My thanks to the SKC for their hospitality and the opportunity to judge at their show, to my expert stewards, Melissa and Michaela, and to all the exhibitors for bringing their lovely hounds for me to examine and for accepting my decisions in such a sportsmanlike manner.

I was delighted with my winners, finding many that were just what I was looking for – most of my notes contained the word Beautiful. I particularly liked my bitch line-up. On the downside I found a lot more level bites than last time, a few were in very unfit condition, some dirty teeth and one was matted.

Minor Puppy Dog (3.1 abs)

2 very promising puppies.

1st - Nisbet’s Finix Treig Tall and rangy black and cream 8 month old puppy. This young boy really excels on the move with long, raking strides, a very confident and stylish young Afghan. BPIB.

2nd – O’Neill’s Saxonmill Midnight Mayhem of Terstine 6 month old black and brindle baby, more compact than 1, beautiful head and expression, very well angulated front, good spring of rib, ring tail, moved well.

Puppy Dog (1.0abs)

1st Forrester, Robertson & Richardson’s Finix Sunart Handsome, black and tan, happy puppy, balanced angulation, good shape but a bit high at the rear as only to be expected in a puppy. Lovely dark eyes and good expression.

Junior Dog (3, 1 abs)

1st Winters’ Ashahni Azzam with Tokando I really liked this young dog from his particularly beautiful head, dark, correctly shaped eyes, exotic expression and beard, well off for bone, substance and body condition, good depth of chest and well sprung ribs, level top-line, correct fallaway and finished with a ring tail. Lovely movement, he challenged well against the older dogs to be in the last few considered for the RCC.

2nd Lloyd’s Krishan Hugo Crazy This Self Masked Cream dog was presented immaculately in super hard muscle condition, he is bigger and heavier all through than 1, attractive head and expression with good pigmentation. Level top-line, prominent hip bones but not the rear angulation of the winner.

Yearling Dog (5, 1 Abs)

4 very different and handsome young dogs in this class.

1st Robertson & Richardson’s Hubblebub Hephaestus An attractive black masked shaded gold who moved so very well. Masculine head, good eye shape and expression, well angulated quarters, good depth of chest, still to drop a little at rear, good fallaway. Shown in good body condition with rock hard muscle tone.

2nd McCormack’s Sitana Jaranwala at Tulak JW Profusely coated black masked cream, presented immaculately. A balanced hound he is well proportioned throughout, pleasing head and expression.

3rd Mulvale & Hedge’s Azymsands Elusive Dream

Graduate Dog (2, 1 abs)

1st Pearce’s Azymsands Bewitched Art Black masked Gold dog, balanced angulation, level top-line, ring tail, good bone, muscle tone and body condition, huge coat beautifully presented.

Post Graduate Dog (7, 2 abs)

1st Traversari & Greenwood’s Altside Red Hot N Blu My notes for this dog start with Gorgeous!!!! Exotic looking blue dog with the silkiest coat, long lean head with the most arrogant expression, long neck, balanced angles, he moved so very well – an elegant hound. RCC.

2nd Brooks, Smith & Wisniewski’s Bichoux Back to My Roots at Bondor Classic, black masked gold who arrived late to the class but settled quickly and performed well. Stunning head with well shaped eye, if a little light in colour, a very beautiful hound.

3rd O’Donnell’s Javidan Dirty Little Secret

Limit Dog (8, 4 abs)

1st Oakley & Nielsen’s Abica’s Lucky ‘Levin to Freecloud And now for something really rather special… this impressive black dog’s movement is just what I was looking for – great reach and drive, covering the ground effortlessly with the minimum of strides. A flowing shape from the top of his beautiful head to his ring tail. I particularly loved his head and expression, his eyes are perfect – a word I’ve never used in a critique before. CC & BOB.

2nd Moore’s Cloudside Warpaint An eye-catching elegant, brindle dog, presented a lovely shape standing and moved out strongly. Seriously considered for the RCC.

3rd Gilbert’s Firos Caperdonich JW

Open Dog (6, 2 abs)

1st Greechan’s CHI CH Rashid Ebn Hugo Von Haussman at Myhalston (imp) This very likeable hound is a real showman. A compact black and brindle, beautiful silky coat of the correct texture, a balanced head with good eye shape and colour, long neck, level top-line he really strode out well on the move.

2nd Cogill & Lloyd’s Krishan Soloman My Junior winner from 2 years ago he is maturing into a very impressive hound, great shape, well angulated quarters, powerful movement – he spoke to my heart.

