Crufts

Flatcoated Retriever Bitches.

My sincere thanks to the Kennel Club and Crufts Committee for the great honour of judging my specialist breed at Crufts. My thanks also to my stewards, Barry and Jean for their hard work throughout the day in keeping my ring running seamlessly.  

Whereas I was very pleased with my top winners I feel that there are urgent points in the breed that need addressing before it changes beyond repair. The Flatcoat should be a dog without any exaggerations. It should be workmanlike and form should follow function. Heads on the whole were very good and I didn’t find one bad mouth all day. Forehand angulation left quite a lot to be desired with many lacking the correct layback of shoulder and corresponding return of upper arm. The standard is quite clear about the length and spring of rib. The fore ribs should be flat leading to a moderate spring and then tapering to a short square loin. The length of the body should be in the rib cage and not the loin. Therefore anything more than 25% loin in my view is not acceptable. As is the case with the spring of rib - I don’t expect to look down and see a long tube with little or no indication of where the rib stops and the loin starts. Then move on to the croup and tail set. Here I found huge problems. A Flatcoat is NOT a terrier - therefore the croup should not be flat, short and level. If it is then the tail set will not be correct for the breed - and the whole hindquarters will be be out of balance. When viewing a Flatcoat in profile the hocks shouldn’t be more than a couple of inches back from the root of the tail - and they should have a good width of second thigh with hocks that are parallel to the ground. In many cases the hindquarters were too long from hip to hock and thus this meant that the hocks pointed inwards.  

Movement. To be blunt that left a great deal to be desired. The standard quite clearly calls for free and flowing, straight and true as seen from the front and rear. Viewed from the side it should cover the ground efficiently. In short they should be able to cover a field of plough with ease. There were many that I wouldn’t have safely backed on this aspect. I am not quite sure when and how goose-stepping has become so prevalent but, let us be quite clear on this, it is not correct for a Flatcoat. It might look “wonderful” to those not fully conversant with this breed but please let me assure you that it it is not correct.  

The BOB and BV were awarded on the decision of the Referee.

Veteran Bitch

Entries: 12 Absentees: 1

1ST Flatham’s Gaode Delbax from Castlerock JW (Mrs D Brooks). This bitch headed a lovely class of Veterans. Hard to believe that she is nearly 10 years old and she wears her years very lightly. Excellent overall balance showing true breed outline. Classic head with flat cheeks with correct infill beneath the eyes. Clean neck leading to good lay of shoulder. To be picky I would like a little more return on the upper arm. Level topline. Good depth of chest with elbows close to the brisket. Well ribbed back. Her croup is slightly sloping so therefore she has the correct tailset. Scores in hindquarters with good width of second thigh. Hocks square to the ground. On the move she could give the youngsters a lesson - totally parallel fore and aft showing good open side gait when viewed in profile. Not a million miles away in my final shake up.

2ND Nord Ch/nl Ch Kalexas Carrera Amsw-16 (Mrs K & Mr J A Jensen & Breivik). I liked this bitch very much. She is slightly longer cast than the winner so not quite her overall balance. Classic head with dark eye and soft expression. Had the better return of upper arm than the winner but not quite the spring of rib that I was looking for. Chest is of good depth with elbows close to the brisket. A little short in croup but tail was carried correctly. Well made hindquarters. Moved out on a good stride - not quite the precision going away as the winner.  

3RD Moonstruck Macadamia Jww15 (Mrs S, Mrs G & Mr M Knight & Jacobs)

Minor Puppy Bitch

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1ST Blacklake Dark Lady (Mr G & Mrs J Goodman). Good overall balance. I hope she won’t grow any taller. Well shaped head with dark eye and correct skull shape. Clean neck leading to well laid shoulder and best return of upper arm of the trio. Level topline. Enough depth of chest for her age. Correct set of croup. Fraction long hip to hock. Excellent bone and feet. Moved the best of the class. 

2ND Burpham Lotus First Love (Mrs L M & Mr R Strudwick). Very pretty bitch who at the moment is still rather bum high and needs to level out. I preferred her size to that of the winner. Classic head with small well set ears. A little short in neck and I would like more angulation in the forequarters. Well ribbed back. Enough bone for her age with the best of feet. Needs to tighten in front movement but this will come.

