2 years, very nice for type & size, clean neckline, short back, well coated & bodied. I liked his head & overall shape. His mind seemed to be somewhere else & he was slightly hesitant on the move. Looked a picture standing, very well handled;

3 Phillips, Craddock & Collins’ Ch Fontanesi Golden Chalice with Jaeva.

VD (3,2)

1 Ruffles’ Ch Ruffnor Secret Tipple, 11 years, good old boy that I had the pleasure of giving a third CC to many moons ago. Still enjoying himself & make a good account of himself here, has kept a trim figure & trotted his stuff with confidence. Good coat, well presented & cared for.

MPB (3)

1 Phillips’ Jaeva Play The Ace, 8 months, feminine head, dark eyes, sturdy body, well sprung ribs, good coat texture. Gave herself a nice outline when she remembered to concentrate. Looked much more mature than 2

2 Jenkins’ Brenin Picture Portrait for Kinsridge, a month younger than 1, short back, well proportioned, ultra feminine in head & outlook, firm body, used her neck better than 3. Would like a shade more substance;

3 Stevenson’s Brickin Surprise Surprise.

PB (3,2)

1 BPB, Jenkins’ Strathinver Roses Are Red at Kinsridge, 11 months, mad as a hatter. Good shape when you could catch a glimpse. Quality head, dark eyes, good body, coat & quarters, extremely happy showgirl who did eventually settle down to move quite nicely.

JB (4)

1 CC, Phillips’ Blakens Sugar Candy Kisses, 15 months red with lovely silhouette, very like her litter brother who was 2nd in JD, a perfect brace. Well balanced, pretty head, dark expressive eyes, excellent reach of neck, short back, great coat texture, positive showgirl, took a bit of time to settle down on the move but went well once she decided to cooperate with her handler. Plenty of style. I was pleased to hear this was her crowning CC;

2 Thompson-Morgan’s Belleville Just Magic, 14 months, very attractive youngster, feminine head, excellent body & quarters, sound mover, showed with enthusiasm, good coat & condition, well handled;

3 Atkinson’s Moortop Again No Choice.

NB (2,1)

1 Hess & Higgins’ Umbrage The Jubilant, 17 months, hard coated red in good form, typical head, keen intelligent expression, even if it was food related! Good bone, moved with animation. Rather long cast.

PGB (6,1)

Darnell’s Watercroft Cherry On Top, comfortable winner I thought. Feminine red with all the essentials, well fitting harsh coat, low set hocks, well proportioned, moved & showed OK;

2 Howard’s Hatchwoods Last Tango, 17 months, attractive head, well sprung ribs, sturdy body, steady showgirl, moved OK. Coat presentation left a bit to be desired;

3 Horne’s Pie In The Sky.

LB (6,1)

1 Smith’s Javidel Definitely Maybe, feminine b/t of 18 months, showed non stop, neat head, good overall proportions, short back, low set hocks, well presented & handled;

2 New’s Raven Beauty, 3 years b/t, bit reluctant on the move but her handler coaxed her along & she did improve. Pleasing head & expression, good outline, excellent coat texture, firm body & quarters, sympathetically handled;

3 Ruffles’ Ruffnor Offbeat.

OB (4,2)

1 RCC, Hurrion’s Ch Villassa Cherry Ripple, 2 years, quality head, clean silhouette, good coat texture, excellent body & quarters, well boned, energetic mover with good reach in front which so many lacked. Showed well enough but could have been handled to better advantage;

2 Gee’s Watercroft Top Of The Pops, 19 months, feminine young bitch, pleasing head, sweet expression, short back, well muscled quarters, good coat & body. Well handled. Could not match front movement of 1.

VB (3)

1 BV, Atkinson’s Ch Hobson’s Choice at Moortop, 11 years, game & animated, did not miss a trick, keen expression, good tailset, well proportioned, harsh jacket, well sprung ribs, moved well. Delightful personality & in really good form;

2 Ruffles’ Ruffnor Secret Wish, 8½ years, shapely red, daughter of the VD winner. Still good teeth, very good coat & body, moved well, very focused showgirl;

3 Hess & Higgins’ Kapitada Fireopal at Umbrage.

LIZ CARTLEDGE

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