Critiques
Northern Saluki Club
Sunday 29 September 2019
Judge: Mrs Lesley Fairhall (Australia)
Firstly, I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to the committee of the Northern Saluki Club for the wonderful opportunity to judge so many Salukis, especially when in Melbourne we’re lucky to see half a dozen at a show! I thoroughly enjoyed the day, despite the wet weather which didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm. I was very impressed with the quality of the dogs presented, particularly in the bitches where I had so many quality bitches to choose from – I certainly wished this was one occasion where I could have multiple winners! If I had to make only one observation, I would say that breeders need to watch out for the ‘inverted V’ fronts specifically mentioned in the standard, and which I saw in several exhibits. The show was very well organised and ran smoothly thanks to the hard-working committee and helpers, and I thank the exhibitors for taking my decisions with good grace.
Minor Puppy Dog (5 entries)
1st: Ward’s Caryna Manantena at Backtor – 7 mth old b/f fawn dog, still needs to drop into his chest, well-proportioned head with correct earset, flat skull not domed, dark oval eye with lovely kind expression, rise over the loin with good width to pin bones, smooth underline, slightly long in hocks, moderate bend of stifle, correct long toes well arched, moved reasonably true. Just needs to fill out.
2nd: Martin’s Caryna Haber – 7 mth old tricolour dog , good length to height ratio, very happy puppy enjoying himself today, lovely dark oval eye, head not quite as long as the 1st, well set ears, flat skull, lovely arch over the loin, well-muscled, good bone for this age, well set tail, good width to pin bones, well arched feet, could have more fill, but still yet to grow into himself, clean underline and shown in good condition.
Puppy Dog (2 entries)
1st: Garratt & Stuart’s Caryna Nadezhda TAF – 7 mth old tricolour dog, clean outline, long balanced attractive head, well set ears, butterfly nose, good length to clean neck, a little steeper in croup than I’d like, good oval bone for his age, smooth underline, well let down hocks, well arched feet.
2nd: Garratt & Stuart’s Caryna Amaani TAF – 7 mth old cream grizzle, happy puppy, plainer head than the 1st, would like a bit more length to the skull, good ear set, lovely dark oval eye and expression, good bone, but a little upright in shoulder, and would prefer more second thigh at this age, good feet, chest not quite to elbow, moved out as well as puppies do.
Junior Dog (2 entries)
1st: Martin’s Mumtaz Pallas for Stalwart – 12 mth old, black and cream dog, well boned, elegant outline, eyes maybe a little too round, and would like a little more length of skull, otherwise a pleasant head with good ear set, well arched feet, good underline, long elegant neck, good width to pin bones with correct tail set, stands square, just needs to develop in front, chest not quite to elbow, running up a little in the rear but moved reasonably true.
2nd: Hodge’s Mumtaz Helios – 12 mth old cream dog, very naughty giving his handler a difficult job, a bit longer cast than the 1st and a leaner style, good head type, good length to head, lovely dark oval eye, preferred his head over the 1st, excellent feet, a little long in loin and tailset a bit high, well let down hocks, but couldn’t really see him move out today.
Yearling Dog (4 entries, 1 absent)
1st: Postma & Smith’s Fernlark Odyssey JW – 2 yr old very classy moderate dog, well balanced, long head although strong just behind the eyes, lovely hazel eye with soft expression, correct earset, long well muscled neck, strong topline with slight rise over the loin, excellent depth of chest, plenty of fill in front, good bone and feet, good width to hip bones, moderate angulation, good tailset, moved true with grace and elegance and a very light step.
2nd: Goulden’s Fernlark Celebration – 2 yr old cream dog, well balanced head, lovely dark oval eye and soft expression, preferred the head on this dog to the 1st, chest to elbow with good fill in front for this age and well ribbed back into good length of loin, moderate angulation, well let down hocks, good width to hips, didn’t move as well as the first, a bit short in step as he’s a little more open angled in front, good feet and bone, another quality dog.
Novice Dog (2 entries)
1st: Martin’s Mumtaz Pallas for Stalwart – as above
2nd: Keeling’s Dabka’s Valentino of Kwayis – 19 mth old, well sized stronger built cream dog, not really being shown to best advantage, head has somewhat divergent planes, falling away in back skull, although good length, strong underjaw and lovely dark oval eye, chest to elbow, but would like more fill in front at this age, well boned, reasonable arch to feet, good width to pin bones, but perhaps a little over angulated, moved reasonably well when his handler moved him out.
Post Graduate Dog (6 entries, 1 absent)
1st: Hodge’s Miskanda Canta Libre – 4 ½ yr old cream dog, moderate in all things, good balance to head, dark oval eye, excellent chest to elbow with good fill in front, strong topline but would like more rise over the loin, would like feet to be a little more arched (perhaps nails need cutting), good length of neck, good bone, well set tail, moderate angulation, lovely underline, good clean dog moved out really well with a light easy step, fairly true, but was a handful for his owner.
