Crufts

CRUFTS 2024

German Wirehaired Pointer

Judge – Michael Blay (Longbarrow)

Was an honour to be asked to Judge German Wires at Crufts. Thank you to the committee for my invite, my Stewards for keeping both the ring and myself in order, and the exhibitors for their generosity around the ring. I must note at the start that there appears to be a wide variance in coats, ranging from smooth short haired coats, right up to longer shaggier types. Coats should be up to 4cms and give good protection from cover, It should be of a wirey texture, Thanks also goes ringside for the minute of reflection at the start of judging, for those lost through the past year within the breed.

Puppy Dog

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1. Glenquin The General (Mr P, Mrs L & Miss N Johnston). A lovely start to my day, gorgeous shape to this young b/w boy, still very raw at the moment, loved his head shape, good neck and shoulder, enough rib for age, good topline and liked his body proportion, good turn of stifle, and correct coat of good length and harsh texture, effortless mover for a young dog and I can see him challenging the adults for top honours fairly soon. Pleased to award him BP 2. Glenquin The Colonel at Elagram (Mr G D & Mrs E & Miss A E & Mr S D Turnbull & Turnbull & Turnbull & Keene) Litter brother to 1, of the same mould, loved his shape and proportions when stacked, good head with kind eye, correct lay to shoulder and good harsh jacket, well angled behind, just felt he was slipping on the corners when moving and not a fluent as 1 today. 3. Beechillawn Break The Mould (IKC) TAF (Mr P & Mrs D & Mr S Lovatt & Lovatt & Gettings),b/w liked this dog when he settled, good head with ample beard, correct front, and good rib, harsh wirey coat, and correct angulation behind, just found he needed to settle both on the move and when stacked.

Junior Dog

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1.Wesley vom Alte Wald at Germanus (Imp Hun) NAF TAF (Mr R & Mrs A Geary) Another b/w. Stood alone in the class, but doesn’t distract from his qualities, good head, dark eye and with good proportions, strong neck and good shoulder, good amount of bone, well sprung rib and good topline, strong behind, just gave the appearance today of needing another inch in length to body to balance him up, harsh coat of good length and texture, strong and powerful around the ring, driving from behind and straight and true on the up and down.

Post Graduate Dog

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1. Germanus Makin A Point (ai) (Mrs S & Mr A Jones) l/w good size and shape to this dog, clean head with just enough beard and eyebrow covering, good neck and straight front legs, slightly upright in shoulder when stacked, good rib and correct topline, short tight coat, but still a wire texture to touch, good angles behind, good drive to him on the move, but unfortunately flagged his tail all the way round the ring. 2.Germanus Makin A Statement (ai) (Mr P & Mr E Hallam & Christie) l/w super head and expression, good neck and shoulder, good front assembly, well sprung rib, and good strong behind with well bent stifles, found with good undercoat and harsh jacket, one who struggled on the move today, prone to bunny hopping and subsequently lost his topline.

Limit Dog

Entries: 4 Absentees: 0

1.Germanus Hotwyr Yindi (Miss J & Miss R Quinn & Skeemer) Liked this boy as he entered into the ring, good head, with ample beard and good head covering, kind eye, good length to his strong neck, well placed shoulders and good front assembly to him, good depth to chest and well sprung ribs reaching back into a his short strong loin, correct topline and correct body proportions, liked his strength and angles behind, found him today with a short close, harsh coat with good undercoat, liked his fluidity on the move, good reach in front and plenty of drive behind, Nip and tuck in the challenge, but preferred his overall type over open winner to award him the DCC 2. Bareve Best Done Now (Mrs B Chrystie) another who pushed close, lovely head and expression, enough beard and with a lovely kind eye, good through front and good body shape when stacked, well muscled behind, moved well, but just felt 1 had the edge on coat today. 3. Germanus Hit The Jackplot (Mr D & Mrs K Hatcher) liked this dogs head shape, good front when he relaxed, good rib and short in loin, preferred the angles behind of 1 and 2 today, needs to settle down on the move, glimpses of potential, but not enough to trouble top 2.

