Southern Afghan Club CH SHOW 2013 Godmanchester 1.12.13 BITCHES What a thrill and honour it was to judge an entry of 98 bitches, at what is one of my favourite breed club championship shows. Thanks so much to my stewards, Pauline and Charlie for keeping my ring running smoothly, and the committee for their hospitality. I was very happy with my entry and delighted with my line- up. I would just like to mention my concern about upper arms and heads, and over all body condition or lack of it.i was hoping to find an improvement in upper arms.shoulder placements were generally well placed but there were many short or just upright upper arms.and with hind quarters becoming so angled these days it is essential that the upper arm is correct in order to produce the famous Afghan movement.breeders really need to watch this.we do not want to see terrier fronts creeping in and replacing the correct front. Again, in general, I was happy with the majority of heads.but for me there were too many with wide skulls or short skulls.or snipey, weak forefaces.round eyes.too far apart eyes.and chiselling was lacking in many And this is another thing that breeders must watch carefully.the gene pool for our breed is widening all the time and it should be easy enough to find dogs to help breed out these faults. All that said..these were luckily in the minority as were the few oversized females.only a few that I thought needed to be in the dog ring! We do need to be aware and remember the breed standard for size.it is all too easy to think that a dog/bitch will win whatever its size or that big is best.having started in the breed many years ago, I can see the upper end of the standard is more the norm than the middle.and I do think it needs to be watched. But as I said.in the main it was an excellent entry with many worthy dogs going home cardless. Minor Puppy Bitch (12-4) What a delightful way to start my day! A class full of monkey whiskered happy babies, with so many that could have taken top honours! The one that did take top honours, really blew me away and was my find of the day.and eventual BPIS. 1 st, Hall s Garamond Juniperberry Saxonmill.. Just a week over 6 months, and showing like a veteran. Lovely head and expression, good neck leading into well placed shoulders and front. Good depth of chest and spring of rib, short loin and sweeping quarters which powered her round the ring with the desired style of high order even at this young age, all finished off with a ringed tail. Such potential and sure to have a great career in front of her..i would happily have taken her back as excess baggage! BPIS 2 nd Adam s Zandahar Just Tiger Lily.Another lovely puppy, just unfortunate to meet the winner on top form! Most of the above applies to this pretty girl too.for me she is just at the top end of the
standard, and I would prefer a slightly more refined head, but another that I am sure will have a successful future! 3 rd Small s Garamond Spiceberry Puppy Bitch (13).This was a tough class and on another day many could easily change places. 1 st Millward s and Mottershaw s - Alouann Wishes N Dreams.Very attractive S/M Cream. Almost a year and showing the beginning of her adult coat patterning with deep saddle all accentuating her well made body. Lovely head and expression.very nice dark pigmentation. Nicely balanced throughout sweeping hind quarters and neat hocks which she used well on the move. Res BPB. 2 nd Nobles Maringo Rumour Has It at Bichoux. Super B/T.Liked her a lot Beautifully balanced throughout. Nice head and expression, correct front and rear angulation, great depth of brisket. Moved well when she got her act together!! Just needs to settle and for her coat to drop and then I am sure she will trouble the best would love to see her in a year or so! 3 rd Fairburn and Robert s Maringo Evening in Paris Special Veteran 7-10 yrs (4) 1 st Floyd s - Ch Hubshe Uzume.Beautiful B/T, 8 ½ yrs.lovely head and expression with good dark eyes Super front and hind quarters finished with a ring tail. Never let her owner down.certainly defied her age on the move! 2 nd Downes Valkor Cool as Ice de Zorba. 7 yr old B/M Gold another lovely girl enjoying her special day out! Moved well. 3 rd Thompson s Drishaun Rainbows at Saksfifth Special Veteran 10 yrs and Over (1) 1 st Humphrey s Sukeshi Strip the Willow.11 yrs old still showing like a puppy! B/M red, nicely balanced, moved well for her age. Another one who enjoyed her outing! Junior Bitch (13) 1 st Howard s Asianskies Lady in Blu.Only just out of puppy, and did well to win this class. This girl really appeals to me for her overall balance, soundness and type. She has a lovely head and expression and is beautifully constructed which showed in her free flowing movement. But she is her own worst enemy and only at the last minute did she get it together and show me what I was expecting to see from her conformation, the more she moved the more she gained confidence and owned the ring. One I considered for the res ticket.she must surely have a bright future.
