Best of Breed - Ch Lymrey Roger

Best Opposite Sex - Ch Winnie of Pascavale

Dogs - Mr B. Mitchell
The Northern CKCS Club's invitation to judge dogs at its 2003 championship show arrived out of the blue two years ago. I've had a long time to look forward to the day and was not disappointed, despite the 50 hours spent on planes in order to get here and home again.
In an age when so many venues for dog shows are atmosphere-challenged, Wentworth Castle in Yorkshire proved the perfect antithesis. That so many people were able to stay in and around the grounds added immeasurably to the weekend, which included another successful Amice Pitt Rally.
I personally have a number of people to thank; Ian and Pauline Sidgwick have been never-endingly helpful with my queries over the two years. Brain and Audrey Townsend couldn't have been kinder, Michael Boothroyd too. I am grateful to Lynn Crane and Sue Smith who were splendid stewards. Thank you all, and to my fellow judges Susan Burgess and R William Taylor.
I was asked many times how I feel the breed has progressed since I lived here, bearing in mind I last awarded Cavalier CCs in England 18 years ago. Of course there are excellent dogs to be seen, and I'm sure there would be others in their league who were not at this show.
In the context of what I am about to say its important to remember that the three best males I've seen were McBounce, Caption and The Gigolo - in other words I have a fairly narrow view of what is ideal type. All were scopy, with outstanding forehands, outlines and attitude. All looked great going round the ring. And the icing on the cake was their glorious rich colour. Remember too I have not seen the dogs here for the last 13 years. You have, to a large extent, lost the scopiness that comes from and flows on from a beautifully made forehand. It helps create the sort of outline that for me is an essential component to ideal breed type. At the same time I didn't notice any appreciable improvements in backends; maybe less hockiness and pinning in behind when moving were fairly common.
I discovered many lovely quality, masculine heads. Different types of course. Most temperaments were typical; perhaps a few felt the heat and showed less well than they might otherwise have done. no more than a handful were nervous.
Though my best dog is picture book marked, I do not have a problem with heavier markings. From what I could see, many share my view. However, what such markings reveal is the extent to which depth of colour has been lost. Few could have been described as rich chestnut. Rather a shame, I think, even if it is only of cosmetic significance.
I do believe the breed is at an important crossroads in this country, made more vital by the fact that many breeders in other parts of the world look to Britain as an ongoing source of fresh blood. So changes wrought here will tend to have a greater influence world-wide than they would if effected elsewhere. I feel obliged to say, in a concerned rather than critical fashion, that from what I saw today I am not confident that you will take the right turn at the crossroads. which is only one person's view, I readily acknowledge. Never the less it is one formed as a result of having been involved with Cavaliers for many years and after a long time away from the UK, giving a probably unique perspective.
You may dismiss my views or you may stop and look at where you are and consider where to go next. You may still decide on a course that is already set. The important consideration is to set forth towards a goal, not just flounder hither and yon, which I feel is probably true for many just now.
Set goals cannot be achieved if every top winner along the way is allowed to be a distraction; if every kennel that achieves more than ordinary success is seen as a model even when their type - if they have one - does not correspond with your own original goal. In short, make up your mind what you want, based on study and observation, then stick to your guns. Good luck on your journey.

Dog CC and Best in Show: Ch Lymrey Roger
RCC: Charwelton Valentine
Best Puppy Dog: Ricksbury Royal Hero

Veteran:
1. Toraylac Rooney Rivers (Best Veteran)
2. Ch Charlottetown Trueman. Elegant shapely blenheims, both have outstanding forehands and outlines, meaning even at nearly 12 and 7 ½ they kept their shape on the move.
3. Ch Homerbrent Expression

Minor Puppy:
1. Ricksbury Royal Hero. (BPD & RBPIS) classy heavily marked blenheim, glorious head and expression, superbly balanced at this age, preformed with great aplomb for a minor. Everything fitted. A star of the future.
2. Whitecroft Wellington. Beautifully balanced, I liked all round and predict a good future. Winner more forward at this stage.
3. Sanickro Rodrigo

Puppy:
1. Keyingham Branwell. Exceptional moving, rich coloured blenheim, stunning outline, quality head.
2. Charlottetown Barman. By the same owner's veteran so easy to see where the lovely forehand comes from, one of the outstanding fronts of the day. Compact, showy and well marked.
3. Craigowl Billy Elliott

