SOUTHEND-ON-SEA CANINE SOCIETY

19th May 2007

Judge: Miss Leila Tarabad

6 - 11 years (9,4a)

1. Samantha Reeve (Newfoundland) I only judged this young lady 6 months ago and commented then that with some practice she could become a very good handler. Well, what can I say? She most definitely took my comments on board and has already become a brilliant little handler! She gave a very smart performance which is no easy task with this huge breed! Smooth performance from beginning to end, stood her dog well, showed the teeth correctly and moved her dog beautifully making it extremely easy to assess movement. She made good use of the ring and remained calm even when her dog didn't want to cooperate. Samantha just beat the older handler in the challenge as she used the whole ring when moving and then presented such a difficult breed so well. BJH. Well Done.

2. Rhianna Brooks (Papillon) Well dressed handler, complimenting her dog. Table work was good and these two really did work as a partnership. Moved quite well but just needs to make sure her lines are as straight as possible as well as the golden rule - don't get between the Judge and the dog!! Unfortunately this pushed her down to 2nd place today.

3. Brydee-Mae Mills (Bulldog) I had no ages in the catalogue but this young lady was certainly very near the bottom of the age group. Her performance with this breed was very good for such a young handler. Her dog was stood correctly, moved at the right pace and she constantly talked to her dog which is something I like to see. Now she just needs to work on learning and remembering all the patterns that she'll need in the future.

12 - 16 years

Only 3 were present in this class but all were of the same high standard. Throughout the class I had to look for the tiniest of faults in order to split them. Well done all of you.

1. Keturah Grace Sesstein (Tibetan Spaniel) Very polite and quiet handler who really showed her dog to an advantage. Perfect table work, noticing when I moved her dogs leg. Executed the patterns perfectly, using my feet as a guide to the direction I wanted her to move in. She free stood her dog
quickly and correctly after moving and most importantly of all she smiled throughout the whole class which was so nice to see! She would have won in the challenge if she had made use of the lovely big ring we had when she moved for the final time.

2. Brydie Y Welch ( Whippet) Very, very close to 1. Again a very smart handler with a similar style to 1. Completed everything I asked for correctly, showed the teeth well and completed the patterns I asked for very neatly. Just missed out on 1st place by not setting her dog up quite as quickly and neatly as 1 after moving.

3. Nathan Hardy (Scottish Terrier) This young man was really unlucky to have 1 and 2 in his class today as he was yet another wonderful young handler. Everything I asked for was completed correctly in a calm and gentle manner. The one thing that let him down was his presentation of his dog after moving which was slightly off to the side meaning I had to move to see the dog in profile. Still, a very good performance.
 

17 + years

I Can't believe how high the standard of handling has become in the adult classes over the last few years. All of you were very good, the only thing I picked up on was that the attention to detail needed in handling classes was not always present. Things such as neat leads, straight lines and proper corners are a must in the handling ring. Go and watch the juniors a few times and you'll see what I mean!!

1. Mrs Daisy Toublic (ESS) Lovely display of handling. Neat performance completing everything perfectly as well as always having her dog stood correctly when I glanced round the ring. In the end she was the easy winner and seemed to know all the tricks of the trade so was hard to fault.

2. Marie Law (Rough Collie) Another very good handler who like 1 knew how to get the best out of her dog. Stood and moved her dog correctly throughout the class although nearer the end the dog decided to stop cooperating! She dealt with this calmly as I would expect. Overall I just felt her performance wasn't quite as slick as 1 but still a very accomplished handler.

3. Malcolm Smith (dobermann) I was told after judging that this gentleman was a newcomer to handling classes, this being the case his smart performance was even more commendable. Overall he did a very good job, standing his dog to perfection and using the whole ring to move his dog. The main faults that pushed him to 3rd were getting in between the dog and judge and a dangling lead! Also try to remember that it is your dog the judge wants to see do the triangle and not the handler! Well done.

Webmaster: thanks to Leila for sending this critique in.

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