GS Club Of GB (Ch - 03/11/2007)

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Critique

Championship show: Mittels Numerically a lovely entry but I have to be honest and say I was disappointed with the overall quality and I had to keep making allowances and forgiving things I do not like. Whatever has happened to heads in this lovely breed?
"Medium large, broad and nearly flat skull, narrowing in a wedge to the nose. Stop MODERATELY defined and approximately half the length of the head. Ears small and set rather high. Eyes medium sized, oval and obliquely set"
I found so many different head types that it was amazing. Narrow backskulls, stops ranging from the almost non existent to the proverbial doorstep, eyes quite round and much too prominent, third of the overall head length and ears of various sizes which were low set or too big. There is still a major problem in construction and movement. Lack of a decent shoulder and correct upper arm is fairly common resulting in a strutting front action and too many are out at elbow and toe in in front which is quite ugly. I was also surprised at how frequent I met top lines which rise from the withers to the tail set, giving the appearance of being overbuilt and ruining the outline. So it was a day of compromise for me. I hope the serious breeders will take my comments as constructive criticism and take a real hard look at the way the breed is going. My thanks to everyone who made the show run so smoothly and kept the ring running so well.
BIS on the referee’s decision was the Klein Stonelight Electra, Res. BIS to the Mittel Ch Desaria Destiny and BPIS the Klein Holbain Nobody’s Fool.

VD (4/1) 1 O'Loughlin’s Ch. Claran Earthworm Jim Under Caoilta brown with a decidedly masculine headpiece excellent skull width. Neat well set ears, eyes now a shade full but expression really bright, enough neck, lovely ribcage and level backline, quite square in length/height proportions, hocks could be straighter in action but in profile he was the most balanced and free striding.
2 Day’s Loki Gold Ingot whilst I preferred the eyes on this lovely sized gold, I felt the winner had the better head balance being more of a real wedge. In immaculate coat he clearly receives much TLC and he responded so well in the ring. He is well shaped, fairly square in outline not quite the fluency in profile action of Jim.
3 Pooley’s Rossfort Apollo a cracker in his 14th year!

MPD (5/2) 1 Andrew’s Runfold Krafty Kid promising sable dog whose head balance I liked, well shaped eyes, ears could be smaller to advantage, lovely weighted boned and the neatest of feet. His backline is level, the tail well set and he is a good size. Needs lots of ring training to do himself justice on the move.
2 Hill’s Sobriety Sir Thomson deep gold and the first of my problem dogs. Is overdone in reach of neck for this breed and is lacking in length of upper arm so he lifts his fore feet much too high in action. He is well ribbed, level back, well set and carried tail and uses his hocks well going away.Spotlessly presented, his head is pleasing though I would like smaller ears.
3 Mulholland’s Zephon Nebula Rubiestar

PD (8/1) 1 & BPIB Rogerson’s Nosregor Kateandy Moogi-Doo, short of coat but it only served to show how well put together this brown youngster is. Good skull, perhaps a shade more foreface would finish it off, excellent eyes, well defined stop, ample neck, level backed, tail high set and perfectly carried. Floored the opposition on the move. At present he is a little narrow in front but once that fills out with maturity, he should do well.
2 Bray’s Abbicher Oh Boy, a charming well coated parti of just 6 months and to start with he played up, especially on the move. Handles well on the table, well balanced head, nice breadth of skull, correct stop and a decent foreface. Eye a little round perhaps, ears high set, moderate neck. Lovely ribcage and loin and his shape is quite square. Not the schooled ring performer of the winner, but gave flashes of just how pleasing his side action can look once his attention is won
3 Samuels’ Spellcast Urban Legend with Runestone.

JD (8) 1 O’Loughlin’s Liubice Crazy Diamond for Caolita, I see is a half brother to the pretty parti – both by Nemo. This cream and white had heaps going for him. Loved his headpiece, the shape, its balance, the beautiful eyes for size, shape, colour and expression. Enough reach of neck, firm in body, level backline, well set and carried tail, ample weight in bone and neat feet. Shown in spanking condition I feel he just lacks positive hock action which, for me, spoils the profile appeal. Could go on to greater things.
2 Corkin’s Nixtev Kinetic Under Fouranfass . This fellow had the edge in brisk side action which was balanced and unexaggerated, keeping his shape and looking purposeful. Well shaped head, eyes a little full for me and I thought his ears were not quite as neat as that of the winner. He is well ribbed, lovely forehand, straightest of legs and was in lovely coat.
3 Hookway & Bentley’s Desaria Luka mit Beaulion

