BELFAST DOG SHOW SOCIETY
CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 27th SEPTEMBER 2003
GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS
Judge Ms M Lakin

It was my great pleasure to judge the above show, and I thank sincerely, the committee of the society for their wonderful hospitality and the very good size ring that was afforded for our breed, on an outside grassed area. Although the entry was relatively small, the quality of the dogs, was a credit to all exhibitors, and I thank you all for supporting me at my first Championship judging appointment in the UK - mindful of the fact that some of you had travelled a very long journey. Thank you.

MINOR PUPPY DOG: 3 entries - 1 present
1st - W Steele`s BRAIDALLEN WHISKEY - a8 1/2 mth large black and gold male puppy of very exhuberent nature very masculine and with excellent presence. Very well angulated forehand, if a little deep, although coat furnishings added to the picture on this, adequate loin length and well proportioned throughout, with correct wither height firm backline, running into a correct length and lay of croup.

PUPPY DOG: 2 entries - - 1 present
1st - D Stapletons ANGUS VON TENDYK at 11mths of age This very masculine puppy pleased my eye as soon as he began to move around the ring with his excellent co-ordination and powerful side gait. He was shown in superb condition of coat and muscular development for his age. Well angulated throughout, strong in bone and stands very straight in front. He retains his topline at all speeds of movement, and I hope that he has a very good future ahead of him.. well deserved Best Puppy Dog.

JUNIOR DOG; 2 entries - 2 present
1st -L Forrests JONAL MONTOYA 16mths Top size very masculine young dog, eye could be a little darker, he has a very good forehand and underline, good wither height and firm backline, would like him to have stood and moved a little more firm behind, has an excellent ground covering side gait, just hope he firms up on hock area.
2nd - A Niblocks KNOCKWOOD RYAN 14 mth Top size masculine dog, presented out of coat, and as follows, condition had been taken too, correct front angulation, but upper arm could have been a little longer, good overline and correct croup length and lay, again, this dog could have been a little firmer behind, and looks quite immature for his age

POST GRADUATE DOG; 2 entries 2 present
1st - Duff & Doughtys WILLOWDALE O`SHEY 18mths black and gold masculine, medium size male of excellent strength. Good proportions and forehand is correctly angulated, upper arm little short, correct wither height, firm backline moulding well into a correct lay of croup. He moved very well at all speeds, retaining his topline, and working well at an effortless ground covering gait. I have judged this animal before as a puppy, and have to say that he has never looked in better condition than he was shown today, and I was pleased to award him the Res CC
2nd - R. Kirkpatricks RAFAYE TIMMO 2yrs+ masculine head and expression little steep in upper arm, good wither height and in firm dry condition, adequate hind angulation well moulded croup of correct length - lost his overline a little when asked to extend.

OPEN DOG 4 entries - 1 absent
1st Bowens CHAMPION LARARTH HOUDINI 2yrs Black and Gold shown in the most excellent condition - this dog oozed the quality, conformation and size, that we should all be striving to achieve. His angulation fore and aft is correct, his ground covering gait is a joy to watch his attitude is steady yet alert. To be hypercritical I would like just a touch more height at wither, however, I was very proud to have him as my CC Winner
2nd - H Rooneys QUARRYVALE ATHLETE 4yes old masculine head and expression shown in very good condition with good bone strength angulation fore and hind correct croup a little short but well laid shows excellent free moving gait.
3rd A Niblocks KNOCKWOOD DONJUAN 5 yr old male very out of coat and condition with a good forehand and adequate hind angulation, again a correct size male with no exaggerations, feet not his fortune. Gaits very well at all speeds.

MINOR PUPPY BITCH 3 entries - 3 present
1st D O`Neills BOSES TRUE ROSE 8mths Black and gold very feminine and correct size for age with a nice dark eye, good front assembly and firm backline excellent hind angles, shown in excellent condition and enjoying every minute of showing herself off. Croup a little short but well moulded into correct tailset this puppy excells in movement and shows an excellent effortless groundcovering gait, retaining her wither height and firm backline at all speeds. I was pleased to award her Best Puppy Bitch and Best Puppy in breed.
2nd - R & M Russells NORDAU TRUDI 8 months black and gold with strong head and expression yet feminine. Another very nice young female with a correct forehand, shown in excellent condition, firm and dry, good hind angles, overline and underline correct, and good bone strength just didnt put it together on the move as well as the first.
3rd - Adamson,Philips & Meatons MOONWINDS FIRENZE 7mths black and gold puppy, very feminine expression of medium size . Slightly steep upper arm and weak in pasterns, croup is slightly short but well laid, out of coat and condition on the day, and took some time to settle, but then showed a good side gait, but generally a little loose in movement overall.

