Crufts

Basenjis – Crufts 2022 (Judge Sharon Sargent)

What an honour to have been able to judge both my breeds at Crufts. Basenjis are always a challenge and some decisions were difficult. I was absolutely delighted with my green card winners and quite a few others too.

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who entered.

Judging at Crufts can mean that ways to save a little time must be found, as judges are given a set time in which to complete judging and vacate the ring, so apologies that some of my notes were a little brief. I wanted to write a critique on the first three in each class so I had to make notes as quickly as possible. I also planned to take a photo of the first three in each class as a record and to refer to, but again due to the time constraints this was not possible, as it would have added extra time between classes.

As has been the case for quite a few years now I did not see enough truly typical old style Basenji heads with the profuse wrinkle and far seeing expression, however I did see some that were quite lovely. Coat and colour were generally good in this entry and most had the required length of leg with the long forearm in the front and decent length of second thigh in the rear.

Feet were mainly good or OK, only a few dogs with less than ideal feet. It was good to have a big ring so that the dogs could show off their movement.

I was pleased to see dogs of all the colours, and there were some quality youngsters in both sexes.

Veteran Dog

Entries: 5 Absentees: 0

1. H/pl/sk/mk/srb/d/lt/a Ch Sulla Liwang C & E Ew, Ew, Vice Ww (Mrs D Muller)

R/W of 7 years, pleasing head of good proportions and expression with more wrinkle than the others in the class, fine coat of bright colour, correct angulation and balance, square in outline, good curl to tail but very slightly lower set than ideal, moved with a long swinging stride.

2. Ch/Ir Ch Westlawn Diablo ShCM (Miss A A Clinton)

Tri, also 7 years, of pleasing type, well proportioned and angulated, square in outline with level topline, good tailset and curl, correct front and depth of chest, moved soundly and freely, one I have previously judged and liked.

3. Ch Natures Masterpiece Fantastic Toyboy (Imp Fin) (Mr C & Mrs J Nicholls)

R/W, also 7 years. Good expression with dark eyes, pleasing outline, level topline, single curl well set, on the day he was a little excited and rather fidgety. Would like to see him when he is a little more relaxed.

Junior Dog

Entries: 6 Absentees: 1

1. Bahaticca`s On-Line (Mrs A & Miss M Paździerkiewicz & Nowak)

R/W of lovely bright colour. Pleasing head with correct expression and sufficient wrinkle, hooded ears, lovely arched neck, square outline, well balanced with correct angulation front and rear, good feet and pasterns, good depth of chest and tuck up. Level topline, well set tail with double curl and correct shelf behind. Effortless movement with long stride, should have a great future, pleased to award him RCC.

2. Mawali Four Ever Young (Mrs J Clegg)

R/W. Masculine youngster with slightly more substance than the winner, good colour, well shaped head with good expression. Balanced outline with good angulation, good depth of chest and tuck up, level topline, good tailset and shelf.

3. Bushwacker American Hustle at Embeau (Mrs E & Mr D Grayson & Cullen)

R/W. Bright colour, good head shape, pleasing expression., well arched neck, good front and topline, correct angulation, moved well.

Post Graduate Dog

Entries: 4 Absentees: 0

All three placed in this class were juniors.

1. Mawali Going Four Gold (Mr GJ & Mr NA Williams & Wright)

R/W. At just 14 months this gorgeous boy still has some maturing to do and what a future he should have! Attractive head and expression, hooded ears, beautifully arched neck, high on the leg with balanced angulation and square outline. Good feet and pasterns, short back, level topline, double curled high set tail and correct shelf. Fine coat of lovely bright orange red. He has a long flowing stride and outmoved the older boys in the challenge, I had no hesitation in awarding him the CC.

2. Bahaticca`s On-Line (Mrs A & Miss M Paździerkiewicz & Nowak)

As Junior Dog.

3. Werevu Liwang (Mrs D Muller)

R/W. Good coat and colour, lovely head and expression with dark eyes and good wrinkle, square outline, well balanced, good tailset, moved well.

Limit Dog

Entries: 8 Absentees: 1

1. Dobris Kenji Jabari Kamau (Master M T Thomas)

R/W, slightly more compact than some but certainly within the standard with a good square outline and balanced angulation. Good head shape, dark eyes, level topline, well set double curl. Good feet and pasterns, moved smoothly.

2. Tokaji Nashville Rebel (Mrs D & Mrs P Hardy & Hallam)

R/W. A bit of a fidget today! Well proportioned with good topline and tailset, flowing movement. Enough wrinkle but muzzle is slightly longer than the first placed dog and feet and pasterns not quite as neat.

3. Flugelberry Free Cuba (Miss E E Matthews)

Br/W. Good head proportions with correctly shaped muzzle, would like slightly darker eyes, balanced outline, level topline, moved well.

Open Dog

Entries: 9 Absentees: 1

1. Ch Tokaji Klassic Trickster at Sarawana (Mrs S M Knowles)

Tri. I judged this boy as a youngster and was impressed with how he has matured. Jet black coat, super length of leg and balanced angulation giving square outline, good feet and pasterns, correct depth of chest and tuck up. Head shape is good although could have more wrinkle and slightly higher set ears. Arched neck, level topline, good tailset, moved very smoothly although in the challenge did not stride out as well as those he was up against.

