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HISTORY I REGIONAL SPECIALTIES I RESCUE I CHAMPIONS I AVAILABLE HOUNDS I MERCHANDISE

Ember
Winner's Bitch: Gryffyn's Fire Women
Dita
Reserve Winner's Bitch: Ch Talisman's Maia Mudita Kumbaya

...

Ember
Winner's Bitch: Gryffyn's Fire Women

Gabe
Best of Winner's , Winners Dog : Gryffyn's Games Without Frontiers
Missi
Best Puppy in Show: Gryffyn's Aeyrie Mistral Wind
Djinn
Best Puppy in Show, Opposite Sex: Ch Scirocco Blue Djinn
Gabe
Best Bred by in Show: Gryffyn's Games Without Frontiers
Maralinga
Best Bred by in Show, Opposite Sex: Tangalooor Maralinga CGC
Mystery
Best Veteran in Show: Kristull Z- Mystery
Raad
Best Veteran in Show, Opposite Sex: Kristull Landsraad Tangaloor CGC

Space

Best of Breed , Opposite Sex: Ch Tangaloor Unusual Suspect CGC

Sazi

Best of Breed: Ch Talisman's Anasazi Sunrise CIC

JUDGES COMMENTS

Cyndi Dell

MORGANDELL BORZOI

.

Being invited to officiate at the 2007 Boofest was my great pleasure.  It was a wonderful opportunity to have a hands on experience with my “next” breed and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. If handling instructions insulted any, please forgive me. The tips did help me see things more accurately and made it all the better to judge. Your club and membership were great fun and the camaraderie was evident. It was fun seeing a few old friends and making new ones.

 

While I expected to make top awards to the smallest of the hounds some of the larger hounds showed exceptional quality. If they showed type and moved exceptionally well they deserved consideration.  The breed seems on track and in able hands from what I saw. Teeth and bites were generally good. A few teeth needed cleaning and ear cartilage can use some un-starching and a few gay tails were seen. The most serious structural challenges are the too many hollow fronts and ewe necks. The two seem to go hand in hand and not a few built this way tended towards a hackneyed front action. To me this is more serious than size which is happily moving downward at a steady rate. Other details that might need work fall far short of structural issues.

 

First place in the Puppy Dog class 6 and under 9 was a lovely self chinchilla. He presented himself nicely and was an honest mover. A lovely head coupled with a wonderful shoulder and the expression I prefer. A recent growth spurt made him high in the rear, which put his topline at a bad stage but typical for his age.  This is a lovely puppy that will be an outstanding adult if he only stops growing. His litter brother was second due to his lack of weight and condition. He looked a tad shorter so has that advantage. He will improve with age and exercise.

 

Puppy Dogs 12 and under 9 months were two somewhat gangly youngsters full of high stepping spirit and happy tails. First place is a leggy fellow with angles to spare and correctly flexible topline. Second place was moving with a bit less reach and drive, but trying very hard to act well behaved. Hopefully ears and tails will settle down with age on both of these quality youngsters.

 

The two boys in the Novice Dog class were two very different types. First place had a bit more leg and elegance and a wonderful underjaw. His split face marking gave him character and his attention to his handler spoke volumes of his adoration and perhaps of a little obedience training. It was easy to see he was delighted being there. The self brindle boy awarded second did everything asked of him, and had a better tail carriage. He traveled with his head down which displaced his topline. He too is an appealing fellow that will win when he learns that a dog show can be as much fun as racing.

 

The Bred by Exhibitor Dog class over-flowed with quality. First place and eventual Winners Dog and Best of Winners was a young brindle that was hard to fault. He simply oozed presence and sported one of the best front and shoulders of the day. Matched with a strongly angulated rear he is quite impressive. Immature still, he will only gain quality as his shape develops into mature curves. The white second place dog simply sparkled and eventually earned the Reserve ribbon. A wonderful statuesque dog that moved very well despite his handler’s unfortunate choice of shoes. Another well laid in shoulder and front, with a bit less rear angle than the first place dog. He would have pushed the first place dog harder in different circumstances.. The third place dog was a solid little powerhouse who uses all he’s got. He is sound on the down and back and well balanced going around with lovely dark eyes to add to his charm. The more moderate angles and broader backskull set him behind one and two.  The striking parti-color earning the fourth place ribbon immediately captured my attention when he entered the ring. What a very pretty dog! Even with his beautiful reach and drive, he was simply outclassed this day. A bit more control on the lead and a slower pace around the ring would benefit his movement. And maybe a pound or two to fill him out more. With the big side gait, such a lovely head and wondrous coat this dog will have many more successful days in his future. I loved every dog in this class.

