• Show Date: 11/03/2022
  • Show Type: Championship Show
  • Judged by: Lloyd Cross Contact Judge
  • Published Date: 28/07/2023

Crufts

Breed: Dachshund (Long Haired)

Crufts 2022 – Friday 11th March

Longhaired Dachshunds – Judge: Lloyd Cross


Firstly, I must thank the Kennel Club for the wonderful invitation to judge my first love – such an honour and a privilege. Also, my super-efficient stewards. Having judged all the dachshund varieties on several occasions, I feel that it is the most difficult task to judge ones’ own main variety. That said I was delighted with the quality of exhibits entered under me today and must thank all exhibitors for their entries and sporting reactions to my decisions. As always, every exhibit was afforded the same attention, care in handling, and was judged on its merits and performance on the day. I was impressed with the depth off quality in the latter classes of each sex and would have been happy to award top awards to many more given the chance. As an overall observation in the exhibits entered, shoulders and hind angulation were better than the last time I judged. Heads do need to be a little less strong in many cases and there was a lack of drive from behind on many,  presenting a more lethargic plodding movement. The dachshund, being a low to ground scent hound, in particular needs lots of ring training and practice to present a more naturally ‘head-up’ animated picture on the move and some exhibitors could benefit from concentrating on this and perhaps use a loose lead and not string their dogs up. Delighted with my challenge line ups – 3 of the 4 top award winners had the same sire!


Veteran Dog (5,0)

1.    Champman’s Melminds Zsylvester ShCM – Shaded red dog rising 10 now. A dog I have admired before for his overall sound construction, correct flowing lines and great movement. He retains his verve, drive and great showmanship which along with his correct construction and drive deservedly won him the class. Very well handled – a real treat to watch.

2.    Cook & Rhodes Ch. Abydachs Rides the Storm to Bournder – shaded red of elegance and quality that also continues to remain a favourite. Good head and eye, correct oval front, good shoulders and tight elbows, lovely topline – today he was just not as animated as I have seen him before and had to take runner up to the winner. Lovely, deserved champion.

3.    Garlick’s Ranglewood Arashi

Puppy Dog (1,0)

1.    Wedge’s Dolan Tears of a Clown – Clear red of 9 months. Stood alone but has a lot of promise. On the stack has a smart outline with prominent forechest, and good hind angulation. Carrying a lot of bouncy coat for a puppy which did detract from his outline on the move, but when he settled moved well and had a great temperament. Good in hind movement, needs to tighten in front at this stage but he has lots of time to mature and shows great promise. Will watch his progress with interest.

Junior Dog (2,0)

1.    Dare’s Darsoms Zoldare – Red of lovely conformation, good shoulders, decent front, tight in elbow, good ribbing and short keel. Lovely hammy well angulated hindquarters. Moved out well holding a perfect topline on the move and  freestanding. Would prefer a slightly less strong head, but a well-constructed boy.

2.    Cook & Rhodes Abydachs Free Spirit for Bournder – Shaded red of 14 months and still developing. Built on elegant lines and lots to like about him lovely head and expression good shoulders and tight front, lovely reach of neck, on the move not using his hindquarters fully and consequently his topline did not flow through from shoulder to loin and hindquarters. Will improve with more time.


Post Graduate Dog (6,0)

1.    Marks Labbadax Quantum Socialize – Shaded red of correct size. Lovely oval front and lay of shoulder good tight feet neat tight elbows. Good bone and sufficient neck. Topline flowed from correct shoulders into very well angulated hindquarters. Moved well and true fore and aft, good gait and decent reach and drive holding a lovely outline and strong topline.

2.    Linacre’s Swansford Carazonador – Slightly larger type but of great sound construction. Good masculine head without being coarse. Correct shoulder placement and lay into lovely strong topline. Nice short loin and well-made hammy hindquarters. Held a lovely eye-catching outline on the move. A slightly wavey coat distracted slightly and would look better with work and he could carry a little less condition but that said I liked him a lot.

3.    Vincent’s Dolan Save The Last Dance for Gainscroft.


Limit Dog (8,0)

1.    Paskins Cedavoch It’s Taboo at Kindeace – Shaded red of very sound overall construction. Without exaggeration & a quality type & size. Good head and length of neck. Correct shoulders into well ribbed body. Quality top and underline and well angulated hindquarters. Held a good outline on the move just wanted him to move with more drive at times but a quality dog.

2.    Burke’s Bonavoir Secret Assignment – Black & Tan of pleasing size. Decent head and good reach of neck , good bone and feet, held a good topline on the move and standing, well-handled and moved with verve. Thought he fell away over the croup a little too much.

3.    Eve’s Sundayshill Benedict.


Open Dog (8,0)

A very strong class full of quality exhibits many of which were worthy of top awards. Honoured to have such top-quality exhibits to judge.

1.    Pike & Carter’s Zarcrest George Clooney – Stunning shaded red that caught my eye from the minute he entered the ring holding a classic perfect outline as he moved effortlessly around the ring. On closer inspection did not disappoint best of fronts, fantastic lay of shoulder, prominent pro-sternum and lovely tight feet – great height to length ratio with a faultless topline in the stack, on the move and freestanding. Lovely, muscled hindquarters and great angulation – showed great reach and drive in tune with his handler. Beautifully presented and well handled - showed his socks off in the Dog Challenge – thrilled to award him the CC & he kept going to impress again in the challenge against a beautiful bitch gaining him BOB. My only disappointment is that he is not mine!