3rd O’Neill’s CH Amudarya Shekinah at Terstine

Minor Puppy Bitch (3, 1 abs)

1st Devaney’s Saxonmill Midnight Magic What a cutie! This one has been here before…. At just 6 months old she moved and showed like a pro but no automaton - the occasional leap in the air and the twinkle in her wicked expression showed her personality. A well balanced black and cream puppy, rather lovely feminine head, ring tail, shown in good body and hard muscle condition. BPB.

2nd Dunn’s Finix Lindores at Gylemuir Tall black and cream 8 month old bitch, moved well and soundly, nice head and expression hiding under her huge top knot.


Junior Bitch (4, 0 abs)

The first 2 are beautiful moving bitches – hard to choose between them.

1st Parsell & Beanland’s Ashahni Alarah at Harlextan This young black and cream bitch has the most lovely head and feminine expression, her front is very well angulated with a great return of upper arm, tucked well under her deep chest. Balanced rear angulation with low hocks, moved so well.

2nd Metcalfe’s Cubanba Northern Star I had to ask what her colour was but her owner didn’t know either. Shaded, grizzle, gold, cream covers it but doesn’t begin to do it justice. Although slightly heavier all through than one and not quite the angulation she is still a feminine bitch who really moves with drive, purpose and style.

3rd Harding’s Ashahni Ataya

Yearling Bitch (5, 1abs)

1st Small’s Cloudside Glitterstorm JW Rangy brindle bitch who moves so very, very well, she has a gorgeous head with a long lean foreface and arrogant expression, long neck into a flowing top line, shown in super fit condition. Rather lovely. RCC.

2nd Virgo’s Altside In Black Silk For Sumahari JW This glamorous black bitch really appealed, her beautifully silky coat was presented immaculately and she moved out strongly, not the front angulation of one but a lovely bitch shown in full bloom.

3rd Mulvale’s & Hedge’s Azymsands A Silken Spell

Graduate Bitch ( 3,0abs)

1st Howard’s Altside Blu For You Blue, ultra feminine bitch, a real glamour girl and so very elegant, I really liked her. Great shape standing and moved out very well, should mature into a very lovely bitch.

2nd Harris & Day’s Khorinyas Narooma With Portianja another one I really liked and another one I had to ask what her colour was – it’s very unusual and I won’t even make the attempt!! A very pretty girl who showed so very well, lovely head, eye and expression, sound movement, really strode out, perhaps her tail is set a bit high for me.

3rd Black & Howie’s Chinzae’s Midnight Affair

Post Graduate Bitch (7, 1 abs)

A class with a wide variety of top-lines.

1st O’Donnell’s Javidan Keep the Faith A feminine brindle bitch with a coat to the floor who proves that it is possible to have a huge coat on an Afghan and yet have her in super fit condition! She has a gorgeous head, arrogant expression and a beard. She presented a lovely picture both standing and on the move.

2nd Renner & Roper’s Gezancol Gabrielle Elegant, black masked gold bitch with a rich red saddle. Shorter, more compact bitch who moved out well at the rear, long neck and ring tail, her top-line occasionally dipped on the move and when standing.

3rd Forrester’s Hubblebub Morrigan By Punkly

Limit Bitch (9, 1abs)

The first 2 were both very glamorous ladies.

1st Moore, Rodgers & Freer’s Cloudside Wardance at Montravia A quality bitch I loved her head, shape and overall balance both standing and on the move. Very feminine and presented immaculately, good reach of neck, leading to a well angulated front, level top-line and balanced rear angulation. My only criticism would be that I’d prefer a better ring on her tail. A beauty and really rather special, she shone today. CC.

2nd Thompson & Twentyman’s Drishaun D’Jemima A glamorous red of a classic type there is so much to like about her, her beautiful head, her flowing shape, her elegant movement. Into the last few to challenge for the RCC.

3rd Lloyd & Webster’s Arratrabella’s Stormy Desire

Open Bitch (9, 1 abs)

A difficult class to judge – a variety of types here, some very lovely bitches.

1st Traversari & Greenwood’s Altside Bimbo Bagins Really liked this dark brindle bitch – she is such a good mover. Like the rest of her litter mates here today she is very elegant, a real show girl and has the most lovely correct coat texture. Presented in good body condition and hard muscle tone.

2nd Robertson & Richardson’s Khamis Kaleidoscope at Hubblebub Attractive feminine, domino brindle with a striking black saddle. She also moved out well, using the minimum number of strides to cover the ground. She is a lovely shape and was presented in good muscle tone but could have carried a bit more weight.

3rd Appleby, Minchin & Edward’s Valkor Who’s That Girl

Claire Hindley (Judge)