Crufts

CRUFTS 2024

Tibetan Mastiff

VD (4,1)

1. Hollifield & Humphreys’ Ch Richearon Palden. The day got off to a lovely start with this 8 yr old black/tan. Quality all through and so good to go over given his correct construction and excellent condition and muscle-tone. Presenting a balanced outline with slightly arched muscular neck, firm topline, deep brisket, excellent ribbing, well-muscled loin, correct croup and tail good for both set and carriage. Well proportioned head with good breadth to skull, well defined stop, super expressive eyes and fairly broad muzzle of good depth. Carrying good bone, he has good angles front and rear and stands true in front on compact feet. Moves freely all through and was very well handled. Not quite in full coat on the day but delighted to award him Best Veteran.

2. Gálos’ Hun/Cro/Sk Ch Huangshan Bisurman. Another 8 yr old black/tan who has so much to like. Shown here in full coat which is of correct texture. Heavily built lad, carrying very good bone and impressing for overall type and outline. Strong, muscular neck of correct length to give balance, straight topline, good depth to chest and excellent rib, firm muscular loin and tail set of good carriage. Quality headpiece with masculine expression; broad skull, dark oval-shaped eyes, marked stop and fairly broad muzzle which is proportionate in length to that of skull. Pleasing angulation both ends and stands on excellent feet. Moving well on the go around but could not match down and back action of winner. Well handled.

3. Ram’s Kinggesar Star of India mit Arahant

PD (1,0)

1. Dabrowska’s Quanto Fortunately Tibet Fci. 12 mth old gold. Not entirely settled on the day and rather raw and therefore needs time to start and fill out. Neck of correct length, firm topline, good length to ribcage and tail of good carriage but has a lot of developing to do in body. Good skull to muzzle proportions, defined stop, nice dark eyes and correct dentition. For a male I would like to see a little more bone, hopefully this well improve with time. He stands on excellent feet and moved ok on the go around and when going away but is a little loose in pastern right now. Best Puppy.

JD (4,0)

1. Molnar’s Dzhozias Viking. I really liked the first two in this class and my winner was this most handsome 13 mth old black/tan. A most exciting youngster who I thought excelled for type and outline and was so good hands-on. All male, he has lovely bone and was beautifully balanced with muscular, slightly arched neck, firm level topline, good length to rib cage, well-muscled loin, slight slope to croup and tail just right for both set and carriage. Good breadth to skull, well defined stop, the very best of eyes, fairly broad muzzle of good depth and scissor bite. Good angles front and rear, standing true in front on compact feet and well-muscled all through. He is quite something on the go around and uses himself as he goes. Just would like to see a tad more breadth in front but I’m sure this will come with time. Presented in full coat which is of excellent texture. So very well handled. My RCC winner today. Combined with his quality, he has attitude and that will certainly stand him in good stead when competing at group level in the future.

2. Lowes’ Ch Wangdak Forrest for Callowdale. 14 mth old black/tan. Another good one who greatly appealed. He too pleased for type, is well off for bone and presented a very good outline. Muscular neck of correct length to balance, firm straight topline, well developed ribcage, broad well-muscled loins and tail correct for set and carriage. Super head and expression; all male yet with no suggestion of coarseness. Skull of good breadth, marked stop, oval-shaped eyes of good colour and placement, well filled muzzle of good depth and correct dentition. Shoulders well laid, straight well-boned forelegs, compact feet and firm, muscular hindquarters. Moves true when coming towards and went well on the go around but not quite action and carriage of winner. Good quality coat. Very well handled.

3. Dabrowska’s Quanto Fortunately Tibet Fci

PGD (3,0)

1. Drinkwater’s Kentwone Apus. A rather varied class which saw this 2 yr old gold come out on top. A hefty chap with lots of bone but for me he was the best for overall type and balance and he was pleasing to go over. Muscular neck of good length, firm straight topline, deep brisket, excellent ribbing, broad loins and tail of good carriage. Masculine head of pleasing proportions with good breadth to skull but perhaps a little heavy over the brow. Good angles front and rear, standing well naturally in front on round compact feet and well-muscled all through. Steady mover.

