KERRY BLUE BELFAST 19
Judge(s): MRS J CRAWFORD-MANTON
DCC CATACHGORM GLASNOST CLANCIARRAI (MR P & MRS E MARTIN)
RDCC IR CH KENSBRIDGE KILCLOONEY (MISSES C & G NEIL & COLLINS-NEIL)
BCC CH LEMRACDREAM AGAINST ALL ODZ (MISS C CLARKE-O'NEILL)
RBCC IRISBLU AIVEEN FOR NEWENT (MISS R L HETHERINGTON)
BOB CH LEMRACDREAM AGAINST ALL ODZ (MISS C CLARKE-O'NEILL)
BP WOLFSKIN MISTY AT CROFTSBLU (MR E BRACEWELL)
KERRY BLUE JUDGE BELFAST 19
Thank you to the exhibitors who entered their Kerry Blues under me; a total of 17 were entered with just three absentees. It was a joy to go over what is a favourite breed of mine since I first judged them back in the eighties at Killarney, in their named home County of Kerry. Sad to see entries in this wonderful breed declining from entries in their sixties a couple of decades ago. Fortunately some of the younger enthusiasts are staying with them, but nothing like those staunch characters years ago whose famous kennel names are still in the pedigrees of some of the dogs shown today, and whom I was fortunate enough to meet.. The dogs were a mix today, but I certainly found a few 'stars', so there is still type and quality in the breed for the future.
PGD (2)
1st Mr P & D Burke & Martin Gaelgorm Shades Of The Dark. 20 months masculine dog of nice type. Good shape with nice reach of neck, good top line with short, firm back and well set tail. Ok for body and bone and shown in good condition. Good front & rear angles allowing sound, steady movement with some drive from the rear. Correct coat texture and colour. Good temperament with a bit of 'terrier' fire.
2nd Mr E Bracewell Glenachall Jack The Lad At Croftsblu. Well-made dog of nice size; at 2 years old lacking coat and what was there was very black. He has a pleasing head, strong jaw and teeth with good bite. Reachy neck and OK for front and rear angulation. He was lacking drive as he chose to amble casually around the ring. Needs pulling up by his bootstraps and coat to grow and colour.
OD (4:1a)
1st Mr P & Mrs E Martin Catachgorm Glasnost Clanciarrai. Upstanding masculine dog of excellent proportions and the type that reminded me of some of the Kerries I was accustomed to seeing at shows forty odd years ago at home here in Ireland. He has a good head, strong, long and well balanced with punishing jaw, strong teeth, good pigment and good skull. Lovely length of strong neck into cracking shoulders; good straight front with tight elbows, good bone and neat feet. Short, straight back with good depth of chest and well set on tail. Well-presented silky coat of nice colour. Lovely chunky, well angulated back end with short, strong hocks which he used to drive round the ring. Absolutely sound as a bell, with reach in front too, he was a bit of a handful with attitude to spare, but I liked him for this and was pleased to give him the CC.
2nd Misses C & G Neil & Collins-Neil Ir Ch Kensbridge Kilclooney. Almost 4 years old, well made, stylish masculine dog, with super coat and so well presented. Lovely type with excellent, well balanced head of good length, strong muzzle with scissor bite and strong teeth. Neat, dark eye with that 'Kerry' expression and small, neat ears well carried. Good bone and lovely silky coat of good colour. Good length of strong neck into excellent shoulders, flat with tight elbows; Compact with excellent topline, short firm back, good tail set with nice wide back end. Super angulation and neat hocks, which allowed him to move with drive. Excellent temperament, just a bit more laid back than 1. R.CC.
3rd Mr S & Mrs E Earle Ballybaloe Top Gun At Dollagh
PB (1)
1st Mr E Bracewell Wolfskin Misty At. Nice sized 8 months old baby shown in good body and condition and with lovely temperament. Well enough off for coat, she has a pleasing head of good length and good strong teeth and muzzle with well-set ears. Good general conformation and bone, with fair front angles, good tail set, but would prefer better rear angulation, which would allow her to drive more from behind. Overall has promise, BP.
JB (1)
1st Mr & Mrs G A Daly Lady Choice. 14 months old stylish, short backed bitch. Feminine, with nice well-proportioned head and dark eye. Nice neck and front assembly with good depth of chest. Firm topline with good tail set and rear angles, allowing her to move with both reach and drive giving a bit of a swagger.
LB (3:2a)
1st Mr M & Mrs N Marley Irish Eyes Are Here At Lansmars. Well matured 19 months old with good coat of good texture and colouring well. She has nice bone, and was shown in good body and condition. Good angulation and Tail set and moves soundly both ways. Standing a little bum high at the moment. Excellent temperament.
OB (5)
1st Miss C Clarke-O'Neill Ch Lemracdream Against All Odz. My winner as soon as she entered the ring, and just what I was hoping to see. She had it all and everything about her, in my opinion, shouted 'Kerry Blue'. Oh so typey and stylish, she has a lovely lean head of good length with strong jaw and teeth with scissor bite. Small dark eye with a wicked glint, flat skull and super neat ears well set. Lovely reachy neck broadening to super shoulders, flat and powerful, down to straight front, small neat feet and good bone. Really strong, short back and loin with lovely depth of chest and rib just right. Coat of good colour and silky texture, very well presented. Well set tail, carried well and ever moving. Well angulated back end with lovely broad 'bum' and excellent turn of stifle. Neat, short hocks, which helped to propel her around the ring and show her superb reachy and driving gait. So glad she came under me to remind me of a bitch I judged many years ago, and which I have always held in my memory as a beautiful example of a true Kerry. I did not hesitate to award her the CC and BOB. Disappointed that she wasn't at least short listed in the group !!
2nd Miss R L Hetherington Irisblu Aiveen for Newent. Nice type of bitch with coat of lovely blue colour and good texture. Very well presented and handled. Another with excellent angulation both front and rear with short firm back and good tail set. Liked her head shape, good length with strong jaw, dark, neat eye and ears. Lovely reachy neck and good flat shoulders, with nice straight front and tight elbows. Lovely outline, and sound as a bell fore and aft. Just not quite the reach and drive of 1 but nice type and ex temperament...
3rd Miss U & Miss J Rigney & Mcgurk Ir Ch Arigna First Lady. Classic Kerry bitch of lovely size, make and shape. Well coloured coat. Long, lean head with strong jaws, small dark eyes and good, well placed, neat ears. Ok for neck and good shoulder with straight front and nice bone. Short, firm back and good tailset. Nice front and rear angles and neat hocks, she was sound on the move but today lacked animation and just didn't out it in on the move.
Res Mr J A & Mrs M Craig Catachgorm The Enchantress
VHC Mr & Mrs G A Daly Alice Be Lucky
Judge(s): MRS J CRAWFORD-MANTON
Go To Top Of Page |
