Firstly I would like to thank the members and committee of the Yorkshire Afghan Hound Society for inviting me to judge this beautiful prestigious show, it is truly an honour and privilege to judge at this breed club show. This show and club hold some amazing achievements and memories for me. I was so proud and thrilled to be invited, Thank you.

Secondly, I would like to thank my stewards for keeping me and the ring on track and running well, it was much appreciated.

Thank you also goes to all the exhibitors and their beautiful Afghans for entering under me and taking my decisions with good grace and so sportingly.

Fifty plus years in this breed and my love for my breed has never diminished, that said some decisions were tough! A judge’s job is never an easy one.

Aside from that it is always the greatest of honours to judge your beautiful much loved Affies and my breed and one I never take lightly.

Finally, on the day I feel our breed was a bit like a bag of liquorice all sorts, with differing types, which led me to reflect on how it feels that gone are the days it seems when our ring was full of 50/60 plus peas in a pod of Afghan type. 

Front angulation is becoming a mixed bag and something for breeders to consider when mating in the future, I was finding fronts more semi-circular than angled which will be of detriment in our breeds distinctive reaching driving stride.  Third eyelids also whilst not considered a fault do detract from our breeds aloof punishing expression again a consideration when breeding.

Overall however our breed has quality and promise for the future as I found in my winners. Although we now have more varied differing types, this I don’t see as a negative and see the meld of Australian, American and Continental lines with our own lines as exciting however as a word of caution never at the cost of our breed standard, risking losing all the unique amazing characteristics that we love in our Afghan breed.

My top winners are proof of how selective and careful breeding pays dividends in our homes, hearts, the litter box, and the showring whilst maintaining the integrity and standard of the Afghan Hound Breed.

I was really pleased with my lineup`s and overall winners, some of who I had never seen before and some favourites who all rose to the occasion and challenged me in my final decisions. Ultimately though I was thrilled with my overall winners, My BIS show winner is practically perfection personified, my dog CC winner is full of promise and a fine young man with everything to offer and there is more to come from him I`m sure.

My RBIS, BP & Res BP alongside of my Rest BD and Best Veteran were quality through and through and are good ambassadors for our breed.

Thank you one and all for bringing your dogs and showing them to me.  

 

 

Veteran Dog

What a lovely class to start my day with, all of this class represented and proved how our breed mature so well and defy their age. With all of them showing and moving with power and style of high order around the ring, showing the young ones how it’s done!

1st  and  Best Veteran in Show Winters Garamond Cloudberry For Tokando  

Eleven years young, regal gentleman, lovely balance head piece with punishing expression, dark triangular eye, powerful underjaw, good bite, good length of neck into well laid shoulders, deep chest with good loin, nice fallaway with prominent pin bones, lovely sweeping quarters with good length from hip to low set hocks, well set tail, moved with style and verve, showing his power and elegance,  handled beautifully, his black coat was presented in beautiful condition and finish, a credit to his owners. I was pleased to award him Best Veteran In Show

2nd Latimer`s UK Ch Jeremiah De Koulangar At Zharook JW (Imp Fra)

Rising ten years old shaded black mask gold majestic gentleman, long foreface, with a look through you expression, good dark eye, correct bite, balanced back skull leading to a long neck and well angled and placed front assembly. Nice depth to chest with short strong loin, good length of croup with well angled rear quarters, nice well set ringed tail, another who moved with style and verve and again presented in beautiful condition and coat. For me I just preferred the head of my winner. Well handled, another who is a credit to his owners. 

3rd Chadwick`s & Bradley`s Sofico Graffieti. Another quality rising ten years old grand gold gentleman.

 

Puppy Dog

1st and Best Puppy Dog. Holder`s Zendushkas Rolling Stone At Farakushk  

Eleven month old black masked gold young man, lovely balanced head, with nice long foreface with roman nose , dark triangular eye, correct scissor bite with good underjaw, nice length and breadth of back skull, leading to a good length of neck into a well laid front, good depth of chest with correct rib to loin ratio, level topline, prominent pin bones with good fallaway, great length from hip to hock, nice low hocks, on the move he was a typical baby who just wanted to have fun! When he did settle you could really see his ground covering stride, handled well with love and patience by his owner. He so reminds me of the young Afghans I grew up with raw and all angles at this age, full of promise. 