2. Lowes’ Callowdale Idris The Dragon. 5 yr old black/tan who also pleased for type and carries good bone but he is a tad longer cast and therefore didn’t quite present the outline I was looking for. Strong neck, straight topline, well developed ribbing, muscular loin and tail of good carriage. Well proportioned head with very nice expression; skull of good breadth, well defined stop, dark oval-shaped eyes and deep muzzle with correct square appearance. Shoulders well laid back and stands straight in front on excellent feet. Moves true in front, ok on the go around but not rear action of winner.

3. Jung’s Tamdrin Nordrassil for Hyjal

LD (2,0)

1. Jung’s Leon Nanda Deva Mistic Mastiff for Hyjal (Imp Pol). Two very different dogs challenged in this class with my winner being this 5 yr old black/tan. Out of coat on the day which did detract a tad. Carrying sufficient bone, he pleased in outline with arched neck of correct length to balance, firm straight topline, ribcage extends well back and tail of good set and carriage. Nicely proportioned head with defined stop, dark expressive eyes, fairly broad muzzle which appears square and good dentition. Pleasing angles both front and rear and he stands straight in front but I would like to see firmer pasterns. Moves true when coming towards, ok on the go around and close but sound behind.

2. Love’s Showbull Country Bumkin. This 6 yr old black/tan carries good bone but he was really rather heavy and broad throughout. He has just enough neck and his topline could be firmer but he has a good depth of chest, a ribcage which is carried well back and a muscular loin. Pleasing skull to muzzle proportions, defined stop and nice deep muzzle. He stands straight in front on round, compact feet but he is somewhat wider and this reflects when gaiting. Presented in full coat which is of good texture.

OD (5,0)

1. Haeffele’s Fr Ch Rongshai Du Domaine De Toundra. Most impressive 4 yr old who certainly could not be overlooked and there is no way one could mistake his sex. I could easily imagine him on guard at a Tibetan monastery and wrong-doers would surely think twice before making an approach such is the sense of presence that emanates from him. He is an outstanding type and I was particularly impressed by his size; the standard calls for a minimum height of 26 inches in dogs and I’m not sure all that many would make this height going by today’s entry. His head and expression are quite sublime; skull of good breadth, they very best of eyes, defined stop, fairly broad muzzle of good depth and proportionate in length to that of skull and first class dentition. Carrying excellent bone, he has good angles both front and rear and stands foot perfect on rounded, compact feet. When gaiting, his down and back is a total joy and he just commands attention on the go around. Presented in super coat and condition and so very well handled. Like them all, he is not totally perfect, but from today’s entry he was the one that ticked almost every box for me and certainly the one who gave me a ‘buzz’! My CC and BOB winner, gaining his UK title on the day and later on taking Group 2 under Paul Harding.

2. Hollifield & Humphreys’ Ch Richearon Palden

3. Davies’ Ch Heronsview Ddraig with Ourcariad

GCD (2,1)

1. Love’s Showbull Country Bumkin

VB (2,0)

1. Corfield & Morgan’s Wilsontus Raynette at Morganridge. 8 yr old black/tan who appeared to be enjoying her day out and certainly was keeping her handler busy! Feminine throughout she pleased for bone and overall type. Muscular neck which is just long enough, nice spring of rib and broad loin but topline could be a tad firmer. Broad skull, marked stop, eyes of good colour but a little prominent and fairly broad muzzle of correct length to balance. She has compact feet but stands a little untidy. Moving well enough on the go around but could be firmer when going away.

2. Doran’s Arahant Kumari. Rather hefty 8 yr old black/tan girl who wasn’t being quite as co-operative as she might for her handler. Strong, muscular neck, deep brisket, well sprung ribs and pretty good topline. Feminine headpiece with broad skull, eyes of good colour and deep muzzle giving desired square appearance. Standing on compact feet but moving somewhat wider, both coming and going.

JB (3,1)

1. Drinkwater’s Wangdak Finlandia. 15 mth old shaded gold who won this class quite comfortably for me. Obviously she has some way to go to maturity but I thought her the better prospect of the two. Balanced in outline, she was pleasing to go over and soundly constructed all through. Slightly arched, muscular neck, straight topline, ribbed well back and rib developing nicely for age, firm loin and tail correct for both set and carriage. Head of pleasing proportions with feminine expression; oval-shaped eyes of good colour, deep muzzle and scissor bite. Standing true in front on rounded, compact feet and moved freely.

