Crufts

It was a great honour to be asked to judge and my thanks to the Kennel Club for giving me the opportunity. Also my appreciation and gratitude to my two stewards who did a marvellous job. They must have been exhausted after stewarding the previous three days.

Finally a big thank you to all exhibitors for entering their dogs and it was a pleasure to go over them. The time and effort spent by everyone in producing the dogs to a high standard was evident throughout the classes.

Veteran Dog

Entries: 15 Absentees: 2

1ST Graham’s Sh Ch Taimere's Twister Round Nyliram JW ShCM RCC. 7 years old. Strongly made dog,full of substance with masculine head and kind expression. Plenty of bone, well ribbed with deep brisket. Strong rounded hindquarters. On the move, drove from the rear. He has matured into his frame.

2ND Barkley’s Sh Ch Cherryheath's Mr Mischief JW ShCM. 10 years old. Handsome gentleman in a different mould to one enjoying his day out. Lovely head with dark eye. Good depth of body with correct topline and balanced outline. Preferred angulation of one.

3RD Chandler’s Sh Ch Chanangel Sticky Wicket JW ShCM VW 10 years. Smart looking dog with attractive head and dark eye. Good reach of neck. Deep brisket with strong spring of ribs. Front not his fortune, but lovely profile movement covering the ground.

Minor Puppy Dog

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1ST Grahams’ Don's As Bold As Brass with Nyliram (Imp Swe) NAF TAF Very promising 9 month old mature puppy with lovely dark eye and expression. Good deep of body for his age. As would expect a little loose in movement at the moment. Worthy of his first place

Puppy Dog

Entries: 4 Absentees: 0

1ST Caldwell’s Cerysan Commodore BPIB 11 month old mainly white dog with good layback of shoulder and length of upper arm, strong hindquarters, tight feet, moved well for age covering the ground. Pleasing head with dark eye and lovely expression Pleased to award him BP

2ND Bennnet’s Cerysan Crusader Litter brother to one. Shorter in body. Well placed shoulders and plenty of bone. Masculine head that needs to develop as muzzle needs to lengthen. Firm cat like feet. Short coupled with wide second thigh and strong rounded hindquarters. Lovely wagging tail. Moved well

3RD Chandler’s Chanangel Jo Sugden Handsome head and eye. Good reach of neck, short coupled. Nice depth of body. Straighter in angulation fore and aft affecting his movement.

Junior Dog

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1ST Clarke’s Tigerrock I'm Your Man 13 months, more compact and developed than others in class. Lovely masculine head with dark eye, well boned with tight feet, short coupled. Moved best in class

2ND Nicolls’ Benoveor Sail On to Antreth . Still at the very raw stage. Beautifully presented and shown Attractive head and soft expression. Deep chest. Held his topline on the move whilst wagging his tail.

3RD Jacksons’ Tigerrock Gardez La Foi Like 2nd in class he needs time to mature but much to like. He moved erratically possibly due to the occasion

Yearling Dog

Entries: 7 Absentees: 0

1ST Clarke’s Tigerrock Magic Woundabout JW Gorgeous masculine dog full of quality. Beautifully rounded with strong back end. Correct reach of neck into well placed shoulders. Attractive head. Deep brisket, wide second thigh. Well off for bone. Correct tail set. Wagging tail One to watch for the future

2ND Gaylor & Robertson’s Heniveruce King of Brewers Same mould as half brother but not as mature. Handsome head with soft expression. Correct topline leading to round hindquarters. Well boned. Good feet. Another using his tail on the move.

3RD Jones’ Trosley Tamoshanta Promising dog but he did not put as much effort into his movement in the run off. Masculine head with appealing expression. Good proportions and angles with deep brisket and short coupled. Still maturing into his frame.

Post Graduate Dog

Entries: 10 Absentees: 1

1ST Douglas’s Chanangel Yorkshire Gold to Santallina Smart compact young dog. Attractive head and expression. Correct reach of neck. Plenty of depth with good body proportions. Great width of second thigh. Strongly boned legs leading to tight feet. Well angulated. Moved best in class covering the ground whilst wagging his tail. Very promising,

2ND Leach’s Islanza Hey Dude Bigger mould than 1. Symmetrical outline. Plenty of neck. Good layback of shoulder. Balanced proportions with depth of body and spring of rib.

