Championship Show 2024
Judge's Critique
Mrs Terri Reed (UK)
30 November 2024
I would like to first of all take this opportunity to thank the committee for inviting me to judge their show, it was a privilege and honour to have been asked to judge our lovely breed in Australia. The committee made my stay in Melbourne a memorable one with their amazing hospitality throughout the week. The show was well organised and the purpose-built venue was a fantastic place to hold the show. The weather meant we were indoors but the ring was large with an excellent floor ensuring the dogs were able to stride out and made it easy for me to assess their movement. The fabulous lunch provided by the club after the show was a great opportunity to sit and talk to both the committee and exhibitors. Both myself and Michael thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for making us so welcome.
Thank you to the exhibitors for their support and giving me the opportunity to handle some quality bobtails. I could not believe the distances some had to travel to get to the show so I appreciate the effort made by all. I was pleased with the way exhibitors accepted my placings in such a sporting manner. Many thanks to my knowledgeable and very able ring steward who guided me through the slightly different system and classes.
When judging I keep in mind those points that make an Old English so special. A compact, strong, square dog with a rising topline, free from legginess with a square head and a well-defined stop. Profusely coated with a harsh texture and break. I found the overall presentation of the exhibits to be excellent and all were shown in a clean and knot free condition. I felt that heads, eye colour and backends were particularly strong in both sexes. Coats were good as was the pigmentation. Although the entry was not large I felt the overall quality was strong. The younger classes had some lovely dogs and bitches and I am sure once they gain their furnishings will take top honours and I feel this bodes well for the future of the OES in Australia.
Junior Dog (2, 0 abs). Great class to start with, two very different types but with little to choose between them making this a difficult decision. Preferred my winner’s size and type.
1st Nelligans Ch Waloes It’s a Kind of Magic. Smaller type of dog but all mascaline. Strong square head with 2 well pigmented, dark brown eyes and well defined stop. Excellent bite with lovely large teeth. Correct length of neck leading into well angulated shoulders, deep chested with lovely spring of rib and rise to loin. Short coupled and compact with strong well-muscled hindquarters and neat low set hocks. Coat of darker colour and just starting to change but profuse and of a good quality. Moved out well with good front extension and driving rear action.
2nd Findlay’s Olensha Someguys Can Be Lucky. Bigger type than my winner and longer in leg with a lighter less profuse coat. Many qualities to like with large square head and excellent length of neck, good spring of rib and gentle rise. Super bend of stifle. Strode out well front and back, well handled and presented. Just needs more time to grow into his larger frame and gain some more furnishing and will trouble the best.
Intermediate Dog (1, 0 abs).
1st, , Reserve CC & Best Intermediate In Show. Moore’s Ch Perfu Mr Goodfellow. Stood alone in this class but deserved his place. Loved this boy, initially he was a little unsettled on the move but soon settled. Excels in head with good width of skull and a well pronounced stop, truncated muzzle and large evenly placed teeth. Two brown eyes with pigment starting to develop. A fabulous reach of neck that flowed into lovely neat shoulders with good angulation. Strong well boned forelegs with spring of rib and brisket to deepen which I am sure will come as he matures. Compact body and standing four-square with slight rise to loin. Great angles on the backend with well let down hocks. Texture of coat was good for his age just needing a bit more length and profuseness to complete the picture. Moved with excellent front extension.
Australian Bred Dog (1, 0 abs)
1st Greguric’s Ch Woolebull Up Holding the Law. Six year old male who looked like he was really enjoying himself. Another with excellent head properties, square capacious skull, truncated muzzle and good stop with large black nose. Loved the fall over his eyes giving a typical bobtail expression. Neck of correct length, with deep brisket. Had a fabulous spring of rib, rear end well angulated with good bend of stifle and neat hocks. Coat for his age was good. If being ultra critical I would have preferred him to be slightly shorter in body.
Open Dog (2, 1 abs)
1st Lacey’s Aust Ch Malizioso Let’s go Dutch. BD & RBIS. Another six year old. Although he stood alone in his class he was a worthy winner and I think would have been hard to beat. Masculine, medium sized dog with fantastic head properties, 2 lovely well pigmented brown eyes, great stop and large black nose. Good length of neck and lovely deep brisket and super bone. Excellent spring of rib with slight rise to loin. Had a well arched loin and fantastic bend of stifle which led into small neat hocks. Lovely pear-shaped back end. Coat of excellent texture, colour and profuseness. When on the move he extended well at the front and showing the lovely bear like rolling gait typical for this breed. Such a good example of a mature OES with all his furnishings. Pleased to award him my Reserve Best in Show and only beaten to BIS by his daughter.