3RD Blacklake Ophelia (Mrs G & Mr A Saunders)

Puppy Bitch

Entries: 7 Absentees: 1

1ST Thurwhitt Tamara (Mrs S J Thurgood). Another puppy who was plenty tall enough for me. She will take some time to come into herself properly. Good head shape of correct length and breadth. Clean neck leading to good lay of shoulder and return of upper arm. Level topline. Adequate spring of rib for age. Well made hindquarters. Excellent bone and feet. Moved out well on a good stride. In agreement with my co-judge Best Puppy in breed.  

2ND Llantrussa Dearest Zelda (Mrs C A & Mrs L & Mr L Price & Nicholls & Nicholls). I preferred her size to that of the winner. Well balanced all through with correct one piece head, clean neck leading to good lay of shoulder and return of upper arm. Stands a little over at the knee at present. Good length and spring of rib with short loin. Correct set of croup. A little long from hock to hip which means that hocks are not as square to the ground as I would like. Moved well on a good stride.

3RD Llantrussa Winter Dreams (Mrs C A Thomson)

Junior Bitch

Entries: 11 Absentees: 2

1ST Blacktoft Caress of Steelriver (Miss S Stevenson). I was very impressed with this young bitch - something nice to look forward to for the future. At the moment she is a little like an unfinished painting but you can see from the start that the end result will be good. Excellent overall balance showing a true breed outline. Classic head of correct length with clean cheeks and small well set ears. Her neck is go the correct length leading to a correctly laid shoulder. To be ultra picky she could have a little more length in upper arm but her elbows are close to her brisket. She is well ribbed back and has the correct topline. Anybody wanting to see the correct angle of croup and tail set needs not look any further. Excellent hindquarters with good width of second thigh. Super bone and the best of feet. Moved at one with her handler. Too young to be considered for higher honours today but give it a couple of years and I expect to see her name in lights. A great credit to both her owner and breeder.

2ND Braemist Witches Fire (Miss L S Jones). Another quality bitch of the correct size with true breed outline. Her head is copybook - true classic Flatcoat - softly moulded and all of a piece. Her shoulder is well laid back and she does have more length of upper arm than my winner. Chest of good depth with elbows close to the brisket. Well ribbed back. Tail set not quite as good as winner and could be a little more moderate in rear angulation. But not overdone in anyway. Excellent bone and feet. Another that moved well with good open side gait.  

3RD Moontorn Better Half of Me (Miss A Bellamy)

Yearling Bitch

Entries: 9 Absentees: 1

1ST Kvasneset's Treasure to Share (Mrs Anja Sunde). I loved the racy outline of this bitch. Very well balanced all through. Classic head of correct length and breadth. Eye of very good colour. Clean through her neck leading to correct lay of shoulder and corresponding return of upper arm. Chest of correct depth leading to good length of ribcage and loin that is short and square. Little long hip to hock. Excellent bone and feet. Moved out well on a good stride.  

2ND Braemist Witches Fire (Miss L S Jones). 2nd in Junior.  

3RD Padend Just The Way You Are (Miss K L & Mrs M A Gogarty)

Undergraduate Bitch

Entries: 11 Absentees: 1

1ST Bitcon Taylor Made for Svenjak (Miss A L Gardiner). Good overall balance. Head of good proportions but a little full in eye. Clean slightly arched neck. I would like a little more angulation in her forehand however she has a good depth of chest and is well ribbed back. Croup of correct angle and tail set good. Scores in her hindquarters. Moderate bend of stifle with good with of second thigh. Correct amount of bone. Feet a little flat. Moved well at one with her handler.

2ND Gemswin Dont Stop Me Now for Ravensfort (Miss A V Bratby). Correct size and overall balance. Head correctly proportioned and all of a piece. Better in forehand construction than the winner. However the winner was better in her rear construction and had the tidier rear movement. Chest of good depth and well ribbed back. Excellent bone and feet. Well presented and handled.

3RD Gunoak Emerald's Capercaley (Mr D.a. Ashcroft)

Graduate Bitch

Entries: 13 Absentees: 2

1ST Llantrussa O'sole Mio (Mrs L & Mrs C Nicholls & Price). My notes start - workmanlike and totally free from exaggeration. The thing about this bitch is that she doesn’t immediately catch your eye because she is not flashy - but she shouldn’t be! Flash is not a word that comes into the standard. You need to get your hands on her to truly appreciate her virtues. What you see is what you get. She is perfectly balanced. Her head is true to type - all of a piece with clean cheeks and moderately flat skull. Clean neck leading to well laid shoulder and corresponding length of upper arm. (to be picky maybe could have a fraction more angulation) Chest of good depth with elbows tight to the brisket. She has the correct length and spring of rib (missing in so many today), and a short square loin. Scores in her hindquarters - moderately angulated with hocks square to the floor. The best of bone and feet. Moved accurately both fore and aft and showed good length of stride when viewed in profile. Her coat is of the correct texture - not perhaps at its absolute best - but coat is cosmetic - it will grow. Good construction is either there or it isn’t. A very well deserved RCC.

