2024 League Finals Show
The South Western Great Dane Club
League Finals Competition
16 November 2024
Judge: Tim Hutchings ( Winuwuk )
What a memorable day this was and I enjoyed every second of it. Those who know me well will tell you that humility is not something that I tend to suffer from, but I was truly humbled by this appointment and the kind invitation from a breed that I have admired for nearly 40 years. Having the opportunity of going over and appreciating so many of the top winning Great Danes in the country in front of an audience of passionate, sporting exhibitors will live with me for a very long time. It was made even more special for me because I know that Marion Ward-Davies, the original driving force behind our Winuwuk Boxers, judged the Leagues many years before me. I remember her coming back from that appointment absolutely buzzing and so did I. Many thanks to the committee for their hard work and their expert organisation. Julie and I were definitely made to feel part of the welcoming, fun-loving Great Dane family.
Veteran League
Two beautiful veterans to start the afternoon, both presented in excellent condition and carrying their years lightly
1st Burton’s Ch Ravendane Deal Me In with Elbarevolhandsome male who presents a wholly typical outline with good overall proportions and balanced angulation front and rear. Good neck and shoulder, well made behind. Head is typical with good length and strength. Smashing temperament. Particularly good mover, going with accuracy, scope and style.
2nd Tempest’s Ch Adoreadane Just the Ticket very typical in balance and outline with good length of neck. Impressed for size and quality. Complementary angles front and back. Head is typical and she looked at me kindly and expressively. A very competent mover but the winner just shaded it in scope going round.
Top Colour League Dog & Overall Winner
1st Pocock’s UK, Swiss & Lux Ch Tamzadane Empower Mintmasculine, well made Mantle out of the top drawer. I really admired his excellent angulation fore and aft. Well laid shoulder, correct length of upper arm, stands comfortably over himself. Correct neck flows in smoothly at withers. Wellmade quarters with good width of thigh. His excellent construction means that he is an exciting prospect on the move and even in the slightly restricted ring I could see his very good reach and drive, keeping his shape at all times. Head has all the essentials, typical and well balanced. Great showmanship, allowing him to make the most of his many virtues
Top Colour League Bitch
1st Pocock’s Tamzadane Bananas On The Run quality, well balanced harlequin, elegantly built throughout. Clean through the neck and shoulder. Benefits from excellent angulation both ends. Correct bone. Really made the most of herself on the move with a good ground-covering stride. Head of good length and proportion though I would have preferred it a tad cleaner.
Runner Up Colour League
1st Collett’s Foaldown Dark Secret very well made black who presents a typical outline when stacked. Excellent forehand and shoulder with good length of upper arm, standing over herself with elbows well back. Great turn of quarters with good development of first and second thigh. Head of correct length and refinement. Super temperament, showing extremely well for her handler. Moved with accuracy. Pushed hard but could just do with a little more strength through the topline.
Premier League Dog & Overall Winner
1st McLellan’s Anadain Life is a Lemon
2nd McLellan’s Anadain Dead Ringer for Love
Quality class headed by these two who turned out to be litter brothers and I think it would be a brave man to guess which one will ultimately end up the better. Outstanding quality throughout, rangy and raw but so exciting. They gave me goosebumps. Very much out of the same mould, exuding breed type. Very well balanced and of good overall proportion. High quality headpieces with excellent expressions. Moved with accuracy down and back and with good reach and drive going around. When it came to a final decision I just felt that Life is Lemon had dropped back into his quarters a little more and was carrying his neck a tad more elegantly on the day, but I really was splitting hairs. I shall follow these exciting youngsters very closely as they mature.
3rd Palmer’s Adoreadane Charlton substantial yet retaining elegance, impressed me through the neck and shoulder and for his general make and shape. Presents a very typical outline. Super show temperament, showing extremely well for his handler. Would like slightly stronger quarters but he really made the most of himself on the move. Head is typical and balanced with good overall length. Not quite the intense quality of the two above him but a dog with lots to like.
Premier League Bitches
1st Ferguson’s Renescent Too Hot to Handle for Chateaudain a very smart and very well made blue who has great balance of angulation. Very good neck, forehand and shoulder. Correct, strong topline. Very well made behind. Moved out with great style and accuracy. Head is pleasing, of good length, in balance with body and most of the essentials are there. I thought her showmanship was outstanding and her very clever handler got the very last ounce out of her
2nd Pocock’s Tamzadane Appley Ever After impressed with her good neck and shoulder. Very good angulation both ends. Presented a typical, quality outline when stacked though I wouldn’t want her any longer. Head is pleasingly refined, of good length, balance and proportion. Rather lethargic on the move today when she clearly thought she had better things to be doing, but I could see how much scope she had.
3rd Page & Concannon’s Novavida Livin The Dream I appreciated the overall quality of this girl and her elegance. Very typical overall with good balance. Neck of correct length flowing in smoothly at the withers. Not quite the angulation of those above her but moved very accurately down and back. Pleasing head of correct length and proportion and typical expression.
Super League Dogs
1st Chappell’s Ch Selmalda Jealous Guy top quality male, brimful of breed type and I really don’t think I have ever seen him look or perform better. Completely masculine but elegant with it. Superb angulation front and back, perfect overall proportion, strong topline and all of a piece. His head is magnificent with all the quality, detailing, length, balance and proportion that you could wish for. Presented in tip top condition. Moves with the scope and drive that you would expect from his copy-book angulation and he is 100% accurate on the down and back. A magnificent Great Dane who, in the final analysis, was unlucky to come up against a magnificent bitch who knows just how to throw her neck and preen down her nose at exactly the right moment. An honour and a privilege to judge them both. Two greats of the breed.
2nd Pocock’s Ch T Empower Mint
3rd Cranfield’s Ch Zefather’s Ralph Lauren very handsome fawn who, like those above him, teems with quality. Masculine, yet elegant. Excellent neck and shoulder and carries himself so well. Presents a typical outline when stacked, firm through the topline. Excellent head and expression. Presented beautifully. Not quite so impressive on the move as those above him, but they do set the bar very high.
Super League Bitches & Overall Winner
1st Clark’s Ch Garsak Summer Days at Mintrex every so often with great showdogs you get ones that know how special they are, and this is most definitely one of them. She is magnetic to watch from the minute she enters the ring, seeming to set herself up foot perfectly, projecting this super-typical outline, arching her beautiful, reachy neck, preening down her long nose and daring you to ignore her. Well, I couldn’t. This is an outstanding Great Dane, full of quality, type and elegance and I loved her. She is beautifully made, beautifully balanced, moves like a dream and has a head and expression to die for. The dog pushed her all the way, but her intense quality and a final push of showmanship gave her the nod. She must surely rank as one of the all time greats.
2nd Armour & Hooker’s Ch Garsak Fire and Ice I thought she complemented the winner very well, sharing many of the same virtues, albeit a little less dramatically. Full of quality and type with and outstanding head and expression. Very well balanced and presenting a typical outline. Moved down and back with accuracy and style. Not quite the scope going round as the winner but a top quality Dane.
3rd Chappell’s Ch Selmalda Oh Lori of slightly different type to the two above her, being a shade more solid and matronly, but impressed for her very good make and shape with excellent angulation both ends and a firm, solid topline. Good neck flowing in correctly at the withers. Head of great balance, length and proportion. Excellent expression. Benefits from the loveliest of temperaments, gently wagging her tail as you approach. Moved very competently.