Crufts

CRUFTS 2020

Retriever Flatcoated (D)

It was an honour to receive an invitation to judge at Crufts and in circumstances that meant I had just under a year to wait. The anticipation in the run up to the show was somewhat overshadowed by all the hype over Coronavirus. I have to say I was very surprised at how well the dogs behaved having their handler show the dogs teeth. I had thought Flatcoats would be too preoccupied wanting the bait to allow this change in routine, but no, well done to them. It was a very pleasing coincidence that my fellow judge should be Mick Howes, for it was he and his wife Aidine who gave me my very first judging appointment back in 1990 and at the end of the day we were in total agreement over the three joint decisions. My grateful thanks to my two fine stewards Bill and Ken.

The judging itself left me rather dismayed as to the state of the breed. I know that many will know that I repeatedly mention size and that the Flatcoat is a “Medium sized dog” and so it should, but today my greater concern was movement. Nearly every critique one reads, close rear action is commentated on and that continued today but by far the biggest problem was front movement. The vast majority of dogs present came towards me with elbows out and pinning in! Also and rather alarmingly a problem I have not witnessed before, I had three fine boned dogs without any front angulation at all. Foreleg, upper arm and shoulder as “Straight Up & Down” as a snooker cue!

Eye colour is always hard to assess in an indoor situation.

Veteran 13/1 At least a good class to start with.

Three eight year olds that really fitted the standard

1st Joyce’s STRANFAER MAKUNUDU Correct size, lovely head and expression good deep body with good angulation excellent bone and a very powerful mover.

2nd Adams’ KISSOCK DARK N DASHING Slightly heavier dog, short coupled, level topline another that moved with great drive.

3rd Ross’ DOWNSTREAM FACE THE MUSIC JW Lovely head and expression presents a completely balanced picture spot on for size and moved straight and true.

Minor Puppy 3

1st Armstrong’s BITCON MAGIC MARKER This youngster was the stand-out winner in this class everything as it should be in such a youngster so balanced and together moved accurately.

2nd Howe’s BRAMATHA MAYFAIR A much bigger and rangier dog that will take a lot of to get everything into proportion, moved just a bit better than third

3rd Maclaron’s KAZVAL MADE TO MEASURE I’m afraid he does not live up to his name in my interpretation of the standard like second will need a lot of time, movement rather erratic.

Puppy 3

1st Bellamy’s WOODFINCH MASQUERADE What a super youngster. Good neck and shoulders balanced through body OK for bone and feet, good powerful mover with short straight tail carried level. One to be proud of BP

2nd Lutner’s TELURN DON’T WANNA KNOW slightly larger all over than 1st. Very nice head and expression, level topline good bone not the feet of winner.

3rd K MADE TO MEASURE

Junior 15/2

1st Hessing’s RONEVORG I BELIEVE IN SANTA Correct construction fore and aft. Very fit and powerful on the move. I liked him a lot.

2nd Trotter’s LUSSAC WINTER WIZZARD JW A name I have seen in print many times and I can see why. First class dog from any angle very good bone and feet and powerful on the move.

3rd Warrington’s ARMINZERAS KING OF THE WEST TO WOODAVENS (Imp) A dog of substance with a thick coat but in no way too big, balanced, with very good bone and feet, moved extremely powerfully.

Yearling 16/3

1st Mancik’s CACI’S JUST NEEDS SWEETS JCH Spot on for size so well balanced good angulation fore and aft, good body with level topline and a very active mover.

2nd Holland’s FLATCHARM MR BRIHGTSIDE A very close decision between these two. Finer in head and slightly longer but in all aspects a very good dog.

3rd Walker’s LIZZLOG SHOTGUN HARRY JW Another very good youngster why don’t they all have feet like his? Completing a trio of very good youngster’s all with constant wagging tails.

Undergraduate 13/2

1st Mutch’s WISTASTON THE FIRECRACKER. This dog was the stand out winner of this class. My notes on the day say Lovely looking powerful dog. Good head and expression OK for size, all angles correct. Definitely the best here!!

2nd Protheroe’s MANTEAUPLAT TOM PUTT - VHC in Yearling, a nice youngster that needs a bit more time to develop and mature in body, good bone and feet.

3rd Osborne-Brown’s PERRYMEL DAYS OF THUNDER A lovely looking dog finer all through compared to 1&2, but balanced with decent movement rather proud of his tail.