 

2nd Lunn & Henson`s Thuja Heaven Can Wait (Imp Ned)

Black & tan eight-month-old baby, lovely lean quality head and expression, with correct bite and tight dark eye with pleasing expression. Good back skull into a nice length of neck and well placed shoulders and front with deep chest and spring of rib, short loin with level topline coming to prominent pin bones nice length of fallaway with well set tail. Lovely, angulated hindquarters with low set hocks. Moved well with a nice springy, ground covering action on the day he just was not as settled or together with himself. Beautifully presented and well handled.

3rd Kirk & Williams Istani Davidoff The Game.

 

Junior Dog

1st Moore`s Merrick Prince Charming Cloudside (Imp Fin)

Impressive white fifteen-month-old who took my eye the minute I saw him in the ring. He has the most beautiful head with the perfect amount of masculinity without losing any refinement or quality, lovely long foreface with developing chiselling, the darkest of pigment on his nose and eyes, he has tight dark eye of eastern expression giving him that distinct aloof `look through you expression` Correct scissor bite with a punishing underjaw, equal length of back skull, prominent occiput. Good ear set, long neck into wonderful, well angled, correct front assembly, good depth of chest with good spring of rib. Level topline, short strong loin into a correct length of fallaway, lovely tail set finished with a long ringed tail. Well angled hindquarters with low set hocks, In superb hard muscle tone. He moved with a ground eating powerful stride, light and springy with a style of high order, moving true to and fro, beautifully handled with lovely presentation. This young man filled my eye, head and heart he totally charmed me. The best is yet to come with him and one with a very promising future both in the showring as well as for our breed, I will watch with great interest.  For me on the day there could be no other more worthy of the CC and BOS.

2nd Roper & Moore`s Sitana The Kingsman At Temenshu

16-month-old black masked gold quality youngster, lovely head with nice length of foreface another with a tight dark eye, good bite, with good strong underjaw. Good back skull with quality and masculinity. Good length of neck into a lovely nicely angled front, deep chest with good spring of rib, nice rib to loin ratio, strong loin, prominent pin bones with good fallaway, nice tail set, lovely angled rear assembly, with low hocks, in good muscle tone, presented in beautiful coat and condition, shown well. Moved with style, showing a ground covering springy powerful stride when he settled. Unfortunate to meet my winner.

3rd Gilchrist & MacClennan`s Khawari Purple Reign.

 

Yearling Dog

1st Gorman & Latimer`s Shahfoladi Sphinx Riddle At Zharook (AI) JW.

Young eighteen-month-old black and tan quality eye catching youngster, lovely length of foreface with a correct scissor bite, tight dark triangular eye, lovely punishing expression, nice corresponding length of back skull with prominent occiput, lovely long neck into well laid shoulders of good angles. Lovely deep chest with spring of rib, strong broad loin with prominent pin bones into good length of croup. Well set long ringed tail. Beautifully balanced sweeping hindquarters with low set hocks.  Groomed and presented superbly.  Moved with a light springy ground covering stride, an exuberant boy with a lovely temperament you can see how much he loves his job, handled well. This is another boy of great promise, I am sure he has a big future ahead, I was thrilled to give him the Res CC and Best Yearling In Show

2nd Roper & Moore`s Sitana The Kingsman At Temenshu

3rd Hills Way Up Radio Waves (Imp Ita)

 

Maiden Dog

1st French`s Sitana Moon Knight At Zalmeerah

Litter brother to my second in junior with many of the same attributes, balanced young man with a good head and dark eye, correct bite, nice length and quality of back skull into a good length of neck, nicely angled front and back, good level topline with short broad loin prominent pin bones and good croup with nice tail and tail set, moved straight front and back with a light springy ground covering stride. Well handed and presented.  

