About Irish Setter Championship Shows
.
These days, there are only two Irish Setter Specialty Clubs in Australia:
The Irish Setter Club of Victoria
&
The Irish Setter Association of NSW
with their respective Championship (Specialty) Shows being held only once a year.
The Irish Setter Club of Victoria enjoys the largest membership and it is acknowledged that its Championship Show is the most prestigious as it is host to the largest assembly of irish setters in Australia.
Serious breeders and exhibitors have it earmarked as their ‘go to’ show on their calendar as it boasts competition from many of the States around the Country.
This fixture is respected and utilised as the vehicle for showcasing of new baby puppies as well as the current top show dogs. It is also ideal for the opportunity of viewing specimens for prospective stud purposes.
It is generally considered the Victorian championship show is the equivalent of the American or Canadian ‘National’ championship show.
However, both the Irish Setter Club of Victoria and The Irish Setter Association of NSW endeavour to appoint breed specialty judges, usually from overseas.
Due to Irish Setter Clubs folding in various States of Australia we are now unable to conduct “National” Irish Setter Club Shows. However, as per ANKC requirements, previously a few “National” status show were held and hosted .
Below is a critique of 5th IRISH SETTER NATIONAL judged by Mr Alistair Watt (Shenanigan & Owner of the famous Sh Ch Cornevon Lovebird)
5TH IRISH SETTER NATIONAL SPECIALTY SHOW
JUDGED BY MR ALISTAIR R WATT (SCOTLAND)
In South Australia on 6TH JUNE 1998
BABY PUPPY DOG – 4 exhibited
1 BRODRUGGAN VINTAGE HEART (J Stewart)
Nicely balanced youngster whose head has still to break, proportionate body at present, strong hindquarters, free stylish mover for such a baby.
2 BRODRUGGAN BRAVE HEART (J Stewart)
Similar in type to winner, strong in body, kind eye and expression, good bone and feet, good forearm and shoulder lay back. Not quite so together as #1 on the move.
3 EIREANNMADA READY SET GO (Middleton/Browne/Paine)
5 Months youngster with kind eye and expression, good bone and tight feet, slightly longer cast than those above and note quite so together on the move.
MINOR PUPPY DOG – 2 exhibited
1 MARTINRIDGE UPTO NO GOOD (P & B Martin)
Presents a striking overall outline; good neck, shoulders, front & feet. Very good hind angulation and tailset although his tail carriage could be better.
2 EIREANNMADA ALL HALLOWS (Browne)
Taller, stronger boned dog all through with lots still to develop. Rich dark coat, deep chest, happy mover, but I would prefer him shorter in loin.
PUPPY DOG – 2 exhibited
1 EIREANNMADA ODE TO AUTUMN (IID) (Browne)
11 Months – quite mature for age. Good overall shape and balance. Strong neck, deep chest, lovely turn of stifle and hock, good tailset. Needs to settle on the move.
2 MARTINRIDGE U LIKE IT (P & B Martin)
Not so forward as the winner. Nice body shape and strong hindquarters, out a bit at elbows which shows on the move. Lots of changes still to come.
JUNIOR DOG – 5 exhibited
1 CH GWYNDARA TOTAL ECLIPSE (AI) (T & L Jones)
Nicely balanced dog overall, but handler tends to overstretch him which detracts from his natural shape. Pleasant head, good neck, shoulders, nice topline. Good hind angulation. Moved freely, carrying his tail well.
2 TAHTAN CRIMSON TIDE (J Stewart)
Close up to winner. Good overall balance, kind eye with correct raised eyebrows. Good bone. Not quite so well angulated in hindquarters as the winner; he nonetheless moved freely.
3 EIREANNMADA WINDSOR (Browne)
Taller and stronger all through than those above. Good neck and shoulders, straight topline and correct tail set and well shaped hindquarters.
