GREAT DANE BREEDERS’ & OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
Saturday, 10th January, 2026
By Geoff Duffield
This club show had originally been booked for 16th November, but not for the first time with dog shows held at The Connexion at Ryton, the had been double booked. Put down to ‘inexperienced staff’, would you believe.
A lovely entry of 55, carried over from the November show, but Storm Goretti took its toll with a large number of absentees. Coventry escaped, but the car park was dangerously icy.
No matter, it was an excellent show with a lovely atmosphere throughout, and those Danes that did make it were of a very good quality. My grateful thanks to secretary Marie Duckworth and her committee for the appointment, and to my lovely steward, Ann Merwick for her excellent work and happy nature. This show was held in conjunction with the Great Dane Club.
My only concern was some rather dodgy dentition, but otherwise, the overall presentation and temperament, plus the sporting attitude by some very experienced exhibitors, made my day. I even won a limited edition print of a Harlequin, “Earl of Warwick” in the raffle.
DOGS: MP (7,5a) 1 White’s Kinnegans Last Kingdom (imp Ire), delightful fawn who started the day off well for me. Eye-
J (2,1) 1 Wright & Cranfield’s Zefather’s Two Faces with Irieusdane, homebred by latter owner from champion parents, lovely shaped fawn, a little unsettled but eventually got his act together, clean head, good dark eye, worried expression, good forelegs, deep brisket, elbows well tucked under, good topline, stifle and hocks, good feet, sound on move. Needs to build his confidence.
G (5,4) Pocock & Pavlou’s Bubba Von Pao Eberjager with Tamzdane (imp FCA), mantle of good proportions, nice head to handle, good skull and ears, strong muzzle, good eye and expression, would prefer tighter lids, well arched neck into good shoulder, strong forelegs, well sprung ribs, good stifle and let down of hocks, sound mover, laid back temperament.
O (2,1) 1 Chappell’s Ch Selmalda Jealous Guy (ai) five year old brindle, love this dog. Love him. But today, did nothing for me. We are all allowed an off day, and this was his. Well handled and presented as usual, did not disappoint on the move but despite his quality head god good dark eye, he showed his intelligent expression, but nothing else. Excellent overall make and shape, was rather lethargic in showmanship on the day. Have seen this boy outstrip all opponents, not only in the breed, but in groups etc. One of several who suffered on the slippery floor but this didn’t really deter him. Would hope to see him again.
Special Open Fawn (1) 1 Cranfield’s Ch Zefather’s Ralph Lauren JW ShCEx OSW, homebred four year old, another quality exhibit but this one was well interested to show off his merits, sets himself up really well to extol his virtues, impressive shape, Standard asks for ‘strong and elegance’, has this in abundance, head a pleasure to handle, balanced and proportionate, flat skull, very good ears, good stop, strong muzzle, good dark eye, most intelligent, dominant expression, all supported by his strong, well arched neck, muscular shoulders, deep brisket, ribs well sprung, strong forelegs, excellent feet, good length of back, good rear construction, good bend of stifle and let down of hock, muscular thighs, strong thrust from rear, sound and completely confident on the move. Superb temperament. BD & BOS in show.
Special Open Black (2,1) 1 Simpson’s Renescent Bewitched JW, homebred 15 months impressive boy, bristling with confidence, sets up unattended, lovely shape, impressive head properties, flat skull, excellent ears, good stop and muzzle, good dark eye, intelligent, friendly expression, well arched neck into well muscled shoulder, good depth of brisket, strong flat boned forelegs, excellent feet, good length of back and spring of rib, strong loin, good rear, thighs well muscled, hocks well let down, very sound on move, super temperament, RBD. Special Open Mantle (1) 1 Pocock & Pavlou’s Bubba Von Pao Eberjager with Tamzdane (imp FCA) winner of GD.
Bitches: MP (6,2a) Lovely class of youngsters. 1 Pocock’s Tamzdane Cherry Crumble, lovely homebred harlequin of great shape, outgoing personality, lovely head to handle, well developed, good skull and ears, strong muzzle, good stop, lovely eye, mischievous expression, good reach of neck, well muscled shoulder, deep brisket, strong straight forelegs, very good feet, ribs well sprung, strong in loin, good rear construction, good bend of stifle, strong straight hocks, really motors on the move with strong thrust from rear. BPB & BPIS; 2 Hugill’s Shalrace A Million Dreams, homebred harlequin, sets herself up well, clean head, good ears, pleasing eye, feminine expression, good depth of brisket, straight forelegs, good topline and spring of rib, good tuck up, short straight hocks, sound mover, lovely temperament; 3 Chappell’s Selmalda My Wild Flame, fawn bred from champion parents, deserves a mention as, though giving a bit away in development, has it all there, makes a lovely shape, super feminine expression, very sound on the move, delightful temperament.
