Judge: S Mönninghoff Tans, Marked, AOVs

GENERAL COMMENTS

Thanks Sarah for the invite to judge, which was a pleasure. Judging the Grand Challenge with Andy was great as well, and seeing the lovely Ivory that got BIS was an immediate yes from both of us. Congrats Steve Goss for the well deserved double whammy – BOA with another lovely Ivory. I remember someone commenting “this is how you picture a British show mouse” and I cannot agree more.

I also judged some top notch tans and I am pleased that the paler tans are making a return to the show bench. A spiffing Silver from Sarah was the mouse I would have loved to take home.

TANS

Class 17 BLACK TAN Ad – 8

1st E Grimwood B Nice rich tan and top colour. Best feet, good size.

2nd P Hall B Not far behind 1st but feet showing more tan than first. Smaller mouse.

3rd S Grimwood B Tan ever less intense, particularly under jaw.

Class 18 BLACK TAN u/8 – 2

1st P Hall B Deep and rich tan, big mouse for class.
2nd P Hall B Tan to come.

Class 19 CHOC TAN Ad – 6

1st R Walker B Best tan & top colour, best feet. Nice, substantial mouse, good condition.

2nd P Hall B Not far behind 1st but slightly smaller.

3rd L Walker B Lovely tan but carrotty feet.

Class 20 CHOC TAN u/8 – 4

1st P Hall D Best tan & top colour, nice type for variety.

2nd P Hall B Good top colour, tan to come up a bit more.

3rd L Russell B Tan paler than first 2.

Class 21 CHAM/SILVER TAN Ad – 6

1st S Cudbill B Silver Superb top colour, great type. Remarkably good tan for variety.

2nd Chew Valley B Stud Cham Outstanding tan, like a Choc tan but top colour slightly too dark. Bright orange feet.

3rd R Walker Cham B Not the tan of the first two but better type and feet.

Class 22 CHAM/SILVER TAN u/8 – 4

1st Chew Valley Stud D Cham Least amount of tan hairs behind ears, good tan.

2nd Chew Valley Stud D Cham Better tan than 1st but tan hairs behind ears spoil.

3rd R Walker B Cham Good top colour, tan to come.

Class 23 AOC TAN Ad – 4

1st L Russell B Agouti Best top colour & tan, clear demarcation line, slightly dark spine

2nd S Cudbill B Cinn Blurred demarcation line, nice top colour but tan could be richer

3rd S Cudbill B Pearl Not tan of first two but respectable effort. It is not easy to create a pearl tan. Top colour too dark for a Pearl.

Class 24 AOC TAN u8 – 4

1st P Hall B Blue Best top colour out of winners, nice tan, best feet of the lot. Good size.

2nd S Grimwood B Blue Top colour to dark, lacking slatey hue, tan a bit paler.

3rd S Grimwood B Blue Top colour very dark, palest tan.

Class 25 TAN CHALLENGE Ad – 24

1st S Cudbill Silver

2nd E Grimwood Black

3rd R Walker Choc

Class 26 TAN CHALLENGE u/8 – 17

1st P Hall Black

2nd P Hall Blue

3rd P Hall Choc

Marked

Class 27 DUTCH Ad – 10

1st S Cudbill D Blue Overall best markings although stops on feet a bit too forward. Small mouse.

2nd S Maynard Black Good markings but fleshy ears spoil

3rd S Cudbill Black Overall good markings but pull on top saddle and fleshy ears spoil.

Class 28 DUTCH u8 – 8

1st Chew Valley Stud D Choc Very even cheeks, straight saddle & good stops. Slightly bloated appearance.

2nd S Maynard D Cinn Lovely, even markings, slightly wavy top saddle. Small mouse, very young.

3rd S Maynard B Black Great cheeks, wavy saddle top & under.

Class 29 BROKEN Ad – 10

1st L Russell D 9-spot Dove Spots mostly well defined. I have judged brokens with thicker tails.

2nd S Maynard D 7-spot Dove Extra small spot over left eye spoils. Getting on a bit. Breeding doe?

3rd S Maynard B 7-spot Black Nose spot too massive.

Class 30 BROKEN u8 – 2

1st S Cudbill D 8-spot Black Small spot surrounding right eye spoils an otherwise beautiful young mouse.

Class 31 AOV MARKED – ?

1st C Barber D Hereford Black Good markings, tail mottled, head snipy.

2nd S Cudbill B Variegated Needs more even splashing. Markings too concentrated around ears and tail. Under too light.

3rd A Booth D Tricolour Too much brindling.

Class 32 AOV MARKED u8 – 4

1st C Barber D Blue Hereford Nice markings but belly spot too small

2nd C Barber D Black Hereford Stop on tail too short. Belly markings too short and uneven.