 

2nd Hills Way Up Radio Waves (Imp Ita)

Shaded black masked gold youngster, quality young man with a good head with tight dark eye, correct bite, good underjaw, nice length of neck into nice angled front, adequate depth of chest and spring of rib, good level topline with short strong loin, good croup with nicely set tail, good length from hip to hock of well angled hindquarters, moved true front and back, covered the ground nicely for me on the day just preferred the reach of movement of  my winner. Very well handled and presented beautifully.  

 

Novice Dog

1st French`s Sitana Moon Knight At Zalmeerah

2nd Hills Way Up Radio Waves (Imp Ita)

 

Undergraduate Dog

No Entries

Graduate Dog

1st Parker`s Saxonmill Majic Moment at Khatira

Lovely black & tan young man quality dog with a lovely length of foreface with good chiselling, he has a lovely tight dark eye with that distinct `aloof, look through you` expression, good scissor bite with punishing underjaw, lean back skull with prominent occiput, neck of nice length into well laid shoulders and front assembly, lovely depth of chest with good spring of rib, firm level topline with prominent pin bones nice  length of fallaway with well set tail, Lovely well-muscled  hind angles with good length from hip to low set hocks, moved straight and true with a ground eating flowing stride with a style of high order. Presented in beautiful coat and condition and handled expertly. A very lovely young dog with I`m sure a promising future, pushed hard in the final line up.

 

Post Graduate Dog

1st Hills & Thornton`s Absolute Afghans Djibouti At Karnak JW (Imp Nor)

I had the pleasure of judging this gentleman as a puppy at that time he showed promise and it is lovely to see he is fulfilling that promise, quality three year old upstanding, black masked gold boy, Nice masculine head with long foreface with good dark eye and expression, scissor bite and strong underjaw, good back skull with prominent occiput, neck of good length into nicely angled front assembly, nice depth of chest and spring of rib. Level topline with strong short loin coming to prominent pin bones and nicely angled croup with good ringed tail and set. He has great length from hip to hock and nicely angulated hindquarters, presented in beautiful coat and muscled condition, he moved with a ground covering springy gait, true movement to and fro.  

 2nd Newton`s Shimalma Jagermeister

Three years old self masked cream of lovely type, with a quality elegant head and expression into well laid front assembly with deep chest, level topline with short strong loin, prominent pin bones with good fallaway into nice long tail and tail set. Lovely hind angulation with low set hocks, nicely muscled in beautiful coat condition and presentation, beautifully handled, he moved true front and back and swept round the ring with an elegant reaching stride on the day I just thought my winner had the edge on movement.

3rd French`s Imp Trust Queen Budda At Zalmeerah (Imp Rus)

 

Limit Dog

1st Walsh`s Calamus Devil In Disguise (Imp Pol)

Four-year-old upstanding brindle man, long lean foreface and back skull with prominent occiput, dark eye, punishing expression, correct scissor bite and good underjaw, good length of neck into well laid and angled front, nice depth of chest and spring of rib, short strong loin with level topline, good length and angle to croup with well set tail. Nicely angled hindquarters with good length from hip to hock. Moved with a ground covering stride and moved true fore and aft. Well-handled and well presented in good condition.   

 

2nd Shaw`s Seoidin The Peacock (Imp Republic of Ireland)

Black masked Gold with a lovely head and expression, dark eye, correct bite, good underjaw. Good back skull leading into nice length of neck with well laid front assembly, deep chest with good spring of rib and correct rib to loin ratio, level topline ending at prominent pin bones with angled croup and well-set tail. Lovely hind angles with low hocks, presented well and handled beautifully, moved with reach and drive, a quality boy just thought my first had the edge on the day.  