P (4,2) 1 Pocock’s Lambrini A Girl Like Me at Tamzdane, year old mantle of lovely make and shape, pleasing head, good ears and skull, strong muzzle, good eye and expression, good depth of brisket and spring of rib, straight forelegs, good feet, good topline, strong loin, good tuck up, well bent stifles, good let down of hock, sound on the move, lovely temperament; 2 Laycock’s Juno Von Der Rhon (imp DEU), fawn just out of puppy, good shape, pleasing head, good mask, flat skull, good ears, strong muzzle, nice eye, feminine expression, good reach of neck and depth of brisket, straight forelegs, very good feet, good topline, firm loins, sound mover, nice temperament.
J (4,3) 1 Cranfield & Wright’s Zefather’s Gossip Girl with Irieusdane,14 month fawn bred from champion parents and maturing into nice exhibit, needs firmer handling, pleasing outline, clean head to handle, good flat skull and muzzle, good stop, dark eye, inquisitive expression, well arched neck, deep brisket, strong straight forelegs, good feet, in good body, strong loin, good turn of stifle, well let down hocks, very sound on move, nice temperament.
Y (4,2) 1 Cope & Thorn’s Fonblanque Fiona, harlequin, very good shape for ten months, pleasing well proportioned head, good ears, flat skull, good stop, strong muzzle, very good eye, feminine expression, well arched neck, good shoulder muscle, good depth of brisket and topline, well let down hocks, excellent feet, moved with confidence, lovely temperament; 2 Page’s Novavida Aesirs Conquest, homebred brindle, not as forward as 1, pleasing head, good eye, enquiring expression, good forelegs, ribs well sprung, moved a little close behind, very good temperament.
G (2) 1 Reed’s Wildflower Patch at Minezara, black of nice shape, pleasing head, good skull and ears, deep stop, strong muzzle, good eye, nice expression, well arched neck, good depth of brisket and spring of rib, strong forelegs, level topline, thighs well muscled, well let down hocks, moved soundly, nice expression; 2 Cranfield & Wright’s Zefather’s Gossip Girl with Irieusdane, winner of JB.
L (4,2) Merwick’s Taradanes Star Vision for Saalan, beautiful brindle rising four, always making the best of herself, lovely shape, handled to best advantage, quality head, balanced, proportionate and clean, good skull, strong muzzle, good stop, most beautiful dark eye, feminine expression, very good reach of neck, well muscled shoulder, good front and depth of brisket, strong straight forelegs, good feet, well sprung rib, strong loin, good topline, good rear conformation, well bend stifles, well let down hocks, impressive on move with good drive from rear, outgoing temperament, dignified. BB & BIS; 2 Reed’s Wildflower Patch at Minezara, winner of Graduate.
O (1,a). V (4,4a).
Special Open Harlequin (4,3) 1 Cope & Thorn’s Fonblanque Fiona, winner of Yearling.
Special Open Fawn (2,1) 1 Cranfield’s Ch Zefather’s Kind Of Magic JW, homebred from champion parents, very attractive shapely feminine girl with bags of ring presence, quality head, very good ears, flat skull, strong muzzle, good stop, delightful eye and expression, well arched neck into well muscled shoulder, good depth of brisket and spring of rib, straight forelegs, good topline, strong loin, good tuck up, good rear, bend of stifle, muscled thighs, let down of hock, very good feet, all combined to provide good thrust forward and sound, confident movement, lovely temperament. Special Open Black (1) 1 Reed’s Wildflower Patch at Minezara, winner of Graduate.
Special Open Brindle (2) 1 Merwick’s Taradanes Star Vision for Saalan, winner of Limit; 2 Page’s Novavida Aesirs Conquest, second in Yearling. Special Open Mantle (2,1) 1 Pocock’s Lambrini A Girl Like Me at Tamzdane, winner of Puppy. Special Open Blue (2) 1 Simpson’s Renescent Fugget About It, litter sister to RBD, homebred two year old, super feminine girl, quality head, lovely eye, beautiful expression, very good flat skull, good ears, well filled in below eyes, strong muzzle, good stop, well arched neck into good shoulder, strong forelegs, flat boned, very good feet, good depth of brisket and spring of rib, strong in loin, well bent stifle and developed thigh muscles, strong well let down hocks, good thrust from rear and sound on move demonstrating great confidence. Lovely temperament; 2 Ferguson’s Ir/Swiss Ch Renescent Too Hot To Handle for Chateaudain LUX JCH CW25 JW, litter sister to winner and RBD, much of the above applies to this quality bitch who clearly knows how to put herself about. Like 1 has a most delightful eye and expression, beautiful clean head to handle, body extremely well made, strong straight legs, good rear, effortless mover. Little to separate her from her sister.
BD Cranfield’s Ch Zefather’s Ralph Lauren JW ShCEx OSW; RBD Simpson’s Renescent Bewitched JW; BP White’s Kinnegans Last Kingdom (imp IRE).
BB Merwick’s Taradanes Star Vision for Saalan. RBB Simpson’s Renescent Fugget About It; BPB Pocock’s Tamzdane Cherry Crumble.
BOB & BIS Taradanes Star Vision for Saalan. RBOB & RBIS Ch Zefather’s Ralph Lauren JW ShCEx OSW. BPIS Tamzdane Cherry Crumble.
Geoff Duffield (judge).