Dog Challenge and Reserve Dog Challenge
Puppy Bitch (2, 0 abs) Two very promising 9 month old puppies who were very similar so it was no surprise to learn that they were litter sisters. I just preferred the slightly longer reach of neck of my winner who I was pleased to award BPIS.
1st Duncan’s Fernybrook Dreams Nightmares & 2nd Duncan & Beames Fernybrook Wildest Dreams. So similar that my comments apply to both. Beautiful cobby and compact girls with correctly proportioned feminine heads with darkest of eyes and correct dentition. Spring of rib was fabulous for their age , lovely compact bodies displaying a slight rise to loin. Strong well angulated back ends with neat little hocks which they used well on the move. Some of the movement was hard to assess as both were enjoying their time in the ring but I would rather they enjoyed themselves and have a positive experience of showing at such a tender age. Coats were profuse with the correct break and both showing signs of starting to clear. Think they will have a bright future and look forward to following their progress.
Junior Bitch (2, 0 abs) 1st & Best Junior in Show Findlay’s Ch Olensha I Should be So Lucky. This little girl took my eye as soon as she entered the ring, a real showgirl. Ultra feminine with a lovely overall balance. Correct size of head with 2 brown fully pigmented eyes. Elegant neck leading into well placed shoulders with brisket still to develop further but this will come as she matures. Lovely spring of rib and slight rise to loin, her overall length was superb with the compactness that I love to see. Her rear end was super with the correct bend of stifle and lovely neat hocks, could just do with a little more muscle on her backend. Coat was good for her age carrying a lovely junior jacket with enough profuseness and length to not interfere with her overall shape. Once she gains her adult coat I am sure will challenge for the top awards. Animated on the move with good front extension and super driving action from the rear. Very well handled and presented. The one I would love to take home with me.
2nd Moore’s Perfu Extraordinary Show Girl. Unlucky to meet my winner but again lots to like about this girl. She has a bigger frame and coat still to change so will just take a bit more time to mature. Happy girl who showed well, fabulous head properties, well arched neck leading into excellent shoulder placement. Her depth of chest and spring of rib need to develop further but I am sure that will come with maturity. Nice and square with lovely bend of stifle, hocks slightly longer than my winner. Movement was good in all directions with lovely extension on the front. Coat of a darker colour and softer texture but showing signs of starting to clear. Just needs time.
Intermediate Bitch (3, 0 abs) A difficult class to assess with a range of ages, types and sizes. I am not particularly bothered by size but do find the larger framed dogs and bitches just need more time to grow into their frame. This was reflected in my placings.
1st Chant’s Hartwyn Royal Summer Wine. Feminine young lady, loved her head markings, strong head, with neat ears and well pigmented dark brown eyes and displaying that lovely fall over her eyes. Enough neck, leading into well angulated shoulders. Great depth of chest, well sprung ribs and compact length of body. Great angles on her backend which she used positively on the move. Coat of darker colour but had great texture and profuseness.
2nd Hincks’s Woolebull Xpressionable Larger bitch with super head qualities and lovely well arched neck. Straight front with depth of brisket and spring of rib needing to develop further. Well balanced in profile and with lovely square shape. Great bend of stifle, hocks slightly longer than my winner. Was very unsettled on the move. Carrying a light junior jacket which was of a slightly softer texture to my winner. I note she was the youngest in the class so time is on her side to mature.
3rd Soderstrom’s Perfu The Cats Out of the Bag At Soblu. Super neck with well angulated shoulders with chest and rib cage needing to develop further. Well arched loin with angulated stifle. Lovely colour of coat with harsh texture. Did not move well today, pulling to one side making it hard to assess front movement. Preferred head and movement of my 1st & 2nd placings.
Australian Bred Bitch (2, 0abs). Another difficult class to judge as such a big difference in age. 1st , Reserve CC & Best Australian Bred in Show. Moore’s Ch Perfu Goodness Gracious. 19 month old eye-catching young lady with correct dentition, lovely square skull and 2 brown eyes with pigmentation starting to develop. Super length of neck, well angulated shoulders and straight deep front. Super body for age with great spring of rib, lovely rise to loin and very compact. Yet another with a superb, well angulated back end. Carrying a wealth of junior jacket with a harsh texture and lovely break.
