Judge's Critique
(Jacqueline Keaton Carswell (USA)
What a great honor it was to have been invited to judge the IW club of SA 10th Anniversary Championship Show and I thank the committee and club members for inviting me. My daughter Morgan Carswell and kennel partner Patty Newgard were able to accompany me on this spectacular journey to your country.
Mel Jones, Vincent Janonis, John and Sue Lewington, Michelle Thompson, Chris Michelmore, Sara Baker and the rest of the club members treated us with such kindness and consideration. They chauffeured us everywhere, showed us the sights, took us to the Cleland Wildlife Park and Roche Museum. We had a lovely lunch both at the show and after the Wildlife Park. Mel made sure we had extra Australian treats to take home with us. The hospitality was phenomenal and much appreciated.
I would be remiss if I did not thank Richard Stevens my ring steward. Richard guided me
expertly through the different procedures and kept the ring smoothly flowing. Ingrid Matschke, photographer extraordinaire, made a special folder for me to use for my critique. And of course, Chris and Doug Wiley who made the trip from New Zealand to visit us along with the rest of their friends. This was such a special time and will always be cherished.
A special thank you to the exhibitors who brought their hounds for my evaluation, some
traveling for many hours across country. As I shared with you all at the show, I feel the Breed is in good hands with the Australian breeders. You have no major issues that stand out to me that would need attention. I would continue to breed for size without losing the greyhound shape our breed needs. I know it doesn’t sound right to use the words “too big”, but you will notice the loss of bladed bone, flat ears, hanging lips and cumbersome movement when you breed for height alone. They need the shape and musculature to hunt and chase and then the balance of size to dispatch once they arrive. Struggling to move wastes energy, this is why the feet need to stay close to ground and the front legs don’t need to be flipping and flopping at the pastern when moving towards you nor does the rear need to be bicycling. I have always called our breed the “Goldilocks” breed. Not to big, not too small, they need to be just right.
Best In Show #8 CH. Tirowen Cimiterre Came from the Australian Bred Dog class. This
young wheaten boy was beautifully balanced with a strong topline, correct croup and tail set, good underline. He moved cleanly coming and going with easy, ground covering movement on the side. He kept his feet close to the ground with no wasted effort and maintained his shape when moving. He had a good return of upper arm, with shoulder angulation that balanced with his rear angulation. He had a strong arched neck that blended all into his shoulder. Proper spring of rib and depth of chest, well ribbed back. Good bone, and coat, nice tight catlike feet. Masculine head, good eye. Ears would rose but at times, would let them hang a bit. It was a hot day and this dog never let down. No doubt in my mind this boy could move and hunt all day and still have what it takes to dispatch his quarry in the end. He was well muscled and presented in hard condition. It was my honor to have my hands on him this day and to award him best in show. I see a promising future for this boy. Was later awarded Best Interstate Exhibit.
Runner Up in Show #26 Wulfgar Arabella At Whirlaway When she settled in, she moved
easily and effortlessly on the side movement with good reach and drive, which ultimately won her her class and the Bitch CC. Her feet stayed close to the ground. Strong bitch with a lovely return of upper arm. Well ribbed back with excellent spring of rib. Strong feminine head without being coarse. Her front angulation matched her rear angulation. Overall, well muscled and presented in hard condition.
Baby Puppy in Show #11 Whirlaway Mo Chroi Go Deo Baby girl moved cleanly coming and going. Her side movement was effortless, low to the ground with good reach and drive. Her topline even at this age was strong and kept it’s proper shape. Good croup angle and tail set. Good bone, nice eye and feminine head. To her credit, on her individual exam, a sign decided to blow around at the side of the ring. She kept her eye on it and like any good bitch, wanted to kill it. It’s not often we get to witness a temperament test of this nature but she handled it in stride and just as you’d expect a 5 month old bitch would. Nice to see that she is the daughter of the Runner up Best in Show.