3RD White’s Mymmsbrook Malbec with Fiergen Still at the rangy stage but everything in the right place, deep brisket, well laid shoulders. Well muscled hindquarters. Needs time. Moved better than most

Limit Dog

Entries: 12 Absentees: 0

1ST Cemis’s Taimere's Talk About Me CC Moved best in the class. Masculine handsome dog with lovely head, good strong neck into well laid shoulders. Deep chest, well sprung ribs, short coupled, correct topline, wide second thigh, rounded hindquarters. A real Welshman. I always admired him as a youngster and he has matured into a sound dog of substance. In the challenge for BOB, he did not give of himself on the move

2ND Millards’ Ferndel High Comand at Rubylea Compact smart dog. Lovely head with gentle expression and dark eye. Good reach of neck into well laid shoulders. Correct topline, Short in loin. Happy disposition. Well angulated backend with deep second thigh, short hocks. Plenty of bone. Preferred front movement of 1st

3RD Yacoub’s Laithmoor's Red Grenadine JW Strongly made dog with depth of body and spring of rib. Masculine handsome head. Rounded hindquarters with correct tailset. Correct bend of stifle. He has not reached his full maturity and lacks feathering at present. Drove from the rear.

Open Dog

Entries: 9 Absentees: 1

1ST Ritchie & Butler’s Sh Ch Slapestones Diamond Mine JW Well made and beautifully presented compact dog with plenty of feathering, good ribcage and deep brisket, kind eye in pleasing head, well angulated fore and aft, moved better than most whilst wagging his tail. Would prefer more of him

2ND Knowles’ Sh Ch Menstonia Minstrel JW Another well presented dog with not overdone furnishings. Balanced head but would prefer more of it. Kind expression. Fair layback of shoulder. Well ribbed with short loin. Moved well in front coming towards me. Tight feet

3RD Worth’s Sh Ch Sarabande Lord of The Dance (ai) JW Beautifully presented deep red flashy dog with abundance of feathering. Pleasing outline. Attractive head and eye. Long reach of neck. Well ribbed with depth of body. Front movement let him down today

Special Working Gundog Dog

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0 Congratulations to both exhibits in qualifying for this class.

1ST Moores’ Int Sh Ch/fr/swiss Ch Mariemead Winters Mist of Walgoreg Two very different types I preferred the angulation and topline of winner that flows in rounded hindquarters. Correct tailset. Moved well covering the ground

2ND Sutherlands’ Jacranella Solo Masculine head with lovely expression. Deep chest and spring of rib. Well off for bone.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog

Entries: 7 Absentees: 0

1ST Barkley’s Cherryheath's Mr Mojito What a lovely gentleman with kind expression and eye. Although castrated, his coat was superb. Moved well fore and aft covering the ground holding his topline. Catlike feet.

2ND Bennet’s Helgen Romeo The Lover for Flyboron 4th in limit, Appeared slightly stuffy in neck due to poor trimming and presentation. Lovely happy boy, little long in back, but nicely round hindquarters, good layback of shoulder. Carrying a bit too much weight for me

3RD Attwoods’ Ir Sh Ch Kylowen Drym ShCM Strong workman like well ribbed boy with lovely welsh head and dark eye. Drove from the rear using strong hindquarters.

Veteran Bitch

Entries: 14 Absentees: 4

1ST Frost’s Sh Ch Bushwacker Hot Gossip CC BOB. Difficult to believe this bitch is 12 years old. Hardly a grey hair to be seen. Beautifully balanced with gorgeous outlne. Feminine head with dark eye, well laid shoulders with correct length of upper arm, deep chest and brisket, well angulated hind quarters with wide second thigh, tight feet. Powered around the ring on a loose lead covering the ground. An absolute credit to her breeder and handler.

2ND Harrisons’ Sh Ch Glenbrows Memoir . Another beautiful quality bitch. Feminine head with lovely soft expression. Well laid shoulders with correct length of upper arm. Deep body with spring of rib and strong headquarters. Gorgeous outline with good bone and tight feet. Moved well but not with the verve of the winner

3RD Thomas & Upton’s Sh Ch Bowdonia Seraphina JW ShCM Attractive well boned balanced bitch with good proportions and angles. Appealing head. Deep chest, short in loin, correct bend of stifle. Tight feet. Moved well

Puppy Bitch

Entries: 4 Absentees: 0

1ST Knowles’ Menstonia Magic Mystery 9 months old, lovely shape with correct topline. Pretty head with dark eye. Good reach of neck. Deep body. Well angulated with correct bend of stifle. Would prefer more bone

2ND Lyon’s Mymmsbrook Mismo Lovely feminine bitch with soft expression. Correct length of neck. Good depth of body for her age. Pleasing outline. A lot to like about her.

3RD Thomas’s Bowdonia Truly Scrumptious A young lady enjoying her day using her tail on the move. Good body with firm backend

Junior Bitch

Entries: 8 Absentees: 0

1ST Harrisons’ Glenbrows Rhapsody Stylish bitch with pretty head and eye. Well laid shoulders and well angulated hindquarters. Short back, deep brisket. Rich dark colour, beautifully presented as one has come to expect from this kennel.

