Midland Basset Hound Club
Championship Show 20th July 2024
Judge: Mr Nick Frost
Thank you to the Midland Basset Hound Club for their invitation to judge their forty sixth Championship Show. I had a super entry of 80 hounds which I thoroughly enjoyed adjuducating upon! It is some time since I judged Bassets in the UK so I came to this with a totally fresh eye. Much is said about the differences between American, British and European Basset Hounds, but when it comes to it, we should all be looking for the same attributes: a functional, athletic dog that should, at the very least, give the impression of being able to do what it was bred for.
I was able to find enough good dogs to fill my eye and fill these criteria. I commend the exhibitors, for the most part, showing dogs in fit, muscular condition.
I was looking for a well balanced, unexaggerated hound, with a good outline, strong topline and matching front and rear. To a large part I saw this, especially in the girls. There were great toplines on almost all the dogs but there were some heavy fronts and shoulders that were loaded or placed too forward. It worries me when I can barely get two fingers between the legs under the breast bone. The rears were mostly excellent. What concerned me were the number with poor feet and ribcages that were too short and not smooth. Both features are vital for a working hound.
Thank you to the exhibitors for accepting my decisions with good grace and making my day an enjoyable one.
BEST IN SHOW
HARVIDENE QUEEN OF DIAMONDS
RESERVE BEST IN SHOW
Annency Dos Tojjos E Rosmaninhos
BEST PUPPY IN SHOW
HARVIDENE QUEEN OF DIAMONDS
BEST VETERAN IN SHOW
Ch Nelgus Thyme Bomb
Veteran Dog
1.Allchorne, Ch Nelgus Thyme Bomb. Handsome blanketed tri. Lovely oultine, excellent topline, well ribbed. Although he could use a little more prosternum and tighter feet he was very close in the challenge.
2.Jones, Qubo Avaleur Du SabreMet Clanwillow. Kept a good outline with a strong topline. Excellent condition for his age. Not the front of the winner.
Minor Puppy Dog
1.Jones, Clanwillow Fire and Ice. Tricolour, masculine, balanced, well boned with good feet. Strong topline, a little forward in shoulder. Strong rear which he used on the move.
2.Grace, Hurdy Gurdy Gurdy. Sasilasy. Balanced but shorter backed. Good feet and ribs. A little high in the rear now but should let down as he matures.
3.Cudlip, Harvidene Festive Cheer
Puppy Dog
1.Melbourne, Diheath Chekov. Upstanding dog, very masculine. Head is balanced but a little strong for my tastes. Good front and rear with a strong topline. I would like a little more prosternum and smoother ribbing. Excellent condition and a strong mover.
2. Parkes, Bessalin Red Hot Chilli. More to my type but not so mature. Nice outline and good topline. He can make more of himself, but he has time on his side!
Junior Dog
1.Allchorne,Nelgus Golden Nugget. Typey r/w dog not quite sure of himself and could carry a little more weight. Nice outline and good topline. Good bone and feet.
Yearling Dog
- Hampton, Big Long Blues Prometheus of Bassluxe. Smaller mottled tri with much to commend him. Good head proportions, with parallel planes (so rarely seen these days). Good topline, bone and feet. Carries himself well and well handled.
Graduate Dog
1.Bufton’s Kenzduo Shores at Royalinne. Compact tri dog. Attractive but rather short muzzle. Tight feet, good topline. Moves a little wide but with drive.
2.Land, Starchief Grant. Pleasing head, good length and topline. Somewhat narrow all through. Well conditioned.
Post Graduate Dog
1.Woodworth, Armadio Against the Wind. r/w who won on his strong movement. Balanced front and rear. Lacks a little in prosternum and ribs could be deeper.
2. Melbourne, Diheath Macaramac. Heavier, which showed in his movement. Pleasing expression. Good bone and excellent feet. Better angled than the first. Also lacks in prosternum and the ribs could be smoother.
Limit Dog
1.Strudwick. Armadio Ride Like the Wind Among Kumamatata.
Stallion dog, a little strong for me but he could not be denied his place. Balanced with a good topline and one of the best sets of shoulders of the day. Good sternum and tight feet. Carries himself well. Res CC
2.Cudlip, Woferlow Eclipse at Harvidene. Tri dog in good condition, pleasing type with a good outline, who does not do himself justice. Good bone and feet, a little forward in shoulder and can strengthen behind. He is a young dog and I feel the best is yet to come.
3.Seddon, Dalpatricks Top Gun at Sedonia
Open Dog
1.Woodworth, Ch Armadio Firestarter. Very pleasing blanketed dog. He is very nicely put together and is totally unexaggerated. Masculine with a soft expression. I might give him a fraction more leg but he has good bone and feet and ribs that go well back. He has an easy gait but could use some extra drive. CC and BOS
2.Marta, Pt Ch Goldenessence Can’t Buy Me Love. Quite the opposite in style of the first. A very dramatic dog that moves like the wind with a huge side gait that is not altogether useful for a hunting hound. Strong neck, good prosternum and a strong topline with good shoulders that earned him his place in this class.