2 nd Link s Pahlevi Disco Diva at Orashan Another promising youngster. Nicely put together and moved out well. Close decision, but I just preferred the head and expression of the winner. 3 rd Harding s Ashani Firefly Yearling Bitch (11-3).Another quality class 1 st Middleton s Davashey and Proud of It JW Sh CM. B/M Red Brindle. Sweet head and expression..good neck leading into a very good front and corresponding hind quarters, all used to great advantage on the move which won her the class. Well balanced. To be hyper critical, I would like a bit more weight on her but that should come with maturity. Another I considered for the res ticket! 2 nd Thompson s Gezancol Smoke and Mirrors at Gothka Wasn t sure about this one at the beginning of the class.but once I put my hands on her they just flowed over her body.really well put together.and the more she moved the better she got.it was a close decision for 1 and 2 I just preferred the head of the winner.but her day will surely come. 3 rd Heath s Davashey Who s That Girl Maiden Bitch (7-2) 1 st Maringo Rumour has is at Bichoux 2 nd Heath s - Davashey Who s That Girl.3 rd in yearling and litter sister to the winner.and both are very similar I m sure they will change places a lot, but today her sister was more settled on the move. 3 rd Maringo Evening in Paris Novice Bitch (8-3) 1 st Maringo Rumour Has it at Bichoux 2 nd Floyd s - Hubshe Fundama.Very attractive b/s. She was reserve in the strong puppy class and is the daughter of my Best Veteran B winner. Well made throughout, but wasn t so collected on the move.i m sure she will have a bright future. 3 rd Zandahar Just Tiger Lily Graduate Bitch (8-1)
1 st Dare s Sitana Nishana at Lakarnadream JW.Very typey B/M gold of correct size and proportions. Well put together, super rich red saddle showing off her lovely outline.strode out well on the move. A very nice bitch. 2 nd Greenfield and Race s Calahora From the Vienna Woods.Pretty B/S..sparsely coated and at that difficult in between stage.appealing head and expression.good front and rear a bit erratic on the move, but settled enough to show what she can do. I would prefer a bit more weight on her but that will come with maturity. 3 rd Boydell s Warrenoak Dixie on my Mind Brood Bitch with Progeny (3-1).Two proud Mum s with their very lovely offspring.difficult decision.pleasure to judge this class. 1 st Fielder s Ch. Ashani Azanti at Garamond.This girl deserves to be proud of her babies.like peas in a pod. She certainly throws consistent type throughout.all had lovely heads and expressions and really covered the ground on the move. Mother of BPIS winner. Well done. 2 nd Howards Ch. Altside Blu for You under Asianskies.Although not the amount of progeny present as the winner, nevertheless the type she throws was also obvious and I see the Mother of my Junior bitch winner. Two lovely bitches. Post Graduate Bitch (11-2) A strong class and many could change places on a different day. 1 st House s Jodak s Passion in Black My second find of the day. A lovely bitch. Standing she is nice..but get her to move and she just powers round the ring and she is fantastic.such reach and extension, and powerful driving rear action.stylish B/S, sweet head and expression, beautifully balanced correct size ring tail very little to fault. Thrilled to award her the Res CC in tough competition. Her crown can t be far off. 2 nd Smith and Wisniewski s Bondor Chaka Khanum JW Sh CM.Another super type bitch. B/m brindle, very unlucky to meet the winner on such top form. Really liked this girl.again great balance and beautifully made throughout with just the right amount of weight on her. There were glimpses of what she is capable of on the move, but she unfortunately couldn t match the winners performance today.but another that I am sure will gain her crown. 3 rd Hayes Valkor s She s Got the Look of Saksfifth Mid Limit Bitch (9-3) McKendry s Cloudside Empress Octavia.B/M Brindle slightly larger than I would normally go for, but she could not be overlooked in this class. Despite being a little tall for me, she is still very balanced and beautifully made.this can be seen as soon as she moves, which won her the class.
2 nd Fairburn, Holt and King s.b/t another that is on the top end of the standard for me.but still a nice bitch She is a little overweight, which is doing nothing to show off her outline, making her neck look stuffy. She is well balanced and well put together as can be seen on the move but she needs to cut out the titbits! 3 rd Valkor She s Got the Look of Saksfifth Limit (9-1).Another strong class 1 st Kenny s Alphaville s I Scream Ice Cream.Beautiful B/T oozing type and quality. This girl, to me, reminds me of the classic Afghans of when I was starting out in the breed in the 60 s She is not overdone in anyway.completely balanced throughout with a classic head and expression, in super hard condition coat sparkling..but it is when she moves that you understand how well put together she is.and she could go on all day the more I asked of her, the better she went. She won the CC in hot competition and is now a worthy Champion. Congratulations. 2 nd Cross s Gilari Devil Wears Prada JW.Another quality, typey bitch with a beautiful head and expression again so reminiscent of the old type hounds I grew up with, and lovely to still see it going strong. Little to fault and also powered round the ring.the only thing for me is, she is the top end of the standard, and I would just like a little less height.but I am sure she will also wear her crown. Also considered for the res ticket. 3 rd Gilbert s Affietar Amazing Grace Open Bitch (13-2) Fabulous class. 1 st Barnes Ch. Saxonmill Midnight Dancer.Just my cup of tea.lovely type B/M Gold with deep saddle complimenting her well balanced body. Loved her head and expression and just the right size. Super front, depth of chest, great length from hip to hock, and she pulled out all the stops to win in this hotly contested class. Sadly in the challenge she didn t sparkle as she did in her class but a worthy champion. 2 nd Fielder s Ch. Ashani Azanti at Garamond.This bitch won the Progeny class with her line up of typey babies and is in grand condition 6 months after her maternal duties. She is a very sound bitch of correct size.and like all my main winners excels on the move, and is a worthy champion. 3 rd Moore s Ch Cloudside Flashdance Deborah Peek- Matar - Judge