Breed Notes - Christine Morgan
IRISH SETTER BREED NOTES W/C MONDAY 18TH MARCH 2024
Well here we are, a week since Crufts, so I thought it a good time to write about it. Crufts isn’t ‘just another dog show’, it’s the biggest in the world with almost 20,000 dogs entered, of which almost 4000 were from overseas; and there were over 450 trade stands this year. I’m not sure what the gate was but the place was teeming with visitors. Unlike any other show dogs have to qualify in order to enter. Although it is the Kennel Club’s showcase of all things canine it is run by the Crufts Committee, not all of whom are on the KC Board.
An annual talking point is the selection of judges. It is a widely held belief that a judge must have awarded tickets at least 7 times before being considered for Crufts and whilst the selection is loosely based on this, it is not an exact science.
The method by which Crufts as a show society selects its judges is at the discretion of the society. They are a show society like any other and they have the right to propose judges. The invitations are sent out about 3 ½ years in advance but this year’s judges were victims of the pandemic. Invitations were sent in November 2017 for the March 2021 show but this was cancelled and invitations already being in place for 2022 and 2023, the judges were put back to this year. I don’t know if you are aware, but you cannot judge at Crufts if you are over 80 so it is tragic that some judges lost their appointment of a life time due to Covid. Judges are expected to stay in the Metropole Hotel at the NEC the night before they judge. This is so that they know you are there and leaves no last minute panic trying to find replacements. Judges are given clear written instructions beforehand about staying in the hotel and how much they will be paid in expenses. Dinner, bed and breakfast are included. Judges are also given their class breakdown and a clear start and end time. The evening before judging all judges must attend a briefing where they are reminded of the judges’ code of best practise, particularly the clause which states that judges may exclude any dog from the ring if it is considered not in a fit state for exhibition, because there is reputational risk to The Kennel Club and dog showing in general with such a high profile show as Crufts. It is a sociable affair when a judge can get together with the rest of the judges and drinks and nibbles are provided.
On the morning of the show judges report to Judges’ Reception where they are given their judge’s book, a Crufts pen and a canvas Crufts bag to keep it all in. You are asked if you will want lunch in the restaurant or a packed lunch in the ring. You may have noticed that judges don’t have rosettes to wear; instead, they are given a lovely Crufts Judge badge.
Once in your ring and if possible before start of judging, the Hall Steward will ask some questions from a check list. Examples are, what are you having for lunch? What time do you expect to finish? And if there are two judges, do you think the referee will be needed? The show is run to a very strict time table and because of the sheer vastness of Crufts another peculiarity of it is that two referees are appointed. These are the Group judge and one other. Again, the Hall Stewards keep a very close watch on which class a judge is up to and if they believe a judge is running over time, they will ask them to hurry up. They are also mindful that the referee might possibly be needed and radio back to the Chief Steward to find out where in this huge venue the referee is. All judging is expected to be finished by 17:30 so that the BOBs can gather in the collecting ring. Once in the collecting ring the dogs are given another ‘sort of’ vet check. I ‘say sort’ of because a vet assesses them moving on the carpet.
The carpets in the rings can prove problematical for some exhibits who slide on their back feet when stacking and can lose their footing when moving. It is another thing that makes Crufts different from other shows. I don’t know of any dogs who regularly move on carpet and so they can be wary and reluctant to do so. The slippery floor outside the rings can put many a dog off as well. But the flooring in the main arena is a different texture again and so the dogs are given the chance to get accustomed to it. The arena is packed to the gills for the groups and tickets for Sunday’s Best in Show sell out early. Although Channel 4 advertises Crufts as live it is delayed on TV so that any unfortunate incidents can be excluded.
Channel 4 provided us with excellent coverage this year and Clare Balding’s interviews were terrific.
A Little Mate’s Husband Story. MLM’s husband David has been retired for many a year now but keeps up with his old workmates by regularly meeting them in a pub for a few pints of beer. I say ‘a few’, but from 1.00pm to 5.00pm quite a few can be drunk. These days are known as ‘David Days’ and MLM relishes them because she has the house and time to herself. Last Friday was a David Day.
So this morning (Sunday) I ring MLM but
David answers ‘You can’t have her’ he says ‘because she’s taken My Little Pony to a dog show at Newark’ Me: Oh Ok. How was your David Day? David: She’s told you, hasn’t she? Me: I’ve not spoken her since last Thursday David: So you don’t know what happened then? Me: Oh no, David, what happened, are you OK? David: Yes I’m fine Me: So what is it then? David: Well I caught the bus, got to the pub and I was the first there. Me: And? David: I got my pint, sat at a table and read my phone. I drank my pint, got another and tried to look nonchalant as though I’d gone in there just to read my phone. Me: Then what happened? David: No one turned up but it was raining so I guess they couldn’t be bothered to come. I rang Chris and she came to collect me. Me: Crikey, are they all OK? Have you heard from them since? David: No I haven’t and I’m not going to ring them either if they can’t be bothered. Me: I think you should David because they are all old David: No, I’m not. We always meet on the first Friday of the month, have done for years. Me: But David, last Friday wasn’t the first Friday of the month…. David: Yes I know that now but they didn’t show up the week before either. Me: So you went last week and no one came? David: Yes Me: David last week was the second Friday in the month……… #2ofakind #wellsuited #livewithemtillyougetlikeem
Christine Morgan morgan@thechrisses.co.uk 07970 634780 REVIEW OF 2023
This is something I haven’t done before because I fear missing someone out or getting a name wrong. I don’t intend to make a habit of it but quite a number of people have asked if I’d do a review of the year; so here goes. 3 dogs became show champions this year, Sh Ch Glimmer Noblesse Cloud Dancer, Sh Ch Riverbrue Wonderwall At Hernwood and Sh Ch Orlanset A New Flame. In bitches Sh Ch Forfarian Soo Lush, Sh Ch Gwendariff Hot Ticket, Sh Ch Twoacres Promise Of Spring With Avacet, Sh Ch Gwendariff Lily The Pink, Sh Ch Sametsuz Believe In Me, Sh Ch Quensha Crimes Of Passion and Sh Ch Riverbrue Cloudburst Over Strathmead all won their titles.
