Crufts

CRUFTS

8th March 2020

Rhodesian Ridgebacks

Judge: Gillian Mitchelson.

I would like to thank The Kennel Club for inviting me to judge Rhodesian Ridgebacks at their very prestigious show and for their hospitality. A big thank you also to my stewards, Mrs S Newton and Mr I Gorden, who kept me on the straight and narrow throughout the day. Not forgetting my sincere thanks to the exhibitors who had travelled, some many hundreds of miles, giving me such an excellent entry of hounds to judge. I wish that I had had more cards to award as many placings were very close. It was a privilege and an honour to go over them all.

Effortless movement with good reach and drive was one of the main attributes I was looking for enabling the Rhodesian Ridgeback to be able to perform the task for which they were originally bred, specifically to track down the lion and keep them at bay until the hunter arrived. This required great endurance with a fair amount of speed.

All temperaments were excellent and ridges and bites acceptable and I will not comment further.

Class 3165 Veteran Dog (15 Entries) Abs 3

1st Mulligan’s – Ch Zougani Zuri SHCM

Beautifully constructed male of ten years, three months. Well angulated with nothing overdone. Moved with drive and held his topline while on the move. Excellent head planes with kind expression, correct round eye and ear carriage. Good deep capacious chest and well ribbed back. Well defined hind quarters with good width of first and second thigh. Correct feet. Won the class on his movement. BV

2nd Mach’s – INT CH/DE CH/NL CH/DK CH/AT CH/CH Hazinas 6th Funanyo Barongo By U

Another beautifully constructed male. Excellent angulation and very well balanced, with good length to body. Excellent topline, well ribbed back with lovely depth to chest. Correct bone, head proportions and good level topline which was held on the move. Lovely round eye and ear carriage.

3rd CH Roseridge Royal Romeo (AI) (IMP SWE) JW

A very well constructed male with good length to body, good infill of forechest, well ribbed back with a lovely reach of neck. A picture standing, but did not move as well as the first and second placed dogs today. Good head planes with a kind and intelligent expression.

Class 3166 Minor Puppy Dog (2 Entries) Abs 1

1st Storey & Piehl’s – Kiromol Heaven Can Wait (AI)

A very handsome puppy of eight months. Well balanced with good angulation and excellent movement. Good infill of forechest and well ribbed back with a lovely reach of neck. Correct bone with good length to body and level topline which was held on the move. Lovely head proportions with correct ear carriage and correct depth to muzzle.Very promising, I will watch will interest as he matures. Pleased to award him BP.

Class 3167 Puppy Dog (6 Entries) Abs 0

1st Bossard’s – Sabaku Inus Glorious Makoa Of George

This smart puppy looked a picture, very well put together, excellent angulation, moved well with good level topline. Lovely reach to neck and correct tail set. Good head proportions with pleasing round eye and ear carriage.

2nd Muir’s – Villagedogs Silver Blade Runner TAF

Another lovely puppy. Well balanced with good bone and well ribbed back and lovely reach of neck. Good head planes with a lovely round eye and correct ear carriage. Just lost out to first place on movement in the straight line.

3rd Rhodes’ – Priorpark Paradice City Of Metalrock

Very well made puppy with good angulation and excellent bone with a lovely deep chest. Moved well. Good head with lovely kind eye and correct ear carriage.

Class 3168 Junior Dog (15 Entries) Abs 0

1st House’s – Diamondridge Keep It Dark For Kemgordoni

The best mover in the class. A very handsome upstanding male. Well balanced standing and on the move with good angulation and correct level top line, good depth and infill to chest. Excellent bone, good head planes with a lovely round eye, correct ear carriage and good length of neck. Moved with drive which gave him the edge in this strong class.

2nd White’s – Carlincox Gold Star

Very well balanced standing and on the move with good level top line with lovely depth to chest and lovely reach of neck. Good head planes, eye and ear carriage. Correct infill to forechest, well ribbed back with lovely bone. Did not move as well as first place today.

