My sincere thanks to the Officers and Committee of Driffield Championship Show for the kind invitation to judge Irish Red and White Setters on their 50^th Anniversary Show. It was a new venue for the society but it was still run with the great hospitality as always from this Committee and I thoroughly enjoyed my day. This was to be my final judging appointment and the atmosphere from all exhibitors could not have been better. A credit to all the exhibitors for the sporting manner in accepting my decisions on the day. How fronts have improved from the first introduction of the Irish Red and While in the early showing days and also how pleasing it was to find the dogs entered under me today had the correct dentition requested for in the breed standard. A credit to both breeders and exhibitors alike. A big thank you must also go to my delightful stewards who were excellent at keeping the ring running smoothly and with a smile. Stewards are so important, we exhibitors and judges sometimes forget just how necessary they are in the smooth running of any Show. 

Veteran Dog ( 3,0 )
A trio of lovely veteran dogs all looking in excellent hard condition and a credit to their owners.
1^st Catton and Cook’s Sh. Ch. Daithi Shadow Dog With Ferngate ( Imp Pol ). A very balanced 7 year old male who was presented in really fit condition and looked impressive on first appraisal.  Possessing a nice head with well placed ear. Slight arch to muscular neck of good length, well boned front.  Deep chest and ample spring of rib with a strong topline and correct tailset. Moved with drive from his well-muscled hindquarters. Looked very pleasing in side gait and at one with his handler moving effortlessly around the ring. All finished off with a rather nice coat in colour and with plenty of feathering.
2^nd Jakins’s Sh. Ch. Int. Ch. Multi Ch. Terne Des Coris Qalimero At Coolfin  JW ( Imp. Bel. ). This dog is now 9 years and still looks impressive. He owns a super head, masculine but with such a wonderful soft expression, skull domed with ample stop. A dark eye so typical and handsome with a fairly square muzzle. Well rounded bone on a straight front. Has a prominent sternum with well sprung rib. Hindquarters strong with well bent stifle showing good sound movement from  both front and rear. Liked his coat for colour and condition.
3^rd Taylor’s Laoirebay Monte Carlo VW


Minor Puppy Dog ( 1,0 )
1^st Taylor’s Fiainrua Stormtrooper. A nice sized puppy nearing 9 months He was a little overawed by the occasion at first but once settled I was able to assess his attributes. Dark expressive, round eye, showing a good stop and clean muzzle with well placed ears lying neatly and close to his head. A well constructed body for his age with good spring of rib well angulated rear and a fairly strong topline. He moved out well for his handler looking more confident and settled with good forward reach and driving from behind  All finished off with a nice tail action.

Puppy Dog ( 1,0 )
1^st Tattersall’s Alanea Pennine Way. I found this young dog of 10 months to be so well constructed with a really lovely head. His eye correct in colour and shape. His expression soft and very appealing, a domed skull, and finished off with a clean muzzle. I found him most handsome. Looked so very well balanced when standing with such a strong topline for a youngster. Well boned with neat tight feet. A well sprung rib and ample forechest. Strong well developed hindquarters with a good bend of stifle. Movement was correct fore and aft, holding his tail level with his back, once settled and became more confident, it was lashing from side to side. His coat was in good bloom and correct in colour.A really lovely puppy and one for the future I believe. BEST PUPPY  and subsequently my RESERVE BEST DOG
Well done.

Junior Dog ( 1,0 )
1^st Tattersall’s Alanea Pennine Way (Repeat ) 

Limit Dog ( 1,0 )
1^st Catton, Cook & Jakins’s Coolfin Clancy with Ferngate. I judged this male when just a puppy and was delighted to see how he has matured. I found he still retains such breed type. He owns a typical head of correct proportions. Masculine but with a lovely soft expression a dark eye of correct shape, defined stop and strong fairly clean square finish to his muzzle. A moderate length of neck, slightly arched and fitting into well placed shoulders. Correct oval bone on neat feet with a well sprung rib and plenty of  forechest. Standing, he looked so well balanced, showing a firm topline and all finished off  with such strong well muscled rear quarters which he used to advantage when asked to move. A quality coat in colour and condition with enough furnishings to complete the picture. It was his free flowing movement when viewed in side gait and  being true from his front and rear action that finally gave him BEST DOG and eventually BEST OF BREED. Well done  and thank you for bringing him.  

