Crufts

Firstly, may I say what and honour and privilege it was to be invited to judge my favourite breed at Crufts and would like to thank the Crufts committee for their kind invitation. I have owned a Scottish Terrier since I was 10 years old and always dreamed of being on the green carpet and the occasion did not disappoint. Thanks to all the exhibitors who travelled far and wide with their dogs and gave me some interesting decisions to make. There seemed a lovely atmosphere around the ringside too. Thanks should also go to my lovely stewards who carried out their task very efficiently and with good humour. Sadly as it got so late in the day when the judging ended there was no time for me to have photos with my winners. That opportunity will never occur again and will be a big regret for me. I had some wonderful dogs to judge but there are still areas where the breed can improve. It was disappointing to witness many lacklustre performances from many Scotties in the ring on that day. I don’t know whether it was the atmosphere or whether it had been such a long tiring day for them. Although some of them could have been up for further consideration in their respective classes, their heads and tails down attitude meant that they went no further. The standard states they should be ”alert in carriage.” Fronts are still a problem but this is now being closely followed by poor rear angulation. Please remember that the Scottish Terrier is not just an attractive outline, they need to move correctly too. I also wanted to say that we are so fortunate that we have a few owner/handlers who are able to present and handle our breed to such an outstanding standard. They are able to show the public at large what a wonderful, attractive and charismatic dog the Scottish Terrier really is. I was also pleased to see many being free shown rather than stacked you can really see their character and confidence with this method of showing.

VETERAN DOG (4,1A ) A lovely class of oldies to begin proceedings. All a credit to their owners 

1st Coley’s CH KINGSVIEW JUST STEWART Handsome brindle dog of 8 years. Remember him as a youngster and it is amazing how time flies. He is of correct breed type and well balanced all through. Masculine head of good proportions. Nicely placed shoulders. Good front. Big, wide deep ribs and body. In super coat and condition. He was up for this class today, showing and moving well. BEST VETERAN in strong competition

. 2nd Hovigimyan’s CH/FR/BEL/LUX/NL/SWISS/DK/D VDH/D KFT/IRL/SP/IT/CR/BDS/GIB/INT CH TAMZIN MR PROSPECTOR Another dog of super breed type that I have rewarded before. He is in stunning condition for his 10 years. Black. Up to size. Masculine head with neat ears that he uses. Good angulation, bone and substance. Short coupled with strong quarters. Well presented. Pushed the winner hard but although sound moving he was a little more reluctant on the move.

 3rd Meek’s BENARTYBRAE MACARENA AT BENBETHAM Wheaten who completed a trio of correct breed types. He is well balanced, masculine and powerfully made throughout. His head was not quite as clean as the other 2 and he was another that was not too happy on the move today. Nevertherless he was another well kept veteran. 

PUPPY DOG (2) 

 1st Rutherford’s CARISCO TAKE A CHANCE ON ME

 A very promising wheaten of 8 months. Well proportioned. Clean,masculine head. Good width in front. Short coupled, deep and low with good ribs. Well angulated rear. Tail on top. Sound mover although he took time to get into his stride today. Should be an excellent prospect. Moved and showed well once he got into his stride BEST PUPPY. 

 2nd Hovigimyan’s VERASCOTT ON THE ROAD AGAIN 

 Nicely presented black dog of 9 months. Pleasing, well balanced head. Dark eye. Good bone and substance. Would prefer a little more layback of shoulder. Showed well.

JUNIOR DOG (7,1A)

  1st Juel’s MARLAND ULTIMATE 

Attractive masculine black/brindle male. Full of breed type. Clean, balanced head. Good angulation fore and aft. Well boned. Body developing nicely. Deep and low to ground. Short coupled. A tighter trim would better accentuate his qualities. Free mover and showed to advantage.

2nd Tyler’s DIVADELL DR FEELGOOD

Another strong masculine black dog. Balanced in all departments. Excels in bone and substance and has great maturity for his age. A little full in coat but it is of correct texture. Sound mover but not quite the showmanship of 1st.

  3rd VERASCOTT ON THE ROAD AGAIN

POST GRADUATE DOG (11,2A) Not an easy class to judge. Some were not happy in the ring today and others were not in their best coats.

1st Chapman’s BRUEIK’S SUPERHERO BY BERRYBREEZE

 Quality black male. Presented in lovely coat and condition as is usual for this kennel. Clean, well balanced head. Correct expression .Sound front and pleasing angulation. He was happy to show himself off to advantage. Just needs to mature a bit in body but has all the essentials. 

 2nd MacKay’s CARISCO DON’T STOP BELIEVING 

 Masculine black dog of correct breed type. He has such a rapport with his young handler and it showed. Well balanced masculine head with dark eye. Not quite the layback of shoulder of 1. Good ribs and plenty of bone and substance. Low to ground. A little full in coat but it was of harsh texture. Moved and showed with purpose.

