19 May 2018
Canaan Dog Judge: MR M GILCHRIST
Utility Group Judge: Mrs J Sharp-Bale
Puppy Utility Group Judge: Mr D Guy
Veteran Utility Group Judge: Mr T D Mather
Best in Show Judge: Mr S J Mallard
This was my first time officiating for this breed at this level. I have declined in making negative comments in individual critiques, as it is a minority breed and therefore would not wish to discourage individuals from persevering with it. However, there were two aspects which I feel need to be made overarching the individual critiques. The standards call for eyes to be ‘obliquely set’ It would seem that by and large the exhibits I had today, whilst they met to requirements to be ‘Dark, almond shape’ & ‘with black eye rims’, the obliqueness was not as good as it could be and therefore changes the expression. There was one exhibit that did not meet my interpretation of the ‘Colour’ part of the standard. Whilst some may have felt I should have withheld, I refrained from doing so as I felt nothing fruitful could come of that, mainly for the forgoing reason of not wishing to discourage exhibitors/breeders and the handler was well aware of by private comments I made to them. Mike Gilchrist
Best of Breed: ANACAN TALIA MY TREASURE (MRS E M MINTO)
Best Puppy: ANACAN POETRY IN MOTION (MRS E M MINTO)
Best Dog: CAISER SAMORODOK AT ANACAN (IMP POL) (MRS E M MINTO)
Res. Best Dog: MICHA DE SOLEMEL AT NIZZANA (IMP FRA) (MR I, MISS A & MISS A KAYE, BYRNE & BARCLAY)
Best Bitch: ANACAN TALIA MY TREASURE (MRS E M MINTO)
Res. Best Bitch: ANACAN POETRY IN MOTION (MRS E M MINTO)
Puppy Dog Or Bitch (Entries: 2 Absentees: 0)
1st ANACAN POETRY IN MOTION (MRS E M MINTO). Head well-proportioned for age, reflective of gender, but naturally has some development needed to finish it. Dark eye with dark rims and correctly set ears. Shoulders well laid, forelegs straight and parallel, slight slope to pasterns, carries her topline well both moving and standing, adequate depth of chest for age, beginning to muscle nicely at rear. Her kennel name is reflective of her movement, steady, rhythmic, almost relentless BP & RBB
2nd NAAMA DE SOLEMEL (IMP FRA) ( MRS S HADDON). Pleasing enough in the hard, good colour of eye, moderate stop, and as one would expect at her age, the head needs to finish to give final picture. Shoulders good with lean muscle, she too carries her topline well both moving and standing, nicely muscled rear. She needs to develop more confidence in herself which would improve her ring presence. Moves well enough but this would be better if she was less apprehensive and clearly not enjoying herself as much as she might today, possibly due to the background noise which in fairness was quite loud
Post Graduate Dog Or Bitch (Entries: 1 Absentees: 0)
1st RIVER ROCK UNDER WAY TO NIZZANA (IMP USA) (MR I, MISS A & MISS A KAYE, BYRNE & BARCLAY) Workmanlike, but the head is a shade androgynous, not clear re gender at first glance. Basically, well made in the body, good lean muscle over the shoulders and rear, but not as confident on the move as I would prefer and feel could move better if she was happier if more settled in the surroundings. Again, I feel the background noise, which was very evident on my recording device, may well have been a factor
Open Dog (Entries: 2 Absentees: 0)
1st CAISER SAMORODOK AT ANACAN (IMP POL) (MRS E M MINTO). Impressive male, clearly masculine on first sight. Nicely balanced head, good set of shoulders on him with correct muscle, forelegs straight and parallel, little down on his pasterns when standing but not when moving. Topline very sound on the move, with free flowing steady gait, gives the impression he could move all day if require to BD
2nd MICHA DE SOLEMEL AT NIZZANA (IMP FRA) (MR I, MISS A & MISS A KAYE, BYRNE & BARCLAY). Clearly a male on first sight, head OK, has the required shallow stop. Bite good, dark pigment to mouth and eyes. Overall possesses a good body and is appropriately muscled, with a decent tuck up. A shade hesitant on the move, did quite settle altogether but did give some account of what he is capable of; he needs to be more consistent and and pull it out of the bag when it is needed
Open Bitch (Entries: 2 Absentees: 0)
1st ANACAN TALIA MY TREASURE (MRS E M MINTO). And a treasure she is. Very alert and watchful, dismissed my examination as a triviality, fully focused on handler and what she was being asked to do by them. Head gave a clear indication of her gender, without any weakness to it, correct stop, eye well set and dark, good pigment. Pleasing set of shoulders with a rear angulation to match, topline sound at all times but the greatest asset amongst many is that of her movement, effortless, relentless and move with grace, which was a pleasure to watch BB & BOB.