Open Dog

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1.Kimmax Kiss Ma Blackside at Beechillawn (Mr P F & Mrs M Mccullough) b/w boy who has a good head, balanced and not over coarse, good beard and ample eyebrows, good neck to him, strong and of a good length, clean front with correct angulation to shoulder, deep rib and well sprung, correct length to back and strong loin, muscular behind with good angulation, tight harsh coat, not as straight as 2 on the up and down ,but full of muscle and power in side profile, did more than enough to win the class and pushed hard in the challenge, RCC. 2. Germanus Go Dutch (Mr R & Mrs A Geary) liked this boys head and soft expression, good head shape, correct through neck and shoulder, good body shape when stacked, good angles to his quarters and found him full of muscle, straight and true going and coming towards, just preferred drive to 1 today, found him just a little flat footed in the final stack, excellent short harsh coat. 3. Ir Sh Ch Beechillawn Raspberry Sorbet TAF (Mr D & Mrs K Donnelly) good head shape, for me over furnished in beard, good neck and shoulders, but narrow through body, liked his angles in profile behind, moved ok, but without the power and drive of 1 & 2, shorter coat than principle winners and would like it harsher

Special Working Gundog Dog

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1. Falk Fantastic of Miki Jww'22 Epw'22 (Miss I & Mr M Bulatovic & Grujicic) l/w dog with best of heads, roman nose and good beard covering, good head proportions, strong neck found him a tad straight in front, good rib, but for me overall body shape a bit too square, best of coat on him, super wirey and of correct length, muscular thighs, but again sightly straight in stifle, giving the squarer impression, liked his movement, straight and true on the up and down and enough reach and drive in profile.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Dog

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1. Germanus Hotwyr Yindi (Miss J & Miss R Quinn & Skeemer) - 1st limit dog 2. Germanus Makin A Point (ai) (Mrs S & Mr A Jones) -1st PG 3.Bareve Best Done Now (Mrs B Chrystie) - 2nd Limit

Veteran Bitch

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1.Sh Ch/bel Ch Canis Fortuna Harda (Mr P, Mrs L & Miss N Johnston) loved the overall shape and balance of this 7 year old bitch, super head shape, good neck and well laid shoulder, best of fronts, good rib and correct proportions to body being slightly longer than height to withers, strong loin and found her in good muscle, lovely freeflowing movement for a 7yr old, BV 2.Myrna Loy (Mrs S Harries) liked her head and sweet expression, unfortunately age is catching up with her, coat still in good order, but just lacking oomph around the ring and now starting to thicken up around the waist.

Junior Bitch

Entries: 1 Absentees: 0

1.Kenzduo Shasta (Mrs J Stone) a finer type than I would normally like, needs more bone to her, correct head shape and good neck and shoulders, narrow through body, unfortunately unsettled on the day leading to her roaching her topline when stacked, needs to muscle up behind, unfortunately throwing her front on the move which was unbalancing her, found her in good coat.

Post Graduate Bitch

Entries: 5 Absentees: 0

1. Germanus Makin A Ripple with Layasway (Mrs A Newton) Super head with correct proportions and ample beard, good length to her strong neck and well placed shoulders, straight front legs, and good width and depth to chest, good topline and short strong loin, strong quarters and found her in super coat, full of drive in profile and straight and true on the up and back. 2.Crystal Stella Venandi (Imp Pl) (Mrs Cp Philippe) Liked this b/w bitch for her size and type, just think she needs a few more months to mature on the move, bags of potential, best of heads, good shoulder placement and enough bone on her, correct body length to height ratio and well muscled behind, just needs to settle down on the move. Good coat of correct length and texture. 3. Rudishaw Waltzing Matilda (Miss B Kearns) solid liver bitch, finer boned than 1 & 2, good shape when stacked and moved ok, found her in good coat, just preferred type of my winners today