 3rd Willis’ CARISCO KINGS CRUSADER AT RIKIRAKKI 

Mature black. Smartly presented and well handled. Clean masculine head but would like more width in foreface. Good depth and body properties.Could be closer coupled. Strong well developed quarters. Won his place on movement and showmanship. 

LIMIT DOG (10, 2A)

  1st Boyce’s TRAKSIDE ROYAL INDIAN

Super black male of excellent breed type. Free shown which brought out his qualities. Clean well proportioned head with lovely dark eye. Neatest of ears and correct ear set that can be so rare these days. Fair front. Excellent bone and substance with big ribs. Short coupled. Plenty behind the tail. Driving well from quarters of correct rear angulation. Harsh double coat. Sound mover who has great Scottie attitude that won him the Dog CC.

  2nd Rutherford’s CARISCO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

Assertive black dog. Pleasing well balanced masculine head. Wonderful expression. Strong round bone Level topline and good tailset. Deep body. Would prefer a little more layback of shoulder. Parallel movement fore and aft Handled with skill to get the most out of him. Good showman.

3rd Chick’s BRUEIK ALL THE ACES

Another black male of correct breed type. Masculine head. Strongly built with big ribs and good depth. Plenty of bone. Good front. Well made rear. . Moved well when he wanted. A little lazy with his tail today which was spoiling his outline on the move.

OPEN DOG (18, 6A ) Another challenging class. The final 5 were worthy of their places.

1st Shidlovsky’s BLR/RUS/POL/HUN/LIT CH FILISITE BRASH ARTS MISTERY

Beautifully balanced brindle. Quality all through. Clean skull and deep foreface.Well constructed. Good neck and shoulders. Short coupled. Deep body. Plenty of width in rear. Smart and showy giving a lovely profile on the move and when stood. Super presentation. Just lost out in the challenge as the DCC winner was just full of himself and this dog did not quite use his ears as well. However, he was very worthy of the RCC and as winner of this class.

2nd Smidoda’s CIB GULABIN’S CHIEF CODY

Powerfully built black. There is no doubt when you look at him that he is a male. Head is long and well proportioned but could be a bit cleaner in skull. Good in neck and shoulder. Excels is forechest bone and body. Short coupled with big well-developed buttocks Presented in lovely coat and condition. Moved out well. Close up to winner.

3rd Hovigimyan’s IT/SLO/AUST/SM INT CH VERASCOTT JIMINEY CRICKET

Made up a trio of well presented masculine dogs. Lovely type. Quality coat. Head is balanced if not overly long. Pleasing neck and shoulders. Short, cobby, deep body. Good width to rear. Would just prefer his tail a little shorter for balance. Moved with drive and shown to advantage. 

GOOD CITIZEN DOG (1)

1st McCracken’s OUR BLACK JACK

Was reserve in Post Graduate. Solidly built black of good type. Well balanced all through. Steady showman. Coat a little full.

VETERAN BITCH (4,1A) Another lovely class of happy veterans

1st Hovigimyan’s CH/IR/BEL/D VDH/D KFT/SWISS/IT/SP/CR/GIB/LUX/FR CH VERASCOTT FAIRY QUEEN

9 years old black in super coat and condition. She has a beautiful head and earset. Good neck and shoulders. Deep well ribbed body. Level top line and good tailset. She showed and moved well and was sympathetically handled. Her owner should be very proud of her.

  2nd Maidment’s BERRYBREEZE EXPLORER OF DAXIDIN

8 yr old black of some merit. Another who belies her age. Full of charm and Scottie attitude with an obvious love for her young handler. Smartly presented. Good angulation at both ends. Showed and moved with confidence. Just preferred head of 1st

3rd Le Pelletier’s CH/FCI/LUX/VDH/KFT CH FROU FROU DELLA ROCCACIA DI MODIGLIANA Wheaten of 8 yrs of age. Pleasing breed type. Feminine head. Well balanced with plenty of bone and substance. Harsh coat. Moved and showed with ease. In lovely condition but her outline was rather spoilt with excess trimming around her feet. Congrats again to the owner for keeping her in such fit condition.

PUPPY BITCH (3) 3 puppies at varying stages.

1st Rutherford’s CARISCO CARELESS WISPA

8 month old black/ brindle. Litter sister to Puppy Dog winner. Feminine well balanced head which I would just like a touch longer for balance. Lovely expression. Short, deep body. Level topline. Tail on top. Move well once settled.

2nd Greenwood's CARISCO RETURN AMBER TO PETMON

Litter sister to winner, bigger and differing in type. Black. Smartly presented with quality coat. Lovely, long feminine head. Nice expression .Well developed body for age. Not as short coupled as 1 but showed steadily to win her place. Has time on her side

. 3rd Hovigimyan’s VERASCOTT O’NEVER GIVE UP

8 month old black bitch. Pleasing head. Would prefer a bit more layback of shoulder. Good depth of body. Needs to knit together more. Showed well and was not phased by the atmosphere which many others were.

