This is a first time visit to Barbados for this FCI judge, Espen Engh from Norway.
This Barbados Kennel Club All Breeds Championship show took place on October 8, 2017 and was sponsored by the agents for Purina Dog Foods, Massy Distribution (Barbados) Ltd.
Espen Engh is a much respected and loved judge world wide who did take the time to meet with exhibitors here after the show. His talk after the show was very interesting as his focus was on the successful breeding of dogs.
He is the type of judge that exhibitors can learn from, he is knowledgeable, polite and friendly and in my opinion very professional and fair.
He did withhold all awards from a few dogs from the ring but he never subjected any exhibitor to possible embarrassment by being the only person with a dog in the ring and having the indignity of a judge pointing them to a 3rd place like, for example Jenny Millar did this year with some exhibitors of the German Shepherd dogs shown.
Espen Engh has judged in major dog shows around the world and it was great that he accepted the invitation from The Barbados Kennel Club and that we got to meet him. I hope he will return some day.
Below is his critique:
TERRIER GROUP
STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIERS – BITCHES
OPEN
1st – MR. W.A. WELCH’S DEVILS AND FAIRIES QUICK SILVER ( IMP) – Strong, still feminine bitch, excellent type and quality. Very typical head with a good skull and typical stop. Excellent expression. Rose ears. Strong neck. Well angulated both ends. Moderate amount of bone. I would prefer her shorter in her couplings. Excellent coat and colour. She moved soundly and efficiently from all angles. CC & BOB & Group.
TOY GROUP
No Entries
GUNDOG GROUP
GOLDEN RETRIEVERS – DOGS
OPEN
1st – MRS. L. HUSBANDS’ SH.CH. HOLDERS SAPPHIRE SKY – Masculine dog who is not in the best condition on the day, certainly not for coat. Typical head and expression. Very moderate neck. Quite well angulated in front. Should be firmer in topline. Moderate, but balanced angulation behind. Needs to stabilize in movement coming and going and could keep his outline better from the side, even if he is using his legs well from the side. Rather wiry coat, especially on his body. CC not awarded, Res.BOB and Best locally bred.
GOLDEN RETRIEVERS – BITCHES
PUPPY
1st – S. & S. Armstrong’s ISABELLA GOLDEN ALLIE – Very elegant, feminine bitch, eleven months old. She needs to develop quite a lot in head, both in skull and foreface. But she has quite an attractive expression and a lovely temperament. Moderate neck. Good forechest for age. Deep chest, Firm topline. Her tail could be higher set. Quite pleasing coat. Has a lot of settling to do in her front action, narrow behind, reasonable from the side.
OPEN
1st – MRS. L. HUSBANDS AND MRS. J. RAY’S SH.CH. ANGELUSPARKS HEAVEN’S GIFT TO THATCHER (IMP) – Powerful bitch, she looks a bit heavy and low legged standing, but she is light on her feet and very sound in movement and looks much better moving than standing. Quite typical head, good ears. Would prefer a longer neck. Very good forechest. Strong body with a firm topline. Well set and carried tail. Moderate angulation behind. She is sound coming and going and gets up on her legs while moving around. Quite good coat quality, not in optimal condition, but reasonable. CC & BOB.
LABRADOR RETRIEVERS – DOGS
BABY PUPPY
1st– Mrs. S.H. Leacock’s LINTHWAITE KING ARTHUR OF THEBERTON (IMP) – Five months old, very well developed yellow Labrador. Well balanced and powerful. His head is typical for his age, beautiful expression. Good neck into shoulders and excellent forechest. Deep and capacious body. Excellent bone. Topline needs to strengthen with maturity. Well set tail with a good brush. Very well coated. He moves very well in front, at times well from the side, needs to stabilize behind. Best Baby Puppy in Show.
PUPPY
1st – Mrs. V. Marshall’s ZINZARA TROPICAL THUNDER – Black dog with a lovely temperament, but very slight in his body. Acceptable head, but needs to widen in skull. Good neck. Not enough forechest or layback of upper arm. Quite good topline, too extreme in his tuck-up, he needs plenty more body. Balanced angulation behind. Moved light on his feet, needs to stabilize in front. Lacked underwool on the day.
OPEN
1st – Mrs. V. Challenor’s SH.CH. ZINZARA MIDNIGHT MAGIC C.D. – Typical black dog of excellent proportions, compact and collected. Typical head and expression, I would not want any more stop. Very good ears. Good neck into shoulders. Good forechest for age, two years old. Deep and capacious body. Well angulated behind. Very good coat. He moves well from the side and truly excellent from behind, reasonable as seen from the front. Could have been somewhat firmer in topline on the move, and he is quite proud of his tail. CC & Res. in Group.