Open Dog ( 3,0 )
1^st Ward’s Roanjora Crement De lux Copperwhite JW. This dog looked really well on first appraisal for his overall confirmation, looking so well balanced. He owns a typical head with that all important soft expression. Stands on a good strong front, neat feet. Deep in chest and enough spring of rib. His quarters strong and well muscled and when asked to move he did confidently and at one with his handler Showing sound movement both coming and going, keeping a correct topline at all times. He has a really nice coat in both colour and condition. I felt he certainly needed further consideration in the challenge but unfortunately he did not want to give his all on the final move round and had to pay the price today.    
2^nd Catton and Cook’s Sh Ch Daithi Shadow Dog with Ferngate ( Imp. Pol. ) (Repeat)
3^rd Martin, Martin & Green’s  Rhoswendale Game Is On Again For Viszaset ( Imp Fin ).

Special Beginners Bitch ( 1,0 )
1^st Bloxham’s Alanea Emerald. A really feminine bitch whom I liked for size, has a lovely head and kind expression. Arched neck of good length and stands on a good front with elbows tucked in. Correctly placed shoulders. Her ribs well sprung and enough depth of chest. A firm level topline with correct tailset. It was her movement that really impressed. If I was to be at all critical I would prefer a more defined coat in colour, but not to take any her many attributes away.  

Veteran Bitch ( 2,0 )
1^st Sherratt & Blackwell Sherratt’s Ch Alanea Holly Fern At Charnborough SGWC. A well presented bitch of 10 years young who for me just oozes breed type and has such great attitude, drawing you in to take note of her! She has a feminine head of correct proportions, lovely dark oval eye with a soft melting expression. She has the required oval bone and neat tight feet. Good  body properties and not exaggerated in any way. Her coat still in excellent condition for her age. For me, when asked to move it was her sound true movement with such fluidity. She was just like a youngster, holding her topline, and moving in unison with her handler with her tail held correctly, seeming to enjoy the occasion, that gave her the edge over another lovely veteran lady. My BEST BITCH and BEST VETERAN in breed.  Well deserved and many congratulations.
2^nd Walker’s Sh. Ch.  Zendarric It’s A Kind of Magic Within Wroxham JW. This bitch still looks so well for her 10 years with a really pretty head and  expressive dark eye. Ample stop and nice finish to her muzzle Lovely outline when standing with good depth of chest well ribbed back. Strong in loin and well developed rear quarters. A lovely coat in both colour and condition She moved out well with good reach and drive but not quite the enthusiasm as my first placing today.     
Puppy Bitch ( 1,0 )
1^st Tattersall’s Alanea Summer Legacy. This puppy bitch of 10 months is litter sister to my Best Puppy and Reserve Best Dog. She has also got so many similar attributes She has such a lovely head and eye, is well constructed with a strong topline and well set on tail. A straight front with elbows tucked in, ample bone, neat feet, good spring of rib for a youngster, all finished off with well angulated quarters. She moved out soundly and was shown in lovely coat and condition today. 

Junior Bitch ( 2,0 )
1^st Tattersall’s Alanea Summer Legacy (Repeat)

Limit Bitch ( 4,0 )1^st Jarvis’s Settersay Targaryen Lowdon. What a lovely bitch this is to go over, once she started to co-operate with her handler. She owns such a pleasing head with a lovely expression and neatly set ears. Ample stop and a rather mischievous look. When going over her I realised that she was probably typically stubborn as each time her handler tried to stand her she just decided to do quite the opposite. Eventually she did give in to her handler’s persistence and how wonderful she then looked. She is so well balanced with good bone and being well angulated both front and rear. Her tail set on correctly. She really seemed to enjoy herself when asked to move, showing both reach and drive, tail held correctly level with her back. I was pleased to award her RESERVE BEST BITCH despite her wanting to throw it away at times.
2^nd Jones & Jones’s Talintyre Fomhar Thyme Via Berryessa. This bitch owns a classic head of good proportions and has a very nice expression. She is nicely balanced when standing with a pleasing outline. Her arched neck flows into well placed shoulders wth enough forechest and a good spring of rib. A well bent stifle and well-muscled rear quarters allowing her to move with ease when asked. Shown in nice coat condition with ample feathering.
3^rd. O’Kelly & Hancock’s  Coofin Ecstasy Of Gold At Caradilis. 

JUDGE:-  Lesley Armstrong-Rodgers