Crufts

7th March Crufts 2024. Estrela Mountain Dogs

Judge; Mrs Sandie Tadd

I would to thank the Crufts Committee for giving me the honour of Judging at the biggest and Best Show in the world.

Also greatest of thanks to my Stewards, Wendy Bray and Andrea Keepance-Keyte who kept the ring running so well and made a great team helping any nerves I may had had on my first time Judging at Crufts.

Last but not least the Exhibitors for entering under me and for being such good sports in excepting my decisions, what a lovely day I had, thank you all.

Puppy Dog 2(0)

1st/ Mr S Tychowski’s Mendiko Teixo, an 10 month old lad of good bone, good mask, rosed ears which he needs to grow into but still very much a baby at the moment, moderate in stop, good width of head and muzzle, amber in eye which was of good shape and excellent pigmentation and tight, good bite, clean in teeth, well muscled in correct length of neck leading on to good shoulders and a well held topline, good length of tail with desired hook, he moved out and back well. BPD

2nd/ Ms E & Mr K Freeman & Danez’s Kayarrach Barkin at The Moon, at nearly 12 months old boy with good mask, was not so mature as the first in head and lighter in eye, ears were a little flat and hopefully he will grow into them, a little over whelmed by everything going on around him, but once settled moved well, given time and careful handling I am sure he will settle in well, he needs to body up and put on some weight.

Junior Dog 1(0)

1st/ Mr K & Miss P Winder & Daly’s Mendiko Valetudo, a nice 14-month-old boy with a broad head and good mask, clean in teeth, tight lips with good pigmentation, nice lay of shoulder going into well muscled neck good bone throughout, tight feet, topline could be stronger, good shape to croup going on to nice set of tail and of the desired length, moved well and with purpose RBD.

Open Dog 2(0)

1st/ Mr S Tychowski’s Cossus D’domus Stella (Imp Por) NAF, A lovely 2 ½ year old who really had it all for me, powerful head which was broad, nice mask, full pigmentation, moderate stop, tight amber eye of correct oval shape, wonderful rose ear, which was small and tight to the head, scissor bite with clean teeth, strong well muscled neck on to strong well laid shoulders, good bone, oval tight feet, strong in topline, which was held on the move and standing, low set tail which was held well down in movement and had the desired tight hook, not over done in angulation as the breed calls for medium, carried his head level with his topline on the move which was free and easy, giving him a correct outline on the move for a working dog, this boy was totally well balanced throughout, pleased to award him BD & BOB.

2nd/ Mr K & Mrs R Hall’s Estjak Riodouro at Kayarrach, at 5 ½ years old, father of my second in puppy dog, again he was a bit unsettled here today, but in saying that when he did decide I was not that scary and I got my hands on him, I found he was well muscled lad with a good head, and held his topline well on the move, would like a bit more body for his age, please do a bit more socialising to give him the confidence he needs, as there’s a lot to like there.

Puppy Bitch 4(0)

1st/ Ms S L & Mr A D & Mrs R & Mr K Mckinlay & Johnson & Hall & Hall’s Kayarrach Wish Upon A Star, daughter of my 2nd placed in OD, and litter sister to 2nd in PD this young lady was just 3 days off of her 1st birthday, and what a solid girl she is, with a lovely head with good mask amber eye which was tight and of oval in shape, good width of head, would have liked a bit more rose of the ear, but the heads the last to mature so she has time, nice set in shoulders and with good muscle, well held topline on the move and in standing, strong in bone throughout, nice set of tail giving it the correct length and with the desired hook, a very confident young lady, in glorious coat, won on maturity, confidence and movement. BPB & BPIB

2nd/ Mr S Tychowski’s Mendiko Faia, at 10 months old this young lady is very immature all through but every thing is there ready for when she matures, lovely head, ears a little large at the moment, but with good mask, tight oval eye shape and of good colour, good in angles all round with well held top line on the move and standing, she’s coming on nicely she just needs to mature up and I think they could change places often.