LABRADOR RETRIEVERS – BITCHES
OPEN
1st – MRS. Z. GRAY-MARSHALL’S ZINZAR DARCY’S DELIGHT (AI) – Compact well developed bitch of excellent type. Quite pleasing head, but I would like larger eyes. Strong neck, well set. Enough forechest. Very moderately angulated in both ends, it all balances out. Firm topline, good tail. In a good jacket on the day. She moved parallel coming and going, keeping her balance from the side, with moderate extension. CC & BOB, Best locally bred & Best in Group.
RETRIEVERS (FLATCOATED) – DOGS
OPEN
1st – MRS. B.GREENRIDGE’S SH. CH.BLACFRIAR MONOPOLY IN PARADISE (IMP) – . Elegant dog, could do with a more masculine overall impression. His head is all in one piece, but could also be more masculine. I would prefer darker eyes. Very medium neck. Balanced angulation both ends. Needs to be firmer in his topline standing, but firms up on the move. Tail could be higher set. Very moderate amount of bone. Quite pleasing coat quality, but not a lot of coat. He looks by far his best on the move as he moves soundly and light on his feet. CC not awarded, but BOB.
HOUND GROUP
RHODESIAN RIDGEBACKS – BITCHES
LIMIT
1st – MRS. S.B. HAMILTON-OUTCALT’S CROWNRIDGE BUBBLE CANDY (AI) – A very attractive Ridgeback bitch, combining feminine elegance with very good substance. Beautiful head and lovely expression, Excellent ears. Good rise of neck. Balanced angulation in front. Firm topline, tending to fall of a bit too much over the croup which tended to shorten her a bit, but this was also partly due to her being a little anxious. Moderate, but balanced angulation behind. Excellent long and symmetrical ridge. She moved soundly and light on her feet, keeping her lovely balance and also driving out well. Really a top class exhibit who could go all the way if she gains a bit more self confidence. CC, BOB & Best in Group.
UTILITY GROUP
AKITAS – DOGS
LIMIT
1st – MR. D.P.de B. BOYCE’S DONKEMRE THOR – Masculine dog with quite pleasing proportions. His head is not his fortune, long in muzzle and with little stop. Bite could be more regular. Strong neck. Good topline standing, balanced angulation behind. Good tail, but very sparsely coated, as was the body with hardly any undercoat. Could improve in movement both coming and going, quite good from the side, but could show more pride. CC not awarded, but best Male and BOB.
AKITAS – BITCHES
JUNIOR
– MR. J. BRATHWAITE’S MASSIMA TURNING ME UP – Fifteen months old bitch, unfortunately not typical of the breed. Very small, short on legs and long in body. Untypical head, very narrow and without breed character. Quite good neck, but she did not use it at all on the move. Pleasing coat quality. Tended to crab in movement. Awards withheld.
FRENCH BULLDOGS – DOGS
PUPPY
1st – Mrs. S. JORDAN’S JAFRAK NUT BRITTLE (IMP) – Fawn male, a little too up on legs at this time, 11 months, but still typical. Good skull, could do with some more width of muzzle. Pleasing eyes, very good bat ears and very pleasing expression. Good neck. Very moderately angulated in front. Firm topline with a good rise over the loin. Adequate angulation behind. He looked his best on the move, especially as seen from the front and from the side. Very good coat and colour. CC and Res.BOB, Best Puppy in Show.
JUNIOR
1st – MR. B.A. BASCOMBE’S’ ARDHUB DEVILS GAME AT NEXGEN (IMP) – Strong, masculine dog, quite compact with enough length of leg. Rather plain in head and did not make use of his ears. Very moderate neck. Moderate, but balanced angulation both ends. Deep and capacious body. Brindle and white party. Moved quite well from the side and from the front, but needs to stabilize behind. Not as shapely in his body as I would have liked.
FRENCH BULLDOGS – BITCHES
OPEN
1st – MR. H. JORDAN’S CH. JAFRAK WOWING THE CROWDS (IMP) – Feminine bitch, still with good substance. Good skull and ears, could be wider in muzzle. Pleasing neck. Balanced angulation both ends. Could be a bit shorter in body, quite pleasing topline. Very good coat and colour. She moved well from all angles when given a little instructions from her handler. CC & BOB.
