First I want to thank the committee of the Shih Tzu Club for inviting me to judge their Championship show. I really love this breed and I had close connections with the Shih Tzus during my years in Norway. Secondly I want to thank the exhibitors for giving me such a terrific entry. It was 196 dogs entered and I thought the over-all quality was great. The open bitch class was one of the strongest classes I have ever judged in any breed and I was also very impressed with the quality of the limit dog class. I thought the heads were generally good but I found a few males who were too long in foreface. If I was to point out the main weakness of the breed it has to be the front assembly. I found many with short upper arms and a few were too upright in shoulders. As a consequence of this quite a few were lacking sufficient reach in front.

MPD 1 Franks & Deavin’s Hashanah Time well spent: Promising puppy of high class. Carries himself very well and has a lovely outline. Good head moves very well. One for the future. Best Minor Puppy. BMP 2 Medlow’s Inishfendra Liquorice Lew. Also this of high quality. Lovely head. Excellent on the move. One to be proud of. 3 Ashman’s Wonder of you.

PD 1 Young & Paradise’s Sonaltay Tuff Stuff. Stylish dog, Excellent neck and topline. Lovely head, perfect mouth. He moves around the ring with pride and arrogance. I will follow his future with interest. BP 2 Spooner’s Akaska Fabumar of Chanikos. Compact dog with excellent head. Superb outline. He is close to the winner but does not quite have the same presence. 3 Devin’s Mirazian Nokkia Socks off.

JD 1 Flack & Hannah’s Otraharp Forever Magic for Mifcah. High class dog with excellent head and expression. Superb outline with a lovely tail. Moves very well. 2 Franks’ Hashanah Lock Stock ‘n’ Barrel. Also a lovely-headed dog well constructed. He moves well but the winner scores on tail carriage. 3 Medlow’s Inishfendra Diamond Geezer.

MD 1 Devine and Grace’s Mirazain Symbole of Freedom. Dog of very good type. Moves and stands well 2 Mcintyre’s Bakalo Shayna Punim. Also this a dog of good type but would like more bone. 3 Billson’s Sarsuki Principle Boy at Shanjora ND 1 Akasaka Fabumar of Chanikos. 2 Mirazian Symbol of Freedom. 3 Dunkley’s Harropine Wire at Kirstaman.

GD 1 Akasaka Fabumar of Chanikos. 2 Flack & Hannah’s Tangse Don’t Worry be Happy with Mifcah. Nice typy dog, Excellent head at expression. Well constructed moves well. 3 Williams’ Sampa Pemba Loo-ming at Tickletums

PGD 1 Bell & Turrell’s Ragabbey Autumnal Gold Bellwaycharm. Nicely headed dog with a good outline. Moves well. 2 Seath’s Casamay’s Some Like It Hot. Sound dog with a good head but would like a bit more neck. 3 Flack & Hannah’s Berylendans Wordworth at Mifcah.

SpBEG 1 Marks’ Tansingh Tenacity. Nice dog of true type. Good head. Moves with attitude and style. 2 Tangse Don’t Worry be happy with Mifcah. 3 Raggabbey Autumnal Gold Bellwaycharm. ML 1 Moore’s Daltricia Python. Excellent dog in superb coat and condition. Lovely head. He is sound and moves very well. 2 Goodwin’s Chelhama Forever Midnight. Close to the winner, also he of high class moves very well. 3 Anderton’s Pekoe Fortune Cookie.

L 1 Dunkley’s Hodsoll’s Wild Illusion at Kristaman. I loved this dog as soon as he entered the ring. He had the arrogance, the presence and the outline I was looking for. He was floating around the ring without putting a foot wrong. He had a chrysanthemum shaped head and presentation was immaculate. I was pleased to give him RCC. 2 Bushwell’s Caserose Mr Toby Jug. As I said in my introduction it was some close decisions to be made in this class. This dog is full of quality. He is typy and sound and moves like a dream. He has a more impressive head than the winner but he has not got his wicked attitude. 3 Clifford’s Harropine Achy Breaky Heart at Cedarhythe.

O 1 Howard’s Ch Tameron Mr XS. What can I say? This dog stood out. He had presence and style. He had a glorious head and the presentation was fabulous. He moved like John Travolta and I was totally taken by him. CC RBIS. 2 Metcalfe’s Ch Wingates Dangerous Liason. This dog could not be over-looked. He is excellently constructed and has style and presence. He moves like a dream. He was, however, not in the best coat condition on the day. 3 Franks’ Ch Hashanah Hot Shot.