JUNIOR BITCH (6)

1st Bichel Schnock’s QUAINT SWEET CAYENNE

Appealing black bitch of 14 months. Correct breed type. Feminine head. Ears could be a bit neater. Good bone and substance. Well ribbed and low to ground. Short coupled. Moved with drive and showed with animation.

2nd Maidment’s QUAINT SABAYON Litter sister to the winner and similar remarks apply. She probably has the neater ears but not as well angulated in rear as the winner and so lacked her drive. Beautifully handled by her young owner and showed well.

3rd Hovigimyan’s ORIGINAL LADY AT VERASCOTT DU POETE

11 month old black and giving at lot away in this class on maturity. Smart black coat. Good eye and expression. Body developing nicely. A shade longer cast than 1 & 2 . Showed well.

POST GRADUATE BITCH (14, 1A, 1 Transferred) Similar class to PG dog and same preamble applies

1st Becquet and Darby’s MINORLINES ROYAL IMPERIAL BECSCOTT

Pretty black bitch. Nicely balanced all through. Feminine head. Correct bite. Good front neck and shoulders. Short, cobby body. Strongly muscled quarters. Harsh coat which was in super order.Presented an attractive profile whilst standing and on the move.

  2nd Willis’ TRAKSIDE COBALION

Feminine black bitch presented in lovely coat and condition. Correct type.Pleasing head. Dark eye, Good bite. Nice layback in shoulder. Barrelled ribs with depth to body. Strong topline. Would prefer a little more angulation to the rear but she took the atmosphere in her stride and was shown to advantage. 

3rd Knight and Poolton’s ORRSCOT MOD DE BALIOL Black bitch of pleasing type. Well proportioned head. Good width and depth all through. A little full in coat and would like her touch more laid back in shoulder. However she was encouraged to move to her best by her enthusiastic handler and so earned her place.

LIMIT BITCH (7,1)

 1st Bradley and Herd’s BRUEIK’S OLIVIA ROSE

Attractive black bitch of excellent type. Clean, feminine head. Well boned front with prominent forechest and decent width. Correct neck and shoulders. Excels in body properties, although could be slightly closer coupled. Strongly developed rear with good angulation. Seemed a little hesitant at first but later in the class and in the challenge she covered the ground well and used herself to take a very deserved RCC

2nd Rutherford’s CARISCO CENDAL CRÈME

Another lovely bitch of super breed type. Long clean, well balanced head. Correct dark almond shaped eye. Neat earset. Good ribs and body properties. Tail on top. Excellent profile. Strong quarters. She is a sound mover with good stride. Today she looked a little out of sorts but her handler got the most out of her. Her merits won her this placing with some strong opposition

. 3rd Emmin’s MISS CATASTROPHE DU MOULIN DE MACGREGOR

  Pretty black bitch that has matured well. Pleasing head with correct eye and expression. Good bite. Deep body.Presented in excellent coat and condition. Good tailset. Showed and moved with assurance. Just felt 1 and 2 had a fraction more layback of shoulder which showed in profile but another deserving bitch.

OPEN BITCH (14, 3A 1 transfer) Another lovely class that gave me much food for thought.

  1st Popova’s MULTI CH FILISITE BRASH BEAUTY NEVER LIES WW17, EW17, JWW16, JEW16

Pure class. She combines the ideal a Scottie breeder looks for. Poise and elegance matched with power and substance. Beautifully balanced. Glorious, feminine head. Eye and expression that gives you that all knowing look. Difficult to fault. Excellent angulation, front and body. Tail bang on top. She commands the ring with her easy movement and showmanship. Perfectly handled. Super presentation without being overdone. Had no hesitation in giving her CC and BOB and more than delighted to see her win a very strong and competitive Terrier Group.

  2nd Melville,LaCoe and Bartons’ AM CH WHISKEYBAE HASLEMERE HABENERA

Another eyecatching black bitch superbly handled and presented to make the most of her assets. She also has a lovely head and expression and uses her ears well. She moved easily round the ring maintaining a level topline and tail bang on top with good drive behind. Her coat was in first class order and she showed with style. Not quite the front assembly of the winner but a very striking bitch.

3rd Khenkina’s GEMMA STONEHENGE BANDA DORADA Black. Excellent breed type and nicely put together. She was also well handled and presented. Uses herself well at all times. Ample bone and substance. Powerful rear end. Short coupled and low to ground. Her head is well balanced but not as clean as 1 & 2. Nevertheless she made up three very worthy bitches

ALISON KENNY MARRIOTT (MILLINGFORD)