JAPANESE SHIBA INU – DOGS
OPEN
1st – MR. A. TAYLOR’S CH. MASIMA NO ONE GREATER – Black and silver Shiba, well proportioned and well constructed and a lovely mover. Masculine head of pleasing quality even if he could do with some more cheek, very good ears. Very good rise of neck, excellent body proportions, firm topline, well set and carried tail. Pleasing coat. He looked particularly good in movement, especially from the side, but also pleasing coming and going, and the more he moved, the better he looked. CC & BOB and Best in Show.
TIBETAN TERRIERS – DOGS
PUPPY
1st – Dr. J. CRUMP’S CALLIOPE CALYPSO PAN – Almost one year old male, quite immature and still needs to gain some more masculinity. Same thing goes for the head, rather refined and needs more chin. Pleasing expression. Moderate neck. Not enough of an outline and the tail is very flat and kinked. Strong topline. Quite good topcoat, but not enough underwool. Needs to gain more width and depth of body. Tends to pull on the lead and then does not show the desired silhouette on the move.
OPEN
1st – DR. J. CRUMP’S CH. KYBO CALYPSO KID (IMP) – A very typical Tibetan Terrier, well proportioned and with a very typical head and expression. Enough neck, Good topline, but he does not get quite enough credit for it because of rather bushy coat tending to hide his outline. Excellent length of leg and square outline. Well set tail. When given some guidance by his handler, he moved well and showed an attractive outline. Reasonable coat quality, but needs some more finesse to his presentation. Correct feet. He moved really well with lovely drive from behind. CC & BOB, Res BOG.
TIBETAN TERRIERS – BITCHES
PUPPY
1st – MISS M. ASHBY’S CALLIOPE SEA BREEZES LOVER – A young bitch with good potential as she has very good proportions and a typical, feminine head with excellent expression. Good neck. Firm topline, I would prefer more angulation behind, her hindquarters also needing more coat and they looks a bit out of balance at this time. Well coated in front and body. In glimpses she moves well, but most of the time she was pulling on the leash and then lost some balance. Worth putting more training into, but not ready for the CC today. Res.BOB and Best puppy, Best locally bred.
WORKING GROUP
BOUVIER DES FLANDERS – BITCHES
OPEN
1st – MISS M. ASHBY’S CH. CHEPHAM VALENTINA AT CALLIOPE C.D. (IMP) – Quite well proportioned bitch, feminine, but without the athletic element this bred has to have. Quite well proportioned head with good width of skull and good ears. Correct, rather short neck. Very flat in the lower part of her chest. Quite good topline, if a little high behind. Very moderately angulated behind. Coat not in optimal condition. Moved with little pride or energy, even if she used her legs quite well, but with the tail down. CC now awarded, but BOB.
BULLMASTIFFS – DOGS
MINOR PUPPY
1st – MR. B.A. BASCOMBE’S NEXGEN CRIMSON TIDE – Brindle dog who needs to develop a lot with time. His head is not very typical, long in muzzle and not wide enough in skull or muzzle. Strong neck. Firm topline, well angulated behind. Very good coat and colour. A sound and positive mover, but definitely scoring in soundness over type. Best Puppy.
JUNIOR
1st – MR. R. MARSHALL’S NEXGEN THE BIG TICKET – Strong, brindle dog with a lot of type, excellent head with width and squareness. Strong neck. Balanced angulation in front and behind. Deep and capacious body, good topline. Needs to be sounder behind both standing and moving and has some skin problems, but scored in breed type. Mostly jumped around in gallop, but sometimes moved quite well from the side, needs to improve in soundness behind. Res.BOB. 2nd – MR. R. WOOD’S SAMHAVEN KALUCA WHITE (IMP) – Very stylish fawn dog, but too racy all over. Needs a strong head with more width between eyes. Too long and rather thin in neck for balance in the breed. Topline could be stronger. Well angulated behind. The best mover in the class, but not the type of the winner.
– MR. D. COBHAM’S FOUL BAY BENTLEY – Underdeveloped dog with a very narrow, untypical body, needs a lot more volume and weight. Extremely undershot, showing teeth at all times. A lovely character. Very scrawny and I cannot see him develop into a proper Bullmastiff at this time. Not sound in movement from any angles. Awards withheld.
NOVICE
1st – MR. H.A. KING’S PRINCE SAMMLER – Leggy, short-coupled dog with a rather narrow and long head. Did not look happy. Excellent neck, good forechest. Strong topline, deep enough in chest but could do with more volume. Would like better angulated hindquarters and unsound going away. Moved quite well from the side. Turning his front feet out.
