It is a bright and beautiful morning, and it is the 3rd day of October, 2004, and we're at the great Montgomery County Kennel Club, held at the Ambler Campus, Temple University, in Ambler, Pennsylvania. I'm Anne Rogers Clark, your judge, and looking forward today to judging a very handsome sized entry of Cairn Terriers, for the Cairn Terrier Club of America. I will be making comments on 1-4 in every class, plus comments on the non-regular classes and best of breed, and best of opposite sex. Looking forward to the day, it promises to be a beautiful one weather wise. We will be starting judging at 8:30 this morning. My stewards are Joe Marcum, Betty Marcum, William Grourke, and Lois Tubbs. I'm sure that they will help me in running an orderly ring.
The first class is the puppy dog class, 6-9 months, there are 8 entered, and they're all present. Well, it's a brisk morning and these 6-9 puppies came in here, and they had a ball. Most of them on they're back legs most of the time. The class was won by a wheaten cairn, (Glenmore Mr. Sandman), very well off for a lot of things that make cairns- correct balance and proportion, dark eye, used himself well on the move. I'd have preferred a harsher coat on him, but his time will come. Second to a dog of very similar make, shape and type, (Kalil Cool Casey from Bull Run), the dog in second has a lovely head, eye and ear; good hard coat, needs to be trained to perform willingly, rather than bouncing around the ring so much, but he's a puppy with a lot going for him. The first two are wheatens. Third is a baby puppy, a brindle puppy, (Wildeoaks Wean of Skye). Lovely topline, lovely head, eye and ear. The two placed above him were more mature. And the fourth puppy, (Cherbo Bag of Trix Shalar), fits well in here. All of these puppies look at you well. The fourth puppy is a dark brindle, well off for balance and proportion. Nice type, lovely keen look. It was a cute class, they were full of themselves, and they had a good time!
The second class is 9-12 puppies, there are 7 entered, one is a move up, number 25, and 137 has been marked absent. First in this 9-12 class is a wheaten dog in hard coat, (Camelot's Oliver Twist), lovely balance and proportion, I prefer this balance and proportion of slightly longer as he is; got a keen eye, lovely way of going, very handsome. Second is a brindle dog, (Paragon's Harmony Of Steele), little different type than the dog that won the class, he's put down in beautiful condition, he's quite sound, he shows well, I prefer the balance and proportion of the winning dog. The third dog, (Whiteoak Highlander's Acorn), fits well in here; though he's quite young and needs some training. He's a brindle dog, quite sound on the move, good coming and going and from the side. And the fourth dog, (Cairncroft Atta Boy Arnie), fits well in here; he's a wheaten dog, well off for many things. Nice dog to go over, in beautiful condition, could use his tail with a little bit more presence then he did in this class.
The 12-18 class is a class of 7 and they are all here. Nice kind of a class, won by this wheaten dog, (Runrigs Blackwatch Piper), that stands in first. He's well off for the things that make him a good cairn terrier: he's correct balance and proportion for me, particularly in the length of back, set on and carriage of tail, he's got a beautiful head, eye and ear, good expression, sound behind and lo and behold he's got a front that he uses well! Second is a brindle dog, (Dornoch Jesse James at Whetstone), very, very handsomely presented, good moving dog, the dog that won the class had the advantage in front, make, shape and movement. The third dog, (Paragon Soldier at Daybreak), is a little shorter dog than I like, but he demanded his place in line. Beautiful head, eye and ear, lovely deportment in the ring, I preferred the back length of the two placed above him. And the fourth dog, (Dornoch Wild Bill Cody), fits well in here, he's also a brindle. Dark eye, good head, eye and ear, very good on the move, particularly from the side. Carries his tail correctly and has a good topline. Interesting class. We have a bred by exhibitor class of 10, one is a move up to best of breed, number 127, and number 145 appears to be absent. Two wheaten dogs, (Cairncroft Stillwater Ripple and Cobblestone Consigliere Di Capo), have made a stand against each other in here; both dogs are very, very handsome. Correct balance and proportion, good coats, good head, eyes and expression. The winning dog, (Cairncroft Stillwater Ripple), had the definite advantage in this class in front, but they are two very handsome dogs, and could change on any given day. The third dog, (Kyleakin Travelin'Soldier), is a brindle dog, lovely head, eye and expression. The two dogs above him were a little more the balance and proportion that I like in the breed. And the fourth dog, (Gremlins On The Rocks), fits well in here; he's positive in topline, very keen expression. It was a nice class.
