Full Critique for Richmond 2005
Judge : Mrs Jan Meyer
This critique reflects the judge's opinion
based on what they saw on the day of the show.
| Firstly, I wish to thank the officers & committee of Richmond Championship Dog Show for affording me the opportunity to judge Shih Tzus at their recent show & to thank my competent stewards for their support. Thank you too to the many exhibitors who travelled from far & wide for my opinion & for the sporting way in which they accepted my decisions. I thoroughly enjoyed my day & was happy with my placings, but I believe that every dog has its day & on other occasions I’ ve no doubt that the placings will change! Overall it was my privilege to handle some wonderful exhibits who are a credit to their owners & to the breed lines from which they come. However, over the years, my concerns remain the same. Some of the girls in particular were, in my opinion, just too heavy & the added pounds affected their movement; there were several exhibits who were sluggish on the move & sadly lacked rear drive, clear pads & an arrogant carriage. Once again, from my point of view, there is nothing more beautiful than a Shih Tzu in ‘ full sail’ & my eventual winners, to my delight, truly displayed this – well-balanced impressive Shih Tzus with that little extra something special. Although the presentation, as always, was excellent, I noted a huge increase in v ‘ obvious’ trimming, personally this doesn’ t appeal, some discreet ‘ tidying’ yes, but there were many who appeared to have been ‘ chopped’ ! Mouths had improved greatly, particularly in the younger stock but I was disappointed, on examination, by the white of eye in some exhibits who in all others areas appeared from a distance quite superb. Finally, I did find myself searching for what I call the true Shih Tzu expression, beautifully warm large dark expressive eyes & I hope that in future more attention will be given to this when breeding. |
| Minor Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Minfaa Zorro | (b/w) Striking youngster with great carriage & balanced outline, happy & playful on the move with plenty of time to settle. Lovely head with good mouth, short stop, dark eyes & cheeky expression. |
| 2nd | Ch. Mifcahs Catch Me If U Can JW ShCM (Ned, Bel) | (g/w) Well-bodied confident lad with masculine head, dark eyes & good mouth. Preferred tail carriage & overall balance of 1 |
| Puppy Dog | ||
| 1st | Casamays Cloony at Kayasim | (b/w) Another happy young lad with bags of personality who strode out well & maintained a lovely balanced outline. Well presented in beautiful condition. Wide muzzle, good stop, dark eye & correct dentition |
| 2nd | Ch. Tameron Mr Kenzo | (g/w) Chunky young boy with a nice outline, good chest & reach of neck. Moved with strong rear action & presented & handled to his best advantage |
| Junior Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Socorro Feel Me Touch Me at Miracey JW | 1, 2 & 3 will surely change places at a future date 1. Hitt’ s Socorro Feel Me Touch Me at Miracey, (b/w) Mature junior d of good shape & size with a strong masculine head & wide muzzle. Well-presented in good coat of correct texture. Moved steadily with confidence. |
| 2nd | Pekoe Sharp Shooter JW | (g/w) Lovely expression, good stop & beautiful eyes all framed by super face furnishings. Stepped out freely holding his balanced outline on the move |
| Yearling Dog | ||
| 1st | Graigllan Loud And Clear | (br/w) This restless chap, a handful for his owner, headed a class of probably more experienced exhibits but given time to settle he will mature well. Good free stylish movement to & fro & attractive head with lovely dark expressive eyes |
| 2nd | Matsuba Ym Your Man | (crm/w) Smaller & shorter in back than 1 but good balance, great outline & arrogant stance. Chunky little body under a well-presented coat with dense undercoat |
| Post Graduate Dog | ||
| 1st | Rygar Time and Thyme Again JW | Impressive solid gold with black mask. Good body with ample bone, muscle & spring of rib. Strong masculine head with fitting expression & nice eyes. Lovely arrogant assured movement with strong hindquarters, v gay & confident |
| 2nd | Ch. Santosha Salvadore for Venustus | (g/w) Well-presented smaller lad with good firm body & glamorous head. Slightly reluctant on the move on the day but after some hesitation held a lovely balanced outline & well-deserved his second place |
| Limit Dog | ||
| 1st | Cedarhythe Licence To Tease at Morhenjo | (b/w) This honest sound d headed a good class of quality exhibits. Sturdy well-bodied lad with good bone & rib. Aloof, arrogant, masculine expression with good stop, well-placed eyes & correct dentition. Took a little time to settle into his stride & happily moved with head held high on a good reach of neck, lovely level topline, teapot tail, balanced outline & a great show of pads – DCC |