OPEN
1st – MR. B.A. BASCOMBE’S ARDHUB BLACK’S IN THE NAME TO NEXGEN (IMP) – Typewise attractive dog with quite a well proportioned body with good depth and capacious enough. Quite typical head with good width of skull, attractive eyes. Strong neck. Moderate angulation in front. Strong topline. Beautiful coat and brindle colour. Needs more angulation of stifle and hock, but moved much better than should be expected from this shortcoming, actually quite well from the side as well as coming and going. CC & BOB.
BULLMASTIFFS – BITCHES
OPEN
1st – MR. R. WOOD’S CH. WOODNEY DIANA WHITE – A bitch who keeps herself up well on the move, but her skin condition is very bad with wounds all over. Reasonable skull, not nearly enough width of muzzle. Good neck and forechest. Strong topline, deep chest. Moved very close and unstable as seen from behind, but pleasing from the side. Best bitch, but CC not awarded. – MR. B.A. BASCOMBE’S ZAHARA BULLS KATNISS AT NEXGEN – retired by owner.
ROTTWEILERS – DOGS
MINOR PUPPY
1st – MR. C. BOSTIC’S BOSVIGO BRUNO – Eight months old dog, immature for his age and needs to grow on. Typical head and expression with good skull and ears. Tends to turn his front feet out. Enough bone. At this time rather up on legs and needs to develop in his body, both in depth and width. Good topline until the croup which is falling off too much. Ample angulation behind. Moved OK form the side, but needs to stabilize both ends. Beautiful rich tan, good coat.
PUPPY
1st – DR. W. WELCH’S ELTHOR DARK ACE – At ten months old this dog looks rather long and racy in his body. His head has quite pleasing features, but needs to grow stronger. Rather round in eyes. Very good neck. He needs to become more compact in his body. Moderate angulation in front, very good behind. Somewhat harsh coat. By far his best feature is his movement: well co-ordinated, energetic and sound. Best L/B Puppy in Show.
JUNIOR
1st – DR. W. WELCH’S BALTO VON MUNTZ (IMP) – Typey dog, well proportioned with good length of leg and a compact body. Excellent skull and head proportions, but could do with more width of muzzle. Dark eyes. Strong neck, medium angulation in front. At 13 months, he still needs to gain some more forechest. Firm topline, Strong hindquarters. Excellent coat and colour. He moved soundly and with energy, keeping his attractive balance on the move. Res.CC & Res.BOB and Reserve in Group.
NOVICE
1st – MR. R. BASCOMBE’S KENT RIDGE SON OF KRYPTONITE – At this age, a rather insignificant dog who needs to grow on quite a bit. Quite plain in head, not helped by the unclear tan markings. Rather short neck, which he could use more to his advantage. Good depth and width of body, with some tendency to roach his topline. Plenty of angulation behind. He moved quite well from the side, but needs to stabilize both ends and particularly in front movement.
OPEN
1st – MR. J. EDGHILL’S MONIFA BLACK MAXIMUS – Masculine dog of very pleasing type and quality. Masculine head, I would prefer less wrinkles, eyes medium dark. Strong neck, compact, well developed body with very good volume. Moderately angulated in front, well angulated behind. Very good coat and rich tan colour. He moved well coming and going, took some time to fully synchronise from the side, but improved with subsequent looks, and when he finally got there proved to be an impressive dog. Docked tail. CC & BOB, Group and Reserve BIS.
ROTTWEILERS – BITCHES
JUNIOR
1st – DR. W. WELCH’S BENTLEY VON MUNTZ (IMP) – Impressive bitch, very sound and really good moving. Excellent skull, but she is rather deep in stop and could do with some more strength of muzzle. Excellent neck. Well constructed, well angulated both ends. Deep and capacious body while still having excellent length of leg. Excellent coat and rich tan colour, well marked. Excelled in movement from the side and from the front. CC.
2nd- MR. S. HOWELL’S KEMROROCKS KHALEESI VOM VISCARDI (IMP) – Feminine bitch, quite well proportioned. Pleasing head. Medium neck. Would have liked her to be straighter in her front legs. Compact body. Balanced angulation behind. Coat could be shorter. Moved quite well from the side, but not nearly as well coming and going.
3rd – MR. J. JORDAN’S MONIFA DARK KIMBA – Feminine bitch, not as firm or as athletic as I would like her to be. Her head is rather foreign with plenty of wrinkles and a low brow. Good neck. Wide in front. Excellent tan markings, but could be deeper in colour. Did not hold her topline on the move and tended to crab.
