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Hovawart Club of Great Britain - Open Show 4th October 2009

A most pleasant show, the venue was excellent and apart from a few spots of rain it was in the main a glorious sunny autumn day. I thank the Officers and committee for inviting me and for the superb hospitality. I was pleased with the entry and heartened by the interaction of exhibits, temperaments were outstanding. The dogs were well trained so I know you know what you are doing. I realise some were exhibiting for the first time but so many of you seemed intimidated being in the ring and failed to show your exhibits to full advantage. Enjoy the experience, be proud of your dogs and show them off. Despite this ring shyness everyone was sporting and an excellent atmosphere prevailed. In general I was pleased with the overall quality and soundness. Conformation and balance was pretty good. However, although some specimens carried the required strong clean headpiece with correct ratios and attributes a few were rather overdone being too thick through with pronounced stops and large round eyes. At the other end of the spectrum instead of the flat skull there were those that were weak with narrow skulls often rounded. Markings on the head of the B&G variety are quite specific in the standard. A few lacked these markings completely or the colour was smudgy lacking clarity. This needs watching and a few otherwise worthy specimens lacking in this department were penalized. Regards colour, the standard could be clarified as it asks for black, blonde, black and gold. Fine but for black and gold it states deep shining black without a rustiness with medium blonde markings clearly defined as follows etc. Several impressive specimens that won well on the day had rich gold markings, not blonde. If this is not what you require apply to delete gold from the standard. I have to say that a well balanced Hovawart moving soundly and sporting the correct coat really is a joy and several were on view today. These are merely my observations, I wish all of you every success in the future.

