Yorkshire Afghan Hound Society Championship Show . 13th September 2014. Chestnut Lodge. Thorne.

My overall assessment of my assignment:

The hospitality was great. Thank you to those whose efforts made it such a success. This show is in a class by itself and one of the most beautiful settings anywhere in the world to show our wonderful breed. The weather could not have been better or any more conducive. The dogs loved it and so did I.

While I did not find my ideal Afghan Hound, I will say there are areas where Afghans in the UK excel.

Fronts, length and return of upper arm were especially strong . Some very beautiful heads with balanced foreface to backskull and excellent strength of underjaw. Most necks were well arched and of good length. The problem areas for me were toplines and hindquarters. The toplines I might attribute to lack of exercise but the rears were a little more problematic. For me, from what seemed to be not enough length from hip to hock to a lack of bowing left the rears paling in comparison to the beautiful fronts. Soundness going away was compromised on many of the exhibits. Overall the temperaments were excellent. Some of the handling clashed between dog and handler but for the most part that did not hinder the judging process.

Veteran dog - 5 Entries.

1st.Hawarden's Cloudside Match Master Of Amanrha. Black masked gold. This dog was square and balanced standing and moving. Front assembly won the class for him.

2nd. Heritage's Afterglow Jefferson At Jazzmeenah Shcm Black masked gold. Very handsome dog with a head I preferred to the dog I placed 1^st however his front and balance were not quite as strong as the other dog.

3rd. Simpson & Fitzgerald's Neliapilan Jaakko-Kulta At Tajikh (Imp)

Minor puppy - 12 Entries. ( 4 abs)

1st.Caunt & Hazelgrave's Tamaraki Ultra Shock. Oyster brindle. He is a very nice puppy. Sound with easy effortless movement. Very promising youngster.

2nd. Heritage's Kalaztra Texas At Jazzmeenah .Cream . A nice puppy as well. His balance was similar to the 1^st place puppy standing however moving the hindquarters did not have the follow through. This could be just his age.

3rd. Gosling & Gosling's Ayoubkhan Persian Silk

Puppy dog - 8 Entries.

1st.Bunney's Gezancol Strike A Light At Zadal. Black masked red. This puppy was an adequate mover. His topline was a standout and he had style. He was probably short coupled by most people’s standards however it did not hinder him in any way.

2nd. Lloyd's Alphaville's Fifty Shades Of Grey El-Krishan Black masked cream. This puppy had excellent control of his legs and covered more ground than the 1^st place puppy however his balance was off to my eye. He needed more leg and that combined with a very standoffish somewhat cottony coat cost him the class.

3rd. Morris & Meakes' Gezancol Twist Of Fate At Cadmore Jw.

Junior - 11 Entries. (1 abs)

1st.Day's Jhanzi T'sterlin At Khorinyas (Imp.Nz) Blue. This puppy had much to like about him. He was sound with easy open movement. He was sound on the come and go. Moderately angled at both ends with a very pleasing head and expression. He was a little long in loin and body leaving his topline off at times.

2nd.Abrey's Harlextan Bertie Bubbles. Black and tan. This puppy was a bit better in proportion however I preferred the head and front assembly on the 1^st place puppy.

3rd. Leitch's Khamis Panamah Red.

Yearling - 10 Entries.

1st. Brookes & De-Haviland's Alouann Mr High N Mighty At Grenowood. White. This dog was in lovely coat condition and had great style. A little loose perhaps a bit more exercise. Very handsome dog.

2nd. King & Millward's Alouann Steal N' The Show Jw Cream. He was very similar in many ways. Handsome and an easy mover as well just didn’t have quite as high of an opinion of himself as the 1^st place dog.

3rd.Parker- Holden's Istani Hell Raiser On Affiah.

Novice 8 Entries.

1st Parker Holden's Molriq Hell's Angel On Affiah. Black masked red brindle. This was a nice moving dog. He was masculine with easy movement. He had excellent carriage and front assembly. His head was a little stronger than I would like to see.

2nd. Bunney's Gezancol Strike A Light At Zadal.

3rd Wilkinson's. Ashahni Chariots Of Fire At Kindlefold.

Graduate Dog - 4 Entries

1st. Cheesman's Zaram Zeroun Black and tan. This boy was a nice mover and was very consistent with his timing. He held his outline pretty well on the move and had good carriage. His head while a little strong did have good underjaw and balance.

2nd. Prest's Asianskies Claret 'N' Blu Blue brindle. This dog had moments when he could have won the class. He had a presence, excellent condition however he had timing issues and paced much of the time. I would like a little more underjaw as well.

3rd.Kirk-Vickers's Istani Joe Dimaggio.

Post Graduate Dog - 9 Entries

1st.Kenny, Edwards & Appleby's Asianskies Blu Grafitti Blue brindle. This was a nice dog with easy athletic movement. His proportions were a little off as he was long in loin. He was sound and out moved the 2^nd place dog.

2nd. Collett's Kingsleah Pegasus At Mhasud. (Imp) Blue. This dog had a similar outline and many of the same attributes. Lacked the underjaw of the first place dog and not as good in topline but still a very nice dog.

3rd. Leitch & Leiper's Polo's Seistan At Khamis

Mid Limit Dog - 6 Entries (1 abs)

1st. Parson's Syrdarya Hazelnut At Shukriya Jw Red. More the American standard in size which might be a bit small for the UK. I would like him to have a bit more in the way of angles and a little more power moving. Otherwise a nice dog.

2nd. Kidd's Karandikar Sea Of Stars Black . Similar in size and style to the first place dog. This decision could have gone either way.

3rd. McPhail's Pashtari Prussian Officer.

Limit Dog -7 Entries

1st.Lloyd's Krishan The Emperor. Red brindle. Ultimately this dog won the CC. The overall look and shape of this dog were very appealing. His proportions were square. He had a very beautiful coat pattern. Shown in a very understated manner his qualities were there and obvious to me. He had an excellent front assembly with outstanding forechest and return of upper arm. His movement while not extreme still had strength and athleticism. I would like him to have had more elegance to the head piece however his the shape, color and placement of his eyes saved the head.

2nd. Nisbet & Forrester's Kharabou Scot Wizzardly Ways Black and tan. This dog was a easier possibly better mover than the 1^st place dog. His balance was lower however and his topline not as strong. He had no where near the front of the class winner. I did like his beautiful head and his easy deliberate gait.

3rd. Bastow's Karandikar Moon Dancer Jw.

Open Dog - 13 Entries (3 Absent)

1st. Milligan-Bott, Bott & Noble's Ch.Guillaume Du Menuel Galopin Jw Black and tan. This dog was my reserve and challenged the winner in many ways. He was beautiful as well. He had a very nice head and was sound fore and aft. His topline was inconsistent standing and moving. I was challenged by the way the handler insisted on setting him up in the opposite direction as she had issue with her wrist. Having said that it was a toss up in the end as to which. On another day he could easily have been the winner.

2nd.Gray's Krishan The Gladiator Avec Algrahart. Red brindle. This dog had a very nice front and shoulder assembly. His rear was not nearly as strong as the 1^st place dog who probably had the best rear of the day. I would also like him to have had more underjaw. This was a strong class and he was definitely in contention to win it.

3rd.Millward & Mottershaw's Tahkira Like It Like That (Imp)

Judge: Jay Hafford ~ Thaon ~ USA