Great Dane Club of Wales Open Show   

Tim Hutchings

Saturday 19 April 2025

Many thanks to the club for their very kind invitation and their excellent organisation and to the exhibitors for staying on after the championship show had concluded, supporting the open show with a very good entry that I enjoyed sorting out.     

Baby Puppy Dog (1,0)1st Wright & Cranfield’s Zefathers Two Faces with Irieusdane beautifully made baby of 5 months.  Great neck and shoulder.  Smooth through the withers.  Correct angulation behind and quarters building up nicely.  Super overall balance.  Lovely head of good length and balance with very appealing expression.  Moved soundly down and back and with lots of scope going around.  Most promising.  Best Baby Puppy.

Minor Puppy Dog (2,0)1st Patch & Nunn’s Roshanun Conquistador a real baby who took time to settle but I liked what I saw.  Well made overall with decent forehand construction and balanced angulation behind.  Presents a typical outline with smooth body lines and good reach of neck.  Makings of a good head which was of correct balance, decent length and free from exaggeration.  Moved with scope and accuracy.  

2nd Bliss’ Fontanarossa Mighty Marius over Stagbatch another scopey and promising baby who stood on good legs, has well laid shoulders and proper forechest.  Presents a typical outline in profile.  Moved well, particularly in profile where he covered lots of ground.  Rather too heavy in head.    

Puppy Dog (3,1)1st Tempest’s Adoreadane Yellowstone very handsome chap with excellent neck and shoulder.  Good balance of front and rear angulation.  Evident forechest.  Smooth through the withers.  Very good topline.  Presents a very typical, well proportioned outline when stacked.  Head typical, clean and long.  Good expression.  Great temperament and showmanship.  Went with enthusiasm and accuracy.  Very promising.  BPIS  2nd Patch & Nunn’s R Conquistador

Junior Dog (1,0)1st Tasker & Molloy’s Newarthdane Mars great temperament and really making the most of himself.  Very good through the neck and shoulder, cleanly fronted.  Correct depth of brisket.  Correct overall proportions.  Quarters will develop further with maturity and I would have appreciated a slightly firmer topline.  Head typey and of good length though with perhaps a shade too much stop.  Moved with good reach in front.  

Graduate Dog (1,0)1st Pendelton-Watkins’ Goldania’s King of Drago extremely well made, noble dog with great forechest and correct shoulder construction.  Excellent topline and underline.  Correct overall proportions, presenting a typical outline.  Cleanly fronted.  Could have been just a tad more up on his feet.  Head of correct length, well balanced and with good expression.  His excellent and complementary angulation front and rear made him a good, scopey mover in profile.  I liked him a lot.  Reserve Best Dog from a good line up of quality males.  

Limit Dog (4,2)1st Palmer’s Adoreadane Charlton handsome dog with great neck and shoulder.  Stands over himself well with evident forechest.  Smooth body lines and with a look of quality about him.  Correctly proportioned body.  Takes his time to settle and I would have preferred a slightly more positive topline.  Head of pleasing type and balance.  Moved soundly with plenty of forehand extension.    2nd Nunn’s Roshanun Volare not gleaming quite as much as the winner.  Decent overall type and good overall proportions.  Neck of good length.  Well made behind.  Would have preferred slightly better angulation in front.  Head of good type and length.  Slightly loose on the move down and back but went with purpose in profile.

Special Open Harlequin Dog (3,2)1st Nunn’s R Volare

Special Open Fawn Dog (1,0)1st Cranfield’s Ch Zefather’s Ralph Lauren top quality dog who shows his socks off, channelled so well by his handler.  Super overall proportions.  Well balanced angulation front and rear.  Stands on good legs, cleanly fronted and with good forechest.  Great topline, held firmly. Good length of neck which could perhaps flow into his withers at a slightly smoother angle, but that’s being picky.  This is a dog from the top drawer with a noble head of excellent type, length and balance with super expression.  Really enthusiastic, accurate and efficient mover.  Was delighted to have the opportunity of judging him again and he was a convincing Best in Show winner.      

Special Open Black Dog (3,1)1st Macdonald’s Zeus Nero von Adamantium of Ranaldane presents a typical outline with correct overall proportions.  Cleanly fronted though would benefit from a tad more shoulder angulation.  Head of good type and overall balance with very pleasing expression.  Absolutely smashing temperament.  Really made the most of himself on the move, covering the ground well.   

2nd Tasker & Molloy’s N Mars

Special Open Brindle Dog (1,0)1st Pendelton-Watkins’ G King of Drago

Open Dog (2,1)1st Searle’s Murrayvhayle My Main Man good sized male who stands over himself well with good forechest.  Correct overall proportions and when he settles he presents a typical outline.  Correct neck.  Stands on good legs.  Firm topline, held well.  Head is typical, well balanced and of good length and cleanness.  Could perhaps just be a tad stronger behind and he was carrying a small injury on the day which held him back a little on the move.     

Special Veteran Bitch (2,1)1st White’s Jutlander’s Are You Ready great overall make and shape, correct topline, very well balanced angulation front and back.  Good neck and shoulder.  Correct forechest and stands comfortably over herself.  Head of super type and balance with a great expression.  Really flowed on the move, going with accuracy and efficiency.  Motherhood might not have done wonders for her underline but her overall type and quality screamed through. Best Veteran

Baby Puppy Bitch (1,0)1st Cranfield & Wright’s Zefather’s Gossip Girl with Irieusdane a very promising baby just learning her trade.  I admired her overall proportions and her very balanced front and rear angulation.  Good through the neck and shoulder.  Correct depth of brisket.  Great bone and feet.  Super temperament.  Correct, well held topline.   Moved with purpose and accuracy.  When it came to the challenge for Best Baby I just felt that the dog shaded it in head qualities at this stage but I shall follow both their careers with interest.   