3rd Van Den Biesen’s – Livernose Rules Taittinger

Darker in colour and not as substantial as first and second place but very well made, with a good level topline which was held while standing and on the move. Lovely infill of forechest and kind pleasing head.

Class 3169 Yearling Dog (17 Entries) Abs 2

1st Nardini’s – Dorianth Drago Hati Singa

Took my eye as soon as he came into the ring.Very well made with excellent angulation while standing and on the move with good level topline. The best mover in the class, drove well behind. Good bone with excellent front with correct drop of chest and excellent infill of forechest. Good reach of neck leading into clean and sloping shoulders. Good head planes. Was a contender in the challenge.

2nd Dusbaba’s – Ringerike Ice On Fire Villagedogs

Very well made throughout. Well balanced standing and on the move, with good level topline, Good front and reach of neck. Correct head planes. Good depth of forechest and well ribbed back. Did not move as well as first place today.

3rd Gilpin’s – Hunterpride Flaming Glory JNR CH

Well balanced throughout with good bone. Moved well from all angles and held topline while on the move. Good houndy head with lovely proportions, correct round eye and ear carriage.

Class 3170 Post Graduate Dog (10 Entries) Abs 1

1st Barnes’ – Diamondridge Di Caprio

Very well balanced liver nosed with excellent angulation whilst standing and on the move. Plenty of bone, well ribbed back with correct drop of chest, good length of loin, correct level topline, lovely reach of neck and elbows held close to body. Good clean head planes with lovely round eyes, correct ear carriage and a lovely kind expression. Moved with good reach and drive from behind.

2nd Jeffery’s – Mirengo’s Machinga At Rexgrove

Another very well made hound. Very well balanced with good angulation throughout. Did not move as well as first place today in the straight line. Well boned, lovely drop of forechest, well ribbed back with lovely level topline and good reach of neck.

3rd Hodgkins’ – Mirengo’s Mulabanji

Good angulation while standing and on the move with correct topline. Good depth of chest with correct infill of forechest and well ribbed back. Pleasing head with a kind expression and good head proportions.

Class 3171 Mid Limit Dog (8 Entries) Abs 0

1st Dusbaba’s- Ringerike Beyond

Moved beautifully showing good reach and drive in profile. Excellently balanced throughout with good bone, lovely drop of chest, well ribbed back and excellent feet. Good clean head proportions with lovely round eye and correct eye carriage with lovely reach of neck. The best mover in the class.

2nd McGoldrick’s – Villagedogs Red Hot Chilli Pepper

Very well put together with good balance while standing and on the move. Just lost out to first place on movement in the straight line today. Good level topline which was held nicely on the move. Correct infill of forechest and well ribbed back. Lovely head planes and very kind expression.

3rd Willunat’s – Shavano’s Quality Of Life By Oliver (IMP NOR) JW

Slighter built than first and second place but very well put together with good movement and balance. Good depth of chest and well ribbed back. Correct head proportions with lovely round eye and ear carriage.

Class 3172 Limit Dog (14 Entries) Abs 5

1st Antony’s – Rottzridge I Am Wrath

I liked this dog very much, sound all round with all the correct attributes. Well presented and in excellent condition. Lovely movement with good level top line. Lovely reach of neck. Correct head planes with good ear carriage and lovely round eyes. Good bone with lovely depth of chest, correct length of loin and lovely width to first and second thigh.

2nd Aitken, Muir, Rossiter & McGoldrick’s – Villagedogs Rise Of Phoenix At Saadani (IMP BEL)

Very well made with lovely balanced movement though drops off a little over the croup. Lovely drop of chest and well ribbed back with good length to loin and lovely reach of neck. Correct head planes with lovely round eye and good ear carriage. Moved with reach and drive.