The American bred dog of one appears to be absent.
There are seven entered in my open dog class. Interesting class, this open dog class; I seem to be inoculated with the wheaten syndrome today, as another wheaten dog, (Cairwick Liam Kirn), with black points, dark eyes and a decent front has won this class. Also has the balance and proportion that I particularly care for. Second, (Marquee Git-A-Long Tharrbarr), is another wheaten. The dog that won the class was just a trifle more my balance and proportion, and had the advantage in front, make, shape and movement. Third is another wheaten, (Grasmere Da Silver Bow), cute face, carried his tail correctly, hard topline; and fourth, (Ft Dix's Dallas), is a brindle, who deserved his place in here. And the wheatens this morning have triumphed for winners, (Cairncroft Stillwater Ripple), and reserve, (Cobblestone Consigliere Di Capo). Nice pair- first and second in the bred by exhibitor class was close. They're handsome type, wonderful show dogs, they have good fronts, they're in lovely condition, they have head, eye and expression. I was very happy to have them both.
First class in bitches is the puppy bitch class, 6-9 months, number 40 appears to be absent, leaving us with 12. Nice big, well filled class of puppy bitches that had no more idea of putting their tails up and keeping their tails up than flying to the moon! But, by the time that they all stood around, and learned to come in to a circle, and look at each other, we've got these four lovely bitches that we placed in the class. First, (Mcerin Irish Creme), to a red brindle bitch in lovely condition, lovely head, eye and ear, quite sound, good front, made the most of herself. Second, (Argyle Intriguing Legacy), to a bitch very similar in make, shape and stamp, and color; the winning bitch had the advantage in front. Third, (Kaitlen Caborun Mocha Java), to a brindle bitch; the two bitches ahead of her had the advantage in body development. She's a cute bitch, with a good head, eye and ear, and fourth, (Chriscay's Stars 'N Stripes), to another brindle bitch- same cute head, eye and ear, the three bitches ahead of her had the advantage in being just a little bit more positive with their tail sets and carriages.
Next class is the 9-12 puppy bitch class, and we have 13 entered with three absent; 18, 76 and 112. This leaves us with 10 bitches. Results of the 9-12 puppy bitch class- first to a brindle, (Glenmore Lil Debbie). A hard coated little bitch, good topline, good tailset and carriage. Nice front and shoulder, cute face and expression; dark eye. Second to a brindle bitch, (Boldoak's Berry Pie); a little bit more mature in body than the winning bitch. The winning bitch had the advantage in showmanship and movement, but this is a lovely type bitch. The third bitch, (Runrigs Bewitched), fits well in here; she's a wheaten bitch. The two bitches ahead of her had the advantage in set on, placement and carriage of tail, but this is a handsome bitch in hard coat and quite sound. The fourth bitch, (Criffel Top's My Sona Be Good), is a brindle bitch that is mature, well presented, and fit well in here.
The next class is a 12-18 month bitch class with 8 bitches, 3 have not picked up; 118, 86 and 56. The nice red bitch, (Maverston Dutch Treat), with black points and a high opinion of herself; the proper length and proper set on of tail and in good coat and condition has won this class. Second, (Aftonshire's Laura of Meadow Glen), a grey brindle bitch, similar in make and shape; the bitch that won the class had the advantage in hardness of coat and attention to showmanship the entire time she was in the ring. The third bitch, (Bullrun's Gemeni's Star), is a wheaten bitch with some things to like about her, but she refused to use her tail properly on the go around. The fourth bitch, (Paragon's Artistry Reflected), just wasn't having any today. She's cute, she's sound, but she wasn't going to show properly.