Junior:
1. Maibee A Touch Lucky. Blenheim, one of the few with the sort of forehand, shape and outline that for me is a so important part of ideal type. Absolutely right for age. With ordinary luck could finish a great one.
2. Loranka's Jubilation. Vibrant coloured blenheim, so eye catching and complete, looked a picture standing, balanced, quality masculine head, has attitude. Winner's exceptional forehand decided.
3. Volney Super Sleuth

Novice:
1.Narayden Kind of Magic Ruby, clinched this place on outline, shape, temperament and on the move. Will look even better with more finish.
2.Keyingham Zacharias Blenheim, forward for age, lovely temperament. Winner's performance decided.
3.Avalcier Alessandro

Graduate:
1.Craigowl Valparaiso. Showy smallish blenheim, went with great panache. Quality head of its type.
2. Montcolly Antony . Won his place going round, in good form and coat, very showy.
3. Nevhills Roosevelt JW.

Post Graduate:
1. Rosirius Serge. Ruby, in lovely form, kept his outline, beautiful eye.
2. Rosemonde Voyager at Kringleholme. Blenheim, apologies my notes are indecipherable.
3. Chamanic Sentinel at Chesalatina

Limit:
1. Avalcier Atomic Blaze. Shapely blenheim, well coated and marked, a picture going round.
2. Greenhow Glissade with Arenkote. Handsome tri, similar type, liked both. Winner scored narrowly in front.
3. Karabel Kavanagh

Black & Tan:
1. Rabymar Waltzing Darkie. Lovely type and quality, liked on the move, kept outline, such a lovely head, good colour.
2. Chalmray Royal Sovereign of Behabre. Liked his balance, attitude and colour. Winners' exceptional head scored though this one's is good.
3. Leelyn Rug Rat.

Ruby:
1. Loranka's Starstealer This handler's lucky day - or later! Glamorous and showy, in good coat, lovely head, liked on the move, great quality.
2. Rosirius Serge. see Post Grad
3. Granasil Winter Flame

Blenheim:
1. Pascavale Ryan Compact, quality dog, great showman, good going round. Quality head of its type. I liked him.
2. Milkeyn Sheer Dynamite at Stonepit. Loved his type, outline and colour. Winner's attitude decided.
3. Cachevell Rock DJ

Tricolour:
1. Lusanjo Rocket at Charlottetown. Beautifully made, well marked, showed well even in the heat.
2. Craigowl Jarrow. Less mature and finished but liked his shape, temperament and showmanship.
3. Loranka's Majestic Moments

Breeders:
1. Daraste Reflection of Love. Elegant well made blenheim, loved his shape, quality and verve.
2. Spindlepoint Chancellor JW. Less mature, well marked blenheim, great showman. Very promising for the future.
3. Lyncraeg Daydream JW

Open:
1. Ch Lymrey Roger. CC & BIS, the complete picture. All quality well marked blenheim, gorgeous expression in masculine, quality head. Balanced and classy, looked great going round, loved his reach and attitude. The dog on form.
2. Charwelton Valentine. RCC, divine headed, rich coloured blenheim, balanced, the last word in quality, in superb coat, I loved him.
3. Ch Loranka's Celebration.

Bitches
CC Ch Winnie of Pascavale
RCC Brasingamen Swan Lake
BP Keyingham Aphra

Bitches: Mr R W Taylor
A perfect summer day, a venue that overlooked the superb Yorkshire countryside & an interesting entry of some excellent Cavalier bitches. One could not wish for better combinations & it was a most enjoyable day amongst a breed I have long admired. My thanks to the committee for their welcoming hospitality. There was a large entry which I assume is typical of the quality now being shown throughout the UK. Since I last judged I though soundness had improved. There were some very good fronts & hindquarters, while still a problem to contend with, in many instances had better drive than seen in the past What troubled me most was tail carriage. The Standard clearly states they should never be carried much above the level of the back. This description gives little leeway, it firmly states "never". I am afraid a great many breeders, exhibitors & judges must be turning a blind eye to this problem & a serious problem it is for a Cavalier that carries his tail too high. It not only has an incorrect tail carriage but this fault spoils balance & outline. As a breeder, albeit of another breed, I have found to maintain virtues is not easy but to eliminate faults is the most difficult. In breeding, faults can become dominant. Such is the case with tail set & carriage. If something isn't done the high tail carriage will be so prevalent it will be considered the norm & to newcomers perhaps a virtue

Veteran:
1. Bowfort High Stakes of Scotlass. Blen, nice type and went well. Lacking her fringing today.
2. Lillico Moonlight Serenade of Spindlepoint. Blen, nicely balanced. Not so pleasing in eye as 1 and a little slack in topline.
3. Craebeck Satin Rose.