Limit Bitch

Entries: 7 Absentees: 1

1.Kimmax Baby Kome Black (Mr J Sharkey) b/w bitch of a good type and size, liked her shape and presence when she first entered the ring, clean head of good proportions and good head coverings, strong neck set on well laid shoulders, good amount of rib to her and correct body shape, good topline and strong rear quarters, moved well showing good drive from behind around the ring, found her today with a good harsh jacket and good undercoat, won this class on her maturity. 2. Germanus Hotwyr Minjarra JW (Mr R & Mrs A Geary) litter sister to Dog CC and very much in the same stamp, liked her feminine head and kind expression, good neck and shoulders, and enough rib for her age, finer boned than 1, good body shape when stacked and another in good coat, liked her angles behind, but just needs to firm up and settle down on the move, just not the maturity of 1. 3. Tynsil Just One Smile (Miss B & Mr R Stamp & Thomas) solid liver bitch of a good type, clean lines when stacked and found in good coat, good amount of bone to her, good coat and moved straight and true.

Open Bitch

Entries: 4 Absentees: 1

1.Urvum Arwen (Mr L Cocchi) wow what a class, three dogs all worthy of winning, I fell in love with this l/w bitch the moment she entered the ring, loved her type and presence, the most beautiful feminine heads and a melting expression, full beard and good head covering, strong neck and correct front, correct size throughout yet still with enough bone to her, super topline and short strong loin, best of rears, muscular with correct angulation, fabulous coat, harsh to touch with good under coat, poetry in motion on the move, graceful and elegant yet you can still see the drive from behind and super reach in front, although a hard class I had no hesitation in awarding her the BCC and then BOB in the final challenge. 2. Sh Ch Glenquin Athena (Mr P, Mrs L & Miss N Johnston). Another who on another day would deserve the ticket, just unfortunate to come against 1 today, Loved this b/w bitch’s type and didn’t put a foot wrong, good head with lovely eye, good neck set on well laid shoulders, clean outline when stacked and correct body proportions, strong rear quarters and floated around the ring on the move, super harsh jacket, my final decision was just based on which of these two lovely exhibits would I prefer to take home. RCC. 3. Sh Ch Kimmax Kindly Stand Black (Mr P F & Mrs M Mccullough) b/w bitch, good feminine head and pleasing eye, good neck and correct through shoulder and front, good topline and correct body proportions, liked her strength behind and good turn of stifle, moved well but without the presence and panache of the first 2.

Special Working Gundog Bitch

Entries: 2 Absentees: 0

1. Urvum Arwen (Mr L Cocchi) - 1st open 2. Multi Ch Iki Fantastic of Miki Jww'23 Jew'23 (Miss I & Mr M Bulatovic & Grujicic) lovely head and soft expression, good facial furnishing, good neck and correct shoulders, best of coats of good texture, liked her body shape and good strong rear with good angulation, moved well with good straight lines just not the presence of 1 today.

Good Citizen Dog Scheme Bitch

Entries: 3 Absentees: 0

1.Sh Ch/Ir Sh Ch Beechillawn Oooh Betty (Mr D & Mrs K Donnelly). Good head shape with ample beard, good neck and shoulder, good front and tight feet, well off for bone and well sprung rib, correct length to body and good angulation behind, harsh coat, drove around the ring with purpose earning him the class win 2. Germanus Dutch Delight (Mrs S & Mr A Jones) 4th in limit, heavier set bitch than I would normally like, squarer in head shape than 1, good shoulder and good topline, would like the coat harsher to the touch, just not the angles behind of 1 which showed in her movement, preferred drive of 1. 3.Gleomac Daffodils in Bloom (ai) (Mrs S Harries). Pleasing head and good front, a little on the heavier side than I would prefer, in good coat, would like more enthusiasm about her on the move.