FLOTY

FLOTY 2022

The judge for the event was Geoff Duffield

FLOTY winner was Angela and Barry Thomas’ Ch Elbereth Tuulenpoika JW

Runner up was Angela and Barry Thomas’ Elbereth Lapinpeikko

Judges Report

I was honoured to be invited to judge FLOTY 2023, hosted by the Southern Finnish Lapphund Society, held at Drayton, Oxfordshire.

The committee had worked extremely hard to provide a lovely ring with adornments, a sumptuous buffet and a wonderful entry of 46 (six absent) for me to assess. My grateful thanks.

I have to say that the competition was full of quality, making decisions taxing to sort out the beautifully groomed Lappies. Temperament all round was very impressive, I only witnessed a lone case of aggression where one male clearly took a dislike to another, but dogs will be dogs.

Janine Bailey was an excellent steward, keeping well on top of the knock-out stages to eliminate any confusion, and to keep me informed as each competition progressed.

First up was the Baby Puppy of the Year where Nicky Birks’ Pavoskas Galena’s impressive behaviour (obviously trained) earned her top spot over her sister, Pavoskas Hilli Helmi (owned by Sammy Critchlow & Matthew Rudd) in second place with Tricia Kennedy’s Lapponnia Infinite Quasor in third, both of whom hold bright prospects.

There were eight entered for the Pup of the Year contest but four were absent. Pavoskas Fuchsia beat her brother, Pavoskas Forest into the runner-up spot. Both were bred by Sammy and Piers Critchlow and Steve and Shelley Cooper. Fuchsia should blossom into a useful girl, she has very good conformation, a strong neck supporting a very clean head, good ears, sweet eye and expression, good stop and muzzle. In very good coat of correct texture covering a well developed body. A confident pup, proud to show her virtues.

Third was Lauren Pelling’s TabanyaRuu Aurora Ahkera.

Best Veteran was a hotly contested competition with ten standing their ground, six of them champions where, in the final, Alex and David Lock’s Ch Bridus Pikkumimmi JW, bred by Sue Bird, came out on top from last year’s winner, Phillip Jackson’s Ch Tikkuturkin Hallantuoma to Elbereth JW ShCM (imp Fin) runner-up. Both knew the ropes, being seasoned campaigners. They shared excellent conformation and condition, plenty of muscle in the right places and so very sound on the move, their strong backends enabling a steady, untroubled movement. Presentation, as throughout the show, was excellent, as with the handling and congratulations to the finalists and their contenders on the impressive condition of the over-sevens.

Again, both had good shape, typical outline and had the benefit of ring presence and charisma. Totally feminine and a pleasure to judge, as were the other competitors, but in the last throw of the dice, Pikkumimmi just had the edge in her overall performance.

And so to the main event where BIS in the FLOTY competition, which included 11 champions, went to the quite stunning black, Ch Elbereth Tuulenpoika (Ch Lecibsin Ukas to Elbereth (imp Fin) x Elbereth Suvituuli), bred by Toni Jackson who helped out winning owners Angela and Barry Thomas by handling his son, Elbereth Lapinpeikko (Ch Elbereth Tuulenpoika ex Ch Elbereth Pelinainen JW), to runner up, another black, making it an impressive father-son double, the son having to bend the knee to his champion sire.

The pair of them were like peas in a pod, the similarity quite obvious but Tuulenpoika had the edge on ring presence, setting himself up to demonstrate his lovely shape and sparkling condition. Lovely clean head to handle, lovely dark eye and sweet but masculine expression, showing alertness and intelligence. Very positive on the move, well constructed throughout, his rear movement his forte where his well developed thighs and strong hocks enabled him to circumnavigate the ring untroubled.

This is not to say that Lapinpeikko didn’t have ring presence, his showmanship equally good. Maybe not the same reach of neck as the winner but he still supported a quality head with similar dark expressive eyes, and excellent ears. Again, good conformation and full, correct coat covering well muscled body, with the same impressive rear construction.

Both had fabulous temperaments which showed in their attitude in the ring, great adverts for this lovely breed, and I thank the committee once more for the honour of being invited to this wonderful occasion.

photo Emma Everley

*First Round Wildcard: Ch/Fin Ch Ahulin Supina HEW21 FIW21