Minor Puppy in Show #12 Wulfgar La Nina Sif Strong topline. Moved with balanced reach
and drive. Carried tail a bit high on the move. Excellent bite and harsh coat. Feminine head, good bite and ear.
Puppy in Show #13 Cumocroi Brace For Impact Light brindle bitch, moved cleanly going
away, had a little bit of pastern action coming towards you. Strong topline. Side movement easy and effortless with good reach and drive. Harsh coat, good bone, nicely rosed ear, lovely feminine head showing strength. Good underline. Plenty of leg underneath, good bone.
Junior in Show #15 Callarapaws The Chisels Ida Moved very clean coming and going.
Balanced front and rear on the side movement, yet a little high in the rear on the day. I suspect it’s age related. Overall good length of body, well ribbed back. Even though well muscled, she was presented in overweight condition on the day. Good bone. Dark eye, good bite, harsh coat.
Intermediate in Show #18 and Reserve Challenge Bitch CH. Sandrack Orfhlaith Nicely
balanced with ground covering reach and drive. Moved cleanly coming and going. Feminine head and strong neck blending into a good shoulder. Good strong topline. Correct underline. Good length of leg underneath.
State Bred in Show #3 CH. Cufiain Cleary Beautifully balanced strong male. Moved cleanly
on the fore and aft, single tracked and converged with no wasted motion. Nicely balanced on the side gait. Heavily bladed bone with no courseness. Strong topline, proper correct croup with correct tail set. Overall well muscled. Planes of the skull were correct, pleasing eye, good bite, harsh coat. Masculine hound. Even though balanced front and rear, I would have liked just a tad more length of upper arm and stifle to give him a more curvy outline.
Australian Bred in Show #8 CH. Tirowen Cimiterre and Challenge Dog Winner. See above
critique.
Open in Show #27 Whirlaway Frozen in Time at Greycroft Moved cleanly coming and
going. Was presented in hard muscle condition but unfortunately was a tad bit overweight. Excellent return of upper arm. Covers ground with little effort with good reach and drive. She had a very good topline with a strong loin and correct underline. Her abundance of coat rather camouflaged her otherwise correct outline.
Reserve Challenge Dog-#10 CH Whirlaway Time Traveller Lovely shaped mature big boy
with good hard muscle. Moved strongly going away, not quite as cleanly coming towards you as he toes out. Side movement was strong, balanced with good reach and drive. Excellent return of upper arm with good length that matched his bend of stifle. Nice deep chest with proper spring of rib. Another hound of superior quality, substance and balance.
Best Neuter in Show #32 Wulfgar Archie A dark brindle with lovely temperament. You could tell he loved his owner and was happy to be with everyone at the show. He moved along nicely and was presented in fit condition.
Baby Puppy Dog
1 (1) Whirlaway Misneach Go Deo- Baby showing showing a great deal of promise. Dark
brindle, good coat, good bite, very dark eye. Good muscle for his age, lovely return of upper arm, nice overall scope and outline. Moved along as expected for his age showing balanced movement front to rear. He did very well for his very first show.
Puppy Dog
1 (2) Cumocroi Blaze of Glory- Tall boy with plenty of leg underneath. Doesn’t know quite
where to put all the leg quite yet but it will come. I loved his over length. He was long
everywhere he should be, muzzle, upper arm, stifle, ribcage. Even though he has a long upper arm, I would have like to have seen it set under himself a bit more. This will most likely come with maturity. His side movement was good and he held his topline on the move. Excellent bone. Another youngster showing lots of potential.
State Bred Dog
1 (3) CH Cufiain Cleary-See critique above
2 (4) Hollymorn Allegro Callum-Moves cleanly coming and going. Was full of himself, carried tail a tad high on the day. Balanced reach and drive with proper length of leg underneath. Masculine head with strong muzzle. Good overall muscle. Lovely male who lacked the maturity of my first place dog on the day.