2ND Walton, Coffin & Patterson’s Hillpark Carys Gold Promising young bitch. Attractive head, good reach of neck into well laid shoulders. Short back. Moved well fore and aft

3RD Morgan’s Benoveor Endless Love Larger framed attractive bitch with a lot to like about her. Sweet face and expression. Well boned with tight feet. Deep depth of body.

Yearling Bitch

Entries: 5 Absentees: 0

Difficult class to judge as all at different stages of development. First two being litter sisters and many remarks apply to both. Both at the narrow tube like stage needing to settle into their frame and develop. Would prefer more bone. Lovely heads with dark eyes and well presented. 2nd backend higher than front at present. Today 1st moved better coming and going

1ST Ferguson’s Julita Raindance at Teaselwood

2ND Naunton’s Julita Raindrop of Trenzalore

3RD Harrisons’ Glenbrows Paramour Well presented and attractive outline when stacked. Deep body with spring of rib. Rounded backend. More mature than 1st and 2nd but front movement let her down.

Post Graduate Bitch

Entries: 16 Absentees: 4

1ST Morlidge’s Kurzeja Kalina Happy girl with wagging tail. Lovely balanced compact rounded girl. Appealing head, dark eye with soft expression. Correct length of neck leading into good layback of shoulder with fair length of upper arm. Well ribbed with depth of body. Short coupled. Well angulated backend. Moved well covering the ground

2ND Harrisons’ Glenbrows Hope Striking bitch. Pleasing head. Correct reach of neck. Good layback of shoulder but lacking in length of upper arm resulting in untidy front movement. Well angulated rear end.

3RD Yacoub’s Laithmoor's Alinka Well boned compact attractive bitch with soft expression and pleasing outline. Deep brisket with good ribbing.

Limit Bitch

Entries: 11 Absentees: 0

1ST Lyon’s Mymmsbrook Mimosa RCC Pretty happy compact bitch with good shoulders and upper arm, short coupled, wide second thigh, well made hindquarters. Moved best in class. Feminine head and expression. Balanced throughout.

2ND Barnes’ Nyliram Twist and Shout with Barhi Attractive bitch with pleasing outline. Not the front angulation of one and this affected her movement. Deep chest with spring of rib. Stood on good legs and feet. Correct width of second thigh. Strong quarters.

3RD Tain’s Taimere's The Mistrel Longer cast than 1 and 2. Well presented. Good reach of neck. Wide second thigh. Correct bend of stifle. Well bodied with depth. Held her topline on the move.

Open Bitch

Entries: 15 Absentees: 2

1ST In 't Groen- De Kovel & Tak’s Orange Gold from Kind of Magic Njk, Jw, Jchlux This bitch caught my eye when she came into the ring. As the class went on, she became more relaxed and showed herself to advantage. Beautiful rounded bitch with lovely outline. Attractive head with dark eye. Well angulated shoulders with correct length of upper arm. Well bodied with firm hindquarters. Wide second thigh. Legs with plenty of bone leading to catlike feet. Moved well. Pressed hard for RCC

2ND Woodward’s Hinxwood Fire and Ice Lovely bitch with decent length of neck. Good layback of shoulder and strong hindquarters. Balanced outline. Moved well wagging her tail

3RD Jones’ Sh Ch Julita Rumours at Trosley She has a balanced outline with strong spring of rib, depth of brisket with good layback of shoulders and correct bend of stifle. Moved covering the ground but unfortunately did not give her all which lost her a higher placing

Special Working Gundog Bitch

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

What a class showing that my limit and open winners have the ability to carry out the gundog role with beauty combined. Well done to the three owners. Close decision between first two.

1ST Lyon’s Mymmsbrook Mimosa

2ND In 't Groen- De Kovel & Tak’s Orange Gold from Kind of Magic Njk, Jw, Jchlux

3RD Moores’ Fr/swiss Ch Bushwacker French Twist with Walgoreg Robust and strong with strong bone and spring of rib. Longer in body. Good reach of neck

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch

Entries: 6 Absentees: 1

1ST Barkley’s Cherryheath's Miss Velocity JW Short coupled bitch with balanced rounded outline. Sweet head and expression. Good depth of body, well sprung ribs. Moved best in class

2ND Caldwell’s Hillpark Queen Bee for Cerysan Short coupled bitch with well sprung ribs. Pleasing head and eye. Would prefer slightly more angulation throughout to enable her to cover the ground.

3RD Smith & Ozanne’s Islanza Spring Into Action at Lyntonwold Pretty bitch. Attractive head with dark eye, nice type but still immature. Tight catlike feet.

Sue Connolly