Crufts

First of all I would like to thank the Crufts Committee for the huge honour of judging this year at Cruft's and, above all, judging the breed of my heart : Maremma Sheepdog.

I thank all of the exhibitors who showed their dogs under my judgment and who made this day unforgettable for me.                        Even if the number of dogs present in the ring was low, the quality was medium-high especially in bitches, but above all I clearly perceived the exhibitors' desire to bring this splendid breed back to its former glory in the UK.

JUNIOR DOG   ( 1 entries, 0 abs.)

1st - MILWYR BABBO NATALE - 2yrs masculine dog of good type, correct in body proportions. Correct and typical head shape and proportions, but incorrect undershot bite. Lovely eyes and breed expression, correct ears. Good neck and topline, but too short croup with too high tail set, quite correct in front and rear angulations, good bone. In movement he could have a better reach in front, incorrect too high tail carriage. Good quality of coat for texture and colour.

POST GRADUATE DOG ( 2 entries, 1 abs.)

1st - MILWYR HELIOS - 8yrs  good type dog, too short in forearm to have correct general proportions. Masculine head, correct bite, correct eyes and ears. Good neck and topline, slightly short in croup with too high tail set, shoulders well laid, but forearms too short, free in movement, but too high tail carriage. Good quality of coat for texture, acceptable colour.

OPEN DOG ( 1 entries, 0 abs.)

1st - Ch. CAFAGGIO - 5yrs masculine dog of good type, basically correct in body proportions. Good head shape and proportions, correct bite, correct eyes shape in dark colour, ear set a little low, but carried correctly, labial commissure a little too deep. Sufficient reach of neck, strong topline, slightly short in croup, correct in front and rear angulations, only the forearm should be a little longer,  excellent bone. Correct in movement only he could have a better reach in front. Acceptable coat texture, good colour. Best Dog today.

OPEN BITCH ( 3 entries, 0 abs.)

1st - ZAFFIRO BIANCO AT SILVERMERE - 6yrs truly high quality bitch, that combines in perfect harmony a great substance with a great femininity. Majestic and distinguished as the breed standard has always required. Very well balanced in overall proportions, strongly built without ever appearing heavy. Lovely feminine head, correct bite, beautiful dark eyes, correct ears and so perfectly typical in the breed expression. Good reach of neck, strong topline, broad croup correctly sloping with correct tail set and carriage, correct and well balanced front and rear angulations, good bone appropriate to size. Correct and typical in movement, only a little listless due to the double handling. Excellent coat texture and colour. Pleased to award her the Best Bitch & BOB, today certainly the best example of the breed to show in the main ring.

2nd - Ch. FALERIA DEL MONTELARCO - 4 & ½ yrs old nice bitch, correct in body proportions, feminine head, correct bite, lovely dark eyes, correct ears. Good neck, topline would really need a more raised withers, correct croup and tail set and carriage, good front angulation, a little too open the rear angulation with a too high hock, therefore she moves with a modest drive. Excellent coat quality for texture and colour.

3rd - Ch. VELAR - 5yrs not so feminine bitch, a little too heavy body with poor overall distinction. Coarse head with too short muzzle in relation to the skull, correct bite, correct eyes shape and colour, ear set a little low, but carried correctly. Short neck, strong topline, slightly short in croup, correct in front angulations a little too straight on the rear angulations, heavy movement covering little ground. Acceptable coat texture, good colour.