3rd Gorman & Latimer`s Affietar Glen Sheil At Zharook

 

Open Dog

1st Thompson`s Ch Drishaun The Vampire Lily Via Gothika JW

Classic, quality, imposing black masked gold man, lovely balanced masculine head and expression with a dark eye with aloof expression correct bite, with punishing underjaw, balanced back skull placed on a good length of neck into a well angled front with good depth of chest and spring of rib, short loin, level topline with good pin bones, good length and set croup, well set on long ringed tail, lovely sweeping well angled hindquarters, moved straight front and back and powered round the ring with a long reaching springy gait. Presented to the last hair and very well handled with a lovely rapport between him and his handler.   

2nd Lancashire & O`Donnell`s Drishaun Star Among The Lillies JW

Beautiful, classy red brindle boy, litter brother to my winner, very much a hound he has a gorgeous head with long chiselled foreface with a correct scissor bite and powerful underjaw, he has a lovely a punishing aloof expression enhanced further by his tight dark eye, long lean back skull into a long neck and well angled front, great depth of chest and good spring to his ribs, strong shot loin with correct rib to loin ratio. Pin bones were prominent and led to a well angled croup with a lovely well set ringed tail.  Well angled sweeping hindquarters with well let down strong hocks, presented in beautiful muscle tone and coat condition. Really well handled, showing off how he can power around the ring with a ground covering light effortless stride. I admit it was a tough decision between these two quality men on the day and I`m sure they will swap places on many occasions.   

3rd Appleby & Minchin`s Ir Ch & Int Ch Valkor Vritra.

 

 

 

 

 

BITCHES

 

Veteran

1st Wagget`s Just For You De Koulangar At Clenagh JW (Imp Fra)

Rising ten years old classic, golden, gold girl with a pleasing head and expression, dark eye with a long foreface with a lean back skull, good scissor bite with good underjaw. Good length of neck into good shoulders with a nice deep chest and spring of rib, short loin with a level topline, good prominent pin bones, with nice length of fallaway finishing with a well-set tail. Lovely rear assembly with nicely angled hindquarters. Moved with a light springy stride. Handled well.

2nd Chadwick & Bradley`s Sofico Griselda

Rising ten years old Domino houndy elegant lady, beautiful head piece with long lean head and back skull, dark eye and expression, good scissor bite with punishing underjaw, good length of neck into nicely laid shoulders, good depth of chest, level topline with strong loin ending with prominent pin bones with well angled and good length of croup with well set long tail. Well angled sweeping quarters, with low hocks. Moved with a good length stride but for me on the day I felt she was not moving quite as I hoped.

 

Puppy

This was my hardest class to judge as both babies are beautiful, quality and although they stand in different frames, they are both of equal merit and quality and it was one of the few times I so wanted and wished I could award two 1st`s.

1st Scott`s Altside Hot Shot At ArushKhan

Beautiful, elegant and houndy nine-month-old self-masked cream, lovely correct outline on the stack, gorgeous head, lean back skull and expression, lovely dark eye and pigment on her lids and nose. Correct scissor bite with punishing underjaw, long neck into to a lovely front of good angles and assembly which matched corresponded with her hind assembly, good spring of rib strong loin with prominent pin bones with correct angle and length of fallaway, in nice muscle tone, good length from hip to hock. Moved with a light springy gait, presented to the last hair and beautifully handled.  Best Puppy Bitch and Best Puppy in Show

 

2nd Rhodes Alaqadar Ariodante Of Shadowfax Naf Taf (Imp )

Gorgeous little just turned eight-month-old black and brindle young lady, pure quality built in a different frame from the above, more continental in her type but very correct and pleasing in her outline, lovely head piece with tight dark eye of eastern expression. Scissor bite with good punishing underjaw, lean back skull with prominent occiput leading down a long neck into a well angulated front which is matched in the rear, good depth of chest with short loin, she stands very square and balanced, level topline with good fallaway and prominent pin bones with a lovely ringed tail, she moved with verve which was light springy and stylish, true front & back. Presented in beautiful coat condition, with good muscle tone for a baby. Lovely partnership with her caring good handler.  It was the hardest decision on the day, to me they were both winners, on the day a decision had to be made so it was my winner having a tad more maturity which denoted placing but both very promising babies with bright futures both in the showring and for our breed.  I will watch with great interest.

