Crufts

I must start with saying how grateful I am to the Crufts Committee for inviting me to judge, one of the greatest honours in dog judging, and I cannot deny that I looked forward so much to this appointment. Thank you to the exhibitors for their support too, I was so encouraged by the entry; it is quite rare in a breed with numbers like ours to have an appointment with classes containing more champions than there are places to award, made for some difficult decisions. In particular, I would like to mention the open dog class where the overall quality was terrific, some very worthy champions had to go home empty handed, but I felt that every one oozed masculinity and were of good breed type. For the first time since I've been judging the breed, I would say that dogs, overall, were stronger than bitches.

Having an entry this size is also a good opportunity to get a sense of how the breed is doing. My overall impression is rather positive. Temperaments were very good, only a couple shrank away on the table (probably overwhelmed on the day); this was quite common in the past, so it is very heartening to see good temperaments the norm. Coats and colour were very good, the richness of the tans is lovely, though a few too many were missing thumbprints. It is clear that breeders have been careful to work on the quality of heads, the American lines have brought much good into the UK gene pool, but the heads worried me with their distinctively different type. Today though, the vast majority of dogs had good heads with sufficient width of skull and strength of jaw to fulfil their original purpose, a testament to careful and considered breeding by many kennels. 

A couple of points did trouble me. Bad tail carriage has become almost endemic, I think a majority here were carrying their tails up in the air or beginning to curve over their back. This is entirely incorrect, and badly affects the outline of this breed which is meant to flow seamlessly from nose to tail without exaggeration.

A more serious problem was shoulders and top lines. Far too many of the exhibits, when they moved, were dipping at the withers before rising again at the loin, it is incorrect and a quite serious fault. I paid close attention and found that some who have lovely outlines when stood, would drop into their shoulders when they started moving; I did penalise dogs showing this fault as I am worried that it might become a drag on the breed.

Class 580. Veteran Dog

1st Place 3582 - Ch Witchstone Not Apache On Me for Peopleton VW (Mr J & Miss W Francis & Blatchford)

This dog has gone from strength to strength. He has a very good head, long and lean with flat skull. Dark, almond eyes and well set ears. His outline flows, a nicely arched neck leading to well-laid shoulders and slightly curved back. His tailset is good and he carries it well. His movement is excellent, he covers the ground with ease and has a typical extended trot. Lovely though he is, there is just too much of him, but he has many qualities, it is easy to see how he gained his title.

2nd Place 3613 - Ramses Royal Returner (Mr J Nagler)

Overall, well balanced and in proportion, he has a clean wedge shaped head and nicely set and carried ears. His front isn’t his strength but he moves with energy and has an excellent rapport with his owner.

3rd Place 3619 - Neerodan Top Notch (Mrs & Miss Perry)

Reserve 3633 - Neerodan Just in Time (Mrs T & Mr J M L Warren)

Class 581. Puppy Dog

Some quality coming through in this class

1st Place 3615 - Etruria Hear The Word (Mrs C E & Mr L R Partington-Palmer & Palmer)

Very shapely dog, curves in all the right places. Moved well with good extension and drive from very nicely angulated hindquarters. Clean, wedge shaped head with correct bite, candle flame shaped ears. I feel confident he will make his title.

2nd Place 3621 - Witchstone Won’t Be Silent by Richpin (Mr R & Mr R & Mr A Forsythe & Pevy & Leonard)

Another, very promising puppy, I felt 1 was a little more mature and covering the ground with better extension today. He has a lovely head, well developed for his age, nicely shaped ears, dark and almond shaped eyes. Excellent tan and markings. Could imagine him swapping places with the winner over coming months and also achieving his title.

3rd Place 3602 - Lasagesse Paint It Black (Ms A & Mr J Keylock & Collins)

Reserve 3626 - Ettology Making Mischief (Ms Maria Shevchenko)

Class 582. Junior Dog

1st Place 3596 - Amalric Butch Cassidy (Mrs W Imrie)

Sound, well built but still with some space to settle into himself. Wedge shaped head with dark eyes and high set, candle flame ears. Nicely arched and elegant neck leading to a nicely curved topline when stood. Correct underline with good depth of chest and cut up. Well angulated hindquarters, correctly set tail.

2nd Place 3627 - Moretonia Black and Decker (Mrs Carol Snell)

I liked his front extension, this gave him the edge over others in this class, he is cleanly built, with good rear angulation that powers him around the ring. His tail carriage is very good and correctly low set.

3rd Place 3638 - Etruria Say The Word (Mr H Wines)

Reserve 3565 - Spawood Run for Cover (Messrs P & A Conway & Oakden)

VHC 3593 - Valeast Dream of Dreams (Mr K & Mrs J Holley)

Class 583. Post Graduate Dog

1st Place 3632 - Neerodan Faithful Fergus (Mrs K & Mr M Taylor)

I liked this boy very much for his size, shape and soundness. Well balanced, elegant and compact, just as called for in the standard. He moves cleanly coming and going and has a good extension in front, his topline is correct and he retains this on the move. He has a good, masculine head and excellent earset; dark eyes, though they are a little too round. I was pleased to award him RDCC among some strong competition.

