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Ha! You've been raiding the La Fleche thread. And thanks for doing so. This is a magnificent group of birds that are a good lesson for many different breeds. Everything you've said is right there to be seen. What I liked especially about those cockerels besides general size and quality is the fact that there is plenty of body below the wing line and with both sexes toplines and underlines are long. Those cockerels show none of that upright, highly carried shallow breast business that is either one of the first things to go when stock starts to degenerate or is just something that really bothers me. As far as Dorkings those illustrations in the old Standard are realistic and obtainable if a good start is made and the breeder has some patience. Back to the La Fleche; did you see the cockerel with the reddish wing bows? Not surprising as these seemed to have quite a lot of green sheen. Great fun to see them again.
Dave, I agree, their depth and breadth are outstandingly impressive. At one point, there are some cockerels that turn around and give you a great view of their stance. It's just darned impressive. Of course, it's the lines that you pointed out that open the stance. It's true, too, what you mentioned concerning American La Fleche that don't seem to have a lot of bidy below the wing. It's a rude testament to neglect.
I agree with you, too, that the Standard images of the Dorking are attainable. We just have to do the breeding that it requires.
