Yorkshire Afghan Hound Society Championship Show 15^th September 2012

Afghan hound dogs

My thanks to the committee for their invitation to judge our beautiful breed in the superb setting at Carlton Towers. Also thanks to my stewards for their sterling work. The overall entry though small by past standards was particularly strong in Limit, Open and Veteran , there were a number of dogs today I would happily have awarded a CC to. Heads in particular were superb as was temperament . Balance of front and rear angulation and ring tails not always quite so, I was however delighted to find that fewer dogs had been trimmed on their neck, saddle and tails than the last time I judged. I must make mention of some of the names , so un-Afghan that they detract from the dignity and elegance of the breed. Finally thank you all for such a quality entry and all so beautifully presented it was an enormous pleasure.

Veteran (6)

1^st. Best Veteran

Pearce’s BIRKHALL MARK. Handsome black/cream, balanced masculine head, dark eye, strong jaw, well made throughout with deep rib, finished with a ring tail covered the ground well with free easy strides.

2^nd. Bunney’s CH.FIROS TORRAN AT ZADAL. Beautifully presented masked gold, worthy champion, beautiful head with aloof expression, mature balanced body, ring tail, just preferred movement of first on the day.

3^rd. Fisher’s CH. CHICAGO DU MONT CHACRA RAJU AT IFMARIF.

Minor puppy (1)

1^st. Best puppy dog. Reserve Best Puppy in Show

Stevens’ HAPPEN’Z DONT TOUCH. Delightful 7 month old self masked cream who stood alone but was a worthy winner, so well balanced for a baby, head long and lean with the promise of fine chiselling , dark almond eye, long neck to excellent shoulder and rear angulation, level topline, ring tail, movement sure and steady.

Puppy (4)

1^st. French’s SITANA JAL MAHAL AT ZALMEERAH. Black masked light red, super head, well shaped dark eye, good lay of shoulder balanced to rear angulation, short strong loin, moved and showed well, has a very defined saddle for one so young as has his litter brother who was 2^nd.

2^nd. Finch, Hopper and Scott’s SITANA RAJA JANI. heavy black mask silver so similar to his brother, perhaps a little finer but equally well made with a lovely head unfortunately he did not want his head handled in this class but settled in later ones to be well placed.

3^rd. Charlton’s JAVIDAN PRIMAL SCREAM WITH NYANZA.

Junior (7)

1^st. Moyes and Hunter’s CLOUDSIDE EMPEROR RULES BRYELIS. Striking brindle, balanced masculine head with no coarseness , lovely type and quality, well put together throughout, powerful rear giving good driving movement, presented and handled well.

2^nd. Finch, Hopper and Scott’s SITANA RAJA JANI. Much happier being handled here so deserved his place.

3^rd. Gardener’s SUMAHARI SWING MASTER FOR DANWISH.

continued

YEARLING (5)

1st. Morrison’s TULAK UNDER SEIGE. Sound masked gold of lovely type ,refined masculine head, long neck to excellent shoulder placement, short strong loin, ring tail, good sweep from hip to hock, moved and showed well.

2^nd. Lloyd’s KRISHAN THE EMPREROR. Tall brindle , pleasing head and eye but not the overall balance of first, a steady mover, handled and presented well.

3^rd. Inman and Lacey’s KEAMAROLA HE’S HERE TO STAY.

Novice (2)

1^st. Finch, Hopper and Scott’s SITANA RAJA JANI.

2^nd. Gardener’s SWING MASTER FOR DAWISH. Tall black, striking head, good length of foreface balanced to skull, correctly shaped dark eye, moved surely.

Graduate (6)

1^st. Bloor’s PASHTARI THE GAMEKEEPER. Quality black masked gold of super type, fabulous head and eye good length of foreface balanced to skull, prominent occiput, perfectly proportioned with balanced angulation front and rear, covered the ground well on the move though a little reluctant to raise his tail, his litter sister won the bitch CC, nice litter .

2^nd. Broadhead’s TULAK THE SENTINEL AT TAZIEFF. Shaded masked gold, very little to choose between him and first, another quality head, well angulated front and rear, level topline , ring tail, moved with a free easy stride.

3^rd. Davies’ KHAMIS KASABIAN.

Post Graduate(4)

1^st. Reserve CC. Newton’s SHIMALMA COLOUR OF MAGIC. Tall black and tan who really came into his own on the move with his superb head and tail carriage covering the ground with great reach and drive, fabulous head, long and lean, chiselled foreface, dark triangular eye with that almost rare “look at and through one” long neck, shoulder long and sloping, deep rib with fair spring, excellent hindquarters finished with a ring tail correctly set, super.

2^nd. Gorman, Inman and Lacey’s ISHARA STAR OF THE SURVIVAL. Blue shown in immaculate coat and condition another with a beautiful refined head but still masculine very typical of his type, well angulated shoulder and rear quarters, moved with a style of high order just preferred the outline of 1^st.

3^rd. Bastow’s KARANDIKAR MOON DANCER.

Mid Limit (4)

1^st. Winters’ ASHAHNI AZZAM WITH TOKANDO. Black and cream, beautiful head very typical of his breeding complete with a lovely long beard, super dark triangular eye, again well angulated both front and rear finished off with that all important ring tail, level topline, moved freely and well.

2^nd. Fincham’s YOUSSEF AL DOAUD. Tall rangy blue, fine balanced head good eye and expression a very striking hound shown in impeccable order, moved with great reach and drive, longer in loin than winner

3^rd. Edward’s VALKOR DARE TO BE DIFFERENT.

Limit (12) Dog CC and Best in Show

1^st. Wilson and Brownless’ RYDBERGS BEYOND ALL LIMITS FOR TOLAH. Stunning masked gold who ticked all the right boxes for me, beautiful refined masculine head with just the correct amount of stop, dark expressive eye, long neck, perfectly proportioned in body, long well laid back shoulder, strong front, feet well on the ground, deep well sprung rib to short strong loin giving him a level topline, prominant hip bones with correct fallaway to a ring tail, good length from hip to hock giving powerful driving movement with a style of high order, delighted to award him the CC. and my co-judge to agree on him being BIS

2^nd. Cross’ GILARI HANDSOME DEVIL. Lives up to his name, shown in immaculate coat and condition with his coat left as nature decided , beautifully put together , perfect balanced angulation front and rear, well proportioned masculine head long strong neck, moved stylishly with verve. I wish him well.

3^rd. Middleton, Traversari and Greenwood’s. ALTSIDE BACK TO BLACK.

Open (5)

1^st. Edwards’ FR / IR CH. AGHA DJARIS WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH. Very classy brindle ,masculine head small dark triangular eye, good length of neck to well placed shoulder , strong bone, good depth of rib, perfect angulated rear quarters without being over angulated moved freely with style covering the ground well, very showy in super coat, enjoying every moment of it.

2^nd. Hall’s CH. SAXONMILL MIDNIGHT COWBOY. Another super black and cream with tan face markings which shows of his beautiful chiselled head, foreface balanced to skull, long elegant neck into perfect shoulders, level topline , powerful quarters shown in tip top condition, moved with great reach and drive.

3^rd. Simpson and Fitzgerald’s NELIAPILAN JAAKKO – KULTA AT TAJIKH.

JUDGE. SANDRA MILES.

Telephone: 01285 711000