 

Junior

1st Latimer & Gorman`s Sitana Moon Star At Zharook

Sixteen-month-old classic feminine gold young lady, lovely head with long foreface and lean back skull. Tight dark eye with aloof expression, correct scissor bite with good underjaw and lovely chiselling, prominent occiput moving into a good length of neck and well laid shoulders and angulation, nice depth of chest with good spring of rib and short strong loin, level topline ending with prominent pin bones and good angled fallaway completed by a nicely set on tail. Hindquarters mirrored her front angles with low strong hocks. Presented well in lovely coat, condition and muscle tone. Moved with a springy stylish ground covering stride. Elegant and classy young lady well handled.

2nd Shaw`s Khawari Diamonds & Pearls

Seventeen-month-old brindle youngster with lovely pleasing head and expression, dark eye, good bite and underjaw, nice back skull with prominent occiput set on a good length of neck leading to a well angled front assembly with deep chest and spring of rib, level topline with short strong loin, prominent pin bones, nice fallaway with well set on tail. Good hind angles matching front, well balanced and moved with a light springy gait just on the day preferred the first. Presented well and handled beautifully.

3rd Smith`s Katanga`s Jessica Jones

 

Yearling

1st Gleed`s Saviour And My Salvation At Ksladz

Lovely oyster brindle young lady she has a lovely outline on the stack, beautifully balanced standing foursquare, her balance continues in her head piece with refinement and finesse both to her long foreface and lean back skull, completed with a dark eye showing her punishing expression, a correct scissor bite with a good underjaw. Long neck into well laid and angled front assembly with deep chest and well sprung ribs, short strong loin with prominent pin bones and good fallaway. With good tail and set. Lovely sweeping hind angles in good muscle tone.  Moved with a straight long reaching ground covering stride. Beautifully presented and well handled.   

Maiden

1st Rhodes Alaqadar Ariodante Of Shadowfax Naf Taf (Imp )

So enjoyed giving this baby her first.

Novice

1st Scott`s Altside Hot Shot At Arushkhan

2nd Reaney`s Andazraq Be My Brightness

Silver brindle with pleasing head and expression, long foreface with aloof expression, dark eye, correct scissor bite, good punishing underjaw, lean back skull with good occiput, long neck into well angled shoulders, well sprung ribs with deep chest, level firm topline with prominent pin bones and good fallaway with well set ringed tail, nicely angled hindquarters with low set hocks, moved with a light springy true movement, lovely presentation and well handled.  

 

Undergraduate

1st Reaney`s Andazraq Be My Brightness

 

Graduate

1st Humphreys Ayoubkhan Porcelain Dove

Two-year-old elegant appealing self-masked cream, lovely head with aloof expression and dark eye, correct scissor bite with good underjaw, lean back skull leading into good length of neck and well angled front assembly, deep chest and nice spring of rib with good loin and level topline ending with prominent pin bones nicely angled fallaway with well set tail. Matching well angled rear assembly with low hocks and good length from hip to hock, moved with style and grace covering the ground with a light springy gait.

 

Post Graduate

1st Edwards Rhajikhan Aurora

Refined Two-year-old short coupled brindle lady, beautiful feminine head with long foreface, dark eye and correct scissor bite with punishing underjaw, another who gives you that ``straight through you` look, lean back skull with prominent occiput leading into a long neck and well angled front assembly with a well sprung deep chest. Firm topline with a short strong loin, prominent pin ones and nice fallaway with well set tail, nicely sweeping quarters of good length from hip to hock. Beautifully presented, this girl moved with style and verve and is made of `tough stuff` as two of the runners handling her fell, yet still she carried on with head up tail up, credit to her owner and handlers.

2nd Harris`s Gezancol Tickled Pink At Portianja

`Elegant three-year-old Lady with good head with nice length of foreface, good scissor bite with dark eye and a look through you look and expression. Lean back skull, moving down a good length of neck into nice shoulders and front, good spring of rib with deep chest. Level firm topline with short strong loin, good fallaway with nice tail and set. Nicely angulated hindquarters, moved with a springy true movement, lovely presentation and well handled.   

