Crufts

CRUFTS REPORT 8/3/24 COCKER SPANIEL- BITCHES

What a day, firstly I would like to thank the Crufts committee for this wonderful appointment, originally for the original 2021 cancelled show, but at least I made the 2024 show and loved the whole experience. Obviously I would like to thank all the exhibitors for such a fantastic entry, I was honoured but it also meant a long day of deep concentration. Jo Darby asked me during the challenge how I had enjoyed my day, my reply was that it had been like no other Judging engagement that I have ever experienced. I had depth of quality in every class but not enough cards, meaning that good dogs went unrewarded, my apologies.

My 5 placing were based on short, merry cockers with drive and attitude. Many were long cast and low and just paced around the ring. On the minus side there were quite a few exhibits, mainly from overseas, in the later classes with incorrect dentition. On discussing this with my co-judge this was apparent in the males too. Please take advice from experienced breeders in your home countries and don’t breed from dogs with such obvious faults.

My main winners today were Sh Ch Adriana Sunforest Soul with Manchela (Imp Ukr) JW B C C and Best of Breed. Sh Ch Oktumi Opalescence Ww23 R C C, Sparklette Shines at Charbonnel B P B and Withiflor Fairy Tale JW B V B

VETERAN (24 7 )

1ST Bard Withiflor Fairy Tale JW lovely headed red of great breed type. She stands on well boned legs with the tightest of feet. Deep body proportions, moved effortlessly and stylish with reach and drive. Presented in excellent coat and condition. Showed her heart off in the challenge B.V.B. Both veterans on the day were a credit to the breed, close decision. 2ND Peterson Ir Sh Ch Cassom Moonbeam JW seven yr old dark blue, liked her short, compact outline, shown in good coat with a good topline and tailset. Good steady mover, well deserved. 3RD Parker Sh Ch Weyhill Wish List black of stronger build, liked her overall type and balance, holding a good topline. Not so animated today, but could not deny her place in a good class.

MINOR PUPPY (1 . 0 )

1ST Peterson Dromacre Skyfall dark blue who stood alone due to limited time for qualifying classes. Pleasing make and shape, square muzzle, clean gentle expression and dark eye. Shown in good coat and condition. Free happy mover with time on her side to develop.

PUPPY (17 . 1 )

1ST Brennan Sparklette Shines at Charbonnel what a good class of youngsters headed by this 10 month old black. Well balanced, short and cobby, with a well shaped head and dark eye. So good for make and shape with everything fitting so well together, this being proved by the excellence of her movement covering the ground with good drive, keeping her topline and enjoying every moment with her ever wagging tail B P B .2ND Gilmour Chavez Glamer Girl short compact dark blue with well balanced head, good front assembly with excellent spring of rib and good strong quarters. Well prepared coat, sound happy mover. 3RD Mason Leechbaby Hot Shoe Shuffle to Sandlauga dark blue with the sweetest of heads, good eye , compact and cobby, a typical cockery type. Good neck and shoulders, well off for bone and nicely angulated. Moved well around the ring with plenty of drive, holding a good topline. Shown in good coat and condition.

JUNIOR ( 28 . 3 )

1ST Buchan Rockypoint Razzamatazz quality dark blue shown in good coat and condition, balanced with big ribs and plenty of bone. Good neck and shoulders, sweet head and expression, lovely front assembly. Good rounded rear allowing good movement and drive, well deserved. 2ND Czipott I Will Be Fable and Miracle lovely orange and white, so eye catching and beautifully put together. Balanced throughout, compact with excellent bone, feminine head with good eye and expression. Great front assembly with good neck and shoulder placement and ample spring of rib. Deep chest and big rounded rear allowing good movement with drive. Presented in very good order.3RD Darby Classicway Chiming Bells dark blue of good overall make and shape. Type and outline correct, liked her cobby and depth of body. Good head with gentle eye and expression, ample neck and forechest. Well made bone with good rib cage and well turned quarters, shown in good coat and condition. The clash of classes between both rings and change of handlers did not help but she did deserve her placing.