*** 21 dogs won RCCs with Sh Ch Quensha Take A Bow topping the list with 5. Close behind him was Gwendariff Ucantmissme Bonhomie with 4. Clonageera Touch Of Gold, Sh Ch Glimmer Noblesse Cloud Dancer, Gwendariff Absoluteley Marwell'us, Sh Ch Lanstara Spring Moon, Sh Ch Riverbrue Morning Glory, Riverbrue Soldier On and Thendara Big Love all won 2 RCCs. Winning 1 RCC each were Sh Ch Alolfrana Hotter Than U'Know, Sh Ch Bardonhill Eternal Flame Among Amberlight, Blazing Bronze Happy Clappy Sings Konakakela, Covarney It Takes Time, Gwendariff Bachelor Boy, Gwendariff Dutch Invader, Gwendariff The Grand Master At Jacwilins, Kerrimere Classique, Kerryfair Just Be and Sh Ch Orlanset A New Flame. Sh Ch Forfarian Soo Lush won the most RCCs in bitches with 5 and Sh Ch Riverbrue Gloriana won 4. Winning 3 each were Sh Ch Gwendariff Hot Ticket, Sh Ch Riverbrue Cloudburst Over Strathmead and Gwendariff Look This Way To Wynjill. Sh Ch Quensha Crimes Of Passion and Gwendariff Its Numero Uno At Bonhomie won 2 CCs and a whopping 17 bitches won 1 RCC. They are: Gwendariff Come Fly With Me, Sh Ch Gwendariff Smart Move Back To Aoibheanne, Sh Ch Sametsuz Believe In Me, Sh Ch Teleri Indian Summer, Sh Ch Twoacres Promise Of Spring With Avacet, Camaling Rose Royale, Corranroo Just One Kiss With Riversett, Fairhaven Electra, Forfarian Tickles Yer Fancy, Glennara Cherry Cola, Harreds Lillie, Ixia Snow Vixen, Riverbrue Be Here Now, Riverbrue Flashbax At Henaleas, Riverbrue Ophelia Bongos At Henaleas, Shenanagin Half A Sixpence and Sixoaks Leading Lady.
*** Now for the puppies. Winning most BPIB awards was Ferasheen Perfekt in Pink Gwendariff with 7 and close behind her is Kerryfair Misty Rose with 6 wins. Alolfrana All I Ask, Copper’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Gwendariff Bachelor Boy and Gwendariff Don't Look Back Aoibheanne all have 2 BPIB awards. Bardonhill McIntosh Red at Montgreenan, Bardonhill Pacific Rose, Bridgella's Jubilee Queen, Casachared Constance Tally of Aubanjon, Copper’s Get Off My Cloud, Covarney Mini Minx, Ferasheen Hot Proper Tea, Gwendariff Purple Reign at Finix, Joaodaws Rainbows End, Kerryfair Misty Love, Kristesha A Thousand Kisses, Quensha People Keep Talking of Harelferg, Quensha Thinking Out Loud at Bransett, Riverbrue Ophelia Bobby, Riverbrue Ophelia Love Glennara, Riverbrue Ophelia Winky, and Thendara Big Love all have 1 win. *** In veterans, Sh Ch Gwendariff Lily the Pink has most wins with 7 followed by Lochlorien True Detective is Andley and Sh Ch Lanstara Spring Moon who have 5. Strathmead Huckleberry Of Settesoli has 4 wins. With 3 wins each are Sh Ch Alolfrana Hotter Than U'know JW ShCEx, Sh Ch Riverbrue Alchemist Amidst Kespas JW and Sh Ch Bardonhill Eternal Flame Among Amberlight JW. Pawsword Paperback Writer For Corphin VW and Sandstream Welcome Breeze JW Sh.CM have 2 BVIB awards. The following all have 1 win; Gwendariff Lucy's Legacy, Staratlanta Elliott ShCM VW, Swiftlark First Knight VW and Swiftlark Spellbinder. 14 of the dog CC winners and 13 of the bitches all have Int Ch/Sh Ch Copper's Magiska Under in their immediate pedigrees. He was bred by Camilla Ostman in Sweden in June 2009 and won 4 CCs and 5 RCCs in the U.K. His sire was Dubliner Tiger Woods ex Int Ch/Sh Ch Copper's Magical Bubble. He sired numerous Show Champions, CC winners and RCC winners both here and on the continent. Of course, I can’t mention Muscot without also talking about his remarkable grandsire, Sh Ch Caskeys Concept At Aoibheanne J.W. (Caskeys Persuader From Amberlight ex Sh Ch Dunnygask Ginger Spice At Caskeys) who was bred by Chris and Bob Heron in May 2004 and owned and campaigned by Eva Ciechonska. He won 16 CCs and 9 RCCs and was Top Sire in Irish for five consecutive years and Top Sire all breeds from 2011 to 2013. He is third Top Sire in Irish Setters behind Sh Ch Kerryfair Night Fever and Sh Ch Caspians Intrepid. Of the few CC winners this year that don’t have Muscot in the pedigree several have Louis. I know that both Camilla and Eva are justly and immensely proud of their lasting contribution to the breed; few can match them. |
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