3rd Buchanan’s – Nehando’s Excalibur SHCM

Slightly darker in colour than first and second place. Very well made with good angulation and balanced movement. Lovely bone correct head planes, ear carriage and round eye with intelligent expression.

Class 3173 Open Dog (26 Entries) Abs 3

1st Radke’s – GER/CH AT/CH NL/CH SLO/CH SK/INT CH Ndoki Highlander JWW’17

Beautifully balanced with superb angulation with no exaggerations. Easily the best mover in the class. Handsome strong and muscular with good bone, but not overdone. Lovely straight front with excellent infill of forechest. Good level topline with lovely length of neck, correct head planes, good round eye and ear carriage, lovely length and depth to muzzle. Deep and capacious chest, well ribbed back with lovely width to first and second thigh. Feet compact with well arched toes. Movement balanced and free with drive. Handled to perfection. Pleased to award him DCC and BOB. Delighted that he then went on to win HG2. Many congratulations!

2nd Bossard’s – HR/CH/LUX/GER/SH CH Ndoki Gentle George

Half brother to first place and again has all the correct attributes. Excellently balanced while standing and on the move with correct level topline. Correct infill of forechest and well ribbed back. Lovely head proportions with superb round eye and ear carriage, good length and depth of muzzle, has a kind expression. Lovely bone and feet. Movement free and balanced with drive. RDCC

3rd Whiteside’s – Jimanns The Doctor

Another excellent mover with superb angulation. Balanced throughout with no exaggerations. Good level topline which was held while on the move. Lovely bone with a deep capacious chest which was well ribbed back and good infill of forechest. Elbows held correctly close to the body and good width to first and second thigh. Good head proportions with a lovely kind expression.

Class 3174 Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog (9 Entries) Abs 0

1st Greeves & Craven’s – Hespa Hermes JW

His well balanced movement won him the class. Lovely bone and feet with correct reach of neck. Good depth to chest and well ribbed back with good width to first and second thigh. Presented in superb condition. Just drops off a little too much over the croup for me.

2nd Hawkins & Smith’s – Veldtkammer Hot Shot Of Lonaza SHCM

This nine year old was really enjoying his day out. He certainly does not look his age and moved well around the ring. Lovely level top line with good depth of chest and well ribbed back. Correct head planes with a lovely kind expression.

3rd Collie’s – Kitoko Uptown Funky Fritz

Well made with good infill of forechest and well ribbed back. Lovely width to first and second thigh. Good head proportions. Did not move as well as first and second place.

Class 3175 Veteran Bitch (14 Entries) Abs 1

1st Storey & Piehl’s – Ch Kiromol Kendi JW SHCM

This lady was my BOB when I judged at WELKS in 2017 and she still has all the correct attributes. Now seven and a half years of age. Very well balanced which resulted in excellent movement with correct reach and drive. Lovely clean outline and presented in superb condition. Lovely head planes with correct dark round eye and ear carriage.

2nd Kirby & Mansfield’s – Ch Shingwidsi Tshelete Silk

A very lovely lady of nearly ten years of age and in superb condition. Good angulation with lovely reach of neck. Correct depth to chest and well ribbed back with, good width to first and second thigh. Pleasing head with a kind expression. Moved very well but not with the same reach and drive as first place today.

3rd Shaw’s – Ch Makibos Kilimalemrika Of Negasi SHCM

Another lovely lady of nine years of age. Light wheaten in colour. Excelled in profile movement with good reach and drive. Good angulation and very well balanced. Deep capacious chest, well ribbed back with good length to loin and correct infill to forechest. Lovely head proportions.

Class 3176 Minor Puppy Bitch (1 Entries) Abs 0

1st Storey & Piehl’s – Kiromol Tip Toe And Go (AI)

A little on the rangy side at present but shows plenty of promise. Moved well. Good bone with a correct level topline which was held on the move. Chest well ribbed back with lovely length to loin. Correct head, eye and ear carriage with lovely reach of neck.