PGD (8/2) 1 Dickinson’s Nixtev Inferno red gold dog which has a little too much neck. However, the head is well balanced, excellent muzzle, decent & not over done stop, nice spring and depth of rib, bit upright in shoulder, excellent legs and feet and he was in excellent coat. This non-stop showman tried his hardest but in the challenge his prancing front action went against him.
2 Purves’ Bulabs Polar Bear cream so very much out of coat which was a pity. I loved his head pattern, good skull width, beautiful eyes, moderate stop, lovely muzzle and an excellent expression. He is foursquare in stance, exudes breed type but he was another whose somewhat short stepping stride coupled to his lack of jacket, told against him. I see he is another Nemo son and there is something about these half brothers which has definite appeal.
3 Calvert & King’s Red Alert

LD (14/3) 1 & CC Rogerson’s Nosregor Fernando a delightful example of the breed. This very dark brown has style, the shape, the head quality, was immaculately prepared and presented, shows non stop and out-moved the opposition. I loved his middle of the range size, his proportions are spot on, his expression full of anticipation and expectancy, ears never down and he has a real zip in his stride. Winning his first CC and I sincerely hope the others follow.
2 Sharp & Moslins’ Wyndlee Tsar Frederick of Wildfire, black which I am aware is up to size but he excelled in so many other places that I forgave it here in this class. All male in head, lovely skull, eyes could be that tad smaller to enhance his expression, good stop and foreface, beautifully bodied with a level backline and well set and carried tail. His front assembly is so good and it is reflected when he moves around the ring. I don’t expect to see a GSD action, but I hope for a fluent, balanced stride showing some reach and drive and this fellow had it. True fore and aft, immaculately coated – I just had to forgive his height.
3 Looker’s Galvizach Kayefsee at Umshumbwe

OD (14/2) 1 & Res. CC Chambers & Rogerson’s Ch. Druitz Corncracker for Teamspitz JW ShCM, this delightful cream was a bit short of coat, particularly his tail and this told against him in the challenge. Very stylish, that look of quality, middle sized, excellent head, eyes & an expression full of charm and appeal. Sound as a bell, I loved him and know that had he been in full coat, he would have run the ticket winner to a photo finish.
2 Hewitts’ Ch. Spellcast Talk to Me another very good example of a Mittel male and one certainly worthy of his crown. Again no doubting his sex, so well constructed, good shoulder and hind angulation, lovely legs and feet, well ribbed, strong loin, tail set correct and immaculate in coat presentation. On the move he showed the others that the breed can moved truly up and down and show a free, light action as he circled the ring. Clean one piece wedge head and I just felt that Corncracker had the slightly better muzzle/skull ratio, but close up.
3 Powell’s Desaria Aurelius at Brookwell

VB (2/1) 1 Garbutt’s Ch. Runfold China Crisis at Nixtev, 8 yr old cream of outstanding merit and am not surprised to read she is a titleholder. Utterly feminine, beautifully shaped head, eye a little full now but that most likely due to her age. Her expression is sharp as a tack, ears ever alert and her construction and movement, especially side on, made her a serious contender in the challenge.

MPB (7/2)
1 Garbutt’s Nixtev Lexis
2nd Heslop’s Nixtev Libertine
3rd Moir’s Nixtev Liberty at Jansanleis
Three cream litter sisters and very much of a type in head. I felt the winner is that bit shorter coupled with a most level backline and, once she settled to behave, showed the most balance and smoothness of stride when in action. Responsive showgirl and spotless condition. Libertine is longer cast and appears that fraction shorter in leg length so the desired squareness in body profile is less apparent. She is the showgirl supreme, perfectly schooled both in stance and on the move. Coat perfectly prepared added to her appeal. Comes towards one a shade wide in front. The third member of the litter is certainly square with a decent leg length, but she needs to drop behind as she stands and moves overbuilt.

PB (6/1) 1 N. Lexis 2 N. Libertine 3 Mountain’s Daraydala Pink Fizz at Hocombewood

JB (4/1) 1 Hookway & Bentley’s Galvizach the Choir Girl at Beaulion cream sable a little lacking in attention span much to her owners dismay and entreating! Well balanced and shaped head, adequate stop, nice dark expressive eyes, enough neck, very good spring and depth of ribs, could be a shade shorter in loin, high set and well carried tail. Her side action ensures she won the top spot, needs to tighten a bit in front. In good coat.
2 Garbutt’s Nixtev Kameo such a compact and well balanced cream bitch. Unfortunately stands and moves a trifle overbuilt behind which detracts from the appeal of her shape. I liked her head, ample foreface with a decent stop and very dark eyes which harmonise so well with her colouring. Her expression pleased and her side action is even striding.
3 Day’s Desaria Lotte

