Ladies Kennel Association

12^th December 2008

DCC & BOB; Firth & Jones’ Cairngold Jackpot
RDCC: Inett & Harrison’s Noncom Inett Tu Winnit With Carradine
BCC : Thompson’s Castleline Bonnie JW
RBCC : Thompson’s Castleline Tiger Lily
Best Puppy : Shannon & Storr’s Brenndarcy Button It

 

 

 

 

Photographs By Linda Firth, Brenda Shannon, Jeanette Smith & Reinier Goud

 

Ladies Kennel Association Championship show 12^th December 2008

Cairn Terrier. Judge Mrs. J Fairweather (Ock).

 

I was very honoured to have been invited to judge this show for my first set of CC’s. My thanks to the Ladies’ Kennel Association for their excellent hospitality and my two stewards for all their help in making my appointment run so very smoothly. Thank you also to the exhibitors for giving me such lovely cairns to go over. It was a memorable day for me which I enjoyed immensely.

BOB, DCC was Firth & Jones’ Cairngold Jackpot. A lovely, balanced cairn who showed himself off well in the terrier group. I would have loved to have taken him home as he is my type of cairn! I learnt that he was made up today as this was his 3^rd CC – congratulations to his breeder/owners. The RDCC was Inett & Harrison’s Noncom Inett Tu Winnit with Carradine another worthy winner, his time will come. The RBOB, BCC, Castleline Bonnie &, RBCC, Castleline Tiger Lily were both bred by Liz Thompson. Two lovely bitches I have seen in the ring before & going over them only confirmed my original opinion of them. Again I would have been proud to say I bred them - if only!

Overall, the quality was good but some of the puppy bitches had ‘dog’ like heads, lacking stops and long, narrow muzzles. Several adult exhibits also had narrow muzzles and too lacked the stop which is essential for a cairn head. Those with narrow muzzles also had much smaller teeth or a crowded mouth. 

Coats today were another surprise to me as it is something I thought we were losing as handlers seemed to show cairns, who in my opinion, are a bit short in coat length and lacking the profuse soft undercoat so essential for warmth and protection. I was pleased to say that this did not apply to any of my top winners and the majority of my winners.

I found some exhibits with ribs that were short in length, round shaped and lacking depth. Cairns need depth and shape for heart & lungs to be able to do the work they are bred for. Rib shape should be oval/heart shaped. Those exhibits with shorter rib cage length had a longer loin so that the total length of back was still in proportion to leg height. You would not necessarily see these unless you go over the dog. It could mean a weak back problem and weak quarters for the future unless the breeders do something about this in their breeding programme.

To my sadness we seem to be losing the forechest. I have thought this was happening for a long time as breeders strive to get the longer necks and straighter fronts. Cairns should be “standing well forward on forepaws” to quote the breed standard. Temperaments were good in all classes and only one cairn had a level bite. I was pleased to see that eye shape has improved, almond shaped, slightly sunk and shaggy as the standard states. Only a couple had round eyes which doesn’t give those lovely cairn eyes that search into you soul!

 

 

 

Minor puppy dog (4,1)

1st        Warne’s Spirebrooke Dawn Raider. I liked this very cheeky puppy a lot. Just 7 months old and looking a baby. He was a nice size, wheaten brindle with dark points, mischievous, dark eyes and correct ear set finished off the head. A good depth of rib and forechest. Good length of neck into sound shoulders. Moved well for a youngster. Considered him for best puppy but the bitch won on showmanship & maturity. I will watch his show career with interest.

 

2nd       Wall’s, Cloverbrooke Ray of Sunshine. Another nice red puppy. Short of furnishings and coat. Tail set not as good as 1^st. Movement was OK once he had settled – needs time.

3rd        Bennet’s Maximal Tinkers Moon

 

Puppy dog (2). Two nice puppies, one very mature & the other needing time.

1^st         Downie & Tate’s Jaeva Face The Music. Quite a mature finished puppy nearly 12 months old. Dark brindle, smart cairn with a nice head. Good depth of rib and length. Tail set could be better. Movement could be better. Coat a little short for me. He never stopped showing and won this class on showmanship and presentation.

2^nd        Bennet, Maximal Tinkers Moon. Placed 3^rd in minor puppy.  This was a nice puppy to go over. Good head but lacking in furnishing, good length of neck into nice shoulders. Not the depth of rib of 1. Short of coat which is only a transient thing. What was there was correct, moved better than 1. Could do with a tidy up! Needing time to finish.