INTERMEDIATE DOG – 4 exhibited
1 CH TULLANE FIERY THYME (Paine/Chamberlain)
Lovely big flashy boy shown in full coat and excellent condition. I particularly liked his overall balance, well shaped hindquarters, good tailset and correct neck and shoulders. I found his head stronger than I prefer.
2 AMHURST BALLYBROGUE (M & M Thomas)
Totally different in type to winner. Lovely head with the true Irish expression, kind eyes and raised brows. Strong deep chested body, well muscled loins, good bone and feet. Not the hind angulation of the winner.
3 CH EIREANNMADA RHETORIC (S & M Briggs)
Upstanding flashy boy shown in full coat. Somewhat upright in shoulder and not so well set on tail as both dogs above. Handled well.
AUSTRALIAN BRED DOG – 6 exhibited
1 CH EIREANNMADA TIMES SQUARE (B Martin)
Upstanding dog of nice overall shape and balance. Pleasant head, kind dark eye, not overdone in bone, strong body, well angulated hindquarters. Moved well.
2 BRECHINS BY APPOINTMENT (McFarlane)
Heavier, stronger dog – for me a little overdone in bone, but he is a nice
dog to go over; deep chest, well sprung ribs, well set on tail, shown in beautiful coat and condition.
3 EIREANNMADA TOP GUN (AI) (Smith & Browne)
Very pleasing in head and expression. Strong neck, not so good in shoulders as the winner, but a nicely balanced dog overall; rich dark coat, went well but would prefer a better bend of stifle.
OPEN DOG – 10 exhibited
1 GR CH MARTINRIDGE KISS OF FIRE (Martin & Winch)
Lovely medium sized dog, not overdone in any way. Delightful head with correct Irish wistful expression, correct upperarm and shoulder layback, strong body, muscular loins, good hind angulation; went well.
2 CH EIREANNMADA AT HARVARD (Cleland & Browne)
Taller, stronger dog all through. Presents a nice clean cut outline. Good head with low set ears, good bone, well angulated hindquarters. Moved freely.
3 GR CH EIREANNMADA AT TULANE (Paine & Browne)
For me, tall upstanding dark coated who is slightly exaggerated. Glamorous type with eye catching topline, but would prefer better upperarm and shoulder layback. In wonderful bloom.
4 CH AMHURST BALLYRUSKIN (M & M Thomas)
Balanced unexaggerated type without the glamour of those above. Pleasing in head, eye expression, shoulders, depth of chest and spring of rib. Could do with better hind angulation.
VETERAN DOG – 1 exhibited
1 CH MARIGOLD BY THE WAY (P & B Martin)
Couldn’t believe he is nearly 12. Really steady and free on the move for his age. Good overall shape and balance, very nice head – even more dignified with his grey. True front. I liked him.
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BABY PUPPY BITCH – 3 exhibited
1 AMHURST SINGING THE MOON (M & M Thomas)
Lovely baby, sweet head, good neck, shoulders front & feet. Most promising.
2 EIREANNMADA RED TULIP (Browne)
Longer cast than the winner. Good shoulders, neck and shape to the hindquarters.
3 SHANILLA BANARAR (Poland)
Real baby with lots of development to come. Sweet head and eye. Happy temperament.
MINOR PUPPY BITCH – 2 exhibited
1 MARTINRIDGE UFORIA (S & B Martin)
Not happy on this floor, but well handled by her young pilot. When she settled showed nice conformation and balance and carried her tail well on the move.
2 MARTINRIDGE UPON A CLOUD (P & B Martin)
Again not happy in this environment, good body properties and shape to her hindquarters. Unsettled on the move.
PUPPY BITCH – 2 exhibited
1 MARTINRIDGE TANTALIZING (P & B Martin)
Well developed bitch puppy who moved particularly well. Nice overall shape, strong body, good loins and finish to croup.
2 TULLANE THESIS BY DESIGN ( Middleton & Paine)
Nice head, eye & expression. The right amount of bone, not quite as good at tail set or in movement as the winner.