2nd Place 3600 - Edalene Upside Down (Mrs C & Miss R Inch)

Shapely and typical outline when stood, wedge shaped head, strong jaw, dark and almond shaped eye. Good angulation, correctly set tail.

3rd Place 3618 - Moretonia Royal Marine (Mrs & Miss Perry)

Reserve 3631 - Kikuchi Maverick (Mr J A Summerfield)

VHC 3624 - Galvizach Royal Emerald avec Gillings (Mrs P Reeve)

Class 584. Limit Dog

1st Place 3575 - Witchstone Who Dares Wins (Mr M J, Mrs K L & Miss F M Dixon)

Classy, compact and elegant male. Correct for size, and very shapely with good reach of neck, deep chest and slight curve to his topline. He moved soundly, parallel and true in front and rear with sufficient reach in front. Clean, wedge shaped head with correct, dark eye and high set ears.

2nd Place 3580 - Kikuchi Hollywood (Mr R & Mr R Forsythe & Pevy)

Another shapely and sound dog. Well constructed, he covered the ground well with smooth drive from nicely angulated hindquarters. Liked his masculine head, he has a strong jaw with dark eyes and shapely, high set ears. Just under a year old on the day, I think he has a bit of maturing to do to balance out.

3rd Place 3594 - Man of Knight (Mr P & Mrs J Hunter)

Reserve 3629 - Skin Deep Mint Condition (Mrs Carol Snell)

VHC 3634 - Pedara The World Is Mine (Mrs T & Mr J M L Warren)

Class 585. Open Dog

I was thrilled with this class. I consider myself very privileged to have had the opportunity to go over such a large number of top quality dogs, there were dogs that went unplaced who I would happily have awarded a CC.

1st Place 3606 - Ch Nasabe Don't Tell Him (Mr A Leonard)

This dog is a star, I loved watching him move, everything comes together to give a smooth, flowing action with an ideal extended trot in front. A masculine, lean wedge shaped head, with a strong jaw. Lovely dark, almond shaped eyes and well set ears. His neck is gracefully arched, the topline curves gently, correctly, from behind the shoulder and falling to his low-set tail that he carried stylishly without exaggeration. He put on a great performance in the group ring and I was pleased to see him shortlisted. DCC & BoB

2nd Place 3597 - Ch Witchstone Black Hawk at Amalric JW (Mrs W Imrie)

A very masculine dog, with excellent outline, and nicely balanced. Clean wedge shaped head, with strong jaw, dark, almond shaped eye and correctly set ears. Good reach of neck, leading to well laid shoulders and good topline. Very sound and true on the move, but didn’t have the extension in front of the winner,

3rd Place 3581 - Ch Witchstone Raindance avec Richpin JW (Mr R Forsythe)

Reserve 3569 - Ch Ettology Bounteous Barney JW (Mr K Dennison)

VHC 3589 – Ch Witchstone Crazy Horse at Boimans (Mr T & Mrs J Harman)

Class 586. Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog

1st Place 3566 - Ir Ch Adargwn Brunel Bel/nl Jch Cjw22 Cw22 Cenw22 (Ms J E A Crowley)

Typical and shapely in outline, he is in excellent condition, has rich tans and clear markings. Well angulated hindquarters give him drive on the move. Nicely curved topline that he retains on the move, would prefer a cleaner head, but he has dark and almond shaped eyes and nicely set, candle flame ears. 

2nd Place 3613 - Ramses Royal Returner (Mr J Nagler)

Class 587. Veteran Bitch.

A strong showing, and all of very good quality.

1st Place 3608 - Ch Witchstone Cheyenne Falls (Mr A & Mr N Leonard & Gourley)

This bitch is all class, I judged her as a junior and loved her then for her shapely outline and elegance; everything about her is so compact and balanced. She is feminine and elegant but also fit for the breed’s original purpose. Ideal for size, she is curvy, has a deep of chest and well sprung ribs with good cut up; topline is perfect, curving ever so gently from behind the shoulders, leading to rounded buttocks and low set tail. She has well angulated hindquarters that drive her action. A clean, wedge shaped head with strong jaw. In the challenge for Best of Breed, she was pipped by the much younger male who had greater momentum and reach in front movement; but make no mistake, this bitch is one of the outstanding ETTs of the last 25 years. BCC & BOS

2nd Place 3587 - Ch Witchstone Minnehaha (Mrs H & Mr J Haffenden & Wood)

I awarded this bitch BIS at the breed club show when I last judged, and I still think she is a top calibre ETT. A lovely outline, soundly built and moves with style, good extension and drive, lovely wedge shaped head and candle flame ears.

3rd Place 3571 - Ch Neerodan Naughty Nancy VW (Mrs D A Dicker)

Reserve 3579 - Thalcyon Springtime Star (Mrs J & Mr P Fiers)

Class 588. Puppy Bitch

1st Place 3607 - Witchstone Silent Prayer (Mr A Leonard)

Very promising puppy, compact and elegant. She is correct for size with a good outline, deep chest, slightly curved topline and rounded buttocks. Well set and carried tail. She has a clean, wedge shaped head and strong jaw, dark eyes and nicely shaped and high set ears.