Minor Puppy Bitch (2,1)1st Kingsley’s Fontanarossa Fait Accompli for Dainoak only a baby but so promising in make, shape and balance.  Good overall proportions.  Good forehand and neck.  Firm topline and well made quarters.  Head of decent type and balance.  Typical expression.  Took her time to settle but went well when she collected herself.  A quality puppy who should have an interesting career.  

Puppy Bitch (3,1)1st White’s Jutlander’s Eat Your Heart Out top quality puppy full of breed type.  Very well made throughout with excellent neck and forehand.  Stands on very good legs.  Great overall balance and projecting a super outline.  Super show temperament.  Head of excellent type and very well balanced.  Typical expression and she melted me with her quizzical eyes.  Moved well from all angles and covered the ground effectively in profile.  Such a shame (but totally understandable) that she could not compete for higher honours later in the day due to the puppy group clashing.  Another one that I will follow with interest  2nd Page & Concannon’s Novavida Shieldmaiden another very exciting prospect but of a much slower maturing type.  Full of quality but taller and needs to drop back into herself which she will no doubt do as she matures.  Excellent topline.  Very appealing expression and typical head carried so well on a correct neck.  Moved out well and accurately.

Junior Bitch (4,1)1st Pendelton-Watkins’ Goldania’s Princess Etain very nicely made and well balanced with good overall proportions.  Presents a typical, smooth outline with correct and complementary front and rear angulation.  Cleanly fronted.  Correct depth of brisket.  Head of very good type, long and well balanced, carried on a correct neck.  Excellent expression.  Moved very soundly on the down and back and with great scope in profile.  I thought she was lovely and I was delighted to make her my best bitch and RBIS  2nd Page & Concannon’s Novavida When Birds Sing no disgrace to be second here and another with plenty of quality.  Needed time to settle but once she did, I saw a typical outline, good neck and shoulder and well made quarters.  Good bone and feet.  Head is typical with a pleasing expression.  Knows how to use herself on the move going with accuracy and style.    3rd Prazak-Dickson’s Kaallana Jawska Seraphina

Novice Bitch (2,0)1st White’s J Eat Your Heart Out  2nd Kingsley’s Simangaliso Spirit of Dainoak just six months and so promising.  Lovely overall make and shape with excellent neck and shoulder.  Correct topline.  Quarters very well made.  Presents a typical outline and is correctly proportioned. Has the makings of a typical head.  Moved with great purpose and scope with good extension in front and drive from behind.

Graduate Bitch (2,1)1st Prazak-Dickson’s K Jawska Seraphina had been 3rd in a good junior class.  Classy and elegant are two words I would apply to this young lady who presents a typical outline with good overall proportions in body.  Needs time to relax but when she did she evidenced a good neck, topline and quarters.  Head is of good type and she looks at you well.  Lovely temperament.  She will hopefully drop back into her forehand a bit more as she matures.  Went accurately down and back on the move but could have a bit more reach in forehand.  

Post Graduate Bitch (2,1)1st Prazak-Dickson’s K Jawska Seraphina

Limit Bitch 1st Baker’s Taradanes Shining Star over Preveli pleasing through the neck and shoulder with good angulation both in front and behind.  Good bone and feet.  Great temperament.  Typical head though could be a shade stronger in muzzle.  Very pleasing expression from lovely eyes.  Moved accurately enough but could have done with a bit more oomph. 2nd Kingsley’s Dainoak Forever In Blu Genes typical in outline with particularly good forehand.  Well made quarters.  Topline could be a bit more positive.  Head of decent type and balance.  Has plenty of scope on the move

Special Open Harlequin Bitch (3,1)1st Tempest’s Adoreadane License To Kill a tall, classy harlequin with great neck flowing in smoothly at the withers.  Great body lines throwing a typical outline.  Good overall proportions.  Balanced angulation front and back.  Typical head, well balanced and clean all through.  Pleasing expression.  Moved accurately from all angles would have just liked a tad more forehand extension but this is a top class Dane who was Reserve Best Bitch from a good line up.      2nd Kingsley’s F Fait Accompli for D

Special Open Fawn Bitch (3,0)1st Cranfield’s Ch Zefather’s Kind of Magic very smart in outline and of good overall proportion.  Bags of quality.  Decent forehand, neck and shoulder.  Well made and well set quarters.  Moved with accuracy and with plenty of power in profile, covering lots of ground.  Would have preferred slightly more developed muzzle.   

2nd Lawson’s Murrayvhayle Missbehave at Droolakiss different, slightly heavier type to the winner but typical in outline and well proportioned.  Decent forehand and forechest.  Slightly abrupt in neck.  Head of good type with lovely, typical expression.  Moved out well in profile but is a little elbowy coming on.   3rd Page & Concannon’s N Shieldmaiden

Special Open Black Bitch (1,0)1st Prazak-Dickson’s K Jawska Seraphina

Special Open Mantle Bitch (1,0)1st Bliss’ Stagbatch Pandora’s Dream only a baby and was slightly overawed by the occasion which was understandable in the noisy hall.  However she settled back into herself and has the makings of a pleasing outline.  Good through the neck and shoulder.  Quarters well set and developing nicely.  Typical head, coming on well.  She moved with accuracy and was very scopey in profile.

Special Open Blue Bitch (5,2)1st Page & Concannon’s N When Birds Sing   2nd Kingsley’s S Spirit of D     3rd  Kingsley’s D Forever In Blu Genes

TIM HUTCHINGS (Judge)