Class 3177 Puppy Bitch (12 Entries) Abs 1

1st Taylor’s – Tokwe Truly A Blessing

Very well balanced standing and on the move with good angulation. Moved with correct reach in front and drive from behind. Lovely level topline, well ribbed back

with good length to loin. Good bone, correct head proportion with lovely round eye and ear carriage. Very promising.

2nd Parsons’ – Priopark Pinch Of Salt

On the smaller side than first place but still very well made with good angulation. Moved well. Correct level topline and well ribbed back with good width to first and second thigh. Good head planes

3rd Mills’ – Priorpark Playing It By Ear For Nzuri

Very well made light wheaten with good angulation and balanced movement. Good deep capacious chest and correct bone. Correct head planes with a clean kind expression.

Class 3178 Junior Bitch (16 Entries) Abs 3

1st Farleigh’s – Kinabula’s Gucci Bloom

A superb young lady excellently balanced while standing and on the move, the best mover in the class. Correct level topline and lovely length of neck. Good head proportions, correct round dark eye and ear carriage. Good depth to chest, well ribbed back with correct length to loin and good infill of forechest. One to watch.

2nd Parsons’ – Priorpark Pot Kettle Black

Excellent angulation while standing and on the move, very well balanced. Correct head planes, with kind expression. Good depth and infill to chest, well ribbed back with lovely reach to neck and length to loin. Moved effortlessly with reach and drive. Just preferred the head on first place.

3rd Timms’ – Carlincox Golden Aura

Slightly darker than first and second place and very well made. Balanced while standing and on the move. Good level topline with correct bone and lovely depth to chest. Pleasing head with correct proportions and an intelligent expression.

Class 3179 Yearling Bitch (15 Entries) Abs 2

1st Cox’s – Carlincox Pure Gold

Lovely well balanced girl with good angulation, moved well, good depth of chest and well ribbed back, with good length to body. Lovely level topline which was held on the move. Correct head planes with good round eyes and ear carriage and reach of neck and lovely feet.

2nd Maidment’s – Amahle You Had Me From Hello

Well angulated and balanced throughout. Moved well but preferred the movement of first place today. Good drop and infill of chest, well ribbed back with correct length to loin. Good head planes with an intelligent kind expression and lovely reach of neck.

3rd Parker’s – Kiromol As You Like It With Azuli JW

Very well made with good balance and angulation. Moved well. Correct level topline, just drops off a little over the croup for me. Good head proportions, nicely boned with good width to first and second thigh.

Class 3180 Post Graduate Bitch (14 Entries) Abs 4

1st Hicks’- Nuthouse Queen Of Clubs JW

Caught my eye when she walked into the ring. Good angulation and balance while standing and on the move. Correct bone, well ribbed back with good level topline which was held while moving. Good round eye and ear carriage. Movement effortless with reach and drive from behind.

2nd Porczynska’s – Diamonsridge Destiny Child JW

This bitch was also very well made. Balanced while standing and on the move with good angulation. Moved with drive from behind. Good head with correct eye and ear carriage, lovely depth and length to muzzle. Super reach of neck, lovely depth and infill to chest and well ribbed back with good length to loin.

3rd Henshall’s – Leeurif Jukeba Mshangao Tatu At Suhuba (IMP GRC)

Well angulated with good movement. Lovely level topline with deep capacious chest which was well ribbed back. Good width to first and second thigh. Correct head proportions, but preferred the head’s on first and second place.

Class 3181 Mid Limit Bitch (13 Entries) Abs 3

1st Barnes’ – Diamondridge Dream Catch Me JW

The best mover in the class. Very well balanced with good angulation and correct topline which was held on the move. Good bone and feet with a deep capacious chest which was well ribbed back. Excelled in the head with lovely round eyes and ear carriage and good reach to neck.