Class 33 AOV Marked Ad – ?

1st S Cudbill Blue Dutch

2nd S Maynard Black Dutch

3rd L Russell Dove Broken

Class 34 AOV Marked u8 – 4

1st S Cudbill Black Broken

2nd Chew Valley Choc Dutch

3rd C Barber Blue Hereford

AOV

Class 45 Agouti/Cinnamon Ad – 7

1st R Hollis B Cinn Lovely fit big mouse with good ticking. Under a bit too red, top needs more fire.
2nd R Hollis B Ag As first but dark spine and needs more fire.
3rd J MullanB Ag out of condition.

Class 46 Agouti/Cinnamon U8 – 6

1st J Walker D Ag Not the colour I would expect but even mouse.
2nd M Shutt D Ag Lacks fire
3rd R Hollis B Ag This was the best coloured mouse but some speckling around the nose spoiled.

Class 47 Argente Ad – ?

1st J Mullan B Best top and matching under, good silvering.
2nd L Russell B Lovely shade and silvering with great type but light under spoils.
3rd R Walker B Not far behind 2nd in terms of top colour but even lighter under.

Class 48 Argente U8 – 11

1 L Russell B Best top & matching under, best blend of silvering, lovely type.
2nd L Russell As first but under a tad ligher.
3rd R Walker D Nice mouse, young, colour to come.

Class 51 SP Siamese Ad – 2

1st ?? Points too light, lacking contrast and shading.
2nd ?? Points even lighter.

Class 52 SP Siamese U8 – 1

1st L&O Booth D points too light, not enough contrast.
2nd ?? D Points too light, lacks shading.

Class 53 BP Siamese Ad – 1

No placement. Only mouse in class had huge moult mark on back.

Class 54 BP Siamese u8 – 1

1st J Bennett Rough coat, lacks contrast.

Class 55 AOV Ad – ?

1st A Booth D PE Splashed. Nice splashing, good size and type.
2nd A&O Booth B BE Splashed. Patchy on top.
3rd R Hollis D Sable Dark patch between ears, top could be darker.

Class 56 AOV u8 – ?

1st S Cudbill D Fawn Brindle. Young mouse. Nice top & under.
2nd L Walker D Splashed. Bit uneven but nice lively splashing.
3rd J Mullan D Choc Fox. Small mouse, good under and demarcation. Good ticking along flanks.

Class 57 AOV Challenge Ad – 28

1 J Mullan Argente
2 R Hollis Cinnamon
3 R Hollis Agouti

Class 58 AOV Challenge U8 – 28

1 L Russell Argente
2 S Cudbill Fawn Brindle
3 J Mullan Choc Fox

Judge: A Leach Self, Satins

GENERAL COMMENTS

Once again a great show. Thanks to Sarah for the invitation to judge here at Swinford, a lovely venue in a nice part of the world. My thanks also go to my chief steward Simon for doing an outstanding job, well done!

My sections were blessed with some of the nicest mice I’ve seen in a long time and without a shadow of a doubt Steven Goss’s Adult Ivory doe was top of the list for me on the day. Not just happy with BIS, Steve also marched forward to gain BOA, again with a cracking Ivory buck. It just goes to show there’s life in the old dog yet! Congratulations Mr Goss.

Other mice in my sections were mixed, with some nice entries in both Self and Satin. A word for thought, though. ‘Do you really think it can win?’ Too many entries of poor condition prevail in many classes! IF IT’S NOT FIT it will never progress any further than its class. A show-fit mouse may not win the day but it has more chance of catching the judge’s eye for the right reasons!

Selfs

PE WHITE Ad – 8

1st S Goss D A lovely mouse to start the day! Great under and white as snow, good ear set, racy looking doe

2nd S Goss D Again a well-proportioned mouse but just not as good under as winner

3rd S Goss D Slightly short in face but again excellent condition, very fit

PE WHITE u/8 – 5

1st L Walker D Not such a good class as adults! Best in class but thin under and lacking show sheen

2nd L Walker B Broken coated, needing more length and tail set to be noticed in a Self class

3rd C Barber D Chipped ear and lacking type

CREAM Ad – 4

1st S Cudbill B A nice mouse in good condition, very good under good tail set and bold bright eyes

2nd S Cudbill B Again great condition, behind on type to winner, slightly short nose length

3rd L Walker B Small and squint eye. Creams out of all mice need boldness of eyes to make them stand out

CREAM u/8 – 4

1st S Cudbill B A very good conditioned mouse, well covered thick under but not enough length of head