 

Junior dog (5,1) Little to choose between 1 and 2. I think they are two very good dogs for our breed.

1^st         Inett & Harrison’s Noncom Inett Tu Winnit with Carradine. RCC. This was a lovely red brindle to go over and had all I was looking for. Lovely head, deep stop and dark points to finish the head. Nice length of neck into good shoulders. Deep ribs and correct length. Standing  well forward over the forepaws. He flew around the ring with drive, one of the best movers on the day. In the challenge I thought the DCC winner was more finished. His day will come.

2^nd        Felters & Rumens’ Landbuck Colour Code. Another very nice wheaten dog I have admired from the ringside. He again had all I was looking for and the same comments as 1 apply to him. One the day felt he lacked sparkle – a shame.

3^rd         King & Leighton’s Carradine May Be The Moon At Harkinleigh

 

Post Graduate dog (8,1) Little to chose between these 3 dogs.

1^st         Goud’s Vale of Atholl’s At Long Last. A very nice upstanding, balanced, mature dog. Dark grey brindle. Has a lovely, alert head, with dark eyes, well set ears, good stop and good large teeth with correct bite. Length of neck good into correct lay of shoulder. Deep ribs and good length giving strong quarters, nice turn of stifle. Level topline which he held on the move. Moved well. Coat was a good length, correct harsh texture with a soft undercoat. Was on his toes all the time.

2^nd        Dolan & Inett’s Glenrood Ice Man. Wheaten dog who has matured well. Has the desired dark points which sets off the head so well. Very handsome head, ear placement correct , eyes dark hazel and correct shape. His mouth was good with large teeth and scissor bite. Good length of neck into nice shoulders. There are no exaggerations about this dog. Level topline held on the move. Moved with drive. Not concentrating on the job in hand – shame. A close decision between 2^nd  & 3^rd,  I was splitting hairs but thought 2^nd better ribbed.

3^rd         Templeton’s Larchlea Time To Entertain

 

 

Limit dog (5,2)

3 lovely dogs and was splitting hairs between them. Just wished I had 3 first prize cards for this class! Placings in this class were down to showmanship.

1^st         Pollock’s Larchlea Licence To Thrill At Stanedykes. A very masculine, balanced, 19 month, red brindle with lovely head and dark points. Well up to size. Strong dark muzzle with large teeth and a scissor bite. Good length of neck into well placed shoulders. Has a good depth and length of rib. Level topline held on the move, good tail set. He too flowed around the ring. He lost concentration in the challenge and I wish his handler could have got more out of him!

2^nd        Cameron’s Stryling Robb Ruadh. This red dog was lovely too. Looked small against 1. A lovely,  balanced dog making a difficult decision for me. Has a beautiful masculine head, dark points, deep stop and correct mouth. Well ribbed, level topline, correct tailset and moved with drive as angulation dictated he would. Won on showmanship over 3^rd.

3^rd         Watson’s Fieldron I’ve Got News For You

 

Open dog ((6,1) 3 lovely cairns who challenged each other well in this class. A very hard decision to make for these placings.

1^st         Firth & Jones Cairngold Jackpot. DCC and BOB. This eye catching male has a harsh, profuse cream topcoat with soft undercoat. He has a head to die for and  dark eyes that turned your heart to mush with a naughty twinkle in them! Such a showman! A balanced dog with a good forechest, good depth and length of rib and short loin giving strength in his back quarters. Good bone not heavy, nicely shaped body, good outline & moved with drive as angulations fore and aft indicated he would. He was all I want in a cairn. He actually won BOB on showmanship as there was so very little to choose between him and the best bitch.

2^nd        Middlehurst’s Ch Cannwood As If By Magic To Starveren. This is a worthy champion and ambassador of our breed and lots have been said about him. Today, he lost out on coat and 1 was the better showman.

3^rd         Inett & Harrison’s Ch. Glenchess Gabriel Over Carradine

 

Minor puppy bitch (10,1)

Very nice babies will change places I’m sure.

1^st         Dolan’s Glenrood Warrier Princess. 7 month silver brindle. She has a lovely head with a deep stop, dark eyes, and ear set correct. A good mouth with a correct bite. A good length of neck into correct shoulder placement. Level topline which she held on the move. Moved well both going and coming with drive from the hind quarters. I found there was little to chose between the 1^st & 2^nd just preferred the head of 1.