V 1 Metcalfe’s Ch Metadale Mungo Jerrie. 9 year old male in excellent condition for age. Lovely head and neck Moves like a youngster. Quality all through. 2 Clifford’s Cedarhythe Hot Off The Press. Also this of high class and in superb condition. One to be proud of. 3 Lees’ Pekoe The Amber Nectar.

MPB 1 Boyle’s Berinshill Chance to Dream. What a cracking youngster this is, so full of herself. Moves like a dream. Very promising. 2 Williams’ Essvana Picabo Street. Close to the winner with a lovely head and excellent outline but preferred the front movements of the winner. 3 Gray’s Tiamarzu Ciikie Crumble at Ragabbey.

PB 1 Leon’s Superlion Identity Crisis. Lovely bitch puppy full of class and quality. I liked her very much. She had an excellent temperament and was flying around the ring. One for the future. 2 Goodwin’s Kuckeng Klassic Capers at Cabbala. She pushed very hard for the top spot. She was a real charmer whom I am sure will do well. 3 Willett’s Cedarhythe Miss Hanky Panky at Debeaux.

JB 1 Davies’ Navross Silver Dann. Excellent bitch with lovely outline. Moves like a princess so proud of herself. 2 Jones’ Shanjo Heartbreaker for Fairlou. Another top quality bitch. Well constructed and moves very well. 3 Rutter’s Ethelsmead Wenarry Met Dazy.

M 1 Superlion Identity Crisis. 2 Berinshill Chance to Dream. 3 Johnson’s Paliden Walk That Walk at Keyton. N 1 Shanjo Heartbreaker for Fairlou. 2 Paliden Walk That Walk at Keyton. Nice typical bitch which moved very well. 3 Scannell’s Jaquinta Hunky Dory.

G 1 Anderton’s Pekoe Pick Me Up JW. Excellent type of bitch. Lovely outline and head. Moves very well. 2 Tod’s Chanikos Truly Charming of Kengal. Similar to the winner in type but she has not got the same attitude. 3 Lintern’s Mingshu High Calibre.

PG 1 Willett’s Debeaux Talahassee. Lovely stylish bitch. Great head. Moves and stands like a mannequin. 2 Lord’s Vanatonia Bundle of laughs at Huxlor. Also this of great quality. Excellent head but I preferred the neck on the winner. 3 Deavin & Frank’s Hashanah Walk this Way.

SpBEG 1 Chanikos Truly Charming of Kengal. 2 Scannell’s Jaquinta Enternal Flame. Typical bitch, good body moves well. 3 Bridge’s Sampa Yen Fun Tan. ML 1 Hodgson’s Superlion Haute Couture. Excellent bitch of the highest class. Lovely head, well propositioned. Moved like a dream. 2 Symonds’ Berylendan’s Rose in June. Also this of top class. Lovely head, moved well. 3 Bradshaw’s Jonarye Secret Obsession.

L 1 Stokes’ Bakalo Imaballerina. I loved this bitch as soon as she entered the ring and she did not disappoint. She carried herself like royalty and had an exquisite expression. She was flying around the ring. 2 Parton’s Kadaz My Lady Tamarind. Very close to the winner and another of high class. She moved very well indeed but did not quite have the same attitude as the first one. 3 Vinn’s Shiawase I Believe I can fly.

OB 1 Frank’s Ch Hashanah Flashpoint. This bitch has got it all. She is in perfect harmony and shows and moves like a world class athlete. Her head and expression are as close to perfection as you will ever get and the bite is so wide and straight that it is hard to believe. I just loved her to bits .CC BIS 2 Beqquet’s Ch Santosha Rainbow High. After having said all the nice thing about Flashpoint I must admit that this bitch pushed very hard. She is also divine and of superb quality. She had a lovely attitude and paraded around the ring full of confidence and charm. I could only put one first, and the day belonged to Flashpoint with Rainbow High getting the RCC 3 Russell’s YM Tooexy From Audreys Paradis (imp)

V 1 Meyer’s Janjon Major Mookie. Bitch of good type moved well for age.

S Wilberg