2nd L Walker B Lacking show condition and of poor type

3rd A Booth D Broken coated and poor condition. More attention needed

BLACK Ad – 3

1st L Birchall B Nice buck, lovely depth of black, best type of all Blacks

2nd L Birchall D Again nice mouse in top condition with a sparkle in the eye, good to see

3rd L Birchall D Good condition, but smaller eyes and lighter build sees 3rd

BLACK u/8 – 5

1st L Birchall D Nice Black with good under and lovely bright eyes

2nd L Birchall D Nice young Black, colour still to come

3rd L Birchall D Lacking type and eye of winners, a good 3rd

FAWN Ad – 4

1st R Hollis B Lovely buck in excellent condition with rich, warm, even colour

2nd J Mullan D A nice doe but spoilt by chipped ear

3rd J Mullan D Lacking in type to winners and not as good under, although good colour

FAWN u/8 – 2

1st J Mullan Not quite as good colour, hopefully will come through with age

2nd J Mullan Small, out of condition with broken coat, not show material

BLUE Ad – 3

1st S Smith B Best type in class although tan vent and guard hairs, reasonable Blue

2nd S Smith B Similar to winner but again tan hairs

3rd S Smith B Excessive tan, needing work on these but good effort

BLUE u/8 – 5

1st S Smith D Nice mouse, good shade of blue and decent type, good condition

2nd S Smith D Again nice Blue doe in excellent condition but lacking under of winner

3rd L Walker D Too light in colour and chipped ear

RED Ad – 2

1st J Mullan B Good condition, colour needs more fire, poor ear set and crinkled

2nd J Mullan D Lacking colour and condition!

RED u8 – 3

1st L Walker D Best in class, nice rich colour, pricked ears spoil

2nd J Mullan B Reasonable colour although thin soiled tail

3rd J Mullan D Sooty coated

AOC SELF Ad – 4

1st L Russell Ch B Nice buck with great type, good under and top condition

2nd L Russell Ch D Not quality of winner and slight choppiness in coat

3rd S Smith Choc B Nice attempt, bald patch under

AOC SELF u/8 – 4

1st L Russell Ch B A nice young mouse, will improve with age

2nd S Smith Choc B Another nice attempt, too many tan hairs

3rd L Russell Ch B Chipped ear spoils an otherwise good mouse

SELF CHALLENGE Ad – 28

1st S Goss PEW A lovely doe, once seen, never forgotten, Best Self

2ndL Russell Cham Good size with plenty of type

3rd L Birchall Black Very nice buck, great depth of colour

SELF CHALLENGE u/8 – 28

1st L Russell Cham

2nd S Cudbill Cream

3rd L Birchall Black

Satins

IVORY SATIN Ad – 6

1st S Goss D A great Satin, Ivory of the whitest white with not a hint of yellowing, lovely type and size, everything going for this mouse, congrats to Steven Goss on a great BIS winner!

2nd S Goss D Again a lovely mouse but not as good under as winner

3rd S Goss D Although 3rd this was still a worthy winner, slightly lighter build than 1st and 2nd

IVORY SATIN u/8 – 6

1st S Goss B A lovely young ivory buck with great potential, coat, colour, type and condition all outstanding—again, congrats Steven, BOA in Show

2nd S Goss B Close to 1st but failed ever so slightly on under

3rd S Goss B Lighter type to winners but still lovely to see

AOC PE SELF SATIN Ad – 3

1st C Barber Sil D Best in class, in excellent condition, more depth of colour required but nice attempt

2nd C Barber Sil D Again good size and condition although a mealy cast to coat is visible

3rd C Barber Sil B Yellowing of coat and short length of nose

AOC PE SELF SATIN u/8 – 0

BE SELF SATIN Ad – 3

1st S Cudbill Red B A lovely mouse, good depth of colour and in top condition

2nd S Smith Blue B Nice mouse with good size and condition although bronze cast to colour

3rd L Walker Cr B Slight bend to nose and small eye

BE SELF SATIN u/8 – 4

1st L Walker Red D Moult mark on under, otherwise nice attempt, could do with better tail set

2nd L&O Booth Cr B Lacking condition, short face

3rd A Booth Cr B Again poor condition and type

AOV SATIN Ad – 3

1st S Smith Sab B Good condition, very fit with good size and conformation, light marks across nose, not rich in colour but good attempt

2nd L Walker Spl D Nice mouse with good satinisation, behind winner on type and condition

3rd A Booth Sia D Poor colour, lacking in points and no shading

AOV SATIN u/8 – 5

1st C Barber Ag D The best of a poor class, small, no richness in colour and poor tail set

2nd L Walker Arg B Poor colour, no under colour, very poor satinisation

SATIN CHALLENGE Ad – 15

1st S Goss Ivory