3rd/ Mr K & Mrs R Hall’s Kayarrach Bibidi Bobidi Boo, another daughter from the 2nd in OD, again not so mature or confident as her litter sister in first place, but much more immature, and really did not want to be here, but I did manage to get my hands on her and much applies as for her litter brother 2nd in PD, its all there but they need the maturity and confidence of their BPIB sister, all have lovely heads with good masks and kind eyes, with correct rose ears and strong bone nice well held toplines standing and moving, with good shape of feet and good hooks in their tails they just need the confidence to push them on.

4th/. Mr K & Mrs R Hall’s Kayarrach Part of Your World.

Junior Bitch 1(0)

1st/ Mr S Tychowski’s Mendiko Adrastea, a lovely brindle bitch which was litter sister to my RBD, she really looked the part on standing, with a lovely head, good mask, a bit light in eye, but nice rose ear shape which were small and tight to the ear, well set in shoulders and strong bone throughout, a little apprehensive with the noise but allowed me to go over her, but on moving her she was a nightmare for her handler, and although I place her in this class for her excellent breed type, she was withdrawn from the Challenge by her handler. I was told after her class that she had just finished her season, and very worried with the noise of the hall.

Post Graduate Bitch 1(0)

1st/ Miss Gc Reid’s Galliagh Alya with Milagre, At 17 months old this young lady is the daughter of my BB, and what a lovely bitch to go over, one of the best heads here today with a lovely soft amber eye giving such a gentle expression, good mask, lovely scissor bite with clean teeth, nice strong well set in neck with good muscle, nice lay of shoulder and good length of upper arm, and well muscled throughout, with good depth of chest and broadness needed for heart room , short coupled and slight slope to croup, giving a beautiful picture standing and on the move holding her top line throughout, I would like just a bit more maturity. RBB

Open Bitch 3(0)

1st/ Ms J Haslett’s Ir Ch J'ursa Da Acinomagricultura, at 4 ½ years old and not looking it this is a beautiful bitch with a lovely feminine head with the correct colour eye and shape with a good mask and good scissor bite with clean teeth good width and length of muzzle with the power and broadness but with the femininity needed to tell everyone she was all female, small rosed ears tight to the head , short in neck with plenty of muscle, strong in bone throughout, lovely shoulders on this lady with good lay and length, tight oval feet, short in back as required in standard and short coupled, with good shape to croup and low set in tail which reached the hocks and had the desired hook. I could certainly see where her BPIB daughter got her conformation from, and she certainly gave the BOB a run for his money today. BB & BOS

2nd/ Miss Gc Reid’s Pt Ch Seia Da Quinta Moinhos Das Almas with Milagre (Imp Por), this just under 3 years of age brindle bitch was right up my street, such a lovely girl on standing and movement, with a good head, correct eye with good amber colour, good pigmentation, and the broadness that is required all through from muzzle to the slight defined occiput, tight in lips and with the small rosed ears, probably not quite as small as first placed, but that could be the fact that this bitch is a short coated type, but still breed standard and a very eye catching bitch, moved well and covered the ground with good length of stride, only beaten by the firsts charisma and excellent muscle throughout, and being that bit older and held the maturity over this beautiful bitch.

3rd/ Lady S Mckinlay’s Sp Ch/gr Ch T'safira Do Cabeco Do Seixo (Imp Prt) Lw22 Ew22, a 4 ½ year old lady who again did not like the noise in the hall and was a bit apprehensive, and that affected her movement with her trying to see what was going on around her, but in saying that her head was lovely with nice eye shape and tight ear, would have liked a better rose but again that could be better on a day without all the noise, good bone throughout, and held a good topline, nice angles all through with correct tail length and the desired hook. 3 very nice bitches and a different day a different result, I am sure. 

 Judge; Sandie Tadd