PD(3) 1st Oddsens Driftingsky Lightning, B/G, well balanced with correct head properties but eye a touch bold, developed chest, good bone and feet, pleasing front, good substance for age, defined quarters, BPD.
2nd Gallachers Fasskoley's Liam of Calindi, developing very well, not yet as mature as 1 or as positive behind but very promising with better blonde markings than 1. 3rd Wrights Driftingsky Thunder.
JD(1) 1st Rabkova & Kratkys Driftingsky Pascal, 8m, very mature with good bone and substance, lacks head markings, chest developed, level back, just enough turn of stifle, moved steady.
YD(3) 1st Thayer & Mackays Pines Hapi, B/G, impressive lad, loved his profile, so balanced, strength to head without being overdone, eye just dark enough, moderate neck, pleasing front assembly, ribs sprung with level back and broad muscular quarters, his side action really is a joy, great scope with excellent deportment and topline held firm, his rear action needs to strengthen a little, gleaming coat well presented, BD & BIS. 2nd Pearce & Dangerfields Pines Anubis, very close decision, also well constructed and very sound, sporting a gleaming coat, just preferred positive head markings of 1. 3rd Connors Pines Horus. ND(5,l abs) 1st Gallachers Fasskoley's Liam of Calindi. 2nd Connors Pines Horus. 3rd Wrights Driftingsky Thunder.
PGD(2) 1st Stocktons Berkenbos Chinook, blk, masculine 3yo with balanced head, good eye shape and colour, moderate neck, chest developed, depth to brisket, enough spring to ribs, defined quarters, coat is a little woolly. 2nd Connors Pines Horus.
LD(4) 1st Murphy & Devanes Glenbower Chieftain, blonde of quality and soundly made, could come up on the leg a tad, correct head ratios with moderate stop and well shaped eye, ears set about right, nicely ribbed with strong loin, gentle slope to croup and muscular quarters. 2nd Campbells Pines Monet, B/G, lovely type and sporting a quality coat of condition, head about 50:50, stop rather too defined, lacks substance at present and considered him narrow through. 3rd Murphys Glenbower Jans Cuban.
OD(6) 1st Spencers Pines Saxophone at Hightimbers, B/G, masculine with strength, well constructed frame, clean head with correct break and plains, dark oval eye and ears about right, moderate neck, well laid shoulders, enough bone, ribs sprung with body of substance, level back, useful quarters and in good condition, correct coat and markings, RBD. 2nd Stewarts Fasskoleys Sallins Solo, excels for type and is very impressive in profile, totally honest in build and in gleaming form however, today he lacked a little substance and I preferred the more defined head markings of 1. 3rd Tyermans Fasskoleys Mathan.
PB(2) 1st White & Whitmores Driftingsky Mist, 8m of total balance, development spot on for age, sound in construction, she moves with reach and drive, markings are spot on, should do well, BP. 2nd Stewarts Fasskoleys Carmel Murphy, very much the baby here, she is well grown, head is coming, she is sound in forehand and just a little straight in hindquarters, moved well.
JB(1) Stewarts Fasskoleys Carmel Murphy.
YB(2) 1st Shones Ursine VD Romerweide of Zwartbos, well developed and balanced with correct head plains, moderate stop, oval eye, moderate neck, good bone, reasonable feet, level back and muscular quarters, well presented. 2nd Boisseaus Pines Ankhet, excellent type and soundly constructed with flowing lines, most impressive on the move, not quite the substance and maturity of 1, gleaming coat and markings.
NB(2) 1st Scullys Pines Meditation, B/G, correct outline and soundly made, clean head with correct attributes, lacks a little substance and is slightly narrow through, moved steady, well marked. 2nd Boltons Hofwarth Devonsent, B/G, pleases for type, just favoured head of 1, correct body ratios to height, chest developed and hindquarters are nicely shaped, moved steady.
PGB(5,2) 1st Pearce & Dangerfields Pines Copper Beech, B/G, feminine with impressive outline, reasonable head, does not need anymore stop and would like more defined colour, shoulders long and sloping but just enough breadth to chest, good bone, ribs well sprung, defined quarters and a meaningful mover. 2nd White & Whitmores Tyehelva Super Summer of Driftingsky, feminine and of good breed type, reasonable head, preferred lay of shoulder of 1, ribs sprung, level topline, gentle slope, just enough turn of stifle, moved steady. 3rd Travis Berkenbos Annvads Choice.
LB(5,2) 1st Condrons Hofwarth Dewytch, blonde, mature 6yo with a reasonably developed head, correct bite, eye shape and placement, strength and depth to chest, supported on sound limbs, good feet, well ribbed with level back and gentle slope to croup, breadth to quarters which are soundly constructed, moved well once in stride. 2nd Stewarts Minches Jaunty, B/G, feminine with strength of frame, moderate neck, pleasing forehand, ribs sprung but body could carry a little more substance and I just favoured coupling of 1, moved well. 3rd Inches Minches Kees Killarney.
OB(5) 1st Murphys Finya Palacowe Pieknosci, B/G, feminine with clean head, dark oval eye, ears about right, just enough breadth to chest, good bone and feet, ribs sprung and well back, level topline, defined quarters, a picture on the move, BB. 2nd Andersons Pines Marionberry of Myrtillas, beautifully balanced and in superb condition, an impressive mover, just preferred head and eye of 1, excellent coat and markings. 3rd Travis Annvad Carefree Princess.
SpVB(5,1) 1st Betts & Sharpes Kynyaf Tiy of Pines, feminine 6yo of impressive breed type and balance, clean head, neck, forehand and limbs, well ribbed and back with suitable topline and gentle slope to croup, moved with purpose, RBB & BV. 2nd Anderson's Pines Porsche of Myrtillas, 9yrs and well up to 1, correct outline and typical head, in excellent condition and a free easy mover, just favoured topline of 1. 3rd Stocktons Annvad Celeste Lady.
SpVintageB(4) 1st Scullys Schwarzwald Corona, 9yo blonde of considerable quality with good balance, breed type and soundness, a credit to her owner. 2nd Betts & Sharpes Pines Limerick, ll yo of good size and strength yet retaining femininity, clean head, neck and forehand, moved well. 3rd Betts & Sharpes Pines Little Rock. All the veterans were a credit to the breed and a mark of good husbandry.
Brace(6) 1st Andersons. 2nd Pearce & Dangerfields. 3rd Stewarts.
Progeny(2) 1st Kynyaf Tiy of Pines. 2nd Tyehelva Super Summer of Driftingsky.
Breeders(1) 1st Pines.
Colour Classes
B&GD(8) 1st Pines Horus. 2nd Pines Monet. 3rd Tyehelva Neo Nexus.
B&GB(10) 1st Fasskoleys Carmel Murphy. 2nd Tyehelva Super Summer of Driftingsky. 3rd Finya Palacowe Pieknosci.
BlkD(l) 1st Berkenbos Chinook.
B1kB(1) 1st Berkenbos Annvads Choice.
BlondeD(5) 1st Glenbower Chieftain. 2nd Glenbower Jans Cuban. 3rd Minches Chief Riever.
BlondeB(3) 1st Annvad Carefree Princess. 2nd Schwarzwald Corona.

Stuart J Mallard