YEARLING ( 22 . 4)

1ST Masters & Dott Manchela Little Tease JW dark blue with super head with correct skull shape, dark eyes, low set ears and strong reach of neck leading into well placed shoulders. Excellent forechest, deep brisket with good bone throughout. A short coupled bitch, with strong quarters and beautiful cocker tight feet. Moved with level topline and good reach, lovely presentation. 2ND Todd & Rahman Chataway Dark Chrystal black close to 1, pleasing head with good proportions, dark eye and low set ears, moderate reach of neck leading into well placed shoulders. Well off for bone with deep brisket, well spung ribs and short coupled. Nicely presented and moved with reach and drive. 3RD Simonelli Meden Agan The Dark Side of The Moon very well made black with a lovely balanced outline. Pleasing shaped feminine head with a kind, gentle expression, good neck and shoulders, short back and correct tailset, lovely angulation, fore and aft. A sturdy body with good bone and spring of ribs and lovely feet. Move out with great stride and a merry tail, showed in perfect condition.

UNDER GRAD ( 32 . 0 )

1ST Todd & Rahman Zheridons Blanche a very feminine red, loved her clean outline, well shaped head with her excellent expression and low set ears. Short back, lovely front assembly and powerful backend. Powerful body with strong loin, moved with great drive and reach with excellent topline. Coat presented in great condition. 2ND Czipott I Will Be Fable and Miracle. 3RD Ziennes Azzura Steele dark blue with so much to like about her. Lovely balanced outline with a well chiselled head and a bright expression, clean neck, solid topline with correct tailset and carriage. Lovely balanced angulation with well shaped body and sprung rib. Powerful mover keeping a lovely outline.

GRADUATE ( 21 . 4 )

1ST Mitchell Glowhill Chiquitita 2 ½ yr old blue that’s so well balanced with an excellent topline. Beautiful head and eye, neat well padded feet. A strong cobby body with good bone and spring of rib throughout. Won her class on her overall cockery type. 2ND Hutson Stobytill Bootylicious very compact and sturdy blue with feminine well chiselled head with good strength in muzzle, good neck leading into well placed shoulders. Strong topline with a good tailset and lovely angulation fore and aft. Well built throughout with enough reach and drive, shown in good coat. 3RD West Sheigra Super Secret JW feminine red with a balanced outline, well shaped head with a gentle expression. Good neck and shoulders, moderate angulation and a lovely short compact body. Moved with enough reach and drive with correct tail action.

POST GRADUATE (25 , 5 )

1ST Morris Riondel Solitaire dark blue of great type who stood out in this class. Head with correct proportions and lovely dark eye, powerful reach of neck leading into well placed shoulders. Correct size and shape with good strong bone and tight feet, level topline and strong quarters. Moved with the ever-wagging tail action of a merry cocker in excellent coat and condition. Well up there with my main winners. 2ND Driver & Walker Brackenjack Bit of Allsorts at Beckaby blue with super head and correct skull shape, good dark eye and strong reach of neck leading into well placed shoulders. Excellent forechest with deep brisket and well sprung ribs. Good bone throughout with strong hindquarters and tight feet. Moved well with good reach and drive showing a level topline. 3RD Blackley & Salero Wightroche The Bee JW black, most appealing head with correct shape and dark eye. Moderate length of neck leading into well placed shoulders and well off for bone throughout. Lovely deep brisket with ultra short body and cat like feet. Shown in good coat with correct topline and moved with ease around the ring.

MID LIMIT (21 . 5 )

1ST Torbett Kirlinjis Made You Wait dark blue, loved her shape on the stack, so short and compact with great depth of body. Lovely head and expression, good depth and width throughout, well boned legs with tight feet and good front and rear angulation, used to advantage on the move whilst holding a correct topline. Shown in good coat and condition. 2ND Gladman Chativore Violet Sky blue with feminine head and expression, well balanced with a good spring of rib and plenty of substance. Lovely coat preparation and moved off with drive and kept a lovely outline around the ring. 3RD Amos-Jones Cassom Merrilegs light blue of lovely breed type with nicely shaped head and tight eyes. Great neck and shoulders with good boned legs and feet, well ribbed and shown in well prepared coat. Moved out well with good width behind holding a good topline and with a lovely tail action.

