SRRS Specialty
Kungalv
July 28th-29th, 2001

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We had a very warm welcome in Sweden and some excellent days in Stockholm before the show.

When I wrote previously I said I was expecting to see some good dogs and hoped to find a great one, I was not disappointed.  Decisions are often very close when there are many good ones and I was pleased to give the additional awards of CK and HP to quite a number.  The overall standard of males at the show was much higher than in England and there were some outstanding, however, we are quite strong in bitches in the UK our best would compare with those that were exhibited.

I saw excellent types with beautiful heads in both males and females.  Forelegs were exceptionally good with most having tight well knuckled feet, correct length and spring of pastern and good, straight well boned forelegs.  As in England, return of upper arm could be better on some, which had correspondingly hollow chests but all my winners were correct in this area.  There were some which had correct fill in of chest but were too narrow.  Necks were lovely and clean, mostly of good length, toplines on the whole strong.  Although most were rectangular in balance, which is correct, I found that in some the length came from a long loin and short rib cage.  In an endurance hound it is essential that the length of back is made up from deep capacious ribs which are carried well back on the spine (i.e. the thoratic vertebrae to which the ribs are attached are long which makes the ribs well-spaced).  The loin also has to be strong and of correct length to give the ridgeback its exceptional agility.  Most had the correct angle of pelvis giving correct tailsets, croups and hindquarters.  A few were a little high on the hock and some also could benefit from more width of first and second thigh. 

I was very impressed with the movement.  All my placed dogs moved in profile with long, easy strides which were low to the ground and were accurate coming and going.

 There were a number of excellent handlers but in general handling could be improved. In one particular class where handling was not good, one exhibit that could, perhaps, have been the winner was placed further down the line.  After moving her twice she still did not put in two proper strides, the handler blocking the view also.  Standing in the final line-up she was slouching with a dippy back and rear end high.  She was up against others, maybe not quite so good but handled to make the most of them and so had to pay the price.  After going to the expense of entering and travelling some distance to the show it is a shame if you not make the most of it. 

 The progeny and breeders classes were well handled and it was the first time I had seen the dogs arranged in this manner, it gave the judge an excellent perspective.  I shall certainly bring this idea back with me to the U.K.  Rex Ventnor’s Kennel was excellently presented and won this class on the overall consistency of type of their exhibits.

Particularly memorable in their classes were the dogs and bitches below. 

 There were two dogs from the open class Okensandens Invaluable Jazon, who I see is by GB.CH. NUCH. SUCH Champion Jespah Alekzandr of Janak the other Emoyeni’s Agreeable Mambazo, who is by GB.Ch. Int.CH. NordCH. FinCH. AW-00, KBHV-98-00,SV-99-00, Nor. Aakemba King Astor G’Fumo, both sires are well known to me, and it was a very close decision between the two. 

The Junior Bitch Class also had some excellent youngsters.  It was won by Rex Ventors Farrah at Nyassa who I understand is soon to come to England with Dumela Ma Eletsa we Chimanjika taking second.  Both shapely bitches who moved beautifully and show good potential for the future. 

The beautiful Open Bitch winner Emoyeni’s African Bohemia who took second best bitch overall.  Another free mover who well deserved her win in the class and the CAC. 

The veteran dogs, SV-95,FINV-99,NordV-00.Nord.Int.Uch.Nord.Uch.DKUch.SvCh Mohaget’s Mascot who was also the sire of the 2^nd best dog 

and Int.Nord.DkUCH.SV-94-98,NordV95p97-98, NV-96-97, FinV-98 Parih’s Ghali-M’Zungu, again a very close decision between two first class winners. 

 The veteran bitch Int.UCH. NordUCH. KBHV-96-97 EURW-97 Kalaharis Bubezi, who did not at first take my eye as she is not of the type that I normally like but her exceptional conformation and movement won her the class.  She has passed her qualities on to her progeny being the dam of a number of dogs mentioned here and she won a well deserved 2^nd in the progeny class. 

The Champion’s class was made up of well deserved Champions, Int.Norduch SV-97 NV-98 FINV-98-99 Bearstar Diamond Willow won but it was a very close decision between her a SuCH, Nuch, SV-00 Emoyeni’s Attractive Blondie, Diamond Willow scoring in maturity, forechest and return of upper arm. 

The Champion dogs were, if anything stronger.  There was, a favourite of mine GB.Ch. Int.CH. NordCH. FinCH. AW-00, KBHV-98-00,SV-99-00, Nor. Aakemba King Astor G’Fumo who has proved his worth not only in the showring but as a stud dog.  He was the sire of some exceptional youngsters, including some of the above mentioned, and he well deserved to win first in the Progeny Class.  It was particularly exciting to see his progeny as I have puppies by him in England.  Unfortunately Astor was not showing as I know he can and he was beaten by another outstanding dog, SuCH. Dumela Ra Diamond we Chimanjika who was undaunted by the hot weather and strode out well and moved never stopped showing. 

 The most memorable moment of my judging was when Ukukhanya Scout The Red Baron entered the ring.  He is a liver nosed dog, which I do not normally like, but then I have never seen one exhibiting the breed type and head of this one.  He is without doubt the best ridgeback I have seen.  Superb conformation, excellent temperament super head, excellent bone front and feet, excellent topline well ribbed back. 

His movement is outstanding, driving off well from strong well-muscled hindquarters with correct width between hocks.  In profile, effortless with great reach and drive, coming towards absolutely true.  This was all wrapped in a beautiful coat and colour.  He was an easy winner in his class and never stopped showing in the challenge with enthusiasm and style.  I was pleased to award this outstanding young dog Best in Show and also CAC, I hope to hear more of him in the future.

I would like to thank the Committee for inviting me to judge the show.  It was without doubt the most difficult but enjoyable judging that I have done so far.  I would also like to thank the exhibitors who sometimes travelled a long way to bring their dogs to be judged.  I hope that if you come to England that you will be welcomed as warmly as we were. 

Before I came to Sweden I was told that you had some good dogs and I will not have any hesitation in recommending people to go to Sweden to see good ridgebacks. 

Lindsey Barnes

Judge