Australian Bred Dog
1 (8) CH. Tirowen Cimiterre-See critique above
2 (6) Callarapaws the Rookie-Wheaten boy moved cleanly on the fore and aft. Good bone. He was a little shorter coupled and moved high in the rear. His side movement was balanced but would have liked to have seen him extend himself a little more. Masculine head, good bite, dark eye, rosed ear, lovely strong neck. Was later awarded best male head.
Open Dog
1 (10) CH Whirlaway Time Traveller- See critique above
Baby Puppy Bitch
1 (11) Whirlaway mo Chroi Go Deo See critique above
Minor Puppy Bitch
1 (12) Wulfgar La Nina Sif See critique above
Puppy Bitch
1 (13) Cumocroi Brace For Impact See critique above
Junior Bitch
1 (15) Callarapaws The Chisels Ida See critique above
Intermediate Bitch
1 (18) CH. Sandrack Orfhlaith See critique above
2 (20) CH Tirowen Aurora-converges nicely and moves cleanly, balanced reach and drive. Well ribbed back, strong loin. Lovely strong yet feminine head, strong underjaw.
3 (17) CH Whirlaway Lady of the Lake at Creena-moved cleanly coming and going. Strong
topline, balanced movement, feminine head good length of strong neck. She was a bit
overweight which spoils the outline.
State Bred Bitch
1 (22) Creena Summer Lovin at Whirlaway- Lovely wheaten bitch with good dark pigment. Held her lovely shape on the move. Clean coming and going with proper, balanced reach on drive on the side. Strong topline and loin, balanced front to rear. Harsh coat. Feminine yet strong bitch.
2 (21) CH Creena Pretty in Pink Peggy- Very dark brindle bitch. Started out pacing but seemed to recover. She didn’t seem to want to reach out or push herself moving on they day. Strong head, great return of upper arm, harsh coat, good bone and substance. Loved the way her long strong neck blended into her shoulder. Well muscled.
Australian Bred Bitch
1 (26) Wulfgar Arabella at Whirlaway-See critique above.
2 (24) CH Cumocroi Autumn of Kenzie-Beautiful bitch with a lovely curvy outline. Moved true fore and aft. Balanced side movement with good reach and drive. Kept her correct topline on the move. Nicely muscled throughout. Proper flex in the pasterns. Seemed a little tired on the day. Feminine head, nice ear, good coat, correct bite, proper planes of the skull, lips fit tightly to mouth, strong without being coarse. Awarded best female head and best of the west.
3 (25) Wulfgar Tourner at Glenfels-Clean moving away, toes in a bit coming towards you. Good depth of chest, harsh coat, strong loin. Well balanced. Covers a lot of ground on the side movement.
Open Bitch Class
1 (27) Whirlaway Frozen in Time at Greycroft See critique above
2 (31) A20 CH C.I. B. Grand. CH. Tirowen Nymeria- Lovely angles front and rear. Moved
flawlessly. Kept her curvy outline on the move and topline remained strong. Feminine head, dark pigment. Presented in well muscled condition. Later went on to be awarded Best Gait.
3 (29) Grand CH Tirowen Cinder-Moved cleanly on the fore and aft. Keeps her feet close to the ground with balanced side movement. Topline holds strong on the move. Lovely curvy shape. Great length of neck. Decent return of upper arm.
4 (30) CH Nuala Caer Dallbeb-Moves cleanly coming and going. Would like to have seen a
shade more length of leg underneath. Balanced angles front and rear. Beautiful feminine head.
Best Gaited #31 A20 CH C.I. B. Grand. CH. Tirowen Nymeria This wheaten bitch never let
down. She moved cleanly coming and going with no wasted effort, no flipping of the pasterns and converged to mid line. Her feet stayed close to the ground with daisy cutter movement. This is a powerful moving bitch that could go all day and not tire. How nice to see that she was the litter mate to the Best in Show.