2nd: Fortnum’s Ariane Luzia (Imp) – 2 ½ yr old black and cream dog, little bit more compact than the 1st, good head type although planes of head not really level, hazel eye, would like a bit more length to the skull to balance the head, well boned, chest not quite to elbow with reasonable fill in front, well ribbed back, topline strong with arch over the loin, good width to hip bones, but would like a little more second thigh on this dog, well set tail, strong feet, moved reasonably well but not as fluid as the 1st.
Limit Dog (1 entry)
1st: Owen & Stanmore’s Sivendra Tahmas Altaya – 9 yr old cream dog in excellent condition, long strong neck, balanced attractive head, eyes hazel but would prefer less round, excellent arched feet and bone, chest to elbow with good fill in front and well ribbed back, clean underline, strong second thigh and well let down hocks, good width to hips, moved true coming and going, with a light easy step on the go around, a quality dog.
Open Dog (2 entries)
1st: Goulden’s Ch Fernlark By Design JW – 4 ½ yr old well boned cream dog, slightly longer cast, oozes quality and was my clear winner, very sound throughout, standing square, well balanced attractive head with lovely dark oval eyes and gentle expression, correct earset, strong elegant neck, chest to elbow with lovely fill in front, well ribbed back into strong loin, well arched feet, strong topline rising over loin to wide hip bones, well set tail, smooth underline, moves really lightly on his feet, true coming and going and covers the ground with real reach and drive, and pleased to award him Best in Show.
2nd: Owen’s Caryna Khepri – 5 ½ yr old black and cream dog, little more compact than the 1st, balanced head, correct earset, lovely depth to muzzle, a lighter hazel eye on this dark dog, strong topline but would like a little more length and croup quite steep, reasonable fill in front, straight limbs, shorter stepping than the 1st, although moderate angulation with strong second thigh, doesn’t move as true, little bit loose in front.
Special Beginners Dog (2 entries)
1st: Ward’s Caryna Manantena at Backtor – as above
2nd: Hare’s Caryna Speranta – 7 mth old, a red dog, plainer than the 1st, finer, still to grow into himself, good balance to head with lovely dark eye and correct earset, chest pretty good depth for this age, topline rises a little too much over the ribs at the moment, although reasonable bone for his age, croup is a little too steep, which affects his movement, well arched feet, moved reasonably true in front for a young dog, although a bit more lift in front than I’d like.
Veteran Dog (3 entries, 2 absent)
1st: Owen’s Ch Caryna Curetes – almost 10 yr old well boned tricolour dog in amazing shape, lovely classical outline, still very well put together for his age, lovely balance to the head, good earset, cloudy eyes but gentle expression, great depth of muzzle, excellent fill in front, good strong topline with a well-muscled rise over the loin, good feet, still has well-muscled hindquarters, croup sloping, tailset correct, good width to pin bones, moved a little out in elbow, otherwise really true and in profile really light and easy with no excessive lift, a lovely dog and a credit to his owners! Deserving of Reserve Dog on the day.
Minor Puppy Bitch (2 entries)
Litter sisters, what a lovely pair, both very graceful and elegant, hard to pick between these two but preferred the outline on the 1st.
1st: Corden’s Caryna Nadyenka for Gemgwynad – 7 mth old tricolour bitch, well balanced pretty head with dark oval eye and sweet expression, correct earset, elegant neck, chest almost to elbow really good at this age and slightly more fill in front than 2nd, strong topline into well-muscled loin, lovely graceful underline, correct slope of croup, well let down hocks, good bone and excellent feet, moved very gracefully and coordinated with a light step. A promising youngster and my Best Puppy in Show.
2nd: Garratt & Oakey’s Caryna Remeny – 7 mth old tricolour bitch slightly taller than the 1st, good balance to head, would prefer a slightly larger eye but nice and dark, elegant neck, reasonable fill in front, topline rises a little in the loin at this stage, and underline cuts up quickly compared to the 1st, good bone, croup a little steeper than I’d like and would prefer more second thigh, good feet, moderate angulation, didn’t move quite as freely as the 1st but nonetheless a bitch that’s well put together.
Puppy Bitch (1 entry)
1st: Garratt & Oakey’s Caryna Esperanza – 7 mth old cream well boned bitch, well presented, lovely smooth outline, very elegant, nothing stands out, balanced head is pleasing with lovely dark oval eye, elegant neck flowing into well laid shoulder, well arched feet and good spring of pastern, chest to elbow and good fill in front, good topline with strong muscular loin, good width to pin bones, moved freely in profile and reasonably true coming and going, another pretty bitch.