2. Tokaji Walking in Memphis (Mrs D & Mrs P Hardy & Hallam)

Tri, lovely black coat, super outline, good head and earset, well balanced, level topline, good tailset and curl, fabulous long striding movement. Close up to the winner but today was not concentrating on the job in hand.

3. Bahaticca`s Jungle Edition Ew`21, Pl/lt Jch, Pl/hu/sk Ch (Mrs A & Mrs L Paździerkiewicz & Pomykała)

R/W, of smaller type, good coat of bright colour, square outline, level topline, good feet and pasterns, well set single curl, lovely flowing movement.

Veteran Bitch

Entries: 4 Absentees: 2

1. Pl/sk/cz/l/int Ch Selma Liwang WW (Mrs D Muller)

R/W feminine and graceful 7 year old who epitomises the breed standard. Beautiful head of correct proportions and showing the desired expression lacking in so many Basenjis nowadays, lovely wrinkle, dark almond shaped eyes, hooded ears. Elegantly arched neck leading to excellent shoulders and upper arm, correct pasterns and feet. Ideal depth of chest and tuck up, square in outline with level topline, hindquarters correctly angulated with good tailset, shelf and curl. Perfectly balanced, her movement reflects this as she floated around the ring with the desired typical effortless long stride. All completed with a fine coat of bright colour this girl had just about everything I was looking for, honoured to award her CC, BOB and BV.

2. Int Ch/pol/sk/cz Ch Meisterhaus Live`n It Up Pl Jch (Mrs A Pazdzierkiewicz)

R/W Another 7 year old with a great deal to like, good head proportions, neck and shoulders, balanced angulation, good topline, depth of chest and tuck up, balanced outline. Moved with an easy stride. Both these veteran girls were new to me and I’m guessing they have changed places many times.

Puppy Bitch

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1. Zvezdny Alliance Genie in A Bottle (Imp Ukr) NAF (Ms C J & Mr T F Casentieri)

Br/W 10 months, the only puppy present but happy to award her BP. Feminine and elegant, good topline and tailset, strode out well, as expected still lots of maturing to do but shows promise.

Junior Bitch

Entries: 11 Absentees: 0

The biggest class of the day and very strong too.

1. Bushwacker Dragon Tattoo at Sarawana JW (Mrs S M Knowles)

R/W. Feminine and gazelle like, super head and expression with dark almond shaped eyes and high set hooded ears. Lovely arched neck, correct angulation front and rear, correct tailset and shelf, good feet and pasterns, level topline. On the move she had a fabulous flowing stride. Although still maturing she is straight out of the top drawer and will go far.

2. Mawali Four Get Me Not (Mrs S Dunsdon)

R/W Very close up to the winner, of excellent type and balance, pleasing expression, arched neck, level topline, well set double curled tail, effortless long striding movement.

3. Bahaticca`s Pin-Up Girl (Mrs A & Miss M Paździerkiewicz & Nowak)

R/W. Feminine with good head and expression, well balanced outline, level topline, well set tail , moved well.

Post Graduate Bitch

Entries: 10 Absentees: 1

1. Woodella She's The One (Miss C, Mr C & Mr T Donaldson, Saunders & Rabbitte)

R/W. Feminine girl with sweet head and typical expression, square well balanced outline, level topline, super tailset, correct angulation, moved with a free and easy stride, one to watch.

2. Shyllar Turning Heads (Mr C & Mrs J Nicholls)

R/W Feminine, dark eyes, nicely arched neck, good topline and tailset, good angulation, moved well.

3. Bahaticca`s Pin-Up Girl (Mrs A & Miss M Paździerkiewicz & Nowak)

As Junior Bitch.

Limit Bitch

Entries: 7 Absentees: 1

1. Tokaji Candy Apple Red at Lelaps (Messrs D & J Knights & Stokes)

R/W. Feminine with well shaped head, good topline and tailset, moved the best in this class.

2. Nganga's Princess Snow-White (Imp Swe) (Miss J E Palubicki)

R/W. Bright colour, head shape OK with dark eyes although ears could be higher set. Movement OK.

3. Lambada Mysterious Talisman (Imp Blr) (Ms C J & Mr T F Casentieri)

R/W. Feminine, good coat and colour, sufficient wrinkle, level topline, tailset OK.

Open Bitch

Entries: 9 Absentees: 1

1. Pl/sk/cz/l/int Ch Selma Liwang WW (Mrs D Muller)

As Veteran Bitch.

2. Ch/Aus Ch Zandeena Getn Cort in The Act (Imp Aus) (Mrs S Dunsdon)

R/W. Super bright colour, good head proportions, wrinkle, and dark almond shaped eyes giving typical expression. Well arched neck, correctly angulated front and rear giving super balance, good feet and pasterns. Square outline, level topline, well set tail with good curl and correct shelf. This girl sparkles on the move, striding out effortlessly and really covering the ground. RCC.

3. Ch Tokaji Moon over Miami with Mutoko JW (Mrs P Nash)

Tri. Feminine with good outline and balance, typical head and expression, high set ears, arched neck, level topline, correct angulation, moved with an easy stride.

Sharon Sargent