2ND Matlaras Spirit of Dunkirk for Taranbeck (Mrs S Oxford). Another very good workmanlike bitch with no frills. Well balanced all though. Head well moulded with dark eye and soft expression. Clean slightly arched neck leading to copybook forehand construction. Front legs placed well under the body. Chest of correct depth and rib/loin proportions correct. A little flat in croup with meant that the tail set wasn’t quite correct. Also a fraction high in hock. Good bone and feet. Moved out well on a good stride.

3RD Lussac Xpress Yourself at Dymexe (ai) (Mr M R & Mrs D P Moxey)

Post Graduate Bitch

Entries: 9 Absentees: 2

1ST Islstrom Aila (Mr R & Mrs S M Ross). Correct size and well balanced all through. Classic head of correct length and breadth. Small well set ears. Neck slightly arched leading to well laid shoulders. I would like slightly better angulation of the upper arm. Chest of good depth with elbows close to the brisket. Another with the correct length and spring of ribcage leading to short square loin. Level topline held both standing and in motion. Slopes off a little too much in croup but rear angulation is good and correct width of second thigh. Hocks square to the ground with good rear cannons. Excellent bone and feet. Presented in tip top condition. Moved out soundly at one with her handler.

2ND Westoncruive Black Aurora (Mrs J Grant). Another bitch whom I liked very much - just didn’t hold her topline as well as the winner which was the deciding factor. Excellent head with good length of muzzle. Clean neck leading to well laid shoulders. Chest of good depth. Well ribbed back leading to loin of correct length. A fraction short in croup. Moderately turned stifles with hocks square to the ground. Excellent bone and feet. Moved on a good stride when viewed in profile.  

3RD Hameldowntor Music of The Night (imp) (Mr A J Wilson)

Mid Limit Bitch

Entries: 15 Absentees: 4

1ST Moontorn Goddess of Love (Miss A Bellamy). Just what I was looking for. As I write this I am looking at the photo I took of her. She is just pure Flatcoat. Power without lumber and raciness without weediness. Perfectly balanced all through. So starting with her head - It is of the correct length and breadth. Dark eye with a twinkling expression. Her neck is of the correct length and leads to a well laid shoulder and correct return of upper arm. Her forelegs are placed well under the body. Her height to length ratio are correct in that the distance from the wither to the elbow is the same as from the elbow to the floor. Her elbows are close to her brisket. Her ribcage is of good length and her loin is square. Another with perfect length and angle of croup so that the tail flows seamlessly off the back and doesn’t look like it has been randomly stuck on. Then we move to the hindquarters - and she really does score in this area. When you look at the hocks in profile they should be no more than a couple of inches back from the root of the tail. This bitch is perfection in that area. A moderate bend of stifle with good width of second thigh then hocks that are parallel to the ground with short, straight rear cannons. Excellent bone with well padded feet. On the move - she could be a little tidier coming in but her rear movement was totally spot on. Her open side gait when viewed in profile was the best of the day - she just gobbled up the ring. She left me in no doubt that she could cross a field of plough with ease and her very able handler got the very best out of her and I had no hesitation in awarding her the Bitch CC.

2ND Gemswin Dressed for Success (Mrs S, Mrs G & Mr M Knight & Jacobs). Another quality bitch who I liked a lot but not the finish of the winner. Excellent overall balance. Scores in her head with clean flat cheeks and correct fill in beneath the eyes. Neck of correct length, slightly arched leading to well laid shoulder, but not quite the return of upper arm as the winner. I would like a little more spring to her ribcage but she was giving away a little in age to the winner and she is well ribbed back with a short loin. Well made hindquarters with good width of second thigh. Excellent bone and feet. Very well presented and handled. On the move just not quite the ground covering stride of the winner but a very worthy second place. 