2nd Place 3568 - Twowayshouse Touch of Class (Mrs Sj Dean-Armitt)

Another compact and classy puppy, she probably had the best shaped ears of the day, almost like they had been drawn on, beautiful. She moved well with parallel action and good drive from behind, she had a good topline when stood.

3rd Place 3617 - Gillings Dark Angel (Mrs C Pendlebury)

Reserve 3616 - Gillings Magic Spell (Miss L Pendlebury)

VHC 3625 - Gillings Future Star (Mrs P Reeve)

Class 589. Junior Bitch

1st Place 3590 - Nasabe Its On The Cards for Boimans (Mr T & Mrs J & Mr J Harman & Harman & Wood)

Attractive bitch in outline, good depth of chest and gentle curved topline, rounded buttocks. Well angulated hindquarters giving her drive to cover the ground well with good reach in front. Clean wedge shaped head, with good width of skull, strong jaw, dark and almond shaped eyes and good ear set.

2nd Place 3572 - Lasagesse Black Magic Woman (Mr G & Mrs L Dixon)

Close up decision, but I preferred 1’s outline on the move. She has a nice, clean, wedge shaped head, flat skull, high set ears and dark, almond shaped eyes. Deep chest with neat tuck up. Well angulated hindquarters.

3rd Place 3592 - X-Pected Dine Mites Ebony (Mrs N Hesová)

Reserve 3617 - Gillings Dark Angel (Mrs C Pendlebury)

VHC 3616 - Gillings Magic Spell (Miss L Pendlebury)

Class 590. Post Graduate Bitch

1st Place 3605 - Lady in Black at Witchstone (Mr A Leonard)

Oh my, this girl can move! Anyone wanting to know what “akin to an extended trot” looks like need look no further, at 8 months old she has everything in the right place, the lay of shoulder and that strength of forearm to allow her to sweep the ground before her. Her topline is very good, curving from behind the shoulder and maintaining this while she moves. Coat in good condition, a rich tan and good markings. Her head is not to my taste, needing more width to her skull. Awarded her RCC and BPIB as I was so taken with the quality of her movement.

2nd Place 3601 - Moretonia Royal Wren (Ms H Johnson)

Classic outline and another very good mover, sound and driving from well angulated hindquarters and reaching out in front. She has a pleasing, wedge shaped head and neat ears placed high. Good outline, with deep chest and curve to her topline.

3rd Place 3592 - X-Pected Dine Mites Ebony (Mrs N Hesová)

Reserve 3599 - Edalene Scoops Ahoy (Mrs C & Miss R Inch)

VHC 3611 - Galvizach Royal Amethyst of Regalriver (Mrs C Marsden)

Class 591. Limit Bitch

1st Place 3586 - Nasabe Play The Game JW (Mrs H & Mr J Haffenden & Wood)

Proportionate and balanced with a feminine and clean wedge shaped head. Nicely set, candle flame ears. Graceful neck, straight front and good topline. Good tan and markings.

2nd Place 3635 - Amalric Coco Chanel with Dalmonde JW (Mr S & Mrs N Whitehouse)

Elegant and compact, nicely curved underline and a good topline when stood. Nice head and ears, long and gracefully arched neck. I felt 1 had more oomph on the move and so she lost out today.

3rd Place 3598 - Edalene Court and Spark JW (Mrs C & Miss R Inch)

Reserve 3576 - Kikuchi Mulberry (Mr L & Mrs C Evison & Serman)

VHC 3592 - X-Pected Dine Mites Ebony (Mrs N Hesová)

Class 592. Open Bitch

1st Place 3637 - Ch Witchstone Share The Dream with Vidra (Ms B & Mr I Wiles & Argint)

A most delightful bitch. Spot on for size, shapely body with a gentle curve over her back which she retained on the move. She is sound, with accurate movement coming and going, good drive from toned and well angulated hindquarters and sufficient extension in front. Her tailset and carriage is spot on too which finishes off a very elegant outline.

2nd Place 3583 - Witchstone Trouble Brewing at Peopleton JW (Mr Jw & Miss W & Mr A Francis & Blatchford & Leonard)

Pushed the winner hard, but I felt 1 had the better outline on the move. She’s a quality bitch with much to admire, clean, wedge shaped head, flat skull, high set ears and dark, almond shaped eyes. A good depth of chest and cut up, rounded buttocks and good turn of stifle.

3rd Place 3604 - Blueberry Krásná Louka (Mrs M. Ouředníková)

Reserve 3592 - X-Pected Dine Mites Ebony (Mrs N Hesová)

VHC 3623 - Ch Pallisandre Pocahontas (Miss C & Mr M Ramsden & Kagzi)

Class 593. Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch

1st Place 3567 - Ir/lux/nl Ch Adargwn Vienna Bel/nl/lux Jch Centw2022 (Ms J E A Crowley)

A smart and elegant bitch with good overall shape. Nice length and arch to her neck, she has a good topline. In good condition, she moved around the ring well with good drive from well angulated hindquarters.

Derfel Owen