| 2nd | Jacquinta If By Chance JW | (b/w) Please excuse the expression but hairs split 2 & 3 ! Both v similar, the finest of differences in heads & size & on the day just preferred the slightly softer expressive eyes of 2 but both went with style & held lovely balanced outlines on the move |
| Open Dog | ||
| 1st | Ch. Hashanah Lock Stock N Barrel | (g/w) What hasn t already been said about this worthy champion? Super sound d with balanced outline, good movement to & fro, presented in wonderful condition with coat of great texture. Strong masculine head with broad muzzle & expressive eyes – RDCC. |
| 2nd | Ch. Peekin Jimmy Choo-Tu | (g/w) Quality d with a lot of favourable attributes. A beautiful head & lovely expression. A little hesitant but once settled moved with purpose & rear drive showing full pads. Good balance & held a level topline on the move 3 |
| Minor Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Santosha Carte Noir | Solid black baby with coat of good texture, v sweet with the cutest of expressions. Loved her angulation & happy go lucky nature on the move. Held her head high on a lovely reach of neck with teapot tail creating a beautiful balanced outline on the move |
| 2nd | Sonoltay No More The Fool | (b/w) Striking baby who caught my eye as she entered the ring. Great coat & mature head for one so young. Today she was just a little hesitant but time is on her side & once settled she moved with confidence, driving off & showing a good clean pad |
| Puppy Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Kanba Busy Bee at Tameron | (b/w) This is the one I could have tucked under my arm & taken home – what a show girl - liked everything about her! Maturing nicely & just coming together. Lovely firm sound body, beautiful gay carriage & super balanced outline. Moved with confidence & drive. v attractive head with lovely expressive dark eyes, a cheeky expression & great animation. Couldn t deny her the RBCC & will watch her progress with interest |
| 2nd | Gladmin Kya | (g/w) 2 & 3 litter sisters with not a lot separating them but on the day the calmer of the two carried herself well & displayed a nice outline on the move. Held head high on great reach of neck with good sound body. Lovely feminine expression & both well-presented in beautiful coat. |
| Junior Bitch | ||
| 1st | Pekoe Patent Pending JW | (br/w) Seeing past the junior coat this was a v honest, well put together bitch who will no doubt mature into a super sound lady. Good balance, lovely head with nice stop, dentition & large expressive eyes |
| 2nd | Ethelsmead Keeping The Faith | (g/w) Nicely finished young lady, displaying great maturity & moving happily around the ring with a confident presence, good rear action & pleasant outline |
| Yearling Bitch | ||
| 1st | Cedarhythe Tart Alert | Solid black compact little lady full of confidence. Good sound body & rib, nice outline & moved with driving rear action showing full pads. Finer head with short stop & well-placed eyes |
| 2nd | Peekin Gin Palace-Tu | (g/w) Beautifully presented in super coat. A lady who knows exactly what she wants to do on the move, steady & comfortable with a nice level topline. Good head, v feminine with sweet expression & lovely dark eyes |
| Post Graduate Bitch | ||
| 1st | Cabbala Gilt Edged at Marhilway | A great variance of size, weight & type in this class. 1. Diffey Cabbala Gilt Edged at Marhilway, (g/w) Smaller & finer in bone gave rise to this sprightly little lady moving gaily around the ring with good drive & great carriage, nice reach of neck, teapot tail & balanced outline. A v attractive head with large expressive eyes & lovely dentition |
| 2nd | Cabbala Raring To Go at Incola | Since looking at the catalogue I believe that 1 & 2 are litter sisters. v similar & mostly the same applies. Although 2 had an arrogant & aloof expression, I preferred the free flowing movement of 1 on the day |
| Limit Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Gladmin Nandi | (g/w) A lovely class with my 1-5 each having their individual attributes & no doubt changing places on other occasions but on the day 1 won out on her lovely balanced outline, proudly carried head with well set teapot tail, great carriage & wonderful driving movement |
| 2nd | Santosha Serenity | (g/w) V close to 1 but slightly different in outline & preferred the movement of 1 on the day. v sound b, well constructed good body & lovely head with feminine expression |
| Open Bitch | ||
| 1st | Ch. Matsuba Scandalizer | Fabulous girl with the ‘ look’ I had been waiting for all day! Truly beautiful with large dark warm expressive well-placed eyes. Just the right amount of body, good spring of rib, level topline, well set heavily plumed tail & balanced outline. Presented to perfection & stepped out with drive & purpose & moved around the ring like she owned it – BCC & BOB |
| 2nd | Ch. Chanikos Justa Dream (JW) | (br/w) A worthy champion who has some great wins to her credit. On the day just preferred the shape & outline of 1. Stepped out beautifully with drive & confidence showing full pads. Good body & bone & sound throughout with a super head & the v best dentition |