JUNIOR BITCH – 4 exhibited
1 TAHTAN HOLLYWOOD GIRL (J Stewart)
Nicely balanced bitch built on elegant lines, pleasant head, deep through the body and loins, nice shape to hindquarters, went well.
2 GWYNDARA HEARTS ON FIRE (AI) (Jones)
Stronger head than I like in a bitch and not so good as winner in shoulder angulation. Nice topline, good stifles and hocks, not happy with this environment.
3 BAIYAI DEMERERA (AI) (Baiyai Knls)
I fell in love with her head and sweet expression, unfortunately her sloppy movement cost her a higher place. However she is a nice overall type shown in good order.
INTERMEDIATE BITCH – 6 exhibited
1 QUAILMOOR CAPUCCI (Malloy)
Lovely elegant medium sized bitch shown in lovely condition and moving well with some purpose. Pleasant head, proportionate body, arched loins, well carried tail. I was impressed.
2 CH QUAILMOOR CARLA ZAMPATTI (Paine & Hamilton)
Another bitch of pleasing overall size and shape. Good neck and shoulders, bone OK, nice topline and finish at croup. Shown in lovely bloom and moving freely.
3 BRODRUGGAN FUR ELISE (Stewart)
Good sound bitch of good shape and balance, true front, deep chest and well sprung ribs, good tail set and carriage.
AUSTRALIAN BRED BITCH – 7 exhibited
1 CH BRECHINS BLISS (McFarlane)
Nice balance, size and type. Shown in lovely coat and condition. Pleasant head, clean shoulders, true in front, gently sloping topline, good ribs. Went well.
2 CH IRISHACRE SUMMER SHEELIN (Stewart)
Lovely shaped bitch with beautiful head, raised brows giving the kindest expression, excellent neck, layback of shoulder, topline and tailset. Strong, powerful hindquarters. Pity she was not in her best coat and condition.
3 CH RHIANNON RUBY ROSE (Baker)
Tallish bitch but nicely balance, clean over neck and shoulders, good outline and croup. Would prefer a better bend of stifle.
OPEN BITCH – 8 exhibited
1 CH WARAGANA FIELDS O FIRE (Blowers)
Lovely balanced bitch of the highest quality. Her appeal grew on me as the class progressed. Most exquisite head, eye and expression, good upper arm and shoulders, gently sloping topline, unexaggerated all through. Moved very well.
2 CH MARTINRIDGE PURE DELIGHT (Martin & Winch)
Taller, rangier type, but also built on the right lines. Appealing head, eye and gentle expression, strong body and well shaped hindquarters, went satisfactorily.
3 CH BRECHINS REMEMBER ME (McFarlane)
Similar to #2 in overall shape and breed type, pleasant head, true front, presents a lovely overall picture, shown in excellent condition. Close up to #2.
4 CH TARAGLEN BETTINA (Best)
Another tallish bitch shown in full coat and excellent condition. Failed in expression to those above. Presents and overall picture of balance and quality.
VETERAN BITCH – 3 exhibited
1 CH MARIGOLD MAXIMUM DELIGHT (Browne)
Moving so very freely as all 3 did in this lovely class. Striking outline, lovely angulation to stifles and hocks, well set on tail, sweet head and expression, shown in beautiful order.
2 CH QUAILMOOR KISS ME KATE (Hamilton & Briggs)
Loved her refined head and melting expression. Presents a lovely balanced picture overall. Nice steady movement, not quite the condition of the winner.
3 CH TORAIDHE TREASURE TROVE (Scott)
Absolutely dripping in coat. Another bitch of top quality, impressive shape overall, hind head and lovely dark expressive eye. Went well.
BEST IN SHOW : Open Bitch, CH WARAGANA FIELDS O FIRE
RUNNER UP IN SHOW: Open Dog GR CH MARTINRIDGE KISS O FIRE