2^nd        Day’s Trikhilli Piccallili. Another dark brindle with a good head and outline. Comments written for the 1^st applied to this bitch as well. She moved well.

3^rd         Warne’s Spirebrooke Morning Glory

 

Puppy bitch (7,2)

Some very nice puppies but some not cooperating with their handlers so took the consequences today.

1^st         Shannon & Storr’s Brendarcy Button It. BPIB. This wheaten puppy caught my eye as she came into the ring, very alert & showy. Has a lovely head with deep stop and attractive dark points. She has a good length of neck into well placed shoulders. Her movement was good. Her maturity and showmanship won her BPIB over the dog puppy. 

2^nd        Day’s  Trikhilli Piccallili. Placed 2^nd in minor puppy.

3^rd         Dodd’s Doddydodah Ladys Snow Girl

 

Junior bitch (5,1)

1^st         Felters & Rumens’  Landbuck Jazz Hands. I liked this wheaten bitch a lot and did consider her for the RBCC but felt her a little immature on the day, she was up against some stiff competition in the challenge, her time will come. She has a lovely head with dark points, good stop, dark eyes & correctly placed ears. Standing she looked a picture although her handler had to work to keep her showing. Movement was good as her angulations front and back indicated it would be. Coat of correct texture without being too short, with a soft undercoat.

2^nd        Burgin’s Noncom Miss Hat He Chewed. Another very nice dark bitch with a lovely head. She was a little short of coat today but what was there was correct.

3^rd         Burgin’s  Noncom Lucy Locket

 

 

Post Graduate bitch (8,1)

These 3 lovely bitches will change places I’m sure. I was splitting hairs here & wished I didn’t have to place them as they each are remarkable cairns! With their lovely heads and outlines their handlers should be proud of them.

1^st         Thompson’s Castleline Bonnie. BCC, RBOB. This is a lovely, balanced, wheaten cairn. Harsh, profuse top coat with soft undercoat.  She has a broad skull, well placed ears, dark eyes and good stop, all to give a lovely head. Strong muzzle, correct bite and good large teeth. Nice length of neck into well placed shoulders. A good front and forechest enabling her to stand well forward. Level top line held on the move and correct tail set. Moved true both front and rear and driving from rear. She was at one with her handler and showed all the time.

2^nd        Shaw’s Honeyhall Hide’N Seek Another outstanding, balanced, wheaten bitch who also looked a picture. She too, has a lovely ‘cairn head’ with those dark points, deep stop and another with the mischievous sparkle in her eyes. It was a very hard decision between 1^st and 2nd.

3^rd         Mosley’s Carradine Sapphire at Spawyche

 

Limit bitch (7,2)

5 lovely bitches in this class and once again I was splitting hairs between them today, coats decided their placings

1^st         Thompson’s  Castleline Tiger Lily. RCC. A balanced, red brindle with lovely head and expression. Has those desirable dark points, correctly shaped dark twinkling eyes, broad skull and deep stop. Strong muzzle with large teeth and correct bite. Profuse coat of correct texture and length. Good forechest standing well forward. Good depth and length of rib. Her movement and coat won her this class.

2^nd        Osborne’s Tweslam Bonnie Annee. This is another quality brindle bitch. Her shortness of coat showed she has nothing to hide, was short of head furnishings too but what coat was there was of correct texture. Broad skull, dark eyes of correct shape and colour. Good depth and length of rib with a strong loin. Level topline and correct tail set. Moved very well with drive from the rear.

3^rd         Robinson’s Cruzo Bannock Belle

 

Open bitch (7,3)

Another close decision between these 3 bitches and I am sure they will change placings on another day.

1^st         Inett & Harrison’s Carradine Magic Star. A very nicely shaped silver brindle. Has a lovely head, dark eye and correct ear placement. Standing well forward over the forepaws she has a forechest, good depth and length of rib. Level topline and correct tail set. Good movement. Overall, shape and coat won her this class

2^nd        Firth, & Jones Cairngold Avin A Paddy. Another very nice dark bitch sired by my BOB. Same comments as for one apply to her. Little to chose between them just preferred the overall picture of one today.

3^rd         Robinson’s  Cruzo Cinderella

 

Jenny Fairweather