Graduate 14

1st Fox’s SATINBAZE CRACKSMAN FOR BLACKTOFT (JW) Exactly what I’m looking for in head, expression, bone, construction and attitude, everything A1. Very good prospect for the future.

2nd Chipperfield & Higginbotham’s ISLSTROM ALL OF A STORM AT HOWLINGALE another out of the top draw, slightly more mature in body looking very good but not quite the drive of the winner

3rd King’s KINGSISLA GLEN SLIGACHAN Making a trio of very good dogs, just a tad finer in bone but very good body and angulation shortest of coupling and powerful movement.

Postgraduate 16/6

Sadly six absent and a good looking dog lame.

1st Joyce’s STRANFAER GET OVER IT One of the most accurate movers of the day. Racier than some but still with strength and stamina. Deep through body and good rear angulation One to watch. ResCC

2nd Trotter’s LUSSAC VILL I AM JW Unlucky to meet the winner another that moved straight and true, not quite the maturity or the furnishing of the winner, kept a firm topline and level tail carriage.

3rd Carter’s LIZZLOG CHICARGO OUTFIT A slightly bigger dog than those above but still within the standard very good feet but they always are from this kennel.

Mid Limit 12/2

Some good looking dogs let themselves down on the move

1st Ross’s GO WITH THE FLOW EBONY IN HARMONY AT QLOCONTRAIL (Imp) Lovely head and expression very good bone and feet, all angles and proportions correct for a well balanced dog, very enthusiastic mover.

2nd Smitherman & Roberts’ SEAHEART CRIANAT GLOI JW Slightly taller and finer and not such good feet, deep through body and kept a good topline on the move.

3rd Benedetic’s FUNSTUFF HOAX Close up to 2nd Nice head and eye, good angulation, the eldest of the three, but still has some maturing to do which is not a bad thing. Good legs and feet and very fit.

Limit 15/1

A really good class movement and tail carriage the decider.

1st Savory’s HOPEVALLEY MORNING ARIZONA. Super strong dog from any angle at the top of the size scale. Very good construction and angulation from his lovely head and expression to his legs and feet and the tip of his tail and so attentive to his handler. CC the bitch just had the extra furnishings to give the complete picture for BOB

2nd Neilsen’s KEEP IN TOUCH OASIS OF PEACE Another lovely dog perhaps a little racier but not the drive of the winner, in serious contention for the reserve CC.

3rd Adams’ FORDINGHAM VIKING WARRIOR Moved straight and true on well boned legs but not such good feet as the winners rather “Settery” in outline.

Open 19/5

Surprisingly movement was not good in this the OPEN class!

1st Ostman’s SE(U)CH CACI’S WE ARE THE HEROS. Dog of correct size and balance powerful and accurate on the move with excellent topline and tail carriage. I don’t know what happened after this class for in the challenge his movement was all over place and I did give him a second chance. Such a pity.

2nd Walker’s SH CH LIZZLOG GRANNY WON’T LIKE IT JW A larger dog all through but nevertheless everything in proportion and balanced very good bone and wonderful tight feet.

3rd Strudwick’s SH CH BURPHAM MILLION LOVE SONGS JW This worthy champion has not come to his best yet. Well made and everything so well balanced for his ideal size he just needs to mature in body to complete a wonderful profile. Excellent on the move both up and down and in profile.

Field Trial 1

1st Rosser’s MAHINDA POMPOKO No variation here in type from the show dogs.

Very fit as one would expect. Good head and eye body and bone a dog to be proud of.

Special Working 16/1 Very mixed for size from the largest to the smallest, but all have proved they are capable in the field.

1st Janickova’s MULTI CH DIAMANTE BLU NELLA MIA STANZA

2nd Reynolds & Jacobs’ CH WICCANSSAGE HUGO’S DREAM

3rd Fox’s BLACK MICA’S LIKES IT HOT AT BLACKTOFT JW (Imp)

It was a privilege to judge this class, to avoid repartition as the same comments apply to all. Three very fit dogs “Hugo’s Dream” not quite as mature as “Blu Nella”. “Likes It Hot” slightly taller but still balanced. All fulfil the “Fit for Function” brief perfectly.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme 13/1

1st Trotter’s LUSSAC VILL I AM JW 2nd Post Grad

2nd Trotter’s LUSSAC WINTER WIZARD JW 2nd Junior

3rd Chipperfield & Higginbotham’s WISTASTON THE BLACK DIAMOND AT HOWLINGALE On the smallish side in today’s company preferable to being too big. A well balanced dog that moved well and kept his topline on the move.

Graham Lambert