2nd Findlay’s Ch Olensha Delighted By You. Loved this mature 5 year old girl, just my type. Displaying good head properties with lovely dark brown eyes, loved her head marking. Strong back end with correct angles. Really caught my eye when standing as she is ultra short and compact. Lovely dark mature coat of excellent colour and texture. Just carrying a little too much weight over her shoulders today which affected her front movement otherwise would have made the decision between 1 & 2 more difficult.
Open Bitch (4, 0 abs). Wow what a lovely quality class of mature bitches, really loved all four of these girls so I had to go with my personal preferences.
1st & BIS Aust Ch Malizioso Eyes of An Angel. Sometimes you see a bitch who comes into the ring and catches your eye but on going over them (you have to in this breed) something is missing or not quite as you prefer. However, this young lady did not let me down in the slightest. Super head properties with strong correct jawline and well-placed even teeth. Lovely deep brown eyes with full pigmentation. Good fall over her eyes giving such a sweet expression. Her overall shape and conformation was excellent which reflected in her movement. Enough neck leading into neat well angulated shoulders, deep fronted with well developed spring of rib, elbows tucked in tightly and well off for bone. Compact body with gentle rise to loin leading into well angulated backend with super bend of stifle and well let down hocks. Carrying an abundance of blue coat with excellent texture and break. Shown and presented to perfection. Moved steadily covering the ground with ease in all directions. Especially loved her front extension and her ambling action when moved at a slower pace.
2nd Sanger & Hincks’s Ch Woolebull Wollemi At Snodragon. Another lovely girl shown and handled to perfection. Just unlucky to meet my winner. Super head properties, square jaw excelling in neck and shoulder with lovely mature front and well-developed spring of rib. Good bend of stifle, hock not as small and neat as my winner. Moved well, floating around the ring. Coat just needing a bit texture and break to finish the picture.
3rd Finlay’s Olensha Amore with Snodragon. Another eye-catching girl whose breed type I really liked. Made a lovely outline such a super compact and short coupled bitch. Great head qualities with lovely square skull, strong jaw and well defined stop. Enough neck slightly heavy over the shoulders and carrying a little too much weight which affected her movement otherwise would have been higher up the placings. Excellent dark coat of lovely texture with a great break.
4th Moore’s Aust Ch Perfu the Cats Pyjama’s. Yet another nice bitch. Slightly bigger frame but still with lovely square shape. Well arched neck leading into great shoulder placement. Strong back end which she used well on the move. For me I just felt she need more furnishings to complete the picture. Shown and presented in excellent condition.
Bitch Challenge and Reserve Challenge Bitch
BEST IN SHOW AND RUNNER UP BEST IN SHOW
Neuter Dog (2, 0 abs) 1st Stewart’s and Findlay’s Ch Olensha You Were Made For Me. Wow loved this boy and he was obviously enjoying his day out. Without the coat you could see his lovely conformation and compact body. Grand head with correct dentition, enough neck with good shoulder placement. Good depth of brisket and excellent spring of rib. Excelled in his rear angles with gentle rise to loin which is well arched with great bend of stifle and low set hocks. Moved well in all directions.
2nd Hincks’s Nuet Ch Woolebull Talkative Toby. 7 year old dog. Larger framed boy shown in great condition for his age. Super capacious skull, lovely neck, shoulders slightly on the wide side but correctly angled. Superb deep brisket and huge spring of rib. Just preferred shorter length of body of my winner.
Neuter Bitch (1, 0 abs)
1st & Best Neuter in Show Beames & Nelligan’s Waloes Don’t Dream It Be It. Really loved this 3 year old bitch, she has everything I like in an OES. Compact and feminine with a super head , lovely fall over her eyes with super dark brown eyes giving a lovely expression. Good stop with truncated jaw and large black nose. Well arched neck leading into slightly wide shoulders but angles were good. Deep chest with nice straight well off for bone. Fabulous body with great spring of rib, nice rise. Loin was short and arched leading into a good bend of stifle and lovely low set hocks. Darker coated with correct break to it. Displaying great reach on the front when moving.
Best Neuter in Show and Runner Up Neuter in Show
More Trophy Table Photos
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUE AND PHIL HINKS - THANK YOU