NOVICE
1st – MR.R. BASCOMBE’S KENT RIDGE TOO SEXY FOR JAPAN – Very feminine bitch, very slight and she needs a lot more substance and is smaller than ideal. OK skull, needs a stronger muzzle. Normal neck. Not enough bone. Far too much tuck-up creating a somewhat sighthound-like outline. Quite good hindquarters. She looks her best on the move, showing energy and reasonably sound.
OPEN
1st – MR. O. HOLDER’S MONIFA BLACK SORIE – Eye-catching bitch with excellent type and body proportions. Typical head with excellent width all the way. Strong neck. A little upright in shoulder. Deep and capacious body. Firm topline. Balanced angulation behind. Good tan markings. I would have preferred her in stronger muscular condition, and if so, she would have been more of a challenge. Moved reasonably well, but somewhat with the breaks on and could be cleaner going away.Res.CC.
BABY PUPPY
1st – DR. W. WELCH’S ELTHOR DARK CATO – Five months old dog puppy , reasonably well developed for his age. Pleasing head, masculine, I would not want any more wrinkles than this. Strong neck. Well angulated both ends. Good neck, crested and well set into shoulders. Well angulated behind. Rather wiry in coat. Needs some more ring traning, but the handler more so than the dog. At times moved quite well. Best Baby Puppy in Breed.
2nd – DR. W. WELCH’S ELTHOR DARK CASS – Feminine bitch, at five months old I would like a little more of her and particularly a stronger head. Good neck, pleasing forechest for age. Good topline, on the longer side in body. Very good tan markings. Moved quite well for her age.
GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS – BITCHES
LIMIT
1st – MR. F. BLACKMAN”S ECHO EL DORADO (IMP) – Feminine bitch, not the type I would be looking for in the breed. Acceptable head, short neck. Short legs, deep body, not in balance. Not much shape of topline. Well angulated behind. Her best feature was her movement from the side as she opened up well, but quite unsound as seen from behind. In a rather in between coat with plenty of wool at this time.
– MR. G. BANNISTER’S SKYE BELLA – A bitch unable to move even for a glimpse in a trot, despite several attempts and thus impossible to judge and excused.
OPEN
1st – MRS. B. KAUFMAN’S CH. THORSSON HAUS AVA – A very large, mostly black bitch, not feminine. Strong head. Large, rather prominent and light eyes. Good neck and forechest, excellent return of upper arm. Not very shapely in body, but deep and capacious, carrying too much weight on the day. Moved quite well from the side, but needs improvement coming and going. Quite good coat. CC not awarded, best bitch, BOB, Best Locally Bred.
BOXERS – DOGS
NOVICE
1st – MISS J. WILSON’S SUNDIAL’S THUNDER BOLT AT KAIBO C.D. – Rather leggy dog, shorter than square. Quite pleasing head proportions. Enough neck, Rather straight in shoulder and upper arm. Short body. Too much tuck-up, his body could make a stronger impression. Tends to hock in standing, but decidedly so on the move. Would like some more volume all the way. But he moved well from the side. Res.CC not awarded.
OPEN
1st – MISS J. WILSON’S CH SUNDIAL’S SUN GOD APOLLO AT KAIBO C.D. – Typically square dog, but looking somewhat younger than his four years old. Good narrow skull, enough strength of foreface. Pleasing neck with a nape. He has a striking and beautiful outline, but could do with some more volume all the way, particularly through his loin. Excellent topline and good tailset. He comes into his own in movement and moves particularly well from the side, balanced and well-coordinated and with plenty of energy. CC
BOXERS – BITCHES
OPEN
1st – MS. G. LEACH’S SUNDIAL’S AURORA SUNRISE AT WORTHINGTON – Square, well proportioned and well constructed bitch. Her head is not her fortune and needs more detailing, but she has a pleasing expression. Moderate neck. Very good return of upper arm and forechest. Very good topline and tailset. Excellent body volume, she does not need any more weight. She moved soundly, especially so from the side and from the front, but also OK from behind. CC & BOB.
2nd – MS. G. LEACH’S CH. WORTHINGTON’S PRETTY N PEACH – Strong bitch on the heavy side. Rather lymphatic in head, prominent eyes, heavy lips. Strong front. Topline could be firmer and she tended to be high behind in movement. Plenty of body; both depth and width. Beautiful dark red colour. Needs to stabilize in movement as seen from behind, quite good in front.
Espen Engh (Norway)
Judge