LIMIT: ( 14 .0 )

1ST Whitehead Ryallcourt Stitch in Time JW quality blue with a particularly defined stop and balanced length of muzzle creating an extremely attractive head. Moderate front angulation, well sprung ribs with a beautifully angulated rear. She has a firm level topline and is short below the hock, standing on tight padded feet. Nicely presented and moved straight and true. 2ND Kew Withiflor Bird On The Wire over Wylyeview black of good breed type with well-proportioned head, dark and a lovely feminine expression. Good neck and well angled shoulders with good legs and feet, nicely rounded quarters. Excelled in spring and depth of rib and shown in immaculate coat and condition. Moved well with good stride and correct topline. 3RD Lewis Haradwater Vanity Fair at Penmartan (Imp Prt) dark blue who looked good on the stack with correctly proportioned head, dark eye and feminine expression. Good length to neck and well placed shoulders with good bone, legs and feet. Mature body with good spring and depth to rib, enough tail action but did lack animation today, but well deserved her placement.

OPEN (30 . 3 )

1ST Masters & Dott Sh Ch Adriana Sunforest Soul with Manchela (Imp Ukr) JW dark blue that’s a real “show girl”, just my type who never stopped wagging her tail. Lovely head with true cocker expression with excellent neck and well angled shoulders with lovely bone, legs and feet. Compact body with good spring of rib and depth to chest. A good strong loin, with a well angled rear and a great level topline. Very well presented. Moved with great drive being very sound front and back. Delighted to award her the C C and B O B on the referees decision and thought she represented the breed so well in the Gundog Group ring later that evening. 2ND Collin & Wildman Sh Ch Oktumi Opalescence Ww23 quality dark blue, so close to first, again with a type that appeals to me. Lovely shape and proportions, she is so feminine with a classic head and lovely expression. Moderate gently arched neck, big ribs and strong rear quarters, which propel her around the ring with a true cocker bustle. Shown in great coat and presentation with a lively tail action. Though that 1 just had better extension and foot fall, two great examples of our breed R C C. 3RD Marsikova Cze Ch Carrie Od Bukove Studanky gleaming black with such lovely quality. Feminine head and eye with a beautiful expression, really good front construction with clean neck and shoulders. a compact body of correct shape with strong hindquarters. Move very well with a wagging tail and super coat and condition, well deserved place in a very strong class.

FIELD TRIAL No Entries

WORKING (4 , 0)

1ST Staneks Esqueen Isnt She Impressive blue of excellent make and shape being very compact and cockery. Well moulded feminine head with intelligent expression. Lovely depth of body with good substance while remaining feminine. well boned legs with tight feet. In good coat and condition, moved soundly displaying typical cocker bustle drive and tail action. 2ND Acs Int Ch White Maple Cross Faithful Angel b/r with well proportioned head with dark eye, moderate neck and well placed shoulders. good front and feet, nicely rounded rib cage. Shown in good coat and condition, move well showing a good topline and tailset. 3RD Dumouchel Multi Ch Upon She Du Clos Aux Diables very short compact black with correct head proportions and feminine expression. Well made shoulders solid well angled rear, a good spring and depth to rib. Good bone and feet with a solid level topline. Moved happily with drive.

GOOD CITIZEN (19.5)

1ST Wests Sheigra Simply A Star JW black of lovely outline, with balanced head, dark eye and lovely flow of neck into shoulder. Well boned with good feet, quality sprung ribs with good depth, has substance and quality about her. Moved around the ring merrily and true, shown in good coat. 2ND Torbetts Kirlinjis Muddy Puddle JW very compact liver roan full of breed type. Well shaped head with soft melting expression, so balanced and constructed with everything fitting neatly together. Firm level topline, sound positive mover. 3RD Drivers Annilann Miss Magicstar at Beckaby dark blue of good overall type, shown and un placed in strong Mid-Limit class. Short and cockery, who excelled in compactness of body and ribs. Nice head and eye, good front angulation and shown in good, well-prepared coat. Just did not have full animation today, but well deserved her placing.

Duncan Craig