Junior Bitch (4 entries)
1st: Freegard’s Mumtaz Asteria – 12 mth old cream bitch with good height to length ratio, very pretty long head, well balanced, good planes, lovely dark oval eye, elegant length of neck, chest almost to elbow and well ribbed back, good bone, perhaps a little too much rise over the loin, clean lines, good width to second thigh, correct tailset and width between pin bones, better fill in front than the 2nd, moved quite true although would have liked to see little more reach and extension, but a light step.
2nd: Ward’s Nicolefahri Del Borghino (Imp) It – 17 mth old, black and cream bitch, not quite as well put together as the 1st, well balanced pretty head, good earset, good depth of muzzle, elegant neck, chest needs to fill into elbow, but underline is nice and clean with good length of ribbing, good topline with slight rise over loin, correct tailset, well let down hocks, would prefer a little more second thigh, moves a little out in elbow as she’s not really filled in front yet, little bit loose in front and not very tight behind, but in profile moved out reasonably well, a pretty bitch.
Yearling Bitch (1 entry)
1st: Davies, Harrison & Sanders-Parker’s Classicus Alchemy For Charrioak JW – 19 mth old well boned black and tan bitch, graceful with smooth outline shown in excellent condition, really liked her when she walked in the ring, pretty head, well balanced with good earset and lovely dark oval eye, elegant neck into well-laid shoulder, strong topline with muscular rise over the loin, chest almost to elbow and good fill in front, smooth underline, moderate angulation, good tailset and width to pin bones, good feet, moved true coming and going when she behaved, easy and flowing.
Novice Bitch (1 entry)
1st: Ward’s Nicolefahri Del Borghino (Imp) It – as above
Graduate Bitch (1 absent)
Limit Bitch (5 entries)
1st: Garratt, Oakey & Owen’s Glenoak Lunah from Caryna – rising 3 ½ yr old black and fawn bitch, stood out in this class with her lovely clean outline, very pretty well balanced head, good earset with lovely dark oval eye and sweet expression, elegant length of neck, chest to elbow lovely fill in front, good oval bone and excellent feet, smooth underline, strong topline with well-muscled loin, well let down hocks, good strong mover covering the ground well with a light, free step, really liked this bitch too, and ultimately my Best Bitch and BOS.
2nd: Freegard’s Jazalle Athena for Mumtaz – rising 3 yr old fawn bitch, well balanced head with lovely dark oval eye and sweet expression, head not quite as pretty as the 1st, elegant neck, stood square, chest almost to elbow, not quite as good as the 1st in front, good clean underline, strong topline with arch over loin, tailset a little high and would like more second thigh, but a well put together bitch and moved out really well with her young handler, who did a great job.
Open Bitch (3 entries)
1st: Cole & Mintz’s Voice of My Heart Neshema Tova Jun Ch (Imp) – 5 yr old well boned black and cream grizzle bitch with good length to height ratio,, well balanced head with dark oval eye and very typical soft expression, excellent prosternum, good length of neck into well laid shoulder, chest almost to elbow and well ribbed back, clean underline, good second thigh, well let down hocks, well set tail, good feet, strong over the loin and moved the most true of this class, when she behaved she covered the ground really well, a quality bitch.
2nd: Davies & Harrison’s Charrioak Sheerzam JW – 6 yr old cream bitch, slightly longer cast than 1st, pretty well balanced head, lovely dark eye, long elegant neck, moved really well, good fill in front although not quite as good as 1st, strong topline with well-muscled loin, good width to pin bones, well let down hocks and well-muscled second thigh, smooth underline. Another quality bitch.
Special Beginners Bitch (1 entry)
1st: Ward’s Nicolefahri Del Borghino (Imp) It – as above
Veteran Bitch (4 entries, 2 absent)
1st: Davies’ Charrioak Nunki – almost 12 yr old well constructed, moderate, red bitch, what an amazing old girl, still very sprightly, well balanced head but would like a little more strength to underjaw, hazel eyes harmonising with coat, elegant length of neck, lovely depth of chest and clean underline, well ribbed back with good strong well-muscled loin, beautiful feet, good bone, correct earset, standing true and moved the same covering the ground really well with a light coordinated step. Another lovely bitch and can’t believe her age.
2nd: Burtenshaw’s Ir Ch Fernlark Nardini At Daandazi JW SH.CM Ir J Ch – 10 ½ yr old well boned red bitch, not shown in her best condition with excessive coat hiding her outline, well balanced head, dark oval eye and kind expression, good depth of chest and well sprung ribs, well let down hocks, a little high in the rear, good width to pin bones, when she got going still moved true fore and aft.