Minor Puppy:
1.Keyingham Aphra. Nicely broken blen which filled my eye completely, lovely head, eye and expression, short coupled, lovely topline, good tailset and carriage, moved beautifully with flowing action, just 6 months but with such a degree of style and confidence she went on to be BP
2. Toraylac By Design. Blen, lovely outline with excellent front and rear action, so well balanced, pretty head, mouth needs to settle
3. Asmena Kassia

Puppy:
1.Rosemonde Indulgence. Blen, Lovely type & size, dark expressive eyes, good outline with good tail set & carriage, moved nicely.
2. Maibee Delores. Blen, truly lovely head with possibly a fuller muzzle than 1 but not so steady in hind action. Excellent tail carriage, very little between these two.
3. Allrena Alexis

Junior:
1. Shandego Annabella. Nicely broken blen which won on her outline & strength in movement.
2. Craigowl Struddel. Scored over 1 in head & muzzle, good pigment, nice size. Not quite the outline of 1.
3. Roydwood Restart.

Novice:
1. Pascavale Krystle. Blen with lovely head, good expressive eye, dark pigmentation, well balanced, good tail set & carriage, lovely way of going.
2. Tasset Sweet Affair. Blen, good type, good tail set & carriage, solid body & good bone, nice moving. Not quite the outline of 1.
3. Forever Romance of Whitecroft.

Graduate:
1. Brasingamen Swan Lake. Blen with the desire lozenge, very pretty head & muzzle, nicely proportioned, kept her good outline on the move, excellent tail carriage, in very good condition, smart & impressive. Took the RCC.
2. Peakdowns Caprice. Smaller but very attractive blen, good head, sound & outgoing, nice mover. Could have a shade more leg.
3. Keyingham Raphaela

Post Graduate:
1. Lymrey Sweet Dream. Lovely blen but not in her best of clothes, but won this class on her lovely head. Good expressive eye, excellent pigmentation, wonderful outline, good firm body. Bit high tail carriage.
2. Ricksbury Royal Temptation. Blen, could have been better broken on body, good outline and type, very stylish.
3. Clockpelters Claudia

Limit:
1. Dress Rehearsal at Korraines. Well broken blen, lovely size & balance, pretty head, very good mover. Needs to put on more weight.
2. Lorphil Lucianna. Blenheim, goes around the ring with a great deal of style, nice size& type, well balanced, sound mover. Rather heavily marked.
3. Clockpelters Yvette

Black & Tan:
1. Leelyn Essence. Very nice outline with level topline, moved out nicely & sound coming & going, lacked a bit in coat.
2. Amantra Chambermaid. Lovely head & expression, firm body, moved well.
3. Ebonleigh Ruffian.

Ruby:
1. Twoacres Carol Singer. Nice type, moved very well, pretty head, full muzzle, moved with a bit of style.
2. Korraines Amilia of Dialstone. Smaller but pretty, nice head, good eye & expression. Not quite the muzzle of 1 nor the style.
3. Leelyn Goldilocks.

Blenheim:
1 Homerbrent Intrigue. Nicely broken blen with lozenge, lovely body, nice head, dark expressive eyes, moved freely.
2. Ch Ricksbury Royal Embrace. Nicely broken blen, had a degree of style about her. Not so pretty in head nor so developed in body. Good type & size.
3.Choya in a Whisper

Tricolour:
1. Maibee Santa Monica. In excellent condition, lovely head, good eye, firm body. Needs to tighten a bit in quarters & tail carriage a bit high.
2. Hadrian Sheer Magic. Not quite the spanking condition nor the outline of 1, nice size & lovely coat.

Breeders:
1. Ch Ricksbury Royal Addiction Blen in lovely body condition, good front action, superb head, beautiful skull & full muzzle. Could be firmer in quarters & tail carriage too high.
2. Rosemonde Vanity. Nicely broken blen, firm sound mover, full of herself. 3. Carolus Angelina

Open:
1. Ch Winnie of Pascavale. Won quite handily on her superb outline, excellent movement, correct tail set & carriage, good layback of shoulder, excellent quarters, nice size & balance. Colour could be better broken up but a bitch of rare quality. CC winner although I considered this bitch had it over the dog on tail carriage & hindquarters, I agreed with my co-judge to make the dog BOB on his more generous head & density of coat.
2. Ch Ricksbury Royal Temptress. The head of this blen is beautiful, lovely skull, wide muzzle, dark expressive eyes & she has the desire lozenge which adds considerably in the overall appreciation of a good head. In good coat & furnishings but not the outline nor topline of 1.
3. Avalcier Elle.