Judges Critique
I would like to thank the Association for my invitation to Judge Bedlingtons at their Championship Show 2017 and I enjoyed
my day in the very friendly atmosphere of pleasant competitiveness. I hope you all enjoyed the prizes distributed throughout
the day.
Rather than single out any individual dog’s faults I will say a little of my findings to help everyone when they are assessing
their own stock. My main winners were of a very high standard and true to the Bedlington Breed Standard in their
proportions, coat quality and colour. Their movement was sound with the correct head and tail carriage. They showed the
true sparkle and light step expected for the breed.
Some things I found to look out for when breeding the next generation are:
Rear action – the rear legs should be parallel when viewed from the back and not too close. Some were so close that they
rubbed together on passing.
Front action – there should be enough drive from the rear to make the dog reach forward from well laid back shoulders
without plaiting or high stepping like a trotting horse.
Tails should not be carried straight out from the rear and high like a poker but should follow and extend the soft curve of
the spinal column thus confirming the correct state of the rear coupling rather than being ‘bum high,’ as it is often
referred to, with the straight, high tail carriage. Puppies can be forgiven for showing puppy exuberance through their
tails.
Coat colours are clearly stated in the breed standard but the fashion for black has crept in producing an incorrect quality
and texture of coat made up mainly of guard hairs and hence accompanied by non or very poor furnishings.
Check the teeth numbers especially the pre-molars and cleanliness is essential for a healthy animal!
In all the years of Judging I have never come across any cracked pads. However, breeders should always check for this
condition in their stock.
Eyes should be checked for the correct shape. Trimming a triangle around an incorrect shaped eye is only fooling oneself.
There were a few today with ears that were a little too small and thick rather than being slightly transparent in the light.
All the above were examples found today which I hope will be helpful to those responsible breeders present.
DOGS
Minor Puppy: 1st ~ Mc Manus’ Travellerway’s Rory
Puppy: 1st ~ Baldwin’s Woolytop Golden Wonder
2nd ~ Baldwin’s Woolytop Golden Surprise
Junior/ Res. CC: 1st ~ Offer’s Woolytop The Wherryman
2nd ~ Kinns’ Kinnuva Dark Sleekster
Yearling: 1st ~ Mc Court’s Bisbee Super Trooper
Post Graduate: 1st ~ Button’s Jetsway Sole Star
Limit: 1st ~ Murby & Heraty’s Tasseltabs Timber Sh. Ch.
2nd ~ Offer’s Woolytop Theodore
Open/CC/BIS: 1st ~ Davies’ Ch. Honeymist Blue Bols
2nd ~ Pederson’s Sharnor High Intensity
BITCHES
Minor Puppy/BP/Res. CC: 1st ~ Cumming’s Rocabec Gossip Girl
2nd ~ Fletcher’s Janmark Justfor’j for Maevani
Puppy: 1st ~ Bambridge’s Woolytop Bluebell Girl at Beckstone
Junior: 1st ~ Pocklington’s Timberose Rhapysody in Blue
2nd ~ Bishop’s Plumeria’s Sea Breeze
Post Graduate: 1st ~ Kinn’s Kinnuva Siam Jewel
2nd ~ Mc Manus’ Kenquartz Teal Tweed
Limit: 1st ~ Honeymist Take the Lead at Woolytop JW ShCM
2nd ~ Davies’ Honeymist Posh Sugar
Open/CC/Res.BIS: 1st ~ Davies’ Ch. Honeymist Posh Dreamz
2nd ~ Cumming’s Honeymist Posh Spice at Rocabec
Best Veteran: Kinn’s Burmington’s Truly Blue
Breeders: 1 st ~ Pocklington’s Rhapysody in Blue
2nd ~ Kinn’s Kinnuva Siam Jewel
Non Breeders: 1st ~ Offer’s Woolytop Theodore
2nd ~ Pocklington’s Nebercrackers Rosie Blue at Timberose Sh Ch
Working: 1st ~ Kinn’s Burmington Truly Blue
2nd ~ Kinn’s Burmington Reet Petite
Brace: 1st ~ Offer’s Woolytop Brace
2nd ~ Kinns Brace
Mrs J. Hurley B.Phil. M.A.
[Judge]