It’s only the 2nd time I’ve gone to Builth Wells for a show, it’s not that far, but it takes nearly 4 hours! We booked a lovely AirBnB about 30 minutes from the Showground to make it easier to get to in the morning. It was a really cold, wind day, struggled to believe it’s August!!
Mac was up first in Veteran dog, which he won. No other placings for him in the dog challenge or veteran challenge.
Seren was in a big Limit class of 20, and the wind through the marquee spooked her, but she took a respectable Very Highly Commended.
Mac’s critique from Dalmatian Club of Scotland, judge Lauran Wheaton Veteran dog 2nd Wallington’s Sophtspot In The Zone – He pushed the first dog all the way, it wasn’t a straightforward decision. This boy is also handsome with a masculine head. Well balanced, nicely boned, good feet, nice depth and width of chest. He has good angulation at the back end and is well muscled all through. Just couldn’t quite match the length of stride of that first dog but he was messing around of the move, so I do wonder what might have happened if he really got his head down and concentrated on the job.
Thank you for such a positive and detailed critique, Lauren.
Following on from the shows at Kelso we booked to stay in a cottage in Lanton. Dave and I split the holiday between there and the Lakes as my parents haven’t been so good.
We did get a bit of time as a family. We did a bit of sight seeing, found some lovely walks and had a cracking lunch – Lottie was not happy that she missed out on that!!
Walk across moorlandWalk along the Tweed
Seren absolutely loves paddling and nose diving for stones.
After all that fun the Spots went south to Naini’s for the rest of the week, where they enjoyed mooching around.
Judge Lee Cox Seren Limit The largest class of the day and some really good bitches in it. 1: Ailsadot Astral Lyra (Mrs C Wallington). b/s of obvious quality and superb for type, delightful head and expression, well off for substance but totally feminine. Moved out precisely. In great condition. With the average amount of luck, she should be a title holder, her handler just needs to believe in her more.
Lottie Good Citizen 2: Kaytoni Isn’t She Lovely at Ailsadot (Mrs C Wallington), b/s who presents a pleasing picture stacked but was just a little erratic on the move today which spoilt her chances.
Lottie’s critique did make me smile – she kangarooed round the ring, she was so happy!!
I love a joint champ show, and it’s a first for us, going to Kelso, and for the first SUBA champ show. Yesterday we took Mac and Seren his time, although Lottie did join us later to say hi to people!
We started with SUBA, with Mac in Veteran, I still can’t believe he’s a veteran! Under judge, Ann Ingram he got a respectable 2nd.
Ann was very quick with her critique for him …
Veteran
WALLINGTON, Mrs C Sophtspot In The Zone Another well balanced male of nice size, just not quite the head of the winner. Good reach of neck,deep chest, well defined withers, and strong hindquarters, very positive on the move
Seren got placed reserve in the her Limit class, the largest class of the day again.
In the Dalmatian Club of Scotland champ show, under Lauren Wheaton, Mac again got 2nd in Veteran and Seren got Reserve in Limit, again the largest class of the day.
After all that showing the Spots deserved a walk, and we found a lovely forest walk not far from Kelso, perfect for letting them stretch their legs.
Ellie and I went to Boston Champ show with Seren and Lottie. We’ve never been to the Rutland showground so it was a bit of an adventure for us, and started with a quick stop for breakfast at MacDonalds. Ellie does love a hash brown or two 🤣. It was a lovely day and we got to catch up with both Mac and Lottie’s breeders, and have a chat with showing friends.
Seren was first up in the biggest class of the day, Limit, with 12 in the ring. She was a fidget digit, very happy and a bit wriggly, but moved well. Because she was so fidgety it was a big shock to get first place! She was much better in the challenge but didn’t get picked.
Seren ❤️
Lottie was in the Good Citizen class, just 3 entries. She was very happy and a little excited to be in the ring, maybe a bit too happy! She insisted on kissing the judge several times, but moved well, and did settle down. She got placed second so I was over the moon, especially after all the excited wriggling!
Lottie
The girls are very different at shows. Seren likes to settle in her covered crate and just chill. Lottie likes to have her head out of her crate, watch the world go by and plead for treats 🤣 she will settle down, a little reluctantly if we insist.
We only took Seren to Scotland in May. After the Scottish Kennel Club Champ shows successes, she did well at DoCS champ show, getting 2nd in a strong Post Graduate class, her last Post Graduate class.
Seren’s critique from judge K Nathan – PG 2 Wallington’s Ailsadot Astral Lyra black, attractively marked with a really feminine and balanced head, flat skull and length of muzzle, dark soft expression, well made in body and sound and stylish.
Seren is currently in season so she is having a holiday in the Lakes. She is loving mooching, playing with her frisbee and Mac’s ball. The weather is being kind to us, lots of sunshine. She’s got about another week to go before she returns home. I’m jealous that I can’t spend it with her, but I have to work!
Seren’s critique from the May SKC show. Thank you to judge Jenny Wright for such a comprehensive, honest and helpful critique. I always find showing Seren more stressful than Lottie or Mac, maybe it’s because she’s my homebred baby, and my pick of the litter, but I love what she does in the ring and how she works. The future is going to be bright for my little feral star 🌟❤️
Limit Bitch Entries 12 0 Abs. 1st.and RBCC Wallington’s Ailsadot Astral Lyra. 3 years, black spotted. This bitch has lovely breed type with nothing exaggerated about her. Has substance and overall, in a fit muscular condition. (I liked her size and weight proportions). Good head shape with a dark eye, correct ear placement and carries her ears well. With dark pigmented black spots on a pure white background, she is eye catching. This bitch excels in front assembly, with a well angulated front and a good layback of shoulder. A level, strong, powerful back, with a strong loin and breadth to loin, transitioning into strong, rounded hindquarters, a correct tail set and carriage completes the picture. Where she comes into her own is on the move. Absolutely reaches and drives with propulsion, keeping a level top line and a rhythmic action. I considered her for top honours, she truly looks good in profile action, moves effortlessly around the ring. (Just some constructive criticism, handler appeared a little nervous and needs to relax, has a habit of ‘pillaring’ the bitch’s neck, which pushes her whole front assembly back and detracts from a clean outline, this can easily be remedied with practice. This is a fine example of the breed; she will stand naturally if allowed to without the above that spoils her overall outline).
Sophtspot in the Zone x Kaytoni Isn’t She Lovely at Ailsadot (Mac and Lottie)
We took the Spots to a secure field, as Mac is super sensitive to smells at the moment so has to be on a lead for walks. The secure field allows him to mooch around rather than going where I am.
The pond/puddle has become a squelchy mud pond, and all 3 loved going for a paddle. They ended up with black legs!!
They all had fun, tried out the agility equipment and played. seren found a stick and it made her day 🤣
Ailsadot Dalmatians 