2nd Shaw’s – Negasi Celebrian

Very close to first place but just lost out on movement. Looked a picture in profile while standing, very well balanced with good angulation. Lovely level topline with good bone and correct width to first and second thigh. Good head planes with a kind expression, a lovely round eye and correct ear carriage.

3rd Cyrprien’s – Shavano’s Quality Of Life By Indie JW (IMP NOR)

Moved with good reach and drive, very well balanced. Good length to body with a deep capacious chest and lovely reach to neck. Very much liked the head which had good proportions and an intelligent expression.

Class 3182 Limit Bitch (14 Entries) Abs 3

1st Simper’s – Amahle Ayita Of Matabelle

Beautifully constructed bitch with a superb outline. So well balanced standing and on the move with excellent angulation. Lovely head planes with a kind expression, correct round eye and ear carriage. Lovely reach of neck leading down into sloping and clean shoulders with good width to first and second thigh. Good deep capacious chest with correct infill of forechest and good length to loin. Correct feet. Excellent level topline which was held while moving. RBCC

2nd Davis & Vincent’s – Mirengo’s Muira For Imola

I have always like this bitch and she still does not disappoint. Lovely girl with plenty of bone. Well balanced with good angulation which resulted in correct and balanced sound movement with drive. Lovely deep chest, well ribbed back with good infill of forechest and good reach to neck. Correct head proportions with correct round eye and ear carriage. Just lost out to first place on movement in the straight line.

3rd Parson’s – Priorpark Pipsicle

Good all round and very well put together, just lost out on movement to first and second place. Light wheaten in colour with good bone and correct angulation. Lovely level topline and good reach to neck. Good head with a kind expression.

Class 3183 Open Bitch (24 Entries) Abs 8

1st Catley & McGimpsey’s – CH Diamondridge Roll The Dice For Royalridge JW

Won this class on her movement. This girl has really matured into a lovely bitch. Well boned with nothing overdone. Excellent angulation in front and rear, resulting in movement being balanced and free with drive. Excellent head proportions, lovely round dark eye and correct ear carriage with good length and depth to muzzle. Good strong neck letting down into sloping and clean shoulders. Excellent depth of chest and infill, well ribbed back with correct length of loin and level topline. Lovely width to first and second thigh. BCC

2nd Kirby & Mansfield’s – CH Shingwidsi Tshadi Rose

Well balanced with excellent angulation while standing and on the move. Good head, eye and ear carriage. Excellent bone. Lovely clean reach of neck. Good depth to chest, with correct infill and well ribbed back with good length to loin. Lovely straight front with elbows held close to body. Correct feet with well arched toes. Well defined hindquarters with good width to first and second thigh. Just did not move quite as well as first place today.

3rd Cox’s – CH Carlincox First Class JW SHCM SHCEX

Another very well made girl with all the correct attributes. Very well balanced while standing and on the move. Lovely level topline with good depth to chest and well ribbed back with good length to loin. Good head proportions with a correct round eye and ear carriage with a kind intelligent expression.

Class 3184 Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch (8 Entries) Abs 2

1st Maylor’s – Kamili Coat Of Many Colours

Moved well in profile and in the straight line with reach and drive. Well angulated and balanced with good bone and a lovely level topline. Good depth to chest and well ribbed back with correct infill to forechest. Good reach to neck and good width to first and second thigh. Good head planes with a kind expression.

2nd Smith’s – Diamondridge Daiane Del Rio At Ungowa

Another lovely bitch of slighter build than first place. Moved well from all angles with a good level topline. Lovely balanced girl with good depth to chest and well ribbed back. Correct head with good round eye and ear carriage, just felt she could do with a little more depth to muzzle.

3rd Darling Steele’s – Saadani Storm Catcher With Sharufa

Well made girl with good depth to chest with correct infill of forechest and well ribbed back. Moved well with balanced movement and good level topline. Correct head with round eye and good ear carriage, but could also do with a little more depth to the muzzle.