SUNDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 2026

Thank you to the Members and Committee of the Otterhound Club for the invitation to judge their important Club Championship Show. I was honoured and enjoyed my day immensely.

I was pleased with the entry and my winners. The breed still needs to be aware of the need for correct dentition and dogs to be in fit condition and so ‘Fit for Function’.

BABY PUPPY D OR B (1)

1st Finch’s OTTERSLADE MAUN an impressive 4-month-old Otterhound bitch, well boned and developed for her age, with the size and substance to mature into a quality adult. Lovely head, neck and body, with pleasing proportions. Feminine head, good developing furnishings and breed characteristics; well-shaped eyes and ears enhance her expression. Moved happily in typical puppy fashion. Very promising future.

VETERAN D OR B

1st 0LPHAE CLAYTON an 8-year-old mature hound with a sturdy, well-boned, rough-coated, workmanlike appearance. Handsome, masculine, breed-typical head and expression. True, well-made front with good fore-chest; strong neck, good depth, well-ribbed body and broad loin. Preferred his body condition and hindquarter strength to second. Stood well over the ground and moved freely and positively.

2nd CH TECHELGARTH EBONY a very breed-typical, workmanlike 7-year-old bitch, feminine and well made, with a balanced profile. Lovely head, strong neck and powerful front, with good bone and substance. True in front and firm in body, though she tended to lose her topline and appear slack. Moderately angulated hindquarters. Moved well with a long stride and good side gait.

3rd CH TECHELGARTH ZSA ZSA

4th OTTARYX QUINEVERE VW

YEARLING DOG

1ST SKARABRAE & AVITAR’S A RHAPSODY IN BLUE VIA KINGSTREE (IMP CAN) a sturdy, imposing 20-month-old with a masculine, breed-typical head and strong, well-lengthened neck. Powerful, well-boned forequarters, though the front tended to splay when standing. Pleasing spring of rib; would prefer more rib length. Broad loin. Moved freely and actively, but tended to be loose-limbed.

POST GRADUATE DOG

1st OTTARYX BRONSON a shapely 2-year-old workmanlike male who has a sturdy, well-boned, rough-coated appearance. Masculine, breed-typical head and expression, with a true front, good fore-chest, strong neck, pleasing depth and broad loin. Well-proportioned and powerful, standing well over the ground. Moved well going away, though I would prefer more width between the hocks on the return.

2nd OTTARYX ALFRED a sturdy 2-year-old who has a pleasing profile, masculine head and strong, well-lengthened neck. Powerful forequarters, true well-boned front, good spring and rib length, and a broad loin. Noises outside the ring unsettled him and affected his performance, particularly on the move.

LIMIT DOG

1st OLPHAE GOVERNOR JW a very well-made 2-year-old of good size, with sound bone, substance and coat. Handsome, well-proportioned head with good furnishings. Workmanlike in appearance, make and shape. Sound front, pleasing depth and ribbing. Best front and rear angulation in the class, reflected in his movement, which was free, steady and true enough.

2nd TECHELGARTH MAHLER a 17-month-old mature male being slightly larger than 1st, He has a pleaasing overall shape and a true, well-boned front. In hindquarters I would prefer more stifle angulation; needs to firm up in body and hindquarters. Unsettled on the move.

OPEN DOG

1st TECHELGARTH MUSKET a striking, well-constructed, mature-looking 17-month-old male of moderate, workmanlike type. Handsome, breed-typical head; true, well-boned front. Just preferred his body proportions to those of 2nd. Strong body with good spring of rib, ribs carried well back and a short, strong loin. Best mover of the day, especially in front action. My Dog CC and Best in Show winner.

2nd CH OLPHAE CHARMAN VW an imposing, mature 8-year-old who has good size and substance. Attractive head, strong neck and forequarters, with a true, well-boned front; would prefer stronger pasterns. Slightly longer than first but well balanced. Moderate hindquarters although would prefer more angle to stifle to complete the picture. Moved freely and easily, though needing more control in front. My Reserve Dog CC winner.

JUNIOR BITCH

1st TECHELGARTH NESTA AT OTTARYX a well-made 16-month-old of good size, with pleasing bone, substance and coat. Attractive, in appearance, well-proportioned head with desirable furnishings. Sound front, though more obvious fore-chest would be preferred. Pleasing depth and ribbing, balanced angulation and free, steady movement.

POST GRADUATE BITCH

1st HOUNDVILLE INGERBORG WITH OTTERBELLE a well-made 2-year-old of good size, with pleasing bone, substance and coat. Attractive, well-proportioned head with good furnishings. Sound front, though more forechest would be preferred. Pleasing depth and ribbing, balanced angulation. Houndy and workmanlike in appearance. Movement was free, and steady and the better of the class.

2nd TECHELGARTH KISS ME KATE a breed-typical 2-year-old bitch of pleasing size and shape, with good bone and adequate substance. Attractive head, strong neck and pleasing ribbing. Moved freely, though she tended to crab slightly and was unsettled in action front and rear.

3rd OLPHAE GRACEFUL WITH PEREGOS

4th OTTARYX APPLE

LIMIT BITCH

1st OTTARYX CHAOS (AI) JW a breed-typical 2-year-old bitch with a pleasing overall appearance, dignified head and good depth of jaw. Well boned with good body substance, pleasing topline and well -proportioned body with balance in angulation front and rear, Firm in topline and satisfying in overall appearance. A bit loose-limbed on the move.

OPEN BITCH

1st TECHELGARTH LE LAKME (AI) a very breed-typical, workmanlike 18-month-old bitch, feminine and moderate, with a balanced profile and excellent overall construction. Strong neck, powerful front, good bone and substance, firm topline and stable, moderately angled hindquarters. Moved well with a particularly impressive side gait. My Bitch CC and Reserve Best in Show winner.

2nd CH CONESTOGA AND CROSSROADS ENGLISH DREAM AT OTTERSLADE (IMP USA) another breed-typical 5¾-year-old bitch, attractive in profile and overall shape, with good balance and proportion. Lovely head and expression, enhanced by dark eyes and well-folded ears of good length. Pleasing forequarters and body, with a firm, level topline and stable, moderately angled hindquarters. Would like to see her cover more ground on the move. My Reserve Bitch CC winner.

3rd CH TECHELGARTH MANON

4th TECHELGARTH KALLIOPE

5th OTTARYX COBWEB

JUDGE: GRAHAM HILL