PGB (8) 1 Orchard’s Spilmah Affair to Say shaded cream which demands attention on the stack as her outline is so easy on the eye and is typical of what I like to see in the breed. Her head is quite good though could have a little more muzzle length. Neat little ears, good neck and firm backline. Like a good number, she lifts her forelegs too high and thus loses her top line on the move,
2 King’s Grizwold Inabikari shaded sable and another which persisted in standing with a rising top line, thus overbuilt behind. Pleasing head, eye and expression, certainly compact with a decent length of leg which could perhaps have a little more weight to it. Side action shows balance.
3 Hewett’s Spellcast Look Whos Talking

LB (7/3) 1 Thurston’s Rossfort Xanadu from Liubice another cream of pleasing size and overall proportions, though she is another whose backline rises from the withers. Not in full coat but her side action was the most balanced in this class. Head shape is good, ample muzzle, lovely eyes and expression.
2 Pooley’s Wyndlee Fallen Angel from Azkaban deep gold and another between coats. Well balanced head, shade full in eye, good ears, good neck, level in backline with a decent spring of rib and good loin. Tail carriage excellent. Matched the winner in side action but came towards me somewhat out at elbow.
3 Clarke’s Runfold Frantic Freda

OB (8/2)
They kept the best to the end of the day! Easily the best class and a pleasure to judge
1 CC BOB & Res. BIS Smith’s Ch. Desaria Destiny. I just loved this brown from the moment the class first moved around the ring. She had all that I was looking for. Unquestionably a Mittel, super size for a bitch, delightful head with ample stop definition for me, excellent eyes, high set ears, lovely muzzle and a sufficiency in neck. Her backline from the ear tips to her tail set is absolutely spot on. She stands foursquare, is well ribbed and bodied, beautiful front assembly, moderate bend of stifle , in excellent coat and she was an example to anyone watching as to just how a well made Mittel can move – a free striding, almost floating totally unexaggerated brisk stride, keeping her shape and stopping dead right. A total show off, I thought her a comfortable BOB winner and was amazed to learn she is in 8th year! Quite outstanding.
2 & Res. CC Chamber’s Ch. Nosregor Bewitched for Musique, another extremely good bitch, again a brown and with that look of style and class which spells success. Strongly made all through, lovely bone. legs and feet and her length/height proportions must just about be spot on as the silhouette is almost square. Her head is well balanced, ample stop, decent length of muzzle and her head a true wedge. Perhaps not quite the lovely eye of the winner, being a shade fuller, but that is nit picking to split two lovely bitches. Whilst she is sound and easy on the eye in action, I felt the winner just had the edge when coming towards me. Another which must be a joy to show.
3 Orchard’s Pennypot Enchantress With Spilmah.

Albert Wight

EVA HILL SPECIAL AWARDS

Firstly my sincere thanks to the Society for the invitation and opportunity of judging the ‘Special’ classes at their annual Championship Show. Also for the very warm welcome I received from the officers and committee members of the Society. Thank you one and all, the show will always remain a very fond memory.

MITTEL

OD 1. Chamber’s, Ch. Druitz Corncracker for Teamspitz JW Sh CM. 3 years old cream male of good size and breed type. Standing well but slightly out of coat, mores the pity. A male who showed excellent ring presence. Classic head qualities with strong male expression. Darkest of eyes, well pigmented, good bite and ear carriage. Well proportioned body which I found firm and well muscled. Good sound movement but taken a little too fast at times. Nice harsh texture to coat, which I’m sure will blossom in the not to distant future. Loved him. Best Mittel Dog.
2. Heslop’s, Nixtev Fyreblade. 5 years old outstanding black. Would like him a little shorter in length, but having said that he did provide a splendid picture both standing and on the move. Strong male head. Good skull to muzzle ratio, ears well set and active. Moderate reach of neck into firm level topline. Sound all round and very confident on the table. Well handled.
3. Hewett's, Ch. Spellcast Talk to Me JW.

OB 1. Chamber’s, Ch. Nosregor Bewitched for Musique. A brown girl in coat, on her toes and for me right at the front of the queue. An outstanding exhibit put down and shown to perfection. Dream of a head, pleasing soft intelligent expression. Confident on the table, moving and final presentation. Perfect bite, strong top and underlines. Classic height to length ratio. Good long bones very short loin. Tail carriage high. Scored high on the move providing good forward reach and follow through from her rear. Good depth of coat which I found weatherproof and coarse. On the move she provided me with the ultimate picture and beat her stable mate to go Best all Round Mittel. and eventually came out best award. What a star.
2. Garbutt’s, Ch. Nixtev Fyrefly JW. 5 years old black in coat and of good texture. Very feminine. Good angles all through with a strong short neck. Deep rib and short loin. Very very brisk on the move with typical forward reach. Handled well with confidence and skill.
3. Garbutt’s, Ch. Runfold China Crisis at Nixtev.

Thank you one and all.
Mike Vines