3.Blevins, Ch &Ir Ch Blevwil Kenny Dewitt
Special Beginners Dog (2) (Repeats)
1.Kenzduo Shore at Royalinne
2.Starchief Grant
DOG CHALLENGE
L-R -Open, Limit, Post Graduate, Graduate, Yearling, Junior, Puppy, Minor Puppy, Veteran
Veteran Bitch
1.Pearson, Ch Roamanbay Russia With Love to Armadio. R/w who carries her ten years so lightly. Super condition. I liked her strong front and tight feet for her age.
2.Cartwright, Ch Bromp Miss Velevet at Longmynd. Tri, more to my type but not as dramatic or the scope of the winner. She also has a good front. Excellent condition.
3.Meldrum, Kimbleholme Dreamkeeper
Minor Puppy Bitch
1.Green, Nefritis Black Beauty. Lovely blanketed tri and most promising for her age. Well put together with good feet and a strong topline. Nice easy mover.
2.Blevins Blevwill Becca Gain, smaller but most balanced r/w. She has good bone and tight feet. Her topline rises up a little behind but should level off as she matures. Nice easy, fluid movement.
3. Jones, Clanwillow Ice Queen
Puppy Bitch
1.Cudlip, Queen of Diamonds. Aptly named r/w. My notes say classy. At times she stacks into herself but moving she stretches out and displays her lovely neck, strong topline and total balance, front and rear. She has a lovely feminine head with a soft expression. In the challenge she was able to out move all the adults to win both the
CC and BIS. Congratulations to her breeders.
2. Blevwil Heres to Harriett. A very nice r/w puppy not as mature as the winner and can still fill out. She has a good front with good prosternum. A strong topline and comes together very well on the move.
3.Bufton, Princess Pride at Royalinne
Junior Bitch
1.Wilding, Nelgus Crunchy Nut at Brackenacre. A smart tri of pleasing type. Very feminine, yet good substance and bone. Well balanced front and rear, good ribs. Holds a nice outline on the move. Should finish well. I considered her in the challenge.
2.Woodworth, Woodrich Summer Breeze. Another lovely tri who was close up to the winner. Slightly larger mold and her shoulders just a little more forward the winner. Long neck, strong topline, good prosternum. Moves with drive maintaining her outline. Should also do well.
3.Parkes, Bessalin Aint Miss Behaving
Yearling Bitch
1.Marta, Goldenessence Can’t Buy Me Love. An impressive tri with a lovely outline. I might make her a little more feminine. Strong topline and very good prosternum. Good bone and feet. Moves with drive and a good side gait.
2.Pearson, Armadio Candle in the Wind. Smart r/w a little lower to ground than the winner. Decent front and a good topline which she maintains on the move.
Graduate Bitch
1. Jones, ClanwillowGolden Sunset. Feminine r/w with a nice outline. She could have a little more bone and has a tendency to rise up a little behind. Good neck with a nice layback of shoulder. Well ribbed.
Post Graduate Bitch
1.Archer, Roamanbay Red Hot Pepper, blanketed tri bitch in good condition. Good topline. Would like tighter feet and a smoother ribcage. Moves with a powerful side gait.
2. Mclean, Switherland Gabriella at Stookewood. Heavier red girl, not as good in front as the winner. Well off for bone with a strong topline and firm loin, well ribbed. Smart mover.
Limit Bitch
1.Melbourne, Diheath Elvis. l/w, I thought her the most balanced in the class, presenting a nice outline. I would give her a little more neck and her shoulders are slightly forward but she has a strong topline, excellent ribs and good bone and feet. Carries herself well and moves with purpose.
2.Turner, Devonhound Who’s That Girl. A nice outline to this girl which she keeps on the move, but comes at you somewhat narrow. I might give her a little more bone. I like her skirting. Excellent condition and well handled.
Open Bitch
1.Flores Ribeiro, Annency Dos Tojjos E Rosmaninhos. Lovely feminine tri who headed a strong class. A most balanced outline with matching front and rear. Good neck and shoulders. Good ribs and has enough bone and substance for her size. Moves easily and freely with no wasted effort. Res CC, Res BIS
2. Whiting Ch Braithwell Aurelia at Annilann. R/w, very close up to the winner. I loved her femineity, and beautiful headpiece. Super front, good bone and feet and ribs well back, with a strong level topline. Just out moved by the winner.
3.Armstrong, Lauralee A Kind of Magic
OPEN BITCH CLASS
RESERVE DCC
Armadio Ride Like the Wind Among Kumamatata
RESERVE BCC
Flores Ribeiro, Annency Dos Tojjos E Rosmaninhos