 

My single American bred entrant seemed off his stride. He tried but never really fell into step or timing. Same handler as the second place dog in Bred-By and it seems the shoes did affect him. He was a completely different dog in Winners with a replacement handler. Another dog I liked very much once seeing him less distracted.

 

The Open class presented a special challenge at the start when the class entrants were challenged by one male as the others entered the ring. To her credit the handler removed herself and her dog from the ring allowing the others entry. The handler’s difficulty in controlling the dog required him to be officially excused for the day.(my decision) Such guarding actions are inappropriate for a Silken Windhound or any show dog. My hope is to see this dog retrained and back in the ring under control. A great disappointment for me personally to have missed judging this dog.

 

First place in Open was large self brindle that was inexpertly presented. Easily the tallest dog entered this day; he could have easily been dismissed from consideration. The more he and his handler were worked the better they looked   Despite his size, this dog is wonderfully stylish  in head, expression and shape and with proper bone and ribspring for his size.  He moved true and well and in the end was awarded the blue ribbon. My second place dog was a lovely soft fawn fellow with cream points that I had anticipated as the one who would win. His stride was good but he was not moving with confidence this day. He seemed shaky on the move and a little nervous being gone over. He might have been more upset by the earlier commotion than anticipated. It is unfortunate for this very lovely dog. Third place is also a tall dog, though not so tall as #1. This well made fellow is one I could take home with me. Good bone, good movement, ribspring and head. A strong and lovely example of the breed. Fourth was a beautiful curvy self sabled brindle. A little less bone than the others but with good width between shoulders that are a bit straighter than his long angulated rear.  Being slightly underweight his topline was overdone.. I would like to see him on another day more filled out. He is very beautiful but he too was unsettled this day.

 

The Veteran Dog was a small but lovely dark self. A well made fellow with good body and gait and a twinkle in his eye.

 

My companion dog was a nicely coated boy who moved gaily in a happy to be here mood. A bit unbalanced front to rear, he was nevertheless an attractive little dog for filling the bed or armchair. His ears bring on the smiles.

 

 

The baby girl in 6 and under 9 month puppy class is a beauty. Small, refined and elegant, she some weight and would benefit with more fill in front and a bit more rib. A gorgeous head and very pretty outline. A delicate little flower.

 

Little Miss 9 and Under 12 months was very put out at being here at all. Still she was not afraid as much as offended. Her attitude was captivating and as she learned her way around got better and better until at the end of the day she became my Best Puppy. This lovely elegant red girl had a gorgeous head, beautifully soft, open expression, good ribspring and when she relaxed just a little had reach and drive to spare. A little princess with attitude.

 

The 12- 18 Puppy Bitch  presented a difficult decision. First and second place were very similar. Nice type good head, medium heights and unfortunate tail carriage. Both moved well and true if not with great length of stride. They are honest, balanced examples of the breed with no extremes to them. The bitch placing third was a bit shorter in leg, and wonderful spring of rib, but with a more rounded backskull, shorter neck and a muscling structure more bulky than long and flat. In many ways I really liked this bitch over the other two, but here the type differences helped with the decision.

 

My single entrant in Novice Bitch class had a pretty head and eye and lovely outline standing. On the move, she carries more body tension than preferable over-arching her topline and giving a little more lift in front. I’d like to see her more relaxed or carrying enough more weight to bring her back down and smooth her out.