2.    Roberts’ Ch. Swansford Gregorydor – shaded red youngster of just over 18 months of superb type and style. Quality all through, lovely size and outline, good head and dark almond eye, decent neck into correctly constructed shoulders flowing into a great topline and good ribbing. Strong hindquarters with lovely angulation. Super sound all through. Just preferred the outline of winner on the move on the day. In the challenge was called back in to take a very worthy Reserve CC. A worthy champion and one I feel will continue to improve with maturity. I note his sire was also the sire of my Bitch CC winner and several other class winners – something prospective breeders should note!

3.    Marks Labbadax Lewisville Texas – beautiful dog I have awarded a CC to in the past, today came up against new opposition and was placed a very worthy 3rd. All three of these dogs being worthy of the top award in my opinion.


Good Citizen (1,0)

1.    Dimon’s Labbadax Inspiration for Dimerlin – shaded red just into his veteran days but still enjoying his shows. A lovely partnership with his owner that I have witnessed over the years. Presented and handled well. Beautiful temperament as are all from the breeders kennels.


Veteran Bitch (3,1)

1.    Paskins Ch Abydachs Summer Dream at Kindeace ShCM VW – lovely red girl rising 12 this year. Certainly carrying her years well and obviously still enjoying her showing. Nice feminine head and good neck into correct shoulders and a great topline considering her years which she held well both in the stack and on the move. Good drive for an old girl and caught my eye from the off with her showy ring presence. A credit to her owners for maintaining her in such excellent condition.

2.    Hughes Dachslur Velvet Ribbon – B/T also enjoying her time in the big ring, also rising 12 this year. Nice front and good feminine head – lovely dark eye, good bone & substance not the outline or style on the move as my winner but a worthy 2nd.


Puppy Bitch (1,0)

1.    Chapmans Melminds Meryl Streep – stunning red puppy of nearly 12 months and a delight to watch move. Great to go over – lovely ovel front good bone, very feminine head and lovely eye, super expression. First class shoulders and a lovely natural flow from an elegant neck into her topline. Moved very well fore and aft and although she stood alone in this class, I considered her in the challenge for the res C.C. – just a bit more maturity and control on the move will see her do very well I predict. Delighted to award her Best Puppy. By another super producing sire.


Junior Bitch (3,0)

1.    McNaughton’s Cedavoch Blithe Spirit – shaded red of beautiful type and balance. Stunning front & shoulders, stylish feminine head lovely reach of neck. Just my type showing great reach and drive. Litter sister to the CC winner and from stunning parentage. In the challenge unfortunately was unsettled as her sister, having won a later class, was being shown by the owner/breeder and wouldn’t settle for her handler. A champion in the making without doubt.

2.    Garlick’s Ranglewood Islay – pretty shaded red of 14 months and very much still maturing. Good front and correctly placed shoulders with good lay back. A little light in bone for me. Looked better on the move when she was relaxed.

3.    Lewis’ Mimosa Rude


Post Graduate Bitch (9,3)

1.    Cheese’s Ranglewood Titania at Suecaseus – Very elegant, shaded red with lovely head, expression and a super neck allowing her to hold a beautiful natural haughty elegance on the move. Correct front construction with good bone and substance. Correct coat moved well fore and aft – won the class on her elegant construction -well handled - would like to see her shown with a little more pace which would help to catch the eye in challenging for top awards.

2.    Chapman’s Melminds Maybelline – super presented shaded red, another of great type & quality from this kennels presented and shown to perfection. As the winner had lovely lines, correct overall construction and an elegance to her outline both in the stack and on the move. In the final analysis just preferred the topline of the winner in free stand.

3.    Whitfield-Roberts Swansford Gleighdora.


Limit Bitch (9,0)

This was the strongest of the bitch classes and many were of super quality – placings were as the individuals were presented and performed on the day and in some was a very close call.

1.    McNaughtons Cedavoch Spellbound – Super, shaded red of elegance, style and correct all over construction. Beautiful head and expression good substance, lovely shoulder placement and flowing neckline into eye-catching topline and nicely rounded hindquarters. Held a perfect outline on the move. Was not surprised to find that her and her sister, the winner of junior bitch, are out of my CC & BOB winning girl from my last time judging the variety. For me in the bitch challenge – stood out. Delighted to award her the CC which I also understand is her third and crowning one - many congratulations. In the challenge for BOB just preferred the outline held by the dog on the move.

2.    Dare’s Swansford Coronadora Darsoms – Beautiful Black & Tan of classic correct shape and solid sound construction. This girl has an elegance which is not easy to portray in the black/tan colour in many cases. The more I watched her on the move and in profile the more she pulled my attention. Very sound on the move and presented and handled beautifully. On the day just preferred the qualities of the winner on balance. That said called back in to challenge for the Res. CC & I was delighted to present her with Res CC. A champion in the making, in my opinion. Again, has the same sire as both dog Res CC & Bitch CC winners.

3.    Fossett’s Brysdax Mama Mia


Open Bitch (4,1)

1.    Dare’s Ch. Darsoms Zymystique – shaded red of lovely lines moving by far the best within the class. Had great drive, a good front, nice topline and an elegance on the move. Sound hindquarters an easy class winner. Just missing out in the challenge to two stunning limit class participants on the day. A lovely champion.

2.    Garlick’s Ranglewood Trick or Treat – black & tan built on elegant lines. Good head and expression, dark eye, correctly placed shoulders and strong behind. Not the topline on the stack or in movement of winner on the day.

3.    Moorat’s Danton Firefly to Langleybury.


Judge: Lloyd Cross