3RD Wistaston Lucky Choice of Ardhmor JW (Miss I & Miss G Gilchrist & Smitherman)

Limit Bitch

Entries: 10 Absentees: 3

1ST Lussac Winter Witch JW Sgwc (Mrs S May). Very workmanlike bitch who is well balanced all through. Head of good shape, with small well set ears. Clean neck, slightly arched leading to good lay of shoulder but I would like more angulation in the upper arm. She is still young and needs to drop more in her chest and dips fractionally behind the wither. She has an excellent length and spring of rib leading to a short square loin, correct croup and tail set and strong well made hindquarters with good width of second thigh. Hocks parallel to the ground with good straight rear cannons. Excellent bone and feet. Movement very good in profile but a little untidy coming in.

2ND Hightyne Ramblin Rose (P R & C E Huyton). Good overall type. Scores in her head which is very classical and her forehand construction which was better than the winner. Her forelegs are well placed under her body. However she is a little slack in her pasterns. Topline is level and she is well ribbed back. She is too short and level in croup which meant tail set was incorrect which was reflected both standing and on the move. Not quite square hock to heel. Excellent bone and feet. Moved strongly at one with her handler.

3RD Thurwhitt Madame Cholet (Mrs S J Thurgood)

Open Bitch

Entries: 9 Absentees: 4

1ST Sh Ch Seaheart Cecilia JW (Miss G & Mr P Smitherman). A top winning bitch whom I was surprised to see back in the ring so soon after her maternity duties. I would have dearly liked to have done her better but on the day she had to be satisfied with winning what was a disappointing class. She has a beautiful head and expression. Today she was carrying too much weight over her shoulder and was very down on her pasterns. Her ribcage is of the correct length and she has a short square loin. Her hindquarters are exemplary with the correct with of second thigh and excellent bone and feet. As to be expected her coat was not at its best. Her movement was a little erratic coming in but good in profile although not holding her topline. I am sure she will get back to top form in time but I fear today came a little early for her.  

2ND Lizzlog Brewing Bettie JW (Miss H S Walker). If only this bitch was a size smaller. She has the make and shape that I like but there is just far too much of her for me. Excels in head which is classic with clean cheeks and a perfect wedge when viewed from above. Clean neck leading to copybook forehand construction. Longer cast than the winner. Good depth of chest. Correct croup and tail set. I would like a little more width of second thigh and she is a fraction high in hock. Excellent bone and the best of feet. Coat in tip top condition. Moved strongly on a good stride.

3RD Go with The Flow Dynamic Faithful (Imp Ned) (J & V Egginton & Davis)

Special Working Gundog Bitch

Entries: 8 Absentees: 1

1ST Donascimento Danilo from Casblaidd Sgwc Kcwgc (Mr C & Mrs C Hewison). I liked this bitch very much and she was another that was not a million miles away in the challenge. She is very well balanced and of the correct size. Hard to believe that she is 9 years old. Her head is all of a piece and a wedge when viewed from above. Strong slightly arched neck leading to well laid shoulder. Return of upper arm could be slightly better. Chest of good depth and forelegs of good length although fractionally upright in pasterns. Correct length and spring of ribcage leading to short, square loin. She does drop away in her croup slightly more than would be my preference. Her hindquarters are well muscled and she has a good width of second thigh. Correct hocks with short rear cannons. Excellent bone and feet. Moved well both fore and aft and in profile. A very decent workmanlike bitch.

2ND Torinmill Gaelic Aurora Kcwgc (Miss E A Branscombe). Taller than the winner but a lot to like about her. Very workmanlike and well balanced all through. Classic head with clean cheeks and small well set ears. Clean, slightly arched neck leading to a good lay of shoulder and corresponding length of upper arm. Well ribbed back. Topline is level however she is shorter in croup than would be my preference. Well made hindquarters - not quite the width of second thigh as the winner. Excellent bone and the best of feet. Handled to advantage. 

3RD Wiccansage Virtue at Rydanah (Mrs J Holmes)

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch

Entries: 10 Absentees: 0

1ST Donascimento Danilo from Casblaidd Sgwc Kcwgc (Mr C & Mrs C Hewison) 1st Special working.

2ND Ir Sh Ch Annbecks Ailis at Aughnaleck Ir Jun Ch Cw16 Cjw16 Cw17 (Mrs L Finlay). Finer all through than my winner. She presents a good shape in outline. Head of correct proportions with dark eye and soft expression. Clean neck with slight arch leading to a good lay of shoulder. I would like more angulation in the upper arm. Well ribbed back. Croup and tail set correct. Hindquarters lacking in second thigh and I would like a little more bone and substance all through. Moved soundly on a good stride.

3RD Levelmoor Blackadder (Mr D E J & Mrs M A Salt)

Becky Johnson.