JUNIOR BITCH 3 entries - 3 present
A very good quality junior class
1st - A Niblocks KNOCKWOOD RANA 14 mths very well pigmented black and gold bitch of medium size. Very good forehand where upper arm could be a little longer firm backline flows into croup which is slightly short but well moulded into a correct tailset, giving a good overall picture in stance and on the move. A very firm mover, shown in excellent condition with an outstanding site-gait. I purposely left her in the bitch challenge with two superb bitches, and she did not look out of place.
2nd Bowens LARARTH ODESSEY- 15mths black and gold strong, yet feminine female of excellent proportions again - to choose between the first and second place went purely on movement, and on the day, she didnt seem willing to show her gaiting ability to its best.
3rd C Browns VIDEX ANJA - 13mths black and gold shapely and feminie bitch of very good type. As I said at the beginning, this class,albeit only three was a quality class, and again, there was very little to choose between second and first place, this bitch was very correct, a little close going away and coating quite badly on the day, but clearly a quality bitch that will swap places on other days.

POST GRADUATE BITCH 5 entries - 2 absent
1st R & V Currans VELVET LADY AT CURANA 3yrs pale black and gold medium sized bitch with a feminine expression. good front assembly with corrrect angulation fore and rear slightly wide going away, and today was losing her coat which took some sparkle from her overall picture, however, she moved very well and retained wither height at all speeds.
2nd - V McGuigans RAFAYE VANTA OF ROSSCOOL 27mths top size black and gold female very well developed forechest with correct angulation, firm backline and correct croup and tailset, very good hind angles and moved well, if not with enthusiasm, I noted that her condition was quite heavy - being told later that she was in whelp - I wish her well for the future, a lovely type of animal.
3rd J Berrys REENROE CITA 2yrs old pale black and gold feminine bitch with good forechest, although would like more muscle tone in one of this age. Good overline and underline, tends to “fly” and “root” tail which detracts a little from the overall picture, but this does not take impinge on her very good length and lay of croup, moved very well at all speeds.

LIMIT BITCH 1 entry
1st McDonald and Greers CONBHAIREAN ALEXIS one entry in this class did not detract at all from the superb quality and condition of the bitch that entered.
This is a black and gold, medium size female of excellent proportions throughout. She is the corrrect size, she has the correct angles, and she is in the most beautiful condition and worked very well today, showing her most powerful gait off to its best and retaining her excellent wither height at all speeds. Although she was the only one in the class, I moved her long enough to see that she would have gone on and on. I was very proud to award her the CC and feel sure that the third should not be long coming.

OPEN BITCH 5 entries - 3 present
1st P Cullens INGE VOM MESSINA (imp) 3 yrs very pale black and gold bitch very feminine of stretched proportions, shown in excellent condition with a very good forehand and firm backline running to correct croup and tailset, she displayed an excellent gait and when asked to extent moved very very well. I was pleased to give award her the Res CC
2nd M Davies FINTE VOM HAWELKAWEG 5yrs grey female who gave me some problems today.. in that I know and very much like this bitch, but she dissappointed me on the move. Her forte has always been to move excellently whenever I have seen her shown, but today she didnt display to me what I was waiting to see. She is a medium size, strong but feminine bitch, with an excellent forehand and good hind angulation, her condition today was slightly heavy, and perhaps that is why she failed to live up to my expectations.
3rd J Berrys SCHANKO ANKA AT REENROE 5yr old bitch of very good type. Upper arm of good length but could be better angulated, croup of good length if a little steep was out of coat and lacked condition a little on the day, and whilst she had an excellent side gait, she dropped on the forehand quite soon into the gaiting of the class.