My thanks to the Officers and Committee of The Sealyham Terrier Club for their kind invitation to judge their Open Show and giving me the opportunity to spend a day with this wonderful breed. I thoroughly enjoyed the appointment; some top quality exhibits present and temperaments were all beyond reproach. A most welcoming committee plus a sporting group of exhibitors who were generous with their applause.

            PD (2,1)

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1. Bell’s Zippor Sleepy Sapphireson. What a great start to the day with this super 9 mth old pup! He ticked all the boxes for me and was a delight to go over. He is just right for size and excels for type and balance. Muscular neck of good length, firm level topline, ribs extend well back and developing well for age, good depth to chest, muscular loin and tail just right for both set and carriage. Masculine headpiece with good width of skull between his correctly set ears, moderate stop, dark expressive eyes, powerful jaw, excellent pigmentation and correct scissor bite. Well constructed all through with elbows held close to the body, standing on correct feet with nice thick pads and firm, muscular hindquarters which protrude behind the tail. Moving briskly with excellent drive from the rear and making the most of himself as he goes. Jacket of good texture. Very well handled. Reserve Best Dog, Reserve Best in Show and Best Puppy in Show. One with a very bright future ahead of him I am sure.

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           JD (4,2)

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1. Downie’s Eleighwater Axel. Two very different dogs challenged here with the winner being this 16 mth old who was the more together of the pair. He presented a nicely balanced outline with fairly long neck, level topline, pretty good ribbing, firm loin and tail correct for both set and carriage. Pleasing head and expression with slightly domed skull of good width between correctly set ears, good eyes for shape and colour, powerful jaw and correct dentition. Elbows could be held a little closer to the body but nothing untoward, nice firm rear with good turn of stifle, well muscled throughout and moving out well with plenty of drive from the rear. Well presented with good coat texture to coat.

 2. Lee’s Overbore Semi’s In Russia. 13 mth old with a super temperament but in need of a little more schooling to show the best of him. Carrying good bone and substance but a tad longer cast than the winner. Muscular neck of good length, level topline and tail set on well and of good carriage. Skull of good width, moderate stop, round eyes of good colour, nice dark pigmentation, powerful jaw and good dentition but ear set could be better. Moving well all through with good drive as he goes but more rear angulation than 1. Coat of good texture but not quite the presentation of winner. 

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             ND (1,0)

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1. Downie’s Eleighwater Axel

            PGD (2,0)​

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1. Bettis’ Ornella Lover Boy. Again two quite different dogs competed against each other in this class. This 19 mth old was the winner and for me won with some room to spare. Carrying good bone and substance, he appealed for overall type and presented a well balanced outline with thick neck of good length, firm topline, good depth to chest, ribs well sprung, muscular loin and tail correct for both set and carriage. Quality head with masculine expression; slightly domed skull with good width between his correctly set ears, dark round eyes, moderate stop, flat cheeks, powerful muzzle, good dentition and nice dark pigmentation. Pleasing angles both front and rear andPleasing angles both front and rear and moving out soundly with nice self carriage. Good texture to jacket and shown to advantage. 

2. Smith’s Dudwell Hickory Higgins at Grevenia (Imp Deu). 2 yr old who is more refined than the winner and somewhat longer cast. Neck of good length, level topline and tail of good set and carriage. Skull slightly narrower than that of the winner but ears set on well, moderate stop, good eyes for both shape and colour, dark pigmentation and correct scissor bite. I would like to see a tad more width of chest and overall he is slighter all through than preferred. He moves well on the go around, driving from the rear and using himself at all times.

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