3rd Mitchell, Thornton & Smithson`s Absolute Afghan`s India At Karnak (Imp Nor)

 

Limit

1st Millward, Race & Millward`s Calahorra Moonlite N Dreams Of Tico At Alouann (Imp Aus)

This girl is a firm favourite of mine she is elegant and from the top drawer, she oozes quality and finesse with a beautiful outline on the stack, gorgeous head and expression with a dark triangular eye with which she looks straight through you with that aloof punishing expression. Correct bite with punishing underjaw with lovely chiselling on her lone foreface, lovely quality lean back skull with prominent occiput leading down a long strong neck into a well angled front assembly with a good depth of chest and spring of rib, short strong loin with prominent pin bones and a good well angled fallaway ending with a long well-set tail. Beautiful sweeping hindquarters with great length from hip to hock, in hard muscle tone and presented to the last hair, moved with a style of high order covering the ground effortlessly. She is a beautifully made lady who commands attention, RES CC & Reserve Best In Show.

2nd Fairburn & Roberts Cloudside Sunset.

Another lovely eye-catching quality lady who again has a lovely outline on the stack, beautiful head piece with balance and femininity, good scissor bite, good underjaw, nice chiselling, dark triangular eye helping to create that aloof look through you expression leading into a lean back skull with prominent occiput, carrying into to a good length of neck with a well angulated front and shoulder assembly, good deep chest with good spring of rib and short strong loin, level topline ending prominent pin bones and nice fallaway with well set tail. Lovely matching hind angulation with low set hocks. Well-muscled and presented beautifully, on the move she moved with a springy light movement, handled well however I just wanted her to put a little more into her movement.

3rd Brentanous`s Valkor Vilholin

 

 

Open

This was such a lovely class of beautiful Afghan bitches; it was a joy and honour.

1st Hall`s Ch Saxonmill Majic Mirror

Upon entering the ring she weaved her majic on me!

Captivating two-year-old black and silver lady, she is regal and elegant with a beautiful balanced outline on the stack. Whatever I say about this lady I am sure has been said before, she is simply outstanding and exquisite, she filled my eye, perfectly built front and back, her head and expression is devine, tight dark almond eye enhancing her aloof punishing expression, good scissor bite with punishing underjaw, long feminine foreface balanced perfectly with her back skull. she has a `look of eagles`, she knows she is queen and ensures you know it too. Long neck into well laid front assembly with lovely well sprung ribs deep chest strong short loin complimented by her pin bones and nicely angled and good length of fallaway. Lovely tail and tail set, she is superbly muscled, with sweeping hind quarters and excellent hind angulation which corresponds and matches her front, all adorned with a beautifully silky profuse coat presented to last hair. When she moved, she floated around the ring with a style of high order and ground covering effortless stride. An valuable asset for our breed, credit to her breeder owner, Loved her. I was thrilled to give her the CC and Best in Show

 

2nd Cross`s Syrdarya Lapsang Souchong With Gilari.

Another quality classy, elegant, gorgeous lady who is a huge favourite of mine. Three year old shaded masked gold, beautiful headpiece, dark almond eye and another with a distinctive look through you aloof expression, correct scissor bite, long foreface with good chiselling, strong punishing underjaw, lean back skull with prominent occiput with a long neck into a beautifully angled front assembly, deep chest with well sprung ribs, strong level topline with strong loin and correct rib to loin ratio, prominent pin bones good fallaway with lovely long well set tail. Beautiful hindquarters and angulation and in great muscle and condition. Moved with true front and back with a springy light gait, another from the top drawer and just unfortunate to meet my first. Another lady who is a credit and asset to our breed. Presented beautifully and excellently handled a credit to her owners.  

 

3rd O`Donnell`s Ch Drishaun Faith Is Like A Lily For Javidan JW.

 

 

 

Janine Brownless (Judge)