We have 18 entered in the bred by exhibitor bitch class; three are absent, 94 and 106, and a move up. This was a well filled class, full of a bunch of nice bitches. No two looked alike, but you get days like that. Won by a hard coated, very positive grey brindle bitch, (Ohioville Tally). Cute head, eye and ear, good topline, nice front; used herself well on the move and demanded her win. Second, (Cairnhavn's Lady In Red), to a red brindle bitch; a little different type than the winning bitch- a little shorter in back. I prefer the balance and proportion of the winning bitch, but this was a bitch with use and purpose. Third, (Fairlane's I Love Lucy), is a wheaten bitch with black points, very immature, not quite in coat, very positive on the move, good topline and tailset. The fourth bitch, (Thistlegate Silver Lining), was a little grey brindle bitch, not in the best of coats, but because of her positive attribures; topline, good shoulder, good tailset- set on and carriage of tail and way of moving, demanded her place in this huge class.
The American bred class is of three bitches, one is absent, number 116. An 8 months old wheaten puppy bitch, (Bull Run Under the Mistletoe), has just won the American bred class after having a little lead breaking lesson and a nice grey brindle lady, (Talloaks Brianna Starr), is second.
Thirteen entered, six absent, numbers 32, 78, 98, 140, 176, and 180. This is the open bitch class- what's left of it! The end of this open bitch class saw this little dark wheaten or red brindle bitch, (Wildeoaks Angel in Disguise), with hard coat and a very pretty head, eye and expression winning the class. The red bitch that sits second, (Syryn Bearclan's Mysd'meanor), failed in the last go round to get her tail up where it belonged, and I prefer the balance and proportion of the bitch winning the class. The little grey bitch, (Rose Croft Quick Step), that's in third, had she had a little bit more training and a little bit more leg hair could have been higher in the class. She's hard coated, she's full of herself, and embarrassed her owner by making a mistake in the ring. And the wheaten bitch, (Kingdoms Little Miss Honky Tonk), fits well in here; however the bitches placed ahead of her were more pleasing in carriage and tail set. Winners bitch, (Ohioville Tally), to the winner of the bred by class, number 26 on her tailset, her driving off her hocks, keeping a lovely topline, very hard condition, hard coat condition. Reserve to the winner of the open class, (Wildeoaks Angel in Disguise). A lovely pair of bitches.
The next class to be judged is the veteran dog class, seven plus years. There are four entered, one is absent, number 115. Three very handsome elder gentlemen, all in lovely condition, number 19, (Ch. McCairn's Sir Sam Steele), is the winner; very handsome dog.
I enjoyed sorting out the specials class, there were a lot of dogs and bitches to admire. The winner, (Ch. Dogwood Pentium Processor), a grey brindle dog in perfect coat, length and texture; correct body condition carried the day. Good proportion, handsome head and eye, moved and showed very well. He was very hard pressed by the winners dog. The deciding factor was maturity of coat and body. The person that was showing the winner's dog had done her homework! The dog was put down and trained to perfection! Loose lead, steady, tail up young stallion. I am sure we will see more of him. The opposite sex bitch, (Ch. Maverston Mama Cass), was lovely and the three doing their lap of honor made an arresting sight. Well deserved awards of merit were the three dogs numbers 135, (Ch. Romany's Django Reinhardt), 45, (Ch. Moonshadow's Just Jack), and 11, (Ch. Whetstone Celtic Fire); and the four bitches, numbers 128,(Ch. Brehannon Banachag of Codbank), 88, (Ch. Ashwood Kenric's American Idol), 26, (Ohioville Tally), and 16, (Ch. Kaatskill's Buffalo Belle).
I thank the club for my invitation to judge and the exhibitors and their dogs that made my day a pleasure. Let's also mention the weather that was perfect.
--Anne Rodgers Clark
corrections to: R. Kevin Durkin