2. Bailey’s Power of You from Gom-Khyi at Sagrael (Imp Pol). 14 mth old black/tan who I felt was a little light in bone and needs to broaden all through; she has time on her side so hopefully she will develop in the right direction. She presented a pleasing outline with neck of correct length to give balance, firm level topline, good length to ribcage and tail carried high. Feminine headpiece of good skull to muzzle proportions but skull to broaden, nice dark eyes and correct dentition. Moving well enough on the go around but could not match down and back action of winner.

PGB (4,2)

1. Doran’s Tamdrin Rinchien. This was another class where two very different exhibits challenged. This 22 mth old black/tan was my winner. She has lots to like, carries good bone and won here on overall outline, size and balance. Nicely arched neck of correct length, straight topline, well developed ribbing with deep brisket, broad loin and tail set on high and of good carriage. Attractive, well proportioned head with feminine expression, oval-shaped eyes of good colour, marked stop and fairly broad muzzle. Pleasing angles front and rear and although she stands a little untidy in front she goes ok on the down and back and moved out well on the go around.

2. Towers’ Wilsontus Xara. This 2 yr old black/tan has lots to like and was well handled here but she lacked the size and overall balance of the winner. Slightly arched, muscular neck, straight back, nice spring of rib with ribcage carried well back, broad loins and tail of good carriage. Feminine headpiece with good skull to muzzle proportions, defined stop, fairly broad muzzle and correct dentition but preferred eye of winner. She has good angles both ends, stands on compact, rounded feet and moved out well in profile with good carriage but winner had the edge on the down and back. Coat of good texture.

LB (4,0)

1. Jackson’s Callowdale Midnight Star. 2 yr old black/tan who pleased for type, is feminine throughout and was so good to go over. Muscular neck which is slightly arched, firm straight topline, well sprung ribs which are carried well back, broad well-muscled loin and tail carried over the back. Balanced head with good breadth to skull, well defined stop, dark expressive eyes, muzzle giving desired square appearance and scissor bite. Nice layback of shoulder, straight forelegs, good feet and firm, muscular hindquarters. Gaiting so well on the go around and when coming towards and good enough when going away. Good coat. Well handled and considered for the RCC.

2. Doran’s Tamdrin Rinchien

3. King’s Callowdale Gingersnap

OB (6,0)

1. Concha’s Swiss Ch Thinley Wushu Kha-Li Du Domaine De Toundra. An interesting class which saw this 2 yr old black/tan come out on top. Not quite in full coat on the day but this didn’t really detract given her pleasing outline and sound construction. Well balanced with slightly arched, muscular neck, firm level topline, good depth to chest, nice spring of rib, broad loins and tail good for both set and carriage. Most attractive, well proportioned head with feminine expression; skull of good breadth, defined stop, oval-shaped eyes of good colour, deep well-filled muzzle and scissor bite. Shoulders well laid back, elbows close to the sides, straight well-boned forelegs, compact feet and firm hindquarters with parallel hocks. A pleasure to watch on the down and back and moving out well on the go around. My CC winner on the day and very interesting to see that she is the same way bred as my BOB.

2. Lowes’ Ch Callowdale Easy Street. This 6 yr old black/tan was another who greatly appealed and unlike the winner was shown in full coat. She is well off for bone yet retains femininity and presented a super outline with nicely arched neck, level topline, deep brisket, excellent ribbing, muscular loin and tail carried over the back. Quality head and expression; broad skull, marked stop, dark expressive eyes and muzzle proportionate in length to that of skull. Pleasing front assembly, standing true on compact feet and firm hindquarters with moderate turn of stifle. She moved out well on the go around, using herself at all times, is true when coming towards but not quite rear action of winner. Good quality coat. RCC.

3. Gálos’ Hun Ch Ortipo Black Candy Hun/Sk Jch

GCB (1,0)

1. Corfield & Morgan’s Wilsontus Raynette at Morganridge

Judge: Tim Ball