 

Again the Bred By Exhibitor class excelled in quality. First place was a lovely little self brindle with gorgeous dark eyes, well arched neck and pretty ears. Her well filled front and effortless gait made her an easy choice. I could have taken this little girl home without a second thought. She brought to mind a whippet that once graced my couch. Placing second was a beautiful, showy little girl her breeder should be proud of. This little gal has a better topline and good fill in front but was not so smooth on the go as the first. Third place girl was a flashy young lady too. A sure winner in other circumstances. I loved her eyeliner and oblique eye shape. With more coat than first and second she has a decidedly Borzoi look over the two that bested her. She might benefit with a bit of ring training as her progress around the ring did not show off her assets to full advantage. A lovely class that was a joy to judge.

 

American Bred Bitches provided me a gorgeous little dark blue bitch. She was an easy choice by size and by shape. Her easy way of going and luxurious coat didn’t hurt any either.  A quality example of the breed. Second place was more matronly and could have used a few pounds taken off. Still a nice type and shape similar to first place with honest, easy movement. Third place was obviously immature and would have been a likely winner of the 12-18 month class where her sister was entered. A tough choice on her owner deciding to hand one off or splitting classes. She is a young lady who promises a nice future.

 

The Open Bitch class was easily the largest class all morning with some spectacular bitches presented. First place was simply stunning. Lovely irish-marked reddish brindle in a small package with to die for head, eye, shoulder and rear, and with a topline to envy. She went on to Winners Bitch and could easily have won the Breed had she stayed on form. Unfortunately she let up or had spent herself before the Best of Breed judging. Second was another darker irish-marked brindle that pushed the first place hard. A bit taller and a real show girl she was another I could have taken all the way. Again the head, eye, forechest and brisket to go with her superb angulation. She is a beautifully filled out bitch and feels wonderful to the touch. Her more rounded outline gives her a more dramatic angle at the croup than the winner. It was a difficult choice between the two. Third place I almost missed. A dark grey faced little self brindle of tiny proportions and a great little body. Her go around showed such great reach and drive that she had no trouble keeping up with the bigger girls. I would have preferred a stronger muzzle on this one however. My fourth place ribbon went to a truly beautiful silver brindle girl with a lovely outline and angulation, but a bit less in front fill and brisket. She moved well with a sound structure and lovely type. There simply were not enough ribbons for everyone to get one as there were a couple more girls in the class I would have liked awarding a prize.

 

The Veteran Bitch was one square, nicely balanced little matron. With good angles and a great “fit” between neck and shoulders it was easy to see her quality despite the bit of excess weight she carried. Bet she was a beauty in her prime.

 

First in Companion bitches was a nice little brindle with sparse white trim that made me wonder why the owner chose this class. She was in fit condition and nicely balanced and could easily have competed in one of the standard classes. Second place was found in a pretty parti with flowing tresses that went around smoothly with decorous tail carriage. Third was another parti color with a nice flowing shape. She needed both coat and weight and seemed young, but a nice type. Fourth was a nice substantial girl who was off her stride. I liked her head and shape but the uneven gait was her downfall.

 

Best of Breed was a class of stunning quality. There was not a dog or bitch present that did not deserve the win. Every one had depth of quality and though I had really hoped to take winners bitch all the way, she died on the vine after a long morning. The BOS dog grabbed my attention with his easy yet powerful way of going. His is the movement I would select for as a breeder. Still he did not completely fit my minds eye for the BOB award. The dogs ahead of him and behind him had him beat on head and size, but he still owned the effortless ground covering movement. So it was up to the girls to fill the bill. Two lovely chinchilla ladies both filled the eye nicely.  One with a bit better shoulder and topline, but lacking fill in front and both unfortunately somewhat between coats.  That left the Best in Specialty award to the lovely high white and gold girl in pristine condition that never let down. Part of her charm was her unflappable attitude and her look you straight in the eye gaze. All was emphasized by her handlers stand back and let her show her self style. Pretty eye, pretty head, lovely outline and sound movement. A beautiful tail carriage topped her appeal. She is a beauty and she simply sparkled on that day. If she ever put a foot wrong. I must have